Range Exhaust Spray Cleaning for Grease-Fouled Hoods and Flues
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cleaning the confined and remote areas of cooking range exhaust systems, such as the hood and flue, is difficult, costly, and poses a fire hazard due to accumulated grease and effluent, requiring frequent and messy maintenance that can disrupt kitchen operations.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning system with a fluid delivery system that includes spray conduits for directing a degreasing composition and water into the hood and flue, a pump system for conveying the cleaning agents, and a collection reservoir for runoff, allowing for automated or manual cleaning with minimal user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning of the exhaust flue and backsplash is performed, then grease and contaminants are removed from surfaces, but the cleaning process is difficult, costly, and requires kitchen closure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic cleaning system that delivers cleaning solution through hoses and nozzles into the exhaust flue and onto the backsplash. The system uses a pump to pressurize and deliver the cleaning solution, allowing effective cleaning of hard-to-reach areas without manual disassembly or complex access procedures. This hydraulic approach resolves the contradiction by making the cleaning process easier to perform while maintaining effective grease removal for fire hazard reduction.
2Reliability
If frequent cleaning of the exhaust system is performed, then fire hazards are reduced, but kitchen operations are disrupted and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is designed to be easily deployable and operable by kitchen staff without requiring professional cleaning services or extensive kitchen closure. The system includes self-contained components (pump, hoses, nozzles, cleaning solution reservoir) that can be quickly set up and operated, enabling the kitchen to perform its own cleaning maintenance with minimal disruption to operations. This self-service capability reduces both the frequency and impact of cleaning interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows cleaning to be performed during low-demand periods or between service periods without requiring complete kitchen shutdown. The quick-connect hoses and portable design enable cleaning operations to be initiated rapidly, performing maintenance action preliminarily before grease accumulation becomes a critical fire hazard, thus maintaining safety while minimizing operational disruption.
3Manufacturing precision
If professional cleaning services are used for exhaust systems, then thorough cleaning is achieved, but costs increase and kitchen closure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic delivery system with pump and pressurized hoses provides thorough cleaning capability similar to professional services, forcing cleaning solution deep into the exhaust flue and onto vertical backsplash surfaces. This maintains cleaning thoroughness while using a relatively simple, self-installable system that does not require professional service intervention, thereby reducing both complexity and ongoing costs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively removes grease and contaminants from hard-to-reach areas, reducing fire hazards and maintenance costs by enabling periodic self-cleaning of cooking range exhausts with reduced kitchen downtime.
Implementation Method 1
The cleaning system includes a pump system constructed for conveying the degreasing composition from a degreasing composition source and through the fluid delivery system
Implementation Method 2
The hood spray conduit comprises spray openings for directing a degreasing composition to the backsplash. The flue spray conduit comprises spray openings for directing the degreasing composition to an interior surface of the flue
Implementation Method 3
spraying a degreasing composition on the backsplash and an interior surface of the flue
Implementation Method 4
The cleaning system further includes a collection reservoir constructed to collect degreasing composition run off from the cooking range exhaust
Data Source
AI summary
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.