Methods and Devices for Heating or Cooling Viscous Materials
AssigneeNestec S.A.
InventorsKevin J. Cully, Andrew Joseph Brinkmann, Ronald Lee Nash, William D. Short, Trent C. Lorraine, Jerry J. Hankins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and devices heat or cool viscous materials, such as meat emulsions useful for producing food and other products. The devices have a heat exchanger including a first plate, a second plate attached to the first plate, and a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate, the second plate, the first spacer, and the second spacer define at least one temperature controlled passage for a product to pass through the heat exchanger.
Claims17
A device comprising:
- a first plate;
- a second plate attached to the first plate;
- a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first plate, the second plate, the first spacer and the second spacer define a first passage for a first product to pass through the device;
- a third plate attached to the second plate, at least one of the first plate, the second plate and the third plate comprising energy exchanging capabilities;
- and
- a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the second plate and the third plate, wherein the second plate, the third plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer define a second passage for a second product to pass through the device.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a first pressure plate and a first energy exchanging plate attached to the first pressure plate;
- a second energy exchanging plate;
- a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate, wherein the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the first spacer and the second spacer define a first temperature controlled passage for a first product to pass through the heat exchanger;
- a third energy exchanging plate attached to the second energy exchanging plate;
- a second pressure plate and a fourth energy exchanging plate attached to the second pressure plate, the second pressure plate attached to the first pressure plate;
- and
- a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the third energy exchanging plate and the fourth energy exchanging plate, wherein the third energy exchanging plate, the fourth energy exchanging plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer define a second temperature controlled passage for a second product to pass through the heat exchanger.
A heat exchanger comprising:
- a first pressure plate and a first energy exchanging plate attached to the first pressure plate;
- a second energy exchanging plate;
- a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate, wherein the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the first spacer and the second spacer define a first temperature controlled passage for a first product to pass through the heat exchanger;
- a second pressure plate and a third energy exchanging plate attached to the second pressure plate, the second pressure plate attached to the first pressure plate;
- and
- a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the second energy exchanging plate and the third energy exchanging plate, wherein the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer define a second temperature controlled passage for a second product to pass through the heat exchanger.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.