Abstract: Apparatus and process for cooling unfrozen foodstuff to a desired low temperature below its freezing point, in which a supply of inert gas is used to provide a controlled atmosphere in the freezing chamber; and this controls vapor pressure, dry bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, and the chemical composition of the atmosphere. A mechanical or refrigerant fluid system supplies the refrigerant effect for lowering the foodstuff's sensible range above freezing, latent heat of fusion, and sensible range below freezing, to the desired temperature sub-freezing sensible heat range.

Abstract: Blood cells, blood marrow, and other similar biological tissue is frozen while in a polyethylene bag placed in abutting relationship against opposed walls of a pair of heaters. The bag and tissue are cooled with refrigerating gas at a time programmed rate at least equal to the maximum cooling rate needed at any time during the freezing process. The temperature of the bag, and hence of the tissue, is compared with a time programmed desired value for the tissue temperature to derive an error indication. The heater is activated in response to the error indication so that the temperature of the tissue follows the desired value for the time programmed tissue temperature. The tissue is heated to compensate for excessive cooling of the tissue as a result of the cooling by the refrigerating gas. In response to the error signal, the heater is deactivated while the latent heat of fusion is being removed from the tissue while the tissue is changing phase from liquid to solid.

Abstract: A system for the deep freezing of biological substances provides an input representing the temperature-time curve required at the outer wall of a receptacle containing biological substances to be deep-frozen while a sensor measures the actual temperatures at this wall and controls the cooling applied to the receptacle to conform the cooling at the receptable wall to the precalculated temperature-time curve. This permits the necessary temperature gradient to be applied to the biological substance for maximum cell survival without any dead time necessitated by the use of sensors within the biological substance itself.

Abstract: A frozen proteinaceous mass comprising blood platelets coated with glycerol-glucose, the frozen mass prepared by a process comprising:A. contacting blood platelets with an aqueous saline solution containing 4 to 7 weight percent glycerol and glucose 2 to 6 weight percent in an at least 5 : 1 volume to volume solution : platelet ratio;B. removing supernatant liquid;C. concentrating platelets to about 20 mg platelets protein per ml.D. thereafter freezing the platelets at a rate of at least 20.degree. C per minute.

Abstract: Preservation of biological materials is accomplished by apparatus and a process with and by which the material is cooled at a substantially linear rate to approximately freezing temperature, changed from the liquid to the solid phase at relatively constant temperature, and cooled at a substantially linear rate to an end temperature. The environment surrounding the material is rapidly chilled when the material reaches freezing temperature or a temperature minimally warmer than freezing temperature in the liquid phase to initiate phase change with minimal risk of super cooling the material, and is then warmed to freezing temperature or a temperature minimally cooler than freezing temperature to minimize temperature drop in the material upon completion of phase change. The apparatus contemplates, among other things, preselection of cooling rates, duration of phase change, and the end temperature.

Abstract: Organs or parts of organs are conserved by being rinsed with an inert gas or mixture until they are free of water and blood. Their vascular systems are filled at slight excess pressure of an inert gas or gas mixture, and finally the organs or parts are cooled at excess pressure in an inert gas atmosphere to a temperature below -100.degree. C and are stored at this temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transporting perishable commodities provides recirculation of moisture saturated air at a predetermined optimum storage temperature through the cargo from bottom to top of individual van containers. Temperature sensors are provided in each container and, if possible inside the commodity itself to enable monitoring of the conditions of storage by remote recorders. A central station powers the containers and maintains records for all containers of selected storage parameters such as temperature and humidity.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a method of preserving extracted teeth with attached live root membrane. After treating the teeth in order to eliminate bacteria and fungi in a nutrient solution to preserve the viability of the root membrane cells the teeth are subjected to a freezing process in two stages and in the presence of a similar nutrient fluid, the temperature being lowered slowly in the first stage to a value between -20.degree. and -50.degree.C and rapidly in the second stage to a value below -50.degree.C, preferably below -150.degree.C.

Abstract: A method of preserving foodstuffs by placing them in a container of given volume in which air at atmospheric pressure is present and selectively removing the oxygen from the air in the container while maintaining substantially atmospheric pressure therein is disclosed. According to the invention, a flow of air is established through the container by means of an external conduit in which the oxygen in the air is catalytically reacted with hydrogen gas concurrently generated and added to the air flow for at least a predetermined length of time after which the generation and addition of hydrogen gas is terminated when the hydrogen/oxygen reaction falls below a given level. Various embodiments of the apparatus for practicing the method according to this invention are described.

Abstract: An in-store fixture for the displaying of bananas or the like in an atmosphere of controlled temperature and humidity has a plurality of support members that accommodate a number of banana hands in a substantially vertically oriented display. The support members are arranged to accommodate the banana hands in a substantially spaced, noncontacting relationship relative to one another such that a zone or curtain of circulating, temperature and humidity controlled air essentially surrounds each respective banana hand. Individual banana hands are held by respective hook elements depending from their associated support members to permit removal of any selected one banana hand without the need for handling adjacent hands, thereby significantly reducing wastage caused by excessive handling of the product and undesirable contact of the same with one another.