CA1122050A - Perforated walls and duct system - Google Patents

Perforated walls and duct system

Info

Publication number
CA1122050A
CA1122050A CA000340569A CA340569A CA1122050A CA 1122050 A CA1122050 A CA 1122050A CA 000340569 A CA000340569 A CA 000340569A CA 340569 A CA340569 A CA 340569A CA 1122050 A CA1122050 A CA 1122050A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
wall
air
flow
chambers
air flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA000340569A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Knud Jespersen
Guy E. Buller-Colthurst
Hans L. Bergner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Knud Simonsen Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Knud Simonsen Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Knud Simonsen Industries Ltd filed Critical Knud Simonsen Industries Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1122050A publication Critical patent/CA1122050A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Apparatus for processing meat products in a controlled environment, in which chambers are arranged in pairs, side by side with one another, and defined by outside walls, and a common median wall, with meat support means arranged on facing surfaces of the walls and having air ducts provided in the walls and openings provided over the extent of the inside surfaces of the walls whereby air may flow from side to side across the chambers and air supply ducts connected to distribution ducts in the walls, and a fan for forcing air there-around,and means whereby flow through the various ducts may be reversed at periodic intervals so that air flow will take place across the chambers in opposite directions, reversing at predetermined intervals during the treatment.
Also disclosed is a method of processing meat products under controlled environmental conditions, in such chamber.

Description

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The invention relates to the processing of meat products in chambers under controlled conditions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The processing of various kinds of meat products is carried out in closed chambers, small rooms in fact, under carefully regulated preset conditions. Such processing may involve chilling, curing, drying, smoking with or without partial cooking, and the like.
Processing may be carried out for fairly extended periods, in some cases hours, in other cases a day or more.
It is desirable, during this period, that the air shall not become stagnant , nor be subjected to variation within the chamber.For this purpose a moderate continuous air circula-tion is provided with the air maintained with~n the carefully regulated range of preset conditions.
The overall objective is to achieve a carefully regulated treatment of the meat products resulting in a predictable end result.
Where relatively small batches of such products are to be treated , then the maintenance of suitable air circulation in the desired conditions does not present any real problem.
However, when such products are to be mass produced in large volumes, the maintenance of a steady moderate air circulation around all of the product within a given enclosed chamber , at the desired range of conditions becomes more of a problem.

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:, o In order to avoid excessive capital costs, it i5 desirable that th- storage or curing rooms or chambers be substantially completely filled with batches of product, and at the same time that the products may be relatively easily placed in and removed from the various chambers as the various batches are progressively treated. In addition to the cost factor, it is also desirable that the dimensions of the chambers be maintained within certain limits, so as to ensure that a regular even air flow takes place throughout the entire chamber.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
. . .
The invention seeks to overcome the foregoing problems by processing of meat products in chambers arranged in pairs, side by side with one another, and defined by outside walls, and a common median wall, with support means arranged on the inwardly facing surfaces o the outer walls and the median wall, and wherein the meat products are suspended on racks throughout substantially the full extent of the chambers.~ Air ducts are provided in the outside walls and also in the median wall and separate compartments are provided in the chamber walls, and air ways or openings are provided over substantially the entire extent of the inside surfaces of the outer walls and the median wall. Air is forced down the ducts in one wall of the chamber, into the separate compartments, and out of the chamber wall in a more or less uniform manner and flows from side to side across the chamber. Air is simultaneously removed through the opposite chamber wall, into the separate compartments, and up the ducts. Air supply ducts are provided outside the chambers, typically on top of the ~22~50 chambers which are connected to the distrihution ducts in the walls, and a fan is provided for forcing air there-around. Air flow through the various ducts may be reversed at periodic intervals by suitable reversing means so that air flQw will take place across the chambers in opposite directions, reversing at predetermined intervals during the treatment.
Suitable air treatment systems, such as cooling or heater coils, and humidity control systems which may include humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers and smoke generators may be provided in the system, operated by suitable automatic controls so that a stable range of conditions may be maintained throughout the process.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, Leference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferxed embodiments of ~ `
the invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
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Figure 1 is an upper perspective illustration showin~
a bank of chambers in aeeordanee with the invention, with one pair of such chambers shown open, with a door partially eut away for the sake of elarity;
Figure 2 is a front perspective looking directly into one of the chambers, showing the meat produets suspended therein;
Figure 3 is a eut away perspeetive illustration of the median wall between two adjaeent ehambers;
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Flgure 4 is a cut away perspective of the lçft-hand side wall;
Figure 5 is a side elevational partly schematic illustration of the median wall;
Figure 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a section along the line 7-7 of Figure 5;
Figure 8 is a partially schematic side elevational view of the left-hand side wall;
Figure 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a schematic elevation of the doors;
Figure 11 is a section along line 11-11 of Figure 10, and, Figure 12 is a cut away perspective of a detail of the wall construction.
DESCRIPTION OF A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fiqures 1 and 2, the invention is illustrated as comprising a structure indicated generally as 10 which in fact provides pairs of elongated slender vertically ~ ;
disposed chambers 12a, 12b, 14a, 14b, 16a, 16b and so on.
For the purposes of this invention, one such pair ~20 of chambers will be described in greater detail, it being understood that the other pairs of chambers will be essentially identical. The purpose of providing a number of such pairs ~
of chambers is to ensure that the processj which is a batch i-process, ie., must be carried out for a certain bulk quantlty of meat products, sufficient to fill one pair of such chambers, can be carried out with different batches of meat products being processed according to different time schedules, so as to reqularize production schedules.
Each pair of chambers 12, 14, 16, etc., is provided with outer side walls 18, and 20, and a median wall 22 which ~

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is common to each pair of chambers. The chambers 12, 14, 16, etc., will normally be located with their floors at grade level so that meat products may be installed and removed by means of a fork lift truck system which will actually drive right into each chamber.
Within the walls of each chamber 12a, 12b, 14a and 14b, there are provided a series of horizontally arranged support rails 24, on opposite inwardl~ facing surfaces of the walls 18, 20 and 22 (Figure 2), so that meat products shown generally as M supported on rods or sticks shown as R, may simply be suspended between the rails 24 for processing.
Doors shown generally as 26 are provided on the front of each of the chambers 12, 14, 16, whereby they may be closed off during processing In order to circulate air through the pairs of chambers 12a, 12b, etc., the walls 18, 20 and 22 incorporate duct work (described below) and an air supply and return duct system shown generally as 28 is provided on top of each pair of chambers 12a, 12b, etc., all of which is described in more detail below.
The median wall 22 of each pair of chambers 12, 14, etc, is shown in more detail in Figure 3 and will be seen to comprise a generally hollow structure made of sheet metal, which is divided into six essentially separate air flow chambers or compartments comprising lower compar~ments 30, 32 and 34, and upper compartments 36, 38 and 40. The Upper and Lower compartments are defined by vertical partition walls 42 and 42a, and horizontal partition walls 44 and 46.
Air is s~lpplied to, or is returned from the lower -:, ' ~ , ':

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compartments 30, 32 and 34 by means of three vertical air ducts 48, 50 and 52, which extend through the upper compartments 36, 38 and 40.
Air is supplied to and is returned from the..upper compartments 36, 38 and 40, and also to and from the upper ends of ducts 48, 50 and 52, by means of a system of horizontal upper header ducts. The horizontal header ducts compri.se a full length duct 54, and an intermediate length duct 56, and an inner duct 58 between ducts 54 and 56.
All of ducts 54, 56 and 58 are supplied by a common ma~ duct 60, and air flows within the ducts are controlled by means of a system of dampers 62.
Air is supplied to or is returned rom main duct 60 by means of any 9uitable fan system (not shown) which is so arranged that air may be either forced into duct 60 or may be withdrawn from it, and may be changed over at periodic intervals. The details of such fan system are omitted for the sake of clarity.
: In addition, any suitable air treatment means may be ~20 provided, such as cooling or heating coils (not shown) , and a humidifying or dehumidifying system (not shown), or smoke generators (not shown) and suitable automatic controls (not shown).
Fan systems suitable for the purpose, and suitable coils and other.air condi.tioning ox modifying systems are well known in the art and require no further description.
In median wall 22 the opposite sides of the compartments 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 each comprise flat sheet metal wall panels 64, having a plurality of air openings 66 therethrough by means of which air may either ~` 30 pass from or pa~s :Lnto such compartments, depending upon .

the direction of air flow.
Preferably, as shown in Figure 3, the ducts 48, 50 and 52 will be somewhat thinner than the width between such panels 64, so that air flow can ta~e place more or less all over all of such panels 64.
The two side walls 18 and 20 will be seen to be of essentially similar construction, being simply mirror images of one another. Accordingly, only one such side wall, namely side wall 20, is illustrated (see Figure 4).
It will be seen to comprise three lower air distri-bution compartments 68, 70 and 72, and two upper air distribution compartments 74 and 76.
The lower compartments will be seen to be divided by vertical partition walls 78, and are provided with a lower wall 80, and an intermediate partition wall 82 divi-ding them from the upper compartments which are divided by vertical partition wall 78a.
Air is supplied to the lower compartments by means of vertical ducts 84, 86 and 88, extending down-wardly through the compartments 74 and 76.
Air is supplied to the various compartments and ducts by means of horizontal header ducts comprising the full length duct 90, and the intermediate duct 92, both of which are supplied by a common main duct 94. Suitable dampers 93 are provided to regulate air flow as between the various ducts.
Each of main ducts 94 for the two walls 18 and 20 of any pair of chambers, is also connected to the same fan ~
system as is main duct 60 for the intermediate wall 22, so ; ~;
that air may be supplied to for example main duct 60 and ~ - 7 -:: :
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withdrawn through main ducts 94 or alternatively may be supplied to both of main ducts 94 and returned through main duct 60.
The inwardly facing surfac:es of walls 18 and 20 are provided with wall panels 96 having air flow openings 98 therein, for entry or exiting of aiL-The opposite wall panels lOQ of the walls 18 and 20are of course blank, ie., they are not provided with air flow openings, since each pair of chambers 12, 14, etc~, is operated independently of the adjacent pairs of air chambers.
It will be understood that in the illustrations of Figures 3 and 4 showing the walls 20 and 2 , the supporting rails 24 have been omitted for the sake of clarity.
In order to provide a good air tight seal around the doors , and also to provide a degree of thermal insulation between the interior of the chambers and the exterior , the doors formed with a hollow closed enclosure indicated generally as 102, formed by channel shaped frame members 104, and inner panel 106~ The channel shaped framè
~20 members 104 are formed into a generally D shape, the one door 26 simply being a mirror image of the other. In this `~ way the outer corners of the enclosures 102 are formed on ;~ a continuous smooth radius.
In addition, the chambers 12a, 12b etc. are provided with forwardly extending sealing surfaces 108, having radiussed corners 110, sealing surfaces 108 being shaped and designed to receive the enclosure~ 102 of doors 26 therein, with a -predetermined substantially regular spacing between channel frames 104 and sealing surfaces 108 continuously therearound. ~-
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In order to provide a good air tight seal in this predetermined gap, a continuous, partially closed channel 112 is provided on the outer surface of the out-wardly directed sides of door channel frames 104, such channel 112 defining an open mouth of a reduced width in relation to the main portion of the channel.
~lithin channel 112 there is provided an in~latable tubular sealing member 114 , which is shaped to fit snugly within the channel 112. Sealing member 114 is preferably provided with an extendable sealing surface 116, having a reduced width in relation to the main portion of the sealing member 114.
Sealing member 114 is preferably made of a suitable resilient flexible material such as rubber, or thermo-plastic -ma~erial having suitable properties, and will esentially be a continuous extrusion. Clearly , such sealing member 114 will be discontinued at the junction between two doors 26 , for any one pair of chambers 12, 14 etc.
The tubular member 114 may be inflated with air or a suitable gaseous medium, by means of the flexible hose 118 and a pressure source 120.
Inflation will take place only when the doors 26 are actually closed.
In order to relieve the pressure in the sealing member 114, a pressure relief valve 122 is provided, having a control on 124 which is contacted by the sealing surface 108 of the adjacent chamber. The valve 122 communicates with the interior of the tubular member 114 by means of hose 126.
Valve 122 is so arranged that it is closed , when the g _ .
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doors 26 are closed, but as soon as the doors 26 are opened, the arm 124 is released , thereby opening the valve 122 and permitting the pressure in the tubular member 114 to be released.
If desired, other automatic controls can be provided for controlling the pressure source 120 , or alternatively it may also be operated through the action of arm 124, by any suitable electrical or pneumatic circuits ( not shown) the details of which are well known to persons skilled in the art.
In order to seal between any two adjacent doors 26, there is provided a sheet metal groove 128, formed by an endwise extension of panel 106, which contains a suitable sealing member 130 which may be made of for example resilient foam sealing material such as foam rubber or foam plastics material.
On the adjacent door 2~ there is ~rovided a sealing tongue 132 which is arranged to press into the sealing member 13n as shown in figure 11, when the doors are closed.
The enclosures 102 may be filled with any suitable thermal insulati~n material (not shown) such as is well known in the art.
In this way, when constructing doors 26, which may be of considerable height, and are made of steel, or ;
stainless steel in a manner in which the tolerances may be relatively imprecise, it is still nevertheless possible to achieve a good air-tight seal all around the doors, and ; also between any pair of doors.
It will of cours~ be appreciated that chambers of this kind , which are used in the meat processing industry , must be cleaned and sterilized regularly between uses.
For this reason, it is desirable that the entire ~tructure shall be capa~le of being dismantled as far as pos~ible 2VS~

so as to avoid the accumulation of residue wi-thin the structure which may give rise to contamination.
For this purpose, the wall structures, bo-th of the median wall 22 and the side walls 18 and 20, will preferably be made in a dismountable fashion ( see figure 12) .
Figure 12 illustrates , for the sake of example only, the construction of the side wall 20, in somewhat more detail than is shown in figure 4. ' It will of course be appreciated that the illustration of figure 4 is to reveal the layout of the various chambers, and the manner in which they are connected up with the various ducts.
The illustration of figure 12 is merelv exerplary of wall 20, and a similar construction is of course applicable to wall 18 and also with minor modifications to median wall 22.
As shown in figure 12, the back panel or closed panel 100 is illustrated, corresponding to the panel 100 of figure 4.
; The various compartments 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76 are all constructed in a dismountable manner as follows.
Extending forwardly from the back panel 100, there are ; provided two spaced apart horizontal wall merl~ers 80 and 82 already referred to. As shown in figure 12, these wall members are ~' in fact arranged at a predetermined angle of slope, and are welded on spaced apart abuttments 140, at space intervals, thereby providing a thin slotted gap between back wall 100 and walls 80 and 82.
This slotted openingj together with the predetermined angle of slope, ensures free drainage of washing fluids.
Along the forward edges of horizontal walls 80 and 82 there are,p-rovided upturn~d flanges 142. I

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I'~all5 80 and 82 are secured in position by means of spaced apart sheet metal bracers 144, having up-turned rsarwardly angled flanges 146, the inner ends of braces 144 being welded to back panel 100 as shown.
Extending downwardly from the under surface of the intermediate wall 82, thera is provided a generally wedge shaped channel section 148, defining a narrow mouth and an enlarged interior , and having outwardly an~Jled lips 150 for the purposes described below.
The panels 96, provided with perforationS 98 for air-flow therethrough in either direction, are simply flat sheet metal members, usually of stainless steel or other suitable material, and have a predetermined height somewhat less than the spacing provided in the channeIs 148;
In this way, they can be readily inserted and removed, by simply pressing the panel 96 or raising it upwardly to the full extent of channel 148, at which point the lower edge of the panel 96 will then be clear of the flange 142 on partition wall 80. Panel 96 can then be swung outwardly, and may be removed. It can be reinserted by simply reversing these movements.
Once the panel 96 is removed, then the entire ~ !
structure can be readily steam-cleaned and dried, and any liquid or detergents used in such cleaning will readily drain from all of the surfaces, and can drain rearwardly off the horizontal partition walls 80 and 82.

Also shown in figure 12 in somewhat more detailr is the arrangement of vertical support columns 152, spaced outwardly ~ from the panels 96 by means of spacer bars 154. The vertical support columns 152 carry the horizontal rails or ~1~;2V~

anqles 2g, on which the rods or sticks R may be supported.
In use , meat products typica~ly sausages, although any other meat products tha-t may be required to be treated under stored conditions , may also be treated in the same way, are supported typically on rods R , in tiers within the various chambers 12, 14 etc. and the doors are closed, and the seals inflated.
Air flow takes place down the ducts in the chamber walls and into the separate compartments. Air will then flow in a more or less uniform manner out of the whole extent of the chamber wall into the chamber. Air flow will take place simultaneously into the opposite wall of the chamber, flowing into the separate compartments, and up the ducts.
Air flow is thus established across each of chambers 12, 14 etc. For example such air flow may be commenced from the outer side walls 18 and 20, across the chambers 12a and 12b, and into the median wall 22.
Actually air flow is produced by any suitable fan system the details of which are omitted for the sake of clarity.
As such air is circulated in this manner the air may be conditioned in a variety of ways on a continuous basis by ~;
suitable air conditioning or air treatment means ~not shown).
The details of such air conditioning apparatus are well known to those skilled in th2 art and require no further description. Typically, it will incorporate one or more air heating and/or cooling coils, and air humidification means. In addition, it may be desirable to incorporate some form of smoke, or artificial smoke known as "liquid smoke", which may be entrained with the air circulating in ~ 13 -Z~)5(~

the chambers, in known manner. After a predetermined processing time, typically one hour, air flow will be reversed by any suitable means (not shown) after which air flow will take place out of median wall 22, outwardly across the two chambers 12a and 12b and back into the side walls 18 and 20.
It will be appreciated that a variety of different structures may be employed for the purposes o~ reversing the air flow, and the details of which are omitted for the sa~e of clarity.
For the purposes of the present disclosure, all that is required is that the air flow may take place either outwardly from the side walls 18 and 20 and back into the median wall 22 , or may take place in the reverse manner, thereby providing for air flow in two different directions, at different pe~iodq of time,across the various chambers. ~ -It will also of course be appreciated that i desired, chambers 12 may be loaded on one day and chambers 14 on another day and so on, so that the production of finished meat products may be carried on in a regular daily or other periodical basis.
Having described what is believed to be the best mode by which the invention may be performed, it will be seen that the invention may be particularly defined as follows~
An air flow wall structure for use in the ~; construction of chambers for processing meat products, said wall structure comprising, a wall of two sided construction defining a hollow interior enclosed between said two sides, partition means extending between said two sides of said wall dividing said hollow interior into separate compartments, duct means communicating with said ~Z~351:~

compartments, air passageways in at leas-t one side of said wall whereby air may flow from, or into, said compartments, and, damper means in at least some of said duct means for controlling flow of air therein.
The invention further comprises an air flow wall for use in the construction of chambers for processing meat products, said wall comprising generally planar first wall panel means of predetermined height and width, corresponding to the interior height and width of the chamber, and having an inner and an outer surface, air passageways formed at spaced intervals all ovar said first wall panel means, supporting means on the inner surface of said first wall panel means whereby meat products may be supported in said chamber, second wall panel means located in à parailel spaced apart plane relative to said first wall panel means, and defining therewith a hollow interior enclosure, partition members extending between said first and second wall panel means dividing said enclosure therebetween into separate air circulation zones, branch duct means extending between said first and second wall panel means and parallel thereto and connecting with some said air circulation zones and passing through other said air circulation zones without connecting therewith, connector duct means connecting both with said branch duct means and with said other air : .
circulation zones and said connector duct means simultaneously, and, air flow contxol means in at least some of said duct means for regulating air flow therein.
The invention further comprises apparatus for processing meat products in a controlled environment and comprising, at least two walls defining opposite sides of ~2~

a chamber, said chamber having a top, a floor, a back and door means, support means in said chamber whereby meat products may be supported in said chamber, air flow openings in said walls whereby air may flow into said chamber, or out of it, thereby circulating around said meat products therein, at least two air compartment means in each of said walls for carrying air to or from said air flow openings, first air duct mleans connecting with said air compartment means in one said wall, and second air duct means connecting with said air compartment means in said other wall, and, power operated means for selectively supplying air at a controlled temperature and humidity to -- one of said first and second cut means, and removing air -from the other, and being operable to reverse the direction of air flow, whereby air may flow from one wall to the other, and in the reverse direction across said chamber.
The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (21)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An air flow wall structure for use in the construction of chambers for processing meat products, said wall structure comprising;
a wall of two sided construction defining a hollow interior enclosed between said two sides;
partition means extending between said two sides of said wall dividing said hollow interior into separate compartments;
duct means communicating with said compartments;
air passageways in at least one side of said wall whereby air may flow from, or into, said compartments, and, damper means in at least some of said duct means for controlling flow of air therein.
2. An air flow wall structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said partition means comprise horizontal and vertical partitions intersecting one another, and extending across said hollow interior from one said side to the other said side of said wall.
3. An air flow wall structure as claimed in Claim 2 including a branch duct means connecting with at least some of said compartments, and passing through the other of said compartments without communicating therewith, and connector duct means communicating both with said branch ducts, and with other of said compartments.
4. An air flow wall structure as claimed in Claim 3 including two connector ducts arranged along the upper edge of said wall, and lying in the same horizontal plane side by side with one another, and opening means in said two connector ducts connecting with said branch ducts, and further opening means in said connector ducts communicating with said other of said compartments.
5. An air flow wall structure as claimed in Claim 4 including air passageways in both said sides of said wall.
6. An air flow wall structure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said at least one side of said wall comprises at least one generally planar panel member, having said air passageways therein, and support means for said panel member supporting same at a predetermined distance from said other side of said wall, and wherein said panel means is releasable from said support means, for cleansing thereof and for cleansing of the spacing between said two sides.
7. An air flow wall structure as claimed in Claim 6 wherein said partition means include at least some partition walls disposed at an angle between vertical and horizontal, whereby to facilitate water flow therefrom for cleansing as aforesaid.
8. An air flow wall for use in the construction of chambers for processing meat products, said wall comprising;
generally planar first wall panel means of predetermined height and width, corresponding to the interior height and width of the chamber, and having an inner and an outer surface;
air passageways formed at spaced intervals all over said first wall panel means;
supporting means on the inner surface of said first wall panel means whereby meat products may be supported in said chamber;

second wall panel means located in a parallel spaced apart plane relative to said first wall panel means, and defining therewith a hollow interior enclosure;
partition members extending between said first and second wall panel means dividing said enclosure there-between into separate air circulation zones;
branch duct means extending between said first and second wall panel means and parallel thereto and connecting with some said air circulation zones and passing through other said air circulation zones without connecting therewith;
connector duct means connecting both with said branch duct means and with said other air circulation zones whereby air may flow between all said air circulation zones and said connector duct means simultaneously, and, air flow control means in at least some of said duct means for regulating air flow therein.
9. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 8 including at least one horizontal and at least one vertical partition member, intersecting one another, and defining at least two upper zones and two lower zones.
10. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 9 wherein said connector duct means extends along the upper edge of said upper zone, and wherein said branch duct means extend from said connector duct means downwardly through said upper zone, and connect with said lower zones through said hori-zontal partition member.
11. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said branch duct means have a width narrower than the spacing between said first wall panel and said second wall panel, whereby air may circulate within said upper zones, around at least said branch duct means between said branch duct means and said first and second wall panels.
12. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 8 including wall panel support means for at least one of said first and second wall panel means, and wherein said at least one of said first and second wall panel means is releasably supported on said support means, whereby the same may be removed for cleansing of the spacing between said first and second wall panel means.
13. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 12 wherein said partition members include at least some said partition members disposed at an angle between vertical and horizontal, whereby to facilitate water flow therefrom during cleansing, there being a water flow passageway between a lower portion of said angled partition members and an adjacent one of said first and second wall panel means, whereby to permit water flow therebetween.
14. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 13 wherein said support means comprise for each said removable panel, an upper, downwardly directed panel receiving channel member, and a lower upwardly directed channel supporting flange, said panel member being releasably supported between the same as aforesaid.
15. An air flow wall as claimed in Claim 14 including at least some partition members arranged along a generally horizontal axis, and being tilted relative to the horizontal about an axis normal to said horizontal axis, and wherein said upper panel supporting channels are located on an underside of said wall means, and wherein said lower panel supporting flanges are located on an upper portion of said partition means, for supporting respective lower and upper wall panels.
16. Apparatus for processing meat products in a controlled environment and comprising;
at least two walls defining opposite sides of a chamber, said chamber having a top, a floor, a back and door means, and wherein each said wall is of two-sided construction defining a hollow interior;
support means in said chamber whereby meat products may be supported in said chamber;
air flow openings in said walls whereby air may flow into said chamber, or out of it, thereby circulating around said meat products therein;
partitions in said interior of said walls forming air compartment means in each of said walls for carrying air to or from said flow openings;
first air duct means connecting with said air compartment means in one said wall, and second air duct means connecting with said air compartment means in said other wall;
damper means in at least some said duct means, and, power operated means for selectively supplying air at a controlled temperature and humidity to one of said first and second duct means, and removing air from the other, and being operable to reverse the direction of air flow, whereby air may flow from one wall to the other, and in the reverse direction across said chamber.
17. Apparatus for processing meat products as claimed in Claim 16 including a second said chamber, said chambers forming a pair, and wherein a first one of said walls is an outside wall of a first chamber, and a second one of said walls is a median wall between said pair of chambers, and including a third said wall forming the outside wall of said second said chamber, both said chambers having a top, a floor, a back and door means.
18. Apparatus for processing meat products as claimed in Claim 17 including air flow openings on both sides of said second wall, whereby air may flow from said second wall into both said chambers or from both said chambers into said second wall, and wherein said third wall includes air flow openings, whereby air may flow therefrom into said second chamber or may flow from said second chamber into said third wall, and including air compartment means in said third wall for carrying the air to or from said air flow openings.
19. Apparatus for processing meat products as claimed in Claim 18 including third air duct means connecting with said air compartment means in said third wall, and connected with said power operated means in conjunction with said first air duct means, whereby said power operated means is operable to supply air both to said first and third duct means, while removing air from said second duct means, and remove air from said first and third duct means whereby air may be caused to flow from the first and third wall means of respective said chambers, and be removed from said second wall means, or may be caused to flow from said second wall means and be removed from said first and third wall means.
20. Apparatus for processing meat products as claimed in Claim 16 wherein said door means are swingable between open/closed position, and in said closed position, fit within door openings at the front of said respective said chambers, and including inflatable sealing means disposed on some of said door means and respective said chambers, said sealing means being inflatable upon closing of said door means, whereby to provide a good air tight seal there-around during processing.
21. Apparatus for processing meat products as claimed in Claim 20 including a pair of doors for each pair of chambers, and including sealing means disposed on one of said doors and interengageable with the other of said doors in said pair for forming a good airtight seal therebetween.
CA000340569A 1978-11-27 1979-11-23 Perforated walls and duct system Expired CA1122050A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US96395478A 1978-11-27 1978-11-27
US963,954 1978-11-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1122050A true CA1122050A (en) 1982-04-20

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000340569A Expired CA1122050A (en) 1978-11-27 1979-11-23 Perforated walls and duct system

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CA (1) CA1122050A (en)

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