Shrimp deheading apparatus and methods

摘要

Apparatus and methods for deheading shrimp using the Venturi Effect. A shrimp-laden fluid is pumped through a conduit system and lined with one or more venturi tubes. The acceleration of the fluid through the venturis detaches the heads from the shrimp. The cross-sectional areas of the venturis each have a major axis and a shorter minor axis. The major axis is long enough to receive the majority of or all the length of a shrimp and minimize hard collisions with the entrance to the venturi that could damage the shrimp.

主权项

1. Apparatus for detaching heads from shrimp, comprising:
a conduit enclosing a fluid channel and having:
an open first end and an opposite open second end downstream of the first end along the fluid channel;an input portion extending downstream along the fluid channel from the first end and defining the fluid channel with a first cross-sectional area;a venturi extending upstream along the fluid channel from the second end and defining a length of the fluid channel with a second cross-sectional area smaller than the first cross-sectional area, wherein the second cross-sectional area has a major axis and a minor axis shorter than the major axis;a transition portion disposed between the input portion and the venturi and defining a length of the fluid channel with a cross-sectional area converging from the first cross-sectional area to the second cross-sectional area; flow control means inducing a flow of shrimp-laden fluid in the conduit through the open first end, the fluid channel, and the open second end; wherein the speed of the fluid along the length of the fluid channel in the transition portion increases to a speed in the venturi sufficient to detach heads from shrimp.