초록 ▼

A food cabinet is provided that includes an enclosure with an access door, shelves carried by and vertically arranged within the enclosure, and a heat transfer arrangement. The heat transfer arrangement includes a pump, fluid conduits coupled with the pump and associated with the shelves of the encl

A food cabinet is provided that includes an enclosure with an access door, shelves carried by and vertically arranged within the enclosure, and a heat transfer arrangement. The heat transfer arrangement includes a pump, fluid conduits coupled with the pump and associated with the shelves of the enclosure, a primary tank, and an auxiliary tank. The primary tank is fluidly connected to the pump and contains a heat transfer medium. The auxiliary tank is coupled with the primary tank and provides make-up heat transfer medium to the primary tank. Also provided is a method of warming food using such a food cabinet that includes the steps of placing a food item on one of the shelves, heating the heat transfer medium to a temperature between 200° F. and 250° F., and pumping the heat transfer medium through the shelf.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A food cabinet, comprising: an enclosure with an access door;a plurality of shelves carried by and vertically arranged within said enclosure; anda heat transfer arrangement defining a closed fluid flow system and including: a pump;a plurality of fluid conduits coupled with said pump and respectiv

1. A food cabinet, comprising: an enclosure with an access door;a plurality of shelves carried by and vertically arranged within said enclosure; anda heat transfer arrangement defining a closed fluid flow system and including: a pump;a plurality of fluid conduits coupled with said pump and respectively associated with said plurality of shelves;a primary tank fluidly connected to said pump and containing a heat transfer medium, said primary tank including an inlet port which allows heat transfer medium to flow into said primary tank, an outlet port which allows heat transfer medium to flow out of said primary tank, and an inlet/outlet port in a parallel flow relationship with said outlet port which allows heat transfer medium to flow both into and out of said primary tank, said pump being configured to pump said heat transfer medium through said plurality of fluid conduits;an auxiliary tank coupled with said inlet/outlet port of said primary tank and providing make-up heat transfer medium to said primary tank; andat least one pressure-activated valve between said inlet/outlet port of said primary tank and said auxiliary tank, said at least one pressure-activated valve being configured to maintain a temperature of heat transfer medium in said primary tank between 200° F. and 250° F. 2. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said primary tank includes a radiator-type cap including said at least one pressure-activated valve. 3. The food cabinet of claim 2, wherein said auxiliary tank acts as an overflow tank upon heating of said heat transfer medium, and provides make-up heat transfer medium to said primary tank upon cooling of said heat transfer medium. 4. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said heat transfer arrangement is capable of heating said heat transfer medium to a temperature of between 200° F. and 250° F. 5. The food cabinet of claim 4, wherein said heat transfer arrangement is capable of heating said heat transfer medium to a temperature of between 200° F. and 230° F. 6. The food cabinet of claim 4, wherein said heat transfer arrangement is capable of heating said heat transfer medium to a temperature of approximately 230° F. 7. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary tank includes a fluid level sensor providing an output signal indicative of a low fluid level in said auxiliary tank, said output signal providing an indication to a user of a low fluid level. 8. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said primary tank includes a fluid level sensor providing an output signal indicative of a low fluid level in said primary tank, said output signal being used in an automatic shut-off of said vertical food cabinet in the event of a low fluid level in said primary tank. 9. The food cabinet of claim 8, wherein said primary tank includes at least one heater element. 10. The food cabinet of claim 9, wherein said low fluid level corresponds to a condition when said at least one heater element is not completely submerged in fluid. 11. The food cabinet of claim 9, wherein said low fluid level corresponds to a condition when said at least one heater element is not submerged in fluid. 12. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said at least one pressure-activated valve includes a pressure release valve and a vacuum relief valve. 13. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said at least one pressure-activated valve is configured to keep a pressure within said primary tank within a range of about 10 to 20 PSI above atmospheric pressure. 14. The food cabinet of claim 1, wherein said outlet port is fluidly connected to said pump and said inlet/outlet port is fluidly connected to said auxiliary tank. 15. A method of warming a food item, the method comprising the steps of: providing a food cabinet including: an enclosure with an access door;a plurality of shelves carried by and vertically arranged within said enclosure; anda heat transfer arrangement defining a closed fluid flow system and including: a pump;a plurality of fluid conduits coupled with said pump and respectively associated with said plurality of shelves;a primary tank fluidly connected to said pump and containing a heat transfer medium, said primary tank including an inlet port which allows heat transfer medium to flow into said primary tank, an outlet port which allows heat transfer medium to flow out of said primary tank, and an inlet/outlet port in a parallel flow relationship with said outlet port which allows heat transfer medium to flow both into and out of said primary tank, said pump being configured to pump said heat transfer medium through said plurality of fluid conduits;an auxiliary tank coupled with said inlet/outlet port of said primary tank and providing make-up heat transfer medium to said primary tank; andat least one pressure-activated valve between said inlet/outlet port of said primary tank and said auxiliary tank;placing said food item on one of said plurality of shelves;heating said heat transfer medium to a temperature between 200° F. and 250° F., said at least one pressure-activated valve being configured to maintain said temperature of said heat transfer medium between 200° F. and 250° F. during heating; andpumping said heat transfer medium through at least part of said heat transfer arrangement and said one of said plurality of shelves. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of maintaining a system pressure within at least part of said heat transfer arrangement that is 10 to 20 PSI above atmospheric pressure. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of maintaining a sufficient fluid level within said primary tank. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said primary tank includes at least one heater element and said sufficient fluid level is a level of fluid that at least partially covers said at least one heater element with said heat transfer medium. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein said maintaining steps are accomplished by at least one of said heating step, transferring said heat transfer medium from said auxiliary tank to said primary tank and automatically shutting off said food cabinet at a fluid level that is below said sufficient fluid level. 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of lowering the temperature of said heat transfer medium below 200° F. when said food item reaches a cooked temperature.