Process and apparatus for preparing fried edible products

Claim 2

An oven for the further frying of pre-fried product bodies under reduced pressure, comprising a closed housing with at least one supply sluice and at least one discharge sluice for the supply and discharge of said product bodies into and from said housing, means for closing said sluice, suction means for aspirating water vapor from said oven and for maintaining a reduced pressure in said oven when said sluices are closed, conveyor means for moving product bodies in the direction of said discharge sluice and for pushing said product bodies into oil contained in said housing, means for removing said product bodies from said oil before they enter said discharge sluice and means for the supply, discharge and circulation of said oil in said housing.

Claim 3

The oven of claim 1 which further comprises means for circulation of said oil in the direction of movement of said product bodies and separate means for circulating said oil in a direction transverse to said direction of movement of said product bodies.

Claim 4

The oven of claim 2 which comprises channels parallel to the direction of movement of said product bodies overflow means in said channels for conveying oil from the lower portion of said oven into said channels and oil discharge pipes for removal of the oil from said channels.

Claim 5

The oven of claim 2 wherein said conveyor means comprise a first belt conveyor formed by a grate with carriers stretched between two endless chains, and a second belt inclined obliquely upward from the discharge end of said first belt and discharging above a third conveyor, the discharge end of which is located above the discharge sluice (7).

Claim 6

The oven of claim 2, in which each said sluice comprises a first tube, the end of which directed to the oven housing is secuRed to a closed box, a second tube one end of which opens into and is secured to said housing and the other end of which is secured axially with respect to said first tube to said box, a lid at each end of said first tube, said lids being removable between a position in which the passage through said tube is shut off and a position in which said passage is open, each of said lids having two diametrically opposed trunnions rotatably connected with one end of a lever the other end of which lever is pivotally connected with a U-frame engaged by a piston rod, a spring on an extension of said rod between said lid and said U-frame, stops in the path of movement of said levers such that when said levers engage said stops, said lid is above said tube opening and in consequence of the displacement of said U-frame against the action of said spring, said lid moves vertically in the direction of the housing to the closed position.

Claim 7

The oven of claim 5, wherein the lower end of each tube tapers to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the upper end of said tube, the cone angle of the conical tube portion being less than 15*.

Claim 8

The oven of claim 6, wherein the upper ends of said levers are each pivotally secured to one end of a horizontal lever, the other end of which is pivotally connected to said U-frame, said horizontal levers being spring urged in the direction of said housing.

Claim 9

The oven of claim 1, which also comprises a sealable by-pass between at least two of said sluices.