Kitchenware washing assemblies and related methods

Abstract

A kitchenware washing assembly is provided for washing kitchenware. The assembly includes a tank configured to hold fluid for washing the kitchenware, a pump configured to circulate fluid within the tank, and a control system configured to control operation of the pump. The pump is operable at two or more different speeds to create two or more different levels of fluid turbulence within the tank. And, the control system is configured to operate the pump at a first one of the two or more different speeds for a specified time period and then cycle operation of the pump to a second one of the two or more different speeds. A temperature sensor configured to monitor temperature of the fluid is included in communication with the control system. And, the control system is configured to terminate operation of the pump if a temperature of the fluid falls below a specified temperature.

1 . A kitchenware washing assembly comprising:
 a tank configured to hold fluid for washing kitchenware;   a pump in fluidic communication with the tank and configured to circulate fluid within the tank, the pump being operable at two or more different speeds to thereby create two or more different levels of fluid turbulence within the tank;   a sensor configured to monitor temperature of the fluid held within the tank; and   a control system configured to control operation of the pump between the at least two or more different speeds, the control system configured to operate the pump at a first one of the two or more different speeds for a specified time period and then cycle operation of the pump to a second one of the two or more different speeds, the control system also being in communication with the sensor and configured to activate at least one indicator when the temperature of the fluid held within the tank falls below a specified temperature.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to deactivate the pump when the temperature of the fluid held within the tank falls below the specified temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control system is either configured to manually receive the specified temperature from a user or preprogrammed with the specified temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump sensor configured to monitor at least one operational parameter of the pump, the control system being in communication with the pump sensor and configured to activate the at least one indicator when the at least one operational parameter of the pump deviates from a specified value. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tank includes first and second opposing walls and third and fourth opposing walls defining at least part of the tank, the assembly further comprising:
 an intake chamber associated with the first wall of the tank and configured to receive fluid from out of the tank; and   a discharge chamber associated with the third wall of the tank and configured to receive fluid for discharge into the tank;   wherein the second and fourth walls of the tank do not include either an intake chamber or a discharge chamber associated therewith.   
     
     
         7 . An automated method for washing kitchenware using a commercial top-loading kitchenware washing assembly, the method comprising:
 agitating washing fluid in a tank for a specified time period to thereby create a first level of turbulence in the tank for washing kitchenware in the tank;   after the specified time period, agitating the washing fluid in the tank to create a second level of turbulence in the tank, wherein the first level of turbulence in the tank is greater than the second level of turbulence in the tank;   measuring a temperature of the washing fluid used for washing the kitchenware in the tank; and   deactivating a pump used for agitating the washing fluid in the tank if the measured temperature of the washing fluid is below a specified temperature.   
     
     
         8 . The automated method of  claim 7 , wherein measuring a temperature of the washing fluid used for washing the kitchenware in the tank includes measuring a temperature of the washing fluid when the washing fluid is received from out of the tank and into an intake chamber associated with the tank. 
     
     
         9 . The automated method of  claim 7 , wherein agitating the washing fluid in the tank to thereby create a first level of turbulence in the tank includes operating a pump at a first speed for the specified time period to thereby create the first level of turbulence in the tank for washing kitchenware in the tank, and wherein agitating the washing fluid in the tank to create a second level of turbulence in the tank includes cycling operation of the pump to a second speed and operating the pump at the second speed to thereby create the second level of turbulence in the tank. 
     
     
         10 . The automated method of  claim 7 , wherein agitating the washing fluid in the tank to thereby create a first level of turbulence in the tank includes discharging fluid into the tank from a single side of the tank and at a generally downward angle to thereby promote generally vertical circulation of fluid within the tank to help create the first level of turbulence. 
     
     
         11 . The automated method of  claim 10 , wherein agitating the washing fluid in the tank to thereby create a first level of turbulence in the tank further includes discharging the fluid into the tank from the single side of the tank to thereby promote generally horizontal circulation of the fluid within the tank to help create the first level of turbulence. 
     
     
         12 . The automated method of  claim 7 , further comprising activating an indicator if the temperature of the washing fluid falls below the specified temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The automated method of  claim 12 , wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator. 
     
     
         14 . The automated method of  claim 7 , wherein the specified temperature is a first specified temperature, the method further comprising activating an indicator if the temperature of the washing fluid falls below a second specified temperature, the first specified temperature being lower than the second specified temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The automated method of  claim 14 , wherein the first specified temperature is about 85 degrees Fahrenheit and the second specified temperature is about 95 degrees Fahrenheit. 
     
     
         16 . The automated method of  claim 7 , further comprising monitoring at least one operational parameter of the pump, and deactivating the pump if the at least one operational parameter of the pump deviates from a specified value. 
     
     
         17 . A control system for a kitchenware washing assembly, the control system configured to be coupled to a pump and a temperature sensor of the kitchenware washing assembly, the control system comprising:
 a toggle configured to activate a pump of a kitchenware washing assembly for circulating washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly; and   a temperature protection relay configured to terminate operation of the pump if a temperature of washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly falls below a specified temperature as measured by a temperature sensor of the kitchenware washing assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The control system of  claim 17 , wherein the toggle includes at least two speed settings for activating the pump of the kitchenware washing assembly, the at least two speed settings including a first setting that operates the pump at a first operating speed and a second setting that operates the pump at a second operating speed greater than the first operating speed. 
     
     
         19 . The control system of  claim 17 , further comprising a float relay configured to deactivate operation of the pump if a fluid level in the kitchenware washing assembly is below a specific fluid level. 
     
     
         20 . The control system of  claim 17 , wherein the pump is a first pump, the toggle configured to activate the first pump and a second pump of the kitchenware washing assembly for circulating washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly, the control system further comprising an actuator configured to cycle operation between the first pump and the second pump. 
     
     
         21 . The control system of  claim 17 , further comprising an override configured to allow reactivation of the operation of the pump, after termination by the temperature protection relay, while the temperature of the washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly remains below the specified temperature. 
     
     
         22 . The control system of  claim 17 , further comprising at least one indicator configured to activate if the temperature of washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly falls below the specified temperature. 
     
     
         23 . The control system of  claim 22 , wherein the indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator. 
     
     
         24 . The control system of  claim 17 , wherein the specified temperature is a first specified temperature, the control system further comprising at least one indicator configured to activate if the temperature of washing fluid in the kitchenware washing assembly falls below a second specified temperature. 
     
     
         25 . The control system of  claim 24 , wherein the first specified temperature is less than the second specified temperature. 
     
     
         26 . The control system of  claim 17 , further comprising a pump protection relay configured to terminate operation of the pump if at least one operational parameter of the pump deviates from a specified value as measured by a pump sensor of the kitchenware washing assembly.