# US 11,897,004 B2 · System and method to clean a range exhaust > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,897,004 B2 - Document ID: US11897004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/368,016 - Filed: 2021-07-06 - Published: 2022-01-13 - Granted: 2024-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2020-07-07 - Assignees: Restaurant Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Restaurant Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: Kyle Haugen; Jason Platz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11897004B2 ## CPC - B08B 13/00: Accessories or details of general applicability for machines or apparatus for cleaning - B08B 3/02: Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays - B08B 3/08: the liquid having chemical or dissolving effect - B08B 9/0325: {Control mechanisms therefor} - B08B 15/02: using chambers or hoods covering the area {(B08B15/002 takes precedence)} - F24C 15/2042: {Devices for removing cooking fumes structurally associated with a cooking range e.g. downdraft (F24C15/2007 takes precedence)} - F24C 15/2057: {using a cleaning liquid} - B08B 2203/027: Pump details - B08B 2209/032: by the mechanical action of a moving fluid - B08B: CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION ## Abstract A method for cleaning a cooking range exhaust system includes, in response to receipt of a start signal at a control box of a cooking range exhaust cleaning system to initiate a cleaning operation, causing a cleaning solution comprising a mixture of detergent and water having a ratio based on a target mixing ratio to be provided to a supply line, and causing an electronically-controlled valve to open to facilitate provision of the cleaning solution to a nozzle coupled to the electronically-controlled valve via a conduit for a predetermined period of time, wherein the nozzle is arranged to spray a zone of the cooking range exhaust system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: in response to receipt of a start signal at a control box of a cooking range exhaust cleaning system to initiate a cleaning operation: causing a reservoir to fill with a mixture of detergent and water having a ratio based on a target mixing ratio, wherein causing the reservoir to fill with the mixture of detergent and water includes monitoring a float switch mechanism at least partially in the reservoir to determine when the reservoir has filled to a minimum threshold with the water prior to causing the detergent to be added to the reservoir; causing a cleaning solution comprising the mixture of detergent and water having the ratio based on a target mixing ratio to be provided to a supply line from the reservoir; and causing an electronically-controlled valve to open to facilitate provision of the cleaning solution to a nozzle coupled to the electronically-controlled valve via a conduit for a predetermined period of time, wherein the nozzle is arranged to spray a zone of a cooking range exhaust system. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising causing a second electronically-controlled valve to couple the supply line to a second conduit configured to spray a second zone of the cooking range exhaust system based on a second start signal to initiate a second scheduled cleaning operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the start signal from a scheduler. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the start signal from a remote device via a wired or wireless interface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising providing data corresponding to the cleaning operation to a remote device via a wired or wireless interface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring data from sensors to determine whether film on the zone of the cooking range exhaust system exceeds a threshold; and providing the start signal in response to a determination that the film exceeds the threshold. ### Claim 7 At least one machine-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to: in response to receipt of a start signal to initiate a cleaning operation: cause a reservoir to fill with a mixture of detergent and water having a ratio based on a target mixing ratio, wherein causing the reservoir to fill with the mixture of detergent and water includes monitoring a float switch mechanism at least partially in the reservoir to determine when the reservoir has filled to a minimum threshold with the water prior to causing the detergent to be added to the reservoir; cause a cleaning solution comprising the mixture of detergent and water having the ratio based on a target mixing ratio to be provided to a supply line from the reservoir; and cause a valve to open to facilitate provision of the cleaning solution to a nozzle coupled to the valve via a conduit for a predetermined period of time, wherein the nozzle is arranged to spray a zone of a cooking range exhaust system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processing circuitry to cause detergent to be pumped into the reservoir after the reservoir is sufficiently filled. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processing circuitry to cause a second electronically-controlled valve to couple the supply line to a second conduit configured to spray a second zone of the cooking range exhaust system based on a second start signal to initiate a second scheduled cleaning operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processing circuitry to receive the start signal from a scheduler. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processing circuitry to: receive the start signal from a remote device via a wired or wireless interface; and provide data corresponding to the cleaning operation to the remote device via the wired or wireless interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The at least one machine-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the processing circuitry to: monitor data from sensors to determine whether film on the zone of the cooking range exhaust system exceeds a threshold; and provide the start signal in response to a determination that the film exceeds the threshold.