GB782964A - Improvements in or relating to cold-storage insallations, notably for the preservation of fish - Google Patents

Abstract

782,964. Refrigerating fish. COMPAGNIE GENERALE DE GRANDE PECHE. Nov. 4, 1955 [Nov. 4, 1954], No. 31604/55. Class 29 [Also in Group XXX] In a refrigeration installation for the freezing of fish, moulds are conveyed past a loading station A and through a low temperature chamber D, while means are provided for maintaining the moulds open at the loading station, for closing the moulds before entering the freezing chamber and for opening the moulds and expelling the frozen contents on leaving the chamber. The moulds 3 are carried on crossbars between endless chains 1, driven by a motor 4, which pass over guide wheels 7. Each mould consists of two halves 8 and 9, pivoted on a rod 12 and urged together by a spring 13, with a cover 10. Of the half moulds 8 and 9, the bases have each lateral extensions 14 fitting recesses in the other base which, when the moulds are opened, serve to eject the frozen contents, and the side walls have lugs 11. The cover 10 is pivoted at 17 on to arms 18 which are pivoted at 19 to one of the half moulds, springs 20 completing the connection of the cover to the arms 18 which have bosses 18a at their rear ends. A spring latch 21 maintains the cover closed. At the loading station A the moulds pass an inclined plane 24 which bears against the bosses 18a and holds the covers 10 open. As each mould reaches the end of the plane 24 the cover bears against a 'spring biased lever 25, putting the spring under tension so that on the bosses 18a clearing the plane 24 the cover is shut. The mould then passes to a station B where the catches 21 of the covers 10 are applied by a combination of spring loaded rods 28 bearing against the arms 18 and members 26 rotating on a shaft 27 which push against the half mould 9 holding it in position. An arm 30 is pivoted to the bottom end of the rod 28 and is mounted loosely on the shaft 27 and keyed to a cam 31. Bearing on the cam is a crank 32 carrying a pivoted rod 34 which operates a switch 35. If the cover is not properly fastened, on passing the rod 28 and under the action of the springs 20 it flies back striking rod 34 and operating the switch 35 which cuts off the driving motor of the chains 1. Otherwise the rod 34 is retracted by a cam 31 and crank 32 clear of the mould. Before entering the low temperature chamber D, the moulds are subjected to a blast of air to remove moisture. In the low temperature chamber air is circulated over the evaporator of an NH3 refrigerating system by fans. On leaving the low temperature chamber the moulds are opened by first releasing the catches 21, then opening the cover 10 and finally by forcing the half moulds 8 and 9 apart. A heavy pendulum 44 is keyed to a freely rotating shaft and a crank 47, and is held in suspension by a stud 48 on crank 47 retained in a notch 49 in a pivoted latch 50. A cam 51 has tripping finger 52 so arranged that it is engaged by the boss 18a causing the cam to raise the latch 50 and release the pendulum 44 against the catch 21. The cover 10 is then opened by the abutment of a roller situated on the pendulum 44 against the boss 18a. The pendulum is reset by movement of a roller 53 supported on the crank 47 in the path of the cross bars carrying the moulds on the chains. A safety device is provided for stopping the movement of the mould if the cover is not opened. The half moulds are forced apart by a wedge 60 acting on the lugs 11 and by a roller 61 set in the path of the lower lugs 11, a hopper 62 receiving the ejected frozen material. The moulds are finally washed by a water jet before again passing through the cycle of operations. For ease of maintenance the whole of the mechanical installation may be moved away from the low temperature chamber by means of rollers 42.