op chicago

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Drawing sheet — no readable text.

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Patented Mar. 5, 1929. 1,704,173

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. .

JACQUES. W. D. CHESNEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, TO SOLAR RESEARC

CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF LINOIS.

PROCESS FOR TREATING FOODS,

Application filed April 30, 1928. Serial No. 273,921.

My invention relates to an improved proc duce various oxides of nitrogen, which not ess for treating foods both liquids and Solids only destroy vitamin C and vitaminA, but with ultra-violet radiation from the sun that also impart a most disagreeable odor and is, a method of making the ultra violet rays taste to delicate food products. These rays 5 of the sun available practically for the pro of shorter wave length also coagulate the al 60 duction of the anti-rachitic principle in sub bumin in various food products and make it stances susceptible of such activation. I am more difficult of digestion than when in its aware that it has been proposed to produce uncoagulated condition; they also kill vita ultra-violetrays artificially and to treat foods min D, if applied to foods for considerable O with them to secure, at least in part, the ad intervals. When these vitamins are killed 65 vantageous results accompanying the use of in this manner, there is no known way by the process and apparatus of the present ap which they may be revived or activated. plication. When my process is used I find Rays of shorter wavelength than the ultra that ultra-violet rays derived from Sunlight violet rays of solar radiation, are generally 70 5 or skyshine, possess a degree of efficacy, as produced when ultra-violet rays are gener a means for activating food stuffs both liquid ated artificially, for example by mercury va and solid, that cannot be equalled when it is por lamps, and when so produced, it is practi attempted to produce the ultra-violet rays cally impossible to eliminate them from the artificially, or in other words the ultra-violet ultra-violet rays of beneficial wave length so 20 ravs in the condition they are when first re produced, when the latter rays are used 75 ceived from the prime source of all energy, to treat foods.

are more effective in properly treating foods When I refer to the treatment of foods by than are ultra-violet rays produced artifi the ultra-violet rays of solar radiation, Imean cially and particularly when produced by so that the treatment shall be by rays having 80 25 called ultra-violet lamps. the effect of activating the elements or or Experiment and analysis show that rays ganisms in the foods, that are health giving of sunlight and skyshinehaving wavelengths in their effect: also, that the treatment shall from 2900 Angstrom units to approximately be free from the application of rays that can 3700 Angstrom units are the rays that are ef. kill the desirable or beneficial organisms 85 30 fective in activating the sterols that would or elements of the foods. otherwise he contained in the foods and that My improved method of treating foods, it is by the action of rays within this range both liquid and solid, consists of collecting that vitamin D is photosynthesized. When rays of sunlight or skyshine, and directing vitamin D is thus produced it is in condition the rays in a concentrated beam upon the 35 to effectively perform its function of fixing food being treated, and preferably in 90 calcium, iron, phosphorus and iodine, that is, cluding during the operation, the absorption to cause these elements in foods which may of rays of relatively long wave length, so be eaten, to be assimilated and perform their that they will not reach and operate upon the proper functions in the body. The absence food being treated. I find that the rays of 40 of vitamin D in such effective form, results in longer wave length referred to which may be 95 a failure to assimilate these several elements, generally classified as heat rays, or heat pro and absence of these elements in the human ducing rays, if permitted to act upon the svstem produces ills covering nearly the en food, produce an undesirable effect in that tire range of human disorders. The impor the heat developed, undesirably energizes the 45 tance of having this vitamin D in active con ferments in the food. By my process there 00 dition in the human body is thus apparent. fore, I preferably eliminate these heat rays The ultra-violet rays of solar radiation have or heat producing rays from the collected the desirable property of killing disease bac rays before the concentrated beam of rays teria or bacilli, for example Bacillus tubercu acts upon the food being treated. 50 losis and Bacillus anthracis. a The apparatus employed in carrying out 05 Where rays shorter than the range of wave my process consists essentially of a ray con lengths referred to as constituting the Solar centrator of one kind or another, for example ultra-violet rays, are employed to activate a lens transparent to ultra-violet rays, or a food, they cause the oxygen of the air to be reflector capable of reflecting ultra-violet 55 photo-synthesized into ozone and they pro rays, and a container for holding the sub O

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stance being treated which container is lo tightly closed condition after the food to be treated has been placed in the receptacle.

eated in the path of the beam of rays con densed by the ray concentrator. My appal The door 25 may be constructed in the same ratus further provides for absorbing the rela manner as the receptacle, that is to say, it tively long rays or heat producing rays, may consist of a framework of supporting O either by the construction of the ray concen bars and a sheet of material transparent to trator itself, or by causing the rays to pass ultra-violet rays. Inside of the receptacle through a medium capable of absorbing the 22, I preferably mount baffle bars 28 so that heat producing rays, on their course to the rotation of the receptacle will agitate the O food being treated. food the rein and expose all of it to the rays 75 My invention will best be understood by tlhat treat it.

reference to the accompanying drawings il The shaft 20 carries at its outer end a worm lustrating diagrammatically apparatus that wheel 29 meshing with a worm 30 carried by may be employed in carrying out my in the shaft of a motor 31, the ratio of the gear proved process, in which ing being such that operation of the motor 80 Fig. 1 shows in diagrammatic plan view 31 will slowly rotate the receptacle 22. one form of my apparatus in which my ray The reflector 10 is either made of or coated concentrator is in the form of a reflector, with material which is a reflector of ultra Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the parts violet rays, for example Monel metal which 20 shown in Fig. 1 taken along the line 2-2, is an alloy of copper and nickel or magnalium Fig. 3 shows in a view similar to Fig. 1 a which is an alloy of magnesium and alumi modified form of reflector construction, num. The side walls 24 and the panel por Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the part shown tion of the door or cover 25 may consist of in Fig. 3 taken along the line 4-4 any material transparent to ultra-violet rays, 25 Fig. 5 shows in diagrammatic side eleva for example ultra-violet glass, fused quartz, tion apparatus for carrying out my improved pyroxalin fabric, rayon or artificial silk or process in which the ray concentrator com flexible glass composed of urea, formalde prises a lens, hyde and other hydrocarbons. IFig. 6 is a sectional view of the parts shown The reflector 10 is preferably provided in Fig. 5 talken along the line 6-6, along its upper edges with pipes 32 which are Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the parts shown perforated or slotted along their lower sur in Fig. 1 taken along the line 7-7, faces to deliver a thin sheet of water over the Fig. 8 is a bottom view of a portion of a reflecting surface of the reflector, an outlet water pipe that may be employed with the pipe 33 being provided at one end of the re 100 35 constructions shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive to flector preferably connected for convenience produce a water film to absorb heat produc with a flexible tube 33 to carry away the dis ing rays, and charge water as desired. The pipes 32 are Figs. 9 and 10 show in views similar to Fig. preferably connected at one end with flexible 8 modified forms of outlet apertures in Wa tubes 32 to supply water from any suitable 40 ter pipes that may be similarly used. source to the pipes, the other end of the pipes 105 Similar numerals refer to similar parts being closed so that the water will all pass throughout the several views. through the perforations or slits referred to. As shown in IFig. 1 my levice consists of a The perforated construction of pipe 32 is in reflector 10, preferally prismatic in forn, dicated in Fig. 8 while in IFig. 9 a portion of a open at its upper side and provided with similar pipe 32 is indicated in which the O end walls 1 and 12. The walls 11 and 12 lower surface is provided with a plurality of have extending from them, sleeves 13 and 14 slits to constitute the outlet openings of the supported in bearings 15 and 16 to support pipe and in Fig. 10 a further modified form the reflector in desired position. The sleeve of pipe is indicated at 32° in which a single 13 has rigidly seetired thereto a worm wheel slit extends throughout the length of the pipe 5 17 meshing with a worm 18 carried by arms to constitute an outlet opening. 19 extending from the bearing 15, so that The curvature of the reflector 10 and its turning the worn 1S may rotate the reflec relation to the container 22 are preferably tor 10 in its bearings 15 and 16. The sleeves such that all of the rays of sunlight or sky 55 13 and 14 contain and support shafts 20 shine received by the reflector 10 are directed 20 and 21 rigidly secured at their inner ends to on one or another of the walls of the receptacle a receptacle 22 consisting of a framework of 22 and thus upon the food in the receptacle corner bars 23 extendling longitudinally of since the side walls of the receptacle are trans the receptacle and sheets 24 fixed to the bars parent to ultra-violet rays. The degree of 60 23, which sheets constitute the side walls of concentration may be regulated as desired by the receptacle and are transparent to ultra the size of the reflector relatively to the recep violet rays. One side of the receptacle may tacle. The food to be treated, whether liquid consist of a door 25 hinged to the framework or solid, is placed in the receptacle and where of the receptacle as indicated at 26 and pro liquid food is to be treated, the cover 25 is 65 vided with suitable catches 27 to hold it in made a tight fit on the receptacle to hold the 30

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liquid foodin it. The reflector 10 is then tilted walls 35 and 36 of the lens may make tight in its bearings by means of the worm 18 until joints with the sheets of material. 34, 34' its open side is presented to the direction from by means of suitable cement or otherwise to which the rays of sunlight or skyshine are to form an enclosed compartment for contain be received by the reflector. The motor 31 is ing liquid constituting the body portion of then started and the receptacle is rotated the lens 34. The liquid employed, for exam slowly until the food has been treated for the ple water, is preferably of such a kind as to desired length of time, which in connection be transparent to ultra-violet rays and at with some foods may be longer than in con the same time absorb the heat producing rays O nection with other foods to properly treat from the beam of light passing through the 5 them. lens. Flexible tubes 46, 47 may conveniently The construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is be connected with the outer ends of the trun the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with nions 37 and 38 to establish a liquid circula the exception that the reflector 10 is replaced tion in the lens if desired. The construction 5 by a reflector 10 consisting of a plurality of of the receptacle 22 and the mechanism em SO plane reflector elements 10° arranged at dif ployed to rotate it may be the same as above ferent angles around the food container 22, so described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2. that each of the reflector elements 10 reflects In Fig. 7 I show in detail, a means which the rays of sunlight or skyshine upon the sur may be conveniently employed to incline the 20 faces of the container 22 as indicated. In this reflector 10 at any angle desired, consisting 85 case the reflector 10 is provided with water of a handle 48 secured to one end of the shaft pipes 32, 32 supplied with water by con of the worm 18, so that rotating the handle nected flexible tubes 32, 32° and the used turns the worm and effects adjustment of the water is drained from the reflector construc reflector 10 in the manner described. The tion through a pipe 33 and flexible tube 33°, same construction may be used for rotating 90 in substantially the manner above described the reflector 10 and for adjusting the lens 34. for the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. From the above it will appear that my The operation of the device is substantially invention affords an effective means for uti the same as described above for the construc lizing solar radiation in treating food prod 30 tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2. ucts, with the advantages that the extent of 95 In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 this radiation is practically limitless, that it the reflector 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is may be had without cost, that there need replaced by a ray concentrator in the form of be no danger of jecorization of the food prod of a lens 34, which may conveniently consist ucts or food stuffs, that fragile and costly 35 of upper and lower sheets of material 34,34 equipment may readily be avoided, and that 00 transparent to ultra-violet rays and insoluble any desired degree of food activation may in the liquid contained in the lens between be secured by correspondingly proportion said sheets of material. The sheets of mate ing the ray concentrator and food receptacle. rial 34, 34 may be conveniently mounted be It will further be observed that all danger 40 tween end plates 35, 36 having central tubular incident to the action upon the food stuffs of 05 trunnions 37,38 extending therefrom through rays shorter than solar ultra-violet rays is supporting arms 39, 40 having at their other avoided because the use of sunlight or sky ends mounting sleeves 41, 42 extending shine as the source of the activating rays through bearings 15 and 16. In this case the positively precludes the possibility of such food receptacle 22, constructed in the same shorter rays being present, which is not the O manner above described, receives its support case where artificial sources of ultra-violet by its shafts 20 and 21 fitting the bores of the rays are relied upon. It will thus be seen sleeves 41 and 42 and being rotatable therein. that the rays employed may be positively lim The arms 39 and 40 are of a length to place ited, by the absorption of the heat producing the receptacle 22 at substantially the focus rays in the manner above described or its 15 of the lens 34. The supporting sleeve 41 has equivalent, to rays which have only a benefi secured to its outer end a worm wheel 42 cial action on the food stuffs and without meshing with a worm 43 supported in arms 44 producing any deleterious effects which extending from the bearing 15. As a result might render them unsuitable or undesirable of this construction, by rotating the worm 43, for consumption by human beings. It will 20 the lens may be held at any desired inclina therefore be seen that I have here a method tion to the receptacle 22 around the axis of of making the ultra violet rays of the sun the latter, to properly receive the desired rays available practically for the production of of sunlight or skyshine. The trunnions 37 the anti-rachitic principle in substances sus 60 and 38 permit the lens 34 to be turned in the ceptible of such activation, wherein separate 25 arms 39 and 40 to properly focus the concen solar ultra violet rays of wave lengths with trated rays on the receptacle 22. in the range of substantially 2900 to 3700 The side edges of the sheets 34, 34, of the Angstrom units from the remaining rays and lens 34 may conveniently be engaged by metal intensify them by concentration, and then strips 45, 45 and these strips and the end subject the material to be activated to these 30

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intensified rays so as to bring about the pro ploy equivalents known to the art at the duction of the anti-rachitic principle therein. time of the filing of this application with 25 I find that my improved process of treat out, departing from the scope of the ap ment and the means employed for carrying pended claim.

it into effect, described above, may be effec What I claim is:

tively employed in treating as described, The method of making the ultra-violet rays food stufts of any kind, whether the entire of the sun available practically for the pro 30 food stuft be so treated in any case, or a duction of the antirachitic principle in sub constituent part of the foodstuff be so treated. stances susceptible of such activation, which IO the only requisite being that the substance consists in separating solar ultra-violet rays so treated shall be capable of vitamin D ac of wave lengths within the range of substan tivation by photo-synthesis and that it shall tially 2900 to 3700 Angstrom units from the be or be capable of becoming a constituent remaining rays, and intensifying by concen 35 part of a food stuff of some kind. In the tration the separated ultra-violet rays of the 5 specification and claim I therefore employ wave lengths specified, and subjecting the the term “food stuffs’’ in a sufficiently broad imaterial to be activated to such separated, sense to include the food stuffs themselves intensified rays, to bring about the produc and any such constituent parts thereof. tion of the antirachitic principle therein. 40 While I have shown my invention in the In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe particular embodiment above described, it my name this 23rd day of April, A. D. 1928. will be understood that I do not limit my self to this exact construction as I may em JACQUES. W. D. CHESNEY.