Pressure vessel for uniformly treating articles in batch form

Claim 2

In a vessel for use in treating a batch of articles, the improvement for maximizing the number of articles treated in each batch while obtaining substantially uniform treatment of such articles, which comprises: shaft means; drive means for rotating said shaft means within said vessel about a horizontally disposed axis; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin; mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means for rotation therewith, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequaL radial distances from said axis, whereby when said shaft means is rotated said articles move in orbital paths about said axis at individual speeds proportional to the radial distance thereof from said axis; means for establishing a bath of heated fluid within said vessel at a depth sufficient to completely immerse said articles therewithin during rotation of said shaft means, said means for establishing said bath including flow means connected with a source of said heated fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said heated fluid essentially radially outwardly of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles, said streams producing a temperature gradient within said bath radially of said axis, whereby radially spaced articles moving at different speeds relative to said bath may be subjected to relatively uniform heat treatment.

Claim 3

The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said flow means and said drive means are adjustable.

Claim 4

In a vessel for use in treating a batch of articles, the improvement for maximizing the number of articles treated in each batch while obtaining substantially uniform treatment of such articles, which comprises: shaft means; drive means for rotating said shaft means within said vessel about an axis; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin, each of said baskets being dimensioned to receive a plurality of articles therewithin and having an open wall through which said articles may be freely inserted into and withdrawn therefrom; mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequal distances from said axis, said basket mounting means including fluid flow through loader devices and means to removably fix said loader devices for rotation with said shaft means, said loader devices being arranged about said axis in an annularly spaced relationship and said loader devices being dimensioned to receive at least one of said baskets and including cover means for releasably retaining said baskets therewithin and for resiliently constraining said articles from movement within said baskets; and flow means connectable with a source of treating fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said fluid essentially radially outwardly of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles.

Claim 5

In a vessel for use in treating a batch of articles, the improvement for maximizing the number of articles treated in each batch while obtaining substantially uniform treatment of such articles, which comprises: shaft means; drive means for rotating said shaft means within said vessel about an axis; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin, each of said baskets being dimensioned to receive a plurality of articles therewithin and having an open wall through which said articles may be freely inserted into and withdrawn therefrom; mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequal distances from said axis, said basket mounting means including fluid flow through loader devices and means to removably fix said loader devices for rotation with said shaft means, said loader devices being arranged about said axis in an annularly spaced relationship and said loader devices being dimensioned to receive at least one of said baskets and including cover means for releasably retaining said baskets therewithin and for resiliently constraining said articles from movement within said baskets; and flow means connectable with a source of treating fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said fluid essentially radially outwardly of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 3, wherein four loader devices are fixed to said shaft means, said articles are food containers arranged in at least two layers within each of said baskets by end insertion of said containers through said end wall thereof, and said layers of containers in baskets of each said loader device being disposed to extend transversely of said axis and at essentially right angles relative to layers of containers in baskets of adjacent circumferentially spaced loader devices.

Claim 7

A pressure vessel comprising in combination: a shell having an access opening bounded by annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell surface means for closing said access opening; a shaft assembly for supporting articles to be treated within said shell; a trolley supported for movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means for supporting said door on said trolley for movement therewith between access opening closed and opened positions and for permitting movements of said door relative to said trolley as required to arrange said door surface means for proper sealing engagement with said shell surface means when said door is moved into said closed position; and assembly mounting and drive means extending through said door in a fluid pressure sealed relatively movable relationship therewith for rotating said shaft assembly about an axis relative to said door and said trolley and said shell and for couPling said shaft assembly to said trolley for movements therewith whereby to removably insert said shaft assembly within said shell as said door is moved between said closed and opened positions.

Claim 8

A pressure vessel comprising in combination: a shell having an access opening bounded by annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell surface means for closing said access opening; a shaft assembly for supporting articles to be treated within said shell; a trolley supported for movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means for supporting said door on said trolley for movement therewith between access opening closed and opened positions and for permitting movements of said door relative to said trolley as required to arrange said door surface means for proper sealing engagement with said shell surface means when said door is moved into said closed position; and assembly mounting and drive means extending through said door in a fluid pressure sealed relatively movable relationship therewith for rotating said shaft assembly about an axis relative to said door and said trolley and said shell and for couPling said shaft assembly to said trolley for movements therewith whereby to removably insert said shaft assembly within said shell as said door is moved between said closed and opened positions.

Claim 9

A pressure vessel comprising in combination: a shell having an access opening bounded by an annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell sealing surface means for closing said access opening; a trolley supported for movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means for supporting said door on said trolley for movement therewith between access opening closed and open positions; shaft means; shaft means mounting and drive means extending through said door in a fluid pressure sealed relatively movable relationship therewith for rotating said shaft means about an axis relative to said door and said trolley and said shell and for coupling said shaft means to said trolley for movement therewith whereby said shaft means is removably inserted axially into said shell as said door is moved between said closed and opened positions; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin; basket mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequal distances from said axis; and flow means connectable with a source of treating fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said fluid essentially radially of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles.

Claim 10

A pressure vessel comprising in combination: a shell having an access opening bounded by an annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell sealing surface means for closing said access opening; a trolley supported for movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means for supporting said door on said trolley for movement therewith between access opening closed and open positions; shaft means; shaft means mounting and drive means extending through said door in a fluid pressure sealed relatively movable relationship therewith for rotating said shaft means about an axis relative to said door and said trolley and said shell and for coupling said shaft means to said trolley for movement therewith whereby said shaft means is removably inserted axially into said shell as said door is moved between said closed and opened positions; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin; basket mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequal distances from said axis; and flow means connectable with a source of treating fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said fluid essentially radially of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles.

Claim 11

A pressure vessel according to claim 6, wherein said flow means includes a flow conduit extending through the end wall of said shell opposite to said access opening, a flow passageway extending axially within said shaft means and a plurality of flow apertures in communication with said flow passageway, said flow apertures being spaced apart lengthwise of said shaft means and opening radially therethrough, and shaft means and said flow conduit are arranged in a telescopic relationship.

Claim 12

A pressure vessel according to claim 6, wherein each of said baskets has an open wall through which said articles may be freely inserted into and withdrawn therefrom, and said basket mounting means includes fluid flow through loaded devices and means to removably fix said loaded devices for rotation with said shaft means, said loader devices being arranged about said axis in an annularly spaced reltionship, and said loader devices being dimensioned to receive at least one of said baskets and including cover means for releasably retaining said baskets therewithin and for resiliently constraining said articles from movement within said baskets.

Claim 13

A pressure vessel according to claim 6, wherein said shaft means includes a main shaft means rotatable about said axis and a plurality of secondary shaft means carried for rotation with said main shaft and spaced substantially equally apart annularly thereof, each said secondary shaft means being rotatable about a secondary axis arranged parallel to said axis of rotation of said main shaft means, said basket mounting means mounting pluralities of said baskets on each of said secondary shaft means for rotation about its associated secondary axis, and said flow means directing said streams radially of each said

Claim 14

A pressure vessel comprising in combination: a shell having an access opening bounded by annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell sealing surface means for closing said access opening and having three apertures extending therethrough; a trolley supported for movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means for supporting said door on said trolley for movement therewith between access opening closed and open positions and for permitting movements of said door relative to said trolley as requiRed to arrange said door surface means in proper sealing engagement with said shell surface means when said door is moved into said closed positions; shaft means; inner and outer bearing means for supporting said shaft means for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise of said shell; first support means for supporting said inner bearing means on said shell for movement lengthwise therewithin; second support means for supporting said outer bearing means on said trolley whereby said shaft means is removably inserted into said shell when said door is moved between said closed and open positions, said second support means including a pair of pin members arranged to freely extend one through each of a pair of said door apertures for connection adjacent opposite ends thereof to said trolley and to said outer bearing means; a pair of flexible metal bellows arranged one substantially concentrically outwardly of each of said pin members, said bellows being affixed adjacent opposite ends thereof to said pin members and to said door; drive means for rotating said shaft means about said axis, said drive means including motor means carried by said trolley, a drive shaft extending through a third of said door apertures for both rotary and reciprocating movements, inner flexible coupling means for connecting an inner end of said drive shaft to said shaft means, outer flexible coupling means for connecting an outer end of said drive shaft to said motor means; means for providing a fluid pressure seal between said door and said drive shaft; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin; mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequal distances from said axis; and flow means connectible with a source of treating fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said fluid essentially radially of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles.

Claim 15

A pressure vessel comprising in combination: a shell having an access opening bounded by annular sealing surface means; a door having annular sealing surface means engageable with said shell sealing surface means for closing said access opening and having three apertures extending therethrough; a trolley supported for movement relative to said access opening; door mounting means for supporting said door on said trolley for movement therewith between access opening closed and open positions and for permitting movements of said door relative to said trolley as requiRed to arrange said door surface means in proper sealing engagement with said shell surface means when said door is moved into said closed positions; shaft means; inner and outer bearing means for supporting said shaft means for rotation about an axis extending lengthwise of said shell; first support means for supporting said inner bearing means on said shell for movement lengthwise therewithin; second support means for supporting said outer bearing means on said trolley whereby said shaft means is removably inserted into said shell when said door is moved between said closed and open positions, said second support means including a pair of pin members arranged to freely extend one through each of a pair of said door apertures for connection adjacent opposite ends thereof to said trolley and to said outer bearing means; a pair of flexible metal bellows arranged one substantially concentrically outwardly of each of said pin members, said bellows being affixed adjacent opposite ends thereof to said pin members and to said door; drive means for rotating said shaft means about said axis, said drive means including motor means carried by said trolley, a drive shaft extending through a third of said door apertures for both rotary and reciprocating movements, inner flexible coupling means for connecting an inner end of said drive shaft to said shaft means, outer flexible coupling means for connecting an outer end of said drive shaft to said motor means; means for providing a fluid pressure seal between said door and said drive shaft; a plurality of perforated baskets, each of said baskets being adapted to removably carry a plurality of articles therewithin; mounting means for removably mounting said baskets on said shaft means, said baskets when mounted positioning said articles carried therewithin at unequal distances from said axis; and flow means connectible with a source of treating fluid for directing a plurality of streams of said fluid essentially radially of said axis for flow through said baskets in surface contact with said articles.

Claim 16

A pressure vessel according to claim 10, wherein said flow means includes a flow conduit extending through the end wall of said shell opposite to said access opening, a flow passageway extending axially within said shaft means and a plurality of flow apertures in communication with said flow passageway, said flow apertures being spaced apart lengthwise of said shaft means and opening radially therethrough, and said shaft means and said flow conduit are arranged in a telescopic relationship.

Claim 17

A pressure vessel according to claim 11, wherein each of said baskets has an open wall through which said articles may be freely inserted into and withdrawn therefrom, and said basket mounting means includes fluid flow through loaded devices and means to removably fix said loaded devices for rotation with said shaft means, said loader devices being arranged about said axis in an annularly spaced relationship, and said loader devices being dimensioned to receive at least one of said baskets and including cover means for releasably retaining said baskets therewithin and for resiliently constraining said articles from movement within said baskets.

Claim 18

A pressure vessel according to claim 11, wherein said shaft means carries means to adjustably vary the size of said flow apertures, and said drive means includes means to vary the rotational speed of said shaft means.