U.S. patent number 3,568,935 [Application Number 04/799,752] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-09 for hinged spray plate and box for dishwashers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to General Electric Company. Invention is credited to Roger L. Hoffman.
United States Patent |
3,568,935 |
Hoffman |
March 9, 1971 |
HINGED SPRAY PLATE AND BOX FOR DISHWASHERS
Abstract
A spray box connectable to a water inlet in a dishwasher and
including a separate spray plate hinged to the spray box and
releaseably closeable thereover by means of a quick release
fastener whereby to facilitate cleaning of the spray box and spray
plate, the spray plate being formed preferably with three parallel
semicylindrical protrusions each of which contains a plurality of
spaced slots, and a sealing gasket being located between the
confronting surfaces of the spray plate and the spray box.
Inventors: |
Hoffman; Roger L. (Pequannock,
NJ) |
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
25176662 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/799,752 |
Filed: |
February 17, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
239/568;
239/587.5; 239/600 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47L
15/241 (20130101); A47L 15/42 (20130101); A47L
15/16 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47L
15/14 (20060101); A47L 15/16 (20060101); A47L
15/42 (20060101); B05b 001/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;239/568,587,600 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: King; Lloyd L.
Claims
I claim:
1. A wash spray box assembly for use in dishwashers comprising:
a. a spray box including a base, opposed side means supported on
said base, and having an open side opposite said base;
b. a spray plate having an outer surface and an inner surface, and
including means for discharging fluid in a prescribed spray
pattern;
c. said fluid discharge means being formed in said outer surface of
said spray plate and including a plurality of groups of elongated
fluid discharge slots arranged to provide said prescribed spray
pattern, said fluid discharge means further including a plurality
of protrusions formed in parallel spaced relation in said outer
surface of said spray plate, each of said protrusions including one
of said plurality of groups of elongated fluid discharge slots;
d. means mounting said spray plate on said spray box for movement
between a closed position and an open position, said spray plate in
said closed position closing said open side in said spray box and
in said open position providing access for cleaning purposes to
said inner surface of said spray plate and through said open side
to the interior of said spray box;
e. fastening means operative when said spray plate is in said
closed position to releaseably latch said spray plate to said spray
box.
f. sealing means interposed between said spray box and said spray
plate to provide a substantially fluidtight seal therebetween when
said spray plate is latched to said spray box; and
g. fluid inlet means in said spray box for providing a source of
fluid to said fluid discharge means in said spray plate, said fluid
entering said fluid inlet means in the form of a stream of fluid
and being discharged from said fluid discharge means in said spray
plate in the form of said prescribed spray pattern.
2. A wash spray box assembly for use in dishwashers as set forth in
claim 1 wherein;
a. said spray box further includes a manifold; and
b. said fluid inlet means includes an opening in one of said
opposed side means, said opening communicating with said
manifold.
3. A wash spray box assembly for use in dishwashers as set forth in
claim 1 wherein the major dimension of each of said plurality of
groups of elongated fluid discharge slots extends at substantially
right angles to the major axis of each of said plurality of
semicylindrical protrusions.
4. A wash spray box assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein:
a. said fluid is wash water;
b. said sealing means comprises a continuous gasket secured to said
spray box adjacent said open side thereof; and
c. said fastening means comprises a hook-shaped member carried by
said spray plate and engageable by a quick release fastener mounted
on said spray box.
5. In a commercial dishwasher at least one wash compartment, the
improvement comprising wash spray water means mounted in said wash
compartment and including at least one wash spray box assembly
comprising:
a. a spray box including a base, opposed side means supported on
said base, and having an open side opposite said base;
b. a spray plate having an outer surface and an inner surface, and
including means for discharging fluid in a prescribed spray
pattern;
c. said fluid discharge means being formed in said outer surface of
said spray plate and including a plurality of groups of elongated
fluid discharge slots arranged to provide said prescribed spray
pattern;
d. means mounting said spray plate on said spray box for movement
between a closed position and an open position, said spray plate in
said closed position closing said open side in said spray box and
in said open position providing access for cleaning purposes to
said inner surface of said spray plate and through said open side
to the interior of said spray box;
e. fastening means operative when said spray plate is in said
closed position to releaseably latch said spray plate to said spray
box;
f. sealing means interposed between said spray box and said spray
plate to provide a substantially fluidtight sealed therebetween
when said spray plate is latched to said spray box; and
g. fluid inlet means in said spray box for providing a source of
fluid to said fluid discharge means in said spray plate, said fluid
entering said fluid inlet means in the form of a stream of fluid
and being discharged from said fluid discharge means in said spray
plate in the form of said prescribed spray pattern.
6. In a commercial dishwasher as set forth in claim 5 wherein:
a. said spray box further includes a manifold;
b. said fluid inlet means includes an opening in one of said
opposed side means, said opening communicating with said manifold;
and
c. said fluid discharge means further includes a plurality of
semicylindrical protrusions formed in parallel spaced relation in
said outer surface of said spray plate, each of said protrusions
including one of said plurality of groups of elongated fluid
discharge slots.
7. In a commercial dishwasher as set forth in claim 6 wherein the
major dimension of each of said plurality of groups of elongated
fluid discharge slots extends at substantially right angles to the
major axis of each of said plurality of semicylindrical
protrusions.
8. In a commercial dishwasher as set forth in claim 5 wherein:
a. said fluid is wash water;
b. said sealing means comprises a continuous gasket secured to said
spray box adjacent said open side thereof; and
c. said fastening means comprises a hook-shaped member carried by
said spray plate and engageable by a quick release fastener mounted
on said spray box.
9. In a commercial dishwasher as set forth in claim 5 wherein said
wash spray water means further includes at least one other wash
spray box assembly mounted in said one wash compartment in opposed
spaced relation to said one wash spray box assembly.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
My invention relates to dishwashing equipment and more particularly
to an improvement in wash spray water means for use primarily in
rack conveyor type commercial dishwasher.
2. Description of the Prior Art
All rack conveyor type commercial dishwashers utilize to some
degree a stationary spray head device. The function of the spray
head is to provide a controllable outlet for the wash spray water
above and below the racked dishes. The rack conveyor type of
dishwasher, by definition, utilizes stationary prewash, wash, and
rinse spray heads and moves the rack of dishes between the spray
heads at a predetermined speed. National sanitation standards fix
the gallons per minute pumped per inch of linear rack speed for
various machine categories.
Traditionally, the spray head component has comprised an assembly
of a pipe manifold, slotted spray pipes attached to the manifold,
and removable end caps on the spray pipes. When the pump is on,
water is circulated into the upper and lower spray manifolds, then
into the spray pipes and out the spray slots in the pipes. One
variation on the spray pipe approach has been a prior art form of
spray box, normally fabricated of stainless steel, and containing a
plurality of plastic nozzles arranged thereon in a suitable manner
to provide the proper spray pattern.
A further requirement of any spray head assembly is ease of
cleaning. Due to recirculated contaminants, the operator must be
able to quickly and effectively clean the slots and passage within
any spray head. Depending on the extent of use of the dishwasher,
this cleaning may have to be accomplished on the order of several
times a day. Spray pipes are sanitized by removing the individual
end caps, inserting a cleaning brush, and scrubbing the inside of
the pipes. Not only is this a tedious and time-consuming task, but
it can also be extremely difficult to get the spray pipes
completely cleaned. In addition there is often a problem in
ensuring that the slots in the pipes remain properly aligned so as
to provide the proper spray pattern.
Insofar as the cleaning of the aforesaid prior art form of spray
box and nozzles thereof is concerned, the spray box with nozzles is
removed from the dishwasher as a complete assembly, placed in a
sink or otherwise scrubbed to remove entrapped contaminants within
the box or spray nozzles. Although such a spray box is considered
by some to be easier to clean than spray pipes, the total time it
takes to clean either form of spray head assembly nevertheless
normally necessitates restricting the performance of such cleaning
to those periods of the day wherein little use is being made of the
dishwasher. Thus, the extended period of time required to clean
either the spray pipes or the prior art form of spray box,
whichever type of spray head assembly a dishwasher may be equipped
with, represents nonproductive use time for the dishwasher, and as
such it has become a fairly well-recognized fact that this is
considered to be one of the primary detracting features of this
type of commercial dishwasher. On the other hand, though attempts
have been made to obviate this inherent disadvantageous
characteristic of this type of dishwasher, they have up to this
time enjoyed only limited success.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
novel and improved spray box assembly for commercial dishwashers
which is characterized in having a construction which provides
easier accessibility to the various component parts thereof for
cleaning purposes than do prior existing types of spray head
assemblies.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a
spray box assembly for commercial dishwashers wherein the spray box
assembly may be sanitized without removal from the dishwasher and
in considerably less time than heretofore possible with respect to
prior existing types of spray head assemblies.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such
a spray box assembly for commercial dishwashers which has a
pattern, velocity, and flow of spray which provides optimum cutting
force and cleansing spray to the dishes.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a
spray box assembly for commercial dishwashers which is relatively
inexpensive to manufacture, simple to assemble, and but yet which
is durable in use and reliable in operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention there
is provided a spray box assembly operatively connectable to a water
inlet in a commercial dishwasher. The spray box assembly includes a
separate spray plate having slots therein and a spray box to which
the spray plate is hinged and releasably secured, thereby to
facilitate cleaning of the spray box and spray plate. The hinged
spray plate is closed over the spray box by quick release
fasteners, and a sealing gasket is located between the confronting
surfaces of the spray plate and spray box. Also, the spray plate is
formed preferably with several parallel semicylindrical protrusions
each of which contains a plurality of spaced slots.
The invention will be more fully understood from the following
detailed description and its scope will be pointed out in the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher having spray box
assemblies in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view showing the entrance end of the
dishwasher of FIG. 1, with an upper and a lower spray box assembly
thereof being illustrated in skeleton;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lower spray box assembly of
the dishwasher of FIG. 2 taken substantially on the line 3-3;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a spray box assembly in accordance
with the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view of a spray box assembly in accordance with
the present invention with the spray plate thereof broken away for
purposes of clarity of illustration;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the lower spray box assembly of
FIG. 3 taken substantially on the line 6-6; and
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the lower spray box assembly of
FIG. 3 taken substantially on the line 7-7.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the invention is shown
as incorporated in a rack conveyor type commercial dishwasher
generally designated by reference numeral 10, and which comprises a
housing 11 divided into a pair of washing compartments 12 and 13
integrally arranged in side-by-side relation. In accordance with
one embodiment of the invention, the compartment 12 may take the
form of a conventional prewash section as it is commonly referred
to in the art wherein the soiled dishes are initially given a
preliminary wash to remove the bulk of the food particles which
commonly remain on the dishes even after the latter have been
scraped prior to being fed into the dishwasher 10. Compartment 12
may also take form of a conventional power wash section.
Compartment 13 on the other hand constitutes the spray compartment
wherein the so-called actual cleansing of the dishes takes place or
could constitute a rinse compartment in the case where compartment
12 is a wash section. Although not shown it is to be understood
that in accordance with conventional practice the spray compartment
13 includes at its exit end a rinse means wherein the dishes after
being washed are subjected to a final rinse with water which is at
a maximum sanitizing temperature just prior to their exit from the
dishwasher 10.
The compartments 13 and 12 are each closed with a door 14 and 15,
respectively, vertically slideable in channels (not shown) suitably
provided for this purpose. Each of the doors 15 and 14 is provided
with a full-width door lift 16 and 17, respectively, appropriately
recessed so as not to present any protrusions which might
accidentally be engaged by equipment or personnel passing closely
adjacent thereto, or which might catch on the clothing of the
operator of the dishwasher 10. The full-width door lifts 16 and 17
allow the lifting action with respect to the doors 14 and 15 to
take place all along the entire front of the dishwasher 10 while
the doors 14 and 15 permit an operator to readily reach all areas
within the dishwasher interior. The dishwasher 10 is preferably
supported on a plurality of bulletlike legs 18, each individually
adjustable, which are suitably secured to the under surface of the
housing 11 at each of the four corners thereof.
The requisite water inlet means 19 and associated piping therefor
are located in juxtaposed relation to the rear and top of the
housing 11 of dishwasher 10 as best seen with reference to FIGS. 1
and 2 of the drawing. Suitable wash tanks are positioned behind the
front tank panels 20 and 21 of housing 11 for the purpose of
receiving the excess of the wash water which has been sprayed on to
the dishes, the latter spraying being accomplished in a manner to
be more fully described hereinafter. The water which flows into the
aforesaid wash tanks is normally recirculated by means of a pump
(not shown). Inasmuch as the manner in which water is circulated
and/or recirculated in a dishwasher such as the dishwasher 10 is
well-known to those skilled in the art and the fact that the manner
in which this is accomplished is only indirectly related to the
subject matter of the present invention, it has not been further
described herein.
As depicted in dotted lines in FIG. 1 of the drawing, dishes 23
suitably retained in rack 24 are fed into the dishwasher 10 in the
direction of arrow 25, i.e., from right to left as viewed with
reference to the aforesaid FIG. 1. Suitable flap members 26 are
preferably positioned in the entrance opening 27 and also in the
exit opening (not shown) located at opposite ends in the housing 11
of dishwasher 10. These flap members 26 are primarily provided for
the purpose of substantially closing both of the aforesaid openings
so as to minimize the escape of wash water to the exterior of the
dishwasher 10. The flap members 26 selected for use for this
purpose are of course flexible enough to permit the rack 24 to be
passed into the interior of the dishwasher 10 without occasioning
any damage to the dishes 23 supported on the rack 24.
The racks 24 are moved through the dishwasher 10 by means of a
conveyor chain (not shown) having a plurality of lugs projecting
outwardly therefrom which engage appropriate portions of each of
the racks 24 thereby causing the racks 24 to move therewith. One
such lug 28 may be seen in FIG. 2 of the drawing. The racks 24 as
they are caused to move through the dishwasher 10 are supported on
a pair of channel-shaped members 29 and 30 extending substantially
the entire length of the dishwasher 10. The channel-shaped members
29 and 30 as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing are positioned by
suitable means (not shown) in juxtaposed relation to the front and
rear surfaces of the dishwasher 10.
A watertight control console 31 is suitable supported on the
housing 11 in juxtaposed relation to the compartment 12 at the
entrance end of the dishwasher 10. Dials, switches, and indicators
all generally designated by the same reference numeral 32
appropriate to the operation of the dishwasher 10 are positioned on
the vertical panel 33 of control console 31 which is preferably
inclined at a slight angle for easy readability of the instruments
positioned thereon. A protective cover 34 precludes excessive
drippage of water on to the inclined panel 33, and also assists in
preventing abuse to the console 31 which might be occasioned by the
loaded racks 24 which pass in close relation thereto as they are
being fed into the interior of the dishwasher 10.
The wash water spray means previously mentioned hereinabove
preferably comprises an upper and a lower spray box assembly 35 and
36, respectively, which are depicted in dotted lines in FIG. 2 of
the drawing. Inasmuch as upper and lower spray box assemblies 35
and 36, respectively, are essentially identical both in structure
and method of operation, but differ in size the description thereof
will be limited to a description of the lower spray box assembly 36
as illustrated particularly in FIGS. 3--7 of the drawing.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the lower spray box assembly 36
illustrated therein includes a spray box 37 and a spray plate or
cover 38. The spray box 37 as best seen with reference to FIGS. 6
and 7 of the drawing includes a rectangular base member 39 having
an upstanding front flange 40 (FIG. 6), and a pair of opposed
upstanding side flanges 41 and 42, respectively (FIG. 7). The base
member 39 is provided at its rear with a downwardly extending
portion 39a which in association with the rearwall 39b of base
member 39 and the upper surface 39c thereof forms a water chamber
or manifold 43 for a purpose to be more fully described
hereinafter.
As shown in FIG. 7 the spray box 37 also may include a pair of
substantially U-shaped channel members 44 and 45 which extend in
adjacent relation to side flanges 41 and 42, respectively, of base
member 39. The lower leg portions 44a and 45a of U-shaped channel
members 44 and 45, respectively, are suitably secured to the
interior surface of base member 39 such as by spot welding, etc.
such that the center portions 44b and 45b of channel members 44 and
45 are sufficiently spaced from the inner side of side flanges 41
and 42, respectively, to provide room for accommodating the
sidewall portions of spray plate 38 when the latter is moved to the
closed position with respect to spray box 37, as shown in FIG. 7 of
the drawing.
The upper leg portions 44c and 45c of U-shaped channel members 44
and 45, respectively, extend inward in order to accommodate a
gasket 46 made of a suitable material such as rubber. Upper leg
portions 44c and 45c however may also be fabricated as part of side
flanges 41 and 42 thereby eliminating surfaces 44b and 45b. As
illustrated in FIG. 5 of the drawing, the ends of upper leg
portions 44c and 45c are actually embedded in gasket 46 so as to
retain the latter thereon. In addition, it is preferable to
adhesively bond the gasket 46 to the upper leg portions 44c and
45c, respectively, by use of a suitable adhesive. It should be
noted that if used such an adhesive must be selected from amongst
those which will not be adversely affected by virtue of its contact
with water which is at an elevated temperature and contains
suitable detergents, and an adhesive which conversely will not
impart any detrimental characteristic to the wash water with which
it comes in contact which would preclude usage of the wash water
for its intended purpose, i.e., cleansing dishes.
Gasket 46 is similarly retained on the inwardly bent portion 40a of
upstanding front flange 40 of base member 39, and the inwardly
extending end portion of upper surface 39c of base member 39. In
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a gasket
bracket 47 is utilized to provide additional support to the gasket
46 adjacent the inwardly extending end portion of upper surface 39c
of base member 39, i.e., at the rear of spray box 37. The gasket
bracket 47 comprises a substantially flat rectangular member with
the end 47a thereof most closely adjacent the gasket 46 being bent
up substantially at a right angle to the main portion 47b of the
bracket 47. The gasket bracket 47 is retained in juxtaposed
relation to the lower surface of the gasket 46 and in slightly
spaced relation to the inner side of upper surface 39c of base
member 39 by suitable means such as a screw 48 and nut 49, the
screw 48 passing through openings (not shown) suitably provided
therefor in gasket bracket 47 and upper surface 39c. A suitable
spacer 50 is preferably interposed between upper surface 39c and
gasket bracket 47 for the purpose of imparting additional rigidity
to the spray box 37 by minimizing any tendency which might exist
for the gasket bracket 47 to pivot about screw 48 and to avoid
unequal compression of the lower surface of gasket 46, i.e., the
lower edge portion thereof furthest from portion 47a of gasket
bracket as viewed with reference to FIG. 6 of the drawing. Spacer
50 is of course also provided with a suitable opening (not shown)
to permit screw 49 to pass therethrough. Thus, the gasket 46
completely surrounds the opening 51 comprising the open side of
base member 39, the latter opening 51 being defined by upstanding
front flange 40, upper leg portions 44c and 45c, and inwardly
extending upper surface 39c of base member 39, as best illustrated
in FIG. 5 of the drawing.
The other major component of spray box assembly 36 is the spray
plate 38 which is hinged to the spray box 37 so as to be capable of
moving from a closed position relative to the aforementioned
opening 51 in base member 39 of spray box 37 as illustrated in
solid lines in FIG. 6 of the drawing to an open position as
illustrated in dotted lines in aforementioned FIG. 6 to facilitate
cleaning of the spray box assembly 36. Spray plate 38 has a
depending flange 52 extending along its front and similar opposed
depending flanges 53 and 54, respectively, extending along each of
its sides. As best seen with reference to FIG. 7 of the drawing,
the depending flanges 53 and 54 in the closed position of spray
plate 38 are received between flange 41 of base member 39 and the
corresponding center portion 44b of U-shaped channel member 44, and
side flange 42 and its corresponding center position 45b,
respectively. Spray plate 38 is further provided at its rear with
an upstanding flange 55 which extends substantially the entire
length thereof between depending flanges 53 and 54. The upstanding
rear flange 55 is secured by suitable means such as spot welding to
one leg 56a of hinge member 56. The other leg 56b of hinge member
56 in turn is similarly secured by suitable means such as spot
welding to the outer side of upper surface 39c of base member 39
adjacent the portion of gasket 46 retained on the letter member.
The hinge member 56 thereby provides the means enabling the spray
plate 38 to pivot in moving from the closed to the open position as
previously described hereinabove and as depicted in FIG. 6 of the
drawing.
The spray plate 38 is formed with a plurality of spaced parallel
semicylindrical protrusions 57 each of which contains a plurality
of spaced slots 58. In accordance with the embodiment of the
invention depicted in FIGS. 3--7 of the drawing the spray plate 38
is provided with three such protrusions 57 with each protrusion 57
being provided with three slots 58. It is to be understood however
that the number of protrusions 57 as well as the number and size of
the slots 58 therein will normally vary according to the nature of
the specific dishwasher in which the spray box assembly of the
instant invention is to be employed. The protrusions 57 in tests
have been found to provide a substantially better water flow and
spray pattern than it is possible to obtain from a spray plate
having the same number of slots 58 or for that matter more or less
slots, but slots which are placed along a flat portion of the upper
surface of the spray plate. In addition it will be noted that the
slots 58 are elongated in a direction transverse to the major axis
of the three parallel semicylindrical protrusions 57. That is, with
the spray box assembly 36 positioned in the dishwasher 10 the
protrusions 57 extend in the general direction of movement of the
racks 24 whereas the slots 58 are elongated in a direction
transverse to the direction of movement of the racks 24. The method
of operation of the spray plate 38 will be more fully described
hereinafter.
In the closed position, the spray plate 38 is releasably fastened
to the spray box 39 by means of a quick release fastener 59, which
cooperates with an essentially J-shaped hook 60 which is secured by
suitable means such as spot welding to the exterior surface of
depending front flange 52 of spray plate 38. The quick release
fastener 59 which may for example be of the type illustrated and
described in U.S. Pat. 3,127,205, is preferably mounted on one leg
61a of L-shaped bracket 61. As best seen in FIG. 6 of the drawing,
the other leg 61b of L-shaped bracket 61 is suitably secured such
as by welding to the under, i.e., outer surface of base member 39
adjacent the upstanding front flange 40 thereof.
Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 7 of the drawing, outwardly
facing channel members 62 and 63 are illustrated therein as being
positioned in juxtaposed relation to the upstanding side flanges 41
and 42, respectively, of base member 39 of lower spray box assembly
36. The U-shaped channel members 62 and 63 which may be attached to
the side flanges 41 and 42, respectively, such as by welding are so
provided in the case of lower spray box assembly 36 for a dual
purpose. Thus, it will be noted with reference to FIG. 4 of the
drawing, that each of the U-shaped channel members 62 and 63
carries at its forward end a screw 64 and 65, respectively. When
the spray box assembly 36 is positioned in the dishwasher 10 as
depicted in FIG. 2 of the drawing, the latter screws 64 and 65
cooperate with suitable openings (not shown) provided therefor in
the support structure of housing 11 of dishwasher 10 whereby to
ensure that the aforesaid spray box assembly 36 is aligned in the
proper location in the dishwasher 10, and also in association with
cooperating nuts (not shown) provide a means of securing the
forward end of the spray box assembly 36 to the aforesaid support
structure of the housing 11. Additional mounting means (not shown)
which are received in the small openings 66 suitably provided in
the rear wall 39b of base member 39 serve to secure the rear of the
spray box assembly to the housing 11.
The other function performed by the U-shaped channel members 62 and
63 is that of a support means for one side of the screens 67 and 68
illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing. As is well-known to those
skilled in this art, screens such as 67 and 68 are commonly
utilized to cover the wash tanks previously referred to hereinabove
to prevent the larger of the food particles which are dislodged
from the dishes being cleaned from passing into the wash tanks
which as noted earlier contain wash water which is generally
recirculated to the wash water spray means, in this case the spray
box assemblies 35 and 36. Since obviously no such screens 67 and 68
are employed along the top of the dishwasher 10, the U-shaped
channel members 62 and 63 need not necessarily be utilized in
conjunction with the upper spray box assembly 35. Other suitable
mounting means which are capable of ensuring the proper positioning
and securing of the upper spray box assembly 35 to the support
structure of housing 11 may be substituted in place of the U-shaped
channel member 62 and 63 and the corresponding screws 64 and 65
carried thereby by those skilled in the art without departing from
the true spirit and scope of the invention.
With further reference to FIG. 3 of the drawing and in accordance
with the preferred embodiment of the invention, when the lower
spray box assembly 36 is mounted in the housing 11 of dishwasher 10
a suitable metal cover member 69 is slideably positioned in the
pair of opposed inwardly facing U-shaped channel members 70 and 71.
The center portions 70a and 71a of channel members 70 and 71,
respectively, are suitably secured such as by welding to the center
portions 62a and 63a of U-shaped channel members 62 and 63, as best
seen with reference to FIG. 4. The metal cover member 69 serves a
function similar to that of screens 67 and 68 in that it prevents
the food particles dislodged from the dishes being cleaned from
passing to the wash tank (not shown), a portion of which underlies
the lower spray box assembly 36. As illustrated in FIG. 3 of the
drawing, metal cover member 69 carries a latch means 72 which
cooperates with the corresponding vertically slideable door 14 or
15, which closes the respective compartment in which the aforesaid
lower spray box assembly 36 is mounted, when the latter door is in
the closed position to thereby retain the door in question in that
position. With reference to upper spray box assembly 35, no such
metal cover member 69 normally need be utilized. Thus, as is noted
hereinabove with reference to the reasons previously set forth for
the elimination of the U-shaped channel member 62 and 63 insofar as
upper spray box assembly 35 is concerned, the same holds true with
regard to the use therewith of U-shaped channel members 70 and 71.
That is, the latter members 70 and 71 may be eliminated or
substituted for as so desired without departing from the true
spirit and scope of the present invention.
Insofar as the function of the upper and lower spray box assemblies
35 and 36, respectively, in the dishwasher 10 is concerned, the
racks 24 of soiled dishes 23 as they are fed into the dishwasher 10
are engaged as previously described by one or more lugs 28 of a
conveyor system (not shown) and are caused to move therewith with
the racks 24 being slideably supported on L-shaped channel support
members 29 and 30. As best seen with reference to FIG. 2 of the
drawings, lower spray box assembly 36 is mounted at a suitably
distance below L-shaped members 29 and 30. Similarly, upper spray
box assembly 35 is mounted so as to be suitably spaced from the
upper most portion of the articles which may be placed in the racks
24 for passage through the dishwasher 10. Wash water is fed into
the respective upper or lower spray box assembly 35 or 36 by
suitable means such as the pipe 73 illustrated in FIG. 2 of the
drawing which in turn is connected by suitable means (not shown) to
an inlet opening 74 in the spray box assembly 36 as depicted in
FIG. 4 of the drawing. With further reference to FIG. 4 and lower
spray box assembly 36, it can be seen that the inlet opening 74
communicates with the manifold 43 while the latter communicates
with the slots 58 provided in protrusions 57 of spray plate 38 from
whence the wash water exits in the form of a spray. The same
principle of water flow occurs in the upper spray box assembly
35.
When it becomes necessary to clean any contaminants which may have
accumulated in upper spray box assembly 35 and/or lower spray box
assembly 36, the operator of dishwasher 10 need only shut off the
flow of water to the affected spray box assembly or assemblies by
conventional controls (not shown), and then after having opened the
appropriate compartment door unlatch the quick release fastener 59
whereby the corresponding spray plate 38 may be pivoted to its open
position. For normal maintenance purposes, there is no necessity of
removing the spray box assembly from the dishwasher 10. The
operator by virtue of the access to the interior of the dishwasher
10 afforded by the full-width vertically slideable doors 14 and 15
is provided with sufficient freedom of movement to accomplish the
task of efficiently cleaning the interior as well as the exterior
of spray plate 38 and the other parts of the spray box assembly. As
illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 2, the spray plate associated
with upper spray box assembly 35 swings downwardly under the
influence of gravity when its quick release fastener is unlatched
while the spray plate 38 of lower spray box assembly 36 may be
swung upwardly about hinge 56. Upon completion of the cleaning
operation, the spray plate need only be closed back over its
associated spray box and secured thereto by means of the latching
of the corresponding quick release fastener. There is no need to
remount and/or realign the wash spray water means after cleaning as
in the case of prior art types of wash spray water means. It should
be noted that with the spray plate 38 held in the closed position
by the quick release fastener 59, the gasket 46 will be compressed
by the spray plate 38 to such an extent as to effectively provide a
watertight seal between the spray plate 38 and the spray box
37.
In general, the upper and lower spray plate and box are fabricated
completely from stainless steel for corrosion resistance, including
fasteners, hinges, etc. The size of the box, mating plate, location
of slots and rows on the plate will depend upon the spray pattern,
velocity and flow desired wherein spray pattern is defined by the
fan shape of the spray, the longitudinal spread of each spray and
the closeness of each spray. Spray pattern, velocity and flow may
be selected for each category of rack conveyor dishwasher to
provide optimum cutting force and cleansing spray to the
dishes.
Thus, there has been provided a novel and improved spray box
assembly for commercial dishwashers which has a construction which
provides easier accessibility to the various component parts
thereof for cleaning purposes than do prior existing types of spray
head assemblies. Further the spray box assembly in accordance with
the instant invention may be sanitized without removal from the
dishwasher and in considerably less time than heretofore possible
with respect to prior existing types of spray head assemblies. In
operation, the spray box assembly of the instant invention provides
a pattern, velocity, and flow of spray which enables optimum
cutting force and cleansing spray to be applied to the dishes.
Finally, the subject spray box assembly is relatively inexpensive
to manufacture, simple to assemble, but yet is durable in use and
reliable in operation.
While only one embodiment of my invention has been shown, it will
be appreciated that many modifications thereof may readily be made
by those skilled in the art, some of which have been specifically
mentioned hereinabove. I therefore intend by the appended claims to
cover the above modifications as well as all other modifications
which fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.
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