Patent ID: 6189440
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: A23C,A23L

Abstract:
A self-contained, continuous flow pasteurizer comprising:a first tank and a second tank, each of the tanks having an inlet and an outlet, the tanks being mounted upon a mobile framework that also includes a cooling structure that is disposed around the second tank;a pump mechanism having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump mechanism being fluidically connected to the outlet of the first tank;a heating conduit fluidically connected between the outlet of the pump mechanism and an inlet of a recirculating valve, the recirculating valve having a first and a second outlet, the heating conduit being arranged and constructed to heat a fluid passing therethrough to a predetermined pasteurization temperature;a temperature hold conduit fluidically connected between the first outlet of the recirculating valve and an inlet of a cooling conduit, the temperature hold conduit being constructed and arranged to maintain a fluid flowing therethrough at the predetermined pasteurization temperature for a predetermined time whereafter the fluid flowing in the temperature hold conduit enters the cooling conduit which passes through at least a portion of the cooling structure, an outlet of the cooling conduit being fluidically connected to the second tank; and,a recirculation conduit having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the recirculation conduit being fluidically connected to the second outlet of the circulation valve and the outlet of the recirculation conduit being fluidically connected to a recirculation port of the first tank, the recirculation valve also being selectively actuable between a first position in which milk flowing through the heating conduit is diverted by the recirculation valve into the recirculation conduit and hence, back into the first tank, and a second position in which milk flowing through the heating conduit is directed into the temperature hold conduit and ultimately into the second tank.