Measuring and testing – Hardness – By penetrator or indentor
Patent
1988-06-06
1990-07-10
Noland, Tom
Measuring and testing
Hardness
By penetrator or indentor
426231, G01N 342
Patent
active
049399276
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the meat industry and more particularly to a probe to aid in classifying meat in respect of tenderness.
Traditionally, meat, including beef, lamp and port, has generally been classified by means of inspection carried out preferably by a trained inspector. However, it is a disadvantage of this method that the classification is generally unreliable due to varying standards between inspectors, and that inspection is generally just a visual inspection.
Various devices have also been proposed to aid in detecting the tenderness of meat. These devices have generally been unsuccessful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantages.
There is disclosed herein a meat probe to aid in determining the tenderness of meat, said probe comprising a body having a forward end to engage a meat sample, an elongated probe member movably mounted on the body so as to be movable forward from said end relative thereto along the longitudinal axis of the member, force applying means to apply a force to said member to cause said member to penetrate the meat sample force adjustment means to control said force applying means so that the force applied to said member increases until said probe penetrates said sample, and indicator means to provide an indication of the magnitude of the force applied to said member.
There is further disclosed herein a meat probe to aid in determining the tenderness of meat, said probe comprising a body having a forward end to engage a meat sample, an elongated probe member movably mounted on said body so as to be movable relative thereto forward from said end along the longitudinal axis of said member, from a retracted position to an extended position, force applying means to apply a force to said member to cause said member to penetrate said meat sample by moving said member from said retracted position to said extended position, retaining means to retain said member in said retracted position, which retaining means is operable to release said member to enable said member to move to the extended position thereof, an indicator means to provide an indication of the depth of penetration of said probe member.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectioned plan view of a device to aid in determining the tenderness of a meat sample;
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectioned side elevation of the device of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the device of FIGS. 1 and 2.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a device 10 to aid in the classification of mean (in the form of whole carcasses) in respect of eating quality. That is, to rank carcasses in order of their toughness.
The device 10 of the accompanying drawings performs two tests. The first of these tests determines the force required to have the probe member 11 penetrate the connective tissue 20 extending between a pair of ribs of a carcass. Preferably the connective tissue tested would be the connective tissue extending between the twelfth and thirteenth ribs. The second test requires the measurement of the distance the probe 11 penetrates the eye 21 behind the connective tissue 20.
The device 10 includes a body 13, of generally cylindrical configuration, having an internal cylindrical surface 14. Slidably mounted within the body 13 is a pair of pistons 12 and 15 between which there extends a spring 16. Fixed to the piston 12 is the meat probe 11. Extending rearwardly from the piston 15 is a piston rod 17 operatively moved by the trigger assembly 18. The trigger assembly 18 basically performs the above discussed first test. There is further provided a trigger assembly 19 which controls the second test.
The trigger assembly 18 includes a trigger 22 which is pivotally mounted at its uppe
REFERENCES:
patent: 2446956 (1948-08-01), Ross
patent: 3078710 (1963-02-01), Palmer
patent: 3182491 (1965-05-01), Tschirf et al.
patent: 3201976 (1965-08-01), Starrett et al.
patent: 3264866 (1966-08-01), Bouschart et al.
patent: 3498120 (1970-03-01), MacMillan
patent: 3554018 (1971-01-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 3732727 (1973-05-01), Hinnergardt et al.
patent: 4019376 (1977-04-01), Iwasahi
"Objective and Subjective Measurements for Meat Tenderness"; Proceedings Meat Tenderness Symposium 1963; pp. 135, 142-155; A. M. Pearson.
"Methods of Meat Texture Measurement Viewed from the Background of Factors Affecting Tenderness".
Advances in Food Research, vol. 14, 1965; pp. 33,74,75, and 78-85; Alina Surmacka Szczesnick et al.
Derwent Abstract Accession No. 85-315287/50, Class SO3, SU,A, 1157451 (Moscow Meat Dairy Inst.) May 23, 1985 (23.05.85).
LandOfFree
Device to measure the tenderness of meat does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Device to measure the tenderness of meat, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Device to measure the tenderness of meat will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1714942