Gas separation – Plural serial basically diverse separating media – Plural stages in unitary casing
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-08
2002-05-21
Smith, Duane (Department: 1724)
Gas separation
Plural serial basically diverse separating media
Plural stages in unitary casing
C055S508000, C055SDIG003, C126S29900R, C454S049000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06391074
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to waste management systems and, more specifically, to grease collecting systems for commercial cooking fan exhaust vents. Devices in this particular field prevent damage to the surrounding roof due to the solvent or corrosive action of oily or greasy residue in the vented effluence from commercial cooking facilities. Several devices include a filter element or layers of filter elements that are positioned about the duct of the grease discharge vent.
The filtering elements are typically of one piece, which necessitates the changing of the entire filter when only one small area of it is completely saturated and subject to leakage. This increases the frequency and cost of maintenance. The one-piece filter construction also means that, in case of fire, there will be little possibility of its containment to a small area of the filter. It will most likely involve the entire filter, then possibly the surrounding roof or the venting apparatus, which is typically covered with grease.
The present invention, the Grease Stopper, is a grease filtering and containment system for rooftop protection in commercial cooking applications. It offers a means of grease containment in a configuration that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. The present invention provides a suspended compartmentalized system for the containment of grease vented from commercial cooking operations that is quick and easy to install and maintain.
A typical installation involves removal of the fan from the roof duct, which typically includes a rectangular projection on the roof that is used for mounting the exhaust fan. Next, the hanger assembly is installed to the duct with the screws provided. Once the hanger assembly is installed, the filter housing is assembled. The completed filter housing is an octagonal shaped assembly which is suspended about the duct and which consists of identical pentagonal quarter sections or compartments, each with its own filter media, which may be changed independently. These pentagonal frames are constructed of extruded aluminum and fastened around the perimeter with galvanized corner brackets and rivets. The pentagon quarters are fastened to each other by means of one or more fasteners and each seam is covered by a galvanized joiner bracket affixed thereto by fasteners.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other devices designed for processing and collecting exhaust effluence of various types. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,236 issued to John W. Blough Sep. 26, 1989.
Another patent was issued to Dimitri P. Zafiroglu on May 8, 1990 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,725. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,040 was issued to Patrick A. Malloy et al. on Mar. 23, 1993 and still yet another was issued on Jun. 7, 1994 to Patrick A. Malloy et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,607.
Another patent was issued to Daryl Mirza et al. on Apr. 30, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,073. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,744 was issued to Edward M. Renna on Jul. 30, 1996.
Another was issued to Daryl Mirza et al. on Oct. 22, 1996 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,216 and still yet another was issued on Sep. 29, 1998 to Daryl Allen et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,115. Another patent was issued on Jan. 4, 2000 to Phillip Ackland as U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,558.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,236
Inventor: John W. Blough
Issued: Sep. 26, 1989
This invention is an apparatus which collects and stores grease discharged from exhaust fan systems of commercial kitchens. There is a means for collecting the grease which is adjustable so that it can be attached to fit most any size commercial exhaust fan. Once the grease is collected, it flows into a means for storing the grease. The means for storing the grease is releasably supported by means for collecting the grease. Thus, the means for storing the grease can be released, the stored grease removed, and then re-attached to the means for collecting the grease. The invention also includes a means for discharging rain water that is collected by the means for collecting grease. Any water which is collected is discharged into the drainage pipe located on the restaurant roof.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,725
Inventor; Dimitri P. Zafiroglu
Issued: May 8, 1990
A disposable article, suitable for absorbing and immobilizing grease generated during cooking, has a housing containing an absorbent bed of particles and polyolefin microfibers.
U.S. Pat. N. 5,196,040
Inventor: Patrick A. Malloy et al.
Issued: Mar. 23, 1993
A grease filter and collection assembly for roof ventilators and the like includes a frame structure having a generally central aperture through which a grease discharge vent projects when the frame structure and trap assembly are installed surrounding the vent, and a replaceable grease-trapping material is removably secured in the frame structure so that the grease-trapping material is exposed within the aperture for trapping grease discharged from the vent. In a preferred embodiment, the frame structure is assembled from extruded frame members, which integrally include a plurality of channels for securing and mounting the assembly for retaining the grease-trapping material within the frame structure. Upper and lower channels accommodate corner connections of the frame members. The frame members have side walls, which peripherally enclose the grease-trapping material that is tucked between the upper and lower channel inwardly extending from the side wall. A preferred grease-trapping material includes a layered composite of grease filtering and trapping materials in which an upper-porous layer for trapping particulate debris is also permeable for passage of liquid grease therethrough into a lower layer which absorbs and retains the grease.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,607
Inventor: Patrick A. Malloy
Issued: Jun. 7, 1994
A grease filter and collection assembly for roof ventilators and the like includes a frame structure having a generally central aperture through which a grease discharge vents projects when the frame structure and trap assembly are installed surrounding the vent, and a replaceable grease-trapping material is removably secured in the frame structure so that the grease-trapping material is exposed vent. In a preferred embodiment, the frame structure is assembled from extruded frame members that integrally include a plurality of channels for securing and mounting the assembly for retaining the grease-trapping material within the frame structure. Upper and lower channels accommodate corner connections of the frame members. The frame members have side walls that peripherally enclose the grease-trapping material, which is tucked between the upper and lower channel inwardly extending from the side wall. An additional channel is exteriorly exposed in each of the frame members to enable access to the fasteners and hardware for mounting the collection assembly on a roof or wall through which the vent projects. A preferred grease-trapping material includes a layered composite of grease filtering and trapping materials in which an upper-porous layer for trapping particulate debris is also permeable for passage of liquid grease therethrough into a lower layer which absorbs and retains the grease.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,073
Inventor: Daryl Mirza et al.
Issued: Apr. 30, 1996
A grease filter assembly is provided for absorbing airborne grease discharged from a grease discharge vent extending from a roof A support frame is mountable to the duct of the grease discharge vent and grease absorbing pads are supportable upon the support frame in stationary position surrounding the discharge vent and in spaced relation from the roof. The support frame includes support rods mounted adjacent respective sides of the discharge vent duct and extending beyond their respective duct sides to overlap at the corners of the duct and thereby provide a supporting grid including the end portions of each of two rods extending from adjacent walls of the duct. A plurality of grease absorbing pads are supported on the supporting grid disposed adjacent re
Kroll Michael I
Lawrence Frank M.
Smith Duane
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