Grease Collection System for Oven

Abstract

A grease collection system is provided that may be connected to an oven for the real-time removal of grease from the heating chamber while maintaining a closed system. In particular, one end of a grease removal conduit is placed in communication with a drain in the cooking chamber, and the other end of the conduit is placed in a portable reservoir for the disposal of grease having a predetermined fluid level to prevent ambient air from entering the heating chamber during the preparation of food product.

1 . A method for removing grease from an oven of a type that includes a heating housing defining an internal heating chamber that receives raw grease-emitting food product, the steps comprising:
 (A) supplying heat to the raw food product and producing a quantity of grease within the heating chamber;   (B) directing the grease into a drain formed in the heating housing;   (C) directing the grease from the drain into a conduit connected at a first end to the drain and having a second end extending into a reservoir;   (D) emptying grease from the reservoir; and   (E) preventing ambient air from entering the heating chamber through the drain during steps (A) through (D).   
   
   
       2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (E) further comprises actuating a valve to seal the conduit. 
   
   
       3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (E) further comprises maintaining a predetermined fluid level in the reservoir during step (A). 
   
   
       4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising sensing an actual fluid level in the reservoir and comparing the fluid level to the predetermined fluid level. 
   
   
       5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (B) comprises installing a drip pan into the heating housing that defines an opening in alignment with the drain. 
   
   
       6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein step (B) further comprises covering a second non-grease removing drain formed in the heating housing with the drip pan. 
   
   
       7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (D) further comprises transporting the reservoir from the oven to a grease drainage location. 
   
   
       8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (D) further comprises siphoning grease from the reservoir into a grease drainage location. 
   
   
       9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein step (D) further comprises pumping grease from the reservoir into a grease drainage location. 
   
   
       10 . The method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein step (D) further comprises sensing an actual grease level inside the reservoir and determining when grease is to be pumped. 
   
   
       11 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of maintaining the reservoir with a fluid to a fluid level and placing the second end of the conduit in the fluid in the reservoir below the fluid level before step (A). 
   
   
       12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of forming a seal between the conduit and the fluid to create a closed system. 
   
   
       13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the closed system prevents an escape of gases from the heating housing. 
   
   
       14 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the fluid has a fluid density that is different than a grease density of the grease directed to the reservoir. 
   
   
       15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the fluid density is less than the grease density. 
   
   
       16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the fluid is water. 
   
   
       17 . A method for removing grease from an oven of a type that includes a heating housing defining an internal heating chamber that receives raw grease-emitting food product, the steps comprising:
 (A) supplying heat to the raw food product and producing a quantity of grease within the heating chamber;   (B) directing the grease into a drain formed in the heating housing;   (C) directing the grease from the drain into a conduit connected at a first end to the drain and having a second end extending into a reservoir located outside the heating housing; and   (D) preventing ambient air from entering the heating chamber through the drain during steps (A) through (C).   
   
   
       18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of maintaining the reservoir with a fluid to a fluid level and placing the second end of the conduit in the fluid in the reservoir below the fluid level before step (A). 
   
   
       19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the fluid has a fluid density that is different than a grease density of the grease directed to the reservoir. 
   
   
       20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of forming a seal between the conduit and the fluid to create a closed system to prevent an escape of gases from the closed system.