Method of manufacturing a modular range system

• US 8,578,585 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 11/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITW Food Equipment Group LLC (Illinois Tool Works Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Dettloff, Stan
• Primary Examiner(s): COZART, JERMIE E
• Application Number:
  US12/860,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20110041831A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 294/69, 295/250.1, 295/250.2, 295/251.1, 126/39.B, 126/9.R, 126/9.B, 126/19.R, 126/273.R, 126/333, 108/157.13
• US Class Current: 29/469
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/08 Foundations or supports plates; Legs or pillars; Casings; Wheels tops, e.g. hot plates F24C15/10
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 3/12 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49904 Assembling a subassembly, then assembling with a second subassembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49948 Multipart cooperating fastener [e.g., bolt and nut]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49963 Threaded fastener

Abstract

A modular range system and method utilizes a plurality of substantially pre-assembled range modules configured to be interconnected together, using combination kits, such that a variety of range configurations can be achieved using a relatively small number of stocked substantially pre-assembled range modules.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a range unit, the method comprising:

(a) stocking a first substantially pre-assembled range module having a first width and first top configuration;

(b) stocking a second substantially pre-assembled range module having a second width and second top configuration;

(c) to fill an order for a range having a third width and third top configuration, where the third width is equal to the sum of the first width and the second width and the third top configuration is a combination of the first top configuration and the second top configuration, performing the steps of;

(c-i) placing the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the second substantially pre-assembled range module;

(c-ii) rigidly connecting the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the second substantially pre-assembled range module using interconnecting structure located on the range modules to form a combined assembly;

(c-iii) connecting a front ledge having the third width to both mount structure at a front of the first substantially pre-assembled range model and mount structure at a front of the second substantially pre-assembled range module to provide a seamless front ledge across the combined assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) further includes:

(c-iv) connecting a rear riser having the third width to the combined assembly to provide a seamless rear riser across the combined assembly.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first substantially pre-assembled range module includes a first gaseous fuel inlet;

the second substantially pre-assembled range module includes a second gaseous fuel inlet;

step (c) includes;

interconnecting the first gaseous fuel inlet and the second gaseous fuel inlet to provide the combined assembly with a single gaseous fuel inlet connection that feeds both gaseous fuel inlets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein first substantially pre-assembled range module and second substantially pre-assembled range module are stocked by one of a range manufacturer or a range distributor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined assembly is a first combined assembly and the method further comprises:

(d) stocking a third substantially pre-assembled range module having the second width and a fourth top configuration;

(e) to fill an order for a range having the third width and a fifth top configuration, where the third width is equal to the sum of the first width and the second width and the fifth top configuration is a combination of the first top configuration and the fourth top configuration, performing the steps of;

(e-i) placing the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the third substantially pre-assembled range module;

(e-ii) rigidly connecting the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the third substantially pre-assembled range module using interconnecting structure located on the range modules to form a second combined assembly.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

step (c) includes;

(c-iv) connecting a rear riser having the third width to the first combined assembly to provide a seamless rear riser across the first combined assembly;

step (e) includes;

(e-iii) connecting a front ledge having the third width to the second combined assembly to provide a seamless front ledge across the second combined assembly; and

(e-iv) connecting a rear riser having the third width to the second combined assembly to provide a seamless rear riser across the second combined assembly.

7. A method of manufacturing a range unit, the method comprising:

(a) stocking a first substantially pre-assembled range module having a first width and first top configuration;

(b) stocking a second substantially pre-assembled range module having a second width and second top configuration;

(c) to fill an order for a range having a third width and third top configuration, where the third width is equal to the sum of the first width and the second width and the third top configuration is a combination of the first top configuration and the second top configuration, performing the steps of;

(c-i) placing the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the second substantially pre-assembled range module;

(c-ii) rigidly connecting the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the second substantially pre-assembled range module using interconnecting structure located on the range modules to form a combined assembly;

wherein the first substantially pre-assembled range module includes a plurality of brackets, the second substantially pre-assembled range module includes a plurality of brackets, brackets of the first substantially pre-assembled range module aligning with brackets of the second substantially pre-assembled range module to provide the interconnecting structure when a side of the first substantially pre-assembled range module directly abuts a side of the second substantially pre-assembled range module.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein nut and bolt assemblies are passed through aligned openings of aligned brackets to achieve the rigid connection.

9. A method of manufacturing a range unit, the method comprising:

(a) stocking a first substantially pre-assembled range module having a first width and first top configuration;

(b) stocking a second substantially pre-assembled range module having a second width and second top configuration;

(c) to fill an order for a range having a third width and third top configuration, where the third width is equal to the sum of the first width and the second width and the third top configuration is a combination of the first top configuration and the second top configuration, performing the steps of;

(c-i) placing the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the second substantially pre-assembled range module;

(c-ii) rigidly connecting the first substantially pre-assembled range module adjacent the second substantially pre-assembled range module using interconnecting structure located on the range modules to form a combined assembly;

(c-iii) connecting a front ledge having the third width to the combined assembly to provide a seamless front ledge across the combined assembly;

(c-iv) connecting a rear riser having the third width to the combined assembly to provide a seamless rear riser across the combined assembly;

wherein the first substantially pre-assembled module includes a plurality of brackets, the second substantially pre-assembled module includes a plurality of brackets, brackets of the first substantially pre-assembled module aligning with brackets of the second substantially pre-assembled module to provide the interconnecting structure;

wherein;

the first substantially pre-assembled range module includes a first gaseous fuel inlet;

the second substantially pre-assembled range module includes a second gaseous fuel inlet;

step (c) includes;

interconnecting the first gaseous fuel inlet and the second gaseous fuel inlet to provide the combined assembly with a single gaseous fuel inlet connection that feeds both gaseous fuel inlets.