PASTEURIZATION OF CARCASSES WITH DIRECTED SHEETS OF HEATED WATER

摘要

An animal carcass pasteurization appa- ratus and process is provided. Carcasses are suspended from a movable gambrel (16) and are conveyed through a housing (2) containing a heated water distribution system (3). Prefer- ably, the gambrel (16) extends through the top of the housing (2) in a sealed manner, exclud- ing contaminants from outside of the housing. The distribution system (3) comprises a plu- rality of distribution elements (10) and means for supplying heated water thereto. The dis- tribution elements preferably comprise over- head (19a) and lower (20a) arrays of nozzles (21) Each nozzle (21) dispenses and directs a discrete and substantially continuous sheet of heated water to contact the carcass. The overhead array (19a) directs sheets of water downwardly onto the carcass, forming a layer of heated water which flows over the exterior contours of the carcass, for pasteurization of the upper and lateral surfaces of the carcass. The lower array (20a) directs heated water up- wardly to contact and pasteurize the underside of the carcass. Opposing side located nozzles (31) can be added to direct heated water into contact with the lateral portions of the can ass which are otherwise shielded from the flow- ing layer of water.