Helical conveyor freezer
US4953365A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 1989 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 28, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G2207/24
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A food freezer having a thermally insulated enclosure wherein an endless conveyor having a lower loading section, a main helical section and an uppermost unloading section is primarily driven by engagement between its inner edge and the sidewall of a rotatable center cage, which includes a plurality of uniformly spaced apart vertical bars. The lower end of the center cage can be blocked, and a centrifugal blower is axially located at the upper end of the cage to suck gas from the interior of the cage and discharge it horizontally outward along the undersurface of the top wall so that it flows outward, then downward and, finally, radially inward in an overall generally toroidal pattern through the tiers of the helical belt section where it withdraws heat from the freezes the food products being carried therealong. Various arrangements, e.g., adjustable restrictors, are illustrated for creating vertical gradients in the radial inflow of gas through the helical section so that the cold gas flows inward at a greater rate in lower regions of the helical section than in the upper region. Cryogen injection devices for spraying a cryogen, such as liquid CO.sub.2 or liquid N.sub.2, radially…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.