Abstract: A packing plant by-products chiller includes an elongated tank having an inlet end for introducing fresh animal by-products and an outlet end for removing chilled by-products. The tank is rotatably supported on a set of trunnion wheels and is rotated by a chain and sprocket assembly operatively connected to a motor. A liquid coolant supply line from a coolant source introduces low temperature coolant into the tank. An elongated trough is positioned beneath the tank for receiving warmed coolant which drains from the tank through a plurality of apertures therein. A pump is operatively connected to the trough for recirculating the coolant back to the coolant source.The method of chilling fresh animal by-products comprises introducing the by-products and liquid coolant from the coolant source into the chilling tank located at the slaughter location and rotating the tank such that the by-products therein are tumbled for complete exposure to the coolant.

Abstract: A packing plant by-products chiller includes an elongated tank having an inlet end for introducing fresh animal by-products and an outlet end for removing chilled by-products. The tank is rotatably supported on a set of trunnion wheels and is rotated by a chain by sprocket assembly operatively connected to a motor. A liquid coolant supply line from a coolant source introduces low temperature coolant into the tank. An elongated through is positioned beneath the tank for receiving warmed coolant which drains from the tank through a plurality of apertures therein. A pump is operatively connected to the through for recirculating the coolant back to the coolant source. The method of chilling fresh animal by-products comprises introducing the by-products and liquid coolant from the coolant source into the chilling tank located at the slaughter location and rotating the tank such that the by-products therein are tumbled for complete exposure to the coolant.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously cooling a heated metal plate lying horizontally, which comprises: an upper cooling water ejecting means, arranged above the metal plate in parallel to the width direction thereof, for ejecting cooling water onto the upper surface of the metal plate; a water tank, arranged below the metal plate, for receiving cooling water; and a lower cooling water ejecting means having a lower cooling water ejecting bore, arranged in the water tank in parallel to the width direction of the metal plate. The lower cooling water ejecting means ejects, in the form of a jet stream, cooling water from the lower cooling water ejecting bore together with cooling water received in the water tank, onto the lower surface of the metal plate. The above-mentioned jet stream is surrounded by a jet stream guide duct arranged between the lower cooling water ejecting means and the lower surface of the metal plate.

Abstract: This invention is a cooling device for cans and similar containers and is specifically designed for installation where floor space is either limited or at a premium. Additionally, there is a unique liquid circulation system which is extremely effective in cooling and yet low in energy consumption.

Abstract: A method and device for cooling molds circulating in a horizontal plane, in which siphon action is used to pass cooling liquid from a top gutter through the molds. In this way the whole cooling system is becoming constructively simplified, such that production speeds can be increased, with the consequent greater length of the cooling system, but without its becoming unduly complicated. This effect is realized irrespective of the nature of the machine or the number of molds.Method and device are especially advantageous when applied with the manufacture of plastics tube, more particularly yet with the manufacture of plastic corrugated tube.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing confection material includes a plurality of separate mold strips which are indexed in a closely spaced single file over several longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows of nozzles. Coolant is forced upwardly from the nozzles in single vertical jets which impinge perpendicularly against the mold strips midway between adjacent mold cups. The mold cups are arranged with their wide side faces extending in their direction of travel, and the single jets of coolant impinge upon support wall portions of the mold strips which extend transversely between such opposing wide side faces. The mold strips have intermeshing end wall configurations that enable the coolant to be continuously sprayed without concern that the coolant may be injected upwardly between the strips to contaminate the confection material within the mold cups.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing confection material includes a plurality of separate mold strips which are indexed in a closely spaced single file over several longitudinally spaced, transversely extending rows of nozzles. Coolant is forced upwardly from the nozzles in single vertical jets which impinge perpendicularly against the mold strips midway between adjacent mold cups. The mold cups are arranged with their wide side faces extending in their direction of travel, and the single jets of coolant impinge upon wall portions of the mold strips which extend transversely between such opposing wide side faces. The heat exchanger for refrigerating the coolant includes a vertically super-imposed array of heat exchanger tubes that is located directly under the mold cups so that the coolant will drip from the mold cups onto the heat exchanger tubes. The coolant then cascades from upper to lower heat exchanger tubes and is refrigerated by the time it trickles into a collection housing situated below the heat exchanger.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for refrigerating a moist article, the apparatus comprising a cold room, means for circulating cooling atmosphere through the cold room, a moisture absorbent liquid cooling spray in the path of said atmosphere, means for collecting and recirculating the liquid in a continuous path, means for admitting a cryogenic cooling fluid to the liquid and means for removing the fluid and absorbed moisture from the liquid before the liquid returns to the spray.

Abstract: A stacked array of inclined flumes interconnected in consecutive zig-zag fashion for cooling canned comestibles upon discharge from a canning cooker. The hot cans are introduced seriatim in a prone or rolling aspect into the upper end of the uppermost flume. Gravity and cooling water combine to transport the parallel, submerged cans down the flumes in transverse register. The rolling action continuously exposes successive portions of the cans to the heat-absorptive water and similarly mixes the cans' contents to effect even cooling. Means is provided for selective removal of heated water from the flumes and reintroduction of cooled water into the flumes at predetermined points to ensure generally uniform water temperature throughout the flumes.

Abstract: A chiller for edible food products including an insulated enclosure, an endless conveyor conveying the edible food products along a serpentine path through the enclosure along a plurality of vertically extending flights alternating between upward and downward movement and a horizontally extending flight above the vertical flights, means for evenly distributing a heat transfer liquid uniformly over the horizontally extending flight so that the heat transfer liquid falls over the food products moving along the horizontal flight, and deflection means below the horizontal flight between the vertical flights for deflecting the heat transfer liquid into registration with the vertically moving flights.

Abstract: A conveyor system with cooling means is provided and comprises an elongated frame defining a conveyor track. An elongated conveyor is mounted within the frame so that a portion of the conveyor extends longitudinally along the conveyor track while a suitable motor longitudinally drives the conveyor along the conveyor track in a first direction. A plurality of cooling stations are also secured at longitudinally spaced positions along the frame so that the cooling stations are longitudinally adjacent each other. Each cooling station further includes a fluid reservoir beneath the conveyor track and a spray head positioned to spray fluid down onto the conveyor track. A pump is also provided for each cooling station and has its inlet connected to the fluid reservoir for that station while its outlet is connected to the spray head at the cooling station.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for the cooling of articles or materials in which the objects to be cooled are passed in succession through a precooling zone and a deep-cooling zone. A first cold-gas stream traverses the precooling zone in counterflow to the objects and is cooled by indirect heat exchange with a refrigerant while the objects in the deep cooling zone are cooled by direct heat exchange with a second gas stream produced by gasification of a liquefied gas. The second cooling-gas stream, after at least partial heat exchange with the objects or materials in the deep-cooling zone, is fed to the first gas stream prior to the cooling thereof by the indirect heat exchange.

Abstract: Insulated wire which is to have a portion of the insulation cut and stripped therefrom is passed through an elongated cooling chamber to cool the insulation below a threshold temperature which enables the insulation to be cut and stripped with improved accuracy and less residual deformation. The cooling chamber may comprise a pipe having its central portion immersed in a refrigerant. The entrance and exit ports of the cooling chamber may be equipped with replaceable end caps sized to accommodate the wire being processed and to restrict the entry of moisture laden air.

Abstract: A product, such as tobacco, is introduced into a processing chamber that is coupled with a holding chamber. A cryogen vapor pressure is established in the processing chamber, and a compressor is operated to transfer liquid cryogen near equilibrium conditions by differential pressure flow from the holding chamber to the processing chamber and, after treatment, and for returning liquid cryogen by differential pressure flow back to the holding chamber. Pressure in both chambers is maintained above the saturation pressure whenever differential pressure transfer occurs. Vapor from the processing chamber is recovered in first, second and third gas receivers which are respectively interconnected by a low-pressure compressor and a high-pressure compressor. After treatment, a processing chamber is sequentially interconnected with the first receiver, then with the second gas receiver and subsequently with the third gas receiver.

Abstract: A chiller for edible food products of the type employing hygroscopic liquid refrigerant is disclosed. The chiller includes an enclosure having an entrance and an exit. A conveyor transports edible food products within the enclosure from the entrance to the exit thereof. The conveyor defines a plurality of angled flights or runs which extend within the enclosure in spaced, parallel relationship to each other and transport the product generally vertically and horizontally along each of the flights within the enclosure in a serpentine fashion. A liquid refrigerant supply including a distribution pan is supported above the enclosure for directing liquid refrigerant downwardly over the edible food products carried by the conveyor. The liquid refrigerant contacts or intersects several of the flights in a cascading manner thereby contacting a plurality of the food products which are vertically spaced and carried on different flights of the conveyor.

Abstract: A continuous output brine freezing system is disclosed particularly applicable to the freezing of large fish such as tuna on board fishing vessels. The vessels include a series of fish freezing tanks within which the large fish, after being encapsulated in plastic bags and vacuum sealed, are loaded and frozen in sequence. One of said tanks is a brine storage tank and has means of precooling the brine to a temperature of -35.degree. C. Means are provided for feeding the precooled brine from the first tank to the next tank in line and to the remaining tanks in sequence as the tanks are loaded with fish. Means are also provided to remove the brine from the tanks in sequence and to return the brine to the first tank as the fish are frozen. Means are provided to maintain the quality of the brine and to recycle the brine through the system as fish are brought on board and loaded into the tanks, and to unload the frozen fish from the tanks by flotation with brine.

Abstract: A quick freezing apparatus wherein a tank is charged with such medium which is liquid at the normal temperature and in a wide low temperature range under the atmospheric pressure as ethyl alcohol so as to be able to circulate and a food to be frozen is contained in a side-sealed freezing pan or endless conveyer belt and is passed through the liquid medium.In order to omit the side seals, the edge parts in the lengthwise direction of the endless conveyer belt are projected above the liquid level of the liquid medium in the tank.Also, as required, it is possible to spray the freezing pans with the coolant in the form of a mist or liquid.

Abstract: A chilling system advances products through a conveying tube and simultaneously chills the products using the fluid-conveying medium itself. Conveyance is effected through hydraulic pressure without the application of direct mechanical forces to the products whereby to minimize the instances of damage thereto, and product advancement is carried out on a continuous, first-in, first-out basis with a uniform, readily predictable rate of discharge.

Abstract: This invention is a cooling device for cans and similar containers and is specifically designed for installation where floor space is either limited or at a premium. Additionally, there is a unique liquid circulation system which is extremely effective in cooling and yet low in energy consumption.