Sanitary direct contact steam injection heater

A direct contact steam injection heater, comprising:

• a supply body having a steam inlet, a product inlet and a steam nozzle including a movable stem plug located downstream from the steam inlet;
• a combining tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and an outer surface extending therebetween, wherein the upstream end is spaced from the steam nozzle and is movable laterally to adjust the spacing between the upstream end and the steam nozzle;
• a combining tube housing attached to the supply body for supporting the lateral movement of the combining tube, the combining tube housing including an inlet end and an outlet end;
• and
• a first sanitary seal assembly positioned between the inlet end of the combining tube housing and the outer surface of the combining tube and a second sanitary seal assembly positioned between the outlet end of the combining tube housing and the outer surface of the combining tube, each of the first and second sanitary seal assemblies including a main body having a cavity defined by an outer lip and an inner wall and a bias member received in the cavity, wherein the bias member exerts a bias force to separate the outer lip and the inner wall.

A direct contact steam injection heater, comprising:

• a supply body having a steam inlet, a product inlet and a steam nozzle including a movable stem plug located downstream from the steam inlet, wherein the steam nozzle and the movable stem plug are located on a center axis;
• a combining tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and an outer surface extending therebetween, the outer surface including a rack having a series of spaced teeth, wherein the combining tube is centered along the center axis and is movable along the center axis to adjust the spacing between the upstream end and the steam nozzle;
• a product flow gap located between the upstream end of the combining tube and the steam nozzle, wherein the product flow gap is centered along the center axis and is adjustable through movement of the combining tube to selectively control an amount of product flowing from the product inlet into the combining tube;
• a combining tube housing attached to the supply body for supporting the movement of the combining tube along the center axis;
• and
• a combining tube adjustment mechanism including a lever arm having a first end and a second end having an engagement surface, the engagement surface including a series of spaced teeth that engage the spaced teeth of the rack included on the outer surface of the combining tube, wherein pivoting movement of the lever arm of the combining tube adjustment mechanism creates linear movement of the combining tube within the combining tube housing.

A direct contact steam injection heater, comprising:

• a supply body having a steam inlet, a product inlet and a steam nozzle including a movable stem plug located downstream from the steam inlet, wherein the steam nozzle and the movable stem plug are located on a center axis;
• a combining tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and an outer surface extending therebetween, the outer surface including a rack having a series of spaced teeth, wherein the combining tube is centered along the center axis and is movable along the center axis to adjust the spacing between the upstream end and the steam nozzle;
• a product flow gap located between the upstream end of the combining tube and the steam nozzle, wherein the product flow gap is centered along the center axis and is adjustable through movement of the combining tube to selectively control an amount of product flowing from the product inlet into the combining tube;
• a combining tube housing attached to the supply body for supporting the movement of the combining tube along the center axis;
• and
• a first sanitary seal assembly positioned between an inlet end of the combining tube housing and the outer surface of the combining tube and a second sanitary seal assembly positioned between an outlet end of the combining tube housing and the outer surface of the combining tube, each of the first and second sanitary seal assemblies including a main body having a cavity defined by an outer lip and an inner wall and a bias member received in the cavity, wherein the bias member exerts a bias force to separate the outer lip and the inner wall.

A direct contact steam injection heater, comprising:

• a supply body having a steam inlet, a product inlet and a steam nozzle including a movable stem plug located downstream from the steam inlet;
• a combining tube having an upstream end, a downstream end and an outer surface extending therebetween, wherein the upstream end is spaced from the steam nozzle and is movable laterally to adjust the spacing between the upstream end and the steam nozzle;
• a combining tube housing attached to the supply body for supporting the lateral movement of the combining tube, the combining tube housing including an inlet end and an outlet end;
• a combining tube adjustment mechanism that engages the outer surface of the combining tube, wherein the combining tube adjustment mechanism is operable to move the combining tube within the combining tube housing;
• a first sanitary seal assembly positioned within a first receiving cavity formed at the inlet end of the combining tube housing and configured to contact the outer surface of the combining tube;
• and
• a second sanitary seal assembly positioned within a second receiving cavity formed at the outlet end of the combining tube housing and configured to contact the outer surface of the combining tube,
• wherein each of the first and second sanitary seal assemblies are biased into contact with the outer surface of the combining tube when the combining tube is received within the combining tube housing.