Abstract: An auger-type poultry chiller having an auger with multiple long-pitch auger blades. The blades of the auger create pockets that spiral around the auger shaft and extend the length of the auger. While the product in the chiller is locked into a certain pocket, it is not locked into a certain spot lengthwise in the chiller. The product, therefore, is able to distribute evenly along the length of the chiller within its pocket even if there are gaps in loading time or if unloading stops momentarily.

Abstract: A reciprocating poultry chiller auger including a bearing, such as a simple cylindrical bearing, mounting the shaft of an auger-type poultry chiller for both rotation of the shaft and for linear reciprocating motion of the shaft along its axis. The shaft may be reciprocated backward and forward along the axis of the shaft by, for example, a hydraulic cylinder that alternately pushes and pulls the shaft so that it slides linearly in a reciprocating fashion within the bearing. The reciprocating motion of the auger provides agitation of the chilled water in the poultry chiller thus improving contact and heat transfer from poultry carcasses into the chilled water.

Abstract: An auger-type poultry chiller having an auger with multiple long-pitch auger blades. The blades of the auger create pockets that spiral around the auger shaft and extend the length of the auger. While the product in the chiller is locked into a certain pocket, it is not locked into a certain spot lengthwise in the chiller. The product, therefore, is able to distribute evenly along the length of the chiller within its pocket even if there are gaps in loading time or if unloading stops momentarily.

Abstract: A vacuum transfer system having a weighing hopper mounted via at least one load cell to a frame. The weighing hopper is provided with an inlet connected via a product line to a product inlet hopper and a sliding outlet gate. An actuator valve is operatively connected to the weighing hopper and to a vacuum source. A controller is operatively connected to the actuator valve and also controls the opening and closing of the sliding gate. The product line comprises a flexible pipe section and a rigid pipe section pivotally mounted to the frame at a pivot disposed substantially vertically below the center of the flexible pipe section. In operation, the operator keys into the controller a target rate of product transfer and a target weight of product in the weighing hopper. The actuator valve applies vacuum to the weighing hopper in order to transfer the product from the inlet hopper to the weighing hopper.

Abstract: A counter flow, re-circulating, externally refrigerated auger type chiller. The chiller has a tank that is semi-cylindrical in shape so that the walls of the tank conform closely to the circular cross section of the auger. By minimizing the gap between the walls of the tank and the outer edges of the rotating auger, the counter flowing chilled water is forced to flow in the helical path determined by the auger. This assures a longer residence time for the chilled water in the auger, more thorough and more intimate contact between the poultry carcasses and the chilled water, and thus more efficient transfer of heat from the poultry carcasses to the chilled water.

Abstract: A structural system for an auger type poultry chiller in which the air header and structural system are integrated together. A hollow box beam on the longitudinal upper edge of the housing of the chiller provides structural strength and ridigity to the housing. The box beam is airtight and the box beam is connected to a source of pressurized air so that the box beam also serves as an air header. Air hoses connect a series of connectors along the length of the box beam to inlets on the bottom of the chiller housing to introduce pressurized air to the chilled water to prevent clumping of the chilled poultry carcasses. The strength of the box beam air header allows the supports for the auger to be mounted directly to the top of the box beam. In order to provide mounting connections without sacrificing the airtight integrity of the box beam, one or more tubes are run vertically through the box beam at points of attachment for the auger support structure.