FR2520590A1 - Wood smoke generator for smoking meat, fish, etc. - has conical roller to press sawdust against combustion plate - Google Patents

Abstract

Smoke generator has a hopper which distributes particles of wood, e.g. sawdust, shavings or chippings, to combustion plate. The plate temp. is sufficient to carbonise the particles without producing a flame. The particles of wood are now applied against the combustion plate by a heat-proof, pressure element. Pref. the pressure element and the combustion plate surfaces are relatively movable. Pref. the pressure element is a heavy conical roller mounted radially at the bottom of a vertical shaft which is rotated by an electric motor located above the hopper. Pref. the particles from the hopper are spread and levelled by a scraper blade also attached to the vertical shaft. Used for smoking food prods., partic. delicatessen prods. such as sausages, hams and bacon as well as fish prods., partic. salmon or kippers. Smoke prodn. is consistent and regular because a layer of particles of constant thickness is applied continually to the combustion plate. There is no danger of fire because the roller follows the line of combustion.

Description

 The subject of the present invention is a smoke generator intended in particular, but not exclusively, for smoking food products such as cold meats, fishmongers, etc. which can be placed inside the smoking cabinet or outside of it, a smoke supply pipe then being connected to the cabinet and, optionally, a recycling pipe connecting the cabinet to the generator.

 Known smoke generators have at least one of the following drawbacks: the production of smoke is irregular, this being due to the fact that it is not possible to ensure a perfectly regular distribution of the sawdust on the combustion means , the latter depending on variations in quality, size and degree of hygrometry; there is a risk of combustion or buckling of the sawdust, given too much oxygenation in the carbonization zone and / or too high a temperature which results in a poor quality of the fumes for smoking, the coloring matter being destroyed by combustion; finally, the combustion starting at the carbonization means can easily propagate to the sawdust tank and deteriorate the installation.

A solution has been found to this problem in the
French patent N 70 26513 in the name of the applicant who provides improved means for distributing sawdust in a substantially uniform layer on a carbonization plate, these means consisting, in addition to a particular device provided in the sawdust distribution hopper, in a squeegee which moves slightly above the heating plate to equalize the layer of sawdust coming from the hopper.

 Another type of smoke generator uses lumber in the form of shaped logs. In this case, the smoke is obtained using a fairly powerful motor, the output shaft of which is fitted with a rasp, the friction of which on the wood gives off the required smoke. However, to prevent the log from catching fire, the engine must stop intermittently, the period of stops depending on the type of wood and its humidity. During these stops, there is no smoke emission and it is therefore a serious handicap for the speed of the smoking work. In addition, the logs have the disadvantage of only lasting two hours, after which time they must be replaced which is the source of oversights and expensive handling.

 The present invention relates to a smoke generator of the first type, that is to say using the combustion of sawdust or chips which allows a continuous supply.

 According to the present invention, the smoke generator comprising a hopper for supplying sawdust or wood shavings disposed above a carbonization plate is characterized in that pressure means act on the sawdust to press it against the plate .

Thus, the layer of sawdust or shavings on the heating plate is very thin and all the particles of wood are charred-which ensures a performance of the device much higher than that of the devices of the prior art.

 According to another characteristic of the invention, the aforementioned pressure means act by relative displacement of the plate and of a pressure member.

 According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the pressure member is constituted by a conical roller driven by an electric motor, the carbonization plate remaining fixed.

 Thus, the roller by its displacement on the surface of the plate makes adhere by its weight the sawdust or the small chips on the hot plate. As a result, the temperature thereof can be reduced since all the material to be carbonized is in intimate contact with the plate.

In the previous devices it was necessary to heat more since all the particles were not in direct contact with the plate. The present invention therefore makes it possible to very significantly reduce the risks of spontaneous ignition and consequently to increase safety.

On the other hand, the creosote which gives color and flavor to smoked products is preserved and not destroyed by combustion.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear during the description which follows of a particular embodiment given solely by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the single figure which is a diagram of the device according to the invention. 'invention.

 In FIG., The heating plate 1 is circular in shape and comprises one or more electric resistances, not shown, apparent or not, in which an electric current flows bringing the upper surface of the plate to a temperature such that the particles of wood carbonize at contact thereof, without being brought to combustion. The plate 1 is surmounted by a central shaft 2 driven in rotation in the direction indicated by the arrow (sinistrorsum direction) by a motor not shown.

At the lower part of the shaft 2 is mounted by means of a yoke 4.5 a conical roller 3 made of solid steel machined in the lathe, for example. The roller 3 carries by one of its generatrices on the upper surface of the plate 1.

 I1 is driven in rotation by its support and by the axis 2 so that it rotates on practically the entire surface of the plate, without sliding, while turning around its axis 6. It will be noted that the pressure of the roller on the plate causes a first heating of the particles of wood which are compressed, heating which is added to that coming from the electric resistances themselves.

 Given the fineness and regularity of the deposition of wood particles after pressing the roller, the combustion of the latter is very complete, which makes it possible to consume a larger quantity of sawdust or shavings for a given time and to produce much more quality smoke for the same amount of sawdust as that produced by equalization with a squeegee such as that described in the aforementioned patent.

 The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiment which has just been described. Thus, on the shaft 2 can also be mounted a squeegee which precedes the roller in its movement and produces a first equalization which preludes to the thinning of the layer of particles.

 If the taper roller 3 is not heavy enough, an additional pressing force can be associated with it by means of springs for example. Finally, for the pressure to be applied over the entire surface of the heating plate, there must be a relative displacement of the latter and of the pressure member. This could be fixed, the plate then being rotating or movable in a given direction. In the latter case, the carbonization plate could be rectangular or of any suitable shape.

 Of course, the device which has just been described can be used in combination with any device for distributing sawdust or shavings and in particular with that described in the aforementioned patent.

 It goes without saying that many variants can be introduced, in particular by substitution of equivalent technical means, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (2)

CLAIMS. 10 Smoke generator including a feed hopper  sawdust or wood chips disposed above a  heating plate brought to a temperature such that  the particles delivered successively by the hopper  be charred without being ignited, characterized  in that pressure means (3) apply to  the particles being on the plate (1) a  High pressure. 20 smoke generator according to claim 1, characterized  in that the aforementioned pressure means (3) act  by relative displacement relative to the plate (1).  39 smoke generator according to one of claims 1 or 2,  characterized in that the pressure member (3) is  consisting of a solid conical roller mounted at  the end of a tree (2) perpendicular to the plate and  driven by an electric motor mounted above  the hopper.  4 Smoke generator according to any one of the claims  above, characterized in that a squeegee  is mounted on the shaft (2) so as to perform  a first equalization.