US4073158A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for freezing small drops of liquid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-11-04
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Granted: 1978-02-14
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Expires: 1995-11-04
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates generally to a method permitting the production from a mass of product in the liquid or pasty state, of balls or granules of small sizes. More precisely this method consists of injecting this product under pressure into a refrigerant liquid which is under the physical conditions of passage to the gaseous state, this injection having the effect of atomizing the said product into the refrigerant liquid and forming therefrom deep-frozen balls or granules, the dimensions of which are a function of the difference in temperature between the injected product and the refrigerant liquid, and also of the injection pressure of this product. The invention has also for its object the apparatus for carrying the said method into effect and the alternative forms of such apparatus. The invention is also directed to the balls or granules thus obtained and it finds especially advantageous applications in the food preparation industries.
Inventors
- 👤 Jacques Guiller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:14
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25C; F25C1/00; A; A23; A23B; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/85; A23B2/88; A23P; A23P10/00; A23P10/20; B; B01; B01J; B01J2/00; B01J2/02; B01J2/06; F25D; F25D3/00; F25D3/10; F25D3/11; F25D9/00; F25D9/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for the conversion of a mass of non-gaseous fluid product to deep-frozen balls or granules, said apparatus comprising: a deep-freeze chamber rendered fluid-tight, in which a refrigerant liquid is contained under the physical conditions of passage to the gaseous state; an injector system for injecting said fluid product under pressure into said refrigerant liquid; an extractor-conveyor for the deep-frozen balls or granules obtained in said refrigerant liquid; an outlet lock-chamber permitting the evacuation of the deep-frozen products without adversely affecting the fluid-tightness; means for regulating the flow-rate of said injector system, said means being put into service in order to produce an appropriate over-pressure in the interior of said deep-freeze chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
An apparatus for the conversion of a mass of non-gaseous fluid product to deep-frozen balls or granules, said apparatus comprising: a deep-freeze chamber rendered fluid-tight, in which a refrigerant liquid is contained under the physical conditions of passage to the gaseous state; an injector system for injecting said fluid product under pressure into said refrigerant liquid; an extractor-conveyor for the deep-frozen balls or granules obtained in said refrigerant liquid; an outlet lock-chamber permitting the evacuation of the deep-frozen products without adversely affecting the fluid-tightness; means for regulating the flow-rate of said injector system, said means being put into service in order to produce an appropriate over-pressure in the interior of said deep-freeze chamber.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for converting a mass of non-gaseous fluid product to deep-frozen balls or granules, said apparatus comprising: a deep-freeze chamber rendered fluid-tight in which a refrigerant liquid is contained under the physical conditions of passage to the gaseous state; an injector system for injecting said fluid product under pressure into said refrigerant liquid; an extractor-conveyor for the deep-frozen balls or granules obtained in said refrigerant liquid; an outlet lock-chamber permitting the evacuation of the deep-frozen products without adversely affecting the fluid-tightness; means for regulating the flow-rate of said injector system, said means being put into service in order to produce an appropriate over-pressure in the interior of said deep-freeze chamber; an expansion chamber arranged following said outlet lock-chamber and said deep-freeze chamber on over-pressure, connected to means for recovery of said quantity of refrigerant fluid impregnating said deep-frozen products passing out of said deep-freeze chamber.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
146 words
An apparatus for converting a mass of non-gaseous fluid product to deep-frozen balls or granules, said apparatus comprising: a deep-freeze chamber rendered fluid-tight in which a refrigerant liquid is contained under the physical conditions of passage to the gaseous state; an injector system for injecting said fluid product under pressure into said refrigerant liquid; an extractor-conveyor for the deep-frozen balls or granules obtained in said refrigerant liquid; an outlet lock-chamber permitting the evacuation of the deep-frozen products without adversely affecting the fluid-tightness; means for regulating the flow-rate of said injector system, said means being put into service in order to produce an appropriate over-pressure in the interior of said deep-freeze chamber; an expansion chamber arranged following said outlet lock-chamber and said deep-freeze chamber on over-pressure, connected to means for recovery of said quantity of refrigerant fluid impregnating said deep-frozen products passing out of said deep-freeze chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said quantity of refrigerant fluid recovered in said expansion chamber is re-ejected in the gaseous form into the interior of said deep-freeze chamber on over-pressure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which said quantity of refrigerant fluid recovered in said expansion chamber is reliquefied and then re-injected into the refrigerant liquid of said deep-freeze chamber on over-pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-13 | 1981-08-15 | 1982-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-13 | 1985-08-15 | 1986-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-13 | 1989-08-15 | 1990-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |