Vacuum freeze drying apparatus

• US 3,266,169 A
• Filed: 10/31/1962
• Issued: 08/16/1966
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1962
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Smith, Horace L. Jr.
• Original Assignee: Smith, Horace L. Jr.
• Inventors: Smith, Horace L. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US04/234,285
• Time in Patent Office: 1,385 Days
• US Class Current: 34/58
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 5/06 the process involving freezing

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR FREEZE DRYING LIQUID AND SEMILIQUID PRODUCTS COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION:

(A) A VACUUM CHAMBER;

(B) MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID VACUUM CHAMBER AT A PRESSURE NOT EXCEEDING ABOUT 0.180 INCH OF MERCURY ABSOLUTE;

(C) MEANS OUTSIDE SAID VACUUM CHAMBER FOR REDUCING THE PRODUCT TO A FINE FROZEN POWDER INCLUDING A VESSEL, MEANS FOR SPRAYING THE PRODUCT INTO THE VESSEL, A SOURCE OF INERT GAS, MEANS FOR REFRIGERATING SAID GAS, MEANS FOR EFFECTING AN UPWARD FLOW OF THE REFRIGERATED GAS THROUGH SAID VESSEL TO THEREBY CONTACT AND FREEZE SAID PRODUCT, AND A CYCLONE TYPE SEPARATOR FOR SEPARATING THE FROZEN PRODUCT FROM THE GAS;

(D) A CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING CONVEYOR DISPOSED IN THE VACUUM CHAMBER;