Fryer oil transfer unit

Abstract

An apparatus for collecting and transferring used cooking oil is disclosed. The apparatus comprises an oil container, an oil wand, a bidirectional, battery-powered pump and macerator, and circuits including batteries for selectably operating the pump in one of two flow directions. The components of the oil transfer apparatus are made from thermally resistant materials for withstanding oil temperatures of about 175 °C or higher, including food grade stainless steel and aluminum, food grade silicone, and fluoropolymer elastomer and polytetrafluoroethylene. The oil transfer apparatus further includes features such as a heat shield, rolling castors, a drain valve and visual indicators to display an operational status.

Description

[0001] Fryer Oil Transfer Unit

[0002] FIELD

[0003] The current disclosure relates generally to equipment for handling used cooking oil, particularly to equipment for use in food-preparation venues to filter cooking oil and to transport oil from a deep fryer to a collection container.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Deep fried foods are common menu items available at restaurants and locales where food is prepared. Prepared food items are submerged in hot oil, and allowed to cook for short periods of time. Deep fried food items are popular for a variety of reasons. Sweet and savory items can be prepared, allowing for a wide range of tastes and flavors. Multiple food items can be prepared at once, for batch preparation of foodstuffs, limited by the size of the recipient used to contain the cooking oil. Food items can be prepared for deep frying and stored, to be cooked at a later time, for example, when a customer places an order, such that the customer receives a hot food item. In addition, cooking oil can be used for multiple batches of food items.

[0006] Cooking oil that has been used for deep frying food requires regular filtration and periodic replacement for various reasons, including tastes and flavors leaching out from the food into the oil, the accumulation of food solids accumulate in the cooking oil after repeated use, and degradation of the cooking oil due to prolonged heat exposure, among others. Typically, when replacing the cooking oil in equipment such as a deep fryer, the oil should be cool, however for various reasons it is often drained from the fryer and transported while it is still hot which presents a high risk of serious burn injuries to the person performing. The task further includes straining the oil to filter out the food solids, and storing the cooking oil until it can be transported to an appropriate disposal or recycling facility, for example, to be recycled into biodiesel. Cooking oil can be heated up to about 175 °C (350 °F) or more for cooking. Handling hot oil is a potential hazard, as hot oil can seriously injure an operator, and imposes requirements on the materials of any container that the oil is stored in. Food solids within cooking oil affect the purity of the oil, and may limit the options available for re-use or recycling.Existing equipment to transfer used cooking oil includes metal containers and shuttles, which are typically gravity filled with used oil. Best practice is to allow the oil to cool before transporting, however many food service operators transport used oil while it is still very hot. This creates significant health and safety concerns with high risk of severe burn injuries. Best practice is to allow the oil to cool before transporting, however many food service operators transport used oil while it is still very hot. This creates significant health and safety concerns with high risk of severe burn injuries. Equipment to manage fryer oil typically includes different types of filtration machines as well as various types of vessels or equipment to transport used oil to a collection container. While filtration machines vary significantly in style and function, they typically aren’t used to transport used oil to a collection container. Oil filtration equipment and oil transportation equipment are typically different types of equipment. Typical oil transportation equipment requires the operator to manually transfer the oil into the disposal bin.

[0007] The above limitations impose operational restrictions that affect the time and resources needed to reuse and recycle cooking oil, as well as significant health & safety hazards to the operator using the equipment.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cooking oil transfer apparatus comprising: an oil container for receiving used cooking oil; a collection wand; a bidirectional gear pump, providing fluid communication between the collection wand, and the oil container; and circuits operatively coupled to the bidirectional gear pump for selectively activating the bidirectional gear pump to either pump cooking oil into the container or out of the container.

[0010] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The container is made from one or more of food grade stainless steel and food grade aluminum. The container defines a volume between 50 liters and 200 liters. The container includes a graded bottom surface inclined towards a drain valve. The container further includes a float level indicator, operatively coupled to circuits, for disabling operation of pump when a fluid level within container reaches a predetermined maximum level. The float level indicator is a magnetic float switch A pivotable cover defines a top of said container and the cover including a fastener, where a seal is disposed on a top rim of the container toform a seal between the pivotable cover and the top rim. The fastener is a self-locking latch. In embodiments, the apparatus may include a visual indicator operatively coupled to circuits for displaying a status of the apparatus. The apparatus may further include a heat shield on one or more sides of the container. In embodiments, the apparatus further includes a plurality of locking castors 62

[0011] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. A filter in fluid communication with the bidirectional gear pump to receive the used cooking oil from the collection wand and arranged to flow filtered cooking oil to the oil container. The filter is located within the oil container. A selection valve coupled to the bidirectional gear pump and arrange to direct the used cooking oil to at least one of the filter or to the oil container. The selection valve is a three-way valve. A timer connected to operate the bidirectional gear pump for a selectable amount of time. A wand holder receives a rigid handle section of the collection wand, wherein the collection wand includes a flexible section coupled to the rigid handle section, preferably wherein the flexible section of the collection wand is made from food grade reinforced silicone. A pivotable cover defines a top of said oil container, the pivotable cover including a fastener, wherein a seal is disposed on a top rim of the oil container to form a seal between the pivotable cover and the top rim, preferably wherein the fastener is a self-locking latch. A visual indicator is operatively coupled to circuits for displaying a status of the apparatus, preferably one or more of an oil level indicator: a flow direction of oil, a flow rate of oil, oil temperature, and an error status. A heat shield is located on one or more sides of container. A plurality of locking castors at a base of the cooking oil transfer apparatus.

[0012] Various other features, objects and advantages of the disclosure will be made apparent from the following description taken together with the drawings.

[0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Various objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the following description of embodiments of the methods, systems and devices as described herein, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the methods, systems and devices as described herein. The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out thedisclosure. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference like features and like components. In the drawings:

[0015] FIG. 1 is an illustration of oil fryer and transfer unit to transfer used cooking oil, according to the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 2A is a front perspective views of a cooking oil transfer unit, according to the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 2B is rear perspective views of a cooking oil transfer unit, according to the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a transparent perspective view of an embodiment of a cooking oil transfer unit, according to the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a rear exposed view of controls and plumbing layout of an upper portion of the transfer unit;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a rear exposed view of controls and plumbing layout of the transfer unit; and

[0021] FIG. 6 is a rear exposed view of the transfer unit.

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] This written description uses examples to disclose embodiments of the present application, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice or make and use the same. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.

[0024] The present disclosure provides devices for filtering and transferring used cooking oil 1 using a pump, for example from a deep fryer 2, to a storage container for subsequent collection, as Illustrated in FIG.

[0025] 1. The pump and all components in direct contact with cooking oil is made from materials that are able to withstand high temperatures, resist wear, and be food safe. Stored used cooking oil is then collected, for example, by a collection service, which transports the used oil to an appropriate disposalor recycling facility, for example, to be recycling into biodiesel. Safe transfer of used cooking oil poses several challenges, including handling of hot oil, which can reach temperatures up to about 175 °C (350 °F) or higher, and can pose a risk to an operator, and degrade or damage components of the equipment used to transfer the hot oil. In addition, used cooking oil contains food debris and solids, which can interfere with proper operation of pumping units used to move the oil. The inventors have appreciated the need for providing devices for safely transferring used oil that overcomes the above noted limitations.

[0026] The mobile cooking oil filtration and transfer apparatus includes a collection wand attached to a flexible, heat tolerant hose. A switch 46 is used to select the direction of the oil flow through the apparatus. When the switch is selected to fill the oil container, a bidirectional gear pump draws cooking oil into the oil container via the collection wand. If the cooking oil contains solid particles, these particles are macerated as they pass through the bidirectional gear pump. After passing through the bidirectional gear pump 30 the cooking oil encounters a three-way valve 31. Selecting the first valve port directs the cooking oil via a first pipe into a filtration chamber 70 inside the collection tank of the apparatus, located at a top of the container. The filtration chamber contains a removable mesh screen 71 made of food grade heat tolerant metal. As the cooking oil passes through the filtration chamber the macerated food particles are trapped in the mesh screen, effectively removing them from the oil. After passing through the filtration chamber, the oil collects in the main tank of the apparatus.

[0027] The filtered cooking oil is evacuated from the collection tank of the apparatus by selecting the secondary port of the three-way valve and activating the pump switch to reverse the direction of the bidirectional gear pump. In this configuration the oil is drawn from the bottom of the main collection 14 tank via a second pipe through the bidirectional gear pump and is evacuated from the apparatus via the collection wand. This second pipe is located at the lowest point in the oil container to draw oil upwards for evacuation.

[0028] A fryer or cooking oil transfer unit 10 is disclosed herein, and as illustrated in the figures. FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B provide perspectives views of the transfer unit from the front and rear. With particular reference to FIG. 6 the transfer unit 10 includes an oil container 14 to receive, filter and store used cooking oil for transport from a food preparation establishment to an external oil storage container. In some embodiments, oil container 14 is made from a food grade metal, such as food grade stainless steel, aluminum, or brass. Any materials that may rust or leach out into hot, used cooking oil shouldbe avoided. In some embodiments, oil container 14 has a volume capacity in the range of approximately 50 liters to 200 liters, such that it can act as an intermediate vessel when transporting used cooking oil to an offsite steel waste bin when there is no provision for cooling the oil prior to disposal, yet remaining compact enough to fit in a kitchen environment. In embodiments, the lower surface of oil container 14 is graded such that the interior contents of the container flows downwards and rearwards of the apparatus. Oil container 14 further includes a drain valve 17, for draining the entire contents of oil container 14. In embodiments, drain valve is located at a location of lowest grade, such that the contents of container 14 are completely cleared out, for example, during cleaning of the oil filter and transfer unit 10.

[0029] The transfer unit 10 further includes an oil collection wand 16 coupled to one end of a heat tolerant wand hose 18 via a fitting. The opposite end of the wand hose is coupled to the body of the transfer unit 10 via a fitting. Collection wand 16 includes a wand nozzle 22 and wand handle. In embodiments, wand nozzle 22 is defined as a rounded tubular structure, rigidly extending from wand hose 18. A bend is formed on wand nozzle 22 on the end opposite the wand hose, defining an angle of between 0° to 90° with respect to a main axis of wand 16. In some embodiments, wand nozzle forms an angle of about 45 degrees with respect to a major axis of wand nozzle 22. Advantageously, a bent wand nozzle enables an operator to reach difficult to access areas of a fryer to evacuate the greatest amount of oil. In some embodiments, wand nozzle 22 is formed from food safe stainless steel. In embodiments, wand handle 24 is formed as a wire handle, in order to reduce heat transfer from oil wand 16 during operation.

[0030] Transfer unit 10 further includes a wand holder 26, for receiving oil collection wand 16 when not in use. In some embodiments, wand holder 26 is located on a side of transfer unit, as illustrated in FIG.

[0031] 2A and 2B, A fluid passageway is defined between the interior of wand holder 26 and oil container 14, such that any residual oil contained within oil wand 16 after use, drains by gravity into oil container 14 when oil wand 16 is placed within wand holder 26. The opening defined in wand holder 26 for receiving oil wand 16 is at a higher level than a maximum oil level within oil container 14.

[0032] Turning now to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the transfer unit 10 further defines a control and plumbing area with a bidirectional gear pump 30 including a macerator function. In one embodiment, the pump is a self-priming, bidirectional gear pump. Food particles contained in the cooking oil are macerated into fine particulate as they pass through the pump. The size of particulate found in used cooking oil froma food fryer is typically between 50 - 3000 microns. Ideally these particles are macerated to ensure smooth pumping a long life of the device. The macerator may be a gear macerator with the ability to macerate small to medium sized food particles typically found in oil fryer sediment when oil is pumped therethrough. Foods solids are ground by a macerator to create a pumpable fluid. In some embodiments, macerator is contained within and integrated into pump 30. For example, a pump drive shaft may power a macerator gear or flywheel to grind solids within the cooking oil as they are pumped through the pump and macerator. In some embodiments, pump 30 and macerator may be connected in series, with the macerator located upstream of the gear pump (i.e., towards the collection wand). A feature of the pump is that food particles contained in the cooking oil are ground into fine particulate as small as 40 microns or less. Components are made from heat resistant (e.g., greater than about 190 °C or 375 °F) and abrasion resistant materials. In embodiments, pump and macerator are made from metals such as aluminum, nickel plated brass and stainless steel, and pump components, such as seals and gaskets, are made from high temperature sealing materials such as fluoropolymer elastomer or fluoroelastomers, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber.

[0033] In operation, Pump switch 46 activates the pump to draw the cooking oil into the transfer unit via the collection wand. As the oil passes through the pump, any solid matter contained within the oil is macerated into small particulate. After exiting the pump, the oil and small particulates pass through a three-way valve 31. Selecting one port of the valve directs the oil through a filtration chamber inside the collection tank of the apparatus. The filtration chamber 70 contains a removable mesh screen 71 made of food grade heat tolerant metal. As the cooking oil passes through the filtration chamber the macerated food particles are trapped in the mesh screen, effectively removing them from the cooking oil. A disposable filter media can be installed in the filter chamber to remove microscopic particles from the cooking oil. The filter media can have a particle retention range from 100 microns down to 1 micron. The filtered cooking oil exits the filtration chamber and collects in the main tank of the apparatus.

[0034] The filtered cooking oil is evacuated from the collection tank of the apparatus by selecting the secondary port of the three-way valve and activating the pump switch to reverse the direction of the bidirectional gear pump. In this configuration the oil is drawn from the bottom of the main collection tank through the bidirectional gear pump and is evacuated from the apparatus via the collection wand.Transfer unit further includes one or more batteries 40 for providing a built-in power supply, operatively coupled to circuits 42 for operating the filtration and transfer unit 10. In embodiments, batteries 40 are operatively coupled in series. In some embodiments, batteries 40 are operatively coupled in parallel. In some embodiments, batteries 40 comprise two 12-volt lead acid, preferably absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries in series. The apparatus may be powered by one or more direct current power cells, where the number of power cells, voltage, amp hour rating and electrochemical composition may vary as needed. The power cell(s) may be contained within the apparatus. A power cell charging component is also contained within the apparatus and is activated by connecting the apparatus to a 120-volt (or 240-volt) alternating power source via a power cable attached to the apparatus. Power to operate the apparatus may be activated by a timer device 33. The timer device provides power to the various components of the apparatus for a pre-determined length of time. In embodiments, the timer device may be mechanical or electronic in nature. The apparatus includes a component that displays the power level of the battery (or batteries). In embodiments, the apparatus may include a component operatively coupled to circuits for displaying the accumulated run time of the apparatus. Oil container 14 further includes an access cover, to provide easy access to the interior of enclosure during service and inspection of the components within.

[0035] With reference to FIG. 3, oil container 14 further includes a float indicator 44 for determining when the oil container is full of oil, during operation. Float indicator 44 is operatively coupled to circuits 42, such that circuits 42 operate to disable operation of pump 30, when transfer unit 10 is used to empty a receptacle with used cooking oil. In embodiments, float indicator 44 is a magnetic float switch that is activated when an oil level within container 16 reaches a predetermined level.

[0036] Transfer unit 10 further includes pump switch 46, operatively coupled to circuits 42, for controlling operation of pump 30. In some embodiments, pump switch 46 includes a three-way switch, with a first position operatively coupled for driving pump in a first direction to pump oil into transfer unto 10, a second position operatively coupled to deactivate pump 30, and a third position operatively coupled for driving pump 30 in a second direction to pump oil out of transfer unit 10. In some embodiments, pump switch 46 is an on-off-on switch. In some embodiments, pump switch 46 is a mom-off-on switch, such that an operator must continuously activate switch 46 to momentarily operate pump 30 in the first direction.Circuits 42 may further include multiple sensors 49. In embodiments, circuits 42 further include one or more flow sensors, for measuring an oil flow rate. In some embodiments, circuits 42 further include an oil temperature gauge, for reading a cooking oil temperature within the transfer unit 10 during operation.

[0037] Transfer unit 10 further includes a visual indicator, for indicating one or more conditions of transfer unit 10. Visual indicator 48 may include one or more of individual light emitting diodes (LEDs), one or more seven-segment displays, a liquid crystal display, a display screen, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, visual indicator 48 displays a battery charge level of transfer unit 10. In some embodiments, visual indicator 48 displays one or more of an oil level indicator, a flow direction of oil, a flow rate of oil, and an oil temperature measurement. In some embodiments, visual indicator 48 displays a warning or error, indicating a malfunction of transfer unit 10. In some embodiments, visual indicator 48 further includes an hour meter, for indicating one or more of an amount of time the unit has been in use and an amount of time until the transfer unit 10 is full, based on a flow rate and pumping direction.

[0038] Transfer unit 10 further includes a lid sealing the top of the oil container 16. The lid includes a selflatching latch that secures the lid in a closed position, to prevent accidental opening of lid when oil transfer unit 10 is in motion. A seal is disposed on a top surface of oil container 16, with which the lid overlaps, and between an underside of the lid. In some embodiments, the seal is made from a high temperature resistant material, such as high temperature resistant silicone.

[0039] Transfer unit 10 further includes a heat shield. Heat shield may include a thermally insulative material between the heat shield and the transer unit external walls, or may be formed as a separate sheet of material with an air gap between the heat shield and the walls. In embodiments, the heat shield is located on a side of transfer unit 10 where an operator would push the unit to move it.

[0040] Transfer unit 10 further includes a handle 60 for directing transfer unit 10 when transporting used oil from one location to another. Handle 60 may also act as a lift point, for lifting transfer unit 10.

[0041] Transfer unit 10 further includes a plurality of locking castors 4, to prevent accidental rolling of transfer unit 10 during operation, and when in storage.

[0042] It should be recognized that the presently disclosed systems and methods may also be used to develop further configurations not expressly discussed above. These may include different systems orcomponents as describing, achieving the same functionality as that described herein for the oil filtration and transfer unit. While many specific details have been provided for a thorough and complete understanding of the embodiments as described herein, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that said embodiments can be practiced even without these specific details. In other instances, detailed description of components, methods and procedures have not been provided to avoid obscuring the relevant features being described. Further, the embodiments described herein should not be considered as limiting the scope of the method, system and devices as recited in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cooking oil transfer apparatus comprising:an oil container for receiving used cooking oil;a collection wand;a bidirectional gear pump, providing fluid communication between the collection wand, and the oil container; andcircuits operatively coupled to the bidirectional gear pump for selectively activating the bidirectional gear pump to either pump cooking oil into the container or out of the container.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter in fluid communication with the bidirectional gear pump to receive the used cooking oil from the collection wand and arranged to flow filtered cooking oil to the oil container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the filter is located within the oil container.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a selection valve coupled to the bidirectional gear pump and arrange to direct the used cooking oil to at least one of: the filter or to the oil container.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein selection valve is a three-way valve.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oil container is made from one or more of: food grade stainless steel and food grade aluminum.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container defines a volume between 50 liters and 200 liters.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a timer connected to operate the bidirectional gear pump for a selectable amount of time.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oil container includes a graded bottom surface inclined down towards a drain valve.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the oil container further includes a float level indicator, operatively coupled to circuits, for disabling operation of the bidirectional gear pump when a fluid level within the oil container reaches a predetermined maximum level.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the float level indicator is a magnetic float switch.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the gear pump is made from one or more of nickel plated brass and stainless steel.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a wand holder for receiving a rigid handle section of the collection wand, wherein the collection wand includes a flexible section coupled to the rigid handle section, preferably wherein the flexible section of the collection wand is made from food grade reinforced silicone.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a pivotable cover defining a top of said oil container, the pivotable cover including a fastener, wherein a seal is disposed on a top rim of the oil container to form a seal between the pivotable cover and the top rim, preferably wherein the fastener is a self-locking latch.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a visual indicator operatively coupled to circuits for displaying a status of the apparatus, preferably one or more of an oil level indicator: a flow direction of oil, a flow rate of oil, oil temperature, and an error status.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a heat shield on one or more sides of container.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further including a plurality of locking castors at a base of the cooking oil transfer apparatus.

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