Patent ID: 7069841

Claim:
A cooker for cooking shrimp at atmospheric pressure, the cooker comprising: a cooking chamber extending from a first end to a second end and including an upper cooking region; an entrance leading into the cooking chamber at the first end; an exit from the cooking chamber at the second end; a conveyor for transporting shrimp through the entrance and into the upper cooking region of the cooking chamber and depositing the shrimp for discharge through the exit; an open-bottomed enclosure covering the upper cooking region of the cooking chamber; a steam outlet for emitting steam into the cooking chamber; a first hydrostatic seal formed between the enclosure and the cooking chamber to prevent steam from escaping at the interface between the cooking chamber and the enclosure; a second hydrostatic seal formed at the entrance to prevent steam from escaping from the cooking chamber through the entrance; a third hydrostatic seal formed at the exit to prevent steam from escaping from the cooking chamber through the exit; a port leading from the cooking chamber and opening to the atmosphere at a vertical position at or below the vertical positions of the hydrostatic seals and having a cross section sufficient to maintain atmospheric pressure in the cooking chamber; a motor disposed below the cooking chamber; a chain drivingly engaged by the motor and extending into the cooking chamber to engage and drive the conveyor; and a chain guard extending downward from the cooking chamber and protectively covering a portion of the chain, wherein the chain guard forms the port.