Patent ID: 6168814
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: A22C,A23B,A23L,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus for treating a food product, comprising: a heavy-duty and shock-wave resistant outer container of generally cylindrical configuration for containing a first liquid having a first liquid acoustic impedance, such outer container having a shock-wave reflective inner surface; a conduit or inner container for immersion in the first liquid and for containing a meat slurry or a second liquid containing meat pieces and having a second liquid acoustic impedance, the conduit or inner container having a conduit acoustic impedance similar to the first liquid acoustic impedance and to the second liquid acoustic impedance, whereby acoustic waves from said outer container are not substantially diverted by the conduit or inner container; the conduit or inner container being generally concentric with and spaced from the outer container with an annular space therebetween for the first liquid; and a multi-directional acoustic wave generator disposed outside the conduit or inner container and within and adjacent said outer container to impinge acoustic waves onto the conduit or inner container from more than one direction; whereby the meat slurry or meat pieces immersed in the second liquid, inside the conduit or inner container, may be treated by the acoustic waves passing therethrough, wherein the acoustic waves impinging from more than one direction produce a quasi-hydrostatic pressure rise inside the conduit or inner container, and wherein impulses of the acoustic waves are substantially balanced, whereby no substantial lateral net force is exerted on the conduit or inner container.