# US 11,432,701 B2 · Use of recycled wash and rinse water for the pre-rinse operation of dishes

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- Number: US 11,432,701 B2
- Document ID: US11432701B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/450,820
- Filed: 2017-03-06
- Published: 2017-08-24
- Granted: 2022-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2011-09-02
- Assignees: Ecolab USA Inc.
- Applicants: Ecolab USA Inc.
- Inventors: Adrian E. Hartz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432701B2

## CPC

- A47L 15/4291: {Recovery arrangements, e.g. for the recovery of energy or water}
- A47L 15/0005: {Rinsing phases, e.g. pre-rinsing, intermediate rinsing, final rinsing}
- A47L 15/0076: {of non-domestic use type, e.g. commercial dishwashers for bars, hotels, restaurants, canteens or hospitals (machines specially adapted for drinking glasses A47L15/0065; drawer-type dishwashers A47L15/0084; in-sink dishwashers A47L15/0086; miniature dishwashers A47L15/0089; conveyor-type dishwashers A47L15/24; machines with crockery cleaned by brushes A47L15/37)}
- A47L 15/0081: {with vertical sliding closing doors, e.g. hood-type dishwashers}
- A47L 15/4219: {Water recirculation (A47L15/0078 takes precedence)}
- A47L: DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING (brushes A46B; cleaning quantities of bottles or of other hollow articles of one kind B08B9/00; laundry D06F); SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL (cleaning in general B08)

## Abstract

A dishwashing machine is used for pre-rinse operation of soiled dishes. A cavity is configured and arranged to contain the soiled dishes. A nozzle is proximate the cavity and is in fluid communication with the cavity. An accumulator pan accumulates wash and rinse water including cleaning chemicals used in a previous cycle of the dishwashing machine. A fluid passageway interconnects the nozzle and the accumulator pan. A pump directs the accumulated wash and rinse water from the accumulator pan to the nozzle via the fluid passageway for pre-rinse operation of the soiled dishes in the cavity, and the nozzle directs the accumulated wash and rinse water into the cavity with the soiled dishes to assist in removing soil from the soiled dishes prior to a wash cycle of the dishwashing machine. The wash cycle utilizes fresh wash water.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A dishwashing system comprising:
(a) a commercial dishwashing machine comprising a housing, wash arms, and a tank configured to contain wash water and in fluid communication with the wash arms;
(b) an accumulator pan located under at least a portion of the tank and comprising an inlet and an outlet, wherein the wash water evacuated from the tank flows by gravity alone into the inlet of the accumulator pan through an air gap between the tank and the inlet of the accumulator pan, and wherein the tank and the accumulator pan are not physically connected;
(c) a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump in fluid communication with the outlet of the accumulator pan;
(d) a pre-rinse unit positioned above a sink, the pre-rinse unit laterally spaced apart from the commercial dishwashing machine and from the accumulator pan; and
(e) a delivery conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with the pump outlet, the second end in fluid communication with the pre-rinse unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator pan further comprises a removable strainer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the strainer comprises a screen material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the commercial dishwashing machine further comprises a strainer.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator pan further comprises an overflow aperture.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The system of claim 5, wherein the overflow aperture is vertically higher than the accumulator pan outlet.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the pre-rinse unit further comprises a hand-directed nozzle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the accumulator pan is adapted to receive drained wash water from the commercial dishwashing machine comprising detergent, rinse aid, or sanitizer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising drained wash water.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the drained wash water comprises at least one of the following: detergent, rinse aid, or sanitizer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the temperature of the drained wash water is between 110° F. and 150° F.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The system of claim 9, wherein the temperature of the drained wash water is between 100° F. and 120° F.