Abstract: Meat such as beef or pork is tenderized by first subjecting it to Hydrodyne treatment, followed by injecting the meat with an aqueous marinade. In this way, the quantity of marinade which is retained in the meat without purge can be increased by 40% to a marinade content of about 14%.

Abstract: Improved tenderization of meat is achieved by using, individually or in combination, (1) a capacitor discharge chamber of shortened height; (2) a drum-head on which the meat sits during treatment and which is located at the upper end of the capacitor discharge chamber; (3) meat supporting structure which substantially holds the meat in place on the drum-head during capacitor discharge; (4) an indexing carousel for delivery the meat to a location above the capacitor discharge chamber and for transporting the treated meat to a discharge location; (5) an improved negative compression or rarefaction wave; and (6) the combination of shock wave treatment with other operations.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for extracting cross-sectional samples of bulk material from a moving belt conveyor with a rotating sample cutter. The sample cutter is driven around a circular sampling path by a pair of double-acting pneumatic cylinders that are connected to angularly offset crank throws. Fluid flow in and out of each pneumatic cylinder pressure chamber is independently regulated as a function of the respective cylinder rod position and direction of movement whereby both chambers may be simultaneously open to the pressure supply or to the atmospheric vent for a brief rotational arc.

Abstract: Improved tenderization of meat is achieved by using, individually or in combination, (1) a capacitor discharge chamber of shortened height; (2) a drum-head on which the meat sits during treatment and which is located at the upper end of the capacitor discharge chamber; (3) meat supporting structure which substantially holds the meat in place on the drum-head during capacitor discharge; (4) an indexing carousel for delivery the meat to a location above the capacitor discharge chamber and for transporting the treated meat to a discharge location; (5) an improved negative compression or rarefaction wave; and (6) the combination of shock wave treatment with other operations.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for extracting cross-sectional samples of bulk material from a moving belt conveyor with a rotating sample cutter. The sample cutter is driven around a circular sampling path by a pair of double-acting pneumatic cylinders that are connected to angularly offset crank throws. Fluid flow in and out of each pneumatic cylinder pressure chamber is independently regulated as a function of the respective cylinder rod position and direction of movement whereby both chambers may be simultaneously open to the pressure supply or to the atmospheric vent for a brief rotational arc.

Abstract: A meat treating system, i.e. method and apparatus, for tenderization and/or killing microorganisms in and on the meat, includes an outer heavy-duty circular-cylindrical cylinder and a meat-holding inner container concentrically disposed within the outer cylinder with an annular space therebetween. The bottom of the cylinder is sealed so that a column of water can be supported in the annular space. Upon generation of an explosive discharge, a shock wave is created to effect tenderization and/or the killing of microorganisms. The explosive discharge, which can be created either by a chemical explosive or by a capacitor discharge, also serves to blow open the seal at the bottom of the cylinder permitting the column of water to escape.

Abstract: Water and meat pieces (P) are pumped through a conduit (100), the walls of which are made of plastic having an acoustic impedance close to that of water. The conduit is immersed in a tank (400) full of water. A shock wave generator 200 (capacitor discharge through electrodes) creates a shock wave in the water. A preferably tubular wave guide directs the shock pulse onto the conduit. The shock wave passes through the conduit without substantial reflection because the impedance of the conduit wall matches the impedance of the water. The shock wave tenderizes and sterilizes the meat. Continual plasma discharges are repeated rapidly enough that all of the meat passing through is treated.

Abstract: Bacteria on and in meat, for example hamburger, is killed by subjecting the meat to an explosive shock front pressure wave propagated through an inert liquid medium at a rate of at least 6100 meters per second.

Abstract: Water and meat pieces (P) are pumped through a conduit (100), the walls of which are made of plastic having an acoustic impedance close to that of water. The conduit is immersed in a tank (400) full of water. A shock wave generator 200 (chemical explosive or capacitor discharge electrodes) creates a shock wave in the water. The shock wave passes through the conduit without substantial reflection because the impedance of the conduit wall matches the impedance of the water. The shock wave tenderizes and at least partially sterilizes the meat. A heavy-duty shock-reflective cylinder reflects portions of the shock pulse onto the conduit. Continual explosions are repeated rapidly enough that all of the meat passing through is tenderized. Alternatively, the meat is packed in water within a closed container in place of the conduit.

Abstract: An apparatus for containing the energy of a shock wave and a reaction pulse from an explosion used for tenderizing meat has an inner tank (50) for holding the meat and a watertight outer tank (100) within which the inner tank is held optionally immersed in water, and into which the inner tank can rebound downward from the force of the explosion. The outer tank includes an inner surface dissimilar in shape to the outer surface of the inner tank; this breaks up the initial shock wave. An air space at least partially surrounding the outer tank helps to contain the shock wave. The water, the inner tank, and outer tank act as an hydraulic damper or dash pot to cushion the force of the slower reaction pulse, which follows the shock pulse and pushes the inner tank downward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for instantly tenderizing meat employs a shock wave produced by an underwater electrical discharge through an electrode gap from a capacitor bank. To optimize the shock wave shape for tenderizing, the electrical pulse may be shaped by using timing the discharge of the capacitor bank.

Abstract: Bacteria on and in meat, for example hamburger, is killed by subjecting the meat to an explosive shock front pressure wave propagated through an inert liquid medium at a rate of at least 6100 meters per second.

Abstract: An explosive blast shield has two connected parts, a foraminous inner shield surrounded by an impervious outer shield. The inner shield has an open lower end to absorb an explosive blast of water and gas, as from an underwater explosion. The inner shield, whose area is about 20% holes, blocks most liquid from entering the space between the two shields, but gas passes readily through the holes to equalize the pressure across the inner shield. The shield may include a chimney at the upper end for release of gas and a hold-down to prevent the shield from being blown upward.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for cross-stream sampling of bulk material distributed as a mounded continuum in a trough formed along the length of a belt conveyor. A rotating cutter passes transversely through the traveling, bulk material continuum to extract substantially all material on said belt in a swath between transverse, parallel cutting planes. Proximate of the sample cutting swath, before and after such swath relative to the material traveling direction, rigid skirting is provided to overlay both lateral edges of the belt. Garlands of resiliently mounted belt supporting idlers span under the belt laterally of the swath to urge the belt into a substantially continuous line of sealed contact with the skirting. Simultaneously, the trough bight of the belt between the skirting is urged into the swath volume to require displacement from the swath volume by passage of the sample cutter thereby insuring full belt surface contact by the cutter and maximum small particle retrieval.

Abstract: A spin riffle sampling apparatus distributes a sample source quantity of particulate material in a predetermined number of increments, 60 for example, to each of a smaller number, 4 for example, of radially disposed bins on a rotating platform. The bins include top openings which pass through a falling zone of material to receive material into the bins. The width dimension of each opening decreases with increasing radial displacement from the axis of rotation of the platform. The bins also may be forwardly pitched relative to the direction of rotation of the platform so as to induce a down draft to control dusting.

Abstract: Tenderized meat of good quality and uniformity is obtained by supporting meat in a tank along a hemispherical wall equidistant from an explosive charge, and detonating the explosive. The shock wave produced is propagated through the water within the tank, couples with the meat to compress the meat as the shock wave strikes the meat, and then is reflected by the tank wall to effect a substantial doubling of the shock wave effect.

Abstract: Tenderized meat of good quality and uniformity is obtained by supporting meat in a tank along a hemispherical wall equidistant from an explosive charge, and detonating the explosive. The shock wave produced is propagated through the water within the tank, couples with the meat to compress the meat as the shock wave strikes the meat, and then is reflected by the tank wall to effect a substantial doubling of the shock wave effect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for cross-stream samnpling of bulk material from a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a sampler movable across the conveyor belt for segregating a cross-stream increment of bulk material from the belt and ejecting the sample into a collection chute positioned adjacent the belt. The sampler has a trapezoidal cross-section so that the surface area which is projects upstream of the bulk material flow is relatively small in comparison to its sample-accepting capacity. The system also includes a surge dam positioned upstream of the sampler for limiting buildup of bulk material against the upstream side of the sampler. Upon completion of an increment-collecting cycle, the sampler is parked in a position relative to the opening of the collection chute so that ingress of bulk material into the chute opening from the belt is restricted by the sampler.