Refrigeration apparatus having a rotatable drum

Claim 2

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum; and wherein the drum is provided with exterior insulation and is supported for rotation on a plurality of rings, saiD rings have, as part thereof, insulated forced-transmitting members; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is within said drum.

Claim 3

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum; and wherein the drum is provided with exterior insulation and is supported for rotation on a plurality of rings, said rings have, as part thereof, insulated forced-transmitting members, and wherein each of said rings comprise a first portion attached to the exterior of said drum, a second portion engaging said rotation means and means engaging said insulating and force-transmitting member and retaining said first portion to said second portion with said member therebetween, refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is within said drum.

Claim 4

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum; and wherein the drum is provided with exterior insulation and is supported for rotation on a plurality of rings, said rings have, as part thereof, insulated forced-transmitting members, and wherein each of said rings comprise a first portion attached to the exterior of said drum, a second portion engaging said rotation means and means engaging said insulating and force-transmitting member and retaining said first portion to said second portion with said member therebetween, refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is within said drum.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 2, wherein said rotation means comprises a plurality of motor driven rollers engaging said rings.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 3 wherein said motor is variable speed to thereby control the speed of rotation of said drum and the speed of advancement of material through said drum.

Claim 7

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, wherein said refrigeration means further comprises nozzle means within the drum for introducing refrigerant within said drum, and wherein said refrigeration means further comprises a low temperature fluid introduced through spray nozzles disposed within said drum, and wherein said nozzles are mounted to a header and said header is supported within and spaced from the interior of said drum on a cable passing through said drum.

Claim 8

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, wherein said refrigeration means further comprises nozzle means within the drum for introducing refrigerant within said drum, and wherein said refrigeration means further comprises a low temperature fluid introduced through spray nozzles disposed within said drum, and wherein said nozzles are mounted to a header and said header is supported within and spaced from the interior of said drum on a cable passing through said drum.

Claim 9

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, wherein said refrigeration means further comprises nozzle means within the drum for introducing refrigerant within said drum, and wherein said refrigeration means further comprises a low temperature fluid introduced through spray nozzles disposed within said drum, and wherein said fluid is a liquid which becomes a gas in the environment within said drum; and wherein said refrigerating means further comprises recirculation means for recirculating said gas from the end of said drum which receives said material externally to and through the end of said drum from which material is discharged.

Claim 10

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, wherein said refrigeration means further comprises nozzle means within the drum for introducing refrigerant within said drum, and wherein said refrigeration means further comprises a low temperature fluid introduced through spray nozzles disposed within said drum, and wherein said fluid is a liquid which becomes a gas in the environment within said drum; and wherein said refrigerating means further comprises recirculation means for recirculating said gas from the end of said drum which receives said material externally to and through the end of said drum from which material is discharged.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 6, wherein said gas is introduced in and through said discharge end by a nozzle.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 6 wherein said gas is introduced in and through said discharge end by an ejector means.

Claim 13

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, wherein said refrigeratioN means further comprises nozzle means within the drum for introducing refrigerant within said drum, and wherein said refrigeration means further comprises a low temperature fluid introduced through spray nozzles disposed within said drum, and wherein said gas is introduced in and through said discharge and by an ejector means, and wherein a discharge chamber is provided within a discharge header juxtaposed to the discharge end of said drum; and said ejector means is mounted within said chamber to draw gas therefrom and recirculate it with the gas from the other end of said drum.

Claim 14

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, wherein said refrigeratioN means further comprises nozzle means within the drum for introducing refrigerant within said drum, and wherein said refrigeration means further comprises a low temperature fluid introduced through spray nozzles disposed within said drum, and wherein said gas is introduced in and through said discharge and by an ejector means, and wherein a discharge chamber is provided within a discharge header juxtaposed to the discharge end of said drum; and said ejector means is mounted within said chamber to draw gas therefrom and recirculate it with the gas from the other end of said drum.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 9 wherein said ejector means has a damper control in its intake from said header.

Claim 16

The invention of claim 9 wherein said discharge header has at least one door to permit discharge of material from said header; said door being rotatably mounted to said header by a hinge means; and protective means are mounted in said header to prevent jamming of said hinge by said material.

Claim 17

The invention of claim 9 wherein said discharge header comprises a structure providing an insulated chamber communicating with the interior of the drum and having at least one door biased normally closed to automatically open to allow discharge of material from said chamber; said structure providing a second chamber for receiving material discharged from said first chamber; said second chamber having an exit door biased normally closed to automatically open to allow material to exit therefrom.

Claim 18

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; and d. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, said last mentioned means comprising a chute; and said header being divided into a plurality of chambers separated from one another by a partition having an opening therein; and said chute passing through said opening; said opening having a door biased normally closed for automatically allowing material to pass through said partition and for automatically closing once material has passed therethrough.

Claim 19

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; and d. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, said last mentioned means comprising a chute; and said header being divided into a plurality of chambers separated from one another by a partition having an opening therein; and said chute passing through said opening; said opening having a door biased normally closed for automatically allowing material to pass through said partition and for automatically closing once material has passed therethrough.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 13 wherein said header has a second door disposed in an opening in the wall of said header, and said chute passes through said opening; said second door automatically allowing material to pass therethrough and automatically closing after material has passed therethrough; and a stack means is provided for withdrawing air and gas from said chambers.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 14 wherein said stack means comprises a stack communicating with the chamber having said second door opening therein; said stack having mounted therein a fan to withdraw air and gas from said chambers.

Claim 22

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, said last mentioned means comprising a chute; and said header being divided into a plurality of chambers separated from one another by a partition having an opening therein; and said chute passing through said opening; said opening having a door biased normally closed for automatically allowing material to pass through said partition and for automatically closing once material has passed therethrough; and d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; said refrigerating means further comprising a low temperature gas; and gas recirculation means being provided communicating with the chamber within said header for withdrawing gas from said header and said drum and rcirculating it externally to and through the discharge of said drum, thereby creating a gas flow within said drum counter to the direction of travel of the material through said drum.

Claim 23

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, said last mentioned means comprising a chute; and said header being divided into a plurality of chambers separated from one another by a partition having an opening therein; and said chute passing through said opening; said opening having a door biased normally closed for automatically allowing material to pass through said partition and for automatically closing once material has passed therethrough; and d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; said refrigerating means further comprising a low temperature gas; and gas recirculation means being provided communicating with the chamber within said header for withdrawing gas from said header and said drum and rcirculating it externally to and through the discharge of said drum, thereby creating a gas flow within said drum counter to the direction of travel of the material through said drum.

Claim 24

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, said last mentioned means comprising a chute; and said header being divided into a plurality of chambers separated from one another by a partition having an opening therein; and said chute passing through said opening; said opening having a door biased normally closed for automatically allowing material to pass through said partition and for automatically closing once material has passed therethrough; and d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; said refrigerating means further comprising a low temperature gas; and gas recirculation means being provided communicating with the chamber within said header for withdrawing gas from said header and said drum and recirculating it externally to and through the discharge of said drum, thereby creating a gas flow within said drum counter to the direction of travel of the material through said drum; said gas recirculation means further comprising a conduit communicating with said chamber; a recirculating fan communicating with said conduit; a conduit communicating the discharge end of said recirculating fan with the discharge end of said drum; and an excess gas discharge means communicating with said last mentioned conduit.

Claim 25

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, said last mentioned means comprising a chute; and said header being divided into a plurality of chambers separated from one another by a partition having an opening therein; and said chute passing through said opening; said opening having a door biased normally closed for automatically allowing material to pass through said partition and for automatically closing once material has passed therethrough; and d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; said refrigerating means further comprising a low temperature gas; and gas recirculation means being provided communicating with the chamber within said header for withdrawing gas from said header and said drum and recirculating it externally to and through the discharge of said drum, thereby creating a gas flow within said drum counter to the direction of travel of the material through said drum; said gas recirculation means further comprising a conduit communicating with said chamber; a recirculating fan communicating with said conduit; a conduit communicating the discharge end of said recirculating fan with the discharge end of said drum; and an excess gas discharge means communicating with said last mentioned conduit.

Claim 26

The invention of claim 17 wherein said excess gas discharge means comprises a valve controlled discharge pipe and a means for monitoring the flow of gas through said conduit to said discharge end of said drum.

Claim 27

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, and d. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum, comprising: an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum; and wherein heating meanS are provided between said header and said drum to prevent frost buildup therebetween.

Claim 28

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum, and d. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum, comprising: an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum; and wherein heating meanS are provided between said header and said drum to prevent frost buildup therebetween.

Claim 29

The invention of claim 19 wherein insulation is provided on said drum proximate to said header and said heating means.

Claim 30

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum; said feeder means further comprising a controlled mechanical feeder; and d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; sensing means being provided within the refrigerating means to control the rotation of said drum and the feeder means.

Claim 31

A refrigerating means, comprising: a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum; b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; c. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum; said feeder means comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum; said feeder means further comprising a controlled mechanical feeder; and d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; sensing means being provided within the refrigerating means to control the rotation of said drum and the feeder means.