Steam peeling pressure vessel

Abstract

A steam peeling vessel for rotation about an internal axis of rotation, including at least one internal lifter having a longitudinal axis oriented at an oblique angle to the internal axis of rotation of the vessel. The vessel may include at least two internal lifters. The vessel may include a first lifter oriented at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation, and at least a second lifter oriented at a second oblique angle to the axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A steam peeling vessel for rotation about an internal axis of rotation, comprising at least one internal lifter having a longitudinal axis oriented at an oblique angle to the internal axis of rotation of the vessel, the internal axis of rotation of the vessel extending along a first direction, the at least one internal lifter being rotationally fixed to the steam peeling vessel, the at least one internal lifter being interrupted or discontinuous at a center of the vessel, the center being at a center of the vessel along the first direction, the at least one internal lifter being configured to urge product within the vessel radially relative to the center of the vessel.

2. The steam peeling vessel of claim 1, wherein the internal axis of rotation is along an axis of symmetry of the vessel.

3. The steam peeling vessel of claim 1, the at least one internal lifter comprising at least two internal lifters.

4. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, the at least one internal lifter comprising a first lifter oriented at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation, and at least a second lifter oriented at a second oblique angle to the axis of rotation.

5. The steam peeling vessel of claim 4, wherein the first and second oblique angles are equal but opposite.

6. The steam peeling vessel of claim 5, wherein the first lifter is oriented at an obtuse angle to the second lifter.

7. The steam peeling vessel of claim 4, wherein the first lifter is an incline and the second lifter is a decline.

8. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, wherein the angle of orientation is the same between two consecutive lifters.

9. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, wherein the angle of orientation changes between two consecutive lifters.

10. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, wherein the direction of incline changes between two consecutive lifters.

11. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, wherein the at least two lifters comprise a first lifter oriented at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation, and a second lifter oriented at a second and different oblique angle to the axis of rotation.

12. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, wherein the at least two lifters are arranged end to end.

13. The steam peeling vessel of claim 12, wherein a first lifter of the at least two lifters is orientated at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation of the vessel, and a second lifter of the at least two lifters is orientated at a second oblique angle to the axis of rotation.

14. The steam peeling vessel of claim 13, wherein the first and second oblique angles are equal but opposite.

15. The steam peeling vessel of claim 13, wherein the first and second oblique angles are unequal.

16. The steam peeling vessel of claim 3, wherein each of the at least two lifters undergoes at least one change of angle along its length.

17. The steam peeling vessel of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal lifter comprises a leading face and an outer edge, wherein the leading face is oriented at the oblique angle.

18. The steam peeling vessel of claim 17, wherein the leading face is configured to impart a translation of product within the vessel along the internal axis of rotation when the vessel is rotated.

19. The steam peeling vessel of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal lifter and an outermost wall of the steam peeling vessel are rotationally fixed and are configured to rotate together during steam peeling.

20. The steam peeling vessel of claim 1, wherein the at least one internal lifter extends from an inside wall of the steam peeling vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which FIGS. 1-4 illustrate selected significant features of a prior art steam peeling vessel, and FIGS. 5-16 illustrate a peeler vessel according to various embodiments of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a prior art steam peeling vessel including lifters, taken along its axis of rotation.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further cross section of the prior art steam peeling vessel of FIG. 1, taken along line A-A.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a cross section of the prior art steam peeling vessel of FIGS. 1 and 2 in use.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a similar prior art steam peeling vessel in use.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a steam peeling vessel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, taken along its axis of rotation.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further cross section of the steam peeling vessel of FIG. 5, taken along line A-A.

(8) FIG. 7 shows a cross section of a steam peeling vessel in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, taken along its axis of rotation.

(9) FIG. 8 shows a further cross section of the steam peeling vessel of FIG. 7, taken along line B-B.

(10) FIG. 9 shows a cross section of a steam peeling vessel in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, taken along its axis of rotation.

(11) FIG. 10 shows a further cross section of the steam peeling vessel of FIG. 9, taken along line C-C.

(12) FIG. 11 shows a cross section of a steam peeling vessel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, taken along its axis of rotation.

(13) FIG. 12 shows a further cross section of the steam peeling vessel of FIG. 11, taken along line A-A.

(14) FIG. 13 shows a cross section of a steam peeling vessel in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, taken along its axis of rotation.

(15) FIG. 14 shows a further cross section of the steam peeling vessel of FIG. 13, taken along line B-B.

(16) FIG. 15 shows a cross section of a steam peeling vessel in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, taken along its axis of rotation.

(17) FIG. 16 shows a further cross section of the steam peeling vessel of FIG. 15, taken along line C-C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(18) FIGS. 5 to 16 show multiple embodiments of a steam peeler vessel 1 in accordance with the present invention. As demonstrated in the drawings, the present invention is not limited to any particular shape of vessel, whether spherical, obloid, oblate spheroid, bottle-shaped or any other shape. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 9, the vessel has a spherical form, in the embodiments of FIGS. 10 to 16, the vessel has an oblate spheroid form. Other forms of vessel are envisaged in accordance with the present invention.

(19) In each embodiment, a plurality of lifters are shown, although the invention only requires one lifter to achieve an advantage over the prior art. The term lifter is intended to refer to any means for engaging with product as the vessel rotates to impart movement to the product. Preferably the movement includes a lateral movement of the product. The movement may also include a raising movement. The movement may also include a movement in the direction of rotation of the vessel. The lifters in these embodiment take the form of a plate extending from the inside wall of the vessel, but other forms of lifter other than plates are possible in accordance with the present invention. Each lifter in this embodiment protrudes from the inner wall of the vessel towards the centre of the vessel. They may be fixed or mounted to the inner wall or may form part of the wall itself. The shape of the plate is not important, rather its orientation. Any form of protrusion or projection from the inner wall of the vessel could be a lifter within the meaning of the present invention. The plate-like lifters in this embodiment have a flat plate form. In alternative embodiments the lifters may be curved or take another form. Further examples include but are not limited to a curved plate, a flap, a wedge shape, and a semi-circular protrusion.

(20) Each lifter is oriented at an oblique angle to the axis of rotation of the vessel, as best seen in FIGS. 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16. The arrows in these drawings show the achieved movement of product by the lifters as the vessel rotates.

(21) FIG. 6 shows an example of a vessel 1 having a first lifter 12 oriented at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation R-R, and a second lifter 14 or 16 oriented at a second oblique angle to the axis of rotation.

(22) In FIG. 6, lifter 12 is shown to be oriented at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation, and lifter 14 oriented at a second and different oblique angle to the axis of rotation. Likewise lifter 16 is oriented at a second and different oblique angle to the axis of rotation relative to lifter 12 or lifter 14.

(23) In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the angle of orientation changes between two consecutive lifters 12, 14, 16, 13, for example lifters 12 and 16, where the angle of orientation of lifter 12 relative to the axis of rotation is greater than that of lifter 16 which slopes more gently. Lifter 12 has a steeper incline/decline.

(24) In alternative embodiments the angle of orientation is the same between two consecutive lifters. For example in FIG. 10, the lifters 22, 23, 24, 25 share a common angle of orientation relative to the axis of rotation. In this embodiment, the direction of incline of lifter 23 is different to that of lifters 22 and 24 but the angle of incline remains the same. A combination of the two is possible in a single vessel, for example where in parts of the vessel consecutive lifters share the same angle of orientation, in other parts, consecutive lifters have different angles of orientation.

(25) In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the direction of incline changes between two consecutive lifters, for example, between lifters 12 and 16, and also between lifters 16 and 14. In this embodiment the consecutive lifters alternate in incline.

(26) In other embodiments the direction of incline is the same between two consecutive lifters. A combination of the two/three is possible in a single vessel, where in parts of the vessel consecutive lifters are inclined in the same direction, in other parts, consecutive lifters are inclined in different directions.

(27) FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of vessel wherein two lifters 18, 19 are arranged end to end. The lifters form a double lifter 20. Lifter 18 is orientated at a first oblique angle to the axis of rotation of the vessel, and lifter 19 orientated at a second oblique angle to the axis of rotation. More than two lifters may be arranged end to end, to form a zig-zag or wavy combination of lifters/double-lifter.

(28) In FIG. 8, the first and second oblique angles are equal but opposite. In this example the first portion is oriented at an acute angle to the second portion. Lifters 18 and 19 together form a double-lifter 20 comprising a bend 21 along its length. The bend need not be a sharp bend as shown in FIG. 8, a curve between the two lifters is also possible. The first lifter 18 is an incline whereas the second lifter 19 is a decline. In alternative embodiments the double-lifter 20 may be reversed to take a V-shape where the first lifter is a decline and the second lifter is an incline. Double-lifter 20 in FIG. 8 undergoes one change of angle along its length, but multiple changes are possible. Double-lifter 20 may be formed from a single unitary piece or may comprise multiple sections laid or fixed end to end or otherwise connected together. The double-lifter in this embodiment works like a snow plough in clearing the potatoes to the side as they come into contact with its leading faces.

(29) In alternative embodiments of a double or two-part lifter, the first and second oblique angles may be unequal.

(30) As demonstrated by the arrows in FIG. 6, each lifter in this embodiment serves to move product towards the edges of the vessel, away from the centre. Product that starts in the centre of the vessel may be urged to the periphery of the vessel. The product would undergo a lateral movement along the axis of rotation. Lifters 12 and 14 would induce a lateral movement from right to left. Lifter 16 would induce a lateral movement from left to right. Each lifter imparts a translation of a product along the axis of rotation while being lifted. A translation having a lateral component and a lifting component is achieved in respect of the products.

(31) As demonstrated by the arrows in FIG. 8, each double-lifter 20 in this embodiment also serves to move product towards the edges of the vessel, away from the centre. The product would undergo a lateral movement along the axis of rotation. Lifter 18 of double-lifter 20 would induce a lateral movement from left to right. Lifter 19 would induce a lateral movement from right to left.

(32) As demonstrated by the arrows in FIG. 10, each lifter in this embodiment serves to move product towards the centre of the vessel, away from the edges. Product that starts on the periphery of the vessel may be urged into the centre of the vessel. The product would undergo a lateral movement along the axis of rotation. Lifters 22 and 24 would induce a lateral movement from left to right. Lifter 23 would induce a lateral movement from right to left.

(33) FIGS. 12, 14 and 16 show the same arrangement of lifters as those in FIGS. 6, 8 and 10, in a different shaped vessel. The lifters function in the same manor regardless of the shape of the vessel. Any number of lifters may be provided in these and other embodiments of the invention.

(34) Each lifter imparts a translation of a product along the axis of rotation while being lifted. A translation having a lateral component and a lifting component is achieved in respect of the products.

(35) The words comprises/comprising and the words having/including when used herein with reference to the present invention are used to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.