Noise baffle for food waste disposer
A baffle for a food waste disposer includes a pleated portion with pleats that define an opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle. Water passing over the opening creates a venturi to pull air out of the high-pressure environment inside the grinding portion of the food waste disposer.
1. A baffle for a food waste disposer, comprising:
a pleated portion having a plurality of pleats;
at least one of the pleats having a stepped portion including a vertical surface, the vertical surface having a vent opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle.
2. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein the pleats include respective stepped portions having respective vertical surfaces having respective vent openings therethrough.
3. The baffle of claim 1 , wherein alternate pleats include respective stepped portions having respective vertical surfaces having respective vent openings therethrough.
4. A baffle for a food waste disposer, comprising:
a pleated portion having a plurality of pleats;
at least one of the pleats having a vent opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle;
wherein the pleated portion has a central opening, and wherein a vertical surface of at least one pleat proximate the central opening has a keyhole slot therein.
5. The baffle of claim 4 , wherein the pleats include respective vertical surfaces proximate the central opening having respective keyhole slots therein.
6. The baffle of claim 4 , wherein the keyhole slot includes a hole having a slit extending therefrom.
7. The baffle of claim 4 , wherein the vertical surface proximate the central opening has a vertical crease.
8. A baffle for a food waste disposer, comprising:
a pleated portion having a plurality of pleats;
at least one of the pleats having a top surface having a vent opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle; and
wherein the vent opening comprises a flap molded into the top surface in a normally closed position.
9. The baffle of claim 8 , wherein the flap opens in response to pressure on the top of the pleat.
10. A food waste disposer, comprising:
a food conveying section defining an inlet;
a grinding section having a grinding mechanism for grinding food waste received from the food conveying section;
a motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism to drive the grinding mechanism; and
a baffle received by the inlet of the food conveying section, the baffle including a pleated portion having a plurality of pleats, at least one of the pleats having a stepped portion having a vertical surface, the vertical surface having a vent opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle.
11. The food waste disposer of claim 10 , wherein the pleats include respective stepped portions having respective vertical surfaces having respective vent openings therethrough.
12. The food waste disposer of claim 10 , wherein alternate pleats include respective stepped portions having respective vertical surfaces having respective vent openings therethrough.
13. A food waste disposer, comprising:
a food conveying section defining an inlet;
a grinding section having a grinding mechanism for grinding food waste received from the food conveying section;
a motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism to drive the grinding mechanism; and
a baffle received by the inlet of the food conveying section, the baffle including a pleated portion having a plurality of pleats, at least one of the pleats having a vent opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle;
wherein the pleated portion has a central opening, and wherein a vertical surface of at least one pleat proximate the central opening has a keyhole slot therein.
14. The food waste disposer of claim 13 , wherein the pleats include respective vertical surfaces proximate the central opening having respective keyhole slots therein.
15. The food waste disposer of claim 13 , wherein the keyhole slot includes a hole having a slit extending therefrom.
16. The food waste disposer of claim 13 , wherein the vertical surface proximate the central opening has a vertical crease.
17. A food waste disposer, comprising:
a food conveying section defining an inlet;
a grinding section having a grinding mechanism for grinding food waste received from the food conveying section;
a motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism to drive the grinding mechanism; and
a baffle received by the inlet of the food conveying section, the baffle including a pleated portion having a plurality of pleats, at least one of the pleats having a top surface having a vent opening therethrough for equalizing pressure in the food waste disposer above and below the baffle;
wherein the vent opening comprises a flap molded into the top surface in a normally closed position.
18. The food waste disposer of claim 17 , wherein the opening opens in response to pressure on the top of the pleat.