Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-26
2001-04-03
Savage, Matthew O. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
C210S805000, C426S417000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210590
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to filtration. More particularly, the invention relates to a filtration system for quality control of cooking fats and cooking oils.
In the culinary industry filtration is generally employed to purify used cooking fats and cooking oils. In the absence of such purification, impurities build up in the fats and oils to a level which is unacceptable by industry standards.
As fats and oils are used in cooking, they tend to break down, degrade, and hydrolyze to free fatty acids, glycerol, and other polar products. The free fatty acids are among the more harmful products of this degradation. The recommended maximum acceptable level for free fatty acids is three to four percent.
The prior art discloses filtration systems for removing such impurities from cooking fats and cooking oils; see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,597,601, 4,747,944, 3,667,613, 5,247,876, 3,107,601, 2,698,092, and 3,630,361. What is lacking, however, is a filtration system which is adjustable in accordance with the quality of the cooking fat or cooking oil which is being filtered. The present invention provides such a system.
More specifically, the prior art fails to provide filtration apparatus in which a predetermined portion of the cooking fat or cooking oil is recycled to the filtration system before being discharged therefrom. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,944 to George discloses a filtration system in which filtrate is recirculated by being discharged into a vessel which contains unfiltered cooking fat or cooking oil. The mixture of partially-filtered fat or oil is then returned to the filter. An obvious drawback of this system is the absence of any mechanism for controlling the proportion of the fat or oil which is recycled to the filter. A second apparent limitation is the requirement of a vessel for mixing the liquid discharged from the filter with unfiltered liquid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, the present invention in a first aspect provides an adjustable continuous filtration system. The filtration system comprises a filter; means for pressurizing a fluid for conveyance to the filter; means for recycling a portion of the fluid to the filter; and means for controlling the proportion of the fluid which is recycled to the filter before being discharged from the system.
A first embodiment of the filtration system comprises a filter; means for pressurizing a fluid to be conveyed to the filter; a first passageway for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pressurization means; a second passageway for receiving fluid discharged from the filter; means for lowering the pressure in the second passageway below the pressure in the first passageway; a third passageway connected to the pressure-lowering means; a fourth passageway connected to the third passageway and to the filter; a fifth passageway connected to the third and fourth passageways; a sixth passageway for discharging fluid from the fifth passageway; and an orifice restriction disposed between the fifth and sixth passageways, for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the fourth, fifth, and sixth passageways. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth passageways, the pressure-lowering means, and the orifice restriction are constructed and arranged so that fluid discharged from the third passageway is split into a first stream flowing through the fourth passageway and a second stream flowing through the fifth passageway, and the proportion of fluid which is recycled to the filter before being discharged through the sixth passageway is controlled and determined by the size of the orifice in the orifice restriction between the fifth and sixth passageways.
A second embodiment of the filtration system comprises a filter; means for pressurizing a fluid to be conveyed to the filter; a first passageway for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pressurization means; a second passageway for receiving fluid discharged from the filter; means for lowering the pressure in the second passageway below the pressure in the first passageway ; a third passageway connecting the first passageway and the filter to one another; a fourth passageway connected to the first and third passageways; a fifth passageway for discharging fluid from the fourth passageway; and an orifice restriction disposed in the third passageway, for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the third, fourth, and fifth passageways. The pressure-lowering means are disposed between the fourth and fifth passageways. The second passageway connects the pressure-lowering means and the filter to one another. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth passageways, the pressure-lowering means, and the orifice restriction are constructed and arranged so that fluid discharged from the first passageway is split into a first stream flowing through the third passageway and a second stream flowing through the fourth passageway, and the proportion of the fluid which is routed to the filter before being discharged through the fifth passageway is controlled and determined by the size of the orifice in the orifice restriction in the third passageway.
A third embodiment of the filtration system comprises a filter; means for pressurizing a fluid to be conveyed to the filter; a first passageway for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pressurization means; a second passageway for receiving fluid discharged from the filter; a third passageway connecting the first passageway and the filter to one another; a fourth passageway connected to the first and third passageways; a fifth passageway for discharging fluid from the fourth passageway; a first orifice restriction disposed in the third passageway, for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the third, fourth, and fifth passageways; and a second orifice restriction disposed in the fourth passageway, for controlling the rate of flow of the fluid through the fourth, second, and fifth passageways. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth passageways, and the first and second orifice restrictions are constructed and arranged so that the fluid discharged from the first passageway is split into a first stream flowing through the third passageway and a second stream flowing through the fourth passageway, and the proportion of the fluid which is recycled to the filter before being discharged through the fifth passageway is controlled and determined by the sizes of orifices in the first and second orifice restrictions in the third and fourth passageways, respectively.
A fourth embodiment of the filtration system comprises a filter; means for pressurizing a fluid to be conveyed to the filter; a first passageway for receiving the pressurized fluid from the pressurization means; a second passageway for receiving fluid discharged from the filter; means for lowering the pressure in the second passageway below the pressure in the first passageway; a third passageway connected to the pressure-lowering means; a fourth passageway connected to the third passageway and to the filter; and a fifth passageway connected to the third and fourth passageways, for discharging fluid from the filtration system. The first, second, third, fourth, and fifth passageways, and the pressure-lowering means are constructed and arranged so that fluid discharged from the third passageway is split into a first stream flowing through the fourth passageway and a second stream flowing through the fifth passageway, and the proportion of the fluid which is recycled to the filter before being discharged from the fifth passageway is controlled and determined by the widths of the orifices in the fourth and fifth passageways.
The direction of fluid flow through the filter can be reversed.
In a second aspect the invention provides a method for controlling the quality of cooking fats and cooking oils. The method comprises providing a filter for filtering the cooking fats or cooking oils; pressurizing a cooking fat or a cooking oil for conveyance to the filter; recycling a portion of the cooking fat or the cooking o
Roberts, Jr. Reginald F.
Savage Matthew O.
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