Cleaning and liquid contact with solids – Processes – Hollow work – internal surface treatment
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-16
2001-08-21
Gulakowski, Randy (Department: 1746)
Cleaning and liquid contact with solids
Processes
Hollow work, internal surface treatment
C134S022180, C134S025200, C134S037000, C134S095300, C134S105000, C134S170000, C134S171000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276373
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
(Not Applicable)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to glass washing apparatus, and more particularly to glass washing and chilling apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Restaurants, bars and other food and beverage service establishments use a number of glasses and mugs on a continual basis. These glasses and mugs must continuously be washed for reuse. Washing is accomplished by hand or by a number of known dish/glass washing apparatus. It is desirable in some instances, particularly for glasses and mugs in which beer will be served, to chill the glass or mugs so as to create a layer of frost on the outside of the glass or mug. It is desirable that such layer of frost does not include frozen droplets of water, but rather is smooth and even. In any case, it is desirable that glasses washed in warm water be chilled at least to room temperature or lower, so as to not warm chilled beverages which will be served therein.
Glasses and mugs used in food service establishments are commonly stored in trays which hold several glasses. Such trays can be used to store the glasses prior to washing, after washing, for storage, and the like. These trays are typically formulated from non-corrosive plastics and metals in a mesh configuration or with a plurality of drain openings to permit liquid to drain from the trays. A significant amount of time can be spent by workers placing the glasses into these trays, or taking the glasses from these trays for washing, rinsing, drying, chilling and storage. It would be desirable to provide an apparatus and method for washing and chilling glasses which would reduce the amount of time that workers spend moving glasses into or out of such trays.
Apparatus for chilling glasses commonly use conventional vapor compression refrigeration equipment to supply chilled air to the glasses. This refrigeration equipment requires significant expenditures of energy to power the compressor. It would be desirable to provide a glass washer and chiller which would reduce the energy required by the apparatus to chill the glasses.
The washing and chilling of glasses requires that the washing, rinsing, sanitizing, and chilling fluids thoroughly contact the surface of the glasses, including the interior surface of the glasses. Uneven or incomplete flow results in glasses which are not washed, rinsed or sanitized properly, or glasses which are not chilled or frosted evenly across the surface of the glass. It would therefore be desirable to provide a glass washing and chilling apparatus which would provide for more even flow of washing and chilling fluids around the surfaces of the glasses than is available with current apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a glass washing and chilling apparatus in which at least one tray is provided for holding a plurality of glasses. Each tray has a plurality of fluid-directing openings. The trays are insertable into a glass washing compartment having a plurality of fluid outlets. The fluid-directing openings of the trays and the fluid outlets of the washing compartment are positioned such that, upon insertion of the tray into the fluid washing compartment, the fluid-directing openings are aligned with or otherwise placed in fluid communication with the fluid outlets of the washing compartment. The fluid is thereby directed from the washing compartment into the trays in such a manner as to thoroughly contact the surface of the glasses.
The fluid-directing openings are preferably provided as fluid nozzles extending upward from the bottom of the tray. The glasses are stacked top-down with the opening of the glass over the upright nozzle. The nozzles retain the glasses in place, and also direct fluid from the fluid-directing opening into contact with the interior surfaces of the glass. The nozzles are preferably substantially conical in shape, with the base of the cone provided substantially at the bottom of the tray, and the fluid-directing openings provided at the vertex of the cone.
The fluid outlets of the washing compartment preferably are in communication with a manifold. The manifold preferably communicates to fluid sources, and suitable structure such as a switching valve switches between the various fluid sources, depending on the cycle of the apparatus. The fluid sources preferably include a source of washing liquid, rinsing liquid, sanitizing liquid and chilling liquid. The washing liquid is preferably hot water into which a detergent is added. The rinsing liquid is preferably cold water. After a time, a sanitizing solution is preferably introduced into the cold water. Finally, a rinse of cold water, which can include a chemical rinsing agent, is utilized.
An air stream is preferably utilized to assist in dispensing the liquids through the supply outlets and fluid-directing openings into the trays. A mist eliminator can be utilized to trap liquid which is entrained in the air stream. The air stream preferably is injected by the fluid-directing openings of the tray to create a cyclonic motion of fluids around the surface of the glasses. A preferred fluid velocity is at least 100 feet per second to generate a significant level of agitation which accelerates the cleaning of the glasses.
Chilling of the glasses is preferably accomplished by a cryogenic fluid such as a liquid gas source. This liquid gas is directed into the washing compartment, and flashes to a gas which contacts the glasses to chill the glasses. Liquid nitrogen is a preferred chilling fluid.
REFERENCES:
patent: 701129 (1902-05-01), Belknap
patent: 1133088 (1915-03-01), Brooks
patent: 2240572 (1941-05-01), Poxon
patent: 2671742 (1954-03-01), Cozzoli
patent: 2739455 (1956-03-01), Idzi
patent: 2786479 (1957-03-01), Dungfelder et al.
patent: 3070104 (1962-12-01), Faust et al.
patent: 3680567 (1972-08-01), Hansen
patent: 3940944 (1976-03-01), Lapeyre
patent: 5027840 (1991-07-01), Nezworski
patent: 5367887 (1994-11-01), Byrd et al.
patent: 781294 (1957-08-01), None
Chaudhry Saeed
Gulakowski Randy
Senterfitt Akerman
LandOfFree
Glass washer and chiller does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Glass washer and chiller, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Glass washer and chiller will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2485136