Liquid purification or separation – Structural installation – Closed circulating system
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-12
2001-10-23
Drodge, Joseph W. (Department: 1723)
Liquid purification or separation
Structural installation
Closed circulating system
C210S241000, C210S247000, C210S257100, C210S258000, C210S473000, C210SDIG008, C099S408000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306294
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to filtering apparatus and has particular application to apparatus for use in filtering cooking oil, particularly cooking oil used in deep fryers and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application, However, it is to be understood that the invention could be used in other applications where oil or similar fluids need to be filtered for reuse.
BACKGROUND ART
The presently available filtering apparatus for use in filtering cooking oils has some drawbacks. Notably the oil conduits are generally fully exposed and therefore dangerous to operators as it will be appreciated that cooking oil is normally filtered when hot and operators making contact with exposed conduits can suffer severe burns. Furthermore, conduits are subject to leaks particularly at joints and very hot oil can accidentally spray onto operators or other persons nearby if a leak develops. Additionally the exposed conduits Are difficult to keep clean as dust generally settles on them and remains there due partly to the existence of a film of oil thereon.
Another problem with the presently available apparatus is that the electric drive motors are difficult to remove and replace for maintenance because they are wired into switch gear which is typically mounted on a frame or other component of the apparatus and such wiring needs to be disconnected to allow removal of the motor.
Yet another problem with the presently available apparatus is that air bubbles can be created in the conduits particularly when the drive motor is reversed and such air bubbles can cause blow back through the oil reservoir with the possibility of spraying hot oil over the operators.
It is an object of the present invention to provide filtering apparatus which is less dangerous to operators than those presently available. It is a further object to provide apparatus which requires less cleaning. It is yet a further object to provide filtering apparatus which can be more easily maintained particularly with regard to replacing the electric drive motor.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in view, the invention resides broadly in filtering apparatus for filtering cooking oil, including:
an open top reservoir mounted on a stand which is supported for movement across a floor by wheels, said reservoir having a base wall, side walls upstanding from said base wall and a bridge portion extending between opposite ones of said side walls at or near their upper ends;
a filter housing mounted in said reservoir and supported by said bridge portion, said filter housing having a removable filter cap above said bridge portion and a filter mounted in said filter housing;
pump means mounted to said stand below said reservoir;
a first flexible conduit in selective fluid communication with said pump means for extracting cooking oil from a deep fryer adjacent the apparatus and for discharging cooking oil from said reservoir to the deep fryer, said flexible conduit communicating with said pump means via a first rigid conduit extending through said reservoir from said base wall to said bridge portion, said flexible conduit being connected to said first rigid conduit above said bridge portion and said first rigid conduit being connected to said pump means below said base wall by a second flexible conduit and said reservoir selectively communicating with said pump means via an outlet in said base wall, said pump means being in selective communication with said filter housing for pumping cooking oil through said filter and into said reservoir via a second rigid conduit extending through said reservoir from said base wall, and
control means for controlling and/or directing the flow of cooking oil to and from said reservoir.
Preferably, said pump includes an electric motor and reversible flow pump drivingly connected by one or more Vee belts. Advantageously, such arrangement allows removal of the motor from the apparatus without uncoupling any of the conduits from the pump. Furthermore, the heat from the cooking oil is distanced from the motor by the length of the Vee belts thus allowing the motor to run cooler than with a close coupled pump and motor. It is also preferred that the control means which typically includes an on/off switch and forward/reverse switch be mounted on a control panel which in turn is mounted on the motor and cabled directly into the motor with a power input plug or socket adapted for quick release connection to mains power, thus allowing the motor and control panel to be removed together as a unit without requiring disconnection of any electrical wires or cables for servicing and/or replacement.
Preferably, said oil outlet is in fluid communication with said pump means via a third conduit and said oil outlet opens into said reservoir at its lowest point. It is also preferred that blow back protection means be provided in said reservoir for preventing oil being blown back through said oil outlet and out through said open top of said reservoir where it could harm an operator. Such blowback can occur in some apparatus if the pump is switched quickly from forward to reverse and vice versa. In a preferred form the blow back protection means includes a deflector plate mounted above and spaced from the oil outlet in such manner that any oil being forced into the reservoir though the oil outlet is deflected downwardly and/or outwardly. It will be appreciated that it is often necessary to filter the oil immediately after cooking and cooking oil can cause serious burns at normal cooking temperature. In a preferred form said blow back protection means includes a deflector plate mounted above and spaced from said oil outlet in such manner that oil being forced into the reservoir though said oil outlet is deflected downwardly and/or outwardly.
Preferably, the filtering apparatus includes a handle assembly having two spaced apart elongate side members attached at one end to said rear wall adjacent its upper end and at their other ends to said stand adjacent its lower end, said side members diverging outwardly and upwardly from said stand and said rear wall so that the apparatus when layed rearwardly is supported at least in part by said side members with said rear wall being slightly inclined towards the upright position.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2477404 (1949-07-01), Butt, Jr.
patent: 4591434 (1986-05-01), Prudhomme
patent: 2146547 A (1985-04-01), None
Abelman ,Frayne & Schwab
Cecil Terry K.
Drodge Joseph W.
LandOfFree
Cooking oil filtering apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Cooking oil filtering apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Cooking oil filtering apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613853