US 12,702,254 B2Granted

Baffle and associated fryer heat exchange system and fryer

AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.

InventorsKacy W. Denning, Matthew T. Rowell

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Abstract

A fryer includes a fryer vat and a heating system with at least one heat exchange tube a burner end, an opposite end, and an internal passage from the burner end to the opposite end. A baffle is located within the internal passage for enhancing heat transfer from combustion gases to the heat exchange tube. The baffle has an axial length from a burner facing end to a discharge facing end. The baffle includes a plurality baffle panels that are interconnected and sequentially arranged along the axial length, with each baffle panel extending at least partially across the internal passage of the heat exchange tube. At least one baffle panel includes multiple sets of interconnected openings, wherein the openings of each set are interconnected with each other by one or more panel through slits so as to facilitate thermal expansion.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A fryer, comprising:

a fryer vat defining a volume for receiving oil to be heated for cooking;
a heating system for heating oil in the volume, the heating system including at least one gaseous fuel burner associated with at least one heat exchange tube, the heat exchange tube passing through the volume such that an external surface of the heat exchange tube will be in contact with oil in the volume, the heat exchange tube defining an internal passage, from a burner end of the heat exchange tube to a discharge end of the heat exchange tube, through which heated combustion gases of the gaseous fuel burner can pass, and a baffle within the internal passage for enhancing heat transfer from the combustion gases to the heat exchange tube;
wherein the baffle comprises a plurality baffle panels that are interconnected and sequentially arranged along an axial length of the baffle, each baffle panel extending at least partially across the internal passage of the heat exchange tube, each baffle panel including a plurality of openings therethrough;
wherein a first baffle panel, of the plurality of baffle panels, includes multiple sets of interconnected openings, wherein the openings of each set are interconnected with each other by one or more through slits formed in the first baffle panel so as to facilitate thermal expansion of the first baffle panel, wherein the first baffle panel is located closer to the burner end of the heat exchange tube than any other baffle panels of the baffle.

1 more element

A fryer, comprising:

a fryer vat defining a volume for receiving oil to be heated for cooking;
a heating system for heating oil in the volume, the heating system including a heat exchange tube passing through the volume, the heat exchange tube having a burner end, an opposite end, and an internal passage from the burner end to the opposite end, a baffle within the internal passage for enhancing heat transfer from combustion gases to the heat exchange tube;
wherein the baffle has an axial length from a burner facing end to a discharge facing end, wherein the baffle comprises a plurality baffle panels that are interconnected and sequentially arranged along the axial length, each baffle panel extending at least partially across the internal passage of the heat exchange tube;
wherein each of at least a first baffle panel and a second baffle panel, of the plurality of baffle panels, includes multiple sets of interconnected openings, wherein the openings of each set are interconnected with each other by one or more panel through slits so as to facilitate thermal expansion, wherein the first baffle panel and the second baffle panel are located at the burner facing end of the baffle.

1 more element

A baffle for use in in a fryer having a fryer vat defining a volume for receiving oil to be heated for cooking and a gaseous fuel heating system for heating oil in the volume, with at least one heat exchange tube passing through the volume and defining an internal passage, from a burner end of the heat exchange tube to a discharge end of the heat exchange tube, wherein the baffle is configured to be positioned within the internal passage for enhancing heat transfer from combustion gases to the heat exchange tube, the baffle comprising:

a plurality baffle panels that are interconnected and sequentially arranged along an axial length of the baffle, each baffle panel extending at least partially across the internal passage of the heat exchange tube, a multiplicity of the baffle panels including a plurality of openings therethrough,
wherein a first baffle panel, of the plurality of baffle panels, includes multiple sets of interconnected openings distributed along a height of the first baffle panel, wherein the openings of each set are interconnected with each other by one or more through slits formed in the first baffle panel so as to facilitate thermal expansion of the first baffle panel, wherein the first baffle panel is located closer to a burner end of the baffle than any other baffle panels of the baffle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/446,847Filed 9 Aug 2023 · us provisional application
Priority: 11 Aug 2022
Published: US 2024/0049913 A115 Feb 2024
Granted: 11 Aug 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A47J 37/1247
Heated with burners: details of the burners; Details of the channels for guiding the combustion gases
F23M 9/003
Baffles or deflectors for air or combustion products ; Flame shields: in flue gas ducts
F28D 1/0477
The conduits being bent, e.g. in a serpentine or zig-zag: the conduits being bent in a serpentine or zig-zag
F28F 13/12
By affecting the pattern of flow of the heat-exchange media: by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation