GB965206A - A new or improved method of, and apparatus for extracting kernels from nuts - Google Patents

Abstract

965,206. Refrigerating. E. C. WYATT. July 18, 1960 [April 16, 1959], No. 12894/59. Heading F4H. [Also in Divisions A2 and B8] A method of extracting the kernels from the shells of cashew or like nuts comprises feeding the nuts through or along a receptacle, cooling the receptacle with a liquid refrigerant, such as liquid nitrogen or oxygen, contained in a vessel disposed externally of and/or encircling the receptacle so as to freeze the oil contents of the shells rapidly as the nuts pass through or along the receptacle to mechanism adapted to shatter the shells mechanically without crushing or otherwise damaging the kernels. As shown, nuts are fed to a hopper 1 from which they are discharged to a conveyer 13 at a rate controlled by an adjustable damper 3. The hopper is surrounded by a closed vessel 2 containing the liquid refrigerant. Alternatively the refrigerant receiving vessel may surround the conveyer. In a modification the vessel may be disposed below a downwardly inclined shoot reaching from the hopper discharge end to the conveyer system. In a further modification the hopper may be omitted and the nuts fed at a controlled rate direct to the shoot. The smallest nuts pass between rollers 14, the larger nuts gravitating along an inclined system of rollers and depending upon their dimensions, are drawn through passes between pairs of rollers 14a, 14b or 14c to shatter the shells. Alternatively the conveyer may reach into a receptacle having rigid walls containing a spinning disc so designed that it flings the nuts against the walls and shatters the nut shells. Specification 517,433 is referred to.