US4464401A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acoustic thawing of frozen food
Assignee: United States Department of Commerce
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Filing: 1982-04-22
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Granted: 1984-08-07
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Expires: 2002-04-22
Abstract
Abstract The thawing time of frozen block fish is shortened by immersing the frozen block fish in a water bath at a maximum temperature of about 10 DEG C. and subjecting the frozen fish to a maximum of about 6 watts of acoustic power having a frequency equal to the relaxation frequency of the polycrystalline ice in the frozen fish and less than 10 kHz, thereby quickly thawing the ice without heating the thawed fish flesh.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan D. Kissam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 04:03
CPC Classifications
A; A23; A23B; A23B4/00; A23B4/06; A23B4/07; A23B2/00; A23B2/80; A23B2/82
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of rapidly thawing frozen food without localized heating thereof comprising immersing the frozen food in a water bath at a maximum temperature of about 18° C. and subjecting the food to a maximum of about 6 watts of acoustic power having a frequency equal to the relaxation frequency of the crystalline ice in the frozen food and less than about 10 kHz.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of rapidly thawing frozen food without localized heating thereof comprising immersing the frozen food in a water bath at a maximum temperature of about 18° C. and subjecting the food to a maximum of about 6 watts of acoustic power having a frequency equal to the relaxation frequency of the crystalline ice in the frozen food and less than about 10 kHz.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the power is a minimum of about 2 watts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the power is 0.025 watts per square centimeter of the acoustic energy radiating face of an acoustic transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the frequency of the acoustic power is approximately 1500 Hz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the frozen food is a frozen block of raw fish.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as defined in claim 5 wherein the fish is pollock or cod.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3846565A
Cited
JPS5383153A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-08-07 | 1988-02-06 | 1988-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-08-07 | 1992-02-06 | 1992-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-08-07 | 1996-02-06 | 1996-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |