Patent Publication Number: US-2020281407-A1

Title: Easily cleanable water and oil fryer

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0024803, filed in the Republic of Korea on Mar. 4, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a fryer and, more particularly, to a water and oil fryer for cooking fried food using a difference in the specific gravities between water and oil. 
     Description 
     A fryer related to the present disclosure is disclosed in, for example, Korean Patent No. 10-1399095 (Patent Document 1). According to this document, a water and oil fryer refers to a fryer in which both water and oil are supplied to the fryer, but fried food is cooked using heated oil, on the basis of the separation of water and oil. 
     The water and oil fryer cooks fried foods using only oil floating above water, on the basis of a phenomenon in which oil floats while water sinks due to the difference in the specific gravities between water and oil. While fried foods are being cooked, frying flour or residue from the oil sinks down into the water. 
     Accordingly, oil can be maintained to be clean for an extended period of time, and the acidification of oil can also be restrained, thereby reducing the amount of oil consumed. In addition, since a proper amount of water can be maintained in oil, the flavor of fried foods can be improved. 
     A water circulator and a water outlet are provided in the lower portion of a body in the water and oil fryer in order to discharge water and frying residue. In this manner, the water and oil fryer is cleaned. 
     However, in the water and oil fryer of the related art, since the water circulator and the water outlet are provided separately while being operated in concert with each other, there may be a structural problem in that separate spaces accommodating the water circulator and the water outlet are necessary. 
     For example, the water and oil fryer of the related art should not only have a space accommodating the water circulator, but also have a space accommodating the water outlet. Accordingly, the water and oil fryer can only be accommodated in an area having a relatively large space, which is problematic. 
     The information disclosed in the Background section is only provided for a better understanding of the background and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this information forms prior art that would already be known to a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     Various aspects of the present disclosure provide a water and oil fryer having an improved water circulation structure able to easily discharge frying residue that has accumulated in the bottom of the fryer during circulation and reuse of water. 
     According to an aspect, a water and oil fryer may include: a fryer body having defined therein an accommodation space in which water and oil are accommodated, the fryer body being configured such that frying residue is collected in a central portion of a bottom thereof by a cyclone; a base frame supporting the fryer body seated within an upper portion of the base frame; a controller disposed in the upper portion of the base frame; a heater disposed on the base frame to heat the oil, with a bottom end portion of the heater being received in the accommodation space; a cleaning circulation line including a drain pipe disposed in a lower central portion of the fryer body, such that the water and the frying residue are introduced to the drain pipe, a connecting pipe connected to the drain pipe via a connector, and an inlet pipe connected to the drain pipe via the connecting pipe to circulate the water by resupplying the water, from which the frying residue is removed by a filter unit, in response to opening and closing of a bidirectional valve; and a circulation pump connected to the cleaning circulation line to circulate the water, whereby the water and oil fryer is easily cleanable. 
     In addition, in the water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning circulation line may be configured such that one end portion of the drain pipe is connected to the drain hole provided in the lower central portion of the fryer body, the other end portion of the drain pipe is connected to a first passage of the connector disposed on the upper portion of the base frame, a top end portion of the connecting pipe is connected to a second passage of the connector communicating with the first passage, the filter unit is disposed on a bottom end portion of the connecting pipe, one end portion of the inlet pipe is connected to the filter unit, and the other end portion of the inlet pipe is connected to the lower portion of the fryer body. 
     In addition, in the water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the controller may cause the bidirectional valve and the circulation pump to work in concert with each other. 
     In addition, in the water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the filter unit may be disposed in a location at which the connecting pipe and the inlet pipe are connected to remove the frying residue using a filter disposed inside thereof, the filter being detachably disposed inside of the filter unit. 
     In addition, the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure may further include a check valve disposed on a sewer pipe connected to the filter unit to be opened and closed by the controller. When the check valve and the bidirectional valve are opened by the controller, water may be discharged from the fryer body to a sewer line through the inlet pipe. 
     Furthermore, in the water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the heater may include: a heating coil, with a bottom end portion of the heating coil being accommodated in the accommodation space, and a top end portion of the heating coil being connected to the controller; and a cover disposed on the upper portion of the base frame to hide the heating coil from the outside, the cover being able to turn. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     In the meantime, terms and words used in the specification and the appended claims should not be interpreted as having ordinary or dictionary meanings, but as meanings and concepts conforming to the technical spirit of the present disclosure based on the principle that an inventor may properly define the concept of the terms at his/her own discretion in order to describe the invention in the best manner possible. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the improved water circulation structure can easily discharge frying residue that has accumulated in the bottom of the fryer during circulation and reuse of water. Accordingly, the water and oil fryer can be conveniently cleaned and thus can be hygienically managed to be clean, thereby effectively improving the reliability thereof. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view schematically illustrating a configuration of an easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a top view schematically illustrating the configuration of the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to the embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to the embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, reference will now be made to embodiments of the present disclosure in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Reference should be made to the drawings, in which the same reference numerals and symbols may be used to designate the same or like components. In the following description of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions of known functions and components incorporated herein will be omitted in the case that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be rendered unclear thereby. 
     It will be understood that, while terms, such as “first,” “second,” “A,” “B,” “(a),” and “(b),” may be used herein to describe various elements, such terms are merely used to distinguish one element from another element. The substance, sequence, or order of such elements are not limited by these terms. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, or “in contact with” another element, not only can it be “directly connected to”, “directly coupled to”, or “in direct contact with” the other element, but it also can be “indirectly connected to”, “indirectly coupled to”, or “indirectly in contact with” the other element via an “intervening” element. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a side view schematically illustrating a configuration of an easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure. In  FIG. 1 , a connecting relationship of a cleaning circulation line  50  is illustrated. In the cleaning circulation line  50 , a drain pipe  51  is disposed in the lower central portion of a fryer body  10  seated within the upper portion of a base frame  20 , on the upper portion of which a controller  30  is disposed, and an inlet pipe  55  is connected to the drain pipe  51  via a connector  52  and a connecting pipe  53 . 
       FIG. 2  is a top view schematically illustrating the configuration of the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to the embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to a connection relationship illustrated in  FIG. 2 , an inlet nozzle  55   a  is disposed in an accommodation space  11  of the fryer body  10 , and the connector  52  is disposed outside of the base frame  20 . 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view schematically illustrating the configuration of the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to the embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to a connection relationship of  FIG. 3 , the fryer body  10 , a heater  40 , and the controller  30  are disposed on the base frame  20 . An upper cover  14  is provided to open and close the upper portion of the fryer body  10 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to the embodiment of the disclosure is a cooking device for making fried foods using a phenomenon in which water and oil are separated due to different specific gravities thereof. In the water and oil fryer, the fryer body  10  is seated within the upper portion of the base frame  20 , and has defined therein the accommodation space  11  in which water and oil are accommodated. The fryer body  10  is configured such that frying residue is collected in the central portion of the bottom thereof by a cyclone. The heater  40  is disposed on the base frame  20  to heat oil, with the bottom end portion of the heater  40  being received in the accommodation space  11 . 
     The fryer body  10  is comprised of an upper body portion  10   a  and a lower conical portion  10   b  sharing the accommodation space  11  defined within the fryer body  10 . A flange  12  is provided on the upper portion of the upper body portion  10   a,  such that the upper body portion  10   a  is seated on the upper inner portion of the base frame  20  via the flange  12 . A drain hole  10   c  is provided in the central portion of the bottom of the lower conical portion  10   b.    
     An indicator  13  may be provided on a front portion of the fryer body  10 , corresponding to the left side of the drawing. The indicator  13  allows the state of water contained in the accommodation space  11  to be viewed externally. 
     In addition, the fryer body  10  may be provided with a water level sensor or the like disposed in the accommodation space  11  to detect a water level, such that the fryer body  10  can be operated in concert with the controller  30 . The accommodation space  11  may be opened and closed by the upper cover  14 . 
     The fryer body  10  is seated on top of the base frame  20 . The top end portions of the controller  30  and the heater  40  may be disposed on the upper portion of the base frame  20 . Height adjustment devices  21 , such as height adjustment bolts, may be rotatably disposed on the lower portion of the base frame  20 . In addition, a control panel  22  able to operate the controller  30  may be disposed in a front portion of the base frame  20 , corresponding to the left side in  FIG. 1 . 
     The controller  30  is provided to control a period of time in which oil is heated using the heater  40 , as well as the operation of the cleaning circulation line  50  and a circulation pump  60  for circulating water. The controller  30  is directly or indirectly connected to the cleaning circulation line  50  and the circulation pump  60 , and is disposed on the upper portion of the base frame  20 . 
     That is, a configuration in which a heating coil  41  of the heater  40  is directly connected to the controller  30  is illustrated, and a configuration in which the circulation pump  60  and the controller  30  are indirectly connected is illustrated. 
     The heater  40  is disposed in the base frame  20  such that the bottom end portion of the heater  40  is accommodated in the accommodation space  11  and the top end portion of the heater  40  is connected to the controller  30 . The heater  40  heats oil to a temperature ranging from 160° C. to 180° C., under the control of the controller  30 . 
     For example, the heater  40  may be implemented as the heating coil  41 , with the bottom end being accommodated in the accommodation space  11  and the top end being connected to the controller  30 . Here, the heater  40  may further include a cover  42  disposed on the upper portion of the base frame  20  to hide the heating coil  41  from the outside. The cover  42  may be configured to turn. 
     The cover  42  may hide the front and side portions of the heating coil  41  so as not to be exposed externally, thereby preventing an accident during a fried food making process. In addition, the cover  42  may be disposed on the upper portion of the base frame  20  by means of an L-shaped bracket  43 , thereby facilitating the maintenance of the heating coil  41 . 
     In addition, the cover  42  may have a handle  42   a  provided on the front portion thereof. The handle  42   a  facilitates the operation of turning the cover  42  forwardly. 
     Accordingly, the water and oil fryer according to an embodiment makes it possible to easily and safely produce fried foods, thereby improving the reliability thereof. 
     In addition, the easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to an embodiment of the disclosure further includes a cleaning circulation line  50  for removing and cleaning frying residue occurring in the process of cooking fried foods by circulating water in the interior of the fryer body  10  and a circulation pump  60  disposed on the cleaning circulation line  50  to circulate water. 
     The cleaning circulation line  50  includes: the drain pipe  51  disposed in the lower central portion of the fryer body  10  to communicate with the drain hole  10   c  provided in the lower conical portion  10   b  of the fryer body  10 ; the connecting pipe  53  connected to the drain pipe  51  via the connector  52 ; and the inlet pipe  55  connected to the drain pipe  51  via the connecting pipe  53  to circulate water by resupplying water, from which frying residue is removed by a filter unit  54 , in response to the opening and closing of a bidirectional valve  56 . 
     Due to this configuration, when the circulation pump  60  is driven, water and frying residue introduced to the drain pipe  51  are supplied to the filter unit  54  via the connector  52  and the connecting pipe  53 , are filtered by the filter unit  54 , and are then resupplied to the fryer body  10 . Accordingly, a cleaning operation is performed by circulating water. 
     Here, the bidirectional valve  56  disposed on the inlet pipe  55  may be opened and closed manually, or may be opened and closed automatically under the control of the controller  30 . The bidirectional valve  56  may work in concert with the circulation pump  60 , under the control of the controller  30 . 
     The drain pipe  51  is, for example, U-shaped, with one end of the drain pipe  51  being connected to the lower central portion of the fryer body  10 , and the other end of the drain pipe  51  being connected to the connector  52  disposed on the upper portion of the base frame  20 . The connector  52  has a first passage  52   a  and a second passage  52   b  provided therein. The first passage  52   a  is connected to the drain pipe  51 , and the second passage  52   b  is connected to the connecting pipe  53 , such that the drain pipe  51  and the connecting pipe  53  are connected. 
     The connecting pipe  53  is a straight pipe, with the top end portion thereof being connected to the second passage  52   b  of the connector  52 , and the bottom end portion thereof being connected to the filter unit  54 . In addition, one end portion of the inlet pipe  55  is connected to the filter unit  54 , and the other end portion of the inlet pipe  55  is connected to an inclined surface of the lower conical portion  10   b  of the fryer body  10 . 
     Here, the filter unit  54  is disposed in a location at which the connecting pipe  53  and the inlet pipe  55  are connected, and removes frying residue using a filter (not shown) disposed therein. The filter may be detachably disposed inside of the filter unit  54 , such that the filter is easily replaceable with a new filter when the lifetime of the filter is completed. 
     In addition, the inlet nozzle  55   a  may be disposed on the inner side of the inclined surface of the lower conical portion  10   b,  to which the other end portion of the inlet pipe  55  is connected, such that water, from which frying residue is removed, can be easily resupplied. 
     The circulation pump  60  is connected to one of the drain pipe  51 , the connecting pipe  53 , and the inlet pipe  55  of the cleaning circulation line  50  to pump and recirculate water. In  FIG. 1 , the circulation pump  60  is illustrated as being connected to the connecting pipe  53 , as an example. 
     According to an embodiment, when the circulation pump  60  operates under the control of the controller  30  and the bidirectional valve  56  is opened, frying residue and water, collected in the central portion of the bottom of the fryer body  10 , are drained through the drain pipe  51  and are then supplied to the filter unit  54  through the connector  52  and the connecting pipe  53 , so that the frying residue is filtered by the filter unit  54 , and only water is resupplied to the fryer body  10 , thereby preventing the frying residue from accumulating in the bottom of the fryer body  10 . 
     The cleaning circulation line  50  according to an embodiment may further include a check valve disposed between the inlet pipe  55  and a sewer line to discharge water to the sewer line after the water has been circulated for a predetermined period of time. The opening and closing of the check valve  57  may also be controlled by the controller  30 . 
     Here, the check valve  57  is connected to the inlet pipe  55  via a sewer pipe  58  connected to the filter unit  54 , and allows only water, from which frying residue is removed, to be discharged to the sewer line, thereby preventing the contamination of the sewer line. 
     That is, when the check valve  57  and the bidirectional valve  56  are opened by the controller  30 , drain water is supplied to the filter unit  54  through the inlet pipe  55  serving as a discharge pipe, so that frying residue is completely removed by the filter unit  54 . Consequently, filtered water is discharged to the sewer line through the sewer pipe  58 . 
     As set forth above, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide the easily cleanable water and oil fryer, in which the fryer body  10  can be cleaned by completely draining water from the fryer body  10 , so that the fryer body can be easily cleaned and the sewage treatment regulations can be satisfied, thereby improving the reliability of the water and oil fryer. 
     Although the foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, this is for illustrative purposes only. The easily cleanable water and oil fryer according to the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In addition, it will be understood that the terms “comprise”, “include”, and “have”, used herein specify the presence of stated elements but do not preclude the presence or addition of any other elements unless explicitly noted. Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by a person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present disclosure pertains. 
     The foregoing descriptions and the accompanying drawings have been presented in order to explain certain principles of the present disclosure. A person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present disclosure pertains could make a variety of modifications and variations by combining, dividing, substituting for or changing elements without departing from the principle of the present disclosure. The foregoing embodiments disclosed herein shall be interpreted as being illustrative only, while not being limitative, of the principle and scope of the present disclosure. It should be understood that the scope of the present disclosure shall be defined by the appended Claims and all of their equivalents fall within the scope of the present disclosure.