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

• US 6,330,852 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 12/18/2001
• 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:
  US09/583,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 993/30, 994/03--10, 210/167, 210/DIG.8, 426/523, 426/438, 426/431
• 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 and a discharge 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) first valve means coupled to said intake for connecting a fresh fluid line and a filtered fluid intake line to said intake and having a plurality of operative modes;

(d) said second valve means coupled further to said discharge for connecting a spent fluid disposal line and a wand dispensing line to said discharge and having a plurality of operative modes; and

,

(e) wherein when said first valve means and said second valve means are respectfully in one of said operative modes, said second valve means 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 means is in another one of said plurality of operative modes and said second valve means is in said one of said operative modes, said first valve means communicates said fresh fluid from said storage means through said fresh fluid line to said wand dispensing line; and

when said first valve means is in said one of said operative modes and said second valve means is in another one of said plurality of operative modes, said second valve means 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 line for coupling to said storage means for dispensing said fresh fluid into said storage means;

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

,

(f) 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) sensing means for communicating a level of at least one of said fresh fluid or waste 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 removable top with a handle, said filter box further having an opening and a bottom with four caster wheels for moving said filter box;

(b) a filter grill positioned on a sump formed 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 in said filter box;

(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;

(f) said filter box having a second opening said second opening having a fitting for communicating said bottom to said drain line for directing 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 position 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 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 and a discharge 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) valve means coupled to said intake for connecting a fresh fluid line and a filtered fluid intake line to said intake and having a plurality of operative modes;

(d) said valve means further coupled to said discharge for connecting a spent fluid disposal line and a wand dispensing line to said discharge and having a plurality of additional operative modes; and

,

(e) means for controlling said valve means in one of said operative modes and one of said additional operative modes to perform a normal filtering mode, for controlling said valve means in said another of said operative modes and to said one of said additional modes to perform a fresh fluid intake mode; and

controlling said valve means in said one of said operative modes and in another of said additional operative modes 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) a dispensing line for coupling to said storage means for dispensing said fresh fluid into said storage means;

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

,

(f) 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) sensing means for communicating a level of at least one of said fresh fluid or said waste 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 s aid 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, where in 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 removable top with a handle, said filter box having an opening for coupling to a fouled fluid line wherein fouled fluid enters a said filter box through said opening, and a bottom with four caster wheels attached to said bottom for moving said filter box;

(b) a filter grill positioned on a sump formed 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 in said filter box;

(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;

(f) said filter box having a second opening, said second opening having a fitting for communicating said bottom to said drain line for directing the filtered fluid from said filter box to said drain line; and

,

(g) said bottom to said drain line for directing 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;

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

(e) a removable fluid transfer unit including said pump means and said valve means mounted on a frame capable of being operated from a remote location.

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 the steps of:

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

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

(c) controlling said fluid regulation means in a selected one of a plurality of operative modes;

(d) pumping fresh fluid from a storage means through said fluid regulation means to a wand dispensing line,

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

(f) heating said fresh fluid when needed;

(g) controlling said fluid regulation means in said selected one of said plurality of operative modes;

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

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

(j) dispensing said filtered fluid into said catchment;

(k) repeating steps I through J as needed;

(l) connecting a fluid disposal line to said fluid regulation means;

(m) controlling said fluid regulation means in a second of said plurality of operative modes; and

,

(n) 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:

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

,

(p) 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 at least one of said fresh fluid or said waste 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.

21. 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 and a discharge 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) regulation means coupled to said intake for connecting a fresh fluid line and a filtered fluid intake line to said intake;

(d) regulation means coupled further to said discharge for connecting a spent fluid disposal line and a wand dispensing line to said discharge; and

(e) wherein said regulation means alternatively communicates said filtered fluid from said filtered fluid intake line to said wand dispensing line for dispensing into said catchment vessel;

or said regulation means communicates said fresh fluid from said storage means through said fresh fluid line to said wand dispensing line;

or communicates said filtered fluid from said filtered fluid intake line to said fluid disposal line for transport to said storage means.