Abstract: A freezing apparatus comprises a cooling hollow body to receive food products to be frozen thereon and to be driven for rotation, a flexible container made of a flexible sheet material which is arranged on the upper surface of the cooling hollow body so as to cover said products placed on said upper surface, a cold brine circulating path including the hollow portion of the cooling hollow body and the interior of the flexible container which are mutually communicated to feed cold brine, a plurality of adapters attached to the outer periphery of the flexible container, and a guide rail provided around the outer periphery of the flexible container to slidably support the adapters. The flexible container is moved synchronousely with the cooling hollow body due to a frictional force resulted between the flexible container and the cooling hollow body.

Abstract: A refrigeration device includes an enclosed housing and a framework in the housing supporting an endless conveyor for movement in a helical path between inlet and outlet openings formed in the housing. Items of prepared food are provided to the housing at the inlet, then frozen as they are serially conveyed toward the outlet. The conveyor support framework includes pairs of radially inward and radially outward uprights, with elongate rods arranged radially and in a helical path between pairs of the uprights. Two flexible steel bands, provided with spaced apart apertures to slidably accommodate the rods, are installed upon the rods in concentric helixes. Low friction strips are installed with the bands and support the conveyor with respect to the bands.

Abstract: Products to be cooled are brought in the form of individual portions at least partially into contact with a refrigerant liquid for a sufficient time so that the liquid is almost completely evaporated when the portion has reached its required cooling temperature.

Abstract: An improved animal by-products and hides chiller is provided for use in the packing plant for chilling fresh by-products and hides so that spoilage is minimized. The chiller generally includes a rotatable elongated tank having an inlet end for introducing the warm by-products or hides and an outlet end for removing the cooled by-products or hides from the tank. The side wall of the tank is void of apertures such that the need to clean the tank is minimized. As the tank rotates, baffle bars agitate the by-products or hides. The baffle bars are removably secured to the interior of the tank, and can be exchanged with other baffle bars so as to accommodate various types of by-products or hides being chilled. A strainer unit is positioned at the outlet end of the tank and receives the cooled by-products and the liquid coolant. The liquid coolant drains through a plurality of removable straining trays in a strainer unit so as to remove solids from the liquid.

Abstract: A portable article display apparatus for displaying articles such as beverage cans or other items includes a hollow housing having a transparent outer wall, a base support for mounting the housing and a door mounted over an access opening in the transparent outer wall for removing articles one-by-one from the housing. Systems for cooling the housing interior and defogging its transparent outer wall are provided for displaying food articles or other items which must be refrigerated. Articles are stacked in vertical columns within the housing interior upon an article support carriage which is rotatable with respect to the fixed base and housing to index each vertical column of articles into direct alignment with the door. In removing articles from the housing, the door is operable in an open position to permit removal of the lowermost article in the column while supporting the articles above. The remaining articles in the column are released in preparation for removal of another article upon closing the door.

Abstract: An apparatus for loosening and freezing heat processed cereals is disclosed. The cereals are in the form of separate grains when in a raw state and exhibit agglutinating properties after heat processing so as to become affixed to one another. The apparatus mainly includes a cylindrical rotary drum adapted for receiving the cereals previously heat processed and for loosening the cereals so as not to form lumps or blocks while the cereals are frozen, a unit for rotating the drum, a loosening member provided in the inside of the drum for carrying up the cereals and falling down in the drum, and a fluid blowing unit. The drum includes a netted wall having a mesh size to prevent the cereals from passing through the drum. The blowing unit is adapted to blow chilling fluid into the inside of the drum through the netted wall for blowing up and simultaneously freezing the cereals.

Abstract: In a process for freezing liquid or semiliquid food products in the form of essentially uniform pellets, the nonfrozen food product is introduced into a container. The product is agitated within the container, while a liquid cooling gas is sprayed over the product. The partially frozen food product is then removed from the container before it is completely frozen and after formability has been achieved, and is formed into essentially uniform pellets which are completely frozen outside the container. An apparatus for carrying the process into effect comprises a container, an agitator mounted within said container, spray nozzles opening into the upper part of the said container for spraying the underlying food product in the container with a liquid cooling gas, a forming device for forming the partially frozen food product removed from said container into essentially uniform pellets, and a freezer for completely freezing the pellets thus formed.

Abstract: A freezing apparatus capable of chilling articles to be chilled or frozen by chilling each article substantially from the entire surface thereof through contact freezing for quick chilling or freezing. The freezing apparatus comprises a rotary chilling plate disposed in a horizontal position for rotation about a vertical axis, an annular tube formed of a flexible sheet, placed over the rotary chilling plate so as to be in contact with the upper and lateral surfaces of each article placed on the rotary chilling plate, and adapted to be driven together with the rotary chilling plate about the same vertical axis, and a brine tank disposed under the rotary chilling plate so that chilly brine supplied therein flows along the lower surface of the rotary chilling plate as the same overflows the brine tank, and adapted to be rotated together with the rotary chilling plate.

Abstract: A cabinet freezer efficiently utilizes a liquid cryogen refrigerant in conjunction with a spiral conveyor which conveys a product load through a temperature gradient within the freezer. The freezer has a lower inlet and an upper outlet for the conveyor and food load thereon. The escape of cryogen vapors created in the freezer from the liquid cryogen is controlled such that at least about 80% of the vapors exit through the upper outlet which is at the warmest zone established as a part of the temperature gradient in the freezer.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating juice sacs of a citrus fruit, including: freezing means for freezing the citrus fruit with a cryogenic liquid refrigerant; crushing device for crushing a frozen citrus fruit; and separating device for separating juice sacs from the crushed citrus fruit.

Abstract: An improvement in packing plant by-products chillers which have an elongated revolvable cylindrical tank open at both ends for introduction of slaughterhouse by-products in one end, passing the same through the cylindrical tank while revolving the same and simultaneously moving chilled water therethrough, said improvements comprising a knife slashing the unit for use in association with the entry into said chiller, a strainer unit in association with the drain of liquid coolant from said unit, and an associated float valve for controlling liquid level pressure and flow within the system.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and at the same time cooling sensitive and perishable goods such as sliced vegetables by means of an auger including a transport screw disposed in a trough-like housing provided with an insulating jacket and an insulated lid arranged in spaced relationship from the transport screw, wherein the transport screw has coils with bulged rounded outer edges which are spaced from the trough housing wall and wherein a coolant injection pipe is disposed in the space between the transport screw and the lid of the trough for introducing a cooling fluid into the trough while the goods are moved therethrough thereby providing direct contact of the cooling fluid with the large surface area of the goods to be cooled for efficient and rapid cooling of the goods.

Abstract: A portable, refrigerated article display apparatus for displaying food items such as soda cans includes a hollow housing having a transparent outer wall, a base support for mounting the housing, a door mounted over an access opening in the transparent outer wall and systems for cooling the housing interior and defogging its transparent outer wall. Articles are stacked in vertical columns within the housing interior upon an article support carriage which is rotatable with respect to the fixed base and housing to index each vertical column of articles into direct alignment with the door. In removing articles from the housing, the door is operable in an open position to permit removal of the lower most article in the column while supporting the articles above. The remaining articles in the column are released in preparation for removal of another article upon closing the door.

Abstract: The invention concerns the cooling of a viscous product. The product placed in a vessel 30 is cooled by a rotary pot 8 in which is generated, by sleeves 20 and 21, a deposit of carbonic acid snow 40. Application in the cooling of food products such as clear soups, thick soups, sauces, creams, pastes, gelled products, etc.

Abstract: An apparatus for the air treating of articles such as comestibles carried on a spiral conveyor has air deflecting baffles, and the housing in which the conveyor is mounted has air reentrant chambers associated with the baffles so that the flow of air through the housing traverses the belt when impeded from flowing directly through the belt by large articles to be cooled or frozen lying thereon.

Abstract: The beverage cooling device of the present invention comprises an ice receptacle having an ice compartment therein and having an open upper end. An electric motor having an outlet shaft thereon is mounted in a track on the exterior of one of the walls of the receptacle and is free to move upwardly and downwardly within the track. The output shaft extends through a shaft opening in the side wall of the ice receptacle, and includes a suction cup for detachably grasping the container for the beverage. Actuation of the electric motor causes the beverage container to rotate and to frictionally engage ice within the ice receptacle.

Abstract: A packing plant by-products chiller includes an elongated tank having an inlet end for introducing fresh animal by-products and an outlet end for removing chilled by-products. The tank is rotatably supported on a set of trunnion wheels and is rotated by a chain and sprocket assembly operatively connected to a motor. A liquid coolant supply line from a coolant source introduces low temperature coolant into the tank. An elongated trough is positioned beneath the tank for receiving warmed coolant which drains from the tank through a plurality of apertures therein. A pump is operatively connected to the trough for recirculating the coolant back to the coolant source.The method of chilling fresh animal by-products comprises introducing the by-products and liquid coolant from the coolant source into the chilling tank located at the slaughter location and rotating the tank such that the by-products therein are tumbled for complete exposure to the coolant.

Abstract: A packing plant by-products chiller includes an elongated tank having an inlet end for introducing fresh animal by-products and an outlet end for removing chilled by-products. The tank is rotatably supported on a set of trunnion wheels and is rotated by a chain by sprocket assembly operatively connected to a motor. A liquid coolant supply line from a coolant source introduces low temperature coolant into the tank. An elongated through is positioned beneath the tank for receiving warmed coolant which drains from the tank through a plurality of apertures therein. A pump is operatively connected to the through for recirculating the coolant back to the coolant source. The method of chilling fresh animal by-products comprises introducing the by-products and liquid coolant from the coolant source into the chilling tank located at the slaughter location and rotating the tank such that the by-products therein are tumbled for complete exposure to the coolant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for rapidly and efficiently cooling a flow of a food substance such as ground chicken meat while simultaneously conveying the food substance along a relatively short, upwardly inclined travel path that is defined by an inner chamber of an elongate housing assembly. A power driven auger extends along the travel path and is journaled by the housing assembly for rotation within the inner chamber. An inlet hopper is provided for introducing a flow of relatively warm food substance into a lower end region of the inner chamber. A discharge spout is provided for discharging a cooled flow of the food substance from an upper end region of the inner chamber. Cooling of the food substance as it is conveyed along the travel path is effected by providing the housing assembly with a refrigerant chamber that surrounds but is segregated from the inner chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed is a rapid cooler for beverages and the like cylindrical containers in which the container is rotated about its major or longitudinal axis within an ice-filled receptacle. The system involves confronting coaxial members facing each other and adapted to coaxially grip the container at its opposite ends. The members are carried by horizontal, rotatable shafts, one of which is driven, as by an electric motor, so that the container and both shafts and members are rotated to partake of the rapid chilling effect of the ice in the receptacle. The other shaft is axially slidably supported and is biased toward the driven shaft so as to effect gripping of the container as well as to accommodate containers of different heights or axial lengths.

Abstract: An apparatus for air-treatment of products includes an endless foraminous conveyor belt for the products which is adapted within the space for the air-treatment to follow at least one path extending helically in several turns, said path for the foraminous conveyor belt being defined by an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder and the air being disposed to flow through the passage situated between the cylinders from one end to the other end of the passage. According to the invention the air is also disposed to be supplied to the passage between the cylinders from the inner cylinder through perforations therein, the size of the perforations and/or the interspace therebetween being so chosen that the air supply from the inner cylinder continuously varies in the longitudinal direction thereof.

Abstract: In a method of freezing a liquid such as cream, a continuous, pulsating stream of liquid is dispensed from nozzles onto a stream of liquified gas flowing along downwardly inclined channels provided by a trough. The liquid forms itself into discrete spheroidal bodies, a substantial number of which have a larger cross-sectional area than that defined by the outlet of each nozzle from which they are dispensed. The bodies are carried by the liquified gas along the channels and at least their peripheries are frozen by the time the bodies reach the downstream end of the channels. Freezing may be completed by gas cooling. The bodies are then separated from the liquified gas.

Abstract: A product such as ground meat is efficiently chilled in a blender device having an open top. Liquid carbon dioxide is introduced into the blender at a location below the surface of the product to thereby form solid and gaseous CO.sub.2. Mixing elements such as a ribbon screw or the like are operated to pass the product in a countercurrent relation to the carbon dioxide introduced into the blender thereby chilling the product and causing the resulting CO.sub.2 gas to rise along one wall of the blender. Deflector means are provided along such wall to direct the rising vapor toward an exhaust plenum located above the open top of the blender.

Abstract: Bulk products are cooled by feeding them into a substantially horizontal drum that rotates about its axis. The drum is housed within an insulated enclosure and has a perforated cylindrical wall. The enclosure is subdivided by a wall that extends parallel to the axis of the cylinder; and this latter wall is sealed against the cylinder in such a way that access between the two sides of this latter wall can only be through the cylinder. Cooling gas is then forced upwardly through the cylinder by a fan disposed in this latter wall. The holes through the cylinder are in the form of peripherally elongated slots; and a brush in continuous contact with the periphery of the cylinder not only provides a portion of the seal that forces the cooling gas to pass through the cylinder, but also cleans these slots.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a rotating substrate holder is provided. The rotating substrate holder is hollow and adapted to receive liquid gas such as nitrogen to cool the substrate to cryogenic temperatures. The novel substrate holder is supported inside of a vacuum chamber by a thin wall tube which is sealed with a liquid rotating seal at the point where it passes completely through the top wall of the vacuum chamber. The novel thin wall tube support provides access to the hollow substrate holder from outside the vacuum chamber and provides temperature isolation of the liquid in the substrate holder so that the liquid rotating seals are maintained at operable elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A domestic ice-cream maker has a vertical cylindrical evaporator flanked by other parts of a refrigeration unit and a drive motor. A freezing support is removably located in the evaporator and a paddle in the freezing container is connected to the drive motor by a drive in a hinged lid covering the evaporator. The support is locked in place by freezing of moisture between it and the evaporator and released by a defroster associated with the evaporator which melts the moisture when ice-cream making is completed. The evaporation coil is situated in the space between inner and outer cylindrical vessels, the space being filled with a heat exchange liquid. The material being frozen may be aerated by providing air passages exiting at the trailing edges of the paddle adjacent the bottom of the container.

Abstract: A cabinet cooler or freezer which efficiently utilizes cryogenic refrigeration either with or without mechanical refrigeration. The freezer intermittently freezes relatively large batches of food by efficiently utilizing the natural expansion effect of a liquid cryogen, in combination with mechanical circulation by blowers, to create an overall circulation that efficiently removes heat from the food. A secondary circulation effect is induced, in a manner similar to the operation of a jet pump, which amplifies the circulation and allows CO.sub.2 to be employed as the cryogen with modulating valve control to achieve uniformly low temperature throughout the cabinet without snow build-up on the cabinet bottom. Some cabinet versions create a cyclonic circulation pattern about a vertical axis that is particularly effective.

Abstract: In a process for refrigerating protein materials, the material is prepared as a viscous paste at a relatively hot temperature and applied to a refrigerated heat transfer surface on a rotating drum, the temperatures of the protein material and the drum surface having a predetermined differential to cause congealed or frozen liquid at the interface between the protein material and drum surface to initially melt and immediately thereafter congeal or freeze in order to cause adhesion of the protein material to the surface. The protein material is compressed against the drum surface to improve heat transfer characteristics and subsequently removed in a suitably refrigerated or frozen condition. Initial heating may be extended to render excessive fat or to reduce bacterial content. Opposite surfaces of the sheet of material may also be contacted by first and second refrigerated heat transfer surfaces either simultaneously or in successive order.

Abstract: The yarn cooling apparatus comprises an inner tube through which passes a liquid coolant, e.g. water, and in which there is disposed a coaxial cylinder having a spiral peripheral groove of wedge-shaped cross-section along which the yarn travels. Provided at the yarn outlet end of the coolant tube is a supporting member which has a fixed part with a groove of U-shaped cross-section through which the yarn travels and which extends in the direction of the axis of the coolant-carrying tube, and a movable part provided with air and coolant passages arranged to cover and uncover the groove, according to its position.

Abstract: A system for heating or cooling articles conveyed in a vertical helical path is defined by an endless conveyor belt driven at its inner edge by contact with a rotating drum and a circulating heat exchange fluid propelled horizontally onto the articles by axial flow fans rotating in a vertical plane. The system features a novel arrangement employing scroll means for confining the circulating heat exchange fluid to a substantial portion of the helical path and location of fan means such that the heat exchange fluid is propelled in push-pull manner from the discharge side of one fan means to the intake or suction side of a second fan means. In the preferred embodiment directed to refrigeration of conveyed articles, more particularly foodstuffs to be frozen, the conveyor is located within an insulating housing. Further featured novelty includes location of the driving means for the rotating drum externally of the housing and directing of refrigerant, such as liquid CO.sub.

Abstract: The mass flow rate of helium from a container is controlled by two disks having highly polished mating surfaces and mounted for rotation relative to one another. Each of the disks has at least one axial through passage, at least one of the disks having a through passage which is eccentric to the axis of rotation of the disk. Use of a plurality of through passages in one of the disks, one or more capillary grooves emanating from one of the through passages in one disk and terminating in the circular path described by the through passage in the other disk for controlling the flow rate is illustrated. For example a step motor in combination with a wobble plate rotates one disk in very exact steps relative to the other.

Abstract: A rotary freezer for cooling resilient golfball centers to a uniform, substantially rigid state is provided with a dispenser to permit dispensing of rigid centers in one-at-a-time fashion from a large batch of frozen centers in the freezer at a rate indepenent of the residence time. As the freezer drum rotates, paddles on the inner circumference serve to lift randomly-selected centers from the batch to a predetermined height for gravity loading onto an inclined rack forming a part of the dispenser. Centers on the rack are arranged in a rectilinear series leading to an outlet port where a metering assembly controls dispensing of the centers from the drum in one-at-a-time fashion at a rate determined by the operator. A gravity conveyor exterior of the freezer drum transports each dispensed center from the outlet to a work station where the winding process is to be initiated before the center returns to its resilient state.

Abstract: A passage to supply the coolant and impellers having scraper vanes extending toward the surface of said passage are arranged in proximal relation to each other in a space for housing the liquid to be cooled. At least one of the coolant passage and the impeller is made movable in relation to the other. By the relative movement of the passage and the impeller, the motion of forcibly removing the cooled liquid from the heat exchange portion of the passage surface and the motion of supplying the high temperature liquid to the said heat exchange portion are repeated.

Abstract: Warm food products are chilled to a sanitary storage temperature approaching 0.degree. C. without dehydration by introducing them into a cold humid 100% humidity chamber. The humidity is regenerated by spraying refrigerated water and the products are passed through a chilling chamber on a conveyor belt with a spiral path configuration.Various cabinet features reduce input energy and provide sanitary conditions, such as supplying sanitary water, and filtering droplets of water from the cold moist air to avoid contamination or product disfiguring drip. Provisions are made to prevent a moving conveyor belt from carrying warm air into the chiller or from carrying cold air out of it as it passes continuously through the chiller cabinet. All lubricated mechanical equipment is mounted external to the food processing chilling chamber and access doors are provided for sanitation. The water spray chamber and water flow paths are simply sanitized by replacing the water with a detergent solution.

Abstract: A device for solidifying a layer of a liquid that solidifies upon cooling, such as agar, the liquid being contained in a row of petri-dishes or the like. The device utilizes a horizontally rotatable disc for receiving the dishes, a mechanism for supplying dishes to the disc, and a mechanism for removing the dishes, with solidified liquid, from the disc. A cooling mechanism is positioned below the disc to cool the disc and thereby cool the dishes. A mechanism is provided for slowly rotating the disc so that surfaces of materials in the dishes solidify in a non-rippled manner.

Abstract: A batch freezing apparatus has a fan or blower to continuously circulate air through the freezing chamber and back again through a recycle conduit. A cold gas such as from a liquid nitrogen supply tank is added to the recirculating air to lower the temperature in the system in a controlled manner to provide rapid freezing. The freezing chamber is capable of rotation so the material being frozen in cylinderical containers can be rotated against and freeze upon the inner surface of the container during the freezing process. The apparatus is especially suitable for freezing bull semen.

Abstract: A rapid-freezing apparatus, comprising a refrigeration chamber accomodating a conveying mechanism for partly prepared and ready-made food products to be frozen, a fan and an air cooler. According to the invention, the conveying mechanism for partly prepared and ready-made food products is a multi-level conveyer comprising two vertical rotatable supports which drive a flexible traction member. Around the flexible traction member is mounted a helical monorail of the conveyer. Bearing upon the monorail are screen trays for products to be frozen, provided with rollers and attached to the flexible traction member by clamps.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cooling heated metal items such as extrusion billets, and in particular billets of aluminum alloys is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a cooling chamber, means for transporting individual billets into and out of the cooling chamber, and inlet and outlet openings for the ingress and egress of a cooling medium from said chamber. A fan or the like is employed to produce a flow of air through the cooling chamber.

Abstract: A hand or motor-operated ice cream freezer includes a beaterless, sealed food container immersed in a refrigerant within a sealed freezer shell. The freezer shell is rotated about its horizontal axis causing the food container therein to tumble end-over-end in response thereto. The liquid therein is forced against the abrupt walls of the food container which causes a thorough sloshing or mixing of the liquid. Elimination of the conventional beater element results in a very low required torque permiting the use of low power electric motors if desired. The food containers may be used as serving dishes or for storing any unconsumed food. spThis is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 344,122 filed on Mar. 23, 1973, now abandoned.

Abstract: A method and system for preparing comestibles for frozen storage in which pressurized freezing air is utilized in conjunction with a substantially flat conveyance surface, both to aid in or contribute to the conveyance of the packages or containers as well as to effectuate the rapid freezing of the comestibles therein during the course of such conveyance through the system. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated conveyance deck is of space saving substantially helical form with successive descending turns underlying one another and with the space surrounded by the turns forming part of a plenum chamber into which pressurized freezing air is blown for admission into a laterally open plenum duct underlying the deck throughout its length. Such elongated plenum duct is tapered transversely beneath the deck for uniform distribution of pressurized freezing air to the discharge apertures in the deck by means of a transversely inclined duct-forming panel cooperating with the deck.

Abstract: A cooler for the transportation and cooling of, particularly, canned beverages including a thermally insulated container having an open end and a retainable cover forming a receptacle for the beverages with a spacer means to hold the canned beverages about the periphery of the receptacle and to form, with the surfaces of the canned beverages, a cavity for a cooling agent, the outer surface of the container being adapted to roll with the cover being retained in sealing engagement. Upon transportation by rolling of the cooler the beverages within the cans are cooled by contact between the cooling agent and the can surfaces forming the cavity.

Abstract: A device for rapidly cooling a canned or bottled beverage having a cooling compartment in which two rollers are horizontally disposed to support and cause to rotate a horizontally positioned cylindrical beverage container, an ice retaining member angularly disposed within said cooling compartment to support a quantity of ice in frictional contact with the perimeter surface of said beverage container and an electrical motor causing said rollers to rotate through a gear mechanism. Rapid rotation of the beverage container in frictional contact with a chilling substance such as ice results in a very rapid chilling of the contents of the beverage container.

Abstract: A freezing unit is described having plural compartments on upper and lower levels for accommodating air moving means, refrigeration coils and conveyors for receiving and maintaining the articles to be frozen in the unit. The refrigeration coils are disposed in a compartment on the lower level with compartments on either side. The air moving means is disposed over one of the side compartments and the conveyors can be disposed either over the other side compartment, adjacent to it or within it. This arrangement of components permits ease of access and allows plural conveyors to be deployed and used together or alternatively in their respective compartments. Partitions with variable closures are also provided for directing the flow of refrigerated air to the desired compartments.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for automatically dispensing CO.sub.2 snow on articles moved by a conveyer underneath a snow storage container-dispenser outlet opening. The dispensing is controlled by a motor driven segmented drum with brush-like elastic blades closing the dispenser outlet opening actuated when an article is moved into place thereunder. The snow is generated from liquid CO.sub.2 flowing through cooling coils in the snow and dispensed through a nozzle in the upper portion of the container in response to capacity sensing means such as a photocell level detector to thereby keep the container snow level constant.

Abstract: A cooling or freezing apparatus comprising a housing containing a transport for moving, in a vertical direction, carriers for the goods to be cooled or frozen in the apparatus the carriers arranged one above the other, wherein the transport being arranged at the bottom of the housing and comprising two transport devices, each of which consists of a plurality of mutually parallel support rails arranged as generatrices of an imaginary cylinder and being rotatable about the axis of the cylinder, the two transport devices being arranged along the sides of the housing opposite each other and being connected to a drive for rotating the oppositely arranged transport devices about the axis thereof in mutually opposite directions, each of the carriers for the goods being provided with a support along the sides of the carriers, the height of the support being less than the spacing between two adjacent support rails of a transport device.

Abstract: A shell freezer for the freezing of liquids in a container in a uniform layer on the interior walls of the container having belts rotating over rollers within a bath; rods are secured over the belts to act as stops for cylindrical containers placed on the belts, thereby causing the rotation of the containers. Underneath the rotating belt is a supportive platen which is covered with a fabric to allow smooth rotation of the belt while supporting a flask full of liquid. The bath may be tilted to a desired angle to allow more liquid to be frozen within a container. A novel heat exchanger cools the thermal transfer fluid which is circulated over the belts and back to the heat exchanger, to allow a minimum of such fluid in use.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly which can be inserted into an existing food freezer or which can be built into the freezer. It includes upper and lower supporting jackets which enclose a cylindrical stainless steel basket journalled to rotate on a horizontal axis. Spaced curved walls within the cylindrical basket divide its interior into a plurality of curved, cylindrical segment-shaped chambers. Each chamber has an individual lid or closure and the basket may be rotated to place the selected chamber uppermost and its interior accessible. The curved sidewalls of the chambers permit the closures to be lowered into and fastened within the chambers to prevent articles in a partially filled chamber from tumbling as the basket is rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cooling of objects comprises an upright cylindrical housing having thermally insulated walls and a helical ramp surrounding a column in the housing and along which the objects pass downwardly from an inlet to an outlet. During movement along the ramp, which may be vibrated or oscillated to promote the downward movement of the objects, the latter are chilled to embrittlement temperatures. When the objects are vehicle tires, the pitch of the helical ramp is slightly greater than the diameter of the largest tires to be processed. At the bottom of the ramp the objects may pass into a bath of liquified gas serving as the cooling medium and nozzles can be provided along the lower third of the column for directing jets of the liquefied gas at the objects to be cooled.

Abstract: A fast-freeze system comprises an insulating housing for a product conveyor of the vertical helix or spiral-type wherein the upper and lower loops (or tiers) respectively, of the helix discharge or receive the product, as the case may be, at product openings (or ports) in the housing; a multiple-spray nozzle array on a header receives a regulated supply of liquid nitrogen according to a preset freezing temperature through a modulating servo-valve control; the header subtends a restricted sector only of an upper conveyor tier for producing heat transfer by direct liquid nitrogen-to-product contact to establish a single very cold zone substantially in advance of the discharge port, and the exhaust nitrogen vapor is discharged by blower action through the product entrance port.

Abstract: In a conveyor for conveying articles in a helically curved path, an endless conveyor belt is driven in a helically curved path between the circumferential surface of a cylindrical envelope and a rotary drum coaxially arranged in the envelope. One edge of the conveyor belt is supported by the circumferential surface of the envelope while the other edge of the conveyor belt is engaged between consecutive convolutions of an entraining belt which is passed around and driven by the drum at the rotation thereof so as to carry along the conveyor belt in its movement.