US5162016A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Abrasive for a water jet cutting head
Assignee: Texas Beef Group
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Filing: 1991-09-04
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Granted: 1992-11-10
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Expires: 2011-09-04
Abstract
Abstract Fluidic jets are used to segment an animal carcass. A water jet is preferably used to cut the flesh of the carcass, and an abrasive jet is preferably used to cut the bones and other dense portions of the carcass. The jets are preferably delivered to the carcass from separate nozzles that are mounted adjacent one another on a cutting head. A multi-axis control arm carries the cutting head at one end thereof and controls the movement of the cutting head so that the fluidic jets segment the carcass along a predetermined cutting path.
Inventors
- 👤 James Malloy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:48
CPC Classifications
A; A22; A22B; A22B5/00; A22B5/0017; A22B5/0029; A22B5/0041; B; B24; B24C; B24C11/00; B24C3/00; B24C3/08; B24C3/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/903; Y10S706/904; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/0591
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the step of: directing a pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive foodstuff toward said carcass along a cutting path, said pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh and bone of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the step of: directing a pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive foodstuff toward said carcass along a cutting path, said pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh and bone of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of directing comprises the steps of: routing said pressurized fluid stream to a nozzle of a cutting head; and controllably positioning said nozzle relative to said carcass to segment said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said foodstuff is selected from a group consisting of crushed eggshells, crushed bones, and ice.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along a cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; and directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting the bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along a cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; and directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting the bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said step of directing said first pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said first pressurized fluid stream to a first nozzle of a cutting head; and controllably positioning said first nozzle relative to said carcass to segment the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said step of directing said second pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said second pressurized fluid stream to a second nozzle of said cutting head; and controllably positioning said second nozzle relative to said carcass to segment the bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said abrasive material is a foodstuff.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said foodstuff is selected from a group consisting of crushed eggshells, crushed bones, and ice.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: determining a position of at least one selected bone in said carcass; producing a cutting path for segmenting said carcass in response to said determined position of said selected bones; directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; and directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said first pressurized fluid stream substantially reaching said selected bone, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting said selected bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: determining a position of at least one selected bone in said carcass; producing a cutting path for segmenting said carcass in response to said determined position of said selected bones; directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; and directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said first pressurized fluid stream substantially reaching said selected bone, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting said selected bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step of determining comprises the steps of: scanning said carcass using two x-ray scanners positioned orthogonally to one another to produce a three-dimensional internal image of said carcass; and determining a position of said at least one selected bone in response to said three-dimensional internal image.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said step of directing said first pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said first pressurized fluid stream to a first nozzle of a cutting head; and controllably positioning said first nozzle relative to said carcass to segment the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said step of directing said second pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said second pressurized fluid stream to a second nozzle of said cutting head; and controllably positioning said second nozzle relative to said carcass to segment said selected bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein said abrasive material is a foodstuff.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as set forth in claim 13, wherein said foodstuff is selected from a group consisting of crushed eggshells, crushed bones, and ice.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: scanning said carcass using two x-ray scanners positioned orthogonally to one another to produce a three-dimensional internal image of said carcass; determining a position of at least one selected bone in said carcass in response to said three-dimensional internal image; producing a cutting path for segmenting said carcass in response to said determined position of said selected bones; directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; and directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said first pressurized fluid stream substantially reaching said selected bones, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting said selected bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: scanning said carcass using two x-ray scanners positioned orthogonally to one another to produce a three-dimensional internal image of said carcass; determining a position of at least one selected bone in said carcass in response to said three-dimensional internal image; producing a cutting path for segmenting said carcass in response to said determined position of said selected bones; directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; and directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said first pressurized fluid stream substantially reaching said selected bones, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting said selected bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said step of directing s id first pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said first pressurized fluid stream to a first nozzle of a cutting head; and controllably positioning said first nozzle relative to said carcass to segment the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said step of directing said second pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said second pressurized fluid stream to a second nozzle of said cutting head; and controllably positioning said second nozzle relative to said carcass to segment said selected bones of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said abrasive material is a foodstuff.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said foodstuff is selected from a group consisting of crushed eggshells, crushed bones, and ice.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: determining a position of a selected bone in said carcass; producing a cutting path for segmenting said carcass in response to said determined position of said selected bone; directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; terminating said first pressurized fluid stream in response to said first pressurized fluid stream substantially reaching said selected bone; directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said first pressurized fluid stream reaching said selected bone, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting said selected bone of said carcass along said cutting path; terminating said second pressurized fluid stream in response to said second pressurized fluid stream cutting through said selected bone; and redirecting said first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said second pressurized fluid stream cutting through said selected bone.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
177 words
A method for segmenting an animal carcass comprising the steps of: determining a position of a selected bone in said carcass; producing a cutting path for segmenting said carcass in response to said determined position of said selected bone; directing a first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path, said first pressurized fluid stream cutting the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path; terminating said first pressurized fluid stream in response to said first pressurized fluid stream substantially reaching said selected bone; directing a second pressurized fluid stream containing an abrasive material toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said first pressurized fluid stream reaching said selected bone, said second pressurized fluid stream cutting said selected bone of said carcass along said cutting path; terminating said second pressurized fluid stream in response to said second pressurized fluid stream cutting through said selected bone; and redirecting said first pressurized fluid stream toward said carcass along said cutting path in response to said second pressurized fluid stream cutting through said selected bone.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said step of determining comprises the steps of: scanning said carcass using two x-ray scanners positioned orthogonally to one another to produce a three-dimensional internal image of said carcass; and determining a position of said selected bone in response to said three-dimensional internal image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said step of directing said first pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said first pressurized fluid stream to a first nozzle of a cutting head; and controllably positioning said first nozzle relative to said carcass to segment the flesh of said carcass along said cutting path.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method, as set forth in claim 22, wherein said step of directing said second pressurized fluid stream comprises the steps of: routing said second pressurized fluid stream to a second nozzle of said cutting head; and controllably positioning said second nozzle relative to said carcass to segment said selected bone along said cutting path.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method, as set forth in claim 20, wherein said abrasive material is a foodstuff.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method, as set forth in claim 24, wherein said foodstuff is selected from a group consisting of crushed eggshells, crushed bones, and ice.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-11-10 | 1996-05-11 | 1996-11-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-11-10 | 2000-05-11 | 2000-11-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-11-10 | 2004-05-11 | 2004-11-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |