US3891783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for cheese manufacture
Assignee: New Zealand Dairy Research Institute
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Filing: 1974-03-04
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Granted: 1975-06-24
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Expires: 1994-03-04
Abstract
Abstract Cheese is make using a process and apparatus wherein drained curd passes by its own weight downwardly through a vertical curd fusion chamber. The chamber has an upper portion having sides which are substantially parallel and a lower tapered portion having a horizontal cross section which diminishes gradually towards the lower end of the chamber. While descenting through the chamber, the curd remains in the chamber until a desired pH is obtained and whey retained by the curd is removed through drains in the external wall of the chamber and through internal slotted vertical pipes located internally within the chamber so as to be surrounded by curd. Prior to discharge from the lower tapered portion of the chamber, the descending curd is divided into a plurality of separate columns and the columns are cut into pieces during or after discharge.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Struan Robertson
- 👤 Raymond Bysouth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:02
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J25/00; A01J25/002; A01J25/11; A01J25/111; A01J25/112
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
307 words
A METHOD OF CHEESEMAKING USING A VERTICAL CURED FUSION CHAMBER WITH AN UPPER ADMITTING PORTION HAVING SIDES WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND A LOWER TAPERED PORTION TEMINATING AT IT LOWER END IN A DISCHARGING PORTION SO THAT CURD IS ADMITTED TO SAID UPPER PORTION AND IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID LOWER PORTION, SAID CURD FUSION CHAMER IN SAID TAPERED PORTION HAVING A HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION WHICH DIMINISHES GRADUALLY IN AREA BETWEEN SAID ADMITTING PORTION AND SAID DISCHANGING PORTION, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. ELEVATING ADQUATELY DRAINED CURED THROUGH PENUMATIC CONVEYING APPARATUS TO SAID UPPER ADMITTING PORTION OF SAID FUSION CHAMBER, B. FEEDING THE CURD TO SIAD UPPER ADMITTING PORTION THROUGH A HORIZONTAL NOZZLE ARRANGED TANGENTIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE WALLS OF SAID UPPER ADMITTING PORTION, C. ALLOWING THE CURD TO REMAIN IN THE FUSION CHAMBER UNTIL A DESIRED HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION IS DEVELOPED THEREIN, D. DRAINING THE CURD BY DRAINS BOTH IN THE EXTERNAL WALL OF SAID CURD FUNSION CHAMBER AND BY INTERNAL SLOTTED VERTICAL PIPES WHICH IN USE ALSO SERVE TO RESIST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CURD AS IT PASSES DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE CHAMBER. E. DISCHARGING THE CURD FROM SAID DISCHARGING PORTION SUCH THAT CURED FIRST ADMITTED TO SAID CHAMBER IS FIRST DISCHARGED THEREFROM, CAUSING CONSOLIDATION TO OCCUR IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DIRECTION DURING PASSAGE OF THE CURD THROUGH SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER, F. DIVIDING THE DESCENDING CURD INTO A PLUTALITY OF SEPARATE COLUMNS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE FROM SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER, G. CUTTING THE DISCHARGED COLUMNS OF CURD INTO BLOCKS AS IT IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID FUSION CHAMBER, AND H. DELIVERING THE DISCHARGED BLOCKS OF CURD TO A CURD MILL FOR FURTHER MILLING IN A MANNER SUCH THAT THE BLOCKS ARE ORIENTED SO THAT MILLED FINGERS OF CURD ARE FORMED WITH THE LENGTH OF EACH FINGER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRETION OF CURD FLOW.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
307 words
A METHOD OF CHEESEMAKING USING A VERTICAL CURED FUSION CHAMBER WITH AN UPPER ADMITTING PORTION HAVING SIDES WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND A LOWER TAPERED PORTION TEMINATING AT IT LOWER END IN A DISCHARGING PORTION SO THAT CURD IS ADMITTED TO SAID UPPER PORTION AND IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID LOWER PORTION, SAID CURD FUSION CHAMER IN SAID TAPERED PORTION HAVING A HORIZONTAL CROSS SECTION WHICH DIMINISHES GRADUALLY IN AREA BETWEEN SAID ADMITTING PORTION AND SAID DISCHANGING PORTION, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. ELEVATING ADQUATELY DRAINED CURED THROUGH PENUMATIC CONVEYING APPARATUS TO SAID UPPER ADMITTING PORTION OF SAID FUSION CHAMBER, B. FEEDING THE CURD TO SIAD UPPER ADMITTING PORTION THROUGH A HORIZONTAL NOZZLE ARRANGED TANGENTIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE WALLS OF SAID UPPER ADMITTING PORTION, C. ALLOWING THE CURD TO REMAIN IN THE FUSION CHAMBER UNTIL A DESIRED HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION IS DEVELOPED THEREIN, D. DRAINING THE CURD BY DRAINS BOTH IN THE EXTERNAL WALL OF SAID CURD FUNSION CHAMBER AND BY INTERNAL SLOTTED VERTICAL PIPES WHICH IN USE ALSO SERVE TO RESIST DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF THE CURD AS IT PASSES DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE CHAMBER. E. DISCHARGING THE CURD FROM SAID DISCHARGING PORTION SUCH THAT CURED FIRST ADMITTED TO SAID CHAMBER IS FIRST DISCHARGED THEREFROM, CAUSING CONSOLIDATION TO OCCUR IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL DIRECTION DURING PASSAGE OF THE CURD THROUGH SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER, F. DIVIDING THE DESCENDING CURD INTO A PLUTALITY OF SEPARATE COLUMNS PRIOR TO DISCHARGE FROM SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER, G. CUTTING THE DISCHARGED COLUMNS OF CURD INTO BLOCKS AS IT IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID FUSION CHAMBER, AND H. DELIVERING THE DISCHARGED BLOCKS OF CURD TO A CURD MILL FOR FURTHER MILLING IN A MANNER SUCH THAT THE BLOCKS ARE ORIENTED SO THAT MILLED FINGERS OF CURD ARE FORMED WITH THE LENGTH OF EACH FINGER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRETION OF CURD FLOW.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the steps of leaving the curd in the curd fusion chamber for a period of approximately two hours, continually adding curd to that already in the chamber during said period and before discharge of curd is allowed; regulating the rate of discharge from and rate of feed to the curd fusion chamber after discharge of curd therefrom has commenced so that if desired a substantially constant level of curd is maintained in the chamber during the major part of the discharging process.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the step of using the rate of milling of the blocks of curd to control the rate of delivery of blocks for milling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 which includes the step of utilising a low friction material on converging surfaces of said curd fusion chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of cheesemaking as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dividing of the discharging curd into a plurality of columns of curd is effected by means of a two-sided angle plate or tent centrally disposed in said curd fusion chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of cheesemaking using a vertical curd fusion chamber with an upper admitting portion having sides which are substantially parallel and a lower tapered portion terminating at its lower end in a discharging portion so that curd is admitted to said upper portion and is discharged from said lower portion, said curd fusion chamber in said tapered portion having a horizontal cross-section which diminishes gradually in area between said admitting portion and said discharging portion, said method comprising the steps of: a. elevating adequately drained curd through pneumatic conveying apparatus to said upper admitting portion of said fusion chamber; b. feeding the curd to said upper admitting portion through a horizontal nozzle arranged tangentially with respect to the walls of said upper admitting portion; c. allowing the curd to remain in the fusion chamber until a desired hydrogen ion concentration is developed therein; d. draining the curd by drains both in the external wall of said curd fusioN chamber and by internal slotted vertical pipes which in use also serve to resist downward movement of the curd as it passes downwardly through the chamber; e. discharging the curd from said discharging portion such that curd first admitted to said fusion chamber is first discharged therefrom, causing consolidation to occur in a substantially vertical direction during passage of the curd through said curd fusion chamber; f. dividing the descending curd into a plurality of separate columns prior to discharge from said curd fusion chamber; g. forcing the discharged columns of curd through cutters which cut the curd into bars; and h. operating transverse cutters to cut the bars into fingers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
270 words
A method of cheesemaking using a vertical curd fusion chamber with an upper admitting portion having sides which are substantially parallel and a lower tapered portion terminating at its lower end in a discharging portion so that curd is admitted to said upper portion and is discharged from said lower portion, said curd fusion chamber in said tapered portion having a horizontal cross-section which diminishes gradually in area between said admitting portion and said discharging portion, said method comprising the steps of: a. elevating adequately drained curd through pneumatic conveying apparatus to said upper admitting portion of said fusion chamber; b. feeding the curd to said upper admitting portion through a horizontal nozzle arranged tangentially with respect to the walls of said upper admitting portion; c. allowing the curd to remain in the fusion chamber until a desired hydrogen ion concentration is developed therein; d. draining the curd by drains both in the external wall of said curd fusioN chamber and by internal slotted vertical pipes which in use also serve to resist downward movement of the curd as it passes downwardly through the chamber; e. discharging the curd from said discharging portion such that curd first admitted to said fusion chamber is first discharged therefrom, causing consolidation to occur in a substantially vertical direction during passage of the curd through said curd fusion chamber; f. dividing the descending curd into a plurality of separate columns prior to discharge from said curd fusion chamber; g. forcing the discharged columns of curd through cutters which cut the curd into bars; and h. operating transverse cutters to cut the bars into fingers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
309 words
APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING CHEESE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A VERTICAL CURD FUSION CHAMBER WITH AN UPPER ADMITTING PORTION HAVING SIDES WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND A LOWER TAPERED PORTION HAVING A CROSS SECTION WHICH DECREASES GRADUALLY IN AREA FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF SAID LOWER PORTION, PNEUMATIC FEEDING MEANS FOR ELEVATING DRAINED CURD TO SAID UPER ADMITTING PORTION: SAID FEEDING MEANS TERMINATING AT SAID ADMITTING PORTION IN A HORIZONTAL NOZZLE ARRANGED TANGENTIALLY WITH REPRECT TO SAID ADMITTING PORTION SO THAT THE CURD IS DEPOSITED IN THE VICINITY OF THE WALLS OF THE CHAMBER ON TOP OF CURD ALREADY IN SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER, SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER HAVING DIMENSIONS SUCH THAT CURD MAY BE HELD THEREIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT A REQUIRED HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION TO BE OBTAINED AFTER A SUITABLE PERIOD OF TIME OF HOLDING, AN EXTERNAL DRAINING SYSTEM INCLUDING MEMBERS DEFINING APERTURES IN THE WALLS OF SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER LEADING TO PASSAGEWAYS OUTSIDE THE CURD FUSION CHAMBER, AN INTERNAL DRAINING SYSTEM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SLOTTED VERTICAL PIPES DISPOSED INTERNALLY WITHIN THE CURD FUSION CHAMBER SO AS TO BE SURROUNDED BY CURD IN USE, DELIVERY MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID LOWER PORTION FOR DELIVERING CURD FROM SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER IN A MANNER SUCH THAT CURD FIRST FED TO THE CURD FUSION CHAMBER IS FIRST DISCHARGED THEREFROM, SAID DELIVERY MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DELIVERY TUBES WHICH SEPARATE THE DESCENDING CURD INTO A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE COL: INUMNS; MEANS FOR CUTTING THE DISCHARGED COLUMNS OF CURD INTO BLOCKS AS IT IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID FUSION CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE DISCHARGED BLOCKS OF CURD TO A CURD MILL FOR FURTHER MILLING, SUCH THAT THE BLOCKS ARE ORIENTED SO THAT MILLED FINGERS OF CURD ARE FORMED WITH THE LENGTH OF EACH FINGER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF CURD FLOW.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
309 words
APPARATUS FOR USE IN MAKING CHEESE, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING: A VERTICAL CURD FUSION CHAMBER WITH AN UPPER ADMITTING PORTION HAVING SIDES WHICH ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL AND A LOWER TAPERED PORTION HAVING A CROSS SECTION WHICH DECREASES GRADUALLY IN AREA FROM TOP TO BOTTOM OF SAID LOWER PORTION, PNEUMATIC FEEDING MEANS FOR ELEVATING DRAINED CURD TO SAID UPER ADMITTING PORTION: SAID FEEDING MEANS TERMINATING AT SAID ADMITTING PORTION IN A HORIZONTAL NOZZLE ARRANGED TANGENTIALLY WITH REPRECT TO SAID ADMITTING PORTION SO THAT THE CURD IS DEPOSITED IN THE VICINITY OF THE WALLS OF THE CHAMBER ON TOP OF CURD ALREADY IN SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER, SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER HAVING DIMENSIONS SUCH THAT CURD MAY BE HELD THEREIN FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SUFFICIENT TO PERMIT A REQUIRED HYDROGEN ION CONCENTRATION TO BE OBTAINED AFTER A SUITABLE PERIOD OF TIME OF HOLDING, AN EXTERNAL DRAINING SYSTEM INCLUDING MEMBERS DEFINING APERTURES IN THE WALLS OF SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER LEADING TO PASSAGEWAYS OUTSIDE THE CURD FUSION CHAMBER, AN INTERNAL DRAINING SYSTEM INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SLOTTED VERTICAL PIPES DISPOSED INTERNALLY WITHIN THE CURD FUSION CHAMBER SO AS TO BE SURROUNDED BY CURD IN USE, DELIVERY MEANS IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID LOWER PORTION FOR DELIVERING CURD FROM SAID CURD FUSION CHAMBER IN A MANNER SUCH THAT CURD FIRST FED TO THE CURD FUSION CHAMBER IS FIRST DISCHARGED THEREFROM, SAID DELIVERY MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DELIVERY TUBES WHICH SEPARATE THE DESCENDING CURD INTO A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE COL: INUMNS; MEANS FOR CUTTING THE DISCHARGED COLUMNS OF CURD INTO BLOCKS AS IT IS DISCHARGED FROM SAID FUSION CHAMBER, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE DISCHARGED BLOCKS OF CURD TO A CURD MILL FOR FURTHER MILLING, SUCH THAT THE BLOCKS ARE ORIENTED SO THAT MILLED FINGERS OF CURD ARE FORMED WITH THE LENGTH OF EACH FINGER SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DIRECTION OF CURD FLOW.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said delivery means comprises at least one delivery nozzle of a suitable cross section, upper parts of each nozzle having a slightly greater cross section than the lower parts thereof, so that there is a converging of the walls of each nozzle towards the orifice thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein a part of nozzles are placed side by side with a dividing two sided angle plate or tent, said dividing tent having side walls at a desired angle between each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said walls of said tent are hinged so that they may be turned away from each other before filling commences and closed to their operative position during starting up of the discharge process to cause at least some change in disposition or flow of the curd first deposited in the chamber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein closure means is provided in said fusion chamber at some distance above said delivery means said closure means being closed in use during starting up and then opened to cause at least some change in disposition or flow of the curd first deposited in the chamber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
99 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said delivery means includes at least one cut off closure means having cutting edges thereon and being such as to close said delivery means during filling and until hydrogen ion development is adequate for dischArge to commence; operating means for causing said cut off closure means to be operable in a manner such that when at least one bar of curd of suitable size has been extruded through said delivery means said cut off closure means cuts off said blocks of curd from the curd still remaining within said curd fusion chamber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein a hopper is provided for feeding said cut off blocks of curd to a curd mill which hopper is associated with a movable platform moveable between two positions, said platform being held in one position while the blocks of curd passing to said curd mill, are in contact therewith and door opening inhibiting means which prevents opening of said cut off doors while said platform is in said first position and when blocks of curd have been freed from contact with said platform by having been fed into said curd mill, said platform moves to an upper block receiving position and said door opening inhibiting means operates to cause said closure means to open to permit extrusion of further bars of curd for cutting into blocks.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said platform is pivoted on a horizontal pivot and a pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement actuates said platform to the raised disposition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said pneumatic feeding means comprises a rotary valve, means to create a flow of air in said feeding means, and outlet means adapted to feed the conveyed curd into an upper part of said curd fusion chamber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein a pressure switch operated by air pressure in said outlet means controls said rotary valve to prevent delivery of curd to said outlet means when air pressure in said outlet means rises above a predetermined level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said outlet means includes an enlarged outlet section adapted to reduce the velocity of flow of air and curd into said curd fusion chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 wherein curd is fed to the said curd fusion chamber from a means for draining whey from curds and whey which is normally produced in a cheese vat.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said means for draining the whey from curds and whey supplies drained curd to said pneumatic conveying means is through a reverse taper hopper which feeds curd to said rotary valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein air pressure supply means are provided adapted to supply air under pressure to the top of curd in said curd fusion chamber for the purpose of assisting in emptying said chamber of curd.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein a material of low coefficient of friction is applied to converging surfaces along the path of travel of the curd.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein said material of a low coefficient of friction comprises a coating of polytetrafluroethylene.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said internal draining system includes a two-sided plate or tent having side walls at a desired angle between each other, and said vertical pipes terminate on the apex of said tent.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said vertical pipes run into apertures leading to the interior of the tent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein tilting platform means is provided to receive the cut off blocks and deliver these blocks to said curd mill.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
260 words
Apparatus for use in making cheese, said apparatus comprising: a vertical curd fusion chamber with an upper admitting portion having sides which are substantially parallel and a lower tapered portion having a cross-section which decreases gradually in area from top to bottom of said lower portion; pneumatic feeding means for elevating drained curd to said upper admitting portion; said feeding means terminating at said admitting portion in a horizontal nozzle arranged tangentially with respect to said admitting portion so that the curd is deposited in the vicinity of the walls of the chamber on top of curd already in said curd fusion chamber; said curd fusion chamber having dimensions such that curd may be held therein for a period of time sufficient to permit a required hydrogen ion concentration to be obtained after a suitable period of time of holding; an external draining system including members defining apertures in the walls of said curd fusion chamber leading to passageways outside the curd fusion chamber; an internal draining system including a plurality of slotted vertical pipes disposed internally within the curd fusion chamber so as to be surrounded by curd in use; delivery means in the bottom of said lower portion for delivering curd from said curd fusion chamber in a manner such that curd first fed to the curd fussion chamber is first discharged therefrom, said delivery means including a plurality of delivery tubes which separate the descending curd into a plurality of separate columns; and cutting means associated with said delivery means adapted to cut delivered curd into fingers.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
260 words
Apparatus for use in making cheese, said apparatus comprising: a vertical curd fusion chamber with an upper admitting portion having sides which are substantially parallel and a lower tapered portion having a cross-section which decreases gradually in area from top to bottom of said lower portion; pneumatic feeding means for elevating drained curd to said upper admitting portion; said feeding means terminating at said admitting portion in a horizontal nozzle arranged tangentially with respect to said admitting portion so that the curd is deposited in the vicinity of the walls of the chamber on top of curd already in said curd fusion chamber; said curd fusion chamber having dimensions such that curd may be held therein for a period of time sufficient to permit a required hydrogen ion concentration to be obtained after a suitable period of time of holding; an external draining system including members defining apertures in the walls of said curd fusion chamber leading to passageways outside the curd fusion chamber; an internal draining system including a plurality of slotted vertical pipes disposed internally within the curd fusion chamber so as to be surrounded by curd in use; delivery means in the bottom of said lower portion for delivering curd from said curd fusion chamber in a manner such that curd first fed to the curd fussion chamber is first discharged therefrom, said delivery means including a plurality of delivery tubes which separate the descending curd into a plurality of separate columns; and cutting means associated with said delivery means adapted to cut delivered curd into fingers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
62 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said cutting means includes a grid of cutters arranged in said delivery means, some in one set of parallel planes and others in a further set of parallel planes substantially normal to the first set of parallel planes and a further cutter arranged to oscillate in a plane normal to the line of curd delivery.
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) | 1978-06-23 | 1978-12-23 | 1979-06-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-23 | 1982-12-23 | 1983-06-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-23 | 1986-12-23 | 1987-06-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |