Process of and system for distribution, recovery and handling of bulk edible oil and other fluids

• US 5,839,360 A
• Filed: 06/10/1996
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David R. Williams
• Original Assignee: David R. Williams
• Inventors: Williams, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Simone, Timothy F.
• Application Number:
  US08/660,768
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 99/330, 99/403-410, 210/167, 210/DIG. 8, 426/523, 426/438-431
• US Class Current: 99/408
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 37/1223 with means for filtering the frying liquid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 210/08 Fat fryer

Abstract

A process of and system for distributing, filtering, storing, recovering, and disposing of bulk edible oil or other fluid. The filtering system having a filter box assembly, superstructure and fluid transfer unit functions to filter the edible oil or other fluid, transfer the fresh (new) oil or other fluid for use in commercial vats and transfer spent (old) oil or other fluid to an outdoor supply and disposal storage tank. Two three-way valves coupled to two manual three-way valve switch handles operate to control the fluid transfer unit to intake fresh or old fluid and to dispense of the fresh or old fluid. A mobile transport truck couples to the outdoor supply and disposal storage tank for filling the supply and disposal storage tank with fresh (new) oil or other fluid and retrieves the spent (old) oil or other fluid.

Claims

1. A system for handling edible oil or other fluids for use in commercial or institutional food preparation establishments, said system comprising:

(a) storage means for storing fresh and waste fluid;

(b) pump means with an intake manifold and a discharge manifold for transferring the fresh fluid from said storage means to a catchment vessel, transferring filtered fluid from a filtering means to said catchment vessel, and transferring said waste fluid to said storage means;

(c) a first three-way valve coupled to said intake manifold for connecting a fresh fluid line and a filtered fluid intake line to said intake manifold and having a first position and a second position;

(d) a second three-way valve coupled to said discharge manifold for connecting a spent fluid disposal line and a wand dispensing line to said discharge manifold and having a first position and a second position; and

,

(e) wherein when said first and second three-way valves are both in said first position, said second valve communicates said filtered fluid from said filtered fluid intake line to said wand dispensing line for dispensing into said catchment vessel; and

when said first valve is in said second position and said second valve is in said first position, said first valve communicates said fresh fluid from said storage means through said fresh fluid line to said wand dispensing line; and

when said first valve is in said first position and said second valve is in said second position, said second valve communicates said filtered fluid from said filtered fluid intake line to said fluid disposal line for transport to said storage means.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprises at least one tank truck for transporting the fresh fluid to said storage means and retrieving said waste fluid from said storage means, said at least one tank truck comprises:

(a) a waste fluid compartment for transporting said waste fluid for later recycling;

(b) at least one fresh fluid compartment for transporting said fresh fluid to said establishment;

(c) heating means located in said waste fluid compartment and said at least one fresh fluid compartment for maintaining the spent fluid and fresh fluid in liquid form;

(d) dispensing nozzle for coupling to said storage means for dispensing said fresh fluid into said storage means;

(e) dispensing line coupled to said dispensing nozzle for supplying the fresh fluid to said dispensing nozzle;

(f) connecting means for coupling to said storage means; and

,

(g) retrieving line coupled to said connecting means for retrieving said waste fluid from said storage means to said waste fluid compartment.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises:

(a) partition means for partitioning said storage means;

(b) fresh fluid compartment for storing said fresh fluid;

(c) waste fluid compartment for storing said waste fluid;

(d) gauge means for communicating a level of said fresh fluid;

(e) heating means extending along the length of said storage means for maintaining the fresh fluid and the waste fluid at temperatures above a solidification point; and

,

(f) heat source means coupled to said heating means for controlling the temperature of said heating means.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cascaded catchment vessels connected to a fouled fluid line for communicating fouled fluid from said plurality of cascaded catchment vessels to said filtering means.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said fouled fluid line is connected to said plurality of cascaded catchment vessels for communicating said fouled fluid from said plurality of cascaded catchment vessels to said filtering means at an inclined angle wherein said fouled fluid line has a higher end and a lower end, with said lower end being connected to said filtering means.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said filtering means comprises:

(a) a filter box having a top with a handle, four vertical sides with one side having an aperture for coupling to a fouled fluid line wherein fouled fluid enters said filter box through said aperture, and a bottom with four caster wheels attached at each corner of said bottom for moving said filter box and an aperture for coupling said bottom to said filtered fluid line such that the filtered fluid exits therethrough;

(b) a filter grill positioned on said bottom of said filter box for filtering the impurities from the fouled fluid;

(c) filter septum positioned on said filter grill for filtering the impurities to form said filtered fluid;

(d) means for securing said filter septum on said filter grill positioned on said filter septum;

(e) drain line connecting said bottom of said filter box to said filtered fluid line for communicating the filtered fluid to said filtered fluid line; and

,

(f) tee shaped fitting for coupling said aperture for coupling said bottom to said drain line for communicating the filtered fluid from said filter box to said drain line.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising mounting means, said mounting means comprises:

(a) a pair of channel rails positioned on opposite sides of said filter box;

(b) four standoffs, two each positioned between each of said channel rails and said filter box;

(c) support frame including four support legs positioned above said top of said filter box for mounting said pump means; and

,

(d) movable sockets mounted on each of said channel rails for receiving said support legs thereby securing said support frame to said channel rails.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising wand assembly means coupled to said wand dispensing line for controlling the dispensing of said filtered fluid into said catchment vessel and said fresh fluid into said catchment vessel.

9. A system for handling heated edible oil or other fluids for use in commercial establishments, said system comprising:

(a) storage means for storing fresh and waste fluid;

(b) pump means with an intake manifold and a discharge manifold for transferring the fresh fluid from said storage means to a catchment vessel, transferring filtered fluid from a filtering means to said catchment vessel, and transferring said waste fluid to said storage means;

(c) a first three-way valve coupled to said intake manifold for connecting a fresh fluid line and a filtered fluid intake line to said intake manifold and having a first position and a second position;

(d) a second three-way valve coupled to said discharge manifold for connecting a spent fluid disposal line and a wand dispensing line to said discharge manifold and having a first position and a second position; and

,

(e) means for controlling said first and second three-way valves to said first position to perform a normal filtering mode, controlling said first valve to said second position and said second valve to said first position to perform a fresh fluid intake mode; and

controlling said first valve to said first position and said second valve to said second position to perform waste fluid disposal mode.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprises at least one tank truck for transporting the fresh fluid to said storage means and retrieving said waste fluid from said storage means, said at least one tank truck comprises:

(a) a waste fluid compartment for transporting said waste fluid for later recycling;

(b) at least one fresh fluid compartment for transporting said fresh fluid to said establishment;

(c) heating means located in said waste fluid compartment and said at least one fresh fluid compartment for maintaining the spent fluid and fresh fluid in liquid form;

(d) dispensing nozzle for coupling to said storage means for dispensing said fresh fluid into said storage means;

(e) dispensing line coupled to said dispensing nozzle for supplying the fresh fluid to said dispensing nozzle;

(f) connecting means for coupling to said storage means; and

,

(g) retrieving line coupled to said connecting means for retrieving said waste fluid from said storage means to said waste fluid compartment.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein said storage means comprises:

(a) partition means for partitioning said storage means;

(b) fresh fluid compartment for storing said fresh fluid;

(c) waste fluid compartment for storing said waste fluid;

(d) gauge means for communicating a level of said fresh fluid;

(e) heating means extending along the length of said storage means for maintaining the fresh fluid and the waste fluid at temperatures below a solidification point; and

,

(f) heat source means coupled to said heating means for controlling the temperature of said heating means.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of cascaded catchment vessels connected to a fouled fluid line for communicating fouled fluid from said plurality of cascaded catchment vessels to said filtering means.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said fouled fluid line is connected to said plurality of cascaded catchment vessels for communicating said fouled fluid from said plurality of cascaded catchment vessels to said filtering means at an inclined angle wherein said fouled fluid line has a higher end and a lower end, with said lower end being connected to said filtering means.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein said filtering means comprises:

(a) a filter box having a top with a handle, four vertical sides with one side having an aperture for coupling to a fouled fluid line wherein fouled fluid enters said filter box through said aperture, and a bottom with four caster wheels attached at each corner of said bottom for moving said filter box and an aperture for coupling said bottom to said filtered fluid line such that the filtered fluid exits therethrough;

(b) a filter grill positioned on said bottom of said filter box for filtering the impurities from the fouled fluid;

(c) filter septum positioned on said filter grill for filtering the impurities to form said filtered fluid;

(d) means for securing said filter septum on said filter grill positioned on said filter septum;

(e) drain line connecting said bottom of said filter box to said filtered fluid line for communicating the filtered fluid to said filtered fluid line; and

,

(f) tee shaped fitting for coupling said aperture for coupling said bottom to said drain line for communicating the filtered fluid from said filter box to said drain line.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising mounting means, said mounting means comprises:

(a) a pair of channel rails positioned on opposite sides of said filter box;

(b) four standoffs, two each positioned between each of said channel rails and said filter box;

(c) support frame including four support legs positioned above said top of said filter box for mounting said pump means; and

,

(d) movable sockets mounted on each of said channel rails for receiving said support legs thereby securing said support frame to said channel rails.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising wand assembly means coupled to said wand dispensing line for controlling the dispensing of said filtered fluid into said catchment vessel and said fresh fluid into said catchment vessel.

17. A method of handling bulk edible oils or other fluids used in commercial or institutional food preparation establishments, the method comprising:

(a) storing fresh and spent fluid in a storage means;

(b) connecting a fresh fluid line to a transferring means;

(c) controlling a first valve to a second position;

(d) controlling a second valve to a first position;

(e) pumping fresh fluid from a storage means through said first valve to a wand dispensing line;

(f) dispensing said fresh fluid in a catchment vessel;

(g) heating said fresh fluid when needed;

(h) controlling said first valve to a first position;

(i) cooking with said fresh fluid to form fouled fluid;

(j) filtering said fouled fluid for removing particulate matter to form filtered fluid;

(k) dispensing said filtered fluid into said catchment;

(l) repeating steps I through k as needed;

(m) connecting a fluid disposal line to said transferring means;

(n) controlling said second valve to a second position; and

,

(o) communicating filtered fluid from said filtered fluid intake line to said storage means filtered fluid to form waste fluid.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

(p) transporting the fresh fluid to said storage means; and

,

(q) retrieving said waste fluid from said storage means to a transport means.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said storing step (a) comprises the steps of:

i. communicating a level of said fresh fluid;

ii. heating said fresh fluid and said waste fluid; and

,

iii. maintaining said fresh fluid and said waste fluid at temperatures above a solidification point.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of flushing periodically a drain line coupled to said filtered fluid intake line.