Patent attributes
A specially designed flexible tank is installed in a standard 20 foot overseas shipping container or in a standard trucking dry van trailer. A conductive heat serpentine plastic tubing system is also installed underneath the flexible tank allowing heat to liquefy the honey near the bottom discharge location. Nitrogen is introduced through an upper air purging valve and flow is controlled by a regulator allowing tank to stand and not be conducive to cling of product on the roof or the sidewalls and to assist in discharging product without need of a pumping mechanism. Due to the continued shape of the flexible tank there will be very little product loss allowing virtually all product to be expelled. The discharge valve will remain open when the heat is started and this allows the honey to be removed as quickly as it becomes liquid. The method permits bulk shipped honey to be unloaded without substantial increase in HMF levels or air entrainment caused by pumping which could lead to crystallization, and avoids substantial product loss due to clinging on the inside of the tank. The invention also provides substantial labor savings along with freight savings compared to the prior honey industry method of shipping honey in 55 gallon drums.
