Hanger bearing for auger type poultry chiller with cone deflector

Claim 2

A hanger bearing assembly for use in an auger type poultry chiller, the poultry chiller having an auger with a first flight and a second flight secured to an auger shaft, the first flight having a first flange plate and the second flight having a second flange pate, said hanger bearing comprising: a bearing disk secured between the first flange plate and the second flange plate; a bearing block disposed about said bearing disk; a lower bearing plate secured to the poultry chiller, the lower bearing plate having a support segment configured to receive said bearing block; an upper bearing plate configured to receive said bearing block; wherein said upper bearing plate is secured to said lower bearing plate, thereby maintaining said bearing block adjacent said bearing disk and securing the auger to said lower bearing plate, and a conical deflector mounted on said auger shaft adjacent said hangar bearing for urging the birds radially about said hangar bearing.

Claim 3

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising: a coupling aperture disposed in said bearing disk along a central longitudinal axis of said bearing disk; a first coupling recess disposed in said first flange plate; a second coupling recess disposed in said second flange plate; a coupling shaft; and wherein said coupling shaft is disposed in said first coupling recess, said second coupling recess and said coupling aperture, thereby axially aligning the first flight and the second flight.

Claim 4

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing block further comprises an O-shaped bearing including a U-shaped channel disposed along an outer circumference.

Claim 5

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing disk is comprised of stainless steel.

Claim 6

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing disk is approximately 2 inches in width and said lower bearing plate is approximately 1 inch in width.

Claim 7

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing disk is secured adjacent said first flange plate and said second flange plate with a plurality of threaded fasteners.

Claim 8

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said upper bearing plate and said lower bearing plate are connected by a plurality of threaded fasteners.

Claim 9

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said lower bearing plate extends radially outwardly beyond a periphery of the auger and is secured to a support member connected to the poultry chiller, said support member being disposed outside of said periphery.

Claim 10

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a bottom segment of said lower bearing plate extends beyond a vertical centerline of said bearing disk such that said lower bearing plate supports the auger.

Claim 11

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , further comprising: a coupling shaft having a first end and a second end, the coupling shaft being integral to said bearing disk; a first coupling recess disposed in the first flange plate, the first coupling recess being configured to receive the first end; a second coupling recess disposed in the second flange plate, the second coupling recess being configured to receive the second end; and wherein said first end is disposed in said first coupling recess and said second end is disposed in said second coupling recess, thereby axially aligning the first and the second flights.

Claim 12

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein said bearing block further includes a first half and a second half, said support segment further includes a first bearing support surface configured to receive said first half, and said upper bearing plate further includes a second bearing support surface configured to receive said second half.

Claim 13

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first diameter of said bearing disk is greater than a second diameter of the auger shaft.

Claim 14

A hanger bearing assembly for use in an auger type poultry chiller, the poultry chiller having a support member attached thereto, an auger with a first flight secured to a first auger shaft segment and a second flight secured to a second auger shaft segment, said hanger bearing comprising: a bearing disk secured between said first auger shaft segment and said second auger shaft segment, a bearing block disposed about said bearing disk, a lower bearing plate secured to said support member, said lower bearing plate being configured to receive said bearing block, an upper bearing plate configured to receive said bearing block wherein said upper bearing plate is secured to said lower bearing plate, thereby maintaining said bearing block adjacent said bearing disk and securing said auger to said lower bearing plate, and deflector means mounted on said first auger shaft for urging the birds radially away from said hanger bearing.

Claim 15

A hanger bearing assembly for use in an auger type poultry chiller, the poultry chiller having a support member attached thereto, an auger with a first flight secured to a first auger shaft segment and a second flight secured to a second auger shaft segment, said hanger bearing comprising: a bearing disk secured between said first auger shaft segment and said second auger shaft segment, a bearing block disposed about said bearing disk, a lower bearing plate secured to said support member, said lower bearing plate being configured to receive said bearing block, an upper bearing plate configured to receive said bearing block wherein said upper bearing plate is secured to said lower bearing plate, thereby maintaining said bearing block adjacent said bearing disk and securing said auger to said lower bearing plate, and deflector means mounted on said first auger shaft for urging the birds radially away from said hanger bearing.

Claim 16

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 13 , wherein said lower bearing plate extends radially outwardly beyond said first flight and said second flight and is secured to said support member.

Claim 17

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein said bearing block further comprises an O-shaped bearing including a U-shaped channel disposed along an outer circumference.

Claim 18

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein said bearing disk is secured between the first and the second auger shaft segments with a plurality of threaded fasteners.

Claim 19

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein said lower bearing plate further includes a support segment, said support segment extending beyond a vertical centerline of said bearing disk such that said lower bearing plate supports the auger independently of said upper bearing plate.

Claim 20

The hanger bearing assembly of claim 14 , wherein said bearing block further includes a first half and a second half, said support segment further includes a first bearing support surface configured to receive said first half, and said upper bearing plate further includes a second bearing support surface configured to receive said second half.

Claim 21

A poultry chiller for reducing the temperature of previously eviscerated whole birds and the like, comprising: a tank having a first end, a second end, and a water reservoir therebetween; an auger extending substantially from said first end to said second end, said auger including a first flight secured to a first auger shaft segment and a second flight secured to a second auger shaft segment; power means in driving relationship with said auger; a support member connected to said tank; a hanger bearing assembly including a bearing disk secured between said first auger shaft segment and said second auger shaft segment, a bearing block disposed about said bearing disk, a lower bearing plate secured to said support member, said lower bearing plate being configured to receive said bearing block, an upper bearing plate configured to receive said bearing block; and wherein said upper bearing plate is secured to said lower bearing plate, thereby maintaining said bearing block adjacent said bearing disk and securing said auger to said lower bearing plate; and a bird deflector mounted on said auger adjacent said hanger bearing for urging the birds radially about said hanger bearing.

Claim 22

A poultry chiller for reducing the temperature of previously eviscerated whole birds and the like, comprising: a tank having a first end, a second end, and a water reservoir therebetween; an auger extending substantially from said first end to said second end, said auger including a first flight secured to a first auger shaft segment and a second flight secured to a second auger shaft segment; power means in driving relationship with said auger; a support member connected to said tank; a hanger bearing assembly including a bearing disk secured between said first auger shaft segment and said second auger shaft segment, a bearing block disposed about said bearing disk, a lower bearing plate secured to said support member, said lower bearing plate being configured to receive said bearing block, an upper bearing plate configured to receive said bearing block; and wherein said upper bearing plate is secured to said lower bearing plate, thereby maintaining said bearing block adjacent said bearing disk and securing said auger to said lower bearing plate; and a bird deflector mounted on said auger adjacent said hanger bearing for urging the birds radially about said hanger bearing.

Claim 23

The poultry chiller of claim 19 , wherein said lower bearing plate extends radially outwardly beyond said first flight and said second flight and is secured to said support member.

Claim 24

The poultry chiller of claim 19 , wherein a first diameter of said bearing disk is greater than a second diameter of said auger shaft.

Claim 25

A poultry chiller for reducing the temperature of previously eviscerated whole birds, comprising: an elongated tank for holding chilled liquid and having an entrance for receiving the birds and an exit for delivering said birds, an auger extending along the length of said tank, said auger including a rotary shaft and at least two auger blades mounted about and longitudinally spaced from each other along said rotary shaft for moving the birds from the entrance of said tank to the exit of said tank, a bearing assembly positioned between said auger blades, said bearing assembly including a shaft bearing rotatably supporting said rotary shaft and a hangar mounted on said tank and supporting said shaft bearing, a conical bird deflector co-axially mounted on said rotary shaft at said bearing assembly and having a smaller end portion facing said entrance of said tank and a larger end portion facing said shaft bearing, whereby the conical bird deflector urges the birds away from the shaft bearing as the birds move about the shaft bearing.

Claim 26

A poultry chiller for reducing the temperature of previously eviscerated whole birds, comprising: an elongated tank for holding chilled liquid and having an entrance for receiving the birds and an exit for delivering said birds, an auger extending along the length of said tank, said auger including a rotary shaft and at least two auger blades mounted about and longitudinally spaced from each other along said rotary shaft for moving the birds from the entrance of said tank to the exit of said tank, a bearing assembly positioned between said auger blades, said bearing assembly including a shaft bearing rotatably supporting said rotary shaft and a hangar mounted on said tank and supporting said shaft bearing, a conical bird deflector co-axially mounted on said rotary shaft at said bearing assembly and having a smaller end portion facing said entrance of said tank and a larger end portion facing said shaft bearing, whereby the conical bird deflector urges the birds away from the shaft bearing as the birds move about the shaft bearing.

Claim 27

The poultry chiller of claim 22 , wherein: said larger end portion of said conical bird deflector is substantially the same radial breadth as the radial breadth of said shaft bearing.

Claim 28

The poultry chiller of claim 23 , wherein: said hangar is displaced from directly above said shaft bearing.