Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
, r ~ .
A Device for Separating Condensate with Separator Elements
The invention relates to a device for separating or removing
fatty or oily condensate from rooms having a oily, fatty
and/or steamy atmosphere, particularly an underceiling or
O hood, including separator elements which are held,
particularly in a detachable condition, by a supporting
structure and have collecting elements or parallel coulisses
which, viewed in cross section, are channel-shaped and open
on one side, said collecting elements or coulisses having
their open sides in partly overlapping relationship, having a
passage for air between their edges and being arranged
slantwise to, and ending in, a gully.
~evices of this character are known, by way of example, from
2G US-A-3 364 664 or from US-A-3 566 585, in the form of a hood,
particularly in kitchens. The separator elements proposed in
these references are arranged slantwise and the condensate
they hold is conducted at their lower edge to a gully. The
gully has to be drained from time to time and in particular
it has to be cleaned. Since it is possible that this is not
attended to regularly, the arrangement is thus highly
unhygienic. Any overfill of the gully may cause considerable
contamination in the cooking area posing stringent demands on
hygiene.
3û
A device of such a kind, in the form of an underceiling, is
known from DE-A-3 145 548. The separator elements in that
reference have, viewed in cross section, channel-shaped,
parallel coulisses open on one side. The coulisses have their
J~ ~en sides in partly overlapping relationship and have a
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
passage for air between their edges. Each of these coulisses
has an end wall with passages therethrough for the fat or the
like collected in such a separator element. The lower edge of
this wall at one end is placed on a carrier simultaneously
forming an integral gully. One portion of this carrier serves
for supporting the edges of the coulisses and the underlying
main portion of this carrier constitutes the gully.
As with above-mentioned hoods, the gullys in the present
instance can be cleaned only in an installed, hence not
readily accessible, position. The separator elements on the
gullys have to be removed or steam has to be supplied for
cleaning. Mechanical cleaning would also remove caked dirt,
as becomes necessary if unpleasant, regular cleaning is not
carried out, for reason of convenience for instance. However
mechanical cleaning is not possible in practice unless the
entire underceiling or at least the gullys are dismantled in
a laborious fashion.
~G Therefore EP-B-O ;94 527 has disclosed such a separator in
the form of an underceiling in which the gully is
longitudinally divided into separate gully pieces. The gully
pieces are detachably coupled together in the direction of
push and pull and are slidable relative to the carrier. By
this means it is possible to leave the separator elements on
the carrier, but to remove and thoroughly clean the gully.
This arrangement represents a considerable step forward but
still involves inconvenience, meaning that here again
cleaning is often neglected. Thus, the design of the slideway
~O for the gully pieces is such that sliding movement is
difficult and often stiff. This is so, because on the one
hand the supporting members of the carriers have to remain in
position, but on the other hand the gully pieces are to be in
engagement therewith over a relatively great length, despite
~eing subdivided. When such parts are made of sheet metal,
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accurate guidance is not possible in such a way as to permit
that the gully pieces engaging the carriers with folded back
edges be slid without tilting and jamming. Above all, after
repeated use the gully pieces may be deformed through rough
treatment, preventing the necessary, smooth movement.
A device of the generic kind in the form of a hood
is known from DE-A-27 37 386 and from US-A-38 34 135. The
separator element is in each case set at an angle so that the
channel-shaped, parallel coulisses open on one side have
their open sides ending in a collecting gully or trough
receiving the condensate and fat formed. This collecting
gully or trough is somewhat inclined and at its lowest end
has an outlet through which the fat or condensate is to be
drained off. It is inavoidable that deposits of fat form
within the trough or collecting gully.
The draining fat reaches a further collecting gully
which extends underneath the first collecting gully and can
be removed for being emptied and cleaned.
The arrangement and position of the first
collecting gully mean, however, that it is hard to reach and
therefore can hardly be cleaned. Hence the same drawbacks
present themselves as are already known from the above-
described devices. In addition, this arrangement could not
be realized in the form of underceilings, because the gullys
lying one upon the other would need excessive height within
such an underceiling.
Therefore the object underlying the invention is to
provide a device of the kind mentioned at the outset,
23422-1~6
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enabling the collected condensate to be removed and the gully
to be cleaned in a considerably simpler and more convenient
fashion.
To accomplish this object, the device mentioned at
the outset is characterized in that located in a slidable
and/or removal condition in the gully there is at least one
collecting vessel in which the separator elements or
coulisses end, and said collecting vessel protects the gully
from the condensate delivered by the separator element(s) or
coulisses.
In this way the gully is kept free from condensate
from the outset and hence, as a rule, does not need to be
cleaned at all. It is sufficient if from time to time the
collecting vessels slidable in this gully be removed and
emptied and whilst doing so they can be very easily cleaned.
The permanently installed gully, which is often hard to
reach, therefore does not have to be cleaned in an
inconvenient position or even at dangerous height.
Furthermore, elaborate and nevertheless often stiff slideways
between gully pieces and a carrier are avoided. The gully
can be permanently installed and is not fouled at all by the
condensate due to the collecting vessel(s) in it.
It is especially advantageous if the collecting
vessel covers or protects the gully throughout the gully
length or through
23422-156
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that part of the gully length in which separator elements or
coulisses end. By this means it is avoided that some of the
collected condensate gets~ into the gully outside the
collecting vessel.
To enable condensate to be collected in the maximum quantity
permitted by the inside volume of the gully, the upper free
edge of the collecting vessel may run approximately level
with, or above, the upper edge of the gully. If the upper
1û edge of the collecting vessel runs above that of the gully,
more condensate can be collected than the gully itself could.
On the other hand, it may be preferable to arrange the edge
of the gully higher than that of the collecting vessel. Then
in this edge area the below-described possibility is attained
,~ of preventing condensate from entering the gap between
collecting vessel and gully.
Mention was already made that the collecting vessel may be
slidable or removable, or slidable for removal. The latter
possibility is preferable to lifting the collecting vessel
for removal from the gully. This is so, because it is
structurally especially simple to realize and because the
other structural elements of ~he device as a whole signify
that there would often be no space at all above the gully for
2J lifting. If now, the entire device is very long, particularly
in a canteen, the collecting vessel of respective length
would be difficult to remove by drawing and sliding it out of
the gully and to handle. An especially advantageous and
suitable development of the invention may therefore consist
~u in that a plurality of collecting vessels in mutual extension
of, and in alignment with, one another are provided over the
collecting area of the gully or throughout the length of the
gully and are closed by walls at either end. In the position
of use these collecting vessels abut without any appreciable
~'J gap. These collecting vessels are coupled in the direction of
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push and pull, in particular they are detachably
interconnected and slidable together relative to the gully.
In particular, they are adapted to be drawn out of the gully
and slid back into the gully after having been emptied. Even
a single colleGting vessel has end walls for intermediate
storage of the collected condensate until this collecting
vessel is removed. The problem of great length is expediently
solved by arranging a plurality of collecting vessels one
behind the other. These collecting vessels are coupled
,u together in such a way that that as the foremost vessel is
drawn out, the following vessels are drawn along. Therefore,
after the vessel foremost in the direction of removal has
been removed, the next collecting vessel is immediately
ready-to-hand and can be drawn out further, thereby drawing
1~ the next collecting vessel into the position for removal etc.
Subdividing the collecting vessel into a plurality of
collecting vessels advantageously enables them to be of a
size which is easy to handle and clean. Therefore not only
emptying but, whilst doing so, cleaning is facilitated. By
way of example, the collecting vessels may be of a size
permitting them to be cleaned very conveniently in
dishwashers or rinsers. Due to the short length of the
individual collecting vessels, they are simply and
conveniently removed and put back again.
2~
It is advantageous if the collecting vessel(s) have a cross-
sectional profile corresponding approximately to the cross
section of the internal contour of the gully, automatically
resulting in good guidance of the collecting vessel in the
JU gully, without any risk of tilting and the like. Even if
slightly deformed, the collecting vessel - as considered over
the entire length - can lie relatively loosely in the gully
and be slid with corresponding ease.
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:
Claims 6 to 8 recite developments of the invention,
particularly of the collecting vessels and the way in which
they are detachably coupled together. The features and
measures recited in these claims provide structurally simple
possibilities for a plurality of collecting vessels, aligned
in the gully and substantially contiguous in the position of
use, to be connected in the direction of push and pull. At
the same time assurance is provided that the ~oint between
two such ad~acent collecting vessels is covered, preventing
,u any condensate there from getting in between the collecting
vessels and entering the underlying gully.
In connection with the arrangement of the longitudinal edges
of the gully and the longitudinal edges of the collecting
vessels, an advantageous development of the invention may
consist in that the upper longitudinal gully edge, which is
under the separator elements and parallel to which the
collecting vessel(s) are slidable, is bent over, in
particular has a U-shaped or V-shaped bend directed towards
~u the centre of the gully. In the position of use, the upper
limb of the bend covers and protects the upper longitudinal
edge of the collecting vessel(s) and, in relation to a
horizontal plane, slopes downwards from the outside to the
inside of the gully. This has the significant advantage that
2~ any condensate dropping off a separator element in this area,
e.g. from its underside, cannot enter between collecting
vessel and gully, but is conducted by the upper limb of the
bend into the interior of the collecting vessel.
~0 Measures are taken in order that structural elements situated
above the collecting vessels, for instance the upper limb of
a gully bend, do not hinder the collecting vessels from being
slid and removed. ~hese measures are that the upper edge of
the end walls can be arranged lower than the embraced and
J:~ protected longitudinal edge of the collecting vessel, or that
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between end wall and gully wall a slot may be provided which
accommodates ~he upper limb of the U-shaped or V-shaped bend
and receives the same in the region of the end walls. This
slotting can be avoided if the gully has a raised
longitudinal edge running slantwise upwards and outwards with
the respective bend and thus there is sufficient inside
volume in the collecting vessels, even though the end walls
do not extend up as far as the area of the bends.
O A significant development of the invention forces the user to
also remove and clean the separator elements or panels
furnished with coulisses when he removes the collecting
vessels. Due to the dimensions of such separator elements
cleaning can be easily done in dishwashers. This development
consists in that in the position of use the separator
element~s) stop the collecting vessel(s) from sliding out of
the gully and are detachably held. ~herefore the separator
elements can be removed, releasing the collecting vessels for
their movement. The user hence removes the separator elements
~u in order to be able to slide the collecting vessels out of
the gully, empty and clean then. He can then likewise place
the removed separator elements in a dishwasher.
It is advantageous if at least one separator element itself,
or by means of a pro~ection arranged on it, engages with a
collecting vessel from above, particularly with the rearmost
collecting vessel during withdrawal from the gully, to a
depth so as to overlap at least one end wall counter to the
direction of slide necessary for removal. Often particularly
~u those separator elements ending directly in the gully or in
the collecting vessels require cleaning. If the user first
has to remove the separator elements to release the
collecting vessels, he has then already done the main work
for also cleaning these separator elements, for instance for
'J'~ p~a~ing the removed separator elements in a dishwasher.
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Since the separator elements can also be fastened together
and interlocked, the "unlocking" of the collecting vessel
suitably necessitates the release of all the separator
elements leading to the collecting vessels.
The gully and collecting vessels~s) in it slidable for
emptying may have a mirror symmetrical profile with respect
to a vertical, longitudinal median plane. This is an
arrangement particularly well suited for underceilings, where
separator elements with their coulisses or the like extend
from either side and end in the gully and collecting vessels.
However it is also possible, particularly for hoods, to
provide a gully-half with a correspondingly shaped collecting
vessel. The gully wall overlapped by the separator is
arranged slantwise in cross section and the cross section of
the other gully wall, par~icularly one connected to a holder
or the like, is arranged vertically or almost vertically. In
this case separator elements extend only from one side and
~0 end in the collecting vessel~s). As for the rest, a hood can
be provided having a substantially vertical end wall with the
above-described gully and collecting vessels arranged at its
lower edge.
2~ It is suitable if the stationary gully has a bar, lock or
blocking device at the end at which the collecting vessels
are removed as they are slid out. Unauthorized removal,
signifying that the actual user of the kitchen or the like
fails to notice or ls unaware that the collecting vessels
3~ are not in place, can thereby be prevented. In addition, by
this means it can be ensured that the collecting vessels are
fully inserted in the gully, because otherwise they cannot be
barred, locked or blocked.
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Mention was already made that the couplings protect and cover
the gap between directly adjacent collecting vessels, in
order that no condensate can enter there. A further
development of the invention may consist in that the side
J walls projecting beyond the end walls of directly adjacent
collecting vessels overlap in the coupling area, so that
there as well no gap, however narrow, remains outside the
area of the end walls.
It is advantageous if the collecting vessel - having a
substantially U-shaped bend of its end wall protectively
lapping over the adjacent end wall of the next collecting
vessel - has a side wall internally lapping over the side
wall of this adjacent collecting vessel. This produces a
tile-like arrangement in this overlapping area, preventing
condensa~e from getting between the collecting vessels
above the couplings at the side walls. The overlap is so
large as to correspond to that in the area of the end walls.
~G In order that this overlapping of the side walls does not
necessitate or produce any jamming of the collecting vessels,
making it more difficult to release one collecting vessel
from the next, it is suitable if the overlapped side wall of
the one collecting vessel has an impression approximately of
2~ the thickness of the side wall overlapping it of the adjacent
collecting vessel. Overlapping is hence facilitated by the
impression mentioned, i.e. the side wall is shaped slightly
outwardly in order that the internal overlap can be effected
without jamming and deformation.
3G
The overlapped wall area can be formed by a projection of the
side wall, extending from the upper, free longitudinal edge
to about the end wall or beneath the end wall and projecting
relative to the end wall in the sliding direction by about
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
~û
the amount to which the V-shaped or U-shaped bend of the
coupling pro~ects relative to the end wall.
The outward impression of the side wall can be arranged at
the opposite end of the collecting vessel and be of a greater
width in the longitudinal direction than the overlapping
area, in order that the end pro~ection is sure to fit in the
impressed area of the side wall of the adJacent collecting
vessel.
~û
A device for separating or removing condensate from the
atmosphere of rooms, which is significantly simpler to clean
because its gully cannot become foul, ensues particularly
from combining the above-described features and measures
~5 singly or severally. The user therefore only has to remove,
empty and clean the ~ollecting vessels lining and prote~ting
the gully. At the same time assurance can be provided that
the separator e~ements leading to these vessels also have to
be cleaned, because they initially stop removal of the
cu collecting vessels. The separator elements have to be
detached from their holders in order to release the
collecting vessels and likewise can then be simply placed in
a dishwasher or similar cleaning device. Cleaning an
underceiling at great height or the hard to reach interior of
2J an hood, along with the attendant inconveniences for the user
and cleaner, are hence avoided.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention will be described in
further detail below with reference to the drawings in which,
~0 partly in schematized form,
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic, partly broken away representation
of a canteen with separators embodying the invention
and taking the form of an underceiling and hoods,
~,
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Fig. 2 is a portion of a device em~odying the invention on
an enlarged scale, including a gully and separator
elements in slanting relationship thereto, the gully
having collecting vessels arranged in it to keep it
clean and these vessels being withdrawable in the
longitudinal direction of the gully for emptying and
cleaning,
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device illustrated in Fig. 2,
the separators in the form of panels being depicted
only in their region directly adjacent to the gully
and otherwise being broken away,
Fig. 4 is a front view of the device in Fig. 2, including a
gully containing collecting vessels and the panels
slanting from either side and ending in the gully to
form a hood or as part of an underceiling for
instance,
2u Fig. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the gully and
a collecting vessel arranged in it, the separator
elements extending from either side and lapping over
an end wall of ~he collecting vessel so as to stop it
from being drawn out of the gully,
~5
Fig. 6 depicts two collecting vessels detachably coupled
together in the direction of push and pull in a side
view interrupted in the longitudinal direction,
without the gully receiving them, including an end
~G handle on the foremost collecting vessel as
considered in the direction of pull,
Figs.6a
to 6d are the details marked in Fig. 6, on an enlarged
~'J scale,
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Fig. 7 is a plan view of a collecting vessel, depicted in
interrupted form, having at the one face two
impressions and at the opposite face two
corresponding, projecting extensions of its side
walls, these extensions engaging with and overlapping
the impressions of an ad~oining collecting vessel,
and
o Fig. ~3 is a section of part of the collecting vessel in Fig.
7, taken through the area of the impression of its
side wall.
A device, generally designated i, evident particularly in
i~ Figs. 2, 4 and 5, serves for separating or removing fatty or
oily conden~ate from rooms 2 - cf. Fig. 1 - having an oily,
fatty andJor s~eamy atmosphere, as exists in large-scale
catering establishments, for instance.
~u Fig. 1 shows that the device 1 may be an underceiling, which
is rendered operative particularly over the area of the range
by appropriate inclination of the separator elements 3 yet to
be described. These elements arranged above the area of the
range may also take the form of hoods.
~ :~
According to Figs. 2 and 4, the separator elements 3
mentioned are held in a detachable condition by means of a
supporting structure 4 and have channel-shaped, parallel
coulisses 5 open on one side. The coulisses 5 have their open
~0 sides in partly overlapping relationship and have a passage
for air between their edges. These coulisses 5 are combined
to form panels as separator elements 3 which, according to
Fig. 1, can be singly removed from their holders for cleaning
in a dishwasher, for instance. The inclined coulisses 5 lead
to oil, fat and moisture being condensed out of the air
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
-
conducted therethrough. Their inclination, which may also be
at a smaller pitch than illustrated ln Fig. 4, means that
this condensate is conducted to a gully 6 where these
coulisses 5 end in accordance with Figures 4 and 5.
It is shown in Figures 2 to 5 and especially clearly in Fig.
5 that arranged in the gully 6 there is a collecting vessel 7
slidable in the direction of arrow Pf~ to depart so far from
the gully 6 as to be removable. This collecting vessel 7
protects the gully 6 from the condensate delivered by the
separator elements 3 and coulisses 5. Therefore this
condensate does not wet and foul the gully 6 and thus this
permanently installed gully 6 does not have to be cleaned.
Rathermore, cleaning can be effected simply and conveniently
by from time to time withdrawing the collecting vessel 7 in
the direction of arrow Pfl, emptying and cleaning it and
sliding it back again. Since this collecting vessel 7 is
situated in the gully 6, the separator elements 3 and their
coulisses 5 end in this collecting vessel 7. According to
~ig. 3, the collecting vessel 7 covers and protects the
entire gully length and thus the part of the gully 6 where
the separator elements 3 or coulisses 5 end.
Fig. 5 shows that the upper, free longitudinal edge 8 of the
2~ collecting vessel 7 extends approximately level with the
upper longitudinal ~dge of the gully 6, providing optimal
utilization of space and a maximum capacity for the
collecting vessel 7. One sees that the longitudinal edge 9 of
the gully 6 runs slightly dbove the longitudinal edges 8 of
3~ the collecting vessel 7. This is so, because the upper
longitudinal edge 9 of the gully 6, which is under the
separators 3 and parallel to which the collecting vessel 7 is
slidable, has a substantially U-shaped or V-shaped bend 10
directed towards the centre of the gully. In the position of
~se, the upper limb 11 of the bend 10 covers and protects the
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
upper longitudinal edge 8 of the collecting vessel 7 and, in
relation to a horizontal plane, slopes downwards from the
outside to the inside of the gully 6 and thus to the inside
of the collecting vessel 7. Should condensate deposit on and
drain off the underside of the inclined separator element 3,
dropping off it before reaching the collecting vessel 7, such
condensate cannot get into the gap between collecting vessel
7 and gully 6, but is conducted by limb 11 into the
collecting vessel 7.
7~
While in the foregoing mention has been made of 'la"
collecting vessel 7, it is to be seen in the exemplary
embodiment that a plurality of collecting vessels 7 are
provided over the collecting area of the gully 6, hence in
the exemplary embodiment throughout the length of the gully
6. These collecting vessels 7 are in mutual extension of, and
in alignment with, one another and are closed by walls at
either end, hereinafter referred to as end walls 12. In the
position of use - as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 6 - these
cO vessels 12 abut without any appreciable gap. These collecting
vessels 7 are coupled in the direction of push and pull and
are detachably interconnected, as illustrated in greater
detail in Figs. 6 and 6d. Therefore they are slidable
together relative to, and withdrawable from, the gully 6, and
~'J can be slid back into the gully 6 after having been emptied
and cleaned. These coupled together, individual collecting
vessels 7 can hence be taken as or designated as a multipart
collecting vessel 7. In the following they will be referred
to as collecting vessel 7. That is to say, in the description
3~ below it is understood that a plurality of collecting vessels
7 coupled in the above-described manner is provided in the
gully 6. This has the considerable advantage that given a
gully 6 of relatively great length, it is readily possible
for the collecting vessels 7 to be removed even in somewhat
3~ confined space conditions. A collecting vessel 7
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corresponding in length to the overall length of the gully 6
would require a sufficiently large free space for ~ts
withdrawal.
According to Fig. 5, the collecting vessels 7 have a cross-
sectional profile corresponding approximately to the cross
section of the internal contour of the gully 6. Therefore
they can protect the gully 6 well and nevertheless hold as
much condensate as the gully 6 could in their absence.
1 0
Fig. 6 illustrates that the end walls 12 of the collecting
vessels 7 have a mutual stop as a pressure coupling when they
are jointly moved for insertion. Further, the one end wall 12
is engaged by a pulling element - according to Fig. 6d a
hook-shaped folded edge 13 - co-operating with the
neighbouring vessel as a coupling in the direction of pull.
As already mentioned, a collecting vessel 7 has at the upper
edge of one end wall 12 a hook-shaped, folded edge 13 which
points away from that end wall 12 and engages over and behind
~O the directly adjoining, plain end wall 12 of the neighbouring
collecting vessel a~cording to Fig. 6d. According to Fig. 6d,
the upper edge of this plain end wall 12 may also be beadlike
so as to compose an improved coupling and particularly to
faciliate re-coupling.
2~
Once a first collecting vessel 7 has been drawn out of the
gully 6 so far that its end wall 12 provided with the folded
edge 13 is outside, the collecting vessel 7 can be raised
slightly and thus its folded edge 13 can be released from the
~O adjacent end wall 12. Through the withdrawal of the first
collecting vessel 7, the latter end wall 12 has now reached
the end of the gully 6 and can therefore be grasped by an
attendant for withdrawal of this second collecting vessel 7
which, in turn, draws along an adjacent collecting vessel 7
~J with a corresponding coupling. This procedure is repeated
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
~,
until the entire chain of collecting vessels 7 has been drawn
out of the gully 6. The collecting vessels 7 are then
emptied, cleaned and then slid back in the reverse order,
whereby the folded edge 13 can be attached to the plain or
5 beaded end wall 12 shortly before the latter is fully
inserted.
The hook-shaped folded edge 13 or the like extends without a
gap throughout the end wall ~2 of the collecting vessel 7, at
0 least in the area which receives condensate for separation.
This folded edge 13 or the like reaches with its free edge
13a over the end wall 12 and its bead 12a of the adjacent
collecting vessel 7. According to Fig. 6d, this free edge 13a
is lower than the upper edge or bead 12a of the overlapped
1~ end wall 12. Therefore this hook-shaped folded edge 13 or the
like not only forms a coupling in the direction of pull, but
also bridges and covers the gap 14 between the two
confronting end walls 12 of the two collecting vessels 7
directly adjacent to each other. That is to say, this folded
edge 13 or the like has a double function by acting as a
detachable coupling effective in the direction of pull, but
also by preventing condensate from entering between the end
walls 12.
In order that the protection of the gap 14 between the
longitudinal edges 8 and 9 with the aid of the limb 14 does
not hinder the collecting vessels 7 from sliding, the upper
edge of the end walls 12 is in each case arranged lower than
the embraced and protected longitudinal edge 8 of the
collecting vessel 7. Were the upper edges of the end walls 12
to be in-plane with the longitudinal edges 8, a slot
accommodating the upper limb 11 of the U-shaped or V-shaped
bend 10 would have to be provided in the end walls 12
themselves or between them and the side wall 17 of the gully.
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Such a slot is avoided by the selected difference in height
of the respective edges.
Since condensate deposits, requiring cleaning, also collect
on the separator elements 3 in the course of time, it is
advantageous if the user is "forced" also to remove the
separator elements 3 from their detachable holder for
cleaning, when he empties the collecting vessels 7. In the
exemplary embodiment it is therefore proposed that in the
position of use the separator elements 3 stop the collecting
vessel(s) from sliding out of the gully 6. In the present
instance this is accomplished in that according to Fig. 5 at
least one separator element 3 itself or a projection 16
arranged on it or belonging to its end wall engages with a
collecting vessel 7 from above, e.g. with the rearmost
collecting vessel 7 during withdrawal from the gully 6, to a
depth so as to overlap at least one end wall 12 counter to
the direction of slide necessary for removal. It is evident
in Figure 5 that the end wall 12 situated there behind the
~0 pro~ections 16 of ~he separator elements 3 prevents its
collecting vessel 7 from being withdrawn towards the viewer,
perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.
It becomes clear particularly from Fig. 5, but also from the
~5 other Figures, that the gully 6 and the collecting vessels 7
in it slidable from the gully 6 for emptying and cleaning are
mirror symmetrical or have a mirror symmetrical profile with
respect to a vertical, longitudinal median plane L. This also
applies if and when the device 1 is a hood acted upon from
3~ two sides.
If, however, a hood accessible only at one side is necessary,
in comparison with Fig. 5 a gully "half" 6 with
correspondingly shaped collecting vessels 7 may be provided.
~5 The g~lly side wall 17 overlapped by the separator 3 and
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l&
accordingly the side wall 15 of the collecting vessel 7 are
arranged slantwise in cross section and the cross section of
the other gully wall, particularly one connected to a holder
or the like - approximately in plane L -, is arranged
vertically or almost vertically. Therefore the representation
of Fig. 5 can also be interpreted as one of a device 1 in the
form of a hood, if plane L is formed as a vertical end wall
and on one side only of it are a separator element 3, gully
half 6 with vessel halves 7.
1 &
The stationary gully 6 may have a bar, lock or blocking
device (not shown) at the end at which the collecting vessels
7 are removed as they are slid out in the direction of arrow
Pfl. By this means, not only can unauthorized removal be
prevented, but correct insertion of all the collecting
vessels 7 is ensured if this bar or lock can be put into its
closing position. If the collecting vessels 7 have not been
duly inserted to a sufficient depth, or a coupling between
two collecting vessels 7 has not been established during
~C insertion, i.e. the hook-shaped folded edge 13 fails to
engage over the end wall 12 of the adjacent collecting vessel
7 but butts against it, the chain of collecting vessels 7 has
a greater overall length. As a result, the last collecting
vessel 7 cannot be fully inserted and hence prevents locking.
2~ Therefore not only is indication given as to whether the
collecting vessels 7 are correctly positioned and there are
no gaps remaining between individual collecting vessels 7, as
would be provided merely by a projecting length of the last
collecting vessel 7. Rathermore, the stop or similar lock to
~C be fitted forces the user to correct an error which has
occured during insertion.
Mention was already made that the longitudinal edges 8 of the
collecting vessels 7 are arranged higher than the edges of
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
7 'J
the end walls 12. This difference in height becomes apparent
particularly in the longitudinal section of Fig. 6.
In order that condensate cannot enter between the side walls
15 in that area of the joint between two adjacent collecting
vessels 7 which is no longer protected by the hook-shaped
folded edges 13 or the like, those areas of the side walls 15
which project beyond the end walls 12 of the directly
adjacent collecting vessels 7 overlap in their coupling
lo area, as is illustrated particularly by Figs. 6 to 8.
Accordingly, it is proposed that the collecting vessel 7 -
having a substantially U-shaped bend or folded edge 13 of its
end wall 12 protectively lapping over the end wall 12
adjacent thereto and over the bead 12a provided there of the
next collecting vessel 7 - has a side wall 15 internally
lapping over the side wall 15 of this adjacent collecting
vessel 7, resulting in a tile-like cover. According to Figs.
6 and 6d, the side wall 15 of the one collecting vessel 7
~0 laps over that of the other vessel by about the extent to
which the U-shaped or V-shaped folded edge 13 laps over the
end wall 12. Therefore, all ln all, an overlap and protection
of the same width is provided throughout the area of the gap
14 between two collecting vessels 7. Particularly Fig. 6d
2~ shows that the lower edge 13a of the hook-shaped folded edge
13 is arranged in-plane with the outermost edge 18 of an
overlapping wall area 19 of the side wall 15.
Figures 7 and 8 as well as Figs. 6 and 6d illustrate that the
overlapped side wall 15 of the one collecting vessel 7, hence
that of the collecting vessel 7 situated on the right in Fig.
6, has an impression 20. This impression 20 is approximately
of the thickness of the side wall 15 overlapping it of the
adjacent collecting vessel 7 on the left in Fig. 6. This
thickness or depth t of the impression 20 is shown in Fig. 8
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
~U
and is the amount by which tha impression 20 is shaped
outwardly to depart from the plane of the rest of the side
wall 15 and from the interior of the collecting vessel 7.
According to Figs. 7, 6 and 6d, the overlapping wall area 19
is formed by a projection of the side wall 15 in the
direction in which the gully 6 extends and in the direction
in which the collecting vessel 7 is slid. This pro~ection
extends from the upper, free longitudinal edge 8 to about the
,o end wall 12 or somewhat beneath the end wall 12. This
pro~ection forming the overlapping wall area 19 projects
relative to the end wall 12 by about the amount to which the
V-shaped or U-shaped folded edge 13 of the coupling projects
relative to the end wall 12, producing the already mentioned
,5 arrangement of edges 13a and 18 in a vertical plane.
The outward impression 20 af the side wall 15 is arranged at
the opposite end of the collecting vessel 7, i.e. exactly at
the end opposite to the overlapping wall area 19, and is of a
~0 greater width in the longitudinal direction than the
overlapping wall area 19. In the position of use, wall area
19 is therefore sure to be within the impressed area of the
impression 20, preventing jamming and an unintended
frictional engagement in the overlapping area.
2~
Altogether, a device 1 for separating condensate from oily,
fatty and/or steamy atmospheres in large-scale catering
establishments, for ex~mple, is provided wherein, in a
seemingly contradictory ~anner, a gully 6 collects but is not
fouled by condensate and hence does not have to be cleaned.
This is advantageous because this gully 6 can then be mounted
permanently and thus correspondingly stably in order to
capable of exercising a dual function by also acting as a
carrier in the area of an underceiling or hood or a
3~ combïnation of both. A gully 6 detachable from a carrier does
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
not have to be provided. This is accomplished in a simple way
by providing the gully 6 with one or more collecting vessels
7 lining and protecting the inside of the gully. A plu~ality
of collecting vessels 7 arranged in the direction in which
the gully 6 extends has the advantage that they are removable
one by one as they are drawn out of the gully 6. Therefore
the space available in the withdrawal direction does not have
to correspond to the length of the gully 6. Even when a
plurality of collecting vessels 7 is used, each of a length
1G permitting easy extraction and removal and adapted to the
spatial conditions, dirt is pre~ented from accumulating in
the gully proper. This is so because the selected coupling
between the individual collecting vessels 7 also covers the
~oints there and protects them against condensate entering
1~ the gap 14 between the collecting vessels 7.
The collecting vessel 7 arranged furthest to ~he left in Fig.
6 has a handle 21 for grasping the collecting vessel 7 when
it is drawn out. In addition a locking device (not shown)
might be applied and assume the use position when all the
collecting vessels 7 have been duly inserted.
The device 1 for separating fatty, moisture-laden or oily
condensate from rooms 2, for instance canteens, may be an
underceiling, a hood or a combination of both. The device has
known separator elements 3 which are held in a detachable
condition by a supporting structure 4 in order that they can
be cleaned in di~hwashers, for instance. These separator
elements 3 have collecting elements or coulisses 5 for Lhe
~& condensate, inclined so as to conduct the condensate to a
gully 6. At least one collecting vessel 7 or a chain of
collecting vessels 7 is slidably and/or removably located in
this gully 6, so that the condensate supplied by ~he
separator element 3 or its coulisses 5 reaches this
3~ ~ollecting vessel 7. The permanently installed gully 6 is
CA 02212134 1997-08-01
therefore protected from ~his condensate by the collec-~ing
vessel~s) 7. For emptying and cleaning the collecting vessel~
7 they can be sli~ out of the gully 6.
Claim~
1 0
. 5
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