US3898922A

US3898922A - Deodorisation unit

Info

Publication number: US3898922A
Application number: US385063A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack Mark Charles Savage
Original assignee: BURGER BOY RED TOP REFRESHMENT KIOSKS Ltd
Current assignee: BURGER BOY RED TOP REFRESHMENT KIOSKS Ltd
Priority date: 1972-08-07
Filing date: 1973-08-02
Publication date: 1975-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 1992-08-12
Also published as: GB1389586A; DE2339329A1

Abstract

A deodorisation unit for deodorising cooking or like fumes, comprising a plurality of absorbent or porous wicks extending between an upper deodorising fluid reservoir and a lower container for surplus deodorising fluid and a pump for periodically returning surplus deodorising fluid from the lower container to the upper reservoir.

Description

United States Patent [191 Savage DEODORISATION UNIT [75] Inventor: Jack Mark Charles Savage,

Abingdon, England [73] Assignee; Burger Boy Red Top Refreshment Kiosks Limited, Abingdon, England 22 Filed: Aug. 2, 1973 21 Appl; No.: 385,063

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 7, 1972 United Kingdom 36719/72 [52] U.S. Cl 98/115 R; 55/240; 261/99; 261/1 12 [51] Int. Cl F23j 11/08 [58] Field of Search 261/36 R, 99, 112; 55/240; 98/115 R; 417/40 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,238,124 3/1966 Burton 261/112 X 1 Aug. 12, 1975 3,332,435 7/1967 Anderson et a1. 417/40 3,4035 3 1 10/ 1968 Ocsterheld 3,585,786 6/1971 Hardison 26l/l12 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 493,735 10/1938 United Kingdom 261/99 Primary ExaminerWilliam F. ODea Assistant ExaminerRona1d C. Capossela Attorney, Agent, or Firm Norris & Bateman [5 7] ABSTRACT A deodorisation unit for deodorising cooking or like fumes, comprising a plurality of absorbent or porous wicks extending between an upper deodorising fluid reservoir and a lower container for surplus deodorising fluid and a pump for periodically returning surplus deodorising fluid from the lower container to the upper reservoir.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG 1 2197s 3 8 9 8 Sz SHEET 1 FIG.1.

. DEODORISATION UNIT This invention relates to a deodorisation unit for deodorising cooking or like fumes emanating from; for

example, large fixedrcooking installations such as used in restaurants, or mobile cooking installations such as refreshment kiosks.

In order to comply with Public Health regiilations and reduce atmospheric pollution it is necessary. to pro- 2 rising fluid reservoir 11. and alower container-l2 for surplusdeodorisingfluid. The underside of the reservoir is'perforated to allow the-upper ends ofthewicks 1 :10; to extendinto'a deodorising fluid 13 contained in the. reservoir 11..The siie of these perforations is chosen-so that the wicks l always' remain moist throughout their entire length under alloperating conditions of the unit. ,Any excess: deodorising fluid from the wicks" collects in thelower container12.

fumes, but these have generally proved to be very inefficient and expensive. One of the rnost commonlyused deodorisers for cooking fumes is activated charcoal,

which is expensive to use and is sometimes not particularly efficient. i g It is an aim of the invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages and provide a deodorisation .unit which is both' simple and economical.

With this aim in view theinvention'provides'a deodorisation unit for deodorising cooking'or like fumes, comprising'a plurality of absorbent or porous wicks extending between an upper'deodorising fluid reservoir and a lower container for surplus deodorising fluid, and a pump for periodically returning surplus deodorising fluid from the lower container to the upper reservoir. I

Preferably, a float and switch arrangement is provided in the upper reservoir so that the pump is operated if the fluid in the reservoir falls below a certain pre-selected level and is deactivated if the fluid rises above a second pre-selected level.

Thus, by employing gravity feed and by controlling the drip-rate (i.e. the rate with which the upper ends of 1 the wicks can absorb fluid from the reservoir), the

wicks can be kept constantly moist throughout their entire length with deodorising fluid. The wicks are advantageously arranged in a staggered manner so that the fumes to be deodorised are carried in a turbulent path past the wicks giving good contact between the fumes 'and the wicks.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings,

' according to the invention and suitable for deodorising cooking or like fumes emanating from, for example, large fixed cooking installations such as used in restaurants, or mobile cooking installations such as refreshment kiosks. The deodorisation unit comprises a plurality of absorbent lint wicks 10 arranged in staggered rows and extending vertically between an upper deodor The reservoirll isjprovided with a pump 1.4 which can be switched on and off by'microswitches 15 con-- trolled from a ball l6"floating in the 'deodorising fluid 1"3:present'in the reservoir 11. When thefluid l3 falls below a certain pre-selected level, the pump 14 is activated to pump deodorising fluidfrom the lower container 12' up apipe 17 andinto the reservoir '11. Similarly, when the fluid13 reaches a second but higher pre-selected level, the pump 14 is switched off autoinatically by the float ball 16 and the microswitches15.

Furnesto b'e deodorised arefed t o the unit through a duct 1,8' a'nd leave through a second duct 19.

In 2, 'the turbuleritiflow :ofithe fumes past the wicks lflffcan clearly be seen. Thefajct that the wickslil areari'anged in staggered rows accounts for this turbu- .lence which ensures good mixingof the fumes with the deodorising fluid vapour which has evaporated from the wicks 10. v y f It will thus be appreciated thatthe deodorisation unit of the invention provides a particularly efficient and simple means of totally deodorising cooking and like fumes. If a unit such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 proves to be insufficient for effective deodorisation of fumes from a particular source, then a larger unit may be employed which is provided with additional wicks.

It is also noted that the deodorisation unit of the invention cannot become blocked up with grease and oil entrained in vapour form in the fumes being deodorised, which is a common problem with existing deodorisers. Although the wicks first contacted by the fumes may collect a certain amount of grease and oil, thus reducing their evaporation of the deodorising fluid, the air flow of fumes through the unit will not be impeded, nor will the effectiveness of the wicks further into the unit.

FIG. 3 shows a roof unit for a mobile refreshment kiosk incorporating two deodorisation units of the invention. Fumes to be deodorised are drawn into two rectanular sectioned ducts 20 through apertures 21. The fumes are then drawn by a fan 22 through respective deodorisation units 23 which each have a respective curved outer side 24 and a respective inwardly projecting baffle 25 to promote the desired turbulent air flow in the units 23. Each unit 23 is provided with wicks 26 and the operation of each unit 23 is exactly the same as the unit described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The deodorised fumes are drawn by the fan 22 along a further duct 27 to be ejected from a ventilator 28. The fourth side of the roof unit is completed by a ducting 29 which contains a strip light 30 for illuminating a display sign 31.

Each deodorisation unit is provided with its own deodorisation fluid reservoir and lower container (not shown), the float and switch arrangement being associated with the reservoir of one deodorisation unit and the pump being associated with the other reservoir. Appropriate piping is provided so that the pump can deliver fluid from both lower containers into the reservoirs.

The above described roof unit is both simple to manufacture and maintain, it only being necessary periodically to top up the level of the deodorisation fluid in the reservoirs as the fluid is used up.

What we claim is:

l. A deodorisation unit comprising ducting through which fumes to be deodorised are forced, an upper fluid reservoir for containing deodorising fluid mounted above the ducting, alower fluid container for surplus deodorising fluid mounted oppositely below the ducting, a plurality of absorbent wicks extending from said reservoir across the ducting in the directpath of said fumes and into said container, said wicks being arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of the fumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks, a pump having an inlet connected to said container and an outlet connected to said reservoir and means for periodically actuating said pump for transferring fluid from said container to said reservoir.

2. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underside of the reservoir is perforated to allow the upper ends of the wicks to extend into the deodorising fluid, the size of the perforations being chosen so that the wicks always remain moist under all operating conditions of the unit.

3. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the wicks are arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of the fumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks.

4. A deodorisation unit as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided responsive to the liquid level in said reservoir for periodically actuating said pump.

5. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pump is switched on and off by means of a float in the reservoir, the float acting to activate the pump when the fluid drops below a certain pre-selected level and switch off the pump when a second higher pre-selected fluid level is reached.

6. In combination with the deodorisation unit claimed in claim 1, a roof unit fora portable refreshment unit having means therein defining said ducting, there being a fan in said ducting for moving fumes therethrough and to an exhaust ventilator.

' 7. A roof unit as claimed in claim 6, further including a second deodorisation unit, and wherein the roof unit is generally rectangular in plan, the deodorisation units being disposed at adjacent corners of the roof and being both connected to the fan by appropriate ducting.

8. A roof unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein each deodorisation unit contains baffles in said ducting to promote the desired turbulent air-flow therethrough.

Claims

1. A deodorisation unit comprising ducting through which fumes to be deodorised are forced, an upper fluid reservoir for containing deodorising fluid mounted Above the ducting, a lower fluid container for surplus deodorising fluid mounted oppositely below the ducting, a plurality of absorbent wicks extending from said reservoir across the ducting in the direct path of said fumes and into said container, said wicks being arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of the fumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks, a pump having an inlet connected to said container and an outlet connected to said reservoir and means for periodically actuating said pump for transferring fluid from said container to said reservoir.

3. A deodorisation unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wicks are arranged in staggered rows to ensure good mixing of the fumes and the deodorising fluid vapour evaporating from the wicks.

6. In combination with the deodorisation unit claimed in claim 1, a roof unit for a portable refreshment unit having means therein defining said ducting, there being a fan in said ducting for moving fumes therethrough and to an exhaust ventilator.

7. A roof unit as claimed in claim 6, further including a second deodorisation unit, and wherein the roof unit is generally rectangular in plan, the deodorisation units being disposed at adjacent corners of the roof and being both connected to the fan by appropriate ducting.