US3657768A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vaporizing technique for treatment of animal carcasses
Assignee: Food Equipment Inc
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Filing: 1970-02-24
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Granted: 1972-04-25
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Expires: 1990-02-24
Abstract
Abstract A vaporizing spray system for treatment of slaughtered animals includes a hosing extending at a predetermined angle to the horizontal which is substantially less than 90*. An overhead conveyor extends through the housing along a predetermined path along which the slaughtered animals are carried by shackles. The path includes at least four reversing traverses between the lower end and upper end of the housing. Spray structure is supported on walls between the traverses to direct high temperature steam and water against the animals carried through the housing. The entry of ambient air into the housing is selectively controlled to create an upward draft in the housing for regulation of the internal temperature of the housing. In one embodiment of the invention, the head and feet portions of the animals are elevated above the straddle areas of the animals to thereby expose the straddle areas to the steam and/or water spray. In another embodiment of the invention, oscillating spray conduits are disposed within the housing for spraying oscillating streams of fluid or steam to treat the animals being carried therethrough. In another embodiment of the invention, line splitter structure is provided to pivot shackles hanging from the conveyor to first one and then another of two opposed inclined positions, with a spray conduit being disposed beneath the two inclined positions for alternately directing spray medium against the animal carcasses as they pass thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 Bryan T Snowden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:42
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22C; A22C21/00; A22C21/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for treatment of fowl comprising: a housing, means for supporting the fowl by the leg portions and transporting the downwardly hanging fowl through said housing, means for elevating the head portions of the fowl to thereby expose the straddle area of the fowl, and means for subjecting the exposed straddle areas to a high temperature fluid spray.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus for treatment of fowl comprising: a housing, means for supporting the fowl by the leg portions and transporting the downwardly hanging fowl through said housing, means for elevating the head portions of the fowl to thereby expose the straddle area of the fowl, and means for subjecting the exposed straddle areas to a high temperature fluid spray.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: a stationary elongated member mounted within said housing and engageable with the moving fowl to thereby elevate the head portions of the fowl.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing is inclined at an angle to the horizontal, and means is provided to induce drafts of air upwardly through said housing to reduce heat stratification.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
281 words
A vaporizing spray apparatus for treatment of fowl comprising: a housing positioned to extend at a predetermined angle to the horizontal which is substantially less than 90*, the lower end of said housing having admitting and exiting openings and the upper end of said housing being enclosed, an overhead conveyor supported in and extending through said housing along a predetermined path along which the fowl are carried, said predetermined path including at least four reversing traverses between the lower end of said housing and the upper end of said housing, divider walls disposed between adjacent ones of said traverses, means supported on said divider walls for directing a high temperature vaporized medium against the fowl carried through the said housing by said conveyor, means for selectively permitting and regulating entry of ambient air into the lower end of said housing and to create an upward draft therein for regulation of the internal temperature of said housing, walls disposed within the upper portion of said housing to prevent intense heat build-up in the area of said overhead conveyor and to provide the area of greatest heat build-up in the vicinity of the fowl below said overhead conveyor, elongated conduits horizontally disposed along opposite sides of at least one of said traverses, said conduits having apertures formed along the length thereof, means for pivotally mounting said conduits for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, motor means mounted on said housing, linkage connecting the output of said motor to said conduits to oscillate said conduits about their longitudinal axes, and means for supplying fluid to said conduits such that an oscillating fluid spray is applied to said fowl as they pass between said conduits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
281 words
A vaporizing spray apparatus for treatment of fowl comprising: a housing positioned to extend at a predetermined angle to the horizontal which is substantially less than 90*, the lower end of said housing having admitting and exiting openings and the upper end of said housing being enclosed, an overhead conveyor supported in and extending through said housing along a predetermined path along which the fowl are carried, said predetermined path including at least four reversing traverses between the lower end of said housing and the upper end of said housing, divider walls disposed between adjacent ones of said traverses, means supported on said divider walls for directing a high temperature vaporized medium against the fowl carried through the said housing by said conveyor, means for selectively permitting and regulating entry of ambient air into the lower end of said housing and to create an upward draft therein for regulation of the internal temperature of said housing, walls disposed within the upper portion of said housing to prevent intense heat build-up in the area of said overhead conveyor and to provide the area of greatest heat build-up in the vicinity of the fowl below said overhead conveyor, elongated conduits horizontally disposed along opposite sides of at least one of said traverses, said conduits having apertures formed along the length thereof, means for pivotally mounting said conduits for rotation about the longitudinal axis thereof, motor means mounted on said housing, linkage connecting the output of said motor to said conduits to oscillate said conduits about their longitudinal axes, and means for supplying fluid to said conduits such that an oscillating fluid spray is applied to said fowl as they pass between said conduits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The spray apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising: means for operating said motor means to oscillate said conduits in the range of 40-80 cycles per second.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
The vaporizing spray apparatus of claim 4 and further comprising: at least one vertically disposed conduit disposed at the upper end of said housing in the region of the reversing portion of a pair of said traverses, said conduit having apertures disposed along the length thereof, motor means connected to a linkage for oscillating said vertically disposed conduit, and means for supplying water to said conduit for spraying from said apertures.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-25 | 1975-10-25 | 1976-04-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-25 | 1979-10-25 | 1980-04-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-25 | 1983-10-25 | 1984-04-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |