High pressure isostatic pressing assembly, in particular food high pressure processing assembly

A high pressure isostatic pressing assembly (1a, 1b) for food processing, comprising

• at least one high pressure vessel (2) having an internal chamber (21) closed at axial ends of the vessel (2) with two head assemblies (3), each comprising a body (31) adjoining a respective end of the vessel (2), wherein
• at least one head assembly (3) further comprises
• a blocking chamber (32) located within the body (31) transversely relative to a longitudinal axis (A) of the vessel (2),
• a loading outlet (33), substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis (A) of the vessel (2), joining an axially external side of the body (31) with said blocking chamber (32), and having cross-sectional area substantially corresponding to a cross-sectional area of the vessel (2), and
• a plug (35) disposed displaceably within the blocking chamber (32) and provided with a sealing means (351) apt to enter and sealingly close the internal chamber (21) of the vessel (2) during a pressure applying phase of the vessel (2), the assembly further comprising
• at least two longitudinal tie-rods (4) juxtaposed around an external surface of the vessel (2) at a radially external side of the blocking chamber (32),
• wherein an end of each tie rod (4) passes through a tie member (6) coupled with the vessel and is coupled with a resisting surface (421, 43) transferring axial load on said tie member (6) at an axially external side of said end of each tie rod (4), and
• wherein said resisting surface (421, 43) axially preloads said end of each tie-rod (4), the body (31) and the vessel (2) with a preload force, and the preload force is adjusted at least to a value ensuring that no separation between the body (31) and the vessel (2) occurs during a loading phase and a closing phase of the vessel (2), as well as during a pressure applying phase of the vessel (2) so that the vessel (2) is axially compressed for all pressures acting inside the vessel (2) by the head assemblies (3) coupled with the tie-rods (4).