Patent US3553107A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3873741A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3873741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air regulation in the pyrolysis of wood to produce liquid smoke for the treatment of food products
Assignee: Hickory Specialties Inc
•
Filing: 1973-02-05
•
Granted: 1975-03-25
•
Expires: 1993-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing a liquid smoke product to be used in imparting a wood smoke stained appearance and a wood smoke taste to comestibles. The method involves the controlled carbonization combustion of wood in the presence of a regulated critical concentration of air, the air being introduced in an amount from about 3 to about 50 cubic feet of air for each pound of wood burned.
Inventors
- 👤 Irving Melcer
- 👤 Louis Sair
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:02
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B4/00; A23B4/044; A23B4/052; A23B4/0526; A23L; A23L27/00; A23L27/20; A23L27/27
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
IN THE METHOD OOF CONTROLLED CARBONIZING COMBUSTION OF WOOD TO PRODUCE A LIQUID SMOKE PRODUCT FOR USE IN IMPARTING A WOOD-SMOKE-STAINED APPEARANCE AND A WOOD-SMOKE TASTE TO COMSETIBLE TREATED WITH SAID PRODUCT, WHICH METHOD INCLUDES THE STEPS OF: HEATING WOOD IN A CHAMBER IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OXYGENCONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE TO EFFECT THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF THE WOOD AND TO GENERATE SMOKE, CONTACTING SAID SMOKE WITH WATER TO PROVIDE AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT THEREOF AND TO CONDENSE AND TO RECOVER FROM SAID SMOKE A VOLATILE DISTILLATE CONTAINED THEREIN, AND SEPARATING FROM SAID CONDENSE VOLATILE DISTILLATE WATERINSOLUBLE COMPONENTS ENTRAINED THEREIN, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING PROVIDING, DURING HEATING OF THE WOOD IN THE CHAMBER, AIR IN A CONCENTRATION OF FROM ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 50 CUBIC FEET OF AIR FOR EACH POUND OF WOOD CARBONIZED,
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
IN THE METHOD OOF CONTROLLED CARBONIZING COMBUSTION OF WOOD TO PRODUCE A LIQUID SMOKE PRODUCT FOR USE IN IMPARTING A WOOD-SMOKE-STAINED APPEARANCE AND A WOOD-SMOKE TASTE TO COMSETIBLE TREATED WITH SAID PRODUCT, WHICH METHOD INCLUDES THE STEPS OF: HEATING WOOD IN A CHAMBER IN THE PRESENCE OF AN OXYGENCONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE TO EFFECT THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF THE WOOD AND TO GENERATE SMOKE, CONTACTING SAID SMOKE WITH WATER TO PROVIDE AN AQUEOUS EXTRACT THEREOF AND TO CONDENSE AND TO RECOVER FROM SAID SMOKE A VOLATILE DISTILLATE CONTAINED THEREIN, AND SEPARATING FROM SAID CONDENSE VOLATILE DISTILLATE WATERINSOLUBLE COMPONENTS ENTRAINED THEREIN, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING PROVIDING, DURING HEATING OF THE WOOD IN THE CHAMBER, AIR IN A CONCENTRATION OF FROM ABOUT 3 TO ABOUT 50 CUBIC FEET OF AIR FOR EACH POUND OF WOOD CARBONIZED,
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
101 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the separation from said condensed volatile distillate of water insoluble components entrained therein is carried out by the steps of: retaining the water extract of said smoke in a storage vessel in a physically undisturbed state for a finite time period to permit substantially complete precipitation of said water insoluble components from said water extract to provide two distinct layers in said vessel, said layers comprising a clear supernatant overlying a water insoluble tar-like residue, removing said clear supernatant from contact with said tar-like residue, and retaining said clear supernatant as said liquid smoke product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 and further comprising the steps of recirculating said aqueous extract of said smoke in a zone of contact with said smoke to increase in said extract the concentration of said volatile distillate contained in said smoke, thereby more effectively and efficiently to extract said smoke and to provide a liquid smoke product exhibiting enhanced smoke flavor and smoke-color-imparting capabilities when applied to comestibles treated therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the rate of recirculation of the water extract is in the range of from about 10 to about 80 liters of extract per pound of wood carbonized; whereby the yield of liquid smoke product is increased, flavor and color factors are improved, and carcinogens are eliminated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, during heating of said wood in said chamber, air is provided in a concentration of from about 5 to about 30 cubic feet of air for each pound of wood burned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, during heating of said wood in said chamber, air is provided in a concentration of from about 7 to about 20 cubic feet of air for each pound of wood burned.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A liquid smoke product produced in accordance with the method of claim 1 and characterized by improved color imparting capabilities, enhanced taste-imparting characteristics, freedom from carcinogenic material, and a high degree of dilutability.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US511288A
Cited
US1536696A
Cited
US2670295A
Cited
US3106473A
Cited
US3445248A
Cited
US3525674A
Cited
US3615729A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |