Title Filtration System for a Cooking Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a filtration system for filtering fumes, particularly, although not solely, for use with a cooking apparatus such as a cooked food vending machine.

Background of the Invention

Filtration systems are widely used with cooking appliances such as ovens and gas burners. Such filtration systems are generally used to filter waste particulate, residue and the like from fumes produced by the cooking of food for the purpose of cleansing air or vapours.

Summary of the Invention

In the statement of invention and description of the invention which follow, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

A first aspect of the present invention provides a filtration system for filtering fumes, said system comprising: a first chamber having a fume outlet, the first chamber configured to receive fumes from a fume source; and, at least one condenser disposed in a flow path of the fumes to the fume outlet, whereby fumes generated by the

fume source impinge the condenser en route to the fume outlet to form condensate, wherein the or each condenser is configured to return the condensate to the fume source .

One embodiment of the filtration system further comprising a cooling system for cooling the or each condenser. In this embodiment the cooling system may comprise an air cooling system. The air cooling system may comprise an air inlet in the first chamber wherein air flowing into the first chamber from the air inlet flows across the or each condenser enroute to the outlet. This may be achieved by locating the or each condenser proximal to the fume outlet .

The or an alternative embodiment of the filtration system may further comprise a filter in a fluid communication path between the fume outlet and the atmosphere wherein said filter filters solid particles and/ or liquid vapours from the fumes .

The filter can be housed in a second chamber. Further the first chamber and the second chamber may be interposed by the fume source, which may be in the form of a cooking chamber such as a deep fryer.

The fluid communication path may be formed by a conduit extending from the fume outlet to the filter, the conduit having an opening at one end through which fumes from the fume outlet enter the conduit.

The conduit can be formed of a first portion and a second portion hinged to the first portion so that the first portion can be moved between a first position where the first portion is engaged with the first chamber and a second position where the first portion is disengaged from the first portion allowing the first chamber to be removed from the filtration system.

The filtration system may also comprise means for generating a relative low air pressure in fluid communication with and downstream of said filter. The means for generating a relative low air pressure may also be disposed in the second chamber and operate to exhaust filtered fumes to the atmosphere .

A second aspect of the invention provides a modular cooking system comprising a cooking chamber for cooking foodstuffs wherein the cooking chamber produces fumes during a cooking operation; and a filtration system for filtering the fumes, the filtration system comprising: a first chamber demountably supported on the cooking chamber the first chamber configured to receive the fumes and having a fume outlet; and at least one condenser disposed in a flow path of the fumes from the cooking apparatus to the fume outlet the condenser operable to condense liquid vapours in the fumes to produce a condensate and to return the condensate to the cooking chamber .

The filtration system may further comprise a second chamber on which the cooking chamber is demountably supported, the second chamber being in fluid communication with the fume outlet and comprising a filter wherein fumes flowing from the fume outlet pass through the filter and are subsequently exhausted to the atmosphere.

A conduit may be provided that extends from the fume outlet to the filter, the conduit having an opening at one end through which fumes from the fume outlet enter the conduit .

In one embodiment the conduit comprises a first portion and a second portion hinged to the first portion wherein the first portion can be moved between a first position where the first portion is engaged with the first chamber and a

second position where the first portion is disengaged from the first portion, wherein the first chamber can be removed from the cooking apparatus .

Brief Description of the Drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now the described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a main elevation view of one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a working schematic diagram of an end view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a working schematic diagram of a main elevation view of the embodiment shown in Figure;

Figure 4 shows a closer detailed view of one aspect of the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3; and,

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

One embodiment of a filtration system 2 (hereinafter "system") for the filtering of fumes is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 shows the system 2 comprising a first chamber 4 having a fume outlet 6. The first chamber 4 is configured to receive fumes from a cooking chamber 14 which in this instance is a deep fryer, acting as a fume source. Disposed in a flow path of the fumes 28 to the fume outlet 6 is at least one condenser 8 upon which fumes 28 (shown in Figure

2) generated by the cooking chamber 14 impinge when enroute to the fume outlet 6. For the embodiment shown in Figure 1-

5, the condenser 8 is configured within first chamber 4 to collect and return condensate 42, formed from the fumes 28, to the cooking chamber 14. However in an alternative embodiment the condenser 8 may be disposed in the cooking

chamber 14 .

The cooking chamber 14 being a deep fryer, holds a volume of cooking oil 26, which when heated and containing a foodstuff, generates fumes that rise upward within first chamber 4.

The first chamber 4 comprises a cowling or cover 54, with the fume outlet 6 opening onto an outside surface of the cover 54. The fume outlet 6 is positioned substantially above or aligned upwardly from a region 25 in the cooking chamber source 14 where a substantive volume of fumes 28 is expected to emanate. The condenser 8 is configured to be disposed between the region 25 in the cooking chamber 14 and the fume outlet 6 so as to be intersected or impinged by the rising fumes 28. The condenser 8 is orientated to return condensate provided by condensation of liquid vapour in the fumes 28 that contact the condenser 8 to the cooking chamber 14 by the assistance of gravity. This is achieved by inclining the condenser 8 so that rising fumes 28 impinge the lower surface 46 of condenser 8, forming condensate on the underside of condenser 8 that drips back into the cooking chamber 14. In an alternative embodiment the condenser 8 may comprise a plurality of condenser portions suitably disposed and inclined between the cooking chamber 14 and the fume outlet 6. Further, fumes 28 that are able to bypass lower surface 46 while enroute to the fume outlet 6 may impinge upon an upper surface 44 of the condenser 8 and similarly form condensate to be returned to the fume source 26.

Figure 2 shows a further embodiment of system 2 where there is provided an inlet 24 for receiving an incoming flow of ambient air 40 to first chamber 4. The inlet 24 comprises an inlet housing 22 configured to be in fluid communication with first chamber 4. The incoming air 40 mixes with the rising fumes 28 and exits the first chamber via the fume

outlet 6. The flow of incoming air 40 to the fume outlet 6 assists in producing a venturi-type effect, further encouraging upward flow of fumes 28 from the fume source 14. The incoming air 40 also flows across and thus assists in cooling the condenser 8 to facilitate increase condensation of the fumes 28, as it travels to the outlet 6.

The system 2 is provided with a second chamber 16 in fluid communication with said first chamber 4 by a conduit 18. Conduit 18 provides fluid communication between fume outlet 6 and the second chamber 16. Second chamber 16 is configured with an inlet 52 to receive fume from the conduit 18, and an outlet or exhaust opening 56.

A filter 10 is disposed in the second chamber 16 through which air, fumes and other fluids flowing through the conduit 18 must pass in order to reach outlet or exhaust opening 56. The filter 10 in this embodiment comprises three filter elements 10a, 10b, 10c. The filter elements can be individually serviced, cleaned and/ or replaced.

The system 2 may further comprise a means of generating a low pressure to encourage air flow from first chamber 4, through the conduit 18 and filter 10. The means of generating low pressure comprises an exhaust fan 12 in fluid communication with the filter 10 to draw air through the filter 10 and exhaust the filtered air to the surrounding atmosphere 38.

Figure 3 shows the flow of air and fumes through the filtration system 2 to the atmosphere 38. In this regard and as described above, air entering the inlet 24 and the fumes 28 minus the fume components that formed the condensate 42 form a fume mixture 30 that exit through fume outlet 6 and flow through conduit 18 to the second chamber 16. The fume mixture 30 is then directed through the filter 10, exiting as filtered air 32 which is subsequently exhausted to the

surrounding atmosphere 38 by fan 12.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of the present invention where conduit 18 is formed as a first section 19 terminating in a cover 34 and a section 21 which is coupled by a hinge 20 to the section 19. The cover 34 has an open bottom that sits over the fume outlet 6. The hinge 20, allows the cover 34 and corresponding conduit portion 19 to be rotated in direction 50 out of engagement with the fume outlet 6 and the first chamber 4. Articulation of the conduit section 9 allows a service operator to remove the cowling or cover 54 to access first chamber 4 for replacement and/or maintenance purposes. Moreover, rotating first conduit section 19 away from first chamber 4 allows first chamber 4, cooking chamber 14 or second chamber 16 to be individually removed if and when required. Such circumstances may arise when the cooking chamber 14 or the oil 26 require cleaning or replacement .

The first chamber 4, cooking chamber 14 and second chamber 16 can be made as separate units that fit together and can be coupled together with quick release mechanisms such as clips, catches, and/or bolts and wing nuts. This provides modularity allowing easy maintenance and servicing of the system 2 and its components. In particular it allows the removal and replacement of any one of the first chamber 4, the cooking chamber 14 and the second chamber 16 without the need to replace the other chambers .

Numerous variations and modifications will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the relevant art, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts . Such variations and modifications may comprise varying methods and ways of cooling the condenser plate or portion (s) 8 to allow condensate from the fumes 28 to form and drip back to the fume source 26. Different air or water cooling techniques

known in the art may be readily applied to any of the embodiments described herein. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description, and the appended claims.