Patents by Inventor Michael J Hulin

Michael J Hulin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7179160
    Abstract: A fully automated apparatus and system for processing shellfish such as shrimp and crawfish including the cooking, drying and peeling thereof. The present invention utilizes excessive heat generated by boilers to heat the dryers. The product is cooked in a brine mix that once used is transferred to a broth processing system to make a seafood flavored broth and is also injected as a fine mist into a furnace where it crystallizes into a solid product to be used as a seafood flavored salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Michael J Hulin
  • Patent number: 6372275
    Abstract: The present invention 10 involves a drying process wherein cooked seafood 12 is deposited into an input port 14 of the dryer 10 wherein a conveyance system 16 moves the seafood or shellfish 12 while it is being dried. A power supply 28 is provided for the conveyance system 16 along with an on/off switch 30. Dryer equipment is provided by a blower 32 having a heater 34 thereby providing a piped hot air system 36. At a selected predetermined time the shellfish 12 are removed manually 18 or by vacuum equipment 20 to a peeling device 22 having rotational equipment for turning the shellfish 12 until the shells 24 have been removed by vacuum equipment 20 to a predetermined location as well as the cleaned product 26 being removed to a predetermined location. Alternative designs are provided using an ascending conveyance system and a stacked horizontal conveyance system. Also, alternative peeler designs are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: Michael J Hulin
  • Patent number: 5518444
    Abstract: An apparatus for shelling dried shrimp comprising an outer container and an inner container for receiving a quantity of dried shrimp for shell removal. The inner container is positioned within the outer container so as to leave a shell collecting space between the bottom of the inner container and the bottom of the outer container. The inner container bottom has a multiplicity of holes to allow communication between the inner container and the outer container at the shell collecting space. After a quantity of dried shrimp is placed in the inner container, the shrimp is mixed and turned by a rotating blade which loosens and removes the shells from the shrimp. Suction is applied in the shell collecting space by a vacuum means which pulls the loose shells from the inner container into the shell collecting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Inventor: Michael J. Hulin