GB1270858A - Pressure cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,270,858. Pressure cooking apparatus. KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN CORP. 25 June, 1969, No. 32098/69. Heading B1X. A pressure cooking apparatus comprises an insulated cooking vessel 32 which is electrically heated, a hydraulically operable closure lid (34), Fig. 9 (not shown) to which is affixed racks (33), Fig. 3 (not shown) having supports (35) for grills (23) which carry food to be cooked. The lid (34) is slidable vertically along guide rods (54) Fig. 7 (not shown), by means of a hydraulic cylinder 64 and piston (65) in a hydraulic line (110), (111) which includes a valve (113) to retain the lid in its closure position if the hydraulic pressure fails. An electrically heated premelt tank 58 receives solid cooking fat lowered on a tray (91), Fig. 10 (not shown) by a cord (89) fixed to the tray and a lever 87 actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 85 and a solenoid or motor (96). Cooking liquid is drained from the vessel 32 via an inclined sump (37) and a pipe 159 including a valve 158 into an electrically heated tank 59 with a hollow disc filter 124 from which extends a pipe 125 with a pump 126 to transfer filtered cooking liquid to an electrically heated preheat tank 60. Cooking liquid is passed from the preheat tank 60 to the vessel 32 through a pipe 144 having a valve 145. The volume of liquid in the preheat tank 60 and consequently the amount thereof transferred to the vessel 32 is controlled by a pipe 129 which maintains a fixed level of liquid in tank 60 by draining into the premelt tank 58. Smaller amounts of cooking liquid are added to the vessel 32 from the premelt tank 58 through a pipe 165 with a valve 166. The premelt tank 58 has a pipe 103 with a pump 107 to discharge cooking liquid through a hose to clean the vessel 32. The cooking vessel 32 is vented through a duct 74 which includes a valve 75 and leads to a trap 78 from which extends an exhaust stack 79 and a drain pipe 80. Circuitry containing heating elements, thermostatic switches, motors for actuating the valves and a timer for controlling the cooking period and the interval between lid sealing and opening are also described. The cooking vessel 32 and the preheat tank 60 may have temperature measuring and indicating devices.