US 12,458,040 B2
Internal clean-in-place method and apparatus
Robert Tuchrelo, Williamson, NY (US); Nathan E. Smith, Hamlin, NY (US); and Richard T. Aab, Fairport, NY (US)
Assigned to Clean Safer Systems, LLC, Victor, NY (US)
Filed by RTA Associates, LLC, Victor, NY (US)
Filed on Sep. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/372,447.
Application 18/372,447 is a continuation of application No. 17/732,672, filed on Apr. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,819,039.
Application 17/732,672 is a continuation of application No. 17/239,882, filed on Apr. 26, 2021, granted, now 11,344,045, issued on May 31, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/088,557, filed on Oct. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0130393 A1, Apr. 25, 2024
Prior Publication US 2024/0225036 A9, Jul. 11, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A23G 9/30 (2006.01); B08B 9/032 (2006.01)
CPC A23G 9/30 (2013.01) [B08B 9/0323 (2013.01); B08B 9/0325 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A food processor comprising:
(a) a food flow path extending from an upstream portion to a downstream portion;
(b) a freezer chamber in the food flow path; and
(c) a self-cleaning valve assembly fluidly connected to the food flow path, the self-cleaning valve assembly including a valve body defining a valve receiving cavity and a valve moveably disposed within the valve receiving cavity to define a dead space between an exterior surface of the valve and the valve receiving cavity, wherein the valve includes an alpha passage extending between a first alpha passage port and a second alpha passage port, and a beta passage extending between a first beta passage port and a second beta passage port.