US3844135A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling system for sausages
Assignee: Maplecrest Sausage Co Inc
•
Filing: 1973-03-22
•
Granted: 1974-10-29
•
Expires: 1993-03-22
Abstract
Abstract A cooling system for rapidly chilling cooked skinless sausages to a temperature at which such products can easily be peeled by automated mechanical peelers, such system including a cooling tunnel, a refrigeration unit therefor, a closed loop recirculation assembly with unique spray means operatively associated with the cooling tunnel and refrigeration unit, a pump for forcing a cold brine solution through the recirculation assembly, motor driven conveyors for advancing rods with sausages depending therefrom through the cooling tunnel, and variable speed transmission means for adjusting the rate of advance of the sausages through the tunnel. The spray means includes an elongated pipe near the top of the cooling tunnel with a plurality of longitudinally spaced outlets that discharge the brine solution into receptacles positioned below the outlets on a wire-mesh barrier. When the receptacles are filled to capacity, the excess solution overflows and passes downwardly through the barrier, which produces a fine mist-like spray or shower of minute droplets. The droplets, after cooling the sausages passing through the tunnel, are collected in a reservoir at the bottom of the tunnel and then pumped upwardly into the inlet end of the elongated pipe.
Inventors
- 👤 A Zamiara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 10:32
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25D; F25D17/00; F25D17/02; A; A23; A23B; A23B4/00; A23B4/06; A23B4/062; F25D13/00; F25D13/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
273 words
A cooling system for chilling sausages comprising a. a cooling tunnel with an inlet port and an outlet port, a reservoir formed within said tunnel, b. a refrigeration unit including a heat exchanger, an inlet conduit connected between one side of said heat exchanger and the inlet port of said tunnel, and an outlet conduit connected between the other side of said heat exchanger and the outlet port of said tunnel, c. a cooling solution, d. pump means for forcing said cooling solution collected within said reservoir to circulate through said cooling tunnel and said refrigeration unit, e. chain means extending longitudinally through said cooling tunnel, said chain means being adapted to advance sausages through the tunnel, f. motor means to drive said pump means and said chain means, g. spray means disposed within said cooling tunnel with the inlet for said spray means being connected to the inlet port of said cooling tunnel, h. said spray means comprising an elongated pipe that extends longitudinally through said tunnel near the top thereof a plurality of outlets spaced along said pipe, the invention being characterized by a barrier formed of wire-like mesh located beneath said pipe and extending longitudinally through said tunnel, and a plurality of upwardly opening receptacles positioned atop said barrier in alignment with said outlets of said pipe, whereby the cooling solution forced through the pipe by said pump means exits through said plurality of outlets, fills said receptacles, and then spills over said receptacles and passes through said wire-like mesh barrier to form a fine mist of minute droplets within the cooling chamber which contact the sausages to chill Same.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
273 words
A cooling system for chilling sausages comprising a. a cooling tunnel with an inlet port and an outlet port, a reservoir formed within said tunnel, b. a refrigeration unit including a heat exchanger, an inlet conduit connected between one side of said heat exchanger and the inlet port of said tunnel, and an outlet conduit connected between the other side of said heat exchanger and the outlet port of said tunnel, c. a cooling solution, d. pump means for forcing said cooling solution collected within said reservoir to circulate through said cooling tunnel and said refrigeration unit, e. chain means extending longitudinally through said cooling tunnel, said chain means being adapted to advance sausages through the tunnel, f. motor means to drive said pump means and said chain means, g. spray means disposed within said cooling tunnel with the inlet for said spray means being connected to the inlet port of said cooling tunnel, h. said spray means comprising an elongated pipe that extends longitudinally through said tunnel near the top thereof a plurality of outlets spaced along said pipe, the invention being characterized by a barrier formed of wire-like mesh located beneath said pipe and extending longitudinally through said tunnel, and a plurality of upwardly opening receptacles positioned atop said barrier in alignment with said outlets of said pipe, whereby the cooling solution forced through the pipe by said pump means exits through said plurality of outlets, fills said receptacles, and then spills over said receptacles and passes through said wire-like mesh barrier to form a fine mist of minute droplets within the cooling chamber which contact the sausages to chill Same.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 1 wherein said spray means is further characterized by a rigid frame having horizontally extending lips at the opposite side of said frame for supporting said barrier, and a pair of channels extending longitudinally through said tunnel, the lips of said barrier being positioned on said channels to retain said barrier at a fixed position spaced below said elongated pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
A cooling system as defined in claim 1 wherein a variable speed transmission interconnects said motor means and said chain means so that said chain means can be advanced at a variable speed, said chain means comprising a pair of parallel chains spaced on opposite interior sides of the cooling tunnel, said variable speed transmission including a first and second gear at one side of the cooling tunnel, said first gear being driven by said motor means at a rate altered by a manual control element, a first drive chain interconnecting said first and second gears, a third and fourth gear at the opposite side of the cooling tunnel, a second drive chain interconnecting said third and fourth gears, and a shaft extending laterally across said cooling tunnel to interconnect said first and third gears.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-28 | 1978-04-29 | 1978-10-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-28 | 1982-04-29 | 1982-10-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-28 | 1986-04-29 | 1986-10-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |