Claims
- 1. A refrigeration means, comprising:
- a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum; and wherein the drum is supported for rotation on a plurality of rings, said rings having, as part thereof, insulated force-transmitting members;
- b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and
- c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is within said drum.
- 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each of said rings comprises a first portion attached to the exterior of said drum, a second portion engaging said rotation means and means engaging said insulating and force-transmitting member and retaining said first portion to said second portion with said member therebetween.
- 3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said rotation means comprises a plurality of motor driven rollers engaging said rings.
- 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said motor is variable speed to thereby control the speed of rotation of said drum and the speed of advancement of material through said drum.
- 5. A refrigerating means, comprising:
- a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum;
- b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum;
- c. an intake header means through which material may be introduced into said drum, juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto, said intake header means forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum;
- d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate material while it is within said drum; said refrigeration means further comprising a low temperature fluid introduced within said drum; and
- e. recirculation means to recirculate said fluid from said chamber of said intake header means, to and through the end of said drum from which material is discharged.
- 6. A refrigerating means, comprising:
- a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum;
- b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum; and
- c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate material while it is within said drum; said refrigeration means further comprising a low temperature fluid introduced within said drum and recirculation means to recirculate said fluid from the end of said drum which receives said material externally to and through the end of said drum from which material is discharged;
- said fluid being introduced in and through said discharge end by an ejector means.
- 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein a discharge chamber is provided within a discharge header juxtaposed to the discharge end of said drum; said ejector means being mounted within said chamber to draw gas therefrom and to recirculate it with a gas from the other end of the drum.
- 8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said ejector means has a damper control in its intake.
- 9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said discharge header has at least one door to permit discharge of material from said header; said door being rotatably mounted to said header by a hinge means; and protective means are mounted in said header to prevent jamming of said hinge by said material.
- 10. The invention of claim 7 wherein said discharge header comprises a structure providing an insulated chamber communicating with the interior of the drum and having at least one door biased normally closed to automatically open to allow discharge of material from said chamber; said structure providing a second chamber for receiving material discharged from said first chamber; said second chamber having an exit door biased normally closed to automatically open to allow material to exit therefrom.
- 11. A refrigerating means, comprising:
- a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum;
- b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum;
- c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum; and
- d. an improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum, comprising: an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto; said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum; said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, and a stack means for withdrawing air and gas from said chamber.
- 12. The invention of claim 11 wherein said stack means comprises a stack having mounted therein a fan to withdraw air and gas from said chamber.
- 13. A refrigerating means comprising:
- a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which will transport the material received through said drum upon rotation of said drum;
- b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum;
- c. improved feeder means for introducing material into said drum comprising an intake header juxtaposed to the material receiving end of said drum so that said drum is free to rotate with respect thereto, said intake header forming a chamber communicating with the interior of said drum, said header having a means passing therethrough for introducing material through said chamber into said drum, and wherein heating means are provided between said header and said drum to prevent frost build-up therebetween; and
- d. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is being transported through said drum.
- 14. The invention of claim 13 wherein insulation is provided on said drum proximate to said header and said heating means.
- 15. The invention of claim 14 wherein temperature sensing means are provided within the refrigerating means to control the rotation of said drum and the feeder means.
- 16. A refrigerating means, comprising:
- a. a rotatable drum having means to receive and to discharge material; said drum having an interior configuration which further comprises transport means for advancing the material longitudinally within said drum upon rotation of the drum;
- b. rotation means engaging said drum for rotating said drum;
- c. refrigeration means within said drum to refrigerate said material while it is within said drum; and
- d. reciprocating feeder means for shaking material placed therein into said drum at a pre-selected controlled rate of introduction of material into said drum for subsequent refrigeration within said drum.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation application Ser. No. 365,117 filed May 30, 1973 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,906,743.
US Referenced Citations (5)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
365117 |
May 1973 |
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