GB471855A - Improvements in or relating to structures or apparatus such as drying tunnels - Google Patents

Abstract

471,855. Drying and cooling apparatus. INDUSTRIAL PATENTS CORPORATION. March 5, 1936, No. 6691. Convention date, Dec. 11, 1935. [Classes 29 and 34 (ii)] A drying or cooling structure comprises an enclosure having a temperature-control chamber and a product-treating chamber, means for delivering air currents over a temperaturecontrol unit or a heat-exchange unit to the product-treating chamber, which is provided with a conveyer for the product, one or more propelling means being spaced apart longitudinally of the conveyer for directing the air currents downwardly and longitudinally of the conveyer, and means being provided for re-circulating the air from the producttreating chamber to the temperature-control chamber and/or to the propelling means. The apparatus shown may be used both for drying and cooling, in connection with the picking of fowl, the fowl being dried after rough picking and before being treated with heated wax, which is subsequently chilled and removed together with the remaining small feathers, &c. An enclosure 1 is partitioned at 16 to provide chambers 17, 18. The chamber 17 is provided with a coil 28 through which a fluid cooling or heating medium is circulated under the control of a valve 33. Air entering the chamber through duct 34 is directed by a fan 29 over coil 28, into chamber 18. A damper 36 is slidably mounted between the duct 34 and the fan 29. The chamber 18 is provided with a conveyer 15, bent into U- form near the partition 16 and comprising a trolley rail 43 with wheels 48 on which are mounted straps 47 connected to a chain 49, driven by means of sprocket wheels. Carcasses of fowl 55 are carried by shackles 56. Fans 57 are provided above the conveyer, whereby some of the air passing out from the chamber 17 is drawn upwardly and directed against the carcasses 55. A horizontal partition 19 is provided to form a channel by which air may be drawn from the chamber 18 and re-circulated through the chamber 17, the volume of air being controlled by a damper 22. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 comprises also an enclosure 70, Fig. 7 (Cancelled), provided with an inverted U-shaped partition 80 forming a chamber 78 through which carcasses 55 are carried by a conveyer 15. The top of the enclosure 70 is provided with a duct 88 leading to a source of fresh air and containing a fan 91 and heat-exchange elements 92. Admission of air to the enclosure is controlled by a damper 93. The top of the partition 80 is formed with openings 95 in which are mounted fans 94. The fans cause a circulation of air down past the carcasses and up past coils 96 through which a chilling or heating fluid is circulated. Dampers are provided to control the supply of fresh air within the enclosure 70. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.