US 11,849,750 B2
Tool assisted rotary drum skinsheet clamp
Steven J. Schultz, Beaver Dam, WI (US); and Daniel D. Maupin, Corvallis, OR (US)
Filed by Lyco Manufacturing Inc., Columbus, WI (US)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/030,199.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/904,521, filed on Sep. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0084958 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A23N 12/04 (2006.01)
CPC A23N 12/04 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rotary drum blancher/cooler for processing food, comprising a drum, wherein the drum comprises:
a skinsheet, comprised of a plurality of sections, each section have skinsheet sidewalls at opposing ends;
a plurality of structural channels, each structural channel having channel sidewalls at opposing edges, wherein the drum is at least partially formed by adjacent skinsheet sections and structural channels; and
a plurality of clamps, wherein each of the plurality of clamps comprises:
at least a portion of a clamp bar to hold each respective skinsheet sidewall between a respective structural channel sidewall and the at least a portion of a clamp bar, wherein the at least a portion of a clamp bar has at least one clamp bar hole therein; and
a bolt extending through the at least one hole in the at least a portion of a clamp bar, having a first end at least partially threaded, and a second end with at least one groove, wherein one of the first end and second end is disposed within the respective one of the plurality of structural channels, and wherein one of the first end and second end is disposed outside the respective one of the plurality of structural channels;
a slot and hole combination, wherein the bolt can pass through the hole of the slot and hole combination, and wherein the at least one groove in the bolt is disposed within the slot, such that the bolt cannot rotate with respect to the slot, wherein the slot and hole combination is located in at least one of a retaining plate, the respective structural channel sidewall and the at least a portion of a clamp bar; and
a nut mounted on the first end, wherein the nut may be tightened to hold the respective skinsheet sidewall against the respective channel sidewall or loosened to allow the respective skinsheet side wall to move away from the respective channel sidewall.