System and method for sensing oil quality
First Claim
1. A system for measuring the state of degradation of cooking oil in a deep fryer comprising:
- at least one fryer pot, comprising an oil inlet and an oil outlet;
a loop of piping connected to said at least one fryer pot for selectively allowing flow of oil from the at least one fryer pot through the oil outlet into the loop and for selectively allowing the cooking oil to return to said at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet from the loop;
a pump for urging the flow of cooking oil through the loop and selectively to urge oil to return to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet,the loop further comprising a first valve that is positionable in an isolated position to prevent oil flow from returning to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet, and is positionable in a second position to allow oil to return to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet,the loop further comprises a recirculation portion that extends from a discharge of the pump toward a suction of the pump, wherein the recirculation portion extends from a first portion that selectively receives oil flow from the discharge of the pump to a second portion that is fluidly connected with a suction of the pump;
a sensor disposed in the recirculation portion of the loop and adapted to measure an electrical property that is indicative of the quality of the cooking oil within the loop of piping,wherein the recirculation portion is configured to allow oil to flow past the sensor as urged by the pump with the first valve in the isolated position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for measuring the state of degradation of cooking oil in a deep fryer is provided. The system includes at least one fryer pot and a loop of piping fluidly connected thereto for selectively allowing flow of oil from the at least one fryer pot into the loop and for selectively allowing the cooking oil to return to said at least one fryer pot from the loop. A pump urges the flow of cooking oil through the loop of piping and selectively to urge oil to return to the at least one fryer pot. The loop further comprises a return portion that extends from a discharge of the pump toward a suction of the pump. A sensor is disposed in the return portion of the loop and adapted to measure an electrical property that is indicative of total polar materials of said cooking oil.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A system for measuring the state of degradation of cooking oil in a deep fryer comprising:
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at least one fryer pot, comprising an oil inlet and an oil outlet; a loop of piping connected to said at least one fryer pot for selectively allowing flow of oil from the at least one fryer pot through the oil outlet into the loop and for selectively allowing the cooking oil to return to said at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet from the loop; a pump for urging the flow of cooking oil through the loop and selectively to urge oil to return to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet, the loop further comprising a first valve that is positionable in an isolated position to prevent oil flow from returning to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet, and is positionable in a second position to allow oil to return to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet, the loop further comprises a recirculation portion that extends from a discharge of the pump toward a suction of the pump, wherein the recirculation portion extends from a first portion that selectively receives oil flow from the discharge of the pump to a second portion that is fluidly connected with a suction of the pump; a sensor disposed in the recirculation portion of the loop and adapted to measure an electrical property that is indicative of the quality of the cooking oil within the loop of piping, wherein the recirculation portion is configured to allow oil to flow past the sensor as urged by the pump with the first valve in the isolated position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A system for measuring the state of degradation of cooking oil in a deep fryer comprising:
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at least one fryer pot, comprising an oil inlet and an oil outlet; a loop of piping connected to said at least one fryer pot for selectively allowing flow of oil from the at least one fryer pot through the oil outlet and into the loop and for selectively allowing the cooking oil to return to said at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet from the loop; a pump for urging the flow of cooking oil through the loop of piping and selectively to urge oil to return to the at least one fryer pot, the loop further comprising a drain valve that is disposed within the loop and downstream from the oil outlet of the fryer pot, the loop further comprising a first valve downstream of a discharge of the pump that is positionable in an isolated position to prevent oil flow from returning to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet, and is positionable in a second position to allow oil to return to the at least one fryer pot through the oil inlet, the loop further comprises a recirculation portion that extends from a discharge of the pump toward a suction of the pump, wherein the recirculation portion extends from a first portion that selectively receives oil flow from the discharge of the pump to a second portion that is fluidly connected with a suction of the pump; a sensor disposed within the recirculation portion of the loop and adapted to measure an electrical property that is indicative of the quality of the cooking oil within the loop of piping, wherein during cooking operations within the fryer pot the first valve is in the isolated position and the drain valve is in the closed position, and during an operation of the sensor the first valve is in the isolated position, wherein the recirculation portion is configured to allow oil to flow past the sensor as urged by the pump with the first valve in the isolated position. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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Specification