1983-05-11
1986-02-11
Abercrombie, Willie G.
A22C 1102
Patent
active
045691029
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to nozzles for pumps and the like and relates in particular to a nozzle through which a meat or meat-like paste may be pumped for use in, for example, the production of moulded meat or meat-like products such as sausages.
A number of arrangements are known wherein moulded meat or meat-like products, such as sausages or frankfurters are shaped within a rigid mould cavity. An example of such an arrangement is disclosed in our U.K. Patent Application No. 2004454A which describes an apparatus and method particularly adapted for the production of skinless moulded meat or meat-like products, i.e. products free from an external supporting membrane. In an illustrative example described therein, a skinless sausage is produced by introducing meat paste or other product forming material into a rigid mould cavity having a permeable wall. The ends of the cavity are closed and the surface of the material is treated with a suitable coagulating fluid such as an acid, which is introduced through the permeable walls of the mould cavity and provides the sausage with a cohesive skin. The sausage is then ejected from the cavity which can be continually reused. One or more of such mould cavities may be arranged, for example on a rotatable drum, for relative movement between a plurality of stations where the various operations are carried out.
In order to function satisfactorily, the system requires that an exact, predetermined quantity of meat paste is introduced into the cavity. As disclosed in U.K. No. 2004454A the paste is pumped into the cavity via a cylindrical, open ended nozzle which is introduced into the empty cavity and then gradually retracted as the cavity is filled. After the required predetermined quantity of paste has been pumped through the nozzle, a metering valve shuts off the supply of paste to the nozzle and the nozzle may be completely withdrawn from the cavity. However, this method has proved to have a disadvantage in that, although the supply of paste to the nozzle may be shut off at the appropriate time, the nozzle itself remains full. It has been found that at least some of the residual paste within the nozzle may pass out of the open end thereof and into the mould cavity before the nozzle is completely withdrawn from the cavity.
Thus, even though the supply of meat paste into the nozzle may be carefully monitored, the total quantity which is introduced into the cavity may be too large by an unpredictable amount. This leads to unsatisfactory operation of the apparatus in that the sausages may be misshapened at one end.
It is therefore proposed that a means be provided for closing the end of the nozzle at the appropriate time. A problem is that, particularly in the case of the apparatus described above, the space within the mould cavity is not large. This makes it difficult to design a nozzle closing arrangement which will work effectively within the restricted space available.
According to the invention there is provided a nozzle for a pump comprising a tubular inner member having an inlet connectable to a pump and an axially directed outlet, the tubular member being mounted within an elongate housing having an end wall adjacent the outlet, the end wall having an axially directed aperture therein, and the tubular member and housing being arranged for relative rotation so as either to bring the aperture and outlet into registry or to close the outlet by means of the end wall.
By "axially directed" is meant along or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tubular member.
Thus, the tubular member and the housing may be relatively rotated between an open position wherein the aperture and the outlet are in registry and fluid may flow freely through and out of the nozzle, and a closed position wherein there is no overlap between the aperture and the outlet and the housing end wall closes the outlet and prevents fluid leaving the nozzle. A major advantage with the inventive nozzle is that the relation rotation between the housing and the tubular member may be effected at a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3071015 (1963-01-01), Donguy
patent: 4017941 (1977-04-01), Randys et al.
patent: 4051574 (1977-10-01), Gaspar
Abercrombie Willie G.
Pemberton Sintermatic S.A.
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