This application relates generally to warewasher systems which are used in commercial applications such as cafeterias and restaurants and, more particularly, to such a warewash system with associated door construction.
Commercial warewashers commonly include a housing area which defines the washing and rinsing area for dishes, pots pans and other wares. Liquid is typically pumped from a tank through a pump intake and delivered to lower and/or upper wash arms that direct the liquid onto the wares. In some embodiments, the warewashers may include access doors for gaining access to components of the warewasher. For example, it may be desirable to gain access to the housing area to remove the wash arms from the warewasher to clean them.
In an aspect, a warewasher for washing wares including a housing defining an internal space with at least one spray zone for washing wares. The housing includes an opening defined in part by a lower shelf. A liquid delivery system provides a spray of liquid within the spray zone. An access door has a vertically hinged connection to the housing to provide an open configuration that allows user access to the spray zone and a closed configuration that inhibits user access to the spray zone. The access door includes a threshold seal member at the bottom of the access door. The threshold seal member includes a lower sealing portion that mates with an upper surface of the shelf to provide a lower seal extending laterally along a width of the access door, and an inner sealing portion that cooperates with an inner edge the shelf to provide an inner seal extending laterally along the width of the access door. The inner seal located nearer the spray zone than the lower seal.
In another aspect, a warewasher for washing wares includes a housing defining an internal space with at least one spray zone for washing wares. The housing includes an opening defined in part by a lower shelf having a groove therein. A liquid delivery system provides a spray of liquid within the spray zone. An access door has a vertically hinged connection to the housing to provide an open configuration that allows user access to the spray zone and a closed configuration that inhibits user access to the spray zone. The vertically hinged connection permits some vertical movement of the access door along its hinge axis. The access door includes a threshold seal member at the bottom of the access door. The threshold seal member includes a downwardly extending rib that locates within the groove to provide a lower seal extending laterally along a width of the access door. During opening of the access door, the rib rides upward along the shelf and out of the groove causing the door to move vertically upward.
In another aspect, a warewasher for washing wares includes a housing defining an internal space with at least one spray zone for washing wares. The housing includes an opening defined in part by a lower shelf having a groove therein. A liquid delivery system provides a spray of liquid within the spray zone. A tank is located beneath the spray zone, the tank including the lower shelf. An access door has a vertically hinged connection to the housing to provide an open configuration that allows user access to the spray zone and a closed configuration that inhibits user access to the spray zone. The vertically hinged connection permits some vertical movement of the access door along its hinge axis. A labyrinth seal assembly extends vertically along a vertically oriented edge of the access door. The labyrinth seal assembly including a channel extending along a height of the access door. The channel is in communication with the spray zone so that liquid entering the channel along a leak path formed between the access door and the labyrinth seal assembly with the access door in its closed configuration drains down into the tank.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Referring to
The racks proceed next to a curtain 38 into the main wash chamber 40, where the wares are subject to sprays of cleansing liquid from upper and lower wash manifolds 42 and 44, respectively, these sprays being supplied through a supply conduit 46 by a pump 48, which draws from a main tank 50. A heater 58, such as an electrical immersion heater provided with suitable thermostatic controls (not shown), maintains the temperature of the cleansing liquid in the tank 50 at a suitable level. Not shown, but which may be included, is a device for adding a cleansing detergent to the liquid in tank 50. During normal operation, pumps 32 and 48 are continuously driven, usually by separate motors, once the warewash system 10 is started for a period of time.
The warewash system 10 may optionally include a power rinse chamber (not shown) that is substantially identical to main wash chamber 40. In such an instance, racks of wares proceed from the wash chamber 40 into the power rinse chamber, within which heated rinse water is sprayed onto the wares from upper and lower manifolds.
The racks 12 of wares 14 exit the main wash chamber 40 through a curtain 52 into the final rinse chamber 54. The final rinse chamber 54 is provided with upper and lower spray heads or arms 56, 58 that are supplied with a flow of fresh hot water via pipe 60 under the control of solenoid valve 62. A rack detector 64 is actuated when rack 12 of wares 14 is positioned in the final rinse chamber 54 and through suitable electrical controls, the detector causes actuation of the solenoid valve 62 to open and admit the hot rinse water to the spray heads 56, 58. The water then drains from the wares into tank 50. The rinsed rack 12 of wares 14 then exit the final rinse chamber 54 through curtain 66, moving into dryer unit 18. Although not shown in
Referring now to
Referring to
Because threshold member 82 mates with the tank shelf 87, vertical movement of the door 74 in the direction of arrow 96 is desired in order to open the door. Referring to
Referring now to
Arrows 112 illustrate a tortuous steam and water leak path during use. Steam entering the channel 102 along the path condenses therein and drains down into the chamber of the warewash section 70. Labyrinth seal assembly 100 inhibits the escape of steam and water from the warewash section 70, which can allow for elimination of temporary rubber/plastic seals that may eventually break down and need replacement. In some embodiments, rubber and/or plastic seals may also be used with the labyrinth seal assembly 100. Referring to
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Because the doors 74 include the threshold members 82 with embossment 85 (e.g., a downward extended rib) that is sized and arranged to mate with the groove or recess 86 that is formed by tank shelf 87 and the edge seal member 88 that is sized and arranged to mate with the upper edge 90 of tank shelf 87 (
Referring back to
It is to be clearly understood that the above description is intended by way of illustration and example only and is not intended to be taken by way of limitation, and that changes and modifications are possible. For example, the above-described door construction may be used in non-conveyor type warewash machines such as box-type machines. Referring to
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/889,032, filed Feb. 9, 2007, the details of which are incorporated by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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60889032 | Feb 2007 | US |