Metal working – Method of mechanical manufacture – Electrical device making
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-04
2001-01-30
Young, Lee (Department: 3729)
Metal working
Method of mechanical manufacture
Electrical device making
C029S842000, C029S857000, C029S825000, C312S265200, C312S265300, C312S280000, C312S326000, C312S329000, C361S610000, C361S622000, C361S625000, C361S641000, C206S320000, C206S325000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178625
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed towards a warewasher section having a control box for receiving electrical controls, and more particularly, to a warewasher section having a control box for receiving pre-wired electrical controls which is pivotable from an operating position to a compact, shipping position.
Commercial warewashers typically include a longitudinally extending housing having a series of wash stations located therein. An outer casing defines the generally rectangular inner chamber, and a conveyer is located inside the compartment to transport the ware through the various stations. For shipping and servicing purposes, the washer is typically constructed from a series of individual, modular sections that may be connected together longitudinally, end-to-end to form the warewasher unit.
Commercial warewashers must carry out and coordinate a variety of functions at any one time. For example, the inflow and drainage of water, heating of the water, mixing and spraying of the fluids, control of the conveyor, and the control of gauges and sensors need all be overseen. Accordingly, the washer sections include a series electrical and/or mechanical components for performing such functions, the electronic controls of which are typically contained within a single control box. When the warewasher is fully assembled, the control box is located on an outside wall of the warewasher, and preferably, is located along a longitudinal front wall of the warewasher.
It is advantageous to complete the wiring between the electronic controls within the control box and the electronic and/or mechanical components of the warewasher section at the factory prior to shipping the warewasher section. This enables the supplier to ship an entire pre-wired warewasher section and control box assembly to the customer, thus allowing for easy and rapid installation of the warewasher at the customer's facility. However, due to the large number of electrical controls, the control box may become quite bulky and large. Furthermore, because the control box is preferably mounted to the longitudinal front wall of the finally assembled warewasher, the lateral width of the washer section that includes the control box will be increased, making it difficult to fit the washer section through doorways or into shipping crates during shipping.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a pre-wired warewasher section and control box assembly that facilitates relatively easy and convenient shipping and installation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a warewasher section that includes a frame and a control box pivotally mounted thereto, where the control box is pivotable from a compact, shipping orientation to an installation or operating orientation. The control box preferably includes electrical controls that have been pre-wired to the electrical and/or mechanical components of the warewasher section. When in the shipping position, the rear face of the control box lies substantially flush against a lateral end of the frame and the side face of the control box is substantially flush with the longitudinal front wall of the frame such that the control box faces outwardly from the lateral end of the frame. In this orientation, the control box does not add to the total lateral width of the warewasher section. After the warewasher section has been shipped and unloaded, the control box is pivoted substantially 90° about hinges to an operating orientation, in which the rear face of the control box is perpendicular to the lateral end of the frame and the control box faces outwardly from the longitudinal front side of the frame. Once the control box is pivoted to this orientation, the end-to-end connection of the remaining warewasher sections to the present section may then continue.
Preferably, the control box is mounted to hinges positioned on a corner of the frame of the warewasher section where the longitudinal front wall and the lateral end face intersect. Further, the warewasher section includes a removable strut spanning the lateral end of the frame, between the longitudinal front and rear walls of the frame. The strut provides structural support for the frame during shipment and also preferably provides a mount for the control box when the control box is in the shipping position. Once the control box is released from the strut and pivoted to its operating position, the strut is easily removed from the frame. Additionally, upon mounting a second warewasher section end-to-end to the lateral end of the warewasher section, the hinges may also be easily removed.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a warewasher section and pre-wired control box assembly that allows the warewasher section to be shipped to the customer with all of its mechanical and/or electrical components pre-wired to the electrical controls in the control box, yet where the control box does not add to the lateral width of the warewasher section during shipping. It is another object of the present invention to provide a warewasher section and control box assembly that, once unpacked, allows the control box to be easily pivoted to its installation or operating position. With the assistance of a floor jack, pivoting of the control box to the operating position and securing the control box in this position can be accomplished by a single worker.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reference to the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4317516 (1982-03-01), Palmer-Ball, Sr.
Pollock Flavil M.
Watson Michael T.
Chang Rick Kiltae
Premark FEG L.L.C.
Thompson Hine & Flory LLP
Young Lee
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