US 5,632,097 A · Brine shrimp cyst drying device

Abstract

An apparatus and method for final drying of harvested brine shrimp cysts preparatory to containerization, for subsequent storage and shipment. The device is portable, and may be installed upon the near shore of the shrimp bearing body of water, or upon shrimp harvesting vessels. A closed drying chamber contains a vertically arranged series of cyst drying trays, the cysts cascading downward from tray to tray by gravity assisted by vibration of the trays from top to bottom of the drying chamber. Conveying and lifting apparatus is associated with the chamber to permit the recirculation of the cysts until a sufficient degree of dryness is obtained. Heated air is introduced into the stationary drying chamber. The apparatus provides for final separation of any broken shrimp cysts still remaining.

Claims9

Dependent claims

An apparatus for drying brine shrimp cysts, comprising:

a generally closed drying chamber having a bottom member with two pairs of spaced apart parallel sidewall members upstanding therefrom, and a top closing member secured to the sidewall members;
at least one warmed air inlet opening to the chamber through a sidewall member;
an air outlet opening through the top closing member;
means introducing cysts to be dried into the chamber at a level above the bottom member;
and
means elevating the cysts upwardly from the bottom member of the chamber to a higher level therein to fall under the influence of gravity to said bottom member.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Brine shrimp cyst drying device

Life of this patent

Brine shrimp cyst drying device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims9