Trough construction
DCFirst Claim
1. A cooling or heating trough assembly, comprising:
- a bagged product conveyance trough;
a first nozzle positioned to direct cooling or heating fluid into the trough at a first angle relative to the trough; and
a second nozzle positioned to direct cooling or heating fluid into the trough at a second angle relative to the trough;
wherein the first and second nozzles are oriented relative to the trough and to each other such that the fluid directed out therefrom rotates the bagged product conveyed in the trough generally about a longitudinal axis of the trough to thereby promote cooling or heating of the product.
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Abstract
A trough construction including a trough along which water is propelled to convey bagged product therealong. A plurality of nozzles jet-spray cooling or heating water onto the product as it is conveyed along the trough. The nozzles are oriented in opposing first and second series so as to impart a rotation on the bagged product generally about a longitudinal axis of the trough. According to one embodiment, a first suction tube having openings through the trough wall is opposite to the first series of nozzles and with a first pump forms a first fluid circuit. Similarly, a second suction tube with suction openings, together with a second pump and the second series form a second fluid circuit. The two fluid circuits keep the bags centered in the trough, surrounded by cooling or heating water. According to a second embodiment, the trough is positioned in a sump and has trough openings so that the water in the trough communicates with that in the sump, and the suction tubes are not used.
53 Citations
72 Claims
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1. A cooling or heating trough assembly, comprising:
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a bagged product conveyance trough;
a first nozzle positioned to direct cooling or heating fluid into the trough at a first angle relative to the trough; and
a second nozzle positioned to direct cooling or heating fluid into the trough at a second angle relative to the trough;
wherein the first and second nozzles are oriented relative to the trough and to each other such that the fluid directed out therefrom rotates the bagged product conveyed in the trough generally about a longitudinal axis of the trough to thereby promote cooling or heating of the product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A cooling or heating trough assembly, comprising:
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a packaged product conveyance trough; and
a nozzle system including a plurality of nozzles positioned to direct cooling or heating fluid into the trough and thereby rotate packaged product conveyed in the trough to cool or heat the product. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A cooling or heating trough assembly, comprising:
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a bagged product conveyance trough; and
a plurality of nozzles disposed to direct pressurized cooling or heating fluid into the trough and cause bagged products conveyed in the trough to rotate and thereby cool or heat the product. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A cooling or heating trough assembly, comprising:
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a bagged product conveyance trough; and
a fluid pressure supply pipe having a plurality of openings along its length and out through which cooling or heating fluid is discharged into the trough to cool or heat bagged product in the conveyance trough. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of heating or cooling bagged product, comprising:
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providing a heating or cooling trough having a trough wall;
directing heating or cooling fluid into the trough through discharge openings in the trough wall at a bagged product in the trough and thereby imparting a rotation force on the bagged product; and
sucking fluid out of the trough through suction openings in the trough wall. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A trough construction, comprising:
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a sump structure;
a trough disposed in the sump structure and having at least one opening such that liquid in the trough communicates with that in the sump structure; and
a plurality of nozzles disposed to project liquid into the trough. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A trough construction, comprising:
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a sump structure;
a trough disposed in the sump structure;
the trough including a trough inlet end secured to an end of the sump structure; and
the trough including a trough outlet end out through which at least some of the liquid in the trough passes into the sump structure. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59)
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60. A product heating or cooling method, comprising:
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(a) providing a trough construction including an elongate trough disposed in a sump structure wherein liquid in the trough communicates with and is thereby at the same level as that in the sump structure;
(b) projecting product-transporting liquid generally from one end of the trough towards another end; and
(c) dispensing heating or cooling liquid into the trough from longitudinally spaced nozzles. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62)
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63. A trough construction, comprising:
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a trough;
a liquid jet positioned at an end of the trough to convey product along the trough and towards an opposite end of the trough; and
a plurality of nozzles disposed to project liquid into the trough and against the product conveyed therealong by the liquid jet, to cause the product to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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Specification