Abstract:
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.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    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. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    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. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    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. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    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. 
         [0005]    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. 
         [0006]    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. 
         [0007]    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. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic side, section view of an embodiment of a warewash system; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a partial, perspective view of an embodiment of a warewash section for use with the warewash system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a section, detail view of the warewash section of  FIG. 2  with a door in its closed configuration; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a partial, front view of the warewash section of  FIG. 2  highlighting locations of pivot pins; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a section, detail view of the warewash section of  FIG. 2  with the door in its open configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a detail, section view of the warewash section along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2  with the door in its closed configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a detail, section view of the warewash section along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2  with the door being opened; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  illustrates the warewash section of  FIG. 2  with the door being openable in a reverse direction; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8A  is a side, detail view of an embodiment of a hinge pin connection arrangement; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 9-12  are various views of another embodiment of a warewash section including a double door configuration; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a section, detail view of another threshold seal member embodiment with a door in its closed configuration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary conveyor-type warewash system, generally designated  10 , is shown. Warewash system  10  can receive racks  12  of soiled wares  14  from an operator side  16  which are moved through tunnel-like chambers from the operator side toward a dryer unit  18  at an opposite end of the warewash system by a suitable conveyor mechanism  20 . Either continuously or intermittently moving conveyor mechanisms or combinations thereof may be used, depending, for example, on the style, model and size of the warewash system  10 . The racks  12  of soiled wares  14  enter the warewash system  10  through a flexible curtain  22  into a pre-wash chamber  24  where sprays of liquid from upper and lower pre-wash manifolds  26  and  28  above and below the racks, respectively, function to flush heavier soil from the wares. The liquid for this purpose comes from a tank  30  via a pump  32  and supply conduit  34 . 
         [0020]    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. 
         [0021]    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. 
         [0022]    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  FIG. 1 , any of the various sections of the warewash system  10  may include a side access door that provides access to the respective chamber. The access door can provide for user access to various components within the chamber and will be described in greater detail below. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , warewash system  10  includes warewash section  70  which may, for example, be associated with any of the pre-wash chamber  24 , main wash chamber  40 , final rinse chamber  54 , etc. The warewash section  70  includes a frame  72  and a side access door  74 . Hinge pins  76  and  78  pivotally connect the door  74  to the frame  72 , providing a pivot axis P so that the door is openable relative to the frame between closed (as shown) and opened configurations. A handle  80  is provided on the door  74  that can be grasped and pulled by an operator to open the door. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the door  74  and frame  72  are shown in end view in the closed configuration. Door  74  includes a threshold seal member  82  (e.g., formed of hard rubber, plastic, etc.) that is connected to a bottom  84  of the door. Threshold seal member  82  includes an embossment  85  (e.g., a downward extended rib) that is sized and arranged to mate with a groove or recess  86  that is formed by tank shelf  87  to form an embossment seal and an edge seal member  88  that is sized and arranged to mate with an upper edge  90  of tank shelf  87  to form a tank edge seal. As can be appreciated, the embossment seal forms an outer seal that is spaced furthest away from the tank  92  and the edge seal forms an inner seal that is closest to the tank. The seals inhibit water and steam from escaping the chamber during use. Additionally, the mating between the groove  86  and the embossment  85  acts as a latch that inhibits unintended opening of the door  74 . 
         [0025]    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  FIG. 4 , hinge pins  76  and  78  and pin receiving openings in the door  74  are sized and positioned to allow for vertical movement of the door so that the embossment seal and tank edge seal can disengage. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the embossment  85  and edge seal member  88  rest against surface  98  with the door  74  in the open configuration. When the door  74  is placed back in the closed configuration as shown by  FIG. 3 , the door moves down once the embossment  85  is aligned with the groove  86  and the edge seal member  88  is aligned with the upper edge  90  of the tank shelf  87 , forming the inner and outer seals. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , warewash section  70  further includes a labyrinth seal assembly  100  located along the left and right sides of the door. Labyrinth seal assembly  100  includes an elongated channel  102  that is formed by an exterior wall  104 , interior walls  106  and  108  and a lip or flange  107  extending inwardly of the door  74  when the door is in the closed orientation. The channel  102  extends along the height H ( FIG. 2 ) of the door  74 , is in communication with the chamber of the warewash section  70  and includes an opening  110  between the interior wall  108  and the door  74 . In some embodiments, the walls  104 ,  106 ,  108  are formed using stainless steel, however other materials may be used. A similar labyrinth arrangement could be located at the top of the door. 
         [0027]    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  FIG. 7 , the labyrinth seal assembly  100  is sized and arranged so that it does not interfere with opening of the door  74 . 
         [0028]    Referring back to  FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, pivot axis P may be moved from the configuration illustrated to the configuration illustrated in  FIG. 8 . In other words, the configuration of the door  74  may be changed so that it can be opened in a reverse direction. In order to accomplish this, hinge pins  76  and  78  are removable from their locations in  FIG. 2  to the locations in  FIG. 8 . Door  74  includes a second set of pin receiving openings  112  that are located at an opposite edge of the door from pin receiving openings  114 . Handle  80  may also be made removable so that it can be repositioned at door edge  116  that is furthest from the pivot axis P. Alternatively, the hinge pins may be moved and the orientation of the door changed by simply rotating the door 180 degrees to place the handle at the opposite side, in which case the threshold member could also be moved. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 8A , the pin receiving openings  112 ,  114  are formed through the door  74  and the frame  72 . A frame opening  89  can be hex-shaped (or another shape) to match the shape of a nut  91  that is fit with in the frame opening. The hex-shape of the frame opening  89  prevents the nut  91  from turning when tightening the hinge pin  76 . This allows for hinge pin adjustment from outside the chamber. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , an alternative warewash section  120  includes two doors  74   a  and  74   b  (shown in their open configurations). Each door  74   a  and  74   b  may include one, all or any combination of the features described above including the threshold member  82  that mates with the tank shelf  87 , a hinged connection (e.g., using hinge pins  76  and  78 ) that allow for vertical movement of the door and the labyrinth seal  100 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 10  illustrates a threshold member arrangement where the threshold members  82   a  and  82   b  overlap each other when the doors  74   a  and  74   b  are placed in their closed positions. The threshold members  82   a ,  82   b  include overlap portions  121   a  and  121   b  that overlap each other in a side-by-side arrangement, which creates a somewhat tortuous leak path for liquid to pass therebetween. 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , in some embodiments, the warewash section  120  includes a steam deflector  122  that inhibits passage of steam and liquid from the warewash section during use and with the doors  74  closed. The steam deflector  122  is arranged and configured to abut the inside surface of the doors  74  with the doors in their closed positions. 
         [0033]    Referring also to  FIG. 12 , the steam deflector  122  is an L-shaped member (e.g., formed of stainless steel or other suitable material) including a vertical component  124  and a horizontal component  126 . The horizontal component  126  is the part of the steam deflector  122  that abuts the doors when they are closed. 
         [0034]    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  ( FIG. 3 ), the steam deflector  122  is made adjustable in order to accommodate the sealing engagements between the threshold members  82  of the doors  74 . In the illustrated embodiment, the steam deflector  122  includes an array of slots  128  that are sized and arranged to receive fasteners for fastening the steam deflector in the position shown. The slots  128  are elongated to allow for forward and rearward adjustment of the threshold member  122  in the direction of arrow  130  ( FIG. 12 ) to ensure that the steam deflector engages the doors  74  with the threshold members  82  properly mated with the tank shelf  87 . 
         [0035]    Referring back to  FIG. 11 , the steam deflector  122  is illustrated as a single, continuous member. However, as represented by the dotted lines, the steam deflector  122  may include two separate members  122   a  and  122   b , where member  122   a  is associated with door  74   a  and member  122   b  is associated with door  74   b . Providing two separate members  122   a  and  122   b  allows for independent adjustment of the members based on the closed position of the respective doors. Use of the steam deflector  122  can be used to replace a rubber or plastic upper seal, which can wear over time. 
         [0036]    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  FIG. 13 , an alternative arrangement is shown where threshold seal member  140  includes a groove or recess  142  that is sized and arranged to mate with an embossment  144  (e.g., a rib) that is formed by tank shelf  87  to form an embossment seal. Accordingly, other embodiments are contemplated and modifications and changes could be made without departing from the scope of this application.