Reaction vessel for processing a solution of cocoa and the derivatives thereof
AssigneeSERVCO S.p.A.
InventorJean-Marie Chauveau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An autoclave-type reaction vessel has a mechanism for stirring and recirculating the cocoa solution, the mechanism having a greater mechanical performance which allows for an increase in the efficiency of the various processing steps, in particular via an increase in the water content of the solution. In a closed vat (1), stirring elements (32 to 35) are mounted on a hollow rotatable shaft (6) driven by a back-geared motor (7). Some of the solution is drawn off at the bottom of the vat by an external pump (36) which delivers it up the inside of the hollow shaft (6) to a spraying head (41). Processing fluids (48, 49) such as neutral gases and alkaline solutions may be added to the solution before it reaches the pump (36).
Claims14
A reaction vessel for treating a cocoa solution and its derivatives, comprising:
- a closed vat (1) having at least one inlet and one outlet for said solution, said vat having a maximum operating level (20) for said solution located intermediate a vat base portion and a vat portion remote from said base portion;
- means (21) for heating said solution;
- means (48, 49) for introducing a treatment fluid into said vat;
- stirring means, for stirring said solution, comprising a rotatable shaft (6) positioned substantially vertically in said vat, a drive device (7) being drivingly connected to said rotatable shaft, and stirring members being supported by said rotatable shaft;
- and
- circulation means comprising at least one pump having a spray device (41) connected to an outlet of said pump, said spray device (41) being located between said vat portion remote from said base portion and said maximum operating level, and said pump being connected to said vat for pumping said solution from said base portion to said spray device,
- wherein said reaction vessel includes control means, separate from said drive device (7), and said pump (36) of said circulation means is located outside said vat (1) and is controlled by said control means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.