Cooking exhaust filter system

Abstract

A cooking exhaust filter system 10 includes a collection duct structure 12 positionable over a cooking location CL. The transfer duct 14 receives the cooking exhaust from the collection duct structure 12 and changes the direction of flow of the cooking exhaust to direct such exhaust against an abutment. From such abutment, the cooking exhaust flows through the baffle assembly 18 which forces the cooking exhaust to flow in a helical path thereby forcing the particles in the cooking exhaust to the outside of the flow stream and against the walls of the baffle assembly to adhere thereto. The exhaust gas then flows through an outlet duct system into the atmosphere.

1 . A cooking exhaust filter system for separating entrained particles from the cooking exhaust gas, comprising:
 (a) a collection duct structure positionable at a cooking location, said collection duct structure comprising one or more inlet openings in the collection duct structure to receive cooking exhaust from the cooking location;   (b) a transfer duct in fluid flow communication with the collection duct structure and configured to change the direction of flow of the cooking exhaust received from the collection duct, thereby to induce the exhaust gas particulates to fall out of suspension from the cooking exhaust gas; and   (c) a baffle assembly in fluid flow communication with the transfer duct, said baffle assembly comprising a baffle structure configured to receive the cooking exhaust gas from the transfer duct and cause such cooking exhaust gas to flow in a non-linear path to induce exhaust particulates to shift out of the flow stream of the cooking exhaust gas thereby to separate from the cooking exhaust gas.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 1 , wherein the collection duct structure comprises an elongated duct positionable to extend over the cooking location. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 2 , wherein the one or more inlet openings of the collection duct structure extend along at least one of the underside, sides, and top of the elongated collection duct. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more inlet openings of the exhaust duct structure comprises one or more slits in the elongated collection duct. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking exhaust filter system of  claim 1 , wherein the collection duct structure is in fluid flow communication with a source of makeup air to mix with the cooking exhaust flowing through the collection duct structure. 
     
     
         6 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer duct includes an outlet at a location remote from the collection duct structure, and further comprising an abutment adjacent the outlet of the transfer duct, against which the cooking exhaust flowing through the transfer duct impinges, thereby to induce the exhaust particulates to fall out of suspension from the cooking exhaust gas. 
     
     
         7 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transfer duct comprising a section extending in the downward direction and including an outlet at the bottom end of the transfer duct. 
     
     
         8 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 7 , further comprising an impingement surface spaced below the outlet of the transfer duct, against which the cooking exhaust exiting the transfer duct impinges, thereby to induce particulates to fall out of suspension from the cooking exhaust gas. 
     
     
         9 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 7 , wherein the baffle assembly surrounds at least a portion of the downwardly directed transfer duct section. 
     
     
         10 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 9 , wherein said baffle assembly comprising baffle walls that direct the exhaust gas to flow in a path that is at least partially in a shape selected from circular, spiral, helical, serpentine, and toroidal. 
     
     
         11 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 9 , wherein the baffle assembly comprised baffle walls that force the exhaust gas to flow in a non-linear path to facilitate the exhaust particles to separate out of suspension from the cooking exhaust gas. 
     
     
         12 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-linear path of flow of the cooking exhaust gas is in the upward direction. 
     
     
         13 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle assembly at least partially surrounds the transfer duct. 
     
     
         14 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 1 , wherein the baffle assembly comprises baffles arranged to force the cooking exhaust gas to flow in an arcuate path to induce the particulates in the cooking exhaust gas to fall out of suspension. 
     
     
         15 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 14 , wherein the arcuate path of flow of the exhaust gas through the baffle assembly extends around the transfer duct. 
     
     
         16 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 14 , wherein said baffle assembly comprises baffles positioned to force the cooking exhaust gas to flow in a path that is at least partially in a shape selected from circular, spiral, helical, serpentine, or toroidal. 
     
     
         17 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more of the following components located downstream of the baffle assembly:
 (a) a water mister to remove odors from the cooking exhaust;   (b) a heat exchanger to remove heat from the cooking exhaust; and   (c) a fan to draw the cooking exhaust through the cooking exhaust filter system.   
     
     
         18 . A cooking exhaust filter system for separating entrained particulates from cooking exhaust gas, comprising:
 (a) an elongated collection duct disposable over a cooking location, said collection duct comprising one or more inlet openings extending along the duct to receive the cooking exhaust from the cooking location; and   (b) a baffle assembly in fluid flow communication with the collection duct, said baffle assembly comprising baffle walls which direct the cooking exhaust to flow along a path that is at least partially arcuate in shape and calculated to force particles entrained in the cooking exhaust to the outside of the cooking exhaust flow to coalesce on the surfaces of the baffle walls and thereby fall out of suspension from the cooking exhaust gas.   
     
     
         19 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 18 , wherein the path of travel of the cooking exhaust through the baffle assembly is selected from the group consisting of arcuate, circular, spiral, helical, serpentine, and toroidal. 
     
     
         20 . The cooking exhaust filter system according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 (a) a transfer duct in fluid flow communication with the collection duct, said transfer duct having a section ending at an outlet in flow communication with the baffle assembly; and   (b) an abutment spaced from the transfer duct outlet against which the cooking exhaust flowing through the transfer duct impinges.   
     
     
         21 . A baffle assembly for a cooking exhaust filter system for separating entrained particulates from a cooking exhaust gas stream, said baffle assembly comprising:
 baffle walls which direct the cooking exhaust gas stream to flow along a path that is at least partially non-linear and configured to force particles entrained in the cooking exhaust gas stream to the outside of the cooking exhaust gas stream to coalesce on the surfaces of the baffle walls and thereby fall out of suspension from the cooking exhaust gas stream.   
     
     
         22 . The baffle assembly according to  claim 21 , wherein the non-linear path of travel of the cooking exhaust stream through the baffle assembly is selected from the group consisting of arcuate, circular, spiral, helical, serpentine, and toroidal. 
     
     
         23 . The baffle assembly according to  claim 21 , in fluid flow communication with the transfer duct, said transfer duct in fluid flow communication with a source of cooking exhaust gas, said transfer duct ending at an outlet in fluid flow communication with the baffle assembly, said transfer duct outlet spaced from an abutment against which the cooking exhaust gas stream flowing through the transfer duct impinges.