GB887952A - Improvements in apparatus for pumping pickle solution into meat products - Google Patents

Abstract

887,952. Pickling hams &c. HAGAN CHEMICALS & CONTROLS Inc. July 23, 1959 [Dec. 5, 1958], No. 25268/59. Class 49. [Also in Groups XVIII and XXIX] Pickle solution is pumped into a ham or the like in apparatus comprising means for weighing the ham and producing a signal proportional to the weight, force developing devices which are controlled by the weight signal and engage the beam of an auxiliary balance, means for maintaining a constant signal corresponding to the pre-pumped weight of the ham to one of the force developing devices while pickle is pumped into the ham, and means controlled by the auxiliary balance for stopping the pumping when a required weight of pickle has been added. Preferably the force developing devices are a pair of pneumatic devices 7, 8, of which the former loads one arm L 1 of the beam 19 of the auxiliary balance 9 with a constant force proportional to the pre-pumped weight and the latter loads the other arm L 2 with a force proportional to the increasing weight of the ham being pickled, the relative lengths of the beam arms being so arranged, by adjustment of the position of the pivot 21, that the moment of the former force about the pivot will equal that of the latter when a required proportion of pickle has been supplied. In use, the ham 1 tilts beam B of the weighing means so opening a valve 4d to admit fluid under pressure to act on diaphragm 4a, the pressure increasing until the force developed balances the weight of the ham and this pressure, which provides the weight signal, is communicated by pipes 5, 6 to the devices 7, 8 loading the auxiliary balance beam 19. Pickle pumping is initiated by lowering the handle of lever 47 of the device 11 whereby pressure fluid from pipe 41 is supplied to (a) a valve 19a by which pipe-line 5 is closed to maintain the force generated at 7 constant; (b) the " relay " 10 ; and (c) the valve 13 controlling the pickle pump 12. Relay 10 comprises an upper chamber 23 in communication with a valve 22 operated by beam 19 and separated by diaphragms 24, 27-of which the former has the larger effective area-from a valve 25, the space between the diaphragms being open to the atmosphere. Thus when lever 47 is operated, pressure in chamber 23 moves the plunger 32 of valve 25 downwardly so closing ball-valve 30 and opening ball-valve 31 to admit pressurefluid to the lower chamber of relay 10 and thence to act on diaphragm 48 of the device 11 to hold the pipe 41 open. When the required weight of pickle has been supplied the plunger 37 of valve 22 automatically descends and allows the pressure in chamber 23 to be relieved by opening it to the atmosphere, thus reversing the action of valve 25 and relieving the pressure on diaphragm 48 of device 11 thereby cutting off the supply of pickle. In an alternative construction pressure-fluid supply lines to valves 19a and 13 are connected not to pipe 43, as shown, but to the chamber surrounding valve 25 in the same manner as the connection to the housing 48a of the device 11.