摘要:
A chilling system advances products through a conveying tube and simultaneously chills the products using the fluid-conveying medium itself. Conveyance is effected through hydraulic pressure without the application of direct mechanical forces to the products whereby to minimize the instances of damage thereto, and product advancement is carried out on a continuous, first-in, first-out basis with a uniform, readily predictable rate of discharge. One embodiment passes the conveying tube through a chilling tank containing a coolant within which the tube is immersed; another embodiment employs a plurality of separate conveying tubes passing through a common chilling tank to prevent comingling of different product types that may be advanced through the respective tubes; and a further embodiment precools the conveying fluid before its introduction to the conveying tube with the products so that the products are chilled without the necessity of passing the conveying tube through a chilling tank, the option being provided to convey the products with a slurry of ice and liquid.