Patent Application
20140261821
The present disclosure relates to kitchenware washing systems for use in washing large quantities of kitchenware and, more specifically, to such kitchenware washing systems having solderless (e.g., lead-free, etc.) supply water manifolds for coupling the kitchenware washing systems to water supplies, and to methods relating to installing and manufacturing the kitchenware washing systems.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
Commercial washers typically include multiple tanks for use in performing various cleaning operations on kitchenware. For example, the washers may include washing tanks for washing the kitchenware, and rinsing tanks for rinsing the washed kitchenware. The washing tanks, at a basic level, typically include features such as rectangular tank bodies with drains, valves for closing the drains, and faucets for introducing water into the tanks for washing the kitchenware. Similarly, the rinsing tanks typically include tank bodies with drains, valves for closing the drains, and faucets for introducing water into the tanks for rinsing the washed kitchenware.
This section provides a general summary of the disclosure, and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward methods of making kitchenware washing systems (e.g., commercial, top-loading kitchenware washing systems, etc.) having, for example, washing assemblies for washing kitchenware and solderless water manifolds coupled to the washing assemblies for delivering water to the washing assemblies. In one example embodiment, a method of making a kitchenware washing system generally includes coupling multiple pipes together without soldering to form a hot water line of the solderless water manifold, coupling multiple pipes together without soldering to form a cold water line of the solderless water manifold, coupling the hot water line to hot water inlets of at least two faucet assemblies of the washing assembly at a location adjacent a back portion of the washing assembly, such that the hot water line can direct hot water from a water supply to the at least two faucet assemblies, and coupling the cold water line to cold water inlets of the at least two faucet assemblies of the washing assembly at a location adjacent the back portion of the washing assembly, such that the cold water line can direct cold water from a water supply to the at least two faucet assemblies.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed toward methods for installing kitchenware washing systems (e.g., commercial, top-loading kitchenware washing systems, etc.) at desired locations having hot water supplies and cold water supplies, wherein the kitchenware washing system mays include, for example, washing assemblies for washing kitchenware and solderless water manifolds coupled to the washing assemblies for directing water from the hot and cold water supplies to first and second faucet assemblies of the washing assemblies. In one example embodiment, a method for installing a kitchenware washing system generally includes placing the washing system at a desired location having a hot water supply and a cold water supply, routing a first flexible tube of the solderless water manifold to the hot water supply, connecting a coupling of the first flexible tube to a coupling of the hot water supply for directing water from the hot water supply to a hot water inlet of the first faucet assembly and to a hot water inlet of the second faucet assembly, routing a second flexible tube of the solderless water manifold to the cold water supply, and connecting a coupling of the second flexible tube to a coupling of the cold water supply for directing water from the cold water supply to a cold water inlet of the first faucet assembly and to a cold water inlet of the second faucet assembly.
Example embodiments of the present disclosure are also directed toward kitchenware washing systems (e.g., commercial, top-loading kitchenware washing systems, etc.) for use in washing kitchenware. In one example embodiment, a commercial kitchenware washing system generally includes a first faucet assembly including a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, a second faucet assembly including a hot water inlet and a cold water inlet, and a water supply manifold having a hot water line coupled to the hot water inlets of the first and second faucet assemblies for directing water from a hot water supply to the first and second faucet assemblies, and a cold water line coupled to the cold water inlets of the first and second faucet assemblies for directing water from a cold water supply to the first and second faucet assemblies. The hot water line of the water supply manifold is free of solder connections, and the cold water line of the water supply manifold is free of solder connections.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The illustrated washing assembly 102 includes a scraping station 106, a washing station 108, a rinsing station 110, and a sanitizing station 112. A dual faucet assembly 114 is located adjacent the scraping station 106 and the washing station 108 for providing water (e.g., hot water, cold water, etc.) to the scraping station 106 and/or the washing station 108. And, a single faucet assembly 116 is located adjacent the rinsing station 110 and the sanitizing station 112 for providing water (e.g., hot water, cold water, etc.) to the rinsing station 110 and/or the sanitizing station 112. In other example embodiments, washing systems may include washing assemblies with other stations (e.g., stations other than scraping stations, washing stations, rinsing stations, and sanitizing stations, etc.) and/or with different combinations of stations than provided herein (e.g., washing assemblies having only washing stations and rinsing stations, etc.). In addition, in other example embodiments, washing systems may include washing assemblies with faucet assemblies other than single or dual faucet assemblies; washing assemblies with more than or less than two faucet assemblies; and/or washing assemblies with faucet assemblies having configurations other than illustrated herein.
The scraping station 106 includes a tank 122 for catching water used to initially rinse kitchenware and for catching food particles rinsed from the kitchenware, and a drain 124 for removing the water and/or food particles from the tank 122. The washing station 108 includes a tank 126 for holding washing fluid to clean kitchenware, and a drain 128 (and valve system (not shown)) to regulate flow of washing fluid from out of the tank 126 as desired. The rinsing station 110 includes a tank 130 for use in rinsing the washed kitchenware, and a drain 132 for removing rinsing fluid from the tank 130. And, the sanitizing station 112 includes a tank 134 for use in sanitizing the rinsed kitchenware, and a drain 136 for removing sanitizing fluid from the tank 134.
In the illustrated embodiment, the washing station 108 also includes a pump 138 for circulating washing fluid (e.g., water, detergent, soap, combinations thereof, etc.) in the tank 126, for example, for washing kitchenware in the tank 126. In general operation of the washing station 108, the drain 128 is closed and the tank 126 is filled with washing fluid (e.g., water using faucet assembly 114 and soap added to the water, etc.) to a desired operating level. The pump 138 is then operated to draw washing fluid out of the tank 126 and into an intake chamber 140 located toward a back portion of the washing station 108 (through openings 142 located in a back wall 126a of the tank 126). The pump 138 circulates the withdrawn washing fluid from the intake chamber 140 to a discharge chamber (not visible) located toward a left side portion (as viewed in
With continued reference to
The manifold 104 is coupled to a back portion of the washing assembly 102 for delivering water to the faucet assemblies 114, 116. The illustrated manifold 104 includes a first line 160a for providing hot water to the faucet assemblies 114, 116 (e.g., from a hot water supply of a building, etc.), and a second line 160b for providing cold water to the faucet assemblies 114, 116 (e.g., from a cold water supply of a building, etc.). The first line 160a is coupled to hot water inlets 162a of the faucet assemblies 114, 116 (via connectors 164). And, the second line 160b is coupled to cold water inlets 162b of the faucet assemblies 114, 116 (via connectors 164). The handles 146a, 146b, 154a, 154b of the faucet assemblies 114, 116 are in communication with the corresponding inlets 162a, 162b to thereby allow for the adjustment of hot and cold water flowing through the faucet assemblies 114, 116.
Referring now to
The solderless joints of the illustrated manifold 104 can help avoid contamination (e.g., with lead typically used in soldered joints, etc.) of the water flowing through the manifold 104 and ultimately used to wash, rinse, sanitize, etc. the kitchenware. In addition, the solderless joints (via the fittings) can allow the components of the manifold 104 to be initially dry fit (e.g., to ensure proper sizing of components, etc.) prior to final assembly (e.g., prior to crimping the fittings 168a, 168b, 168c, 168d, etc.). With that said, it should be appreciated that the solderless joints can include crimped, pressed, etc. connections (as illustrated), or alternatively other solderless connections such as, for example, flare connections, compression connections, threaded connections, etc.
Referring again to
The first and second lines 160a, 160b of the manifold 104 also each include a flexible tube 174a, 174b (e.g., a flexible hose, etc.) configured to couple the manifold 104 (and the washing assembly 102) to a respective hot and cold water supply. A first end portion of the flexible tube 174a (of the first line 160a) includes a coupling 176 connected to a corresponding coupling 178 of pipe section 166. And, a second end portion of the flexible tube 174a includes a coupling 180 configured to connect to a corresponding coupling of a hot water supply. Similarly, a first end portion of the flexible tube 174b (of the second line 160b) includes a coupling 176 connected to a corresponding coupling 178 of pipe section 166. And, a second end portion of the flexible tube 174b includes a coupling 180 configured to connect to a corresponding coupling of a cold water supply. The flexible tubes 174a, 174b of the first and second lines 160a, 160b can be formed (e.g., molded, braided, etc.) from any suitable material including, for example, metal (e.g., stainless steel, etc.), plastic (e.g., polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)), rubber (e.g., ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, etc.), combinations thereof, etc. And, the couplings 176, 178, 180 can be any suitable couplings including, for example, threaded couplings, quick-connect couplings, etc. Further, in some example embodiments the couplings 176, 178 at the first end portions of the flexible tubes 174a, 174b may be replaced, as desired, with solderless fittings (e.g., crimpled fittings 168a, 168b, 168c, 168d, etc.).
In the illustrated embodiment, the flexible tubes 174a, 174b are coupled to the first and second lines 160a, 160b of the manifold 104 using three-way, T-shaped fittings 168c. This allows for movement of water from the flexible tubes 174a, 174b through all pipe sections 166 of the first and second lines 160a, 160b (both to the left and right of the T-shaped fittings 168c). The T-shaped fittings 168c of both the first and second lines 160a, 160b are located toward the right end portions (as viewed in
Also in the illustrated embodiment, generally L-shaped configurations 182 of pipe sections 166 are provided for coupling the first and second lines 160a, 160b, via the connectors 164, to the hot and cold water inlets 162a, 162b of the faucet assemblies 114, 116. The L-shaped configurations 182 each include a pipe section 166, two ninety degree fittings 168d, and a connector 164. The connectors 164 are configured to be positioned over end portions of the inlets 162a, 162b and then crimped to form solderless joints therebetween. Alternatively, the connectors may be configured to be threaded onto the end portions of the inlets to form solderless joints therebetween.
In the illustrated embodiment, threaded fittings 184 are provided to connect pipe sections 166 of the first and second lines 160a, 160b. These fittings 184 may be used, if needed, to separate, disassemble, etc. portions of the first and second lines 160a, 160b, for example, for repair, replacement, etc. As such, the washing system 100 can be disconnected from the hot and cold water supplies by loosening the couplings 180 at the flexible tubes 174a, 174b. And, portions of the manifold 104 can then be disassembled by loosening the threaded fittings 184. While in the illustrated embodiment only one threaded fitting 184 is provided in each of the first and second lines 160a, 160b, in other example embodiments more threaded fittings may be provided or, alternatively, no threaded fittings may be provided.
A method of installing the washing system 100 will now be described. The washing system 100 can be positioned at a desired location in a building, such as against a wall, etc. so that hot and cold water supplies of the building are located adjacent (e.g., generally behind, etc.) the washing system 100. The flexible tubes 174a, 174b of the manifold 104 can then be routed to the corresponding water supplies and connected thereto (e.g., via the couplings 180, etc.). When routing and/or connecting the flexible tubes 174a, 174b, an installer may adjust the shape and/or length of the flexible tubes 174a, 174b by flexing them by hand, but without plastically deforming the flexible tubes 174a, 174b. In addition, since the manifold 104 of the washing system 100 is already present (e.g., preassembled and coupled to the washing assembly 102, etc.), the washing system 100 can be easily installed without the need to construct a rigid connection between the washing assembly 102 and the building water supply. What's more, the washing system 100 can be installed to the water supplies without the need for cutting pipes on site, soldering joints, plastically deforming (e.g., bending) pipes, etc. This can reduce cost and/or time of installing the washing system 100.
Once the washing system 100 is installed to the hot and cold water supplies, the manifold 104 directs water from the hot water supply to each of the hot water inlets 162a of the faucet assemblies 114, 116 through the first line 160a, and directs water from the cold water supply to each of the cold water inlets 162b of the faucet assemblies 114, 116 through the second line 160b. The faucet assemblies 114, 116 can then be used to direct water to the desired stations 106, 108, 110, 112 of the washing assembly 102, and the washing station 108 can be operated to wash kitchenware.
In the illustrated embodiment, the manifold 104 is provided as part of the washing system 100 (e.g., the manifold 104 is installed in the washing assembly 102 when fabricating the washing system 100, etc.). As such, the manifold 104 is already assembled and coupled to the washing assembly 102 when installing the washing system 100. For example, the manifold 104 can be initially constructed (e.g., the multiple pipe sections 166 and flexible tubes 174a, 174b can be coupled together, without soldering, to form the lines 160a, 160b, etc.), and then coupled to the inlets 162a, 162b of the faucet assemblies 114, 116 (e.g., adjacent a back portion of the washing assembly 102, etc.). However, in some example embodiments, manifolds may be provided as separate components of washing assemblies (e.g., as part of kits having all the necessary components to assemble the manifolds, manifolds already assembled and ready to be installed to the washing assemblies at the time of installation, etc.) and configured for subsequent installation to the washing assemblies, for example, when the washing assemblies are being installed at desired locations. In these embodiments, the manifolds are coupled (e.g., using solderless joints, etc.) to hot and cold water inlets of faucets of the washing assemblies at the time of installation. And, flexible hoses of the manifolds are then coupled to water supplies of the buildings in which the washing assemblies are installed.
In some aspects, configurations of the manifold 104 may be modified, as needed, based on the location of the water supplies in the building. For example, locations of the flexible tubes 174a, 174b (and the T-shaped fittings 168c associated therewith) may be modified to accommodate locations of the water supplies in the building, taking into account desired positioning of the washing system 100. In addition, configurations of the manifold 104 may be modified, as needed, based on the number, types, locations, etc. of faucet assemblies of the washing assembly 102. Further, it should be appreciated that other orientations of pipe sections 166 could be used to form the first and second lines 160a, 160b of the manifold 104. For example, the flexible tubes 174a, 174b could be coupled to end portions of the first and second lines 160a, 160b, with three-way pipe sections (e.g., having T-shaped fittings 168c, etc.) then provided where the first and second lines 160a, 160b are to couple to inlets 162a, 162b of the faucet assemblies 114, 116. Moreover, various combinations of pipe sections 166 and fittings 168a, 168b, 168c, 168d may be replaced with single pipe sections, as desired. And, components of the manifold 104 can be provided separately and assembled, for example, when installing the washing system 100.
The manifold 204 of this embodiment is substantially similar to the manifold 104 previously described and illustrated in
In this embodiment, however, the manifold 204 includes a different configuration of pipe sections 266 and fittings 268a, 268b, 268c, 268d than included in manifold 104. For example, the first line 260a of the manifold 204 includes two U-shaped fittings 268a, 268b that bump out, bend, curve, etc. around pipe sections 266 of the second line 260b to allow the first and second lines 260a, 260b of the illustrated manifold 24 to be generally vertically aligned and generally positioned in a common vertical plane. In addition in this embodiment, the first line 260a is now located generally above the second line 260b.
Also in this embodiment, three-way, T-shaped fittings 268c of the first and second lines 260a, 260b of the manifold 204 used in coupling the flexible tubes 274a, 274b to the lines 260a, 260b are located toward the left end portions (as viewed in
In other example embodiments, kitchenware washing systems may include first and second faucets, and water supply manifolds. The first faucets include first hot water inlets and first cold water inlets. The second faucets include second hot water inlets and second cold water inlets. And, the water supply manifolds include first supply lines and second supply lines. The first supply lines include first pipes, second pipes, first flexible tubes, and first pipe fittings. The first pipes are connected to the first hot water inlets. The second pipes are connected to the second hot water inlets. The first flexible tubes are configured to connect to hot water supply lines of buildings. And, the first pipe fittings connect the first flexible tubes to the first pipes and the second pipes. The second supply lines include third pipes, fourth pipes, second flexible tubes, and second pipe fittings. The third pipes are connected to the first cold water inlets. The fourth pipes are connected to the second cold water inlets. The second flexible tubes are configured to connect to cold water supply lines of the buildings. And, the second pipe fittings connect the second flexible tubes to the third pipes and the fourth pipes.
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “including,” and “having,” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The foregoing description of the example embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.
