US3757533A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cryogenic freezer unit
Assignee: Union Carbide Industrial Gases Technology Corp
•
Filing: 1972-02-14
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Granted: 1973-09-11
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Expires: 1992-02-14
Abstract
Abstract A tunnel-type cryogenic freezing unit for freezing articles such as food which includes first and second housing sections which form a tunnel through which a conveyor moves the food, exposing means to move the second housing section away from the first housing section to expose the inside of the unit for ease in cleaning or otherwise maintaining the unit, and a accumulator means to collect any unused sprayed cryogenic liquid so that the food is again subjected to the freezing action of the liquid.
Inventors
- 👤 J Kent
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:03
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25D3/11; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/85; A23B2/88; F28; F28G; F28G13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for cryogenically freezing articles, comprising: a. a housing including an upper housing section mounted in sealed engagement with a lower housing section to form a tunnel, said upper housing section being supported on a plurality of legs, and said lower housing section being substantially U-shaped; b. conveyor means for conveying articles through said tunnel; c. suspension means suspending said conveyor means from said upper housing section; d. freeze means mounted with said upper housing section in said tunnel for cyrogenically freezing said articles as said conveying means conveys said articles through said tunnel; and e. expose means mounted with said upper and lower housing sections for moving said lower housing section downwardly a limited but sufficient distance away from said upper housing section and said conveyor means mounted thereon to an exposed position apart from said upper housing section whereby said conveyor means, freeze means and said upper and lower housing sections are exposed for cleaning or other maintenance operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for cryogenically freezing articles, comprising: a. a housing including an upper housing section mounted in sealed engagement with a lower housing section to form a tunnel, said upper housing section being supported on a plurality of legs, and said lower housing section being substantially U-shaped; b. conveyor means for conveying articles through said tunnel; c. suspension means suspending said conveyor means from said upper housing section; d. freeze means mounted with said upper housing section in said tunnel for cyrogenically freezing said articles as said conveying means conveys said articles through said tunnel; and e. expose means mounted with said upper and lower housing sections for moving said lower housing section downwardly a limited but sufficient distance away from said upper housing section and said conveyor means mounted thereon to an exposed position apart from said upper housing section whereby said conveyor means, freeze means and said upper and lower housing sections are exposed for cleaning or other maintenance operations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 in which said expose means includes: a. a hydraulic cylinder mounted on said upper housing section; and b. a piston and rod combination slidably, sealably mounted in said hydraulic cylinder, said rod being attached to said lower housing section whereby hydraulic fluid under pressure in said cylinder moves said lower housing section away from engagement with said upper housing section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a. said lower housing section including opposing side portions and a connecting portion connected to said opposing side portions, said side portions being positioned with respect to said upper housing section to form said tunnel; and b. seal means mounted on said opposing side portions and sealably engaging said upper housing section to seal said tunnel throughout the length thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: releasable clamp means attached to said upper and lower housing sections for locking said lower housing section in sealing engagement with said upper housing section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
85 words
The structure set forth in claim 4, in which said freeze means includes: a. a spray header mounted with said upper section for spraying a cryogenic fluid toward articles on said conveyor; b. said conveyor means conveying said articles in one direction through said tunnel; and c. circulating means mounted on said upper housing section for circulating said sprayed cryogenic fluid in said tunnel in a direction opposite to the movement of said articles whereby said articles are gradually frozen during movement through said tunnel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure set forth in claim 4 in which said upper and lower housing sections include: inside and outside walls of stainless steel having an insulating material disposed therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure set forth in claim 1 including: a. seal means disposed between said upper and lower housing sections; b. said seal means including a resilient member which extends between said first and second housing sections and a Teflon film covering said resilient member whereby said sealing means substantially resists embrittlement due to exposure to cryogenic conditions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: a. said freeze means includes spray means for spraying a cryogenic liquid toward said conveyor means; b. said conveyor means includes accumulator means for accumulating sprayed cryogenic liquid whereby said articles are further Exposed to said cryogenic liquid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure set forth in claim 8, including: a. said conveyor means includes a conveyor belt defined by upper and lower reaches; and b. said accumulator means includes a pan disposed between said upper and lower reaches and having a recess therein for receiving said sprayed cryogenic liquid whereby sprayed cryogenic liquid which has not evaporated accumulates in said recess.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure set forth in claim 8, including: said conveyor belt is flexible such that said conveyor belt sags at least partially into said recess whereby articles on said conveyor belt contact said accumulated cryogenic liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The structure set forth in claim 1, including: seal means disposed between said upper and lower housing sections, said seal means including adjacently positioned elongated seal bulb members extending the length of said housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The structure set forth in claim 11, including: said bulb members being wrapped in a film of Teflon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-10 | 1977-03-12 | 1977-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-10 | 1981-03-12 | 1981-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-10 | 1985-03-12 | 1985-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |