Apparatus for processing food

Claim 2

Apparatus for heat processing food comprising: a. a pressure vessel having a door through which food may be placed in the vessel or removed therefrom, b. means for introducing gas into said vessel to subject food therein to a superatmospheric pressure, c. means for introducing steam into said vessel to heat food therein, said steam introducing means defining a plurality of spaced steam injection zones and means for individually regulating the injection of steam into each zone according to the temperature in each zone, d. means for injecting a coolant into said vessel to rapidly cool food therein, e. an exhaust outlet for said vessel, and f. means operable after the termination of operation of said steam injecting mean for simultaneously operating said coolant injecting means and opening said exhaust outlet to permit spent coolant to exit the vessel.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said gas introducing means includes a motor driven valve, said apparatus further including a pressure sensitive switch for controlling said valve and operative to open the valve to admit gas under pressure when the pressure in the vessel is less than a predetermined level.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 further including first and second pressure sensitive switch means, one of said switch means being operative to control said gas introducing means to admit gas into the vessel until a first predetermined pressure is attained therein prior to operation of said steam introducing means and the other of said pressure sensitive switch means being operative to control said gas introducing means during operation of said steam introducing means such that a second predetermined pressure greater than said first predetermined pressure may be attained within said vessel.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 further including sequencing means responsive to the attainment of said first predetermined pressure within said vessel for actuating said steam introducing means and for temporarily disabling said gas introducing means during the initial portion of operation of said steam introducing means and thereafter enabling said gas introducing means to respond to said other pressure sensitive switch means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for heat processing food comprising: a pressure vessel having a door through which food may be placed in the vessel or removed therefrom; means for introducing gas into said vessel to subject food therein to a superatmospheric pressure and including a gas inlet valve; means for introducing steam into said vessel to heat food therein and including a steam inlet valve; means for injecting a coolant into said vessel to rapidly cool food therein and including a coolant inlet valve; vent means for said vessel including a vent valve; and control means for said valves including first pressure responsive means for initially opening said gas inlet valve and maintaining the same open until a first predetermined pressure is attained within the vessel, means responsive to the attainment of said first predetermined pressure for simultaneously closing said gas inlet valve for a predetermined period of time and for opening said steam inlet valve to increase the pressure within said vessel to a second predetermined pressure above said predetermined pressure, Overriding means for said steam inlet valve for closing the same whenever a predetermined temperature is exceeded in said vessel, means operative after said predetermined time period has elapsed for opening said gas inlet valve as required to maintain said predetermined pressure level within said vessel, means for closing said steam inlet valve when the food in the vessel has reached a predetermined condition, means responsive to said steam inlet valve closing means for opening said coolant inlet valve, means responsive to a predetermined cooling of the food within the vessel for closing said coolant inlet valve, and means operative in response to said coolant valve closing means for opening said vent valve to release the pressure within the vessel.

Claim 7

Apparatus for heat processing food comprising: a pressure vessel having a door through which food may be placed in the vessel or removed therefrom; means for introducing gas into said vessel to subject food therein to a superatmospheric pressure and including a gas inlet valve; means for introducing steam into said vessel to heat food therein and including a steam inlet valve; means for injecting a coolant into said vessel to rapidly cool food therein and including a coolant inlet valve; vent means for said vessel including a vent valve; and control means for said valves including first pressure responsive means for initially opening said gas inlet valve and maintaining the same open until a first predetermined pressure is attained within the vessel, means responsive to the attainment of said first predetermined pressure for simultaneously closing said gas inlet valve for a predetermined period of time and for opening said steam inlet valve to increase the pressure within said vessel to a second predetermined pressure above said predetermined pressure, Overriding means for said steam inlet valve for closing the same whenever a predetermined temperature is exceeded in said vessel, means operative after said predetermined time period has elapsed for opening said gas inlet valve as required to maintain said predetermined pressure level within said vessel, means for closing said steam inlet valve when the food in the vessel has reached a predetermined condition, means responsive to said steam inlet valve closing means for opening said coolant inlet valve, means responsive to a predetermined cooling of the food within the vessel for closing said coolant inlet valve, and means operative in response to said coolant valve closing means for opening said vent valve to release the pressure within the vessel.

Claim 8

Apparatus for heat processing food comprising: means defining a pressure vessel in which food to be processed may be disposed; first means for introducing a gas into said vessel to raise the pressure in the vessel to above atmospheric pressure; second means for introducing steam into said vessel to heat the contents of the vessel and to further raise the pressure therein; third means for introducing a coolant into said vessel to cool the contents of the same; means for releasing the pressure in said vessel; and control means for said first, second and third introducing means and said pressure releasing means for sequentially activating said first introducing means and said second introducing means, said third introducing means, and thereafter, said pressure releasing means.

Claim 9

Apparatus for heat processing food comprising: means defining a pressure vessel in which food to be processed may be disposed; first means for introducing a gas into said vessel to raise the pressure in the vessel to above atmospheric pressure; second means for introducing steam into said vessel to heat the contents of the vessel and to further raise the pressure therein; third means for introducing a coolant into said vessel to cool the contents of the same; means for releasing the pressure in said vessel; and control means for said first, second and third introducing means and said pressure releasing means for sequentially activating said first introducing means and said second introducing means, said third introducing means, and thereafter, said pressure releasing means.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said second introducing means comprises a plurality of spaced steam admitting zones each in communication with a source of steam and further including temperature control means, one of each zone, for causing the admission of steam in the associated zone whenever the temperature in that zone falls below a predetermined level.