Pot and pan washing machine

Abstract

An improved pot and pan washing machine is provided including a pump discharge entering a wash tank generally below a pump intake. Jet nozzles expel fluid from a discharge manifold located below an intake manifold along a wall of a wash tank.

1 . A pot and pan washing machine comprising:
 a wash tank including bottom wall, two long walls and two side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall;   an intake port in one of said walls;   an outlet manifold associated with one of said walls;   a parallel flow pump including:
 a pump inlet associated with said intake port, said pump inlet having an intake path in a first direction, and 
 a pump outlet associated with said outlet manifold, said pump outlet having an outlet path in a second direction, said second direction being generally parallel to said first direction; 
   a perforated intake manifold positioned to cover said intake port; and   at least one opening in association with said outlet manifold to expel at a predetermined angle a stream of fluid from said outlet manifold;   wherein said at least one opening is located at a height generally below a height of said intake port.   
   
   
       2 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 1  further including at least one other opening located at a height generally above said height of said intake port. 
   
   
       3 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said at least one other opening includes a predetermined angle that differs from said predetermined angle of said at least one opening. 
   
   
       4 . A pot and pan washing machine comprising:
 a wash tank including a bottom wall, a rear wall, a front wall and two side walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall;   an intake port in one of said walls;   an outlet manifold associated with one of said walls;   a pump including:
 a pump inlet associated with said intake port, and 
 a pump outlet associated with said outlet manifold; 
   at least one opening in association with said outlet manifold to expel at a predetermined angle a stream of fluid from said outlet manifold, said opening including: a directing tube flush connected at an outer end to said wall associated with said outlet manifold and including an inner end extending into said outlet manifold;   and a perforated intake manifold within said wash tank positioned to cover said intake port;   wherein said at least one opening is located at a height generally below a height of said intake port.   
   
   
       5 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 4  further including at least one other opening located at a height generally above said height of said intake port. 
   
   
       6 . A pot and pan washing machine comprising:
 a wash tank including bottom wall, two sidewalls and two end walls extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said side walls being longer than said end walls;   an intake port in one of said walls;   an outlet manifold associated with one of said side walls;   a parallel flow pumping system including:
 a pumping system inlet associated with said intake port, said pump inlet having a linear intake path in a first direction, and 
 a pumping system outlet associated with said outlet manifold, said pump outlet having a linear outlet path in a second direction, said second direction being generally parallel to said first direction; 
   a perforated linear intake manifold extending in said first direction and positioned to cover said intake port; and   at least one opening in association with said outlet manifold to expel at a predetermined angle a stream of fluid from said outlet manifold;   wherein said at least one opening is located at a height generally below a height of said intake port.   
   
   
       7 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 6  further including at least one other opening located at a height generally above said height of said intake port. 
   
   
       8 . A pot and pan washing machine comprising:
 a wash tank;   a pump for circulating fluid within said wash tank;   at least one opening associated with an outlet of said pump for directing a stream in said wash tank; and   an intake manifold including an inlet associated with said pump for withdrawing fluid from within said wash tank into said pump, said intake manifold including at least one intake surface including a plurality of voids extending from within said wash tank through said intake surface and into said intake manifold, said voids being arranged such that a void concentration increases as a distance from said inlet increases;   wherein said at least one opening is located at a height generally below a height of said intake manifold.   
   
   
       9 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 8  further including at least one other opening located at a height generally above said height of said intake port. 
   
   
       10 . A pot and pan washing machine comprising:
 a wash tank;   a pump for circulating fluid within said wash tank;   at least one opening associated with an outlet of said pump for directing a stream in said wash tank; and   an intake manifold including an inlet associated with said pump for withdrawing fluid from within said wash tank into said pump;   wherein said at least one opening is located at a height generally below a height of said intake manifold.   
   
   
       11 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 10  further including at least one other opening located at a height generally above said height of said intake port. 
   
   
       12 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said intake manifold generally extends along the length of a wall of said wash tank. 
   
   
       13 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said intake manifold includes at least one intake surface including a plurality of voids extending from within said wash tank through said intake surface and into said intake manifold, said voids being arranged such that a void concentration increases as a distance from said inlet increases. 
   
   
       14 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said pump comprises a parallel flow pump including:
 a pump inlet associated with said inlet, said pump inlet having an intake path in a first direction, and   a pump outlet associated with said at least one jet nozzle, said pump outlet having an outlet path in a second direction, said second direction being generally parallel to said first direction.   
   
   
       15 . The pot and pan washing machine as claimed in  claim 10  wherein said at least one opening includes a directing tube flush connected at an outer end to a wall of said wash tank and further includes an inner end extending into an outlet manifold.