US 12,137,711 B2
Methods and devices for heating or cooling viscous materials
Kevin J Cully, Chesterfield, MO (US); Andrew Joseph Brinkmann, Manchester, MO (US); Ronald Lee Nash, Florissant, MO (US); William D Short, Litchfield, IL (US); Trent C Lorraine, Amazonia, MO (US); and Jerry J Hankins, St. Joseph, MO (US)
Assigned to SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A., Vevey (CH)
Filed by SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A., Vevey (CH)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/136,609.
Application 15/710,075 is a division of application No. 14/234,891, granted, now 9,803,932, issued on Oct. 31, 2017, previously published as PCT/US2012/044889, filed on Jun. 29, 2012.
Application 18/136,609 is a continuation of application No. 17/330,564, filed on May 26, 2021, granted, now 11,684,077.
Application 17/330,564 is a continuation of application No. 15/710,075, filed on Sep. 20, 2017, granted, now 11,064,720, issued on Jul. 20, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/574,152, filed on Jul. 28, 2011.
Prior Publication US 2023/0371562 A1, Nov. 23, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F28F 9/02 (2006.01); A22C 7/00 (2006.01); A22C 11/00 (2006.01); A23B 4/005 (2006.01); A23B 4/06 (2006.01); A23K 50/40 (2016.01); A23L 13/50 (2016.01); A23L 13/60 (2016.01); A23L 17/00 (2016.01); F28D 9/00 (2006.01); F28D 21/00 (2006.01); F28F 3/08 (2006.01)
CPC A23L 13/67 (2016.08) [A22C 7/00 (2013.01); A22C 11/00 (2013.01); A23B 4/005 (2013.01); A23B 4/06 (2013.01); A23K 50/40 (2016.05); A23L 13/52 (2016.08); A23L 13/60 (2016.08); A23L 17/70 (2016.08); F28D 9/0031 (2013.01); F28D 9/0062 (2013.01); F28D 9/0081 (2013.01); F28D 9/0093 (2013.01); F28F 9/026 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0042 (2013.01); F28D 2021/0098 (2013.01); F28F 3/083 (2013.01); F28F 2240/00 (2013.01); F28F 2275/205 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A device comprising:
a first pressure plate;
a first energy exchanging plate attached to the first pressure plate;
a second pressure plate;
a second energy exchanging plate attached to the second pressure plate;
a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate, wherein the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the first spacer and the second spacer define a first temperature controlled passage for a first product to pass through the device;
a third energy exchanging plate attached to the second pressure plate on an opposing side of the second pressure plate from the second energy exchanging plate;
a fourth energy exchanging plate;
a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the third energy exchanging plate and the fourth energy exchanging plate, wherein the third energy exchanging plate, the fourth energy exchanging plate plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer define a second temperature controlled passage for a second product to pass through the device;
a first bracket comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a bridging portion extending from the first leg of the first bracket to the second leg of the first bracket;
a second bracket comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a bridging portion extending from the first leg of the second bracket to the second leg of the second bracket, wherein the first leg of the first bracket is connected to the first leg of the second bracket, and the second leg of the first bracket is connected to the second leg of the second bracket;
an end plate comprising first and second product inlets and connected to the bridging portion of the first bracket and the bridging portion of the second bracket;
a first temperature controlling passage in a first portion of at least one of the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, or the fourth energy exchanging plate; and
a second temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first temperature controlling passage, the second temperature controlling passage is positioned in a second portion of the at least one of the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, or the fourth energy exchanging plate, and the second portion is downstream from the first portion, and
the second temperature controlling passage is downstream from the first temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the end plate to the first temperature controlling passage along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the end plate to the second temperature controlling passage along the first temperature controlled passage.
 
14. A heat exchanger comprising:
a first pressure plate;
a first energy exchanging plate attached to the first pressure plate;
a second pressure plate;
a second energy exchanging plate attached to the second pressure plate;
a first spacer and a second spacer arranged between the first energy exchanging plate and the second energy exchanging plate, wherein the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the first spacer and the second spacer define a first temperature controlled passage for a first product to pass through the device;
a third energy exchanging plate attached to the second pressure plate on an opposing side of the second pressure plate from the second energy exchanging plate;
a fourth energy exchanging plate;
a third spacer and a fourth spacer arranged between the third energy exchanging plate and the fourth energy exchanging plate, wherein the third energy exchanging plate, the fourth energy exchanging plate plate, the third spacer and the fourth spacer define a second temperature controlled passage for a second product to pass through the device;
a first bracket comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a bridging portion extending from the first leg of the first bracket to the second leg of the first bracket;
a second bracket comprising a first leg, a second leg, and a bridging portion extending from the first leg of the second bracket to the second leg of the second bracket, wherein the first leg of the first bracket is connected to the first leg of the second bracket, and the second leg of the first bracket is connected to the second leg of the second bracket;
an end plate comprising first and second product inlets and connected to the bridging portion of the first bracket and the bridging portion of the second bracket;
a first temperature controlling passage in a first portion of at least one of the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, or the fourth energy exchanging plate;
a second temperature controlling passage that is separate from the first temperature controlling passage, the second temperature controlling passage is positioned in a second portion of the at least one of the first energy exchanging plate, the second energy exchanging plate, the third energy exchanging plate, or the fourth energy exchanging plate, and the second portion is downstream from the first portion, and
the second temperature controlling passage is downstream from the first temperature controlling passage such that a distance from the end plate to the first temperature controlling passage along the first temperature controlled passage is less than a distance from the end plate to the second temperature controlling passage along the first temperature controlled passage.