Patent US3904779A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3904779A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Washing and cooling cottage cheese curd
Assignee: GRACE MACHINERY Co Inc
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Filing: 1973-07-02
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1993-07-02
Abstract
Abstract Process and apparatus for separating, washing and/or cooling food products wherein food particles transported in a fluid are introduced into the lower portion of a processing chamber. Fluid is passed upwardly through the particles and removed from the upper portion of the chamber, while the particles remain in the lower portion of the chamber. The particles are cooled by washing them with fluids at successively lower temperatures, and a single volume of fluid can be used for successive washes to minimize waste disposal, or to result in so little waste that it could be concentrated and dried.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Horace Hinds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:53
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01J; A01J25/00; A01J25/11; A01J25/118; A23; A23N; A23N12/00; A23N12/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
In a process for washing and cooling cooked cottage cheese curd utilizing an upright tank having an enclosed washing chamber with a cylindrical side wall and a downwardly extending conical bottom wall, disposed coaxially of the side wall with an inlet and outlet passageway at the apex of the bottom wall, the steps of introducing a first batch of cooked curds and whey into the chamber through the passageway at the apex of the bottom wall of the tank, introducing liquid from a storage tank into the lower portion of the chamber through a plurality of inlets in the bottom wall to displace the whey upwardly and out of the chamber near the top of the tank, introducing fresh water into the lower portion of the chamber to displace the liquid upwardly and out of the chamber near the top of the tank, storing the displaced liquid, discharging the first batch of curd through the passageway at the apex of the bottom wall of the tank, introducing a second batch of curd into the bottom of the chamber through the passageway at the apex of the bottom wall and passing the stored liquid upwardly through the second batch of curd in the chamber through said plurality of inlets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a process for washing and cooling cooked cottage cheese curd utilizing an upright tank having an enclosed washing chamber with a cylindrical side wall and a downwardly extending conical bottom wall, disposed coaxially of the side wall with an inlet and outlet passageway at the apex of the bottom wall, the steps of introducing a first batch of cooked curds and whey into the chamber through the passageway at the apex of the bottom wall of the tank, introducing liquid from a storage tank into the lower portion of the chamber through a plurality of inlets in the bottom wall to displace the whey upwardly and out of the chamber near the top of the tank, introducing fresh water into the lower portion of the chamber to displace the liquid upwardly and out of the chamber near the top of the tank, storing the displaced liquid, discharging the first batch of curd through the passageway at the apex of the bottom wall of the tank, introducing a second batch of curd into the bottom of the chamber through the passageway at the apex of the bottom wall and passing the stored liquid upwardly through the second batch of curd in the chamber through said plurality of inlets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as in claim 1 together with the additional step of cooling the stored liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as in claim 1 wherein the liquid introduced from the storage tank includes whey at a temperature lower than the temperature of the whey it displaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
160 words
IN A PROCESS FOR WASHING COTTAGE CHEESE CURD UTILIZING AN UPRIGHT ENCLOSED TANK HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL AND A BOTTOM WALL WITH A CONICALLY RAISED CENTRAL PORTION DISPOSED COAXIALLY OF THE SIDE WALL AND AN ANNULAR OUTER PORTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK BETWEEN THE RAISED PORTION AND THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL, THE STEPS OF: INTRODUCING CURD IN A DIRECTION TANGENTIAL TO THE TANK SIDE WALL INTO THE ANNULAR OUTER PORTION OF THE TANK THROUGH AN INLET PASSAGEWAY TANGENTIAL TO THE CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL, INTRODUCING A WASHING FLUID INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE TANK IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY TANGENTIAL TO THE SIDE WALL, PASSING THE WASHING FLUID UPWARDLY THROUGH THE CURD, REMOVING THE WASHING FLUID FROM NEAR THE TOP PORTION OF THE TANK, AND DISCHARGING THE WASHED CURD FROM THE ANNULAR OUTER PORTION AT THE BOTTOM OFTHE TANK IN ADIRECTION GENERALLY TANGENTIAL TO THE SIDE WALL.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
IN A PROCESS FOR WASHING COTTAGE CHEESE CURD UTILIZING AN UPRIGHT ENCLOSED TANK HAVING A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL AND A BOTTOM WALL WITH A CONICALLY RAISED CENTRAL PORTION DISPOSED COAXIALLY OF THE SIDE WALL AND AN ANNULAR OUTER PORTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK BETWEEN THE RAISED PORTION AND THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL, THE STEPS OF: INTRODUCING CURD IN A DIRECTION TANGENTIAL TO THE TANK SIDE WALL INTO THE ANNULAR OUTER PORTION OF THE TANK THROUGH AN INLET PASSAGEWAY TANGENTIAL TO THE CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SIDE WALL, INTRODUCING A WASHING FLUID INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE TANK IN A DIRECTION GENERALLY TANGENTIAL TO THE SIDE WALL, PASSING THE WASHING FLUID UPWARDLY THROUGH THE CURD, REMOVING THE WASHING FLUID FROM NEAR THE TOP PORTION OF THE TANK, AND DISCHARGING THE WASHED CURD FROM THE ANNULAR OUTER PORTION AT THE BOTTOM OFTHE TANK IN ADIRECTION GENERALLY TANGENTIAL TO THE SIDE WALL.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
IN A PROCESS FOR WASHING COTTAGE CHEESE CURD UTLIZING AN UPRIGHT TANK HAVING AN ENCLOSED WAHING CHAMBER WITH A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL AND A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING CONICAL BOTTOM WALL DISPOSED COAXIALLY OF THE SIDE WITH AN INLET AND OUTLET PASSAGEWAY AT THE APEX O THE BOTTOM WALL, THE STEPS OF: INTRODUCING CURD INTO TTHE CHAMBER THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY AT THE APEX OFTHE BOTTOM WALL OF THE TANK, INTRODUCING A WASHING FLUID FROM OUTSIDE THE TANK INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER THROUGH A PLURALITY OF INLETS IN THE BOTTOM WALL, PASSING THE WASHING FLUID UPWARDLY THROUGH THE CURD REMOVING THE WASHING FLUID FROM NEAR THE TOP OF THE CHAMBER, AND DISCHARGING THE WASHED CURD THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY AT THE APEX OF THE BOTTOM WALL.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
IN A PROCESS FOR WASHING COTTAGE CHEESE CURD UTLIZING AN UPRIGHT TANK HAVING AN ENCLOSED WAHING CHAMBER WITH A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL AND A DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING CONICAL BOTTOM WALL DISPOSED COAXIALLY OF THE SIDE WITH AN INLET AND OUTLET PASSAGEWAY AT THE APEX O THE BOTTOM WALL, THE STEPS OF: INTRODUCING CURD INTO TTHE CHAMBER THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY AT THE APEX OFTHE BOTTOM WALL OF THE TANK, INTRODUCING A WASHING FLUID FROM OUTSIDE THE TANK INTO THE LOWER PORTION OF THE CHAMBER THROUGH A PLURALITY OF INLETS IN THE BOTTOM WALL, PASSING THE WASHING FLUID UPWARDLY THROUGH THE CURD REMOVING THE WASHING FLUID FROM NEAR THE TOP OF THE CHAMBER, AND DISCHARGING THE WASHED CURD THROUGH THE PASSAGEWAY AT THE APEX OF THE BOTTOM WALL.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as in claim 5 wherein the fluid is passed through the curd at a rate less than the rate at which the curd settles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as in claim 5 together with the additional steps of passing additional washing fluid at a second temperature upwardly through said curd and removing said additional washing fluid from the upper portion of said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process as in claim 5 together with the additional steps of cooling the washing fluid after it is removed from the chamber, passing the cooled fluid upwardly through the curd, and removing said cooled fluid from the upper portion of said chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as in claim 5 curds together with the additional step of passing cooled whey upwardly through the curd before washing fluid is passed through said curd.
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) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |