Patent Description:
Fluid pumps are subject to wear and tear, and are often used in harsh environments that may lead to degradation of pump components.

For example, in conventional frying equipment, fried foods are prepared using high temperature cooking oil contained in vats in the frying equipment. While using these conventional deep fryers to heat and cook foods, unwanted food debris is often formed while the foods are cooking. This food debris generally remains within the cooking oil or becomes stuck on the walls of the vats. When food debris is not removed from the cooking oil, the food debris affects the quality and cooking characteristics of the cooking oil.

Typically, the cooking oil contained in the vats of the frying equipment remain in the vats during operation of the frying equipment and the temperature of the oil is controlled by heating the oil. Frying equipment may use recirculating means to circulate the cooking oil through the deep frying system. Pumps are used to draw the cooking oil from the vats, e.g., for cleaning/filtering the oil, and returning the cooking oil to the vat. An example of such a pump is disclosed in <CIT>. However, these pumps are difficult and expensive to service or maintain and ensure proper operation to continuously circulate the oil through the system.

The present disclosure provides a serviceable pump, for example for use with deep frying systems that continuously circulate and filter a cooking medium such as cooking oil, from a frying vat. The serviceable pump as configured avoids degradation of the pump and pump components during operation. The disclosed serviceable pump is able to use the fluid, e.g., cooking oil, passing through the pump to maintain significant components of the pump at lower temperatures and lubricated in a manner that prolongs useful life of the pump components and pump. The disclosed serviceable pump reduces the negative effects normal operation may have on the mechanical components contained within the pump.

A serviceable pump assembly according to the disclosure may be implemented as part of a deep fryer system. The serviceable pump includes a motor disposed at a first end of the serviceable pump and connected to a gear portion disposed at an end of the pump distal to the motor. A pump shaft is disposed between the motor and the gear portion, and translates forces from the motor to the gear portion. The gear portion includes a plurality of interlocked gears and conduit(s) disposed within the gear portion to circulate oil through the gear portion. The gear portion receives oil from an oil suction line connected to a first side of the gear portion and outputs oil to the deep fryer cooking system using an oil discharge aperture connected to an oil discharge line. In addition, the gear portion includes at least one conduit or channel disposed under the gears for receiving oil to lubricate the gear shafts when oil is circulated through the gear portion.

Further, a cooling loop aperture is disposed substantially adjacent to the oil discharge aperture and receives oil to be pushed into the cooling loop at a first end of the cooling loop. The cooling loop is adapted to cool oil passing through the serviceable pump and is disposed between the motor and the gear portion. The cooling loop is connected to a seal assembly that surrounds the pump input shaft at a second end of the loop. The seal assembly has a seal cavity that allows the cooled oil to flow through the seal cavity and along the pump input shaft before the cooled oil returns to the gear portion through a top gear cavity.

Advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of detailed embodiments of the disclosure that have been shown and described by way of illustration. As will be realized, the disclosed subject matter is capable of other and different embodiments within the scope of the claims, and its details are capable of modification in various respects within the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Embodiments of devices, systems, and methods are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, which are meant to be exemplary and non-limiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts, and in which:.

The present disclosure provides a serviceable pump for circulating high temperature fluid, such as cooking oil, that may be used at temperatures between approximately <NUM> and <NUM> degrees Celsius (<NUM> and <NUM> degrees Fahrenheit), e.g., in a deep fryer system.

In one exemplary use, the serviceable pump may be used to efficiently circulate cooking medium, such as cooking oil, within a controlled cooking system, such as a deep frying system or the like. The serviceable pump may provide a higher reliability way to circulate, filter, and control the temperature of the cooking oil while avoiding degradation of the pump and the pump components, and enhancing serviceability during the operational life of the controlled cooking system.

A serviceable pump assembly according to the disclosure is used to circulate high temperature fluids, such as cooking oil in a deep fryer cooking system <NUM>, illustrated in <FIG>. In such an illustrative embodiment, the deep fryer may have a plurality of vats or frypots <NUM> for containing the cooking oil for use in cooking food in the deep fryer <NUM>. The fryer vats, in operation, are filled with cooking oil that is heated to high temperature. The deep fryer <NUM> has one of more fry baskets <NUM>, into which food is placed for cooking in the fryer. As is known in the art, as the cooking oil is used to cook food it may have particles of food fall into it that should be removed, so the cooking oil may be circulated out of the fryer vat for filtration/cleaning. A pump such as described herein may be used to circulate cooking oil from the fryer vat for filtration and back to the fryer vat after filtration. Again, it should be appreciated that the serviceable pump described herein may be implemented in other contexts to prolong operation and limit need for service of such a pump and system, such as in hot water or heating fluid circulation systems, deep fryer systems or the like.

<FIG> illustrate the pump <NUM> according to the invention that has a motor <NUM> at a first end configured to drive the operation of the pump <NUM>. The motor <NUM> is connected via a serviceable pump shaft to a gear portion <NUM> that is disposed at an end of the pump distal to the motor <NUM>. The gear portion <NUM> has an oil input/suction portion <NUM> connected to a first side of the gear portion <NUM> adapted to receive oil from an oil suction or circulation line connected with one or more of the vats of the deep fryer. Further, the gear portion <NUM> also has an oil output/discharge portion <NUM> adapted to return oil to the vats through an oil discharge line and connected to an oil discharge aperture <NUM> on a second side of the gear portion <NUM>. The gear portion <NUM> also has a secondary discharge aperture <NUM>, shown in <FIG>, connected to a first end of a cooling loop <NUM> formed of coiled tubing. The secondary discharge aperture <NUM> is adapted to receive a portion of oil from the gear portion <NUM> and transfer the received oil into the coiled tubing of the cooling loop <NUM>. The cooling loop <NUM> is adapted to pass the received oil through the tubing to lower the temperature of the oil. The cooling loop may be made of <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM>/<NUM>") coiled tubing. The cooling loop <NUM> may be stainless steel tubing, or tubing made of a similar material, and be approximately <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> feet) to about <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> feet) in length. The cooling by the cooling loop <NUM> may be a function of the length and diameter of the cooling loop <NUM> tubing. In the illustrative embodiment, the cooling loop <NUM> may be about <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> feet) in length. It should be appreciated that the size and length of the tubing is not limited to such sizes and may be sized as a function of the amount of oil desired to be circulated through the cooling loop and/or pump. Additionally, fin cooling may be used along the cooling loop to shorten the length of the cooling loop in performing the cooling of the oil. The cooling loop tubing may be coiled around the pump (as shown), or it may be coiled along the length of the pump or a combination thereof.

A second end of the cooling loop <NUM> is connected to a pump seal assembly <NUM> (best shown in <FIG>). The seal assembly <NUM>, and a substantial portion of the pump shaft, may be surrounded by the coiled tubing of the cooling loop <NUM>. As shown in greater detail in <FIG> and <FIG>, the pump seal assembly <NUM> has a pump seal housing <NUM>, a pump seal <NUM> and a pump drive shaft <NUM>. The pump seal housing <NUM> may have cooling fins <NUM> around its perimeter and a seal cavity defined within the pump seal housing <NUM>. The cooling fins <NUM> may be adapted to further cool the oil passing through the pump assembly <NUM>. Further, the pump seal housing <NUM> may also have an inlet aperture <NUM> adapted to couple to the second end of the cooling loop <NUM> and receive oil from the cooling loop <NUM>. The oil from the cooling loop <NUM> may be pushed into the pump seal housing <NUM> by pressure from oil transferred into the cooling loop <NUM> from the gear portion <NUM>.

Once the cooled oil passes through the cooling loop <NUM> into the pump seal assembly <NUM>, the cooled oil flows through the seal cavity and flushes the inside of the pump seal <NUM> and prevents buildup of materials on the pump seal <NUM>. The cooled oil also flows along pump drive shaft <NUM>, shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, that operatively connects the motor <NUM> to the gear portion <NUM>. The pump drive shaft <NUM> extends through the pump seal housing <NUM> and have a motor end 116a and a drive end 116b. The motor end 116a is operatively coupled to the motor <NUM>. The drive end 116b is operatively coupled to the gear portion <NUM> and drives interlocked gears <NUM> within the gear portion <NUM>. The oil that flows through pump seal assembly <NUM> along the pump drive shaft <NUM> may help limit degradation of the pump drive shaft <NUM> as the cooled oil (cooled by the cooling loop <NUM> and the pump seal housing <NUM>) keeps the temperature of these critical pump components relatively lower during operation of the pump to continuously circulate, filter, and maintain temperature of the cooking oil and prevents buildup of materials on the pump seal <NUM> and the pump drive shaft <NUM> that can damage the pump seal assembly.

The pump seal <NUM> is adapted to prevent oil from flowing out of the pump seal assembly <NUM>. The cooking oil then reenters the gear portion <NUM> from the seal cavity through a drain groove <NUM> (best seen in <FIG>) between the pump seal housing <NUM> and the pump drive shaft <NUM>. In addition, there may also be a diametral clearance <NUM> (best seen in <FIG>) between an inner diameter of the pump seal housing <NUM> and an outer diameter of the pump drive shaft <NUM> that is adapted to allow oil to flow along the shaft <NUM> and reenter the gear portion <NUM> from the pump seal assembly <NUM>. The diametral clearance <NUM> may be, for example, a clearance of about <NUM>,<NUM> to <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> inches to about <NUM> inches). The cooking oil may reenter the gear portion <NUM> under suction from the gear portion <NUM>.

<FIG> are detailed internal views of the gear portion <NUM> for the serviceable pump <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, cooking oil is pulled from the vat(s) of the deep fryer system and enters the gear portion through the oil suction port <NUM>. The gear portion <NUM> has a plurality of interlocked gears <NUM> adapted to continuously move the cooking fluid/oil within and through a gear cavity <NUM> with high volumetric efficiency. The interlocked gears <NUM> also have gear shafts <NUM> coupled to the pump drive shaft <NUM> to drive the interlocked gears. Once the oil enters the gear portion <NUM>, the movement of the gears <NUM> creates pressure and pushes the fluid around the gear portion <NUM> within the cavity <NUM>. Further, the pressure pushes a small amount of the cooking fluid into at least one small channel <NUM> (best seen in <FIG>), disposed beneath one or more gears of the gear portion <NUM>, to help lubricate the gear(s) <NUM>. The small amount of cooking oil may help limit degradation of the gear shafts <NUM> during operation of the pump to continuously circulate, filter, and maintain temperature of the cooking oil.

Further, the serviceable pump <NUM> may also be integrated with an in-line oil quality sensor <NUM>, shown in more detail in <FIG> and <FIG>. The oil quality sensor in this embodiment is disposed in the cooling loop of the serviceable motor, according to the disclosure, and is adapted to determine quality of the oil circulating within the pump <NUM>, and more specifically in the cooling loop <NUM> of the serviceable circulation pump <NUM>. The oil quality sensor <NUM> may be integrated with the pump <NUM> such that a first end <NUM> of the pump receives oil from the cooling loop <NUM> and a second end <NUM> of the pump returns oil to the cooling loop <NUM> for further lowering of the temperature of the oil. The oil quality sensor <NUM> may be disposed at an angle of about <NUM>° to about <NUM>° to prevent air from being trapped within the sensor <NUM>. The oil quality sensor <NUM> may be any of various devices capable of sensing quality of oil passing through the sensor by measuring capacitance of the oil thereby measuring the percentage of total polar material (TPM) or total polar compounds (TPC), as known in the art. Oil quality sensors such as oil quality sensors available from Testo or Ebro, or the like, may be configured for use as described herein.

As shown and described, a controlled cooking system comprising a deep fryer may have cooking oil circulated out of the fryer vat for filtration/cleaning, using a pump such as described herein to circulate cooking oil from the fryer vat for filtration and back to the fryer vat after filtration. Additionally, the pump according to the disclosure uses a cooling loop to flow lower temperature oil through the cooling loop and portions of the serviceable pump in order to enhance the useful life of critical aspects of the pump, including the serviceable drive shaft and pump seals and pump seal assembly. Thus oil flows in several paths as a result of the configuration of the serviceable pump according to the disclosure. Specifically, oil is driven from the pressure side <NUM> of the pump <NUM> through a system loop including the cooking vats and back into the suction side <NUM> of the pump <NUM>, for flow through the cooking system. In a second path, a portion of oil flows from the gear portion <NUM> through the cooling loop <NUM> and through the oil quality sensor <NUM> and back to the gear portion <NUM> of the pump <NUM>.

While the pump assembly described above is depicted as used by a deep fryer, one of ordinary skill in the art should appreciate that other equipment may benefit from the assembly disclosed herein. Further, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily understand any appropriate modifications to the assembly disclosed herein for application with other equipment that could benefit from this assembly.

Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the serviceable pump described and illustrated may be housed in a unitary housing with panels accessible for servicing each of the components in the assembly system stack, or each component (motor, seal assembly, gear portion) could be segmented and fastened together from separately housed components to form the assembly stack.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language ("e.g.," "such as," or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the embodiments and does not pose a limitation on the scope of protection, which is defined by the claims.

Claim 1:
A serviceable pump (<NUM>), comprising:
a motor (<NUM>) disposed at a first end of the serviceable pump (<NUM>);
a gear portion (<NUM>) disposed at an end of the pump (<NUM>) distal to the motor (<NUM>), the gear portion (<NUM>) including a plurality of interlocking gears (<NUM>) and a conduit (<NUM>) disposed within the gear portion (<NUM>) to circulate fluid through the gear portion (<NUM>), the gear portion receiving fluid from a fluid suction line (<NUM>) connected to a first side of the gear portion (<NUM>) and outputting fluid using a discharge aperture (<NUM>) connected to a fluid discharge line (<NUM>), the gear portion (<NUM>) including a secondary discharge aperture (<NUM>) disposed proximate to the discharge aperture (<NUM>), the gear portion (<NUM>) further including at least one conduit (<NUM>) disposed proximate to the gears (<NUM>) receiving fluid to lubricate the gears (<NUM>) when fluid is circulated through the gear portion (<NUM>);
a pump shaft (<NUM>) disposed between the motor (<NUM>) and the gear portion (<NUM>), configured to translate forces from the motor (<NUM>) to the gear portion (<NUM>);
characterised in that it further comprises
a cooling loop (<NUM>) configured to receive fluid through secondary discharge aperture to be pushed into the cooling loop (<NUM>) at a first end of the cooling loop, and to return cooled fluid to the gear portion;
a seal assembly (<NUM>) connected to the cooling loop (<NUM>) and having a seal cavity that allows the cooled fluid to flow through the seal cavity and along the pump shaft (<NUM>) before the cooled fluid returns to the gear portion (<NUM>) through a drain groove (<NUM>) between the pump sealing housing (<NUM>) and the pump drive shaft (<NUM>).