Abstract: The post chill decontamination tank assembly 24 usually is positioned at the exit end of a chiller 10 of a poultry processing line. Eviscerated birds fall into the decontamination tank 25 and the paddles 42A-42D of the paddle assembly 34 revolve in the tank about the axis 37 and collect and lift the birds through the liquid and discharge the birds from the tank. An antimicrobial is added to the liquid for treating the exposed surfaces of the birds.

Abstract: Birds are moved through chilled water by bird moving means such as an auger or by a series of paddles. The birds tend to accumulate in a predetermined path in the water. Streams of water that include an antibacterial additive are directed toward the predetermined path and engage and disperse the birds, and wash the birds with the streams of water and the antibacterial additive, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and increasing the effectiveness of the antibacterial properties of the agents in the chilled water.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of reducing the temperature and increasing the moisture content of carcasses includes progressively introducing the carcasses into a body of heat-exchanging fluid in a tank having a curved bottom surface, oscillating a paddle in the tank along the curved bottom surface to upwardly and laterally urge the carcasses through the body of fluid, and axially propelling jets of heat-exchanging fluid through the body of fluid to axially urge the carcasses along the length of the tank toward an outlet end of the tank.

Abstract: The chiller includes a semi-cylindrical tank (36) that conforms to the perimeter of its auger (38) so that the water can be raised to a water level (68) high above the auger shaft (44). Streams of water (84) are directed from the pulling side (80) across the lower portion of the tank beneath the auger shaft (44) to the dead side 82 of the tank at intervals along the tank so as to disperse the lower portion of the masses (23) of buoyant birds (22) from the more crowded pulling side (80) of the tank, beneath the auger shaft (44) toward the more vacant dead side (82) of the tank, thereby distributing the products more evenly throughout the tank and causing more water turbulence in the tank, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and avoiding having the birds cross over the auger shaft moving backward in chiller into a following flight of the auger.

Abstract: The chiller includes a semi-cylindrical tank (36) that conforms to the perimeter of its auger (38) SO that the water can be raised to a water level (68) high above the auger shaft (44). Streams of water (84) are directed from the pulling side (80) across the lower portion of the tank beneath the auger shaft (44) to the dead side 82 of the tank at intervals along the tank so as to disperse the lower portion of the masses (23) of buoyant birds (22) from the more crowded pulling side (80) of the tank, beneath the auger shaft (44) toward the more vacant dead side (82) of the tank, thereby distributing the products more evenly throughout the tank and causing more water turbulence in the tank, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and avoiding having the birds cross over the auger shaft moving backward in chiller into a following flight of the auger.

Abstract: Birds are moved through chilled water by bird moving means such as an auger or by a series of paddles. The birds tend to accumulate in a predetermined path in the water. Streams of water that include an antibacterial additive are directed toward the predetermined path and engage and disperse the birds, and wash the birds with the streams of water and the antibacterial additive, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer from the birds and increasing the effectiveness of the antibacterial properties of the agents in the chilled water.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating data messages received from subscribers in a CATV system are disclosed. The system includes a spectrum parallel router which receives data messages in the return spectrum of a service line at a service site. A switch at the service site directs data messages to service lines coupled to the site which have destination addresses corresponding to one of the service lines. Data messages not having a destination address corresponding to one of the service lines are provided to a transmitter for transmission to the next higher level of the CATV network over a return cable. Each service site has its own return cable which may be coupled to a distribution hub or a headend.

Abstract: Axial flow fan propellers are provided with a roughened portion along the trailing edge of the fan blades on the pressure side of the blade to minimize tonal acoustic emissions generated by laminar boundary layer vortex shedding. The roughened portion may be provided by trip surfaces formed in the blades, by strips of abrasive material adhered to the blades along the trailing edges, respectively, by parallel or cross-hatched serrations in the blades or by upturned or offset trailing edges of the blades. The height of the roughened portion should be about equal to the boundary layer thickness of air flowing over the blade surfaces during operation of the fan. The fan propellers are particularly advantageous in heat exchanger applications, such as residential air conditioning system condenser units.

Abstract: Axial flow fan propellers are provided with a roughened portion along the trailing edge of the fan blades on the pressure side of the blade to minimize tonal acoustic emissions generated by laminar boundary layer vortex shedding. The roughened portion may be provided by trip surfaces formed in the blades, by strips of abrasive material adhered to the blades along the trailing edges, respectively, by parallel or cross-hatched serrations in the blades or by upturned or offset trailing edges of the blades. The height of the roughened portion should be about equal to the boundary layer thickness of air flowing over the blade surfaces during operation of the fan. The fan propellers are particularly advantageous in heat exchanger applications, such as residential air conditioning system condenser units.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating data messages received from subscribers in a CATV system are disclosed. The system includes a spectrum parallel router which receives data messages in the return spectrum of a service line at a service site. A switch at the service site directs data messages to service lines coupled to the site which have destination addresses corresponding to one of the service lines. Data messages not having a destination address corresponding to one of the service lines are provided to a transmitter for transmission to the next higher level of the CATV network over a return cable. Each service site has its own return cable which may be coupled to a distribution hub or a headend.

Abstract: Axial flow fan propellers are provided with a roughened portion along the trailing edge of the fan blades on the pressure side of the blade to minimize tonal acoustic emissions generated by laminar boundary layer vortex shedding. The roughened portion may be provided by trip surfaces formed in the blades, by strips of abrasive material adhered to the blades along the trailing edges, respectively, by parallel or cross-hatched serrations in the blades or by upturned or offset trailing edges of the blades. The height of the roughened portion should be about equal to the boundary layer thickness of air flowing over the blade surfaces during operation of the fan. The fan propellers are particularly advantageous in heat exchanger applications, such as residential air conditioning system condenser units.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating data messages received from subscribers in a CATV system are disclosed. The system includes a spectrum parallel router which receives data messages in the return spectrum of a service line at a service site. A switch at the service site directs data messages to service lines coupled to the site which have destination addresses corresponding to one of the service lines. Data messages not having a destination address corresponding to one of the service lines are provided to a transmitter for transmission to the next higher level of the CATV network over a return cable. Each service site has its own return cable which may be coupled to a distribution hub or a headend. The return cables isolate the data messages of each service site from the data messages sent by the other service sites. At the distribution hub and headend, a switch is provided for each return cable and the switches are coupled to one another.

Abstract: In an auger-type product chiller having an auger including a series of successive flights that form a generally helical structure that, when rotated, moves product through cold water for chilling the product, control elements extending from faces of the flights at a non-zero angle. The control structures prevent "clumping" and packing of poultry product, break up any "clumps" and packs of the product that may develop, and improve product uniformity. In this manner, the advantages of proper agitation, as well as rapid, predictable and even product cooling and moisture introduction, are achieved. Implementations of the control elements include sets of rods extending from the flights at 30.degree. angles from radial lines of affixation to the flights, flat plates extending from the flights at 30.degree. angles from radial lines of affixation to the flights, and sets of rods extending between successive flights near peripheries of the flights.

Abstract: A system and method for isolating data messages received from subscribers in a CATV system are disclosed. The system includes a spectrum parallel router which receives data messages in the return spectrum of a service line at a service site. A switch at the service site directs data messages to service lines coupled to the site which have destination addresses corresponding to one of the service lines. Data messages not having a destination address corresponding to one of the service lines are provided to a transmitter for transmission to the next higher level of the CATV network over a return cable. Each service site has its own return cable which may be coupled to a distribution hub or a headend. At the distribution hub and headend, a switch is provided for each return cable and the switches are coupled to one another. At a distribution hub, data messages having a destination address corresponding to one of the other switches at the hub are routed to the corresponding switch.

Abstract: An ultrasonic, transcutaneous blood flow detector. A protective mounting cup is positionable against the skin of a patient for the transfer of ultrasonic energy into and out of the patient's body. The detector utilizes only a single piezoelectric transducer with a first face in juxtaposition with an interior face of the cup. A film of viscous semifluid material is positioned between the transducer first face and the cup's interior face to couple ultrasonic energy between the transducer and the cup. A resilient spring or foam member resiliently biases the transducer first face into engagement with the cup's interior face with the semifluid material therebetween, thus permitting substantially uninhibited deformation of the transducer in response to a drive signal.

Abstract: For removal of the contaminant deposits from a surface such as a tube sheet of a vertical tube heat exchanger, as in a nuclear steam generator, having plural spaced heat exchange tubes connected to the tube sheet, a lance is radially moved along the tube sheet between parallel rows of tubes. The lance carries a nozzle for ejecting a stream of high pressure cleaning fluid toward the sludge deposits, the nozzle acting cyclically to sweep the stream throughout a range of directions centered about the nozzle axis. The nozzle may include diverting streams for deflecting the cleaning fluid stream, with the diverting streams either being generated by a fluidic oscillator or being fed back from the outlet portion of the nozzle. Alternatively, pivoting vane means may be provided in the nozzle to divert the cleaning fluid stream.

Abstract: A dynamoelectric machine having a quiet cooling system. The system comprises at least twenty-five short chord axially mounted radial blades disposed on a conical hub which is disposed on the rotor of the dynamoelectric machine. The arrangement and number of blades are such that the coolant flow is increased while the pure tone noises are reduced thus increasing cooling and reducing subjective annoyance. A conical shroud encloses the conical hub defining therebetween a conical annulus whose total annular cross-sectional area does not expand to the point where turbulence and flow separation would occur. A bell-mouthed protective grilled inlet is disposed on the conical shroud for conducting a coolant, under the action of the rotating blades, through the bell-mouthed inlet and into the conical annulus. The bell-mouthed inlet and conical annulus together providing a streamlined path for quietly diffusing the coolant into the proximity of surfaces susceptible to heating.