Combination cook stove heat exchanger and filter
AssigneeHydro Hoods Corporation
InventorRobert Henry Prasser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combined self-cleaning grease and particulate filter and heat exchanger used to collect thermal energy normally vented through flue hoods or other ventilation systems in commercial or institutional kitchens. Fluids circulated within the heat exchanger/filter may then be utilized for heating other mediums, such as water or air, and to promote drainage of the particulate matter and grease from the filter into a removable storage container. The heat exchanger/filter is provided with means for quick assembly and designed to replace existing grease filters, thus allowing economical retrofitting. A baffle filter is further provided which utilizes particular flow patterns to promote a more efficient transfer of grease and particulate matter from the airborne fumes to the filter.
Claims43
A device for heating fluid and filtering grease and particulate matter said device comprising:
- (a) means for exchanging heat including a conduit capable of carrying a fluid therethrough, said conduit oriented such that hot fumes pass over said conduit and transfers heat to said fluid;
- and
- (b) means for filtering wherein said conduit and a plurality of fins are configured such that at least some of said grease and said particulate matter attach to said means for filtering.
A fluid heater and grease filter system for use in a kitchen environment, the environment including a heat generating cooking appliance for preparing cooked foods and which also generates airborne grease, fumes, and particulate matter as a result of the cooking process, the system comprising:
- (a) heat exchanging means, including a conduit capable of carrying fluid therethrough, said conduit oriented such that the heat generated from the cooking equipment passes over said conduit and transfers heat to said fluid;
- (b) said conduit further defining a filter means wherein said conduit and a plurality of fins are configured such that at least some of the grease and particulate matter are removed from the fumes generated from the cooking appliance and attach to said filter means;
- (c) fluid control means, wherein the rate of said fluid entering and exiting said combination heat exchanger/filter is regulated by the monitoring of the temperature of said fluid inside said conduit;
- (d) collection means disposed adjacent said filter means to collect the grease and particulate which attaches to said filter means.
A system for filtering particulate matter and grease from hot fumes and heating a fluid circulating through the system, comprising:
- (a) a conduit capable of carrying a fluid therethrough, said conduit oriented such that the hot fumes pass thereover, transferring heat to said circulating fluid;
- (b) said conduit and an attached plurality of fins further being oriented to define a filter means such that at least some of the particulate matter and grease from the hot fumes are collected on said conduit and said attached plurality of fins;
- (c) fluid control means, wherein the rate of said fluid entering and exiting said system is regulated by the monitoring of the temperature of said fluid inside said conduit.
A method for filtering grease and particulate matter from airborne fumes and utilizing heat released from cooking equipment to heat incoming fluid, comprising:
- (a) circulating said fluid into a conduit;
- (b) passing said air fumes from said cooking equipment over said conduit;
- (c) transferring heat from said airborne fumes to said fluid contained in said conduit;
- (d) discharging heated fluid from said conduit;
- (e) trapping said grease and said particulate matter on said conduit and a plurality of fins in close proximity to said conduit;
- and
- (f) collecting said grease and said particulate matter in a removable vessel.
A combination heat exchanger/filter for use in a kitchen environment, said environment including a heat generating cooking appliance for preparing cooked foods and which also generates grease, fumes and particulate matter as a result of the cooking process, the combination comprising:
- (a) a rectangular body;
- (b) said body including first and second fluid communication ports and a serpentine continuous conduit disposed between and interconnecting said ports;
- said first port adapted to receive fluid from a fluid source and said second port adapted to transmit fluid from said combination heat exchanger/filter;
- (c) a plurality of thin fins extending from said conduit and oriented to absorb heat and collect grease and other particulate matter;
- (d) control means, comprising a temperature sensing device and fluid flow regulation device for controlling the discharge of fluid from said conduit and maintaining the temperature of said fluid in said conduit above a predetermined value;
- (e) a pressure relief valve in communication with said continuous conduit fluid, said pressure relief valve discharging fluid from said continuous conduit when the fluid pressure rises above a predetermined level;
- and
- (f) an upstream baffle located substantially adjacent said plurality of thin fins extending from said conduit, said baffle having a plurality of entry ports and a plurality of exit ports defined by a plurality of upstream vanes and plurality of downstream vanes, said vanes configured to create rotational and circular flow patterns of said fumes, grease and particulate matter between said plurality of entry ports and said plurality of exit ports, whereby at least some of said grease and particulate matter temporarily attach to said upstream and said downstream vanes.
A grease filter for use in a kitchen environment, said environment including a heat generating cooking appliance for preparing cooked foods and which also generates airborne grease, fumes and particulate matter as a result of the cooking process, said filter comprising:
- (a) baffle means configured to create substantially rotational and vortex currents of said grease, fumes and particulate matter within said baffle means to promote the transfer of said airborne grease and particulate matter to said baffle means;
- and
- (b) collection means for collecting said airborne grease and particulate matter transferred upon said baffle.
A grease filter for use in a kitchen environment, said environment including a grease storage container and heat generating cooking appliance which generates grease, fumes and particulate matter as a result of the cooking process, said filter comprising:
- (a) an inlet side and an outlet side, said inlet side having a plurality of inlet ports and said outlet side having a plurality of outlet ports;
- (b) a chamber disposed between said inlet ports and said outlet ports, said chamber geometrically configured to create rotational and vortex flow currents to promote the transfer of said grease and particulate matter to said filter;
- and
- (c) collection means to collect said grease and particulate matter which is transferred onto said filter.
A method for removing grease and particulate matter from airborne cooking fumes generated from a cooking appliance, said method comprising:
- (a) circulating said cooking fumes, said particulate matter and said grease through a baffle comprising a plurality of inlet ports upstream of a plurality of outlet ports, said inlet ports and said outlet ports defined by a plurality of substantially opposing upstream vanes and downstream vanes;
- (b) configuring said inlet ports and said outlet ports to induce said cooking fumes, said grease and said particulate matter to flow in a rotational and circular pattern between said plurality of inlet ports and said plurality of outlet ports;
- (c) impinging said particulate matter and said grease on said inlet vanes and said outlet vanes to transfer said particulate matter and said grease from said fumes onto said upstream vanes and said downstream vanes;
- and
- (d) collecting at least some of said grease and said particulate matter which is attached to said upstream vanes and said downstream vanes in a storage container.
A baffle filter for trapping and collecting airborne grease and particulate matter from cooking fumes, said baffle filter comprising:
- (a) A substantially rigid frame, said frame having an upstream side and a downstream side;
- (b) A plurality of inlet vanes on the upstream side of said rigid frame, said inlet vanes opposed and substantially parallel to a plurality of outlet vanes on the downstream side of said rigid frame;
- (c) said inlet vanes geometrically oriented towards said outlet vanes to define a chamber, said chamber creating a circular path of flow between said inlet vanes and said outlet vanes, wherein at least some of said grease and said particulate matter impinges on said inlet and said outlet vanes;
- and
- (d) a collection vessel substantially adjacent to said baffle filter to store said grease and said particulate matter impinged on said inlet vanes and said outlet vanes.
A baffle filter for trapping and collecting airborne grease and particulate matter from cooking fumes, said baffle filter comprising:
- (a) a rectangular body;
- (b) said rectangular body including four side walls which define an upstream side and a downstream side;
- (c) a plurality of upstream vanes which extend between two parallel side walls on the upstream side, said upstream vanes substantially opposing a plurality of downstream vanes on the downstream side of said baffle filter;
- (d) said upstream vanes and said downstream vanes each having a leading edge and trailing edge extending between said two parallel side walls, said leading edge and said trailing edge of said upstream vane defining an inlet port and said leading edge and trailing edge on said downstream vane defining an outlet port;
- (e) said inlet port extending downward toward said downstream side at a minimum angle of at least about 25 degrees from the horizontal plane defined by the upstream side walls;
- (f) said outlet port extending upward toward said upstream side at a minimum angle of at least about 25 degrees from the horizontal plane defined by the downstream side walls;
- and
- (g) said upstream vane trailing edge and said downstream vane leading edge defining a chamber, said chamber creating a circular flow pattern wherein at least some of said grease and said particulate matter impinge on said upstream vanes and said downstream vanes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.