Patent Publication Number: US-2020281406-A1

Title: Methods and systems for a continuous fryer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/810,690, filed Feb. 26, 2019. The entire contents of the above-listed application are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present description relates generally to continuous fryers having a heat source. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     Continuous fryers may be used in food industries for rapid, high throughout oil-based cooking. Food items may be submerged in oil within the continuous fryer and subjected to high temperatures to cook or obtain a desired texture of the food items. A size of a continuous fryer may be reduced in comparison to a continuous fryer with a linearly arranged conveying system by adapting the continuous fryer with a rotatable drum configured to receive food items. The drum may be a mobile rotatable reservoir for positioning food items in and out of oil during a frying process. 
     The inventors have identified some shortcomings in some continuous fryer systems. As one example, a large volume of oil may be utilized in the linear conveyor belt frying system. Heating of oil in such a large system may result in uneven heat distribution and sluggish transfer of energy through the volume of the oil with cooling of the oil occurring at walls of an oil reservoir. Additionally, a heating device used to transmit heat to the oil may comprise multiple parts and impose difficulty upon removal and installation of the device when replacement is desired. 
     The inventors herein have recognized potential solutions to inefficiently heated continuous frying systems with unwieldy heating devices. In one example, the issues described above may be addressed by a continuous fryer comprising a stationary lower portion, configured with a reservoir to store oil, an upper portion, coupled to the lower portion by a hinge and pivotable about the hinge, and an immersion tube arranged in the lower portion, configured to heat the oil in the reservoir, the immersion tube adapted with a sinuous, branched geometry. In this way, heat may be distributed through a volume of the oil efficiently, allowing for even heating of the oil. 
     As one example, the immersion tube may have a planar main portion with side portions arranged on opposite sides of the main portion. The side portions may be continuous with the main portion but configured to extend along a direction perpendicular to a plane of the main portion. An overall geometry of the immersion tube enables oil along walls of an oil reservoir of the continuous fryer to be heated, thereby mitigating cooling of the oil at the walls. The side portions and main portion are coupled to a base plate, together forming a single, continuous unit. The immersion tube is thus configured as a cartridge that may be easily replaced. 
     It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a first example of a rotating continuous fryer configured to be heated with a split immersion tube. 
         FIG. 2  shows an example of a split-immersion tube that may be used to heat oil in the rotating continuous fryer. 
         FIG. 3  shows a second example of the rotating continuous fryer from a top-down view. 
         FIG. 4  shows the second example of the rotating continuous fryer from a first perspective view. 
         FIG. 5  shows the second example of the rotating continuous fryer from a second perspective view. 
         FIG. 6  shows the second example of the rotating continuous fryer from a first side view. 
         FIG. 7  shows the second example of the rotating continuous fryer from a second side view. 
         FIG. 8  shows the first example of the rotating continuous fryer in a closed configuration. 
         FIGS. 1-8  are shown approximately to scale, however, other relative dimensions may be used if desired. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description relates to systems and methods for a rotating continuous fryer. In one example, the rotating continuous fryer has a rotating drum to hold and store food items during frying. The rotating drum may be enclosed in and covered by a hood, as shown in a first example of the rotating continuous fryer depicted in  FIG. 1 . The rotating continuous fryer may be compact in size due to submerging of food items in oil via rotation of the drum rather than along a linear conveying system. Dimensions of the rotating continuous fryer may reduce a volume of oil stored in the fryer to cook food items. The rotating continuous fryer may also include a split-immersion tube, adapted to heat oil stored in a chamber of the fryer and used to cook food items submerged in the oil. An example of the split-immersion tube is illustrated in  FIG. 2 , showing a sinuous, multi-planar geometry of the split immersion tube. The geometry of the split immersion tube may be configured to heat the oil efficiently, providing even heat distribution through a volume of the oil. The rotating continuous fryer and positioning of various components of the fryer including the arrangement of the split immersion tube within an oil reservoir of the rotating continuous fryer are shown from different views in  FIGS. 3-8 . 
       FIGS. 1-8  show example configurations with relative positioning of the various components. If shown directly contacting each other, or directly coupled, then such elements may be referred to as directly contacting or directly coupled, respectively, at least in one example. Similarly, elements shown contiguous or adjacent to one another may be contiguous or adjacent to each other, respectively, at least in one example. As an example, components laying in face-sharing contact with each other may be referred to as in face-sharing contact. As another example, elements positioned apart from each other with only a space there-between and no other components may be referred to as such, in at least one example. As yet another example, elements shown above/below one another, at opposite sides to one another, or to the left/right of one another may be referred to as such, relative to one another. Further, as shown in the figures, a topmost element or point of element may be referred to as a “top” of the component and a bottommost element or point of the element may be referred to as a “bottom” of the component, in at least one example. As used herein, top/bottom, upper/lower, above/below, may be relative to a vertical axis of the figures and used to describe positioning of elements of the figures relative to one another. As such, elements shown above other elements are positioned vertically above the other elements, in one example. As yet another example, shapes of the elements depicted within the figures may be referred to as having those shapes (e.g., such as being circular, straight, planar, curved, rounded, chamfered, angled, or the like). Further, elements shown intersecting one another may be referred to as intersecting elements or intersecting one another, in at least one example. Further still, an element shown within another element or shown outside of another element may be referred as such, in one example. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 1 , a first example of a rotating continuous fryer  100  is shown from a perspective view. A set of reference axis  101  are provided for comparison between views shown, indicating a y-axis, an x-axis, and a z-axis. In one example, the y-axis may be parallel with a vertical direction, the x-axis parallel with a horizontal direction, and the z-axis parallel with a transverse direction. 
     The rotating continuous fryer  100  may have a compact overall geometry with a first width  103 , parallel with the z-axis, and a second width  105 , parallel with the x-axis, that are either similar in distance or may be slightly different. For example, the first width  103  may be larger or smaller than the second width  105  by a small amount, such as 2-5%. A cross-section of the rotating continuous fryer  100 , taken along a z-x plane, may have a square or rectangular shape. A total height  107  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 , the height  107  perpendicular to both the first and second widths  103 ,  105  and parallel with the y-axis, when the rotating continuous fryer  100  is closed, as shown in  FIG. 8 , (e.g., the rotating continuous fryer  100  is shown open in  FIG. 1 ) may be greater than either the first or second width  103 ,  105 . A cross-section of the rotating continuous fryer  100 , taken along the z-x plane, may resemble a dome with a rectangular base that is supported by legs  115 , extending below the rectangular base along the y-axis. 
     The rotating continuous fryer  100  may have an upper portion  102  and a lower portion  104 . The lower portion  104  may be configured to be a base for the rotating continuous fryer  100 , remaining stationary, while the upper portion  102  may be adapted to be mobile and pivot about a hinge  106  (shown in  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 ) as indicated by arrow  108 . The upper portion  102  may be pivoted continuously between an open position, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 8 , where the upper portion  102  is mated with the lower portion  104  in the closed position. The hinge  106  may be arranged at a rear side  111  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  so that the upper portion opens at a front side  113  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . 
     The hinge  106  may be configured to halt motion of the upper portion  102  and maintain a position of the upper portion  102  when the upper portion  102  is at a specific angle relative to a plane of the lower portion  104 , e.g., relative to the z-x plane. For example, the hinge  106  may stop further rotation of the upper portion  102  when the upper portion  102  is positioned at 100° relative to the plane of the lower portion  104 , as indicated at  109 . Alternatively, the hinge  106  may be adapted to maintain the upper portion  102  at other angles relative to the plane of the lower portion  104 , such as 120°, 150°, or 180°. Furthermore, the hinge  106  may be configured to maintain a position of the upper portion  102  at any angle relative to the plane of the lower portion  104  and hold the upper portion  102  at a desired angle until adjusted by a user. In some examples, a motion and/or a sustaining of a position of the upper portion  102  may be adjusted manually or actuated based on hydraulic power and an electric motor. 
     The upper portion  102  may include a drum  110  that rotates within the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The drum  110  may spin around a central axis of rotation  112 , rotating about a drum shaft  114  that is parallel with the central axis of rotation  112 . The upper portion  102  also includes a hood  116  that is shaped to enclose a portion of the drum  110  and may be a lid for the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The drum  110  may be secured to the hood  116  by a drum shaft bearing mount  118  that allows unhindered rotation of the drum  110 . 
     The drum  110  may have a cylindrical overall geometry and be sized to fit within the upper and lower portions  102 ,  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  when the rotating continuous fryer  100  is closed. The drum  110  may be adapted with a plurality of chambers  120  separated by a plurality of chamber walls  122 . The plurality of chambers  120  may extend entirely through a width of the drum  110 , where the width of the drum  110  is parallel with the second width  105  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The plurality of chamber walls  122  may extend from the drum shaft  114  and radiate outwards to an outer edge  124  of the drum  110 . Each chamber of the plurality of chambers  120  may have an end wall  126 , defining an outer boundary of the chamber. The end wall  126  may also extend entirely across the width of the drum  110  and have a plane that is angled, with respect to the plurality of chamber walls  122 , between 60-90 degrees. The end wall  126  may be angled so that the end wall  126  does not seal each chamber of the plurality of chambers  120 . Instead, the angling of each end wall  126  allows an opening or slot to be formed between each end wall  126  and an adjacent end wall  126 . 
     A drum gear motor  128  may be coupled to the drum shaft  114  and positioned outside, e.g., external to, the upper portion  102  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  at a first side surface  130  of the hood  116 . The first side surface  130  and a second side surface  132  are co-planar and aligned parallel with a y-z plane. An upper surface  134  of the hood  116  may connect the first and second side surfaces  130 ,  132  and extend from the rear side  111  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  to the front side  113  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The drum gear motor  128  arranged at the first side surface of the hood  116  may control rotation of the drum  110 , rotating the drum in a desired direction and at a target speed when activated. By arranging the drum gear motor  128  at an external location along the upper portion  102 , the drum gear motor  128  may be more accessible for routine maintenance and repair relative to drum motors arranged interior to surfaces of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . 
     The lower portion  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  may be a base configured to support a weight of the rotating continuous fryer  100  and have a chamber, or reservoir,  136  for storing oil used to cook food items. The reservoir  136  is supported by the legs  115 , the legs  115  coupled to an outer surface of the reservoir  36  and extending downwards between the reservoir  136  and a surface on which the rotating continuous fryer  100  is placed, such as a floor. The reservoir  136  may have a depth  138 , defined along the y-axis, deep enough to submerge a portion of the drum  110  in oil. A heating element  140  may be positioned in the reservoir  136  to heat the oil. In one example, the heating element  140  may be a split immersion tube  140 . The split immersion tube  140  may be a hollow device with an overall sinuous shape, winding across the second width  105  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  so that the split immersion tube  140  extends across most of the second width  105 . The split immersion tube  140  may have a substantially planar main portion  142  that winds along the z-x, or horizontal, plane and side portions  144  that are continuous with the main portion  142  but aligned perpendicular to the main portion  142  and co-planar with a y-x, or vertical, plane. 
     The split immersion tube  140  may be arranged in the reservoir  136  so that the main portion  142  of the split immersion tube  140  is proximate to a floor  146  of the reservoir  136  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The floor  146  may define a bottom of the reservoir  136 , aligned co-planar with the z-x plane. The split immersion tube  140  may be spaced away from the floor  146  of the reservoir  136  by a small distance such as 5% of the depth  138  of the reservoir  136 . The side portions  144  may be positioned proximate to but spaced away from a first wall  148  and a second wall  150  of the reservoir  136 . A geometry of the split immersion tube  140  may affect how efficiently the split immersion tube  140  heats oil in the reservoir  136  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . 
     The split immersion tube  140  is shown in  FIG. 2  disembodied from the rotating continuous fryer  100 . In some examples, hollow tubing that may be an outer housing of the split immersion tube  140  may form a channel for heat flow. In one example, the split immersion tube  140  may be coupled to an external heat source such as a natural gas burner that ignites a fuel, such as natural gas, propane, butane, etc. Ignition of the fuel generates a flame and heated gases which are blown through the hollow tubing of the split immersion tube  140 , thereby heating the hollow tubing. Heat absorbed by the hollow tubing radiates to a fluid, such as oil, in the reservoir  136 . 
     The inlet port  202  may be an opening in a base plate  204  of the split immersion tube  140 . The base plate  204  may be a planar, rigid plate of the split immersion tube  140  that provides support to the main portion  142  and side portions  144  of the split immersion tube  140  by coupling to the hollow tubing of the split immersion tube  140  at three regions. In  FIG. 2 , the base plate  204  is co-planar with the y-z plane and has a width  206 , along the z-axis, that is adapted to be smaller than the first width  103  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  of  FIG. 1  so the base plate  204  may fit within the reservoir  136  of the lower portion  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  as shown in  FIG. 1 . A height  208 , measured along the y-axis, of the base plate  204  may be smaller in dimension than the width  206  of the base plate  204  but tall enough to allow the base plate  204  to couple to both the main portion  142  and the side portions  144  of the split immersion tube  140 . 
     The base plate  204  is attached to the main portion  142  of the split immersion tube  140  at a first end  210  of a tube trunk  212 . The main portion  142  of the of the split immersion tube  140  may be substantially co-planar with the horizontal plane and comprise the tube trunk  212  as a central section of the main portion  142  that extends linearly along the x-axis. The tube trunk  212  has a shape resembling a “y”, branching into winding sections of the main portion  142  that weave back and forth along the x-axis. At least a portion of the winding, branched sections of the main portion  142 , described in detail further below, may be aligned along a different plane, e.g., not along the horizontal plane, at the side portions  144  of the split immersion tube  140 . As such, the tube trunk  212  may be bifurcated such that the split immersion tube  140  may divide into two winding sections. 
     For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the side portions  144  extend upwards from the main portion  142  along the vertical plane, perpendicular to the main portion  142 . That is to say, the side portions  144  may be vertically displaced relative to the main portion  142 . In other examples, however, the side portions  144  may not be perpendicular to the main portion  142 , and instead be aligned at less or greater than 90 degrees relative to the horizontal plane. In yet other examples, the split immersion tube  140  may have multiple sections that align with multiple, varying planes. For example, the y-shaped tube trunk  212  may branch into sections following a stepped geometry, with sections that are co-planar with the horizontal plane alternating with sections that are not co-planar with the horizontal plane. The sections that are not co-planar with the horizontal plane may be co-planar with the vertical plane or not perpendicular to the horizontal plane. Alternatively, the split immersion tube  140  may have sections that extend downwards from the horizontal plane of the main portion  142 , at an angle with perpendicular to or not perpendicular to the horizontal plane. An overall geometry of the split immersion tube  140  may be based on a shape of a rotating drum, e.g., the drum  110  of  FIG. 1 , and a shape of an oil reservoir, e.g., the reservoir  136  of  FIG. 1  of the rotating continuous fryer. Many variations in the geometry of the split immersion tube  140  have been contemplated. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the tube trunk  212  may be a hollow tube extending linearly along the x-axis from a central region of the base plate  204 . At a second end  214  of the tube trunk  212 , the split immersion tube  140  may split into a first branch  216  and a second branch  218 . The first branch  216  and second branch  218  may also be formed from hollow tubing, seamlessly continuous with the tube trunk  212  but curving away from a central axis  220  of the split immersion tube  140  in opposite directions. The split immersion tube  140  may be mirror-symmetric about the central axis  220  so that the first branch  216  and second branch  218  are identical but extending in opposite directions along the z-axis. Thus the following description of the second branch  218  may be similarly applied to the first branch  216  along an oppositely arranged trajectory with respect to the z-axis. 
     The second branch  218  may have a first portion  222  of continuous tubing that is co-planar with the z-x plane and may curve away from the central axis at a first curved joint  221 , coupled to the second end  214  of the tube trunk  212 . The tubing of the first portion  222  of the second branch  218  winds back along the z-axis in a linear path towards the base plate  204 , parallel with but spaced away from the tube trunk  212 . As the tubing of the first portion  222  approaches the base plate  204 , the first portion  222  curves so that the tubing does not come into contact with the base plate  204 , forming a second curved joint  224  that has a semi-circular shape. The tubing of the second branch  218  extends linearly along the z-axis, parallel with and spaced away from the linear region of the first portion  222  of the second branch  218 , forming a second portion  226  of the second branch  218  that is also one of the side portions  144  of the split immersion tube  140 . 
     The tubing of the second portion  226  of the second branch  218  of the split immersion tube  140  may be aligned perpendicular to the plane of the first portion  222 , the second portion  226  co-planar with the y-x plane. The second portion  226  winds back towards the base plate  204  at a third curved joint  228 , the third curved joint  228  curving upwards, along the y-axis. The third curved joint  228  may be a similar distance, with respect to the x-axis, away from the base plate as the first curved joint  221 . The tubing of the second portion  226  extends linearly to the base plate  204 , coupling to a first surface  230  of the base plate  204 , extending through a thickness, defined along the x-axis, of the base plate  204 , and continuing a distance  234  beyond a second surface  232  of the base plate  204  to form one of the protrusions  235  both protrusions parallel with the x-axis. The distance  234  that the protrusions  235  extend from the base plate  204  may be much shorter than a length  236  of the spit immersion tube  140 , also defined along the x-axis. A point at which the second portion  226  couples to the base plate  204  may be higher along the height  208  of the base plate  204  than the inlet port  202  of the base plate  204 . The protrusions  235  may be coupled to the power source that is also coupled to the inlet port  202 , thereby completing an electrical circuit of the split immersion tube  140 . 
     The base plate  204 , main portion  142 , and side portions  144  of the split immersion tube  140  form a continuous, permanently joined unit. The heating element of the split immersion tube  140  may extend continuously through the tube trunk  212 , first branch  216 , and second branch  218  so that the tubing of the split immersion tube  140  is evenly heated throughout. A diameter of the tubing of the split immersion tube  140  may be uniform throughout the main portion  142  and side portions  144  or may vary. The base plate  204  and tubing of the split immersion tube  140  may be formed from a same, rigid, heat conducting material with high heat tolerance, such as stainless steel, or may be formed from different materials. For example, the tubing may be of stainless steel while the base plate  204  may be formed from a heavier, more durable material to provide structural support to the split immersion tube  140 . 
     By configuring the split immersion tube as a single unit, the split immersion tube may be adapted as a cartridge that is readily installed and removed from the rotating continuous fryer. A heating element may be a component of an electrically powered cooking or frying system that is prone to degradation or deterioration over time with usage. Replacement of the heating element may be demanded with greater regularity than other parts of the system due to exposure of the heating element to high temperatures. Thus adapting the rotating continuous fryer with a heating element that is encased within a single unit of tubing to form a cartridge may allow the heating element to be quickly and completely exchanged when desired. 
     Furthermore, a geometry of the split immersion tube may enable even heat distribution, radiating from the heating element encased in the split immersion tube, throughout a volume of oil stored in the reservoir of the lower portion of the rotating continuous fryer. The sinuous pattern of the split immersion tube allows the split immersion tube to spread across the floor of the oil reservoir, heating the oil from a bottom of the volume of oil and inducing convective mixing of the oil. A likelihood of cooling of the oil at walls of the reservoir is decreased by configuring the side portions of the split immersion tube to extend vertically, with respect to the y-axis, along the walls of the reservoir, thereby assisting with heating the oil at regions of the reservoir where cooling of the oil is most likely to occur. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , the split immersion tube  140  may heat oil in the reservoir  136  of the lower portion  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  to fry food items in the plurality of chambers  120  of the drum  110 . The food items may be delivered to the drum  110  at the front side  113 , which may also be an inlet side  113  of the rotating continuous fryer through a gap in the hold  116  adapted with an inlet lip  158 . The food items may be distributed into the plurality of chambers  120  of the drum  110  and become submerged in hot oil as the drum  110  rotates. When the food items emerge from the oil, also due to rotation of the drum  110  the plurality of walls  122  of the drum  110  may be angled such that the fried food items slide out of the drum  110  through gaps between each end walls  126  and an adjacent end wall  126 , at the rear side  111 , which may also be an outlet side  111  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The food items may exit the drum  110  through a gap  154  in the upper portion  102  of the rotating continuous fryer  100  coupled to an outlet lip (shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 . 
     The rotating continuous fryer  100  may also include a branched pipe  160  coupled to a side wall  162  of the lower portion  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . A lower, branched portion  164  of the branched pipe  160  may be attached to the side wall  162 , fluidly coupling an inner volume of the branched  160  to an inner volume of the reservoir  136  through the side wall  162 . The branched portion  164  of the branched pipe  160  may merge at an upper portion  166  that extends linearly upwards, along the y-axis, and above the lower portion  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . The branched pipe  160  may be an exhaust stack that couples to the split immersion tube  140  at protrusions (e.g., protrusions  235  shown in  FIG. 2 ), through flange fittings (e.g., flange fittings  316  shown in  FIG. 3 ) extending through openings in the side  162  of the lower portion  104  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . 
     The rotating continuous fryer  100  may be configured to open at the inlet side  113  with the hinge  106 , about which the upper portion  102  is pivoted, arranged at the outlet side  111  of the rotating continuous fryer  100 . Adapting the rotating continuous fryer  100  to pivot at the outlet side  111  may allow inner components of the rotating continuous fryer  100  to be accessed more readily with respect to processing instruments and systems directly coupled to the rotating continuous fryer  100  than, for example, when the rotating continuous fryer  100  is configured to pivot at the inlet side  113  instead. For example, opening the hood  116  towards a discharge side of the rotating continuous fryer  100 , e.g., towards the outlet side  111  via the configuration shown in  FIG. 1 , allows opening of the hood  116  without first moving equipment feeding food items to the rotating continuous fryer  100 . Thus, the rotating continuous fryer  100  may be easily integrated into food processing systems. Furthermore, gaining access to the rotating continuous fryer  100  is simplified when sanitation and emptying of a removable screen of the fryer is desired. 
     A coupling of a split immersion tube to an oil reservoir of a rotating continuous fryer and details of other components of the rotating continuous fryer are shown in a second embodiment of a rotating continuous fryer  302  in  FIGS. 3-7  and are discussed collectively in the following description. The rotating continuous fryer  302  of  FIGS. 3-7  may be similar to the rotating continuous fryer  100  of  FIG. 1  but the rotating continuous fryer  302  of  FIGS. 3-7  may also include a basket  301  (omitted in  FIGS. 3, 6, and 7  for brevity). The basket  301  may be used to maintain food items within chambers of a rotating drum  303  of the rotating continuous fryer  302  so that the food items do not fall into an oil reservoir  312 , the oil reservoir  312  disposed in a lower portion  306  of the rotating continuous fryer  302 . The basket  301  may be shaped to match a lower portion of the drum  303  so that the drum  303  may rotate within the basket  301  with the basket  301  submerged in the oil reservoir  312 . The basket  301  may be adapted with perforations to allow oil to flow across through surfaces of the basket  301  so that oil inside the basket  301  is fluidly coupled to oil outside of the basket  301 . 
     The rotating continuous fryer  302  is depicted from a top-down view  300  in  FIG. 3 , a first perspective view  400  in  FIG. 4 , a second perspective view  500  in  FIG. 5 , a first side view  600  in  FIG. 6 , and a second side view  700  in  FIG. 7 . The rotating continuous fryer  302  is shown in an open position, e.g., with an upper portion  304  pivoted away from the lower portion  306  about a hinge  308 . The upper portion  304  includes the rotating drum  303  and the lower portion  306  includes legs  307 , shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , arranged below the oil reservoir  312 , configured to support the lower portion  306  and upper portion  304 . A split immersion tube  310 , which may be the split immersion tube  140  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , may be arranged in the oil reservoir  312  as shown in  FIG. 3 , placed proximate to a bottom of the oil reservoir  312 , with respect to the y-axis, and spreading across an entire surface area of the bottom of the oil reservoir  312 . The split immersion tube  310  may be secured to a wall  314  of the lower portion  306  of the rotating continuous fryer  302  by aligning an inlet port, e.g., the inlet port  202  of  FIG. 2 , and protrusions, e.g., the protrusion  235  of  FIG. 2 , of the split immersion tube  310  with apertures in the wall  314  of the lower portion  306  of the rotating continuous fryer  302 . The protrusions may be inserted through the apertures and both the protrusions and the inlet port may be coupled to the flange fittings  316  that attach the split immersion tube  310  to the wall  314 . The flange fittings  316  may be bolted to the wall  314  to secure a positioning of the split immersion tube  310 . 
     The rotating continuous fryer  302  may also include a drum gear motor  318  for actuating rotation of the drum  303 , an outlet lip  320  for channeling food items into the drum  303 , an oil level indicator  322 , and a gear motor  324  for pivoting the upper portion  304  of the rotating continuous fryer  302  around the hinge  308 . In some examples, the rotating continuous fryer  302  may also have a branched pipe, such as the branched pipe  160  of  FIG. 1 , coupled to the wall  314  (or another wall) of the lower portion  306  of the rotating continuous fryer  302  to circumvent overfilling or overflow of oil. 
     In this way, a rotating continuous fryer may be configured to cook food items consistently and efficiently by providing even, rapid heating of oil stored in a reservoir of the fryer. The fryer may include a split immersion tube to heat the oil, positioned in a lower region of the reservoir and submerged in the oil. A sinuous, branched geometry of the split immersion tube allows the split immersion tube to cover a surface area of a floor of the reservoir while side portions of the split immersion tube, oriented perpendicular to the floor of the reservoir, extend upwards along two oppositely arranged side walls of the reservoir. The side portions of the split immersion tube, continuous with a main portion of the split immersion tube that is co-planar with the reservoir floor, mitigate undesired cooling of oil at the side walls of the reservoir, thus increasing heating efficiency of the split immersion tube. The split immersion tube may be a single, continuous unit, allowing easy removal and installation of a new split immersion tube when replacement of the tube is desired. In addition, the rotating continuous fryer is adapted to open at an outlet side of the fryer, allowing inner components of the fryer to be readily accessed. 
     The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and sub-combinations regarded as novel and non-obvious. These claims may refer to “an” element or “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should be understood to include incorporation of one or more such elements, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Other combinations and sub-combinations of the disclosed features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed through amendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims in this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.