Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
221 words
In a method of continuously forming discrete, elongated protein filaments from proteinaceous material wherein an aqueous slurry of the proteinaceous material is formed having a pH below about 6.0 and a proteinaceous solids content of between about 0.5 and 35% by weight, the discrete, elongated filaments being formed by continuously conducting the slurry under pressure through a heat exchange zone and in said zone heating the slurry to a temperature which is above 240° F. but which is less than that which will degrade the protein, whereby the protein is subjected to such temperature for a sufficient period of time so that elongated, tender filaments are thereafter separated from the remaining constituents of the slurry and the heated slurry is continuously removed from said zone through a back pressure creating orifice whereby the discharge of said filaments from the heat exchange zone to a collecting zone is controlled by confining the stream of said filaments being discharged from said orifice into collecting zone to within a total angle of between about 4° and 90°, said angle being measured from an axis through the center of said orifice, followed by separation of said discrete filaments in the collecting zone from the remaining constituents of the slurry, the improvement comprising; injecting a pH elevating material into the stream of filaments during confinement in
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
221 words
In a method of continuously forming discrete, elongated protein filaments from proteinaceous material wherein an aqueous slurry of the proteinaceous material is formed having a pH below about 6.0 and a proteinaceous solids content of between about 0.5 and 35% by weight, the discrete, elongated filaments being formed by continuously conducting the slurry under pressure through a heat exchange zone and in said zone heating the slurry to a temperature which is above 240° F. but which is less than that which will degrade the protein, whereby the protein is subjected to such temperature for a sufficient period of time so that elongated, tender filaments are thereafter separated from the remaining constituents of the slurry and the heated slurry is continuously removed from said zone through a back pressure creating orifice whereby the discharge of said filaments from the heat exchange zone to a collecting zone is controlled by confining the stream of said filaments being discharged from said orifice into collecting zone to within a total angle of between about 4° and 90°, said angle being measured from an axis through the center of said orifice, followed by separation of said discrete filaments in the collecting zone from the remaining constituents of the slurry, the improvement comprising; injecting a pH elevating material into the stream of filaments during confinement in
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pH of said filaments is
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pH of said filaments is
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as set forth in claim 2 wherein the pH of said filaments is
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pH elevating material is
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as set forth in claim 5 wherein the aqueous solution of sodium
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the slurry is heated in the heat exchange
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the slurry is heated in the heat exchange
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the pressure to which the slurry is subjected in the heat exchange zone is between about 50 and 5,000 psig.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the stream of said filaments
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein the total angle is at least equal to or greater than the angle of discharge of said slurry from said
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A process as set forth in claim 1 wherein said stream of filaments is confined by a discharge shield placed over said orifice, said shield having a conical diverging section with a total angle of between about 4° and 90°, said angle being measured in relationship to an
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process as set forth in claim 12 wherein said shield has a length
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a method of continuously forming discrete, elongated protein filaments from a soy protein material wherein an aqueous slurry of the soy protein material is formed having a pH of between about 4.5 and 5.0 with a proteinaceous solids content of between about 0.5 and 35% by weight, the discrete, elongated filaments being formed by continuously conducting the slurry under pressure through a heat exhange zone and in said zone heating the slurry to a temperature which is between about 240° and 315° F., whereby the protein is subjected to such temperature for a sufficient period of time so that elongated, tender filaments are thereafter separated from the remaining constituents of the slurry and the heated slurry is continuously removed from said zone through a back pressure creating orifice whereby the discharge of said filaments from the heat exchange zone to a collecting zone is controlled by confining the stream of said filaments being discharged from said orifice into the collecting zone to within a total angle of between about 4° and 90°, said angle being measured from an axis through the center of said orifice, followed by separation of said discrete filaments in the collecting zone from the remaining constituents of the slurry, the improvement comprising; injecting a pH elevating material into the stream of filaments during confinement in order to modify the pH of the filaments
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
228 words
In a method of continuously forming discrete, elongated protein filaments from a soy protein material wherein an aqueous slurry of the soy protein material is formed having a pH of between about 4.5 and 5.0 with a proteinaceous solids content of between about 0.5 and 35% by weight, the discrete, elongated filaments being formed by continuously conducting the slurry under pressure through a heat exhange zone and in said zone heating the slurry to a temperature which is between about 240° and 315° F., whereby the protein is subjected to such temperature for a sufficient period of time so that elongated, tender filaments are thereafter separated from the remaining constituents of the slurry and the heated slurry is continuously removed from said zone through a back pressure creating orifice whereby the discharge of said filaments from the heat exchange zone to a collecting zone is controlled by confining the stream of said filaments being discharged from said orifice into the collecting zone to within a total angle of between about 4° and 90°, said angle being measured from an axis through the center of said orifice, followed by separation of said discrete filaments in the collecting zone from the remaining constituents of the slurry, the improvement comprising; injecting a pH elevating material into the stream of filaments during confinement in order to modify the pH of the filaments
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as set forth in claim 14 wherein the pH of said filaments is
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as set forth in claim 15 wherein the pH of said filaments is
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as set forth in claim 14 wherein the pH of said filaments is modified to between about 6.6 and 6.8.