Range exhaust cleaning system and method

• US 8,316,839 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Restaurant Technologies Incorporated (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: KBS AutoMist, LLC (Goldman Sachs Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kellogg, David Alan, Smieja, David Paul, Bruns, Ryan Dietrich
• Primary Examiner(s): Rinehart, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREIRO, JORGE ANDRES
• Application Number:
  US12/944,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20110048397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 126/299.E, 126/299.R, 126/16, 169/55, 169/65
• US Class Current: 126/299.E
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/006 for kitchens or stoves
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/2057 using a cleaning liquid

Abstract

A cleaning system for a cooking range exhaust having a hood, a backsplash, and a flue for exhausting cooking effluent is disclosed. The cleaning system includes a fluid delivery system constructed for placement within the cooking range exhaust. The fluid delivery system includes a hood spray conduit constructed for placement within the hood and comprising spray openings for directing a degreasing composition to the backsplash. The fluid delivery system includes a flue spray conduit constructed for placement within the flue and comprising spray openings for directing the degreasing composition to an interior surface of the flue. The cleaning system includes a pump system constructed for conveying the degreasing composition from a degreasing composition source and through the fluid delivery system. The cleaning system includes a collection reservoir constructed to collect degreasing composition runoff from the cooking range exhaust. A method of cleaning a cooking range exhaust and a self cleaning exhaust system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system, comprising:

a cooking range exhaust comprising a hood having a backsplash and a flue having a flue opening into the hood, wherein the hood is provided in proximity to a cooking area to recover cooking effluent when the cooking range exhaust is operated;

a first fluid delivery system mounted on the cooking range exhaust, the first fluid delivery system including a non-rotating hood spray conduit provided within the hood and comprising a plurality of fixed spray openings to deliver a degreasing composition to the backsplash;

a second fluid delivery system mounted on the cooking range exhaust, the second fluid delivery system including a plurality of spray openings to deliver fire-extinguishing water; and

a pump system constructed for conveying the degreasing composition from a degreasing composition source or water from a water source and through the first or second fluid delivery system.

2. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, wherein

the hood spray conduit is provided adjacent an interior surface of the backsplash, the hood spray conduit longitudinally traversing a substantial portion of the backsplash and the plurality of fixed spray openings configured to direct the degreasing composition to substantially an entire interior surface of the backsplash.

3. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising a collection reservoir constructed to collect degreasing composition run-off from the cooking range exhaust.

4. The self-cleaning and fire prevention system of claim 3, wherein the cooking range exhaust includes an opening in a drain trough, the opening communicatively coupled to the collection reservoir.

5. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, wherein each of the fixed spray openings of the hood spray conduit comprise a non-rotary spray nozzle.

6. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the pump system is constructed for conveying water from the water source and through the first fluid delivery system.

7. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, wherein the pump system includes a pump configured to alternatively connect to the degreasing composition source and the water source.

8. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising at least one non-penetrable mounting clamp constructed to hold a portion of the first fluid delivery system within the cooking range exhaust, the at least one non-penetrable mounting clamp terminating in one or more frictionally engaging feet.

9. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 8, wherein the at least one non-penetrable mounting clamp includes two opposed adjustable legs extending from opposite sides of a clamp body.

10. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 1, further comprising a user-interface integrated with the pump system allowing control and programming of the pump system, the user-interface including a memory storing a performance history of the pump system.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first fluid delivery system further comprises a flue spray conduit provided within the flue and comprising a plurality of spray openings provided to deliver the degreasing composition to an interior surface of the flue.

12. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of spray openings of the flue spray conduit are configured for directing the degreasing composition to substantially the entire interior surface of the flue.

13. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the spray openings of the flue spray conduit is configured to vertically spray the degreasing composition into a fan subsystem located vertically above a top end portion of the flue spray conduit.

14. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the first fluid delivery system further comprises a first connection conduit connecting the hood spray conduit to the pump system along a first fluid path, and a second connection conduit connecting the flue spray conduit to the pump system along a second fluid path spaced from the first fluid path.

15. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 11, wherein the flue spray conduit connects to the hood spray conduit within the cooking range exhaust.

16. The self-cleaning and fire prevention exhaust system of claim 15, wherein the fluid delivery system further comprises a first connection conduit connecting the hood spray conduit and the flue spray conduit to the pump system.

17. The self-cleaning and fire prevention system of claim 1, further comprising one or more exhaust filters positionable below the flue opening to receive degreasing composition, sprayed onto a surface of run-off from the flue by a plurality of spray openings of a flue spray conduit, and convey the degreasing composition run-off to a drain trough, the one or more exhaust filters extending at least ten inches beyond each side of the flue opening.

18. The self-cleaning and fire prevention system of claim 17, wherein the cooking range exhaust includes one or more markers providing for proper positioning of the one or more exhaust filters.