Patent ID: 6136609
Filing Date: 2000-10-24
Classification: A23L,Y02P,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for processing a pressurized liquid material, comprising:a vessel having a pressurization chamber;pressurizing means for supplying a liquid material to said vessel in order to allow the liquid material to be processed under a pressure therein to create a processed liquid material;depressurizing means for receiving and depressurizing the processed liquid material supplied under pressure from said vessel; anda working fluid control system for controlling said depressurizing means;said depressurizing means having a plurality of cylinder devices comprising respective pairs of interlinked pistons which define, in said cylinder devices, respective processing pressure chambers for selectively receiving the processed liquid material from said vessel, and respective working pressure chambers for selectively receiving a working fluid from said working fluid control system;said working fluid control system comprising means for bringing one of said working pressure chambers into communication with at least another one of the working pressure chambers to pass the working fluid therebetween for causing said cylinder devices to successively draw, depressurize, and discharge the processed liquid material in respective suction, depressurization, and discharge modes, and said working fluid control system further comprising means for supplying the working fluid to the working pressure chamber of one of said cylinder devices before said one of said cylinder devices begins the suction mode, and such that the supplied working fluid applies a back pressure to the piston which defines the processing pressure chamber of said one of said cylinder devices, the back pressure being created by the working fluid discharged from said at least another one of the working pressure chambers of said another one of said cylinder devices which is operating in the suction mode, the back pressure being maintained in the working pressure chamber of said one of said cylinder devices throughout the suction mode of said one of said cylinder devices.