Cryogenic tunnel freezer

A freezer comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of insulated members that define a tunnel, the tunnel having a floor, opposing first and second sidewalls that extend upwardly from the floor, and a ceiling located opposite the floor, the housing having a first opening at a first end of the tunnel that defines an entrance and a second opening at an opposing second end of the tunnel that defines an exit, a length of the tunnel extending from the entrance to the exit;
• a delivery and exhaust system having at least one nozzle adapted to introduce a cryogenic fluid into the tunnel, the delivery and exhaust system also having an exhaust port to allow the cryogenic fluid to exit the tunnel, the exhaust port being located in the ceiling and distal to the at least one nozzle;
• and
• a drive assembly that is adapted to drive a belt, the belt extending along the length of the tunnel and being continuous, the belt having an upper run that extends through the tunnel and a lower run that extends through the tunnel, at least a portion of the upper run lying atop and in contact with at least a portion of the lower run when the belt is operated, wherein the at least a portion of the upper run moves in a direction opposite to the at least a portion of the lower run, wherein the at least a portion of the upper run and the at least a portion of the lower run are located within the tunnel, the belt further comprising first and second side edges defining a width spanning from the first edge to the second edge, a metal substructure comprising a plurality of chains and a plurality of rods, a first chain of the plurality of chains located at the first side edge and a second chain of the plurality of chains located at the second side edge, a third chain of the plurality of chains located between the first side edge and the second side edge, at least one array of modules, each of the modules being made of a polymeric material and positioned between the first and second chains of the plurality of chains, each of the plurality of metal rods extending across the width of the belt and through one of the at least one array of modules, each of the at least one arrays of modules having allowance for contraction sufficient to enable the belt to be operated at cryogenic temperatures.

A freezer comprising:

• a housing including a plurality of insulated members that define a tunnel, the tunnel having a floor, opposing first and second sidewalls that extend upwardly from the floor, and a ceiling located opposite the floor, the housing having a first opening at a first end of the tunnel that defines an entrance and a second opening at an opposing second end of the tunnel that defines an exit, a length of the tunnel extending from the entrance to the exit;
• a delivery and exhaust system having at least one nozzle adapted to introduce a cryogenic fluid into the tunnel, the delivery and exhaust system also having an exhaust port to allow the cryogenic fluid to exit the tunnel, the exhaust port being located in the ceiling and distal to the at least one nozzle;
• and
• a drive assembly that is adapted to drive a belt, the belt extending along the length of the tunnel and being continuous, the belt having an upper run that extends through the tunnel and a lower run that extends through the tunnel, at least a portion of the upper run lying atop and in contact with at least a portion of the lower run when the belt is operated, wherein the at least a portion of the upper run moves in a direction opposite to the at least a portion of the lower run, wherein the at least a portion of the upper run and the at least a portion of the lower run are located within the tunnel, the belt further comprising first and second side edges defining a width spanning from the first edge to the second edge, a metal substructure comprising a plurality of chains and a plurality of rods, a first chain of the plurality of chains located at the first side edge and a second chain of the plurality of chains located at the second side edge, each chain of the plurality of chains comprising a plurality of links having a metal body having a first hole and a second hole formed therein, at least one array of modules, each of the modules being made of a polymeric material and positioned between the first and second chains of the plurality of chains, each of the modules comprising a front row of axially-aligned tubes, a rear row of axially-aligned tubes, and a plurality of arms connecting each tube of the front row of axially-aligned tubes to the rear row of axially-aligned tubes, each of the plurality of metal rods extending across the width of the belt and through the front row of axially-aligned tubes of one of the modules of each of the at least one array of modules, through the rear row of axially-aligned tubes of another one of the modules in each of the at least one array of modules, through the first hole of one link of the plurality of links in the first chain, through the second hole of one link of the plurality of links in the first chain, through the first hole of one link of the plurality of links in the second chain, and through the second hole of one link of the plurality of links in the second chain.