Cryogenic freeze chamber assembly

Abstract

A cryogenic freezing chamber assembly provided with improved stress resistance caused by thermal expansion and contraction, improved cryogenic fluid utilization, better means for viewing activity therein and easy assembly and disassembly.

1 . A cryogenic freezing chamber assembly comprising:
 an elongated chamber;   an inlet means for introducing feedstock into said chamber;   an inlet means for introducing cryogenic fluid into said chamber;   an outlet means for removing said solid particles below the glass transition temperature of said feedstock; and   fixed mounting means disposed midway between the ends of said chamber.   
     
     
         2 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said chamber is trough-shaped with removable flat top sections. 
     
     
         3 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a pair of fixed support brackets are affixed to said trough shaped portion of said chamber assembly at the midpoint of said chamber assembly. 
     
     
         4 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a plurality of movable mounting means attached to said chamber assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 2  wherein a plurality support brackets, movable in the horizontal direction, are affixed to said trough-shaped portion of said chamber assembly. 
     
     
         6 . A cryogenic freezing chamber assembly comprising:
 an elongated chamber;   an inlet means for introducing feedstock into said chamber;   an inlet means for introducing a cryogenic fluid into said chamber;   an outlet means for removing said feedstock from said chamber; and   a plurality of view-ports disposed on a flat top of a trough-shaped chamber, said view-ports provided with heating means.   
     
     
         7 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 6  wherein comprises a mounted frame holding a heated glass cushioned by a gasket. 
     
     
         8 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 7  wherein said heated glass is double layered and covered with an insulated latch cover wherein heating to said glass is introduced when said latch cover is opened. 
     
     
         9 . A cryogenic freezing chamber assembly comprising:
 an elongated chamber;   a rotating auger disposed in said chamber;   an inlet means for introducing feedstock into said chamber wherein said feedstock is contained, transported and agitated by said rotating auger;   a cryogenic fluid introducing a cryogenic fluid into said chamber, said introductory means being responsive to means provided on said rotating auger for introducing cryogenic fluid into said chamber; and   a feedstock outlet means for removal of said feedstock, at a temperature below the glass transition temperature, from said chamber.   
     
     
         10 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 9  comprising serrated agitators attached to an outer diameter of said blade of said auger and a stationary switch disposed on said chamber housing wherein said cryogen introductory means are responsive to activation by said switch, said switch being activated by said serrated agitators. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said stationary switch is a magnetic switch activated by a magnet embedded in said serrated agitator. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said cryogenic fluid introductory means comprises a plurality of spray head assemblies. 
     
     
         13 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said feedstock inlet means comprises ferrous metal removal means provided in said introductory means. 
     
     
         14 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said ferrous metal removal means comprises a magnetic bar screen assembly which includes at least one bar magnetic connected to a removal drawer. 
     
     
         15 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said magnetic bar screen assembly comprises at least one view-port. 
     
     
         16 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 9  wherein feedstock enters said chamber through said feedstock inlet means through a variable frequency drive rotary valve. 
     
     
         17 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said feedstock inlet means comprises an isolating feedstock delivery slide gate. 
     
     
         18 . A cryogenic freezing chamber assembly comprising:
 an elongated chamber;   a feedstock inlet means for introducing feedstock into said chamber;   a cryogenic fluid inlet means for introducing cryogenic fluid into said chamber; and   a feedstock outlet means for removing feedstock below its glass transition temperature; and   a rotating auger, supported by and rotating about end bearing assemblies, for transmitting said feedstock from said inlet means to said outlet means.   
     
     
         19 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 18  wherein said rotating auger is removable from said chamber by detaching said auger from said end bearing assemblies and vertically removing said auger from said chamber. 
     
     
         20 . A chamber assembly in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said end bearing assemblies comprise a front end bearing assembly and a drive end bearing assembly, said front end bearing assembly provided with a pull handle to accommodate auger removal.