Abstract: A food freezing conveyor system includes a conveying apparatus consisting of multiple tiers of conveyors, a lower horizontal conveying mechanism, a lifting conveying mechanism, an upper horizontal conveying mechanism and a dropping conveying mechanism. Food products to be frozen are transported along an inverted-U shaped path within a freezing chamber. The lifting conveying mechanism and the dropping conveying mechanism are respectively provided with multiple tiers of choke plates on both sides. Each tier of choke plates and each tier of conveyors jointly define a plurality of inter-connected airflow passages, dividing a freezing operation zone and a manhole maintenance space.

Abstract: A method and device for the extremely rapid but safe cooling of beverages, including carbonated beverages, in cans or bottles (collectively "containers"). One or more beverage containers are rapidly rotated along their respective longitudinal axes while being downwardly vertically sprayed with a cooling water spray, with the water being in a 0.degree. C. temperature equilibrium with ice. The volumetric rate of the water in the water spray is sufficient to form a continuous coating on the rotating container. Rotation of the containers is effected in a horizontal direction, with the containers being nested between adjacent rotating rollers and rotated with a rotational speed of between 200-500 rpm. Standard 12 oz. beverage cans can be cooled thereby from room temperature to a drinking temperature of 5.degree. C. in under one minute.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cooling plastic profiles, comprising: a trough for receiving a cooling medium through which the profile can be guided; at least one inflow opening for delivering cooling water into said trough; at least one outflow opening for leeding cooling water out of said trough; a device arranged as a self-sucking water pump for producing a pressure below atmospheric in said trough whose suction nozzle is in connection with the outflow opening for cooling water.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cooling plastic profiles, comprising: a trough for receiving a cooling medium through which the profile can be guided; at least one inflow opening for delivering cooling water into said trough; at least one outflow opening for leading cooling water out of said trough; several guiding means arranged in said trough as separating walls which subdivide the trough into several sections in the longitudinal direction of the profile with first openings for calibrating the profile, and with further openings for producing a turbulent flow of the cooling water circulating between said inflow opening and said outflow opening.

Abstract: A multilayered food product, which has an upper component which has a density which is at least 0.2 kg/dm.sup.3 greater than a density of a lower component, is prepared by introducing a first food component into a container and within 30 seconds after introduction of the first food component applying a CO.sub.2 snow to a top surface of the first food component in the container for frosting the surface and removing residual CO.sub.2 snow from the surface and introducing a second food component into the container onto the frosted surface of the first food component.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cooling an superconducting material below the boiling point of liquid nitrogen by using liquid nitrogen as coolant. The cooling method of the invention can be used in two different modes, one under reduced pressure and the other under the atmospheric pressure. The former comprises a coil container which is in fact a vacuum vessel and the temperature of which is lowered by to the triple point of nitrogen by means of a vacuum pump. The latter comprises a coil container containing therein a cooling section of a freezer and the temperature of the coil container is lowered to the melting point of nitrogen by the freezer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for chilling a food product which includes a food distribution device having a pair of circular members including at least one spaced-apart partition defining a food receiving area; the circular members rotating to cause food delivered to the food product receiving area to fall into a food storage compartment in a uniform manner; and a cryogen releasing device connected to one of the circular members which uniformly distributes a cryogenic substance to the food product within the food storage compartment.

Abstract: According to the present invention, apparatus for freezing fragile food products is provided. The apparatus includes a first freezing section which includes a solid conveyor belt which is guided to provide an upper product receiving section and a lower section, which passes through a bath of cryogen so as to chill the surface of the belt. The first freezing section includes means to admit product onto the upper belt section and also includes means to move the product to an exit end of the upper belt section. A second freezing section is provided which is a spiral mechanical or cryogenic freezer. The first freezer has an entry end and an exit end. The entry end of the second freezing section is mated to the exit end of the first freezing section so as to receive product having a bottom frozen surface crust from the first freezing section.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus comprises a cooling chamber (2), means (4) for introducing liquefied gas or its cold vapor thereinto, an exhaust passage (16) having flow inducing means associated therewith and a heat transfer means (46) associated with said exhaust passage (16) in which the heat transfer means operates to transfer heat from a heat source to the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A freezer includes a conveyor belt within an enclosure. The conveyor belt is formed in an endless loop with top and bottom runs. Coolant is sprayed underneath the top run, and overspray is accumulated in a coolant bath through which the lower run passes to provide additional cooling.

Abstract: The invention provides a rotary cooler with three regions. The regions are separated by baffles with holes, which provide a slowed laminar air flow. Each region has its own recirculation system.

Abstract: A system and process for recovering high purity coolant gas from at least one fiber optic heat exchanger, characterized by controlling a flow of coolant gas into and out of the heat exchanger using a pressure, impurity and/or flow rate monitoring or transmitting means in conjunction with a flow adjusting or controlling device to limit air or other gas infiltration into at least one fiber optic passageway of the heat exchanger. A sealing means may also be used at at least one end of the fiber optic passageway to further reduce air or other gas infiltration into the passageway. The resulting high purity coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger is delivered to the inlet of the heat exchanger. Optionally, the resulting coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger may be cooled, filtered and/or purified before being delivered to the inlet of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A freezer apparatus for rapidly freezing products, such as food products, by blasting cold air at a uniform or controlled temperature and volume along the length of a conveyor which carries the products. In one embodiment, the freezer apparatus comprises a single cooling unit which feeds cold air to multiple blast nozzles disposed at predetermined angular positions around a spirally wound conveyor and at each level of the conveyor. In another embodiment, two cooling units are provided, each associated with a group of blast nozzles disposed above and below a linear conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus for distribution of cryogen across the width of a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a housing for receiving cryogen from a distribution manifold mounted axially within the housing. The distribution manifold is in fluid communication with a source of cryogen. The distribution manifold has a plurality of apertures for releasing cryogen into the interior of the housing. The housing has a slot extending across the length of the housing for distribution of a curtain of cryogen onto articles to be frozen.

Abstract: A foodstuff air treatment device includes a housing (1) with an elongated trough (11) for receiving the foodstuffs to be treated. The trough extends through the housing and includes a foraminated bottom (15), a first side wall (17), and a second side wall (16). A heat exchanger (12) is disposed in the housing, and a fan assembly (13) is also disposed within the housing for producing an air flow that circulates through the heat exchanger, up through the trough, and back to the heat exchanger. One side wall (17) of the trough is adjustable, laterally to the length of the trough, for changing the width of the trough.

Abstract: A tunnel freezer uses carbon dioxide snow to directly contact product carried on a conveyor belt passing through the freezer. Fans are provided above and below the upper conveyor belt run carrying the product, with the fans above and below having downwardly directed exhaust. Trough-shaped deflector plates are provided adjacent the lower fans to circulate a flow adjacent the underneath surface of the upper conveyor belt run. Preferably, circulation adjacent the upper conveyor belt run is generally parallel to the upper conveyor belt run, and turning vanes are provided to deflect the flow upwardly through the upper conveyor belt run. Freezers may be provided with one or more cooling zones arranged in series along the path of conveyor belt travel.

Abstract: A method for cooling of profiled rolled material hot rolled in roll stands, especially rails on a cooling bed by natural convection or by forced air cooling, which includes conveying the rails across the cooling bed with the rail heads oriented downwards. The apparatus for effecting the method includes a cooling bed having support elements which support the rails in a suspended state with the rail heads oriented downwards.

Abstract: Apparatus and process for cooling harvested edible and non-edible plants and plant products with a cryogenic fluid wherein the plants and plant products are delivered to an on-site freezer which receives the cryogenic fluid and the cooled plants and plant products and at least a portion of the cryogenic fluid is sent to a transportation vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for freezing particulate bodies, comprising a rotary member having a generally horizontal freezing surface, means for dispensing said bodies onto said surface, means for cooling the surface to a freezing temperature and means for collecting said bodies in at least peripherally frozen state from said surface. The particulate bodies may comprise food stuffs, such as prawns or cream, a pharmaceutical, a microbiological culture, or a puree. Liquified carbon dioxide and nitrogen are preferred for cooling.

Abstract: Device for freezing products, comprising a vibrating trough (2) comprising a bottom wall (3) on which the products (9) to be frozen move in contact with a layer of liquefied gas (7). The bottom wall (3) has a pattern of alternating projecting and hollow parts. The projecting parts are distributed in a regular pattern and are in continuous registry with the hollow parts. The height (h) of the projecting parts does not exceed half the thickness (e) of the layer of liquefied gas. The projecting parts have a constant height (h). The bottom wall (3) is an embossed metal sheet, preferably of stainless steel.

Abstract: Process and device for freezing substances contained in a receptacle, in which the receptacle (4) is placed on a support (7) and is moved along the support in a path. The support is a conveyor, preferably a vibratory conveyor, and is maintained partially immersed in a liquefied gas (13). The level of the liquefied gas (13) does not exceed the height of the substance in the receptacle (4). The vibratory conveyor comprises a vibrating trough (1) having two opposed walls (9) defining between them a guide channel (3) for the receptacles (4) and, on opposite sides, a chamber (10) for distribution of liquefied gas. A device (11) provides liquefied gas to each chamber (10). The bottom (7) of the vibrating trough (1) is of embossed sheet metal.

Abstract: A freezer system which partially freezes food products through conductive heat transfer with rotating contact freezers prior to complete freezing of the food products in an enclosed convection freezer. Food products sequentially contact outer surfaces of two rotating contact freezers, which partially freezes the food products to first and second predetermined depths. The partially frozen food products then enter an enclosed convection freezer for complete freezing. Partial freezing of the food products prior to a complete freeze of the food products provides for a greatly increased rate of production of high quality frozen food products.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for rapidly crust or through freezing a particle by simultaneously moving the particle through a bath of cryogenic liquid and exposing the particle or portions of the particle not submerged in the liquid to a spray of the cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: Thermal Exchanger for Beverages is a reusable, attachable cover for a cup type or can type beverage container. The container's contents can be almost any kind of beverage. The contents in the beverage container can be at room temperature or even hot. The beverage is chilled by sucking on the exposed end of a straw like tube the same way as you would suck on a conventional straw. The degree of temperature decrease of the beverage is dependent on the temperature of the beverage in the container, the type of frozen matter used in the retention mass, and the amount of time the beverage remains in the Thermal Exchanger. Within the attachable cover, the straw like apparatus is coiled inside a surrounding envelope containing a freezable gel of the type that is used in various applications such as freezer packs. The entire Thermal Exchanger is placed in a freezer for several hours until the gel is frozen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the refrigeration capacity a cooling operation that includes a mechanical refrigeration system is disclosed wherein the mechanical refrigeration system operates continuously and a cryogen is introduced into a mechanically refrigerated space only in the presence of heat load conditions that exceed the refrigeration capacity of the mechanical refrigeration system.

Abstract: There is provided a cooling device for lowering the temperature of rubber or polystyrene materials for recycling purposes. The cooling device has an input feeder which inputs the material to be treated into a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is an elongated chamber. The cooling chamber receives cold air from an external air refrigeration unit and circulates that air within the chamber. The material input into the cooling chamber is circulated therein by a circulating shaft. After 15-20 minutes, the input material is discharged through an output on the opposite end of the cooling chamber. The temperature of the material discharged is -80.degree. C. or lower.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cooling a metal strip, the apparatus having a header that receives and directs a curtain of water across the strip, a water collector on one side of the curtain of water and a source of air on the opposite side of the curtain of water arranged to direct a flow of air across the curtain of water and divert water into the water collector. A deflector is arranged to interrupt at least a portion of the flow of air such that at least a portion of the wall of water contacts and cools the strip of metal. The flow of air is provided at a pressure of about 50 to 100 psi and, with the flow of air completely blocked by a deflector, the strip of metal is cooled completely across the width of the strip.

Abstract: A system and process for recovering high purity coolant gas from at least one fiber optic heat exchanger, characterized by controlling a flow of coolant gas into and out of the heat exchanger using a pressure, impurity and/or flow rate monitoring or transmitting means in conjunction with a flow adjusting or controlling device to limit air or other gas infiltration into at least one fiber optic passageway of the heat exchanger. A sealing means may also be used at at least one end of the fiber optic passageway to further reduce air or other gas infiltration into the passageway. The resulting high purity coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger is delivered to the inlet of the heat exchanger. Optionally, the resulting coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger may be cooled, filtered and/or purified before being delivered to the inlet of heat exchanger.

Abstract: Food product chilling apparatus is afforded herein comprising an elongated water tank and a modular movable belt conveyer unit that carries warm food products through water for chilling. A superstructure and hoist system lifts the conveyor unit out of the water for servicing. Cooling water is recirculated and rechilled in a cooling method that controls the temperature of the efflux water from the cooling tank. The influx chilling water is distributed in a plurality of parallel flow paths incrementally chilling the product at various stations along the conveyor belt path to reduce the average cooling time for the processed products. By standardizing the efflux water temperature at the various stations at a few degrees Fahrenheit above the influx water, a thermally efficient cooling system is provided. Each of the cooling stations is provided with weir height control means to optimize the cooling rate along the length of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cooling thermally massive parts includes directing a chilled gas onto an electrical component travelling on the belt of a continuous furnace. The belt is divided into a series of hot and cold zones to provide thermal stressing to the electrical component to detect early life failure. As the component cools, a constant thermal stress is maintained by either lowering the temperature or increasing the flow rate of the chilled gas.

Abstract: A freezing tunnel includes a longitudinally extending housing defining a cooling cavity containing a cooling atmosphere which progresses from one end of the tunnel to the other end. An endless mesh belt extends through the housing for carrying articles to be frozen. A shroud is located within the housing and extends transversely across the belt and terminating in edges which define an opening. The shroud defines an inner region and an outer region between the inner region and the housing and includes first and second longitudinally spaced shroud portions, each having respective apertures for allowing fluid communication between the inner and outer regions. Electrically driven fans direct the cooling atmosphere through the respective apertures and the opening and past the articles to be frozen.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for chilling a food product which includes a food distribution device having a pair of circular members including at least one spaced-apart partition defining a food receiving area; the circular members rotating to cause food delivered to the food product receiving area to fall into a food storage compartment in a uniform manner; and a cryogen releasing device connected to one of the circular members which uniformly distributes a cryogenic substance to the food product within the food storage compartment.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for freezing an article, such as a food according to which said article is contacted with the surface of a porous support which is impregnated with a cryogenic liquid. The invention also concerns a device for freezing an article including a conveyor of porous material, which is insulated by means of an enclosure as well as means for impregnating said conveyor with a cryogenic liquid.

Abstract: A food freezer for continuous freezing of food products utilizing a helical conveyor for transporting the food products through an enclosure in which the food products are cooled. Mechanical refrigeration apparatus employs a refrigerant to cool an atmosphere gas which is circulated across the food products within the enclosure. The refrigerant is also employed to subcool a cryogen which also cools the same food products.

Abstract: A spiral type freezer constructed and operated to introduce refrigerated atmosphere into the bottom of the insulated chamber and circulate the atmosphere in a circulation flow from the bottom of the chamber to an exit on top of the chamber, the refrigerated atmosphere producing a thermal gradient from the bottom to the top of the chamber so that the freezer is operated non-isothermally.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooling a workpiece, especially a continuous rolled non-flat workpiece includes a cooling passage having an inlet for receiving the workpiece and an outlet for discharging the workpiece, the cooling passage having a central axis and further including an inlet for introducing a cooling medium to the cooling passage, and an outlet for removing the cooling medium from the cooling passage, the cooling medium inlet being arranged relative to the central axis of the cooling passage so as to induce a substantially helical flow of cooling medium around the central axis from the cooling medium inlet to the cooling medium outlet, the cooling medium outlet including a chamber having an expanded flow area, whereby pressure and velocity of the cooling medium in the cooling passage are controlled so as to provide accelerated cooling of the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for and method of storing and automatically dispensing predetermined amounts of one or more food products from closed containers is described. The system preferably includes multi-compartment containers carried by a carrousel assembly and moved by a dispensing mechanism for automatically selecting the appropriate container and compartment for which food is dispensed. By using a control with memory for keeping inventory, the system can dispense any one of several food products on demand.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for enforced heat transmission between a solid or liquid alimentary body and an ambient gas takes place in connection with cooling/freezing or when cooking, frying or drying the entire part or parts of the alimentary body. This method and arrangement uses a low-frequency standing sound wave. The apparatus uses a low-frequency sound generator having a pulsator part and a resonator part. The resonator part is acoustically virtually closed and is designed so that the alimentary body, which is to be exposed to enforced heat transmission, is located within a zone inside the resonator part where the standing sound wave has a particle velocity anti-node.

Abstract: A method comprising feeding a liquefied refrigerant selected from the group consisting of 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane; 1,1,1,2,2,3,3-heptafluoropropane; 1,1,1,2,2,3-hexafluoropropane; 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane; perfluorobutane; and octafluoropropane into direct contact with a volume of aqueous liquid in an enclosed ice making vessel to convert part of the aqueous liquid to ice crystals, without the formation of a water-refrigerant hydrate, by vaporizing the refrigerant by heat exchange with the aqueous liquid.

Abstract: Process for freezing a product in which said product is contacted with a film made of a liquefied gas of which the boiling point is below -30.degree. C., disposed at the surface of a vibrating support, and the frozen product is at least in part separated from said film of liquefied gas.Device for freezing a product including a vibration generator (7) connected to a support (2) at the surface of which there is disposed a film of liquefied gas (3) of which the boiling point is below -30.degree. C.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for cooling a laminar material, more particularly a metal strip 2, by liquid nozzles 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b disposed on both sides. The liquid nozzles 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b take the form of full-jet nozzles and so act upon the surface of the material 2 to be cooled by rebounding jets that zones of shooting flow SS are formed around the point of impingement of the individual rebounding jets.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed for sorting, cryogenically freezing and wrapping soft-shelled blue crabs.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for cooling a coated wire including: preparing a water storage tank disposed between an extruder for coating a core wire with an insulating material and for feeding the coated wire forwardly, and a winder for winding the coated wire; and passing the coated wire before being wound through still water in the water storage tank thereby rapidly cooling the coated wire, the improvement comprising: preparing trough members disposed between the water storage tank and the extruder along the advance direction of the coated wire in such a manner as to cover the coated wire from the underside; and cooling the coated wire by water which is discharged to the trough members and is made to flow therein and thereafter passing the coated wire through the water storage tank. Using the above method, even in manufacture of an insulated wire having a coated outside diameter of 1 mm or less, it is possible to suppress the surface roughness of the coated wire in the degree of at least 1 .mu.m.

Abstract: An air treatment plant for food is closed with the exception of an inlet and an outlet opening (3). In the plant, a pressure increase needed for circulating the treatment air tends to produce an air flow in one direction (29) through an inlet or outlet tunnel (20) communicating with the inlet or the outlet opening. The tunnel (20) has an upper wall (21) in which are arranged nozzles (22) directed substantially opposite to said direction (29), and a lower wall (23) formed with openings (24) for evacuating the excess air in the tunnel (20) produced by air jets (30) generated by a fan (27) and emanating from nozzles (22). A method for reducing the air flow in the inlet or outlet tunnel thus comprises the steps of directing a plurality of air jets (30) from the upper boundary surface (21) of the tunnel (20) substantially opposite to said direction (29), and evacuating from the tunnel the excess air produced by the air jets through openings (24) in the lower boundary surface (23) of the tunnel.

Abstract: A conveyor freezer employing a self-supporting conveyor arranged in a helical stack for carrying discrete food items into the freezer, through the helical stack for a predetermined period of time, and out of the freezer. A major portion of the weight of the helical belt stack is supported by a rotatable turntable A portion of the lowermost tier of the stack is elevated and supported by a ramp structure which preferably comprises a pair of runners engaging lower surfaces of outwardly extending flange portion of side links of the belt. The belt is preferably driven by a single drive unit at a location outside of the freezer enclosure, remote from the stack, by a single pair of sprockets. A timing sprocket is preferably employed to control belt pitch along the infeed section of the belt.

Abstract: Installation permitting the rapid chilling of products stored, in particular, inside a bottle (5), consisting of a tank (1) arranged within an insulating chamber, and which contains a liquid (3) maintained at very low temperature by means of a chilling circuit (2), the products (5) to be cooled being held in the chilling medium by means of pockets (4) which descend into the chilling fluid and inside which are arranged the products to be cooled. It is defined in that the pocket or pockets (4) is or are in the form of an envelope open at its upper part (6) with a base consisting of a flexible, leaktight plastic film, and retained along their open zone at the upper part (7) of the chamber (1), and the closed base (8) of which is associated with means enabling it to be displaced from the open upper part (6) to a position near the bottom (9) of the chamber, and vice versa.

Abstract: A method for chilling carcasses which comprises the steps of introducing a cryogenic fluid into a rotatable drum of a meat tumbler, the drum having inner walls which are cooled by the cryogenic fluid; placing carcasses to be chilled inside the drum; and rotating the drum so that the carcasses contact each other and the inner walls until they are chilled to a sufficient degree. The cryogenic fluid cools the drum to a temperature of approximately 32 .degree. F. A small quantity of water may be introduced into the drum of the tumbler either immediately before or immediately after the introduction of the cryogenic fluid. The water forms an ice layer on the inner walls to prevent the carcasses from sticking to the inner walls. The primary chilling of the carcasses takes place between the tumbling carcasses and the cold inner walls and/or ice layer. The carcasses may also be tumbled in the drum in an inert gas or vacuum atmosphere to massage surface moisture back into the carcasses.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for quick freezing particles with surface moisture by immersion in liquid cryogen to produce a frozen crust or layer on the particles followed by agitation in content with the vaporized cryogen to complete freezing and prevent clumping of the particles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing dehydration during freezing of foodstuffs utilizing a combination of cryogenic freezing to lock in moisture followed by vaporized cryogen assisted mechanical freezing to through freeze other foodstuff.

Abstract: The present invention provides a food processing system and method for refrigerating articles of food. The food processing system includes at least two cooling stages formed by a cryogenic freezer and a hydrocooler. The cryogenic freezer receives the articles of food and transfers heat from the articles of food to the cryogen so that the articles of food are refrigerated. After the transfer of heat from the articles of food to the cryogen, the cryogen boils off to form cryogenic vapor. The hydrocooler receives the articles of food prior to the cryogenic freezer and transfers heat from the articles of food to supplied cooling water. Such heat transfer reduces the quantity of cryogen required to refrigerate the articles of food. Additionally, an eductor is connected to a pump and to vent line from the cryogenic freezer.