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US 8,997,730 B2Granted
Grease handling apparatus for closed system oven
AssigneeAlto-Shaam, Inc.
InventorsJoseph Kulakowski, Jan Bartelick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grease removal system for a combination oven, requiring venting and condensation of steam, conducts excess grease through the same drainpipe as the steam to a water-filled condenser, then segregates the grease within a reservoir wall. In this way, a single opening may serve to remove both excess steam pressure and grease and temperature-moderated grease may be readily pumped to a convenient location.
Claims20
An oven comprising:
- an oven housing defining a cooking volume and having a door providing access to a cooking volume and sealing the cooking volume when the door is in a closed position;
- a heater communicating with the cooking volume to heat the same;
- a condenser chamber communicating with the cooking volume through a drain opening, the condenser chamber having an exit port communicating with atmosphere outside of the cooking volume and the condenser chamber adapted to hold a pool of water of the condenser chamber at a water level;
- a grease segregation wall separating the condenser chamber into a first collection chamber and a second collection chamber and intersecting the water level to segregate grease passing through the drain opening to a reservoir area within the first collection chamber wherein the drain opening is in the first collection chamber and the exit port is in the second collection chamber and the grease segregation wall is adapted to require steam to flow from the drain opening to pass under the grease segregation wall;
- a pump communicating through an opening in the first collection chamber with the reservoir area to pump grease from the reservoir area out of the first collection chamber;
- and
- a freshwater inlet, to introduce freshwater directly into the second collection chamber from a source external to the condenser chamber, located in the second collection chamber and adapted to provide freshwater to the second collection chamber to control the temperature of the contained water without passing through grease accumulated in the first collection chamber.
4 more elements
A method of operating an oven:
- the method comprising:
- (a) providing an oven having;
- an oven housing defining a cooking volume and having a door providing access to a cooking volume and sealing the cooking volume when the door is in a closed position:
- a heater communicating with the cooking volume to heat the same;
- a condenser chamber communicating with the cooking volume through, a drain opening, the condenser chamber having an exit port communicating with atmosphere outside of the cooking volume and the condenser chamber adapted to hold a pool of water of the condenser chamber at a water level;
- a grease segregation wall separating the condenser chamber into a first collection chamber and a second collection chamber and intersecting the water level to segregate grease passing through the drain opening to a reservoir area within the first collection chamber wherein the drain opening is in the first collection chamber and the exit port is in the second collection chamber and the grease segregation wall is adapted to require steam to flow from the drain opening to pass under the grease segregation wall;
- a pump communicating through an opening in the first collection chamber with the reservoir area to pump grease from the reservoir area out of the first collection chamber;
- and
- a freshwater inlet, to introduce freshwater directly into the second collection chamber from a source external to the condenser chamber, located in the second collection chamber and adapted to provide freshwater to the second collection chamber to control the temperature of the contained water without passing through grease accumulated in the first collection chamber;
- (b) filling the condenser chamber with water to the water level
- (c) heating the cooking volume with the heater to cause grease to enter the condenser chamber;
- (d) blocking grease from passing to file exit port;
- and
- (e) pumping grease from the reservoir area out of the first collection chamber.
11 more elements
An oven comprising:
- an oven housing defining a cooking volume and having a door providing access to a cooking volume and sealing the cooking volume when the door is in a closed position;
- a heater communicating with the cooking volume to heat the same;
- a condenser chamber communicating with the cooking volume through a drain opening, the condenser chamber having an exit port communicating with atmosphere outside of the cooking volume and adapted to hold a pool of water at a water level;
- a grease segregation wall intersecting the water level to segregate grease passing through the drain opening to a reservoir area within the condenser chamber;
- a pump communicating through an opening in the condenser chamber with the reservoir area to pump grease from, the reservoir area out of the condenser chamber;
- a freshwater inlet providing freshwater directly to the condenser chamber to control the temperature of the contained water;
- a steam collection port that recirculates steam of the condenser chamber back into the cooking volume;
- and
- a temperature sensor of the steam collection port for collecting temperature information of the steam.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.