Removal of heat and water vapor from commercial dishwashing machines

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-03-04
ECOLAB USA INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The extraction means comprises one or more air inlet means in fluid communication with both the inner compartment of the dishwasher and with a vertical structure comprising a cold water inlet in fluid communication with a spray nozzle. The spray nozzle is located at a horizontal level approximately equal to that of the air inlet means. The spray nozzle provides a high speed water spray suitable to create a venturi effect or a zone of reduced pressure that can serve to pull hot, moisture-laden

Problems solved by technology

Regardless of whether the dishwasher in question is a simple batch loading dishwasher or a complex multi-stage machine, there is an on-going problem with heated water vapor escaping the machine at the end of a cleaning program.
This heat and humidity comes into direct contact with the kitchen personnel and generally reduces comfort of the kitchen environment.
Direct contact with hot, humid air can pose safety problems.
The humidity causes significant safely problems for people who wear glasses and / or contact lenses.
The hot, humid air can irritate people without eyewear as well.
Significant amounts of heated water vapor are put into the room environment, straining air conditioning systems and generally creating discomfort for operators.
A drawback to this method is that the hot, highly humid air contacts environmental air in the use locus and the hood removes only a portion.
While the hood will draw the hot, highly humid air up and away from the dishwasher, it may fail to completely protect the operator from contact with heat and humidity.
In addition, hoods are large, noisy and expensive, wasting heat during winter months, and conditioned air in summer months.
Further, such a system requires venting to the exterior of the building.
Unfortunately, this is noisy, requires electricity and means to vent to the exterior of the building.
However, this device is limited to applications in which the wash chamber is sealed.
Such a device would not work, for example, in a single-stage or multi-stage dishwashing machine open to the atmosphere.
Of course, this method requires the use of a fan, which adds expense, complexity and noise to the dishwashing apparatus.
Therefore, a need remains for a simple, inexpensive and unobtrusive means for capturing the water vapor released from commercial dishwashers.

Method used

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  • Removal of heat and water vapor from commercial dishwashing machines
  • Removal of heat and water vapor from commercial dishwashing machines
  • Removal of heat and water vapor from commercial dishwashing machines

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0012]The invention generally involves the use of a water spray to create a zone of reduced pressure in fluid communication with the interior of a warewashing machine. The reduced pressure in the zone can draw or vent a heated atmosphere comprising heat and humidity from the interior of machines such as commercial dishwashers. Preferably, a water spray is used to capture and cool the hot, highly humid air created within commercial dishwashers. A cold water spray is used to create a pressure reduction which serves to draw in hot, highly humid air from the dishwasher. Water vapor cools and condenses on contact with the cold water spray within the jet or venturi. The invention also serves to help vent the dishwasher, as cold, fresh air is drawn into the dishwasher as the hot air is drawn out of the dishwasher.

[0013]The cold water used to provide the venturi effect is service water from municipal water utilities or wells comprising domestic cold water at or below ambient room temperatur...

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PUM

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Abstract

A water-driven jet or venturi extraction means is used to remove, capture and cool the hot, highly humid air created within commercial dishwashers during a wash rinse or sanitization cycle. A cold water spray is used to create a pressure reduction zone which serves to draw in hot, highly humid air from the dishwasher. Water vapor cools and condenses on contact with the cold water spray within the venturi. The invention also serves to help vent the dishwasher. Cool, fresh air is drawn into the dishwasher while the hot air is drawn into the venturi.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates to a method and apparatus for venting gaseous, vaporous and airborne particulate material from, and cooling the inside, of processing equipment or machinery. In particular, the invention relates to the removal of heated air laden with water vapor from within commercial warewashing or dishwashing machines.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Commercial automated dishwashers have been used for many years in a variety of different locales, wherever large amounts of cookware, silverware, dishware, glasses or other ware need to be cleaned and sanitized. Regardless of whether the dishwasher in question is a simple batch loading dishwasher or a complex multi-stage machine, there is an on-going problem with heated water vapor escaping the machine at the end of a cleaning program. This heat and humidity comes into direct contact with the kitchen personnel and generally reduces comfort of the kitchen environment. Commercial dishwashing machines ca...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): F26B19/00A47L15/42A47L15/48
CPCA47L15/48
InventorJOHANSEN, SCOTT A.BRITTAIN, KENT R.MONSRUD, LEE J.DAVIDSON, GLEN W.
OwnerECOLAB USA INC