Oven with cleaning system and grease and water flow separation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10677473-B2
Application number	US-201515305191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 20, 2015
Priority date	Apr 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2020
Grant date	Jun 9, 2020

Abstract

Ovens having spray systems for spraying cleaning fluid in a cooking chamber are disclosed that include a chamber drain flow path that leads to a grease drain path and a water drain path. A baffle wall in the chamber drain flow path controls the flow of fluid between the grease drain path and the water drain path. The chamber drain flow path may also have a recirculation path to return water to the spray system. Ovens having spray systems for cleaning are disclosed that include a door having a latch mechanism that automatically latches upon closure of the door and a gasket disposed between the door and an oven housing that directs water impinging upon the door back into the cooking chamber and the chamber drain flow path. The door may have an inner glass pane and an outer glass pane pivotably mounted to the inner glass pane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oven, comprising:
a cooking chamber;
a spray system for spraying cleaning fluid in the cooking chamber; and
a chamber drain flow path that leads to each of a grease drain path, a water drain path and a water recirculation path of the spray system, wherein the water drain path includes an associated drain pump or drain valve, the water recirculation path includes an associated wash pump and the grease drain path lacks a drain pump and flow along the grease drain path is controlled by a controllable valve;
wherein the grease drain path leads to a grease collecting compartment or container;
wherein the water drain path leads externally of the oven;
a grease drain opening positioned in the chamber drain flow path and leading to the grease drain path;
a chamber positioned downstream of the grease drain opening, wherein the chamber leads to both the water drain path and the water recirculation path; and
a baffle wall positioned between the grease drain opening and the chamber, wherein the baffle wall controls flow of liquids to the chamber.

2. The oven of claim 1 , wherein the wash pump is at a first end of the chamber and the drain pump or drain valve is at a second end of the chamber, the second end opposite the first end.

3. The oven of claim 1 , further comprising a door movable between an open position and a closed position for accessing the cooking chamber, the door including a latch member that automatically latches upon closure of the door.

4. The oven of claim 3 , wherein the latch member is biased into a latching position and includes a ramped surface that interacts with a latch pin upon door closure to temporarily move the latch member out of its latching position.

5. The oven of claim 1 , further comprising:
a door movable between an open position and a closed position relative to an access opening of the cooking chamber; and
a gasket positioned between the door and an oven housing when the door is in the closed position to redirect sprayed water that impinges upon the door back into the cooking chamber.

6. The oven of claim 5 , wherein the door includes a latch member that automatically latches upon closure of the door.

7. The oven of claim 6 , wherein the door includes an inner glass pane and an outer glass pane, wherein the inner glass pane is rigidly mounted to a frame of the door for movement therewith, and the outer glass pane is movably mounted to the frame.

8. An oven, comprising:
a cooking chamber;
a spray system for spraying cleaning fluid in the cooking chamber; and
a chamber drain flow path that leads to each of a grease drain path, a water drain path and a water recirculation path, wherein the water drain path includes an associated drain pump or drain valve, the water recirculation path includes an associated wash pump to deliver liquid to the spray system, and the grease drain path leads to a grease collecting compartment or container, wherein flow along the grease drain path is by gravity under selective control by a controllable valve;
a grease drain opening positioned in the chamber drain flow path and leading to the grease drain path;
a chamber positioned downstream of the grease drain opening, wherein the chamber leads to both the water drain path and the water recirculation path;
a baffle wall positioned between the grease drain opening and the chamber, wherein the baffle wall controls flow of liquids to the chamber, wherein the wash pump is at a first end of the chamber and the drain pump or drain valve is at a second end of the chamber, the second end opposite the first end; and
a controller configured to maintain the controllable valve in an open condition during cooking operations such that grease flows downward through the grease drain opening and along the grease drain path under the force of gravity without overflowing the baffle wall.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Stephens Jason M
• Tope Troy R
• Kerby Daniel L

Classifications

• F24C14/005 Primary

  using a cleaning liquid · CPC title

• F24C15/14

  Spillage trays or grooves · CPC title