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CA-3017785-C - COOKING SYSTEMS WITH WASHING ELEMENTS AND SPREADER BAR

CA3017785CCA 3017785 CCA3017785 CCA 3017785CCA-3017785-C

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for cleaning a fryer (10) using a washing element (44, 510, 610) coupled to a bottom wall (70, 570, 580) of a cooking chamber (12, 14, 502, 504). An upper portion of the washing element (44, 510, 610) extends above the bottom wall (70, 570, 580) of the cooking chamber (12, 14, 502, 504) and includes a plurality of spray jet nozzles (424a-g, 524a-c, 624a-g) that are separated at predetermined angles (A1-A7) relative to one another around a periphery (426, 526, 626) of the upper portion (416, 516, 616) of the washing element (44, 510, 610) to orient the plurality of spray jet nozzles (424a-g, 524a-c, 624a-g) so as to spray a plurality of pressurized streams (438a-g, 538a-c, 540a-c, 538a-g) of the cooking medium (42) to predetermined areas of the cooking chamber (12, 14, 502, 504), including at least one corner (444a-d, 544a-f, 546a-f, 644a-d) of the cooking chamber (12, 14, 502, 504). Also disclosed is a fryer (10) that includes a spreader bar (38, 310) that maintains an electric heating coil (202, 302) in the serpentine pattern. The spreader bar (38, 310) is coupled to the upper surface (204, 304) of the electric heating coil (202, 302) and is disposed at a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall (70, 570, 580).

Inventors

  • Randy Caudill
  • Mark Gogel

Assignees

  • HENNY PENNY CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20170317
Priority Date
20160317

Claims (20)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A fryer comprising: a cooking chamber including a plurality of side walls connected to and extending upwardly from a bottom wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall collectively surrounding an interior configured to receive a cooking medium; a washing element coupled to the bottom wall of the cooking chamber, the washing element comprising: a lower portion including a passage that is fluidically coupled to a fill port and configured to receive the cooking medium; an upper portion extending above the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and including a plurality of spray jet nozzles fluidically coupled to the passage, the plurality of spray jet nozzles being separated at predetermined angles relative to one another around a periphery of the upper portion of the washing element to orient the plurality of spray jet nozzles so as to spray a plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium to predetermined areas of the cooking chamber, the predetermined areas including at least one comer of the cooking chamber; and a cover coupled to the upper portion, the cover directing the cooking medium into the plurality of spray jet nozzles, wherein the cover is removably coupled to the upper portion of the washing element using at least one fastener.
  2. 2. The fryer of claim 1, wherein the predetermined areas include each corner of the cooking chamber and along the bottom wall towards at least one end wall of the plurality of side walls, the comers being defined along junctions of the bottom wall and the plurality of side walls adjacent the bottom wall.
  3. 3. The fryer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side walls includes first and second side walls and first and second end walls, and wherein the washing element is located generally equidistant between the first and second side walls of the cooking chamber.
  4. 4. The fryer of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of spray jet nozzles further comprise: a spray channel inlet fluidically coupled to the passage; and 23 Date rec;,ue/Date received 2024-05-24 84596178 a spray channel outlet fluidically coupled to the spray channel inlet and configured to allow the corresponding pressurized stream of the cooking medium to exit the washing element, wherein for at least one of the plurality of spray jet nozzles, a size of the spray channel outlet is larger than a size of the spray channel inlet creating a broadcasting spray pattern.
  5. 5. The fryer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side walls includes first and second end walls, and wherein the spray jet nozzles directed towards the first end wall have smaller spray channel outlet than a remainder of the plurality of spray jet nozzles.
  6. 6. The fryer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of side walls includes first and second end walls, and wherein a number of spray jet nozzles directed towards the first end wall differs from a number of spray jet nozzles directed towards the second end wall.
  7. 7. The fryer of claim 6, wherein there are at least two spray jet nozzles of the plurality of spray jet nozzles directed to the first end wall and there are at least five spray jet nozzles of the plurality of spray jet nozzles directed to the second end wall, and wherein the first end wall is disposed at a distance closer to the washing element than the second end wall.
  8. 8. The fryer of claim 6, wherein the plurality of spray jet nozzles includes at least a first spray jet nozzle with a first spray channel outlet and a second spray jet nozzle with a second spray channel outlet, wherein both the first and second spray channel outlets are directed to either the first end wall or the second end wall, and and wherein a size of the first spray channel outlet is greater than a size of the second spray channel outlet.
  9. 9. The fryer of claim 1, 24 Date rec;,ue/Date received 2024-05-24 84596178 wherein the plurality of spray jet nozzles includes at least a first spray jet nozzle with a first spray channel outlet, a second spray jet nozzle with a second spray channel outlet, and a third spray jet nozzle with a third spray channel outlet, wherein the first and second spray channel outlets are directed to comers of the cooking chamber, the comers being defined along junctions of the bottom wall and the plurality of side walls adjacent the bottom wall, and wherein a size of the third spray channel outlet is greater than a size of either the first and the second spray channel outlets, the third spray channel outlet being directed along the bottom wall towards at least a first end wall or a second end wall of the plurality of side walls.
  10. 10. The fryer of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the washing element has a circular cross-section, and wherein one of the plurality of spray jet nozzles has an spray channel outlet having an angle that exceeds 120 degrees of a circumference defined by the periphery of the circular crosssection.
  11. 11. The fryer of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the washing element extends above the bottom wall of the cooking chamber by about 0.125 inches.
  12. 12. The fryer of claim 1, further comprising: an electric heating element disposed within the interior of the cooking chamber, wherein the electric heating element includes an electric heating coil arranged in a serpentine pattern, the electric heating coil including upper and lower surfaces; and a spreader bar coupled to the upper surface of the electric heating coil that maintains the electric heating coil in the serpentine pattern, wherein the positioning of the spreader bar also allows the electric heating coil to be spaced at a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall to provide additional clearance for the plurality of spray jet nozzles to direct the plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium between the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and the lower surface of the electric heating coil.
  13. 13. The fryer of claim 1, further comprising: a drain port; Date rec;,ue/Date received 2024-05-24 84596178 a drain pan configured to receive the cooking medium from the cooking chamber; a filter screen permanently coupled to the drain pan; and a filter pump fluidically coupling the drain pan to the fill port of the fryer.
  14. 14. A fryer comprising: a cooking chamber including a plurality of side walls connected to and extending upwardly from a bottom wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall collectively surrounding an interior configured to receive a cooking medium; an electric heating element disposed within the interior of the cooking chamber, wherein the electric heating element includes an electric heating coil arranged in a serpentine pattern, the electric heating coil including upper and lower surfaces; and a spreader bar coupled to the upper surface of the electric heating coil and positioned at a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall, wherein the spreader bar maintains the electric heating coil in the serpentine pattern; and at least one attachment feature that couples the spreader bar to the electric heating element, the fryer further comprising: a washing element coupled to the bottom wall of the cooking chamber, wherein the washing element includes a plurality of spray jet nozzles that are configured to separate the cooking medium into a plurality of pressurized streams between the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and the electric heating element, wherein the washing element further comprises: a lower portion including a passage that is fluidically coupled to a fill port and configured to receive the cooking medium; an upper portion extending above the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and including the plurality of spray jet nozzles fluidically coupled to the passage, the plurality of spray jet nozzles being separated at predetermined angles relative to one another around a periphery of the upper portion of the washing element to orient the plurality of spray jet nozzles so as to spray a plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium to predetermined areas of the cooking chamber, the predetermined areas including at least one comer of the cooking chamber; and a cover coupled to the upper portion, the cover directing the cooking medium into the plurality of spray jet nozzles, 26 Date rec;,ue/Date received 2024-05-24 84596178 wherein the cover is removably coupled to the upper portion of the washing element using at least one fastener.
  15. 15. The fryer of claim 14, wherein over 50% of the spreader bar is disposed above the upper surface of the electric heating coil and away from the bottom wall of the cooking chamber.
  16. 16. The fryer of claim 14, wherein the plurality of attachment features includes at least one clip having a hook portion that extends around the lower surface of the electric heating element and is removably coupled to the spreader bar using at least one fastener.
  17. 17. The fryer of claim 16, wherein the hook portion of the at least one clip is in direct contact with the bottom wall of the cooking chamber, causing the lower surface of the electric heating coil to be at a predetermined distance from the bottom wall of the cooking chamber.
  18. 18. A method of cleaning a cooking chamber of a fryer using a washing element, the method compnsmg: draining a cooking medium from the cooking chamber, which includes a plurality of side walls connected to and extending upwardly from a bottom wall, the plurality of side walls and the bottom wall collectively surrounding an interior configured to receive the cooking medium, the draining of the cooking medium being through a drain located at the bottom wall, wherein particulate matter and debris collected in the cooking chamber during cooking cycles at least partially flows out of the cooking chamber during the step of draining the cooking medium; removably coupling a cover of the washing element to an upper portion of the washing element using at least one fastener, wherein the washing element includes a lower portion extending through an opening at the bottom wall of the cooking chamber and the upper portion that is located within the cooking chamber, the lower portion having a passage configured to be connected to a fill port below the cooking chamber, and the cover configured to direct a cooking medium flowing through the passage in the lower portion to flow through a plurality of spray jet nozzles defined in the upper portion, the spray jet nozzles being separated at predetermined angles relative to one another around a periphery of an upper portion; spraying a plurality of pressurized streams of a filtered cooking medium into predetermined areas including at least one comer of the cooking chamber using the washing element, wherein the at least one comer is defined along a junction of the bottom wall and the 27 Date rec;,ue/Date received 2024-05-24 84596178 plurality of side walls, wherein the step of spraying the plurality of pressurized streams of the filtered cooking medium further comprises: supplying the filtered cooking medium from the fill port to flow through the passage extending through the lower portion of the washing element; deflecting a flow of the filtered cooking medium in the passage to further flow into the plurality of spray jet nozzles using the cover coupled to the upper portion; and ejecting the filtered cooking medium from the plurality of spray jet nozzles to provide the plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium into the cooking chamber; cleaning the cooking chamber by continuing to spray the plurality of pressurized streams and continuing to drain cooking medium from the cooking chamber to allow for remaining particulate matter and debris built up along the predetermined areas to be dislodged and removed from the cooking chamber by flow of the plurality of pressurized streams of the cooking medium within the cooking chamber; after cleaning the cooking chamber, closing the drain and refilling the cooking chamber with the filtered cooking medium via the fill port and via the washing element; removing the at least one fastener and the cover from the upper portion of the washing element to open access into the plurality of spray jet nozzles and the passage; and cleaning out build-up and clogs of material from the plurality of spray jet nozzles and from the passage.
  19. 19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: coupling a spreader bar to an upper surface of an electric heating coil of an electric heating element located in the cooking chamber, to maintain a lower surface of the electric heating coil at a predetermined distance away from the bottom wall to thereby avoid impeding flow of the plurality of pressurized streams from the washing element during cleaning of the cooking chamber, the plurality of pressurized streams flowing through a gap defined between the lower surface of the electric heating coil and the bottom wall, wherein the spreader bar maintains the electric heating coil shaped in a serpentine pattern.
  20. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein over 50% of the spreader bar is disposed above the upper surface of the electric heating coil and away from the bottom wall of the cooking chamber.

Description

COOKING SYSTEMS WITH WASHING ELEMENTS AND SPREADER BAR CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 62/309,650, filed on March 17, 2016. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This disclosure relates generally to fryers, such as open fryers or pressure fryers. More particularly, this disclosure relates to apparatus and methods of using washing elements and spreader bars coupled to heating elements in cooking chambers. BACKGROUND [0003] Oil-based frying is commonly used as a cooking method for a wide range of food, such as poultry, fish, potato products, and the like. Commercial fryers include one or more cooking chambers (also referred to as fry pots) that are filled with a cooking medium, such as oil or solid fats. Heat is typically provided to the cooking medium using an electrical heating element submerged in the cooking medium or a gas burner thermally coupled to the cooking medium though the walls of the cooking chamber. When the cooking medium reaches a preset cooking temperature, food products are placed into the cooking medium for a predetermined amount of time during which the food products are cooked by heat from the cooking medium. To facilitate insertion and removal of the food products, the food products are typically placed inside a container ( e.g. a wire basket), and the container is lowered into the cooking medium for the predetermined amount of time. [0004] The cooking medium is normally re-used for multiple cooking cycles, which may include cooking cycles for different food products. However, the cooking medium degrades over time. This degradation may be due to contamination by particles shed by the food products being cooked and/or from chemical degradation due to heat, oxidation. and reactions with the food products. In addition, as food particles accumulate in the cooking medium. the flavor characteristics of the food particles may become infused in the cooking medium. This infusion may adversely affect the quality of cooked food products. In some instances, such changes to the cooking medium do not become apparent until a significant change has occurred. These chemical reactions 1 Date re9ue/Date received 2023-05-26 WO 2017/161219 PCT/0S2017/022866 and flavor infusions may shorten the useful life of the cooking medium, and may result in more frequent replacement of the cooking medium. These undesirable particles, may remain in the fryer and accumulate at the bottom and/or sides of the cooking chamber. As used herein, the particles may include, for example, crumbs, silt, clumps, cracklings, cooking fluid deterioration compounds, and the like or combinations thereof. Additionally, the particles may include suspended food particles ranging from dustsized particles to larger pieces of crackling or crumbs, and small pieces of food products. [0005] For at least these reasons, the cooking medium may be filtered periodically to maintain cooking quality and to prolong the operational lifetime of the cooking medium. Frequent filtering may extend the useful life of the cooking medium, thereby reducing the cost of operating the fryer by reducing the frequency with which the cooking medium must be replaced. The cost savings from filtering may be particularly evident when using a cooking medium that contains reduced amounts of trans-fats, which have become popular, but are typically more expensive than other types of cooking media. [0006] Thus, it may be economically beneficial to filter the cooking medium to extend its useful life by increasing the frequency of filtering, using such cooking media only for selected food products, and/or reducing the volume (and size) of the cooking chamber in which such cooking media are used. Nevertheless, when this cooking medium is returned to the cooking chamber, the filtering process may reduce the amount of cooking medium remaining in the cooking chamber. If the amount of cooking medium drops below a predetermined level, then the food product that is cooked in the cooking chamber may not be completely cooked and/or consistently cooked, and the quality of food product cooked in the fryer may diminish. [0007] As such, there exists a need to clean the cooking chambers of the fryer in a quick and efficient manner by eliminating the accumulation of particles within the cooking chambers that negatively impact the quality of the food product cooked by the cooking medium within the cooking chambers. Eliminating the accumulation of particles may be beneficial in hard to reach areas ( e.g. the comers of cooking chamber). Quick and efficient cleanings may also allow the cooking chambers of the fryer to increase the throughput of food products over a period of time. 2 WO 2017/161219 PCT/0S2017/022866 SUMMARY [0008) In an embodiment of the invention, a fryer is provided. The fryer includes a cooking chamber and a washing element. The cooking chamber includes a plurality of side walls connected to and