Temperature modifying apparatus using expendable refrigerant

Claim 2

Temperature modifying apparatus comprising an elongated hollow member disposed along a generally vertical axis, said member being open at each end, a selectively removable collection receptacle connected in substantially airtight relation to the lower end of said member, means for introducing food articles to be treated into the upper end of said member so that the articles fall by gravity substantially axially thereof, means for introducing an expendable liquid refrigerant under pressure into said member adjacent to said lower end and vaporizing said liquid to a gas, said refrigerant gas being forced upwardly within said member in counterflow heat exchange relationship with said articles and completely filling said member, said refrigerant gas spilling over the open upper end of said member and substantially excluding atmospheric air therefrom, whereby the temperature of the articles falling through said member is modified by said refrigerant.

Claim 3

The structure of claim 1 in which said means for introducing liquid refrigerant into said member includes at least one nozzle connected to a source of supply.

Claim 4

The structure of claim 1 including a housing spaced from and generally concentric with said elongated member and enclosing the major portion thereof, so that said expendable refrigerant gas spills over the top of said elongated member and flows down the exterior surface thereof to substantially reduce the transfer of heat through the walls of the elongated member.

Claim 5

Temperature modifying apparatus for causing temperature change in a plurality of individual articles comprising an elongated hollow member disposed along a generally vertical axis, a selectively removable substantially imperforate collection receptacle mounted in substantially airtight relation adjacent to the lower end of said member, means for introducing food articles to be treated into the upper end of said member so that the articles fall by gravity substantially axially thereof, a plurality of nozzles communicating with the interior of said member adjacent to the lower end thereof, means for introducing an expendable liquid refrigerant through said nozzles into said member and vaporizing said liquid to a gas, said refrigerant gas being forced upwardly through said elongated member in counterflow heat exchange relationship with said articles, said expendable refrigerant completely filling said elongated member and spilling over the upper end of said member to substantially exclude atmospheric air from said member, housing means located about the major portion of said elongated member and in spaced relation thereto so that the refrigerant spilling over the upper end of said member will flow down the exterior surface thereof into the bottom of said housing means, and means for reMoving spent refrigerant from the lower portion of said housing means, whereby the temperature of the articles falling through said refrigerant is modified.

Claim 6

Temperature modifying apparatus for causing temperature change in a plurality of individual articles comprising an elongated hollow member disposed along a generally vertical axis, a selectively removable substantially imperforate collection receptacle mounted in substantially airtight relation adjacent to the lower end of said member, means for introducing food articles to be treated into the upper end of said member so that the articles fall by gravity substantially axially thereof, a plurality of nozzles communicating with the interior of said member adjacent to the lower end thereof, means for introducing an expendable liquid refrigerant through said nozzles into said member and vaporizing said liquid to a gas, said refrigerant gas being forced upwardly through said elongated member in counterflow heat exchange relationship with said articles, said expendable refrigerant completely filling said elongated member and spilling over the upper end of said member to substantially exclude atmospheric air from said member, housing means located about the major portion of said elongated member and in spaced relation thereto so that the refrigerant spilling over the upper end of said member will flow down the exterior surface thereof into the bottom of said housing means, and means for reMoving spent refrigerant from the lower portion of said housing means, whereby the temperature of the articles falling through said refrigerant is modified.