Under-sink Garbage Disposal Patents (Class 241/46.013)
  • Patent number: 7584914
    Abstract: A turntable, swing hammers and fixed teeth of a garbage disposer are combined with a cylindrical pipe in one body, and arranged to be attachable/detachable with respect to a hopper. A guide pipe branching upward from an upstream upper end portion of a S-trap formed in a drainage pipe in the garbage disposer is provided, and a water injection nozzle is set on the guide pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishikawa, Tetsuo Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090179097
    Abstract: A turntable, swing hammers and fixed teeth of a garbage disposer are combined with a cylindrical pipe in one body, and arranged to be attachable/detachable with respect to a hopper. A guide pipe branching upward from an upstream upper end portion of a S-trap formed in a drainage pipe in the garbage disposer is provided, and a water injection nozzle is set on the guide pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishikawa, Tetsuo Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7533835
    Abstract: A food waste disposer system includes a grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism includes a stationary grind ring and a rotatable shredder plate assembly. A detector is connected to the grinding mechanism to detect the presence of a foreign electrically conductive object in the grinding mechanism. In an aspect, the detector detects that a foreign electrically conductive object is in the grinding mechanism upon sensing that an electrical circuit has been completed between the stationary grind ring and the rotatable shredder plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Steven P. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7500628
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. The plate has a fixed lug attached to the rotatable plate and has a movable lug attached to the rotatable plate. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and a stationary plate disposed adjacent the rotatable plate. The stationary plate or impeller defines a plurality of apertures therethrough. At least one first portion of the rotatable plate or impeller shears over at least some of the apertures in the stationary plate to shear the food waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Joseph G. Farmerie
  • Publication number: 20090060477
    Abstract: A food waste disposer has a motor driven with pulse width modulation (“PWM”). A grinding profile is controlled based on PWM values of the PWM controller driving the motor. In an aspect, controlling the grinding profile includes varying the speed of the motor based on the PWM values. In an aspect, the grinding profile is initiated after the food waste disposer is started and a PWM value exceeds a set value indicating the presence of a grinding load in a grinding section of the food waste disposer. In an aspect, it is determined that the grinding load has been sufficiently ground once the PWM value does not exceed a first set value after the grinding profile has been initiated. In an aspect, corrective action is initiated when the PWM value exceeds the set value after a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Hirsch, Steven H. Plume
  • Publication number: 20080302890
    Abstract: A first rotating crushing blade provided at the uppermost stage of crushing blades has one agitation arm. On the agitation arm is formed a press-in surface made by inclining both surfaces of the front and rear, relative to a rotation direction, of the first crushing blade. The press-in surface is a slope where its upper end is inclined in the direction projecting beyond its lower end. In an initial stage of crush, garbage is taken in downward by the press-in surface by rotation operation of the first rotating crushing blade, and a crushing blade in a lower stage can crush the garbage. Alternatively, a crushing unit is constructed from a first rotating crushing blade, a second fixed crushing blade, a third rotating crushing blade, and fourth fixed crushing blade that are layered together and received in a housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Takahisa Misawa, Masaki Koike
  • Publication number: 20080296421
    Abstract: Blades on a rotating grinding plate force waste against a stationary grinding ring. The blades are mounted on radially aligned guides on the grinding plate, allowing the blades to move freely inwardly and outwardly between opposing stops. The blades are thrown outward by rotation of the grinding plate. A receding face on the blades cooperates with the grinding ring for moving the blades inwardly and for forcing waste against the grinding ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: CHIAPHUA COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Bao Tao Wu
  • Patent number: 7458141
    Abstract: The installation kit is used to install a garbage disposer. The kit is used to apply a compressive force to the sink flange during installation of a plumbing element, such as a strainer assembly, and also to support the motor/chopping assembly. The kit facilitates fast and safe installation of the garbage disposer by a single installer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Innovative Pioneer, Inc.
    Inventors: Igor Goldburt, Yuriy Malakhov, Aleksandr Malakhov
  • Patent number: 7448563
    Abstract: A system and method for automatically applying a de-jamming action in response to a jammed rotating member includes applying a pulsed torque in response to a detected jam, and additionally a reversal in the direction of rotation may be applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, William F. Strutz, Nicholas J. Hirsch, Gregory A. Peterson, Ralph D. Furmanek, Arthur E. Woodward
  • Publication number: 20080265071
    Abstract: A food waste disposer has a housing 12 defining a grinding chamber 14 having an inlet 16 and an outlet 18. A grinding mechanism including a shredder ring 20 and a grinding disc 22, is disposed within the grinding chamber 14. A liner 21, preferably of a plastics material, extends from the shredder ring 20 to the inlet 16. The liner 21 reduces the noise generated by the disposer when in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Ji Cheng Pan, Israr Ahmed Khan Saeed, Kwong Yip Poon
  • Publication number: 20080191070
    Abstract: A food waste disposer having a fluid recycling device includes a plate disposed for rotation within the food waste disposer. At least one fluid recovery member connects a first side of the plate defining a food grinding cavity to a second side of the plate defining a waste receiving cavity. Rotating the plate forces a portion of a waste water/slurry in the waste receiving cavity to back-flow into the food grinding cavity, to recycle/reuse the water. The fluid recovery member can include a fluid passageway oriented at an angle with respect to the plate. A control device can also be used to recycle the portion of the food waste water/slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Steven P. Hanson
  • Publication number: 20080116305
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. The grinding ring is received in a housing of a grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism has a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings that are disposed outboard of the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger
  • Patent number: 7364651
    Abstract: A remote control system for providing control of an under-counter water treatment system and garbage disposal. The system includes a remote unit that is electrically connected to an existing switched, under-counter AC power outlet. The garbage disposal and water treatment system are connected to and receive power from the remote unit. The system further includes a control unit that is located above-counter and permits a user to control operation of the remote unit and consequently the garbage disposal and water treatment system. The two units may communicate wirelessly using communication signals that are tagged with a unique security code. In one embodiment, the system includes a microprocessor in each of the control unit and the remote unit, the microprocessor in the remote unit communicating the status of the water treatment system to the control unit and the microprocessor of the control unit appropriately displaying the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Access Business Group International, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Baarman, Andrew M. Clews, Roy W. Kuennen
  • Patent number: 7360729
    Abstract: A shredder assembly for a food waste disposer that includes an impact mechanism for freeing jams. The impact mechanism uses the stored energy in the rotating portion of the disposer's rotating elements to be transmitted from the rotor shaft via an impact member to a part of the rotating shredder assembly. The shredder assembly includes a rotatable shaft and an impact member fixedly attached to the shaft to rotate therewith. A shredder disk is attached to the shaft via a clutch allowing the shredder disk to slip relative to the shaft when the shredder disk jams, wherein the impact member strikes the shredder disk to transfer rotational energy to the jam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott W Anderson, Steven P Hanson, Joseph G Farmerie, James R Patterson
  • Publication number: 20080067270
    Abstract: A touch pad control information system for a food waste disposer is disclosed. The touch pad is mountable to a wall or countertop near the food waste disposer. The touch pad preferably includes switches which allow the user to select from a plurality of disposer functions, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other graphic display to indicate one of a plurality of statuses for the disposer. The touch pad is coupled to the disposer by a wire bus or by wireless means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 20, 2008
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: William Strutz
  • Patent number: 7337996
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P. Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger
  • Publication number: 20070221765
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2007
    Publication date: September 27, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Steven P Hanson, Richard A. Junk, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Thomas R. Berger
  • Patent number: 7264188
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott W Anderson, Steven P Hanson
  • Publication number: 20070194159
    Abstract: A food waste disposer system includes a housing with a grinding mechanism situated in the housing for reducing food waste. A motor drives the grinding mechanism. An outlet receives the reduced food waste from the grinding mechanism to discharge the food waste from the disposer housing. A water flow detector senses water flow through the disposer, and the disposer motor is controlled in response to the sensed water flow through the disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Thomas BERGER, Steven HANSON
  • Publication number: 20070181719
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. The plate has a fixed lug attached to the rotatable plate and has a movable lug attached to the rotatable plate. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and a stationary plate disposed adjacent the rotatable plate. The stationary plate or impeller defines a plurality of apertures therethrough. At least one first portion of the rotatable plate or impeller shears over at least some of the apertures in the stationary plate to shear the food waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co,
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Joseph Farmerie
  • Publication number: 20070170289
    Abstract: A garbage disposal apparatus includes a garbage disposition port, a storage chamber communicating with this garbage disposition port to store uncrushed garbage and into which flushing water is supplied, a crushing section provided adjacent to the storage chamber and having a crushing mechanism and a clearance for passing therethrough garbage crushed by the crushing mechanism, a discharge section provided in communication with the clearance and having a discharge port for externally discharging the garbage crushed by the crushing section, a driving mechanism for driving the crushing mechanism, a mechanism for controlling the amount of garbage passing through the clearance per unit of time, and a mechanism provided at the discharge section or on the downstream side of the discharge section for controlling the amount of garbage discharged within the discharge section or on the downstream side of the discharge section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Publication date: July 26, 2007
    Applicant: TOTO LTD.
    Inventors: Takemasu Okada, Kenichi Ogata, Yoshimitsu Kora, Takeshi Shimizu, Makoto Hatakeyama, Kuniaki Shinohara, Yoshimasa Koumatsu
  • Publication number: 20070145169
    Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a food conveying section, a grinding mechanism, and a brushless permanent magnet motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism. A discharge device is configured so as to reduce the overall height of the food waste disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, Thomas Berger, Nicholas Hirsch, Yasuhiro Iwata, Motoya Oghino
  • Publication number: 20070131808
    Abstract: A shredder plate assembly for a food waste disposer includes a disk with one or more water slinging devices attached, so that water flowing into the disposer flows over the water slinging device and against the inside of the disposer housing as the disk rotates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott Anderson, Joseph Farmerie, Nicholas Hirsch, Steven Hanson, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Richard Junk
  • Publication number: 20070114310
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. The plate has a fixed lug attached to the rotatable plate and has a movable lug attached to the rotatable plate. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and a stationary plate disposed adjacent the rotatable plate. The stationary plate or impeller defines a plurality of apertures therethough. At least one first portion of the rotatable plate or impeller shears over at least some of the apertures in the stationary plate to shear the food waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Berger, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Joseph Farmerie
  • Publication number: 20070084950
    Abstract: A control system for minimizing overall water use in a food waste handling system while maximizing flow rate when needed by controlling a flow of water into the handling system based on or in response to a physical presence of an operator. The control system substantially automatically senses, detects, or otherwise determines the presence of the operator, wherein such presence is assumptively associated with use of the waste handling system (i.e., the deposition of waste thereinto), and, in response to said presence, automatically controls the flow of water accordingly and for a pre-established period of time following cessation of said presence in order to facilitate the on-going handling process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2005
    Publication date: April 19, 2007
    Inventor: Christopher Hohl
  • Patent number: 7201337
    Abstract: A waste food disposer operation control apparatus that comprises a waste food disposer having an opening for accepting waste material, a flexible hose with a source end and a nozzle end with the source end operationally connected to a controllable water source, a nozzle operationally connected to the hose nozzle end with the nozzle adapted to be positioned in the disposer opening, and an activator means for activating the disposer when the nozzle is positioned in the disposer opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventor: John Feola
  • Publication number: 20070075169
    Abstract: A waste food disposer unit for under sink application has a housing divided into a grinding chamber and a motor chamber. The grinding chamber has an inlet for water and waste matter and an outlet for water and shredded waste matter. A shredder ring 20 is disposed within the grinding chamber and has a plurality of cutting teeth formed by slots extending upwardly from a lower edge of the ring. A grinding disc is disposed within the ring and co-acts with the cutting teeth to shred the waste matter. The grinding disc is connected to the shaft of a motor by amounting bracket. The grinding disc may be conical forming an angle with a normal axis of between 75° and 85°. The mounting plate preferably mounts the grinding disc so that the axis of the shaft is misaligned with the normal axis of the grinding disc by a few degrees, i.e., between 3° and 70°, especially 5°, giving the shredding action between the shredder ring and the grinding disc a sawing or axial movement component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 5, 2007
    Inventors: Ji Pan, Allan Kwan, Bao Liu
  • Publication number: 20070001039
    Abstract: The invention refers to a comminution mill for comminuting product which has to be comminuted, in particular for crushing food leftovers or other biowaste, comprising a housing, a cutter provided therein, and a drive. The invention is characterised by the fact that in the housing of the comminution mill a pump is provided for removing the comminuted product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventor: Joachim Steinbeck
  • Publication number: 20060283991
    Abstract: A turntable, swing hammers and fixed teeth of a garbage disposer are combined with a cylindrical pipe in one body, and arranged to be attachable/detachable with respect to a hopper. A guide pipe branching upward from an upstream upper end portion of a S-trap formed in a drainage pipe in the garbage disposer is provided, and a water injection nozzle is set on the guide pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: MAX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Nishikawa, Tetsuo Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20060278742
    Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a food conveying section, a grinding mechanism, and a brushless permanent magnet motor operably connected to the grinding mechanism. A discharge device is configured so as to reduce the overall height of the food waste disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, Thomas Berger, Nicholas Hirsch, Yasuhiro Iwata, Motoya Oghino
  • Patent number: 7118054
    Abstract: A pressure differential material transport system to transfer materials with an airflow to a sewer system. Embodiments of the pressure differential material transport system may be used for residential or industrial applications to dispose of materials to the sewer or to a comminutor to reduce the size of materials prior to disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Tommin Enterprises, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Timothy Grimes
  • Patent number: 7108209
    Abstract: The device for treating food wastes comprises a housing which includes a feeding port formed at an upper side of the same for feeding food wastes, a drainage port formed at one side of a lower surface of the same for discharging leachate separated from the fed food wastes, and a discharge hole formed at the other side of the lower surface of the same for discharging dehydrated remnants among the food wastes; an inner casing which is installed at a certain distance from an inner wall of the housing and includes a drainage net installed at an upper side for discharging water fed together with the food wastes, a drum which is installed at a center of the same and has a plurality of wall surface blades at an inner circumferential surface, and a dehydration net installed at a lower side of the same for discharging leachate; a grinding screw which is vertically installed at an inner side of the inner casing and includes a plurality of screw blades installed at an outer circumferential portion and contacting with a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Young Ki Kim
  • Publication number: 20060202069
    Abstract: A disposer is disclosed, having one or more parts made with anti-microbial properties in order to protect the disposer against odors and to resist the growth of microbial organisms within the disposer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2005
    Publication date: September 14, 2006
    Inventor: Edward Chavez
  • Publication number: 20060144975
    Abstract: A switching assembly for a food waste disposer includes a housing containing a switch and first and second magnets. An interlock device has third and fourth magnets. The magnets are arranged so that the switch is actuated when the first and third magnets align and the second and fourth magnets align.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Scott Anderson, Srihari Dhati, Randall Hammer, Steven Hanson, Thomas Berger
  • Patent number: 7066415
    Abstract: A touch pad control information system for a food waste disposer is disclosed. The touch pad is mountable to a wall or countertop near the food waste disposer. The touch pad preferably includes switches which allow the user to select from a plurality of disposer functions, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other graphic display to indicate one of a plurality of statuses for the disposer. The touch pad is coupled to the disposer by a wire bus or by wireless means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: William F Strutz
  • Patent number: 7048213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a food waste disposer having an upper food conveying section, a motor section, a central grinding section and a controller. The upper food conveying section includes a housing forming an inlet to receive food waste. The motor section includes a switched reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator. The rotor imparts rotational movement to a rotatable shaft. The central grinding section is disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys food waste to the grinding section. The grinding section includes a grinding mechanism where a portion of the grinding mechanism is mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is electrically connected to the stator to control the switched reluctance machine. The controller is capable of directing rotational movement to the rotatable shaft and the portion of the grinding mechanism mounted to the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: William A. Strutz, Thomas R. Berger, Scott W. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20060097091
    Abstract: A food waste disposer includes a housing defining an inlet opening and a grinding mechanism driven by a motor for grinding food waste received into the housing through the inlet opening. An annular retaining collar has one end for connecting to a sink opening, via a standard sink mount, for example. An annular elastomeric coupler is situated about the opposite end of the annular retaining collar and connected to the housing for vibrationally isolating the annular retaining collar from the housing. The primary loading on the elastomeric material is in shear. Elastomeric materials in shear are particularly effective in absorbing both vibration and shock loads.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Steven Hanson, Scott Anderson, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060038047
    Abstract: A combination interlock and stopper device for a food waste disposer includes a first end receivable in a drain opening to plug the drain opening with a first handle attached thereto. Stopping members are attached to the first end that have at least a portion thereof extending beyond the outer periphery of the first end for engaging a ledge of the drain opening. The device further includes a second end opposite the first end, with a magnet attached to the second end to selectively actuate the food waste disposer when the second end is inserted into the drain opening. A second handle is attached to the second end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Publication date: February 23, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Scott Anderson, Steve Hanson, Randall Hammer
  • Publication number: 20060011758
    Abstract: A grinding mechanism for a food waste disposer includes a grinding ring defining a plurality of window openings therethrough. A backing member receives the grinding ring and defines a plurality of cavities therein corresponding to the window openings. A plurality of stacked disks form a rotatable shredder plate that is situated to rotate relative to the grinding plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Steven Hanson, Richard Junk, Cynthia Jara-Almonte, Thomas Berger
  • Publication number: 20060011526
    Abstract: A remote control system for providing control of an under-counter water treatment system and garbage disposal. The system includes a remote unit that is electrically connected to an existing switched, under-counter AC power outlet. The garbage disposal and water treatment system are connected to and receive power from the remote unit. The system further includes a control unit that is located above-counter and permits a user to control operation of the remote unit and consequently the garbage disposal and water treatment system. The two units may communicate wirelessly using communication signals that are tagged with a unique security code. In one embodiment, the system includes a microprocessor in each of the control unit and the remote unit, the microprocessor in the remote unit communicating the status of the water treatment system to the control unit and the microprocessor of the control unit appropriately displaying the information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: David Baarman, Andrew Clews, Roy Kuennen
  • Publication number: 20060011759
    Abstract: A garbage disposer is provided with a wireless receiver switch, for operating the disposer from a wireless transmitter, without any additional wiring or interface between disposer and receiver. A disposer system includes disposer, receiver, and transmitter. A kit is also enclosed, which includes a disposer case extender, receiver, and transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventor: Edward Chavez
  • Publication number: 20050236502
    Abstract: A shredder assembly for a food waste disposer that includes an impact mechanism for freeing jams. The impact mechanism uses the stored energy in the rotating portion of the disposer's rotating elements to be transmitted from the rotor shaft via an impact member to a part of the rotating shredder assembly. The shredder assembly includes a rotatable shaft and an impact member fixedly attached to the shaft to rotate therewith. A shredder disk is attached to the shaft via a clutch allowing the shredder disk to slip relative to the shaft when the shredder disk jams, wherein the impact member strikes the shredder disk to transfer rotational energy to the jam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Scott Anderson, Steven Hanson, Joseph Farmerie, James Patterson
  • Patent number: 6854673
    Abstract: The present invention provides a food waste disposer having an upper food conveying section, a motor section, a central grinding section and a controller. The upper food conveying section includes a housing forming an inlet to receive food waste. The motor section includes a switched reluctance machine having a rotor and a stator. The rotor imparts rotational movement to a rotatable shaft. The central grinding section is disposed between the food conveying section and the motor section. The food conveying section conveys food waste to the grinding section. The grinding section includes a grinding mechanism where a portion of the grinding mechanism is mounted to the rotatable shaft. The controller is electrically connected to the stator to control the switched reluctance machine. The controller is capable of directing rotational movement to the rotatable shaft and the portion of the grinding mechanism mounted to the rotatable shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: William F. Strutz, Thomas R. Berger
  • Publication number: 20040256506
    Abstract: A food waste disposer having one or more antimicrobial components is disclosed. The components can be metal, plastic, or rubber, and preferably constitute at least those components that a user could come in contact with during operation or maintenance of the disposer and/or components that come in contact with food waste. The plastic and rubber components can either be embedded or coated with an antimicrobial agent. The metal components are preferably powder coated. Exemplary components within the disposer benefiting from such antimicrobial treatment include a metal shredder plate, a metal shredder ring, a rubber mounting gasket, a rubber vibration isolation mount, a rubber vibration isolation tailpipe coupling, and the plastic discharge outlet and associated rubber seals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas R. Berger
  • Publication number: 20040251339
    Abstract: A touch pad control information system for a food waste disposer is disclosed. The touch pad is mountable to a wall or countertop near the food waste disposer. The touch pad preferably includes switches which allow the user to select from a plurality of disposer functions, and light emitting diodes (LEDs) or other graphic display to indicate one of a plurality of statuses for the disposer. The touch pad is coupled to the disposer by a wire bus or by wireless means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Publication date: December 16, 2004
    Inventor: William F. Strutz
  • Publication number: 20040245358
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. Each of the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate having a plurality of lugs positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a horizontal toothed ledge positioned above the stationary ring is used to enhance grinding the food waste. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a vertical rasping surface positioned above the stationary ring. In yet another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes serrated edges added to the vertical leading edges of the teeth on the stationary ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Publication date: December 9, 2004
    Inventors: Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Steven P. Hanson
  • Publication number: 20040173697
    Abstract: Various mechanisms for reducing food waste in a food waste disposer are disclosed. In each of the reduction mechanisms, structures are provided for shearing food waste as it passes through or past a rotating shredder plate of the disposer. In one embodiment, the reduction mechanism has a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and positioned for rotation relative to an inner wall of a stationary ring. The plate has a fixed lug attached to the rotatable plate and has a movable lug attached to the rotatable plate. In another embodiment, the reduction mechanism includes a rotatable plate coupled to a rotational source and a stationary plate disposed adjacent the rotatable plate. The stationary plate or impeller defines a plurality of apertures therethough. At least one first portion of the rotatable plate or impeller shears over at least some of the apertures in the stationary plate to shear the food waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Berger, Cynthia C. Jara-Almonte, Joseph G. Farmerie
  • Patent number: 6772968
    Abstract: A waste line connector assembly for connecting a food waste disposer to a waste line is disclosed. The connector assembly isolates vibrational forces of the waste disposer from the waste line caused during the operation of the waste disposer. The connector assembly includes a flexible isolation coupler. The flexible isolation coupler has a flexible portion for absorbing the vibrational forces of the waste disposer. The flexible isolation coupler may be directly coupled to the discharge outlet of the waste disposer or to the waste line. The flexible isolation coupler may also be attached between two tubular tailpipes, which are coupled to the discharge outlet of the waste disposer or to the waste line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Cynthia C Jara-Almonte, Thomas R Berger, Jeff P Culver
  • Publication number: 20030226918
    Abstract: A waste comminuting system and method of use therefore is disclosed, including enhanced safety and water conserving features. The apparatus includes sensor and programming means for enabling coordinated, automated operation of the waste comminuting system based on a schedule of operating conditions, further enabling programmable scheduling of a safety shutter and a water supply common to fluid flow from an automated dishwasher, during concurrent operation of the dishwasher upon actuation by a common controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Publication date: December 11, 2003
    Inventor: Jan Gerstel
  • Patent number: 6648252
    Abstract: A reluctance machine includes a stator having an annular support member with a plurality of stator poles disposed thereon. The stator poles each are formed from a corresponding foil coil stator winding. A solid disc-shaped rotor defines a plurality of salient rotor poles, and is rotatably positioned opposite the support member to establish an axial air gap between the rotor and stator poles. A food waste disposer incorporates such a reluctance machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2003
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: William F. Strutz