Apparatus for filtering frying oil

Claim 1

In a deep fat fryer including a vessel for receiving cooking oil and food to be cooked; a drain opening at the bottom of said vessel; valve means for opening and closing said drain opening; a removable cover for closing off the top of said vessel; and heater means about said vessel for heating the cooking oil received therein, and improved apparatus for filtering said cooking oil comprising: a drain pan positioned beneath said drain opening for receiving cooking oil therein; a pair of filter screens positioned adjacent to each other in said drain pan and defining therebetween a hollow chamber; one of said screens including a centrally positioned opening; a disposable filter element defined in a position such that the surfaces of said screen plates are enclosed therein, said filter element adapted to receive a coating of diatomaceous earth on its surface and defined with an opening at a position operatively adjacent said screen opening; a spacer defined in a position in a central location between said screen plates, and affixed to the other of said screens, said spacer including a hollow interior and at least one passage extending between said chamber and said hollow interior, said spacer defined to include an open end and defined to extend through said opening in said one screen and corresponding opening in said filter element; pump means operatively connected to said spacer for enabling the drawing of oil through said filter element and filter screen into said chamber and thereafter said hollow spacer, and further including conduit means for transferring said oil from said hollow spacer and into said vessel; and means for deflecting the oil as said oil is drained into said drain pan, including a plate member positioned directly below said drain opening and substantially adjacent said filter surface such that diatomaceous earth existing on said filter surface is not disturbed to a substantial extent during said draining.