Shrimp deheading apparatus and methods
AssigneeLaitram, L.L.C.
InventorsLars Vedsted, Brent A. Ledet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for deheading shrimp using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system and lined with one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads from the shrimp. The cross-sectional areas of the venturis each have a major axis and a shorter minor axis. The major axis is long enough to receive the majority of or all the length of a shrimp and minimize hard collisions with the entrance to the venturi that could damage the shrimp.
Claims15
Apparatus for detaching heads from shrimp, comprising:
- a conduit enclosing a fluid channel and having:
- an open first end and an opposite open second end downstream of the first end along the fluid channel;
- an input portion extending downstream along the fluid channel from the first end and defining the fluid channel with a first cross-sectional area;
- a venturi extending upstream along the fluid channel from the second end and defining a length of the fluid channel with a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross-sectional area has a major axis and a minor axis shorter than the major axis;
- a transition portion disposed between the input portion and the venturi and defining a length of the fluid channel with a cross-sectional area converging from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area;
- flow control means inducing a flow of shrimp-laden fluid in the conduit through the open first end, the fluid channel, and the open second end;
- wherein the speed of the fluid along the length of the fluid channel in the transition portion increases to a speed in the venturi sufficient to detach heads from shrimp.
Apparatus for detaching heads from shrimp, comprising:
- a conduit system defining a fluid channel;
- flow control means inducing a flow of shrimp-laden fluid in the fluid channel to convey the shrimp-laden fluid through the conduit system;
- a plurality of venturis disposed in the conduit system in line with the fluid channel at spaced-apart positions in the conduit system to cause an increase in the speed of the shrimp-laden fluid in the fluid channel in each of the venturis sufficient to detach heads from shrimp.
A method for detaching the heads of shrimp, comprising:
- flowing a shrimp-laden fluid through a fluid channel in a conduit system;
- restricting the fluid channel in venturis at spaced apart locations along the conduit system to increase the speed of the shrimp-laden fluid in each of the venturis sufficient to detach heads from shrimp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.