Patent Publication Number: US-2022211052-A1

Title: Oven End Shroud Assembly

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to oven hoods which are specially adapted for collecting smoke and heated gasses emitting from the food passage ports of vertically stacked conveyor tunnel ovens. More particularly, this invention relates to such assemblies which are adapted for shrouding food passage ports opening at the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal ends of such tunnel oven stacks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Vertically stacked conveyor tunnel ovens are known to incorporate oven hood end shroud assemblies which functionally form a vertical channel for upwardly conveying smoke and cooking exhaust gasses emitting from the oven&#39;s longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports. Such oven hood end shroud assemblies are known to be vertically segmented and to fixedly attach their vertical segments to longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food conveyor ends which conventionally extend from the oven&#39;s longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports. Such known vertically segmented end shrouds are often difficult to install and de-install, and such known shroud assemblies often undesirably interfere with oven operators&#39; access to crumb catching trays which may be mounted upon the conveyors, immediately beneath their longitudinally and oppositely longitudinally extending ends. 
     The instant inventive oven end shroud assembly solves or ameliorates the problems, defects, and deficiencies noted above by providing specialized mounting brackets which multiply function for suspending the end shroud segments, and for facilitating horizontal sliding shroud segment installations and de-installations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant inventive oven hood assembly is intended for use in shrouding the longitudinal end and/or the oppositely longitudinal end of a stack of conveyor tunnel ovens. Each oven among the stack of conveyor tunnel ovens conventionally comprises a baking case having longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports which open the stacked cases at their longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal ends. Each stacked tunnel oven case also conventionally includes a longitudinally extending continuous loop grate type food conveyor having longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal ends. Such longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal conveyor ends conventionally respectively extend or cantilever longitudinally and oppositely longitudinally from the baking cases&#39; longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports. In an alternate configuration of the food conveyor, the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal conveyor ends comprise fixed shelf configured slide surfaces, with the medial portion of the conveyor (i.e. a portion of the conveyor substantially completely residing within and spanning longitudinally across the interior of the baking case) being continuous loop in character. In the conventional configuration the cantilevering longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal extensions of the continuous loop conveyor are supported by extensions of the conveyor&#39;s peripheral rectangular frames or chassis, and such frame advantageously provides structural mounting support for attachment of oven hood end shroud segments. In the alternative configuration, the similarly cantilevering slide shelves alternatively provide such structural mounting support. 
     The instant inventive assembly attaches to such longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal conveyor extensions, the assembly comprising at least a first end shroud channel member which is preferably configured in the form of a “C” channel. The at least first “C” channel configured member preferably forms a vertically extending channel path which has open upper and lower ends. In operation, each “C” channel member convectively conveys smoke and gas which emits from an oppositely longitudinal underlying conveyor oven food passage port. Such conveyor tunnel oven preferably comprises a single stratum of a stack of or strata of similarly configured conveyor tunnel conveyor ovens. 
     The inventive assembly&#39;s at least first “C” channel member preferably further opens oppositely longitudinally toward the tunnel oven&#39;s longitudinal food passage port. To form its preferred “C” configuration, the at least first “C” channel member preferably has a front wall or flange, a rear wall or flange, and has a longitudinal wall or web which spans laterally between and rigidly interconnects longitudinal ends of the front and rear walls. The at least first channel member may suitably alternatively form an open topped and open bottom box which further includes an oppositely longitudinal wall. However, for purposes of materials economy and enhanced convective air flow, a “C” channel configuration is preferred. In such preferred embodiment, the walls of the at least first “C” channel configured member are composed of heavy gauged stainless steel sheet metal. 
     Further structural components of the instant inventive oven hood assembly comprise at least a first pair of lower tracks which are attached to and are fixedly supported beneath the longitudinally protruding longitudinal end of the oven stack&#39;s immediately overlying food conveyor. For example, where the instant inventive oven hood assembly serves a three member strata or stack of conveyor tunnel ovens, the assembly&#39;s at least first pair of lower tracks is suitably mounted upon and beneath the longitudinal conveyor extension which cantilevers from one of the upper oven cases within the stack. In a preferred embodiment, each track among the first pair of lower tracks comprises a horizontally extending foot or flange of a laterally oblongated “L” hook which spans the front to rear width of such longitudinal conveyor extension. 
     A further structural component of the instant inventive assembly comprises a first pair of upper tracks which is attached to or fixedly supported at an upper end of the first “C” channel member. Similarly with the preferred “L” hook configuration of the first pair of lower tracks, the assembly&#39;s corresponding upper tracks are configured as oppositely extending flange or foot “L” hook components. 
     The first pair of upper tracks is preferably inverted and is mirroringly configured with respect to the first pair of lower tracks. In such configuration, the downwardly facing surfaces of the flanges or feet of the first pair of upper tracks advantageously slidably bear against upwardly facing surfaces of the flanges or feet of the first pair of lower tracks. Similarly with the extensions of the first pair of lower tracks, the assembly&#39;s first pair of upper tracks preferably extend laterally so that, upon hooking engagements of the first pair of upper tracks with the immediately underlying first pair of lower tracks, the first “C” channel member is effectively suspended from the immediately overlying longitudinal conveyor extension, and so that the first “C” channel member may laterally and telescopingly slidably move parallel to and along the lower tracks&#39; lateral extensions. Such sliding motions are between end shroud segment use and de-installed positions, facilitating convenient attachments and detachments of the “C” channel member. 
     In a suitable alternative embodiment of the inventive assembly, the pairs of upper and lower tracks may alternatively extend longitudinally to perform the same “C” channel suspending function, and to alternatively facilitate longitudinal movements between the end shroud segment use and de-installed positions. Where multiple tunnel conveyor ovens are included within the stack of ovens to be end shrouded by the instant inventive assembly, structures described above may be vertically replicated in order to similarly shroud the longitudinal food passage ports of other ovens within the stack. Also, oppositely longitudinal end structures which mirroringly replicate the longitudinal end structures described above may be advantageously attached to and reside at the longitudinal ends of the stacked ovens. Such oppositely longitudinal and shroud channel members preferably function substantially identically with the longitudinal channel members to shroud the ovens&#39; oppositely longitudinal food passage ports. 
     At the installed locations of the above described pairs of lower tracks, a crumb catching tray supported by crumb tray brackets or hangers may be conventionally installed. Such crumb tray brackets or hangers may be conveniently utilized for dually functioning as the instant invention&#39;s first pairs of lower tracks, and as crumb tray supporting members. In such dual function aspect of the inventive assembly, upwardly facing surfaces of the flanges or feet of the upper pairs of tracks may alternatively serve as crumb tray slide mount surfaces. In such alternative function and service, a crumb tray may advantageously rest upon upper surfaces of the upper tracks while those tracks&#39; lower surfaces directly rest upon the lower tracks. 
     Where the instant invention&#39;s upper tracks additionally function as crumb tray slide mounts, crumb tray access ports may be advantageously formed within the front walls of the “C” channel members so that the crumb trays may be conveniently slidably installed or de-installed without the necessity of preliminarily de-installing the “C” channel member. 
     Accordingly, objects of the instant invention include the provision of an oven end shroud assembly for upwardly conveying smoke or gas at the ends of stacked tunnel ovens which incorporates structures as described above, and which arranges those structures in manners described above, for the achievement of the beneficial functions described above. 
     Other and further objects, benefits, and advantages of the instant invention will become known to those skilled in the art upon review of the Detailed Description which follows, and upon review of the appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive oven hood assembly for shrouding ends of a stack of tunnel ovens, the view additionally showing a stack of conveyor tunnel ovens served by the assembly and additionally showing an overlying exhaust hood. 
         FIG. 2  redepicts the structure of  FIG. 1 , the view of  FIG. 2  showing one of the “C” channel end shroud segments partially slidably forwardly de-installed. 
         FIG. 3  redepicts the structure of  FIG. 2 , the view of  FIG. 3  showing one of the “C” channel shroud members completely de-installed. 
         FIG. 4  is a magnified view of a portion of the assembly of  FIGS. 1-3 , the view of  FIG. 4  showing a lower track pair component of the assembly. 
         FIG. 5  is an alternative perspective view of the structure of  FIG. 4 , the view of  FIG. 5  showing a crumb catching tray slidably supported by the lower track pair component of the assembly. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of one of “C” configured channel members of the instant inventive assembly, the view showing an attached upper track pair. 
         FIG. 7  is a partial front view of the structure of  FIG. 1 , the view of  FIG. 7  showing an opened crumb tray access port. 
         FIG. 8  redepicts the structure of  FIG. 7 , the view of  FIG. 8  additionally showing an installed crumb catching tray. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings and in particular to Drawing  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive oven hood assembly is referred to generally by Reference Arrow  1 . A stack of tunnel conveyor ovens include oven cases  2 ,  4 , and  6 , whose food passage ports are served by the inventive assembly  1 . 
     Each oven among the stack  2 , 4 , 6  has longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports. Longitudinal food passage ports  16 ,  18 , and  20  are within the view of Drawing  FIG. 1 . Mirroringly configured oppositely longitudinal food passage ports similarly open the baking cases  2 ,  4 , and  6  at those cases&#39; oppositely longitudinal ends or walls. 
     Each of the cases among the stack  2 , 4 , 6  includes and supports a longitudinally extending continuous loop and cooking grate configured food conveyor. Food conveyor  10  extends longitudinally through the uppermost baking case  2 , food conveyor  12  extends longitudinally through middle case  4 , and a lowermost food conveyor  14  extends longitudinally through the lower baking case  6 . Each of the continuous loop food conveyors includes cantilevering longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal ends which protrude or extend from the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal food passage ports. Each of the baking cases  2 ,  4 , and  6  also has a pivoting front sandwich access door  8 . An upper exhaust hood  22  is supported upon the upper end of the uppermost oven case  2 . 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8 , the instant inventive oven hood assembly comprises at least a first channel member which is referred to generally in Drawing  FIG. 6  by Reference Arrow  24 . Such channel member  24  is preferably configured to form a “C” channel which defines a vertical air convection channel. Such preferred “C” channel configured member  24  has a rear wall or flange  28 , and has a laterally opposed front wall or flange  26 . A longitudinal wall or “C” channel web  30  spans between and rigidly interconnects the longitudinal ends of the front and rear walls  26  and  28 . The channel member  24  may suitably further comprise an oppositely longitudinal wall (not depicted within views) which spans between oppositely longitudinal ends of the front and rear walls  26  and  28 . Notwithstanding, such additional wall is preferably omitted for purposes of materials economy, and to reduce interference with longitudinal and upward flows of smoke and gasses which emit from the food passage ports. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the first “C” channel member  24  has open upper and lower ends for guiding vertical heat convection air flows along the oppositely longitudinal end of the oven stack and toward the overlying exhaust hood  22 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a further structural component of the instant inventive oven hood assembly comprises at least a first pair of lower tracks  38  and  42 . In the preferred embodiment, such pair of lower tracks  38  and  42  is rigidly supported immediately beneath the longitudinal extension of the continuous loop food conveyor  10  of the uppermost oven case  2 . In the depicted embodiment, such tracks  38  and  42  extend laterally and comprise horizontally extending flange or foot components of a pair of “L” hooks  40  and  44 . 
     Where the continuous loop food conveyor  10  presents front and rear conveyor frame rails  11 , the “L” hook member  44  including its lower track component  42  may be welded to such front and rear rails. As shown in Drawing  FIG. 4 , the longitudinally opposite lower track  38  constitutes a component of a wholly or integrally formed “L” hook  40 , the downward extension of such hook being continuous with longitudinal frame rail  13 . 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the instant inventive assembly preferably further comprises at least a first pair of upper tracks  46  and  48 , such tracks  46  and  48  suitably comprising foot or flange components of relatively inverted “L” hooks  50  and  52 . Front and rear mounts  51  and  53  are preferably provided for rigidly interconnecting the “L” hooks  50  and  52  along with their upper tracks  46  and  48  to the front and rear walls  26  and  28  of the “C” channel member  24 . Such “L” hooks  50  and  52  are preferably positioned at the upper end of the “C” channel member  24  in order to facilitate suspension of the member from conveyor  10 . 
     Referring further simultaneously to  FIG. 7 , the first pair of upper tracks  46  and  48  hookingly engages the first pair of lower tracks  38  and  42 , effectively suspending the “C” channel member  24  from the cantilevering longitudinal extension of conveyor  10 . The depicted engagements of “L” hooks  50  and  52  with “L” hooks  40  and  44 , advantageously holds the “C” channel member  24  in its installed position as depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 . In performance of an additional function of “L” hooks  50 , 52 , 40 , 44 , a frontward pulling force applied to the “C” channel member  24  advantageously slidably forwardly de-installs the “C” channel member  24  from the suspended use configuration of  FIG. 1 . Such facilitated lateral sliding de-installation of member  24  suitably proceeds in the manner depicted in Drawing  FIG. 2  to completely de-install the member  24  as indicated in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring simultaneously to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , view windows  32  and  34  are preferably installed on the “C” channel member&#39;s front and longitudinal walls  26  and  30 , such windows  32  and  34  allowing an operator of the oven to better see food items as they enter or exit the ovens. 
     A crumb tray access port  35  preferably opens the “C” channel member  24  at its front wall  26 , such port being selectively openable and closeable by a removable cover cap  33 . The functions of the crumb tray port  35  and its cap  33  are further discussed below. 
     The immediately underlying second “C” channel member  68  is preferably configured substantially identically with the overlying first “C” channel member  24 . Such other or another “C” channel member  68  preferably has additional or other pairs of upper and lower tracks which are preferably formed integrally with “L” hooks, such other tracks preferably being configured substantially identically with the first pairs of tracks described above. 
     Oppositely longitudinally mirroring “C” channel members  70  and  72  are preferably further provided, such members  70  and  72  being suspended from oppositely longitudinal extensions of conveyors  10  and  12  via similarly configured oppositely longitudinal pairs of upper and lower tracks. Oppositely longitudinal shroud segment structures depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  are preferably configured substantially identically and mirroringly with the longitudinal and shroud components described above. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , it may be seen that the upper hood  22  includes a longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal extension beyond the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal ends of the oven stack  2 , 4 , 6 . Such upper hood extensions vertically overlie the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal extensions of the food conveyors  10 ,  12 , and  14 , and such extensions advantageously similarly perform end shroud supporting functions. Uppermost exhaust gas and smoke conveying channel members  64  and  74  are suitably provided and installed upon such upper hood extensions, such installations preferably utilizing the same type of “L” hook adapted slide mount attachment described above with respect to “C” channel members  24 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72 . Referring to  FIG. 4 , engaged lower and upper “L” hooks  65  similarly slidably suspend the upper channel member  64 . Accordingly, upper “C” channel members  64  and  74  may be slidably frontwardly and rearwardly installed and de-installed in the same manner as, referring to  FIG. 2 , the depicted sliding installation or de-installation of “C” channel member  68 . 
     Gap covering panels  66  are preferably provided to close air escape routes which reside between the rearward ends of the conveyors  10 ,  12 , and  14 , and the lower edges of the “C” channel member&#39;s rear walls. Such gap covering panels  66  are suitably adjustably installed by means of adjustment slot and bolt combination fasteners  36 . In order to slidably forwardly de-install one of the “C” channel members  24 ,  68 ,  70 , or  72 , such member&#39;s gap covering panel  66  may be preliminarily removed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 , lower crumb catching trays  60  and  62  may be conventionally installed immediately beneath the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal extensions of the lower food conveyor  14 , such crumb trays  60  and  62  being slidably installed upon and retained by laterally extending “L” hook pairs  59 , 61 . Referring further to  FIG. 5 , a similarly configured crumb catching tray  56  having a perforate floor  58  may be similarly installed upon and slidably supported by the “L” hook pair  40 , 44 , which hooks include the assembly&#39;s first pair of lower tracks  38  and  42 . Upon the above described installation of the “C” channel member  24  upon “L” hooks  40  and  44 , the assembly&#39;s upper pair of tracks  46  and  48  directly contact and rest upon the upper surfaces of the lower pair of tracks  38  and  42 . Accordingly, upon such “C” channel member installation, such lower tracks  38  and  40  cannot directly slidably support the crumb tray  56 . Notwithstanding, such installation of “C” channel member  24  advantageously causes the upper surfaces  47  and  49  of the upper pair of tracks  46  and  48  to be immediately available for service as alternative crumb tray slide mount supports. Accordingly, the instant inventive lateral sliding mode of attachment and support of the “C” channel members is mechanically consistent with continued use of the conveyor mounted “L” hooks  40  and  44  for crumb tray installation and support. 
     In order to allow the crumb tray  56  to be accessed, installed, and removed without the necessity of de-installing the “C” channel member  24 , an access port  35  is preferably formed within front wall  26 , such port  35  being covered and closed by the removable plug or cap  33 . Each of the longitudinal and oppositely longitudinal “C” channel members  24 ,  68 ,  70 , and  72  is preferably adapted, as indicated above, for performing dual functions of “C” channel member support and independent sliding installations and de-installations of crumb trays. 
     While the upper and lower track components of the instant invention are preferably configured as laterally extending “L” hook feet or flanges, as depicted in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , various other track configurations are considered to fall within the scope of the invention. For example, the abutting surfaces of the vertically engaged tracks may be adapted to present wheels or rollers (not depicted within views) for friction reduction. Further alternatively, the invention&#39;s lower track components may suitably be configured to present an upwardly opening and laterally extending slide channel(not depicted within views), such channel downwardly receiving a laterally extending flange edge configured track (also not depicted within views). 
     While the principles of the invention have been made clear in the above illustrative embodiment, those skilled in the art may make modifications to the structure, arrangement, portions and components of the invention without departing from those principles. Accordingly, it is intended that the description and drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in the limiting sense, and that the invention be given a scope commensurate with the appended claims.