Backflow
A backflow preventer is a device that’s installed on water pipes that allows water to flow in one direction but never in the opposite direction. Its sole job is to prevent potable drinking water from being contaminated due to backflow. The risks to drinking water quality from backflow contamination incidents pose a constant threat—whether they’re nuisance, non-health hazards, or serious public health events. Plumbing codes mandate that potable water supplies be protected against backflow at all cross-connections.
Baffle
A baffle is a device used to dampen the effects of such things as friction, sound, light, or fluid. Specifically, a baffle is a surface which is placed inside an open area to inhibit direct motion from one part to another, without preventing motion altogether.
Baking Stone
A baking stone is a portable cooking surface used in baking. It may be made of ceramic, stone or, more recently, salt. Food is put on the stone, which is then placed in an oven, though sometimes the stone is heated first. Baking stones are used much like cookie sheets, but may absorb additional moisture for crispier food. A pizza stone is a baking stone designed for cooking pizza. Deck ovens have ceramic or stone baking soles (forming the bottom of the oven, or of an individual deck).
Ballast
An electrical ballast is a device that limits the current through an electrical load. These are most often used when a load (such as an arc discharge) has its terminal voltage decline when current through the load increases. If such a device were connected to a constant-voltage power supply, it would draw an increasing amount of current until it is destroyed or causes the power supply to fail. To prevent this, a ballast provides a positive resistance or reactance that limits the current. The ballast provides for the proper operation of the negative-resistance device by limiting current. Series resistors are used as ballasts to control the current through LEDs.
Basket
A basket is a light container that is made of strips of wire mesh, metal or plastic. A basket may be solid or it may have holes and is used in cooking, frying, dishwashing, beverage production (brewing), storage, waste collection, and more. Where equipped with a handle, the handle may be coated as with a fryer basket.
Bearing
A bearing is a machine element that constrains relative motion to only the desired motion, and reduces friction between moving parts. The design of the bearing may, for example, provide for free linear movement of the moving part or for free rotation around a fixed axis; or, it may prevent a motion by controlling the vectors of normal forces that bear on the moving parts. Most bearings facilitate the desired motion by minimizing friction. Bearings are classified broadly according to the type of operation, the motions allowed, or to the directions of the loads (forces) applied to the parts.
Beater
A beater is a rotary mechanism or blade attached to an electric mixer used for mixing food and beverage products. A beater may also be used to infuse or mix air or CO2 into food products such as ice cream and frozen beverages.
Belt
A belt is a loop of flexible material used to link two or more rotating shafts mechanically, most often parallel. Belts may be used as a source of motion, to transmit power efficiently or to track relative movement. Belts are looped over pulleys and may have a twist between the pulleys, and the shafts need not be parallel.
Bezel
A bezel refers to the tapered edge of certain restaurant equipment parts such as washers, gaskets, seals and are commonly used with in the design of casings for controls, thermostats, buttons, handles and switches. Certain bezels provide protection from moisture and grease migration.
BIB
A bag-in-box or BIB is a container for the storage and delivery of liquids and syrups. It consists of a strong bladder (or plastic bag), usually made of several layers of film or other plastics, seated inside a corrugated cardboard box. BIBs are used used to package wine, soda fountain syrup products, milk, condiments such as ketchup or mustard, liquid chemicals, and even water. For commercial syrup applications, the customer opens one end of the box (sometimes via a pre-scored opening) and connects a compatible connector to a fitting on the bag to pump out its contents. The fitting itself contains a one-way valve which opens only with pressure from the attached connector and which prevents contamination of the syrup in the bag.
Bin Door
A bin is a box, frame, or enclosed place used for storage, most commonly of ice or ingredients. A bin door (or door bin) is used to contain products as well as to maintain temperature and humidity. The bin and bin door are often insulated and may be constructed of stainless steel or plastics.
Blade
A blade is the portion of a tool or machine with an edge that is designed to puncture, chop, slice or scrape surfaces or materials. Blades are typically made from materials that are harder than those they are to be used on. A blade may also refer to a fan blade such as that used in the movement of air or a gas.
Blender
A blender is a device or component used to mix, puree, or emulsify food and other substances. An immersion blender configuration has a motor on top connected by a shaft to a rotating blade at the bottom, which can be used with any container.
Blower
A blower is a centrifugal fan. It is a mechanical device for moving air or other gases. Blowers often contain a ducted housing to direct outgoing air in a specific direction or across a heat sink; such a fan is also called a "blower fan", or "squirrel-cage fan" (because it looks like a hamster wheel). These fans increase the speed and volume of an air stream through rotating impellers.
Bonnet
In pumps, a bonnet is a metal covering for the openings in the valve chambers. A bonnet may be any of various hoods, covers, or protective devices. Valve bonnets are available in many designs and models (the most typical are: bolted, round bolted, welded, pressure seal) and are often manufactured using the same material grade of the valve body. The bonnet is connected with the body by a threaded, bolted, or welded joint connection – and different types of gaskets are used to ensure leak-free connections between the body and the bonnet.
Booster
A booster pump is a device that increases the pressure of a fluid. They may be used with liquids or gases, and the construction will vary depending on the fluid. A gas booster is similar to a gas compressor, but generally a simpler mechanism which often has only a single stage of compression, and is used to increase pressure of a gas already above ambient pressure.
Brace
A brace is something that is used to support or connect things, or to make something stronger -- something that holds other parts together in order to impart rigidity or steadiness.
Bracket
A bracket is a device that connects to a structure (such as a panel or frame) and is usually designed to support a vertical load or to strengthen an angle or to maintain a component in its proper position.
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device that inhibits motion by absorbing energy from a moving system. It is used for slowing or stopping a moving element or to prevent its motion, most often accomplished by means of friction.
Braise
Braising is a combination slow-cooking method using both wet and dry heat. The long, slow cook time helps develop flavor and tenderizes even the toughest meats. Braising is accomplished using an over or range, or for high volume production in the commercial foodservice industry, specially designed convection ovens and powered braising pans are used.
Briquette
A briquette is a compressed block of coal dust or other combustible material (e.g. charcoal, sawdust, wood chips, peat or pulp) used for fuel and kindling to start a fire for grilling. There are also lava rock and ceramic briquettes. These materials serve a dual purpose by protecting the burner from drippings which can accelerate the deterioration of the burner or cause flare-ups, and dispersing the heat from the burner more evenly.
Brew Basket
In conventional coffee-making machines, hot water is drawn from a reservoir and is discharged into a "brew basket" or a "brew chamber" via a sprayhead. The brew basket holds a filter (semi-permanent or disposable) containing a dose of ground coffee within the filter. Hot water discharged into the brew basket percolates through the ground coffee and exits the brew basket as filtered coffee. The hot coffee exiting the brew basket is collected in a coffee pot or carafe. A similar process is used in large production tea brewing
Brix
Brix is an important concept in the restaurant industry. Brix indicates the sugar content of an liquid. One degree Brix is 1 gram of sucrose in 100 grams of solution and represents the strength of the solution as percentage by mass. Brix is used to measure and dial-in the sugar concentration of carbonated beverages, fruit juice, syrups and flavorings.
Brush
A brush is a common tool with bristles, wire or other filaments. It generally consists of a handle or block to which filaments are affixed in either a parallel or perpendicular orientation, depending on the way the brush is to be gripped during use. The material of both the block and bristles or filaments is chosen to withstand hazards of its intended use, such as corrosive chemicals, heat or abrasion.
Bumper
Bumpers are commonly used in the design of foodservice equipment. A bumper is a mechanical device used to absorb or soften an impact, or protect against collision. Bumpers are often made of rubber or a soft plastic and can be found in or used with ice bins, sliding refrigerator, freezer, and merchandiser doors, ice cream cabinets, holding and serving cabinets and carts, and more.
Burner
A burner is an element on a kitchen stove that generates localized heat for cooking. A gas burner is a device that produces a controlled flame by mixing a fuel gas such as natural gas, or propane with an oxidizer such as the ambient air and allowing for ignition and continued combustion. Gas may be supplied to the burner prior to combustion at a pressure sufficient to induce a supply of air to mix with it; the mixture passes through several long narrow openings or a nozzle to mix with additional air in the combustion chamber.
An infrared burner works by focusing the flame of a standard gas burner onto a ceramic tile that has thousands of microscopic holes in it. This converts the heat of the flame into infrared energy.
Bushing
A bushing is an independent plain bearing that is inserted into a housing to provide a bearing surface for rotary applications; this is the most common form of a plain bearing. Common designs include solid (sleeve and flanged), split, and clenched bushings.
Buss
Busses are important components of restaurant equipment. A buss is a fuse and electrical safety device that operates to provide overcurrent protection of an electrical circuit. Its essential component is a metal wire or strip that melts when too much current flows through it, thereby stopping or interrupting the current. It is a sacrificial device; once a fuse has operated it is an open circuit, and it must be replaced or rewired, depending on type.