Spectra Research, Inc.

Stanley Eugene Tate

John William Sellers, Jr

Bradford William Berry

Morse Bartt Solomon

A method and apparatus for processing meat is provided. According to the method, a meat product is positioned within an interior volume of a decompression chamber. A pressure differential is created across a gas output in communication with the interior volume of the decompression chamber. The decompression chamber is then rapidly decompressed by transferring gas from the interior volume of the decompression chamber through the gas output. The pressure differential and the rate of the rapid decompression are selected to be suitable for processing the meat product positioned within the interior volume of the decompression chamber. Typically, the pressure differential and the rate of rapid decompression are selected to be suitable for tenderizing the meat product, killing microorganisms in the meat product, or both.

Meat processing scheme

A shock wave generator is provided incorporating a compressed gas reservoir, a high speed valve assembly, and a shock tube. The high speed valve assembly is arranged to open and close selectively a gas passage extending from the compressed gas reservoir to the shock tube. The high speed valve assembly comprises a valve sleeve, a valve seat, and a valve sleeve driving assembly. The valve sleeve is arranged to extend across the gas passage between a first side of the gas passage and a second side of the gas passage. The valve seat is arranged on the second side of the gas passage and is positioned to receive the valve sleeve upon extension of the valve sleeve across the gas passage. The valve sleeve driving assembly is arranged to cause extension and retraction of the valve sleeve across the gas passage. The valve sleeve defines a circular cross section and an epicentral valve sleeve axis and includes a valve sleeve flange arranged on a leading edge thereof. The valve seat is positioned to receive the valve sleeve flange such that pressurized gas from the compressed gas reservoir forcibly urges the valve sleeve flange against the valve seat.

Shock wave generator including high speed gas valve

An explosion simulator generates bang, smoke and flash cues. Pressurized gas is released into a shock tube to generate a shock wave and, thereby produce the bang cue. The pressurized gas is released from a gas reservoir into the shock tube through a diaphragm which is broken by a firing pin in response to a control circuit. A smoke powder packet containing a smoke powder is positioned in the shock tube. The pressurized gas travelling in the shock tube bursts the smoke powder packet and the smoke powder is dispersed to produce a smoke cue, or cloud. A flashtube generates the flash cue to illuminate the smoke cloud. An audio/visual explosion simulation system is also disclosed for generating multiple bang, smoke and flash cues from a single shock tube. Immediately prior to generating a bang cue, a gas supply fills a gas reservoir with pressurized gas. A reusable valve opens to release the pressurized gas from the reservoir into the shock tube and closes to seal the reservoir for refilling by the gas supply. A smoke generator repeatedly releases smoke powder into the shock tube to generate smoke clouds for each successive smoke cue.

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Kettering, OH, United States of America

Stanley Eugene Tate