USRE21406E - Apparatus and process for treating - Google Patents

Description

March 1940- H c. w. vos'r Re. 21,406

I APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR TREATING "ATER'IALS Original Filed Nov. 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. N (Zara/n:- 144 Vac/.-

A ORNEYS.

March 19, 1940; c. w. VOGT 21,405

APPARATUS ANDPROCESS FOR TREATING MATERIALS 7 0:1 am Filod Nov. 1, 192a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v- ATTORNEYS.

Reissued Mar. 19, 1940 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS AND raocass For. TREATING MATERIALS ClarenceW. Vogt, Norwalk, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Girdler Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Delaware 4:; Claims; (01. 62-114) This invention relates to a process and apparatus, which is particularly adaptable for use in continuously freezing ice cream, sherbet and the like, and also for the processing of vegetable and animal oils, confections, salve and all other materials wherein it may be desirable to alter the temperature, plasticity and/or structure thereof while being agitated or whipped, and is a continuation in part of application Serial No.

| 242,667, filed December 27, 1927.

The process and apparatus involving the packing of the processed material in containers asdisclosed in this application and in said application Serial No. 242,667, are claimed in application Serial No. 491,654, filed Oct. 28, 1930, which became Patent No. 1,972,253, issued September 4, 4934, and the product is claimed in application Serial No. 414,567, filed Dec. 16, 1929, which became Patent No. 1,940,109, issued Dec. 19, 1933.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a machine through which a material or mixture of materials may be continuously passed while being subjected to a temperature change,

whipped, agitated, or otherwise processed in an effective, efllcient and controllable manner. By

means of the invention the process may be'carried out at a high rate of speed so that the well known principle of quickly formed crystals be-' ing more minute than slowly formed crystals, may be practically utilized in the processing of the many products of a crystalline or partially crystalline nature inwhich smoothness of texture is an important characteristic. In respect to ice cream, this machine may be conveniently used by injecting the mix under pressure at one end -with the proper quantity of fluid, such as air or carbon dioxide, to obtain the desired overrun, and forcing it under pressure while being frozen and whipped, through the cooling or processing chamber.

Where it is desired to employ the machine with respect to the manufacture of substitutes for lard, salves, oleomargarine and the like, or any other materials, it has the advantage of processing such materials at any desired pressure and maintain ng at the same time any desired ratio between the quantities of the materials processed,.or excluding any one of them entirely if desired.

50 In processing materials, it is highly advantageous and possible by means of this machine to'carry out the process under any desired pressure and at a constant and uniform rate whereby the crystallization or homogenization or chemical action takes place quickly in a uniform broken.

state caused by the beating or whipping of the material as it is maintained at or brought to the desired temperature, and thus obtaining a smoother quality of product, eliminating therefrom hard or gritty or non-uniform particles heretofore created by the non-uniformity of the crystallization or other action during the temperature changing process.

The machine is also applicable to the processing of eggs, wherein itis desired to freeze the yolks and whites of the eggs after they are By means of this machine, the eggs are frozen as they are stirred or mixed under greater than atmospheric pressure so that no fluid will be beaten into the product causing deterioration. Almost any single material or combination of materials may likewise-be processed with the same or similar advantages.

One feature of the invention as relates to processing of substances or ingredients of a'crystalline nature or content, rests in the fact that a greater percentage of the crystals maybe permitted to form during the processing, and the product discharged in a stiffer state due to pressure being available to'extrude the product thus further'processed. This is as distinguished from the usual discharge by gravity. This also enables containers, cups or cones to be filled from the bottom up so as to discharge the air from the.

top thereof and avoid air pockets being created.

Another feature of the invention resides in pressure feed of the material into the machine at a. uniform rate, whereby it may be forced therethrough under greater than atmospheric pressure;

Another feature of the invention is that as a beaten and aerated product'leaves the machine, and gets beyond the action of the refrigerant and the agitator, the gaseous constituent expands to or toward atmospheric pressure thereby increasing the total volume of the product, where this is desired.

A'i'urther feature of the invention resides in automatically maintaining any desired degree of plasticity, hardness, stiilness or density of the material as it is discharged from the machine.

A still further feature of the invention resides in the material control, whereby the materials may be positively introduced into the machine tion with the processing or temperature controlling chamber, wherein the processed or cooled mixture is whipped and agitated without further coolingactionsoastocausetheiluid,asweil as the lesser cooled particles to be whipped into the more thoroughly cooled particles of the material, and, accordingly. cause a smoother and more desirable product to be discharged from the machine.

Another feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of the temperature controlling chamber and the agitating mechanism contained therein, whereby the latter is of a form which is suited to out or wipe the material from the wall and at the same time whip and mix the material which is being processed. In the usual processing machines this combined function is not present, and there is usually one set of parts used as scrapers or cutters, and provided any agitation is to be obtained, there is provided an additional set of parts of suitable form for agitating. With this feature of the invention the machine produces a product which is more uniform and produces a product at a rate which is uniform due to the mechanism inside of the chamber being rigidly mounted and maintaining ,a deflnite maximum thickness of film. Where these scrapers are hinged they do not maintain a uniform thickness of him as they will slide over the film when it becomes hard, and when the fllrn is soft the paddles would scrape against the inside lining of the chamber, thus causing wear and an excess of friction One of the most important features resides in the form of the temperature-controlling chamber whereby a relatively larger area of heat transfer surface is presented in proportion to the volume of material imder process. This is accomplished by the use of a relatively long and narrow chamber with a central shaft substantially greater in diameter than in the usual form of ice cream freezer. Heretofore, in ice cream freezers the highest surface volume ratio in pracentire volume of material passed through the apparatus to be intimately brought into contact with the heat transfer surface and to be thoroughly and uniformly effected thereby. 'Heat transfer is, therefore, rapid and since rapidly formed crystals are naturally small, the material will have a creamy, smooth texture impossible without this surface volume relation. By eliminating a large amount of useless stirring of a large volume of material; it also reduces the amount of power necessary to operate the machine.

While the drawings and the description 'show the machine and process as applied to the manufacture of ice cream, it is of course understood that neither the process described hereinabove or hereinafter nor the machine described and illustrated herein are limited to this application. but that this application of the process and machine is merely one example of its many'applicaof the material or materials while being processed, or where it is desirable or necessary to maintain the materials being processed in an intimately and uniformly mixed or homogeneous state.

'Ihe full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Fig. l is a side elevation showing the machine.

. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section thereugh. Fig.3isaviewtakeriontlieline3-4 of Fig. 2 with partsremoved. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the lined-4 ofl'ig.2. Fig.5 isacentral vertical section through the valve controlmechanism. Hg. 6 is a plan view of the driving member and pinion. Fig. "I is a vertical section through-the control valve.

Inthedrawingsthereisshownaprocessing' machine mounted upon the supporting base ll,

7 having a platform II for supporting a cup II or any other receptacle for receiving the material or mix discharged from the machine. Mounted upon the base II and extending at 'an angle to the base thereof, there is a tubular cooling or processing barrel it having a power drive comprising the motor ll moimted in the housing I! and driving the shaft. ll through suitable reduction gears contained in the housing ll.

Mounted upon the support ll, there are supporting bars I. having a supporting ring I! mounted thereon in which there may be removably placed in inverted position the jar 2| for containing the mix to be processed. The mouth or discharge end of the jar 20 is adapted to extend into a reservoir 2| so that the mix contained therein remains at a constant level, thus providing a constant head for gravity feed through the ball valve 22 which is controlled by the rod 23 operated by the handle 24. The reservoir 2| communicates with the valve 22 through the passage 25 in the cylinder 26, in

which there is reciprocably mounted a piston 21 driven by means of the shaft I6 passing through the packing glands 28 and uponwhich there is mounted at the,ba se of the cylinder a cam 29. The lower end of the piston 21 is provided with a roller 30 adapted to engage or ride upon the periphery of the cam 29 for causing said piston to reciprocate within the cylinder 2. A spring 26a seated against a shoulder 21a on the piston 21 serves to return the piston on its downward stroke.

The head of the cylinder isprovided with a vent 3| for admitting fluid such as air, carbon dioxide or any other material leading to a chamber 32. The head of the piston is provided with a ball valve 33 for controlling the passage of fluid from the chamber 12 to the passage 34 extending centrally and longitudinally of said piston. The passage 25 for the mix communicates with the passage 35 in the wall of the piston which is controlled by the ball valve 36 for admitting the mix to the central passage 34 extending therethrough. On the up stroke of the piston the fluid is compressed inthe chamber 32 and is forced through the ball valve 33 into the passage 34 within the piston. Similarly, the shoulder 21a compresses the mix in the passage 25 and forces it through ball valve 36 into the passage 34. The mix and processing or temperature changing chamber 31. Said chamber is in the form of an elongated tube through which the shaft 38 extends, said shaft being keyed to the driving shaft I8 so as to be- 31 being retained in spaced relation therewith so that the brine surrounds said chamber passing from one end to the other.

After the mix and air, if desired, are pumped by the action of the piston 21 into the bottom of the freezing chamber 31, they are forced upwardly at an incline therein and continuously agitated and whipped by the action of the whip ping blades 4| mounted on the rotating shaft 38. As the fluid and mix are whipped together and forced upwardly in said processing chamber, the mix is gradually cooled or frozen by the low temperature of the chamber .31 and the wall thereof produced through the medium of the brine surrounding the same. Since a certain pressure is required to advance the frozen material through the chamber and since the action processing chamber or causing it to flow in the thin confined layer, screw mechanisms of the types heretofore proposed have not been found satis-'- factory if the material is undergoing a change from a liquid to or toward a plastic state, or if crystallization is taking place. The screw becomes clogged so that the material travels around with the screw rather than being forced axially by it.

In my invention, a more advantageous means.

is employed which exerts pressure on the supply at or before the point of entry of the material to the chamber or confined space. The mix is cooled or frozen to the desired plasticity when it reaches the end of the chamber 31 and is discharged into the whipping chamber 42, where it is whipped without further cooling or freezing. action, since said chamber is not surrounded or cooled by the brine. It is a well known fact that there is. a greater rate of heat exchange between two metal surfaces than between a metal and the atmosphere, wherefore the outside surface of the whipping chamber is or may be maintained at a relatively cooled temperature as the heat absorption of this surfacefrom the air is approximately balanced by the heat flow therefrom to the processing barrel to which it is attached. This action in the whipping chamber serves to more uni,- formly incorporate the particles of mix of greater and lesser hardened condition so as to produce a smoother product. Thereupon, said product is forced through the nozzle 43 into any suitable container l2, such as a can, cup or mold. The pressure feed of the freezer as distinguished from the usual gravity feed, enables a container to be filled from the bottom up by connecting a flexible tube I43 to the nozzle 43, whereby the operator may project the end thereof near the bottom of the container and withdraw the same as the container is filled. Thusthe air is forced from the top of the container 'which eliminates formation'of air pockets caused by filling the container from the top. This is particularly desirable I l in filling molds.

During the flow through the tube I43 the pressure progressively decreases and the air in the ice cream progressively expands to or toward atmospheric pressure.

For the purpose of controlling the fluid supply through the vent 3|, a rotatable valve in the form of a collar l3l is mounted about the cylinder 26, said collar is provided with an elongated slot I32 disposed at an angle so as to vary the area of the vent by the rotation of the valve collar through the medium of the operating handle I33. Thus the fluid may be entirely shut off when not desired, owing to the nature of the material being processed.

It will be noted that the blades 4| are in the nature of heavy wire U-shaped staples extending through suitable apertures in the shaft 38 and secured therein, the heads of the staples acting as paddles. The blades are positioned so as to approach .the wall very closely but are free from actual engagement therewith, thus preventing undue wear upon the surface and, at the same time, preventing a film from accumulating upon the wall, in addition to the whipping action given the mix while passing therethrough.

The brine is introduced through the pipe 44 to the annular recess 45 in the end fitting 48 so as to surround the processing chamber and pass about the wall thereof to the annular chamber 41 and the lower fitting 48 from whence it is discharged through the passage 49.

The brine is controlled by the condition of the mix as to its hardness or plasticity while passing through the processing and whipping chambers.

By the control mechanism, which will hereinafter be described, the resistance of the material to the rotation of the shaft 38 and blades 4| acuates the mechanism to reduce the valve controlled passage of the brine and decrease the hardness to which the mix -is processed'thereby. 0n the other hand, a full flow of brine will pass around the processing chamber and process the mix to a relatively harder state upon the condi-- tion of the mix being softer and exerting less resistance. Thus the brine is controlled and thereby the hardness of the mix is directly effeced through the' condition thereof. The mechanism may be regulated so as to cause the mix to be processed to the desired degree of hardness within certain limits. Furthermore, the control mechanism acts to open and close the brine control valve upon thestarting or stopping of the driving motor.

The mechanism just referred to comprises the pinion 50 adapted to mesh. with and drive the gear 5| which is keyed to the shaft l6, mounted in the gear box H. The pinion 58 is mounted on a stub shaft 52 rotatably mountedin the socket 53 formed with a projection 54 having a reduced rod 55 extending therefrom and slidably mounted in the housing I1. A-thrust bearing 58 is positioned between the pinion 50 and the socket 83. Between the enlarged flange portion of the socket 53 and the inner surface of the housing, there is a light compression spring 51. Mounted on the rod 55' and within the well 58 formed on the housing l1, there is a washer 59. Between said washer and the adjusting. nut 80, which screws on to the well 58, there is a relatively heavy compression spring 6!. I

- On the opposite sideof the pinion 50 there is formed an extension 82 providedwith oppositely- Q When the motor is not extending V-shaped projections ll forming a V-shaped pocket into which the driving member I extends, as best illustrated in Fig. 6. The driving member I4 is keyed to the stub shaft "I of the motor having its bearing in the housing I1. and is separated from the side wall of the housing by the thrust bearing 86.

Fulcrumed on the projection 61, extending outwardly from the-housing l1, there is a lever" (shown in Fig 1), the upper end of said lever is connected with the end of the rod 58 and the lower end thereof is connected with the rod a. The rod It operates the brine control valve (illustrated in Fig. 7 and shown in position in Fig. I). Said valve is provided with an intake nipple H and a discharge nipple I! connected with the brine tube I3 leading to the brine inlet 44. The by-pass nipple 14 connects with the by-pass brine tube 15 which connects with the discharge brine tube 49. 7

Said valve comprises a cylinder II in which the piston I1 is reciprocated through the action of the rod Bl to' which it is connected. Said cylinder is provided with a chamber ll into which the brine'passes from the supply pipe I! through the intake nipple II, and is =provided with the ports II and II adapted to register with the ports It and II respectively, whereby the brine entering the piston will pass through the ports Ill and .2 when they are brought into registry and through the pipe 13 to the processing chamber. The movement of the piston will vary the registry of theports I and 82 so as to vary the amount of brine passing therethrough. when the ports II and 83 register, the brine passes through the by-pass tube 15 and returns to its source.

' The operation of the control valve will now be described: in operation, the brine will be shut 08 by reason of the piston I 1 (shown in Pig. 7), when the ports are out of registry. Thus no brine will flow through the machine. 1111s is brought about by the action of the com-' C. pression spring I exerting pressure upon the rod '5 which acts upon the piston through the lever ll. When it is desired to process the mix and the current is turned on to rotate the motor for driving member 64, the driving mechanism rotating the shaft 38 will be driven through the pinion 50. The resistance of this mechanism will cause the driving member 64 to vary its position with respect to the-driven pinion whereby said pinion will be forced forwardly to a position substantially as illustratedby dotted lines in Fig. 6, by reason of the member 64 sliding up the inclined sides of the corresponding V-shaped recesses formed by the projection 63. 'Ihe'spring i1 is sufliciently weak to permit compression thereof by reason of the unloaded resistance to the motor, sufllciently to pull the piston 11 forward until the ports 80 and 82 register. Brine is then discharged to the processing chamber substantially simultaneously with the driving of the pumping piston 21 for forcing the mix and air'therethrough. Upon the mix becoming cooled stifi, such as to create further resistance to the motor, the member N and the projections of the pinion 5|! will further slide and separate against the tension of the heavier spring I. This will cause a further movement of the lever I and piston l'l so that the ports '80 and 82 will be moved slightly ofi cen'ter with respect to each other and thereby reduce the amount ofbrine passing therethrough.

The reduction of the amount of brine will reducethestiffnesstowhichthemixiscooledand thereby reverse the operation so that the ports again will be in complete registry with each other and permit a full amount of brine to pass into the machine. At such times as the mix reaches its maximum stiffness and exerts a maximum pressure on the spring 8| the movement of the piston will be sumcient to cause the ports It and 82 to completely move out of registry with each other and cause the by-pass ports ll and it to register so that the brine will by-pass through the valve back to the source. It will be observed that the ports are so arranged as to permit a continuous flow of brine through the valve, the flow being divided between the ports It and 82 and the ports II and ll when the valve is not shut oil or when one set of ports is in complete registry.

By reason of the above mechanism and its operation, the hardness or plasticity of the 'mix may be maintained substantially constant. For varying the plasticity or hardness, the operator may adjust the nut to increase or decrease the tension of the spring ll. so that a greater or lesser degree of stifl'ness or hardness of 'the mix will compress'th'e same and'w'ill thereby actuate the control valve 1. as above described.

Attention is further called to the fact that the whipping chamber 42, which may be of any suitable capacity for producing the best results, wherein any air bubbles incorporated in the cooled mix will be reduced in size and increased in number, is or relatively larger diameter than the processing chamber so that the whipping blades therein will rotate at greater speed than the whipping bladems of lesser length in the proc-' essing chamber. us the speed of whipping the mix while in the processing chamber is less than in the whipping chamber. This is a very important feature of the machine as the speed of whipping should be greaterafter the mix is cooled than while being cooled to obtain a finer texture and good volume. In this connection, it may further be noted that the whipping blades 4| both in the processing chamber and in the whippingv chamber are rigid rather than loosely mounted so as to flop, as is'customary. .Thus, there is a positive whipping action which breaks up any lumps, as distinguished from the loosely mounted blades which will pass over or by any lumpy or similar obstruction. Whereas the invention has been described particularly as relating to cooled substances, it is equally applicable to substances which require heating during the processing instead of cooling.

What I claim is:

1. Process of making a homogeneous ice cream, sherbet, and the'like, with the proper quantity of as to give a desired uniform overrun which includes, continuously passing a liquid mix and gas into a closed chamber at a substantially uniform rate, maintaining said mix and gas in said chamber under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, adjustably controlling the quantity of gas admitted to said chamber to maintain such a quantity ratiobetween said mix and said gas under pressure in said chamber which will give the desired uniform overrun in the discharged product, refrigerating the outer wall of said chamber to solidify a suflicient portion of said liquid to form a comparatively stiff mass, agitati'ng said mix and gas to eflectively cause said gas to be .enveloped under pressure in the mix, rapidly removing solidified material from said refrigerated wall and mixing it with the unsolidisneproduct at and homogeneous mixture, and discharging the material from said chamber at a substantially uniform rate whereby upon the decrease in pressure the gas under pressure in the comparatively stiff partially frozen mass will expand to larger volume out of contact with said agitating means, so'that the discharged product will have the desired uniform overrun at atmospheric pressure.

fled'portions to obtain a uniform 2. A machine for making ice cream, sherbet, orv

the like, with the proper quantity of gas to give a desired overrun and which is homogeneous and free of segregated solids of appreciable size including, a processing chamber having a stationary heat transfer wall, means for chilling. said wall to a temperature below the crystallizing temperature of a substantial portion of a liquid mix, means for continuously delivering said mix and a gas into said chamber under super-atmospheric pressure, continuously moving them under pressure through said chamber and. discharging the a substantially uniform rate, adjustable control means for regulating the relative ratios of liquid mix and gas admitted to said chamber to maintain the desired quantity ratio between said mix and compressed gas in said chamber, and rotatable agitating mechanism for causing the gas under pressure to be enveloped in said mix and for removing solidified material from said wall and mixing it with lesser frozen portions to obtain a uniform and homogeneous mixture, whereby the material may expand to larger volume upon delivery from said chamber and have a desired uniform overrun upon discharge to atmospheric pressure.

3. A continuous ice cream freezer including a freezing chamber having a stationary peripheral wall provided with a refrigerating jacket, a rotor within said chamber, pumping mechanism for positively forcing liquid mix into said chamber at a predetermined rate, and compressing gas and forcing it into said chamber under pressure and moving them under pressure through said chamber, adiustable'means for controlling the gas enr tering the chamber whereby the ratio of gas and mix in said chamber may be controlled within narrow limits, means carried by said rotor for cutting frozen material from said peripheral wall, mixing it with lesser frozen ingredients to form a plastic mass, and enveloping the compressed gas within said mass, and a conduit extending from said chamber and in which the pressure progres-, sively decreases as the gas expands and from which the comparatively stiff product is discharged to atmospheric pressure and with said substantially uniform overrun.

4. A continuous ice cream freezer including, a freezing chamber having a stationary peripheral wall provided with a refrigerating jacket, a rotor within .said chamber and cooperating with said peripheral wall to define a thin annular chamber for the flow of the material to be vfrozen, pumping mechanism for continuously delivering gas under pressure into said chamber and for delivering liquid mix into said chamber at a substantially uniform rate, means for delivering refrigerant to said jacket at such a. rate in respect to the rate of delivery of said liquid mix as will cause said mix-to freeze to a comparatively stiff condition, during the continuous movement under pressure through the chamber, means for controlling the amount of gas admitted to give a desired quantity ratio of mix and gas under pressure in said chamber, and meanson said rotor including blades in said terial through said annular chamber for cutting solidified material from said peripheral wall, agitating the material, and enveloping the air under pressure into the partially frozen mix, said last mentioned means offering comparatively small resistance to the flow of material lengthwise of said chamber, and said chamber having a restricted outlet whereby the air pressure and quantity ratio are maintained in said chamber. during the freezing and air incorporation.

5. A continuous ice cream freezer including, a freezing chamber having a stationary periph eral wall provided with a refrigerating jacket, a rotor within said chamber and cooperating with said wall to define a thin annular chamber through which the material to be frozen may flow, pumping mechanism for forcing liquid mix and gas into said chamber under super-atmospheric pressure to effect movement of them through said chamber and discharge of them therefrom at a uniform rate, means for controlling the amount of gas forced into said chamber by said pumping the ratio of gas under pressure. and the mix in said chamber may be. controlled within narrow limits, means projecting from said rotor and into said space for agitating the material, cutting it from said peripheral wall, and enveloping the compressed gas within the partially frozen mix, and a conduit extending from said chamber and in which the pressure progressively decreases and the gas expands, and from which conduit the product is discharged to atmospheric pressure in a comparatively stiff condition and with a substantially uniform overrun.

6. The method of treating material to change its plasticity'which includes, continuously de-' livering the material to a processing chamber under a super-atmospheric pressure capable of directly effecting the continuous flow of the ma chamber'at a uniform rate, refrigerating a surface -of said chamber and thereby effecting a rapid solidification thereon, of at least a portion of said material, confining the material in a comparatively thin layer during the pressure effected flow over said surface, rapidly removing from said wall all solidified material capable of interfering with said flow while rapidly and mechanically agitating the material while in said chamber to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size, said agitating being in addition to the agitation incidental to the normal flow of the material through the chamber.

7. The method of refrigerating a material to effect a rapid crystallization of at least a portion thereof which includes, continuously delivering the material to a processing chamber at a uniform rate and under a super-atmospheric pressure capable of forcing the same continuously through said chamber and discharging it therefrom at a uniform rate, confining the material in a comparatively thin layer against a heat transfer surface of said chamber, subjecting said surface to the action of a refrigerating medium and thereby effecting a rapid crystallization of at least a portion of the material on said surface, rapidly removing from said surface all crystallized material capable of interfering with said flow, andrapidly and mechanically agitating the material during such flow thereby mixing the removed crystallized material with the uncrystallized portion of material to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size, the rate of flow of the ma- 'terial lengthwise of said chamber being substantially independent of the extent and rapidity of said mechanical agitation.

8. A method of processing materials to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size including, continuously putting all ingredients of the material under a pressure greater than atmospheric and continuously introducing them into the processing chamber, controlling the admitted amount of a fluid ingredient of the material to maintain that relative ratio of ingredients which will result in the. desired and constant ratio thereof in the flnal product, continuously passing the material through said chamber at a substantially uniform-rate of flow, refrigerating a heat exchange surface of said chamber and effecting a rapid solidification thereon of at least a portion of said material, agitating said material while in said chamber independently of the agitation incidental to the normal forcing of the material through said chamber, rapidly removing all solidified material from said wall capable of interfering with said fiow and mixing the removed material while in said chamber with other portions of the material being agitated, and continuously delivering from said chamber and at a substanflally uniform rate the homogeneous product having all ingredients of the material in the relative ratio in which they were continuously introduced into the processing chamber.

9. A machine for processing a fiowable material to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size including, a processing chamber having a stationary cylindrical peripheral heat transfer wall, means for chilling said wall to a temperature below the crystallizing temperature of at least a portion of the material, means for putting the material under a pressure greater than atmospheric and forcing the mass of material in-the clnmber 'therethrough with a substantially uniform and continuous rate of fiow, and a rotatable blade support having a plurality of blades adjacent to said wall and extending lengthwise of said chamber for removing from said cylindrical wall solid material forming thereon and for mixing the same with the mass of material wherebythe degree of fluidity decreases during the continuous fiow through said chamber, said blades and their supports ofiering comparatively low resistance to the fiow of the mass ofthe material in a lengthwise direction through said chamber, and effecting relatively little forcing movement of the material lengthwise .of the chamber.

'10. A meahinetfge material includimacylindrlcal ,beatingmeansinsaidtube including a central blade support forming therewith a substantially annular passage and offeringacomparativelylowresistancetothe fiow ofthemassofmaterialinalengthwise direction thmughsaidtubeandwhippingbladesextending fromsaidsupportsubstantiallytothetubewall.

means for effecting a continuous relative rotation of said beating means and said tube, means B lmrate from said beating means for forcing said ma terlal through said passage and alcngsaidbeating means at a rapid and substantially uniform rate, and means for changing the temperature of said material to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size, during its flow to such an extent that it emerges in a plastic form.

' ii; A machine for material including,acylindrimlmbe.beatingmeansmsaidtube including a central blade support forming therewith a substantially annular e and whipping blades extending from said support substantially to the tube wall. means for effecting a continuous relative rotation of said beating means and said tube, means for introducing a material and a fluid to said passage, means separate from said beating means for forcing said material and fluid continuously through said passage and along said beating means at a rapid rate, and means for changing the temperature of said material during its fiow whereby the ingredients of said material are eifectively homogenized and the degree of fluidity decreased during the continuous flow through and delivery from said passage.

12. A machine for processing material including, a stationary cylindrical wall and a rotor spaced apart to leave a comparatively thin an- .nular processing chamber, means for chilling said wall to a low temperature to effect refrigerating of the, material being processedand a change in the plasticity thereof, blades on said rotor extending into said annular space for agitating the material and offering but slight resistance to endwise flow through said chamber, and means independent of said blades for forcing the material lengthwise of said thin annular space at a rapid rate.

13. A machine for processing material including a pair of cylindrical walls juxtaposed to form a thin processing passage therebetween, means for continuously rotating one of said walls relatively to the other, means for applying refrigerant to the other of said walls for reducing the temperature of the'material below the crystallislng point of at least a portion of the material being processed, blades carried by the rotatable walls extending into said space and movable through the material in said space for cutting material from the refrigerated wall and mixing it with the other material in the space, and means for forcing thematerialthroughsaidpassage ata rapid rate in a direction at an angle to the direction of movement ofsaid blades.

14. An apparatus for refrigerating a material, at least a portion of which is crystallisable, including a cylindrical chamber for the material, means for chilling a surface of the chamber to a temperature below the crystallizlng temperature of a portion, the ratio of the chill nl surface ofthechambermeasuredin squareinches,tothe volume of the material in the chamber exposed to the action of said surface. expressed in cubic inches, being not substantially less than 1 to 1, means outside of said chamber for forcing the material to flow through said chamber along said surfaceandatarapidrate, andarotorinsaid chamber havingblades extending lengthwise thereof for agitating the material independent of said lengthwise fiow.

15. The method of refrigerating a material to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size, which includes positively forcing the material to move in a comparatively thin layer under super-atmospheric pressure over a heat transfer-surface, subjecting said surface to the action of a refrigerating medium to efiectrapid solidification of at least a portion of said material. and rapidly and mechanically removing from all portions of said surface which are directly refrigerated by said medium, solids forming thereon.

16. A machine for refrigerating a material to effect rapid crystallisation of at least a portion thereof including. a stationary cylindrical heat transfer surface, means for refrigerating said surface, means for confining a comparatively thin layer of material adjacent to said surface, mechanism for positively forcing said material over said surface at a substantially uniform rate, and cutting means extending substantially lengthwise of said surface for removing from all portions of said surface which are directly refrigerated, solid material forming thereon, during the passage of said material over said surface.

17. The process of treating material consisting in positively forcing a continuous stream thereof under pressure through a closed processing chamber at a uniform rate, lowering the temperature of the material while passing therethrough to the extent necessary to effect solidification of at least a portion of said material, whipping the material during all stages of its passage wherein the formation of segregated crystals might take place, in order to produce a smooth product, and

thereafter further whipping the treated material in another chamber without causing substantial variation in temperature.

18. The process of treating a material to produce a homogeneous product free of'segregated solids of appreciable size consisting in positively forcing a continuous stream thereof and a fluid under pressure into and through a closed processing chamber, lowering the temperature of the material while passing therethrough, whipping the fluid into the material during its passage through said chamber, delivering the treated material from the other end of the processing chamber into another chamber, and further whipping the treated material in said second chamber without substantial variation in temperature.

19. A machine for processing material, comprising a temperature-changing chamber, means for associating a temperature-controlling medium therewith, means for positively forcing a continuous stream of material and fluid through said chamber, means for whipping said material and fluid together during their passage therethrough and an auxiliary whipping chamber con-,

nected with said temperature-changing chamber and disassociated from said temperature-controlling medium, and means for. agitating the material in said whipping chamber.

20. A machine for processing material to produce a homogeneous product free of segregated solids of appreciable size including, a cylindrical temperature-lowering chamber having a straight free passage therethrough, means for continuously flowing material therethrough at a uniform rate, means for associating a supply of temperature-lowering medium with said chamber, a whipping chamber adapted to receive material from said processing chamber, and means within said whipping chamber for agitating said material while the latter is substantially free of the effect of said temperature-lowering medium.

21. A machine for processing material, comprising a temperature-changing chamber, a whip- "plng chamber, arranged outside of said first 'mentioned chamber so as not to substantially change the temperature of the material .therein, whipping bla'des in said chambers, the blades in said whipping chamber being adapted to whip the material therein at a greater speed than the blades in said temperature-changing chamber, and means for continuously passing the material through said chambers in succession.

22. A machine for processing material, com prising a temperature-changing chamber, a whipping chamber of greater diameter than the tem- 'to thoroughly mix together the perature-changing chamber, a driving shaft extending through said chambers, means for driving said shaft, whipping blades mounted there- W on, the whipping blades in said whipping chamber extending a greater distance from said shaft than those in the temperature changing chamber, whereby they'will travel at a greater speed,

and means for continuously passing the material through said chambers in succession.

23. The process of treating a material consisting in positively forcing a continuous stream of the material and a fluid through a closed processing chamber under pressure, controlling the quantity of fluid forced therein so as to obtain the desired ratio of material and fluid, associating a cooling medium with said chamber, automatically controlling the cooling medium by the- "degree of plasticity of the material in said'chamber so that the material may be discharged from said chamber at a predetermined degree of plasticity and thereafter whipping the material in a whipping chamber free from the cooling medium greater and lesser hardened particles thereof.

24. The process of treating a material consisting in positively forcing a, continuous stream thereof and a fluid through a closed processing chamber under pressure, associating a temperature-changing medium with said chamber for varying the temperature of the material'being processed, whipping the fluid into the material during its passage through said chamber, and automatically controlling the effect of the temperature-changing medium dependent upon the plasticity of the material.

25. A machine for processing material, comprising a closed temperature-changing chamber,

means'for positively forcing a continuous stream of material and fluid therethrough, means for controlling the relative quantity of fluid and material, means for whipping the same in said chamber, means for associating a temperature controlling medium with said chamber for lowering the temperature thereof, means controlled by the plasticity of said material for causing said medium to maintain the same at a substantially predetermined and constant plasticity, and a whipping chamber substantially disassociated from the efiect of said medium and into. which the material is discharged'so as to permit the particles thereof of different temperatures to be whipped together.

26. An apparatus for processing material including a chamber having a cylindrical heat transferrlng wall, means for continuously passing the material along said wall, means whereby the material is subjected to the action of a temperature changing medium through. said heat transferring wall to change the condition of said material, means for varying the effective action of said medium to maintain the plasticity of the processed material substantially constant and without substantial separation of the ingredients thereof,.and whipping blades for agitating the material and rapidly cutting the same from said temperature changing surface at all portions of the latterin contact with said material.

27. A machine .for processing material, comprising a closed temperature-changing chamber adapted to contain and vary the temperature of a quantity of material, means for continuously passing a supply of material therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, and means means being actuated by the resistance to the processing of said material in said chamber.

28. A machine for processing material, comprising a closed temperature-changing chamber adapted to contain and vary the temperature of a quantity of material, apparatus for continuously passing a quantity of material therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, means actuated by the resisting condition of said material for maintaining the same at substantially a given degree oi plasticity, and means for varying the action of said first-mentioned means and thereby varying the degree oi plasticity oi the processed material.

29. A machine for processing material, including a container, a rotary device adapted to move the contents thereof, a member adapted to be mechanically displaced by the resistance oiiered to the movement oi said device by the contents of said container, and mechanism for utilizing said displacement to continuously control the said rce;

30. The combination with a container and a rotary device adapted to move the contents thereoi, oi a mechanism having a driving connection with said device, and means ior continuously controlling the resistance offered to the move-v ment oi the rotary device by the contents oi said container, said means being actuated by displacement oi said driving connection due to said 31. In combination with a container and a rotary device adapted to move the contents thereoi, a member mechanically connected with said device so as to be displaced in accordance with the resistance oii'ered to the movement at the said device by the contents 01' said container, and means actuated by said member for con tinuously controlling said resistance.

32. A machine ior p material, comprising a temperature-changing chamber through which the material to be processed is adapted to pass continuously under super-atmospheric pressure, means for associating a temperaturecontrolling medium therewith, and means for varying the eflect of said medium upon the material within the chamber governed by the plasticity oi the said material.

33. A machine for material including a pr chamber, means for associating for continuously passing the material to be procened therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, means for asociating a temperaturechanging medium therewith, and means actuated by the plasticity of the material in said chamber for continuously controlling the temperaturechanging medium and thereby the plasticity of the. material.

35. A machine for processing material, comprising a temperature-changing chamber adapted to contain a quantity of materiahmeans for continuously passing thematerial to be processed therethrough under. super-atmospheric pressure, means for associating a temperature controlling medium with said chamber, a shaft rotatable in said chamber, whipping blades on said shalt, a valve for controlling the delivery of said medium, means for driving said shaft, and means for connecting said means to said valve and operable by the torque exerted thereon, whereby the change in torque due to the resistance to the rotation 01' said shalt exerted thereon by said material may be used to actuate said valve and thereby aii'ect the temperature oi said chamber,

38. A machine for processing material including a closed processing chamber, means for continuously passing a supply of material to be processed therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, an agitator movable within said material, means for driving said agitator including a member movable responsive to the resistance oflered by said material to said agitation, and a controller operable responsive to the movement of said last mentioned member to control the physical condition of said material.

37. A machine for processing material including a closed processing chamber, means for continuously passing a supply oi material to be therethrough under super-atmospher 'ic pressure, means for supplying a state-changing medium for changing the physical condition of the material under process, an agitator movable within said material under process, means for driving said agitator including an element movable responsive to the resistance to agitation oiiered by said material, and a controller operable responsive to the movement oi said last mentioned member to control the supply of state-changing medium.

38. A machine for processing material including a closed processing chamber, means for continuously passing a supply of material to be processed therethrough under super-atmospheric pressure, means for supplying a state-changing medium for changing the physical condition of the material under process, an agitator movable within said material under process, means for driving said agitator including an element movable responsive to the resistance to agitation ofiered by said material, and a controller operable responsive to the movement of saidlast-mentioned member to stop the supply of state-chang ing medium when said resistance has increased 'above a predetermined value. V

39. A method of treating material, including medium responsive to the plasticity of the mate rial in process.

40. A method of treating aliquid including the continuous e of a stream or said liquid through ,a processing chamber,.delivering a rei crating liquid in heat interchangin relations ptherewith to change the plasticity of the material, and automatically controlling the flow of one oi. said liquids responsive ,to the plasticity I of the material in process.

. 41. a method 0! treating material; including the continuous passage 01 a' stream at said material through a processing chamber, delivering a stream of reirigeratingmedium into heat interchanging relationship therewith, and auto-- matically controlling the relative rates of flow or said streams responsive to the plasticity of the material in process.

42. A method of treating material including the continuous passage ot a stream of said material under pressure through a closed processing chamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing the state of said material, the mechanical agitation 01 said material, and the automatic and continuous control of said medium responsive to the torque required for said agitation.

43. A method of treating material including the continuous passage of a stream of said ma terial under pressure through a closed processing chamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing the temperature of said material, the mechanical agitation of said material, and the automatic stopping and starting of supply of said medium dependent upon the torque required for such agitation.

44. A method of treating material including the continuous passage of a stream of said material under pressure through a closed processing chamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing the temperature of said material, the mechanical agitation of said material, the automatic stoppage of supply of said'medium when the torque required to agitate said material is greater than a predetermin'ed'value and the automatic reestablishment of said supply when said torque is less than said predetermined value.

45. The process of treating a material consisting in continuously passing a stream of said material under pressure through a closed temperature-changing chamber, associating a temperature-changing medium with said chamber, and automatically and continuously controlling said medium in accordance with the plasticity of the treated material.

46. A method of treating material including the continuous passage of a stream of said material under" pressure through a closed processing chamber, the association of a medium therewith for changing the temperature of said material, the mechanical agitation of said material and the automatic and continuous control of said medium responsive to the torque required for said agitation.

4'7. The process of treating material consisting in continuously passing the material through a closed processing chamber under pressure, associating atemperature-changing medium with said chamber for varying the temperature of the

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