U.S. patent application number 13/531058 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for expeditionary palletized kitchen system.
Invention is credited to Joseph G. Bacigalupo, Linda G. Bacigalupo.
Application Number | 20120325198 13/531058 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47360624 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20120325198 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bacigalupo; Joseph G. ; et
al. |
December 27, 2012 |
EXPEDITIONARY PALLETIZED KITCHEN SYSTEM
Abstract
A low cost mobile but commercial grade kitchen is provided for
use by military and disaster relief personnel in the field and,
importantly, in forwardly deployed positions. The expeditionary
palletized kitchen system (EPKS) is designed to fit within the
interior of a standard TRICON box to facilitate transport with
standard military shipping vehicles and equipment. The EPKS has
folding side members that open the structure to allow more room for
food preparation and serving. All equipment needed to prepare and
feed a large number of troops or disaster victims is contained
within the folding walls once folded and secured for shipment.
Inventors: |
Bacigalupo; Joseph G.;
(Liberty, SC) ; Bacigalupo; Linda G.; (Liberty,
SC) |
Family ID: |
47360624 |
Appl. No.: |
13/531058 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61500423 |
Jun 23, 2011 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/19M |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 3/0257
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/19.M |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/00 20060101
F24C015/00 |
Claims
1. An Expeditionary Palletized Kitchen System (EPKS) comprising: a
plurality of folding side members connected to a substantially
horizontal floor member by respective hinges, whereby the exterior
dimensions of said plurality of folding side members, once folded
into a substantially upright position, allow the EPKS to fit into a
standard TRICON box for shipping, and whereby said plurality of
folding side members increase the floor space provided by said
floor member when said plurality of folding side members are
unfolded into a substantially horizontal position; a plurality of
commercial grade kitchen appliances carried by said floor member;
and a plurality of kitchen utensils stored within one or more
storage spaces carried by said floor member.
2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a multi-level
sanitation system to ensure that food preparation may be performed
under sanitary conditions.
3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of
detachable leveling members for leveling the EPKS once
deployed.
4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a standard military use
208 VAC electrical connection designed to power the EPKS.
5. The system of claim 1 further comprising an expansion member for
expanding the floor surface area in the EPKS.
6. The system of claim 5 further comprising an interior storage
space provided within one or more of said plurality of folding side
members designed to carry said expansion member when said expansion
member is not in use.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This application claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 61/500,423 filed Jun. 23, 2011.
[0002] The present invention generally relates to a mobile food
service preparation system and, more particularly, to a complete
and self-contained mobile kitchen system designed to fit into a
standard TRICON cube for military use and disaster relief.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The standard source for most food consumed by forwardly
deployed (sometimes referred to as frontline) troops has been for
many years the meal ready to eat (MRE), which is notable for
convenience but not for quality. Although the U.S. military does
have kitchen facilities in many overseas camps, advanced facilities
capable of producing high quality food for forward troops are very
rare. Advanced kitchens that produce high-quality food and do so
under proper sanitary conditions are even rarer. Moreover, forward
deployment of advanced kitchen systems is difficult for many
reasons such that MREs are often the only available source of food
for troops in the field. Studies have shown, however, that a
well-fed soldier performs better in his duties.
[0004] Current mobile kitchen systems used by the U.S. military may
employ advanced kitchen equipment such as commercial stoves and
ovens but those systems require customized shipping containers and
equipment to handle the non-standard containers. The same is true
for National Guard troops and others involved in disaster relief
where food preparation is needed in areas without adequate roads,
supplies, and electrical power. More specifically, the U.S.
military and National Guard generally use a standard shipping
container known as a TRICON box, which is a reinforced metal
container approximately eight foot high, eight foot wide, and six
and a half foot long. Three of these TRICON shipping boxes are
normally laced together to form a single twenty foot shipping
container. Non-standard sized boxes cause tremendous problems for
shipping in the military because special arrangements must be made
and custom shipping attachments must be used to ship any items that
will not fit into a TRICON box. This customization makes current
mobile kitchens very expensive to manufacture.
[0005] Current mobile kitchen systems also have other deficiencies.
One of the primary deficiencies is that current mobile kitchens are
fully enclosed in a very small space because they do not employ an
open design. Rather these systems use an enclosed-space
architecture that fits all equipment and food preparation personnel
into the enclosed space. The confines of such a small, enclosed
space present many issues. For example, the small space in current
closed designs is far less efficient so that the number of troops
capable of being fed by the current design is lower than could be
wished. In other words, the small space makes preparing food much
more difficult in current systems because food preparation
personnel simply do not have sufficient space to move around during
food preparation. This in turn means that large numbers of troops
are harder to feed with current designs.
[0006] The small enclosed space also presents problems with heating
and cooling the interior of that space. This means that additional
HVAC equipment must be included in current designs to heat and cool
the interior of current systems. This additional equipment further
complicates the issue of space, further necessitating customized
containers. The additional HVAC equipment also presents tremendous
problems with supplying the additional electricity needed for
current systems because frontline generators are expensive, hard to
deploy, and in high demand. Current systems commonly require
two-208 VAC, 3-phase, 100 Amp supplies to operate. The requirement
for the full 200 Amp supply is often problematic.
[0007] Another deficiency in the prior art is the lack of
satisfactory sanitation equipment for use in food preparation.
Current systems typically have less than adequate sanitation
systems using only burner-type water heating for all sanitation
needs to clean food and utensils. Often sterilization is impossible
so that the potential for spreading disease increases with use of
current systems.
[0008] What is needed is a fully functional and sanitary mobile
kitchen system that can feed a large number of military troops on
the front lines that will fit into the confines of a standard
TRICON box. What is also needed is a mobile kitchen that is less
expensive than current customized systems. What is also needed is a
mobile kitchen that will allow more floor space to provide more
room for food preparation personnel while preparing food. What is
also needed is a mobile kitchen that will use less electricity,
while still using standard electrical power supplies commonly used
by the military. What is also needed is a mobile kitchen that is
easy to deploy in a frontline position. What is also needed is a
sanitation system in the mobile kitchen to ensure sanitary
preparation of all food in the mobile kitchen even in the harshest
frontline conditions.
[0009] An object of a present invention is to provide a mobile
kitchen system designed to meet these deficiencies in the prior
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention accomplishes the foregoing objects by
providing an Expeditionary Palletized Kitchen System (EPKS). In one
aspect of the invention an EPKS is provided in the form of a
complete system designed for shipping in a standard TRICON box
comprising a plurality of folding side members connected to a
substantially horizontal floor member with respective hinge
members, a plurality of detachable leveling members comprising a
rolling caster and a vertical leveling mechanism, a plurality of
commercial grade kitchen appliances for use in preparation of a
large number of quality meals, where the plurality of commercial
grade kitchen appliances is carried by the horizontal floor member
and contained within the plurality of folding side members once
folded in an upright position. In another aspect of the invention
the EPKS further comprises a multi-level sanitation system to
ensure that food preparation in the field is performed under
sanitary conditions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention will be more readily understood with reference
to the following specification in conjunction with the drawings
herein:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an side view of the Expeditionary Palletized
Kitchen System deployed.
[0013] FIG. 2 is an overhead view of the Expeditionary Palletized
Kitchen System deployed.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an overhead view of the Expeditionary Palletized
Kitchen System packed for shipment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view of the Expeditionary Palletized
Kitchen System packed for rolling deployment or storage.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring now to FIG. 1, an EPKS 10 is illustrated for
providing a mobile, pallet-mounted, commercial grade kitchen system
for use on the front lines by military personnel or disaster relief
personnel according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The
EPKS 10 comprises a variety of commercial grade appliances so that
high quality food preparation may be accomplished for a large
number of combat personnel or disaster victims. In this embodiment,
the EPKS may feed approximately 150 personnel three meals a day. In
another embodiment (not pictured) the EPKS may be upsized to feed
as many as 600 personnel three meals a day by linking three EPKSs
of the type illustrated into a single unit.
[0017] A commercial grade convection oven 12 is included as may be
expected in any high output kitchen. Additional appliances such as
slow cooker 14, steam oven 16, steam kettle 18, and griddle 20 are
also included. A refrigerator 22 is included below griddle 20. All
utensils needed (not pictures) fit into provided storage spaces
adjacent to the appliances.
[0018] A high quality and multi-level sanitation system 24 is also
included to ensure that preparation of foods in harsh environments
is not compromised to introduce bacteria and other disease causing
pathogens. Sanitation unit 24 includes in this application three
sinks 24A, 24B, and 24C for complete sterilization of all cooking
implements and certain food products during preparation. The EPKS
includes a hot water heater (not pictured) that provides hot water
to each of the sinks. Typically the hot water provided by the
heater may be at only 105 degrees, which is not enough to properly
sanitize food and utensils. Sanitation system 24 may therefore
include an additional submersion heater (not pictured) and transfer
pump (not pictured) to move water heated at different levels
between the sinks for proper sterilization of food and utensils.
For example, sink 24C may contain 180 degree water, where that
water may be heated to that high level by a submersion heater in
sink 24C. Sink 24B may in turn use water at 160 degrees and sink
24A may use water heated at 140 degrees. This is accomplished by
using the transfer pump to move water between the three sinks,
typically from the hotter sink to the cooler sink for different
sterilization applications in each sink. This process and
capability also aid in water conservation, which is always a major
concern in forward deployment.
[0019] Another aspect of this embodiment is the large and
substantially horizontal floor member 30 available to the cook or
chef, which provides floor space that is increased by virtue of the
folding side members or walls 32A, 32B, and 32C. These folding side
members enclose the EPKS during transport and unfold in the manner
shown in FIG. 1 to provide a larger floor surface area for food
preparation and serving.
[0020] Hinge members 42A, 42B, and 42C are provided to connect the
folding side members to the floor member 30, thereby allowing each
folding wall member to be unfolded as illustrated. In another
embodiment of the invention, one or more of these folding wall
members may be detachable instead of foldable, negating the need
for hinges in such an application. Expansion members 34A and 34B
may be deployed as shown to increase the floor space and serving
space further. It is possible to store expansion members inside of
EPKS once the folding members are raised for shipment. It is also
possible to enclose the expansion members in the space provided
within the interior of the folding members as shown in FIG. 4.
[0021] The additional floor space is useful for many reasons as
would be apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. In this
illustration, the additional floor space also allows the use of
buffet-style tables 40A, 40B and 40C to serve prepared food to
military personnel. All of this space is, however, generally
designed to fit into a standard military tent or shelter space.
This is an important benefit of the present invention because,
although the EPKS provides much greater floor space for food
preparation and serving, the EPKS is also sized to properly fit
beneath current military tents and shelters.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 2, an overhead view of the EPKS is
illustrated. The large floor space is illustrated to show how
foldable wall members 32A, 32B, and 32C are used to increase the
floor space of floor member 30. This combination increases the
overall floor space available to food preparation personnel for
preparation and serving. In this embodiment, the total floor space
is approximately 45 square feet. Additional expansion members 34A
and 34B are also included as shown to increase floor space and
serving space. In a preferred embodiment, section 34A is stored
during transport inside an enclosure within section 32A and section
34B fits inside a space within the enclosure of section 32C. Each
of the appliances are also visible in this illustration, so that
slow cooker and warmer 14, steam oven 16, steam kettle 18, griddle
20 and sanitation system 24 are illustrated in one of many workable
positions for normal use. Locking mechanism slots 50A and 50B are
illustrated to show where the locking mechanisms engage once
folding portions 32A and 32C are folded for shipping.
[0023] Although not pictured in these illustrations, a preferred
embodiment of the EPKS operates with one 100 Amp electrical supply
connector and one 60 Amp connector, both of which are preferably
MIL spec class L water tight standard connectors. Current mobile
kitchens used by the military generally require two 100 Amp
electrical supplies because of the HVAC and other equipment needed
to operate in a closed platform and generally draw near the maximum
capacity of those two supplies. This 30 percent lower energy demand
in the EPKS is possible because of the omission of HVAC and other
systems not needed in the EPKS, an important improvement provided
by the invention because frontline electrical generation is a rare
commodity. These and other features allow the EPKS to be
constructed for approximately 20 percent lower cost than current
systems.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 3, an overhead view of the EPKS is
illustrated in its folded position ready for rolling into a TRICON
box or for rolling into a deployable position in the field. EPKS 10
contains four wheels 60A, 60B, 60C and 60D. Each of these wheels is
attached to a leveling mechanism containing handle 62 for raising
and lowering the respective wheel to balance each corner of the
EPKS while deployed.
[0025] FIG. 3 also illustrates one configuration for packing the
components included in the EPKS for shipping. From this
prospective, slow cooker and warmer 14 is now moved to a different
position in front of steam oven 16. Sanitation unit 24 is now
rolled into a position in front of griddle 20 and steam kettle 18
so that each of the appliances fit into the space provided between
the walls 32A, 32B and 32C. Each of these walls is in turn held in
place by a locking mechanism such as that illustrated in 52B.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, a side perspective view of the EPKS
folded for shipment is illustrated. From this perspective, folding
side members 32A, 32B and 32C are clearly visible in their folded
and locked positions. Back wall 36--which in this embodiment is not
a hinged, foldable wall--is also illustrated and more clearly
viewed from this prospective. The combination of folding walls 32A,
32B, and 32C and back wall 36 form a square cube shape for the EPKS
to fit into a standard TRICON box. Each of these walls and the
floor is preferably constructed of aluminum.
[0027] Expansion member 34A is also visible in the illustration of
this embodiment. Here one can see that expansion member 34A is
stored within an interior space of folding member 32A. Expansion
member 34B (not pictured) would be similarly stored within an
interior space of folding member 32C.
[0028] Another aspect of this embodiment is the inclusion of
shipping wheels 60--here wheels 60B, 60C, and 60D are visible--so
that the EPKS can be rolled into place. These wheels also form part
of a leveling system comprising four detachable leveling members,
one for each corner of the EPKS, so that a user may raise or lower
each corner by turning handle 62, which raises or lowers leveling
arm 64 and wheel 60. An entire detachable leveling member comprises
upright arm 66, horizontal arm 68, adjustable leveling arm 64,
adjustment handle 62, and wheel 60.
[0029] These four, wheeled leveling mechanisms are each detachable.
In the embodiment of FIG. 4, each leveling mechanism is attached to
the floor 30 by inserting a distal end of upright arm 66 into a
standard hitch insert provided within floor 30. Here three leveling
mechanisms are visibly attached, while the fourth is attached but
not visible from this angle. Once attached and deployed for rolling
or leveling, handles 62 are used to raise and lower wheels 60 with
respect to the ground beneath the EPKS to level any respective
corner of the EPKS. When not in use, each leveling mechanism is
detached and stored within the interior of the EPKS so that the
exterior of the EPKS fits correctly within a standard TRICON
box.
[0030] While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described, modifications and variations may be made thereto by
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and
scope of the present invention. It should be understood, therefore,
that other aspects of the invention are possible and that various
aspects of the embodiments offered may be interchanged in whole or
in part. Furthermore, those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the foregoing description is by way of example only
and is not intended to limit the invention as further described in
the following claims.
* * * * *