US 7,467,994 B2 | ||
Variable size carcass contaminant removal | ||
Terry Cemlyn Griffiths, 2762 Elberton Rd., Carlton, Ga. 30627 (US); Larry Paul Griffiths, 122 David Ave., Collinsville, Ill. 62234 (US); Gregory Lynn Bilyeu, 20850 Irving Rd., Chanute, Kans. 66720 (US); and Floyd Duane Dutton, 429 Fairway Dr., Pueblo, Colo. 81007 (US) | ||
Filed on Dec. 28, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/617,062. | ||
Claims priority of provisional application 60/822274, filed on Aug. 14, 2006. | ||
Prior Publication US 2008/0039002 A1, Feb. 14, 2008 | ||
Int. Cl. A22B 5/00 (2006.01) |
U.S. Cl. 452—52 | 12 Claims |
1. A high efficiency, low water usage variable size carcass contaminant removal system, comprising:
a washer cabinet having a hollow interior defined by a bottom wall, a pair of opposed, parallel side walls, a first end wall
having an access opening formed therein, a second end wall having an egress opening formed therein, a top wall, and a channel
formed in said top wall along the entire length of said top wall;
said access opening being in open communication with said channel and said egress opening being in open communication with
said channel;
an overhead track positioned above the washer cabinet in alignment with the channel, said overhead track adapted to suspend
animal carcasses therefrom in alignment with the channel;
a first driven shaft having a plurality of appendages secured thereto and extending radially therefrom;
a second driven shaft having a plurality of appendages secured thereto and extending radially therefrom;
said first and second driven shafts positioned within said hollow interior at a preselected first upwardly inclined angle
common to said first and second driven shafts;
a third driven shaft having a plurality of appendages secured thereto and extending radially therefrom;
a fourth driven shaft having a plurality of appendages secured thereto and extending radially therefrom;
said third and fourth driven shafts positioned within said hollow interior at a preselected second downwardly inclined angle
common to said third and fourth driven shafts;
a plurality of fluid nozzles positioned within said hollow interior of said cabinet;
whereby an animal carcass suspended from the overhead track enters into the hollow interior of the cabinet through the access
opening; and
whereby said animal carcass contacts said rotating appendages, is scrubbed by said rotating appendages, and is washed by fluid
emitted from said fluid nozzles as it traverses the length of the washer cabinet before leaving the washer cabinet at said
egress opening.
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