GB430082A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the cooling or thawing of food-stuffs - Google Patents

Abstract

430,082. Freezing foods. FLEMING, F. A., 4, Mill Road, Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. Dec. 7, 1933, No. 34504. [Class 29] Fish or other foods in packets of tin-plate, cardboard, paper, &c., or in temporary metal containers 44 are passed through tubular conduits 12, of a shape to fit closely against the larger faces of the packets, surrounded by evaporating refrigerant or cooled brine in an outer vessel 10, which is supported by and insulated from an outer casing 29, 30. The ends of the conduits 12 are welded to end walls 11 welded to the wall of the vessel 10, which is supported from the outer casing by bolts 31. Inlet and outlet conduits 32, 33 for the packets register with but are spaced from the open ends of the conduits 12, and are preferably closed by individual drop doors 34, which may be lined with felt. The conduits 12 are shown as rectangular and may be divided by a longitudinal partition 27, Fig. 3, to accommodate different sizes of packets or groups of packets. They are spaced and supported in the vessel 11 by perforated transverse members 19. Liquid refrigerant, e.g. ammonia, is admitted to the vessel 11 through a pipe 22 and the level is maintained above that of conduits 12 by a float valve, the upper part of the float chamber being connected to a passage 26 leading into a separator 23 above the vessel 11, vapour being drawn off at 24. A gauge pipe 28, Fig. 3, may be employed to indicate the level by the frost line thereon. To ensure good contact of the packages, flexible stainless steel liners 37, Fig. 3, may be placed on the main surfaces of the conduits. The fish &c., may be wrapped in paper and the packets 45, Fig. 5, compressed and inserted singly or in groups in a metal border frame 44 over which a U-shaped cover 46 is placed. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 4 a belt conveyer 39 is used and the packets are passed continuously through the freezer. In the first arrangement they may remain some time in the conduits and be ejected by a pusher or by a further charge of packets. The apparatus may also be used for thawing frozen goods by circulation of a warm medium around the conduits.