Freezer with pulse flow generator

Abstract

An apparatus and process for reducing temperature of food products on a conveyor disposed within a chamber including transporting the food products on the conveyor moving in a direction within the chamber; introducing a mixture of a gas and solid or liquid cryogen into the chamber; and pulsing a turbulent flow of the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen alternately back and forth across the conveyor in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor.

1 . An apparatus for reducing temperature of food products, comprising:
 a chamber disposed between a first baffle, a second baffle, and at least one volume reservoir in fluid communication with the chamber;   at least one conveyor extending into the chamber between the first baffle and the second baffle;   at least one cryogen supply in communication with at least one of the chamber and the at least one volume reservoir for providing a mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen to the chamber and the at least one volume reservoir; and   at least one pulse flow generator in operative communication with the at least one volume reservoir comprising at least one means for pulsing a turbulent flow comprising the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen across the conveyor within the chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first volume reservoir and a second volume reservoir are disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor within the chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first baffle comprises a ceiling and the second baffle comprises a floor of the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first volume reservoir and the second volume reservoir are adjacent to opposite sides of the conveyor. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein at least one pulse flow generator is disposed within each of the first volume reservoir and the second volume reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the at least one pulse flow generator comprises a rotating cam with an open portion and a closed lobed portion, wherein the open portion is adapted to permit the respective volume reservoir to accept the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen, and the closed lobed portion is adapted to expel the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from the respective volume reservoir in a cycle opposite to a complementary circle within the other volume reservoir for alternately pulsing the turbulent flow back and forth across the conveyor. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the at least one pulse flow generator comprises a rotating cam in contact with a pivoting baffle adapted alternately to accept the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen into, and to sweep the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from, the respective volume reservoir in a cycle opposite to a complementary cycle within the other volume reservoir, to pulse the turbulent flow alternately back and forth across the conveyor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the pivoting baffle comprises a longitudinal member within the volume reservoir. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the pivoting baffle is in contact with a biasing member opposing the action of the rotating cam. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the at least one pulse flow generator comprises a bladder adapted to move sequentially to accept the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen into, and to sweep the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from, the respective volume reservoir in a cycle opposite to a complementary cycle within the other volume reservoir, to pulse the turbulent flow alternately back and forth across the conveyor. 
     
     
         11 . A process for reducing temperature of food products on a conveyor disposed within a chamber, comprising:
 transporting the food products on the conveyor moving within the chamber;   introducing a mixture of a gas and solid or liquid cryogen into the chamber; and   pulsing a turbulent flow of the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen alternately back and forth across the conveyor in a direction transverse or perpendicular to the movement of the conveyor in the chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising sequentially accepting and expelling the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from at least one volume reservoir in fluid communication with the chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 11 , further comprising sequentially accepting and expelling the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from a first volume reservoir in a cycle complementary and opposite to a cycle of sequentially expelling and accepting the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from a second volume reservoir, the first and second volume reservoirs being disposed on opposite sides of the conveyor in fluid communication with the chamber, thereby creating said turbulent flow. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said sequentially accepting and expelling comprises rotating a cam having an open side and a closed lobed side within each respective volume reservoir, wherein the open portion is adapted to permit the respective volume reservoir to accept the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen, and the closed lobed portion is adapted to expel the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from the respective volume reservoir in a cycle opposite to a complementary cycle within the other volume reservoir for alternately pulsing the turbulent flow back and forth across the conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said sequentially accepting and expelling the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen comprises rotating a cam in contact with a pivoting baffle within each respective volume reservoir, adapted alternately to accept the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen into, and to sweep the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from, the respective volume reservoir in a cycle opposite to a complementary cycle within the other volume reservoir, thereby pulsing the turbulent flow alternately back and forth across the conveyor. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein said sequentially accepting and expelling the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen comprises oscillating a sealed bladder within each respective volume reservoir, which moves sequentially to accept the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen into, and to sweep the mixture of gas and solid or liquid cryogen from, the respective volume reservoir in a cycle opposite to a complementary cycle within the other volume reservoir, thereby pulsing the turbulent flow alternately back and forth across the conveyor. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for reducing temperature of a food product, comprising:
 a chamber into which the food product is provided;   reservoir means in fluid communication with the chamber and constructed and arranged to provide a cryogen medium to the chamber; and   generator means disposed in the reservoir means, the generator means comprising pulse flow means for providing a pulsing flow of the cryogen medium at select intervals to the chamber.   
     
     
         18 . A process for reducing the temperature of a food product, comprising:
 conveying the food product to an area where a temperature of the food product will be reduced;   providing a cryogenic medium to the area; and   pulsing a flow of the cryogenic medium across the area and the food product at select intervals.