Granted Patent B2

US 12,650,233 · App. 18/775,730 · Granted Jun 9, 2026

Inventors: Jason Platz (Mendota Heights, MN); James Perry Gardner, Jr. (Ely, MN); Nathan Conrad Meyer (Lake City, MN); Kyle Haugen (St. Louis Park, MN)

Assignee: Restaurant Technologies, Inc.

F24C15/2057F04D29/703F24C15/2021

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . A system, comprising:

an automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system comprising a first conduit and a first nozzle configured to spray detergent or water on a kitchen exhaust flue;

an exhaust fan configured to be mounted on an outside surface of a building and to couple to the kitchen exhaust flue, wherein the exhaust fan includes a fan surrounded by a housing and operated by a motor, wherein the exhaust fan is configured to pull exhaust up through the kitchen exhaust flue and to disperse externally via the fan operated by the motor, wherein the exhaust fan includes a second nozzle connected to a second conduit, wherein the second conduit is configured to be connected to the first conduit, wherein, in response to receipt of detergent or water from the automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system during an exhaust fan cleaning operation, the second nozzle is configured to spray the detergent or water onto fan blades of the fan; and

wherein the exhaust fan includes a mechanical cleaning system comprising a brush configured to scrub at least one of a wall of the housing or the fan blades of the exhaust fan during the exhaust fan cleaning operation, wherein the exhaust fan cleaning operation is initiated in response to data from an exhaust fan sensor indicating the exhaust fan exceeds a contamination threshold, wherein the data from the exhaust fan sensor includes at least one of torque or vibration data.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust fan further includes a waste disposal system configured to provide runoff from the exhaust fan during the exhaust fan cleaning operation to a drain or reservoir.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the waste disposal system comprises a third conduit that runs adjacent an outside of the kitchen exhaust flue, wherein the third conduit is routed to the drain or the reservoir.

4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the waste disposal system is configured to route the runoff from the exhaust fan during the cleaning operation down the kitchen exhaust flue.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein an exhaust fan control box is configured to cut or modify power to the exhaust fan during the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the exhaust fan control box is configured to cut or modify the power to the exhaust fan in response to receipt of a signal from a control box of the automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system indicating initiation of the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the exhaust fan control box is configured to communicate with the control box of the automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system via wired or wireless communication.

8 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the exhaust fan control box is configured to cut or modify the power to the exhaust fan in response to data from a sensor of the exhaust fan indicating initiation of the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

9 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the exhaust fan control box is configured to initiate the exhaust fan cleaning operation in response to data from a sensor of the exhaust fan exceeding a contamination threshold.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the data from the sensor further includes current, data.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the exhaust fan is separable from the fan for cleaning.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the exhaust fan includes a heating element configured to provide heat to the housing and the fan of the exhaust fan as part of the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

13 . An exhaust fan, comprising:

a housing configured to be mounted on a roof and to couple to a kitchen exhaust flue;

a fan located within the housing and including fan blades configured to pull exhaust up through the kitchen exhaust flue and to disperse externally;

a motor configured to power the fan;

a first conduit configured to couple to a second conduit of an automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system;

a nozzle connected to the first conduit and, in response to receipt of detergent or water from the automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system during an exhaust fan cleaning operation, the nozzle is configured to spray the detergent or water onto an inside of the housing or the fan blades of the fan; and

a mechanical brush configured to scrub and clean the fan blades, wherein the exhaust fan cleaning operation is initiated in response to data from an exhaust fan sensor indicating the exhaust fan exceeds a contamination threshold, wherein the data from the exhaust fan sensor includes at least one of torque or vibration data.

14 . The exhaust fan of claim 13 , further comprising a waste disposal system configured to provide runoff from the exhaust fan cleaning operation to a drain or reservoir.

15 . The exhaust fan of claim 13 , further comprising a control box that is configured to cut or modify power to the motor during the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

16 . The exhaust fan of claim 15 , wherein the control box is configured to cut power to the motor in response to receipt of a signal from a control box of the automated kitchen exhaust cleaning system indicating initiation of the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

17 . The exhaust fan of claim 15 , wherein the control box is configured to cut or modify power to the motor in response to data from a sensor of the exhaust fan indicating initiation of the exhaust fan cleaning operation.

18 . The exhaust fan of claim 13 , wherein the data from the sensor further includes current data.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (49)