Pitco Frialator, Inc.

Karl M Searl

Steven J Cyr

Steven J Savage

Michael T Fecteau

Michael McGinnis

Steven Gallerani

Charles E Pierce

John P Gardner

Mark E McCabe

Jason D Finnie

Jared C Perkins

Steven Savage

A capacitive sensor and control system is configured to detect the presence (or absence) of a filter pan and of fluid within a filter pan. Configured in a filter pan of a deep fryer, the sensor determines when a level of liquid within the filter pan is at or above the level of the. The sensor is in communication with the control system and the sensor sends a signal to the control system representative of the presence of liquid within the filter pan and at the level of the sensor. The controller receives the signal from the sensor, and allows operation of a fluid management system and its associated plumbing to completely and safely move oil into and out of the filter pan.

Filter pan detection and fluid sensor system

A capacitive sensor and control system is configured to detect the presence (or absence) of fluid within a container. Configured in a vat of a deep fryer, the sensor determines when a level of liquid within the vat is at or above the level of the sensor. The sensor is in communication with the control system and the sensor sends a signal to the control system representative of the presence or absence of liquid within the vat and at the level of the sensor. The controller receives the signal from the sensor, and allows operation of a fluid management system and its associated plumbing to maintain an appropriate level of liquid in the vat.

Fluid top-off detection and control system

A system for automating the removal of cooking racks or trays laden with food items. The automatic rack lifting system includes a fryer assembly having a frypot and a liftable traveler assembly with a removable rack carrier or cooking carriage that carries a plurality of removable cooking baskets for food into and out of the cooking medium or oil disposed within the frypot. The system may further include lift arms removably secured to an actuation support structure. The automatic rack lifting system comprises a lift system for automated (e.g. under software program control) or manually controlled automatic lifting of a cooking carriage.

Automated rack fryer basket lift

A rack holder configured to securely hold a rack or tray used to hold food items during cooking is described. The rack holder may include bracket with a lower lip and a top lip. The bracket may be affixed to a support bar with an offset portion extending downward. The support bar may also include a handle support portion where one or more handles are affixed to the rack holder. The rack holder may provide a fitting engagement with a rack to remove the rack from a cooking environment and to transport the rack to another preparation station.

Rack holder

A burner assembly system is disposed in a rear side, i.e. back side, of a deep fryer. The burner assembly system includes an aperture disposed in a side of a bottom portion at the rear of a fryer cabinet of the controlled deep fryer. A burner at the rear of the fryer cabinet is coupled to the aperture and is adapted to receive fuel that enters through the aperture. An ignition assembly is disposed within the burner and ignites the received fuel. A flue is disposed at the rear of and within the fryer cabinet and receives combustion gases and heat from the burner created by the ignition of fuel. A heat exchanger is disposed within the flue at the rear of the fryer cabinet and is heated by heat conveyed through the flue from the ignition of fuel in the burner.

Deep fryer combustion burner system

A capacitive sensor includes a metal radiator disposed at an extreme end of a sensor assembly. A coaxial electrode is electrically interconnected to the metal radiator. The coaxial electrode has a center conductor, a dielectric around the center conductor, and an outer conductor, the center conductor being in electrical continuity with the metal radiator. An insulator configured to fit adjacent the metal radiator is configured to electrically and thermally isolate the metal radiator from selected electrical and thermal properties in an environment wherein the capacitive sensor probe is disposed. A connector is disposed distal from the metal radiator on the coaxial electrode, a portion of the connector being in electrical continuity with the metal radiator.

Capacitive sensor device

A capacitive sensor and control system is configured to detect the presence (or absence) of fluid within a container. Configured in a vat or frypot of a deep fryer, the sensor determines when a level of liquid within the frypot is at or above the level of the sensor. The sensor is in communication with the control system and the sensor sends a signal to the control system representative of the presence or absence of liquid within the frypot and at the level of the sensor. The controller receives the signal from the sensor, and allows operation of the one or more heat sources for heating the frypot when the signal received from the sensor is representative of liquid being disposed within the frypot at or above the level of the sensor, and prevents operation of the one or more heat sources when the signal received from the sensor indicates that liquid is not disposed within the frypot at or above the level of the sensor.

Fluid sensor and control system

Tank cover with handle

A substantially closed loop filtration and convection system is configured to move fluid/oil volume within a fryer vat. The vat has a flow directed inlet, which directs flow of cooking fluid in a direction across the bottom of the vat directing the flow of oil and crumbs/debris across the vat, up and across a flow separation portion toward and into a cleaning zone portion of the vat. A crumb tray or crumb/debris catch system is disposed in the cleaning zone adjacent to the vat.

Fluid convection fryer

A multi-bank cooking system includes multiple discrete cooking systems sharing common plumbing and integrated safety features. The multi-bank cooking system may include two or more rack-fryer systems, each with discrete frypots, operating mechanisms and cooking controllers. Each of the discrete cooking systems, may share a common plumbing system with integrated valves and controls receiving coordinated safety signals to facilitate safe and efficient operation of the system.

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Newmarket, NH, United States of America

Karl M Searl