Egg yolk separation apparatus and methods

Abstract

An exemplary aspect comprises a device for separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and a second opening; and (b) a vacuum chamber component comprising an opening, wherein the second opening of the yolk chamber component is detachably connected to the opening of the vacuum chamber component. Another exemplary aspect comprises a method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising: (a) compressing a vacuum chamber component, wherein the vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to a yolk chamber component, and wherein the yolk chamber component is empty; (b) placing the first opening of the yolk chamber component against an egg yolk; and (c) releasing pressure on the vacuum chamber component until the egg yolk is drawn into the yolk chamber component.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method of separating an egg yolk from an egg white, comprising:
 connecting a vacuum chamber comprising an opening to a yolk chamber component comprising a first opening and a second opening, such that said second opening of said yolk chamber component is detachably connected to said opening of said vacuum chamber component;   compressing said vacuum chamber component, wherein said compressing is sufficient to cause a portion of air to be displaced from said connected vacuum chamber component and yolk chamber component, and wherein a volume of said portion of air exceeds a volume of said yolk chamber component;   placing said first opening of said yolk chamber component against an egg yolk;   releasing pressure on said vacuum chamber component until said egg yolk is drawn into said yolk chamber component;   compressing said vacuum chamber component at least until said egg yolk emerges intact from said yolk chamber component; and   disconnecting said yolk chamber component from said vacuum chamber component.   
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising separately cleaning said yolk chamber component and said vacuum chamber component. 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said yolk chamber component consists primarily of one or more of polycarbonate, polypropylene, styrene acrylonitrite, and copolyester. 
     
     
         22 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 said yolk chamber component is symmetric about a first axis, and said vacuum chamber component is symmetric about a second axis, and   when said yolk chamber component is connected to said vacuum chamber component, said first and second axes are aligned.   
     
     
         23 . A method as in  claim 22 , wherein said yolk chamber component comprises varying radii about said first axis. 
     
     
         24 . A method as in  claim 22 , wherein said vacuum chamber component comprises varying radii about said second axis. 
     
     
         25 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said yolk chamber component is transparent. 
     
     
         26 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said vacuum chamber component consists primarily of at least one of thermoplastic elastomer and silicone. 
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said vacuum chamber component is detachably connected to said yolk chamber component via a press fitting. 
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 27 , wherein said press fitting is a ribbed press fitting. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said yolk chamber component is 100 mm from said first opening to said second opening, with a diameter of 54 mm. 
     
     
         31 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein a diameter of said first opening of said yolk chamber component is less than a diameter of said second opening of said yolk chamber component. 
     
     
         32 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein a maximum diameter of said yolk chamber component is less than half of a maximum diameter of said vacuum chamber component. 
     
     
         33 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said vacuum chamber component is ovoidal. 
     
     
         34 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein a volume of said vacuum chamber component is greater than a volume of said yolk chamber component. 
     
     
         35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A method as in  claim 11 , wherein said yolk chamber component is cylindrical between an intermediate point of said yolk chamber component and said second opening of said yolk chamber component, and tapers linearly from said intermediate point to said first opening of said yolk chamber component, wherein said intermediate point is located between said first opening and said second opening, wherein said first opening has a first diameter and said second opening has a second diameter, and wherein said first diameter is less than said second diameter.