Cabinet combination section having a ventilation device

Abstract

A cabinet combination section has a ventilation device. The ventilation device has a first air duct for conditioning outdoor air and supplying the conditioned air as supply air to a room and a second air duct for removing return air from the room and discharge the return air as exhaust air to the environment. The ventilation device comprises various components including a fan. The components are situated in the first air duct and/or in the second air duct. The cabinet combination section has a lower section, a middle section and an upper section lying on top of another. The components of the ventilation device are situated in the lower section and/or the upper section of the cabinet combination section.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

Applicant hereby claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C § 119 from Swiss Application No. 01011/06 filed Jun. 23, 2006, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cabinet combination section having a ventilation device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A first air stream, which is supplied as supply air to a room, and a second air stream, which is removed as return air from the room and supplied as exhaust air to the environment, flow through the ventilation device. The ventilation device contains various components including a fan, which are used for the purpose of exchanging heat and/or moisture between the first air stream and the second air stream, the components being connected to one another by corresponding lines. Such ventilation devices are known from the prior art.

For example, a plate heat exchanger having an integrated electric filter and a cleaning device for cleaning the electric filter is known from US 20060191413. The plate heat exchanger is used for exchanging heat between two air streams.

A moisture exchanger for exchanging moisture between two air streams is known from US 20050072303. Such a moisture exchanger essentially comprises two cavities which are separated by a structure permeable to water vapor. The structure permeable to water vapor separates two air streams, but allows the exchange of moisture between the two air streams.

An air-conditioning device is known from GB 1335886, which has a heat exchanger, an air filter, a cooling assembly, a fan, a humidifier, and a measurement and control unit. The air-conditioning device is placed in a cabinet which has the conventional appearance of the other cabinets which are used in a kitchenette, for example. Because the volume occupied by this air-conditioning device is quite large, its installation in a kitchen has not become widespread on the market. The ventilation devices are therefore typically installed in the basement of a house. In a single-family house, this occurs without great difficulty. In multifamily houses, in particular in apartment buildings having multiple apartments lying one on top of another, installation in the basement is disadvantageous. To ventilate the individual apartments, pipeline systems must be installed. The pipeline systems, which may have pipe lengths from several tens of meters up to more than 100 meters, reduce the efficiency of the ventilation device. In addition, the danger arises that foreign particles, such as solids or even bacteria or fungi, will collect in the pipeline system. In particular the warm and moist exhaust air, but also the moist fresh air, form ideal conditions for the propagation of bacteria or fungi in the pipeline system.

The present invention is based on the object of improving a ventilation device and/or configuration in such a way that it may be installed more easily and efficiently in a kitchen and/or in a living space.

A living space is understood here as any room located in an apartment or a single-family house, such as a kitchen, a bedroom, a living room, an office, or a hallway.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is achieved according to the present invention by a cabinet combination section having an installed ventilation device, the cabinet combination section being executed in the design of the individual elements or modules of a cabinet combination of a living space or in the design of the individual elements of a kitchen combination, if it is installed in a kitchen, the cabinet combination section essentially having a lower section, a middle section, and an upper section, which are situated one on top of another. If the floor of the middle section is a freely accessible work surface, the components of the ventilation device are only situated in the lower and/or upper section. In contrast, if the middle section accommodates a cooking device which does not fill up the depth of the cabinet combination, such as a microwave oven or a coffee machine, the components of the ventilation device are situated in the lower and/or upper section and/or in the room remaining between the kitchen device and the rear wall of the cabinet combination. In this variation, the components of the ventilation device and the cooking device may use the same supply lines.

A cabinet combination of this type may be situated both in single-family houses and also in individual apartments of a multifamily house. The decentralized installation of the ventilation devices allows individual invoicing of the ventilation costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles and implementations of the invention. The figures are not to scale.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cabinet combination section according to the present invention having an installed ventilation device,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic vertical sectional view of a cabinet combination section, and

FIG. 3 shows a schematic vertical sectional view of a further cabinet combination section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cabinet combination section 1. Typically, multiple such or similar cabinet combination sections are assembled to form a cabinet combination, either built on or freestanding. If the cabinet combination is installed in a kitchen, then one refers to a kitchen combination. The present invention is explained on the basis of a kitchen combination for this example. The cabinet combination section 1 shown in FIG. 1 is thus a kitchen combination section. A kitchen combination is understood as the equipment of a domestic kitchen or an industrial large kitchen, e.g., of a restaurant or a cafeteria. A kitchen combination typically comprises multiple different or identical kitchen elements which are combined with one another modularly. Such kitchen elements are, for example, cabinets, drawers, rotating cabinets, electrical kitchen devices, niches, work surfaces, sinks, etc. Examples of electrical kitchen devices are steamer, oven, microwave oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee machine, stove and vapor exhaust, etc.

Typically, such a kitchen combination is installed along the walls of a kitchen. Such a wall is provided with the reference numeral 2. However, it is also possible that a kitchen combination or parts of a kitchen combination are situated in the middle of a room. In the event of such a configuration, one skilled in the art refers to a freestanding cooking island. The kitchen combination sections typically have a standardized width B and a standardized depth T. The standardization of the dimensions is advantageous, because it allows simple replacement of individual kitchen elements if they have reached their service life or if a new device is to be installed. The standardized dimensions may be different from country to country. In Switzerland, the standardized width B of the kitchen combination section is typically 50 cm, 55 cm, or 60 cm.

The kitchen combination section shown in FIG. 1 essentially comprises three sections in the vertical direction, namely a lower section 3, a middle section 4, and an upper section 5, and contains a ventilation device. The lower section 3 stands on a kitchen floor or a console. All three sections together have a height H, the height H being equal to or less than the room height of the kitchen. The distance between the kitchen floor and the floor 6 of the middle section 4 is preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 m, which corresponds to an ideal working height. The floor 6 of the middle section 4 may be a freely accessible work surface which may also extend over multiple neighboring kitchen combination sections. Alternatively, an electrical kitchen device 7 may be situated in the middle section 4, in particular a microwave oven, a coffee machine, a steamer, a stove, and/or a vapor exhaust. This kitchen device 7 situated in the middle section may be operated especially comfortably by the user. The niche in which the kitchen device 7 is situated may also be referred to as a recess 8. There is an intermediate space between the wall 2 and the rear wall 9 of the kitchen device 7, through which supply lines may be guided to the kitchen device 7.

The ventilation device comprises a first air duct 10 (FIG. 2) for supplying outdoor air, which flows into the kitchen as supply air, and a second air duct 11 for the removal of return air from the kitchen, which is discharged to the environment as exhaust air, as well as various components 12 such as fan, filter, heat exchanger, moisture exchanger, humidifier, dehumidifier, cooling assembly, etc. These components 12 are used for conditioning the outdoor air, so that it may be supplied to the kitchen as supply air at a desired temperature and a desired humidity. The conditioning of the outdoor air is advantageously performed in an energy-saving way, by exchanging heat and/or moisture between the air flows flowing in the first and second air ducts. Suitable heat exchangers and moisture exchangers are known, for example, from US 20060191413, US 20050072303, and WO 2007012213. The components 12 of the ventilation device may also form a conventional air-conditioning system, however.

If the middle section 4 of the kitchen combination section is implemented as a freely accessible work surface or as a stove with or without a vapor exhaust, the components 12 of the ventilation device are situated in the lower section 3 and/or the upper section 5 of the kitchen combination section.

If an electrical kitchen device 7 is situated in the middle section 4 of the kitchen combination section and an intermediate space remains between the rear wall 9 of the kitchen device 7 and the wall 2, the components 12 of the ventilation device are situated in the lower section 3 and/or the upper section 5 and/or in this intermediate space. The installation of a steamer, a microwave oven, or a coffee machine in the kitchen combination section which contains the ventilation device is especially advantageous, because on one hand the depth of these devices is less than the depth T of the kitchen combination section, so that individual components 12 of the ventilation device find space in the intermediate space, and because, on the other hand, these devices and the components 12 of the ventilation device may be supplied with electrical energy and/or water via the same supply lines. Because an already existing line system may be used, it is accordingly possible in new and also in already existing kitchens to install the components 12 of the ventilation device without great effort. The user is spared complex processing of masonry.

FIG. 1 only shows individual components of the ventilation device, but not the air ducts 10 and 11, which connect the components 12. FIG. 2 shows an example of the ventilation device in a lateral section of FIG. 1. If the kitchen device 7 is provided, as in FIG. 1, the two air ducts 10 and 11 are situated between the wall 2 and the rear wall 9 of the kitchen device 7. If, as in the example of FIG. 2, the floor 6 of the middle section 4 is implemented as a freely accessible work surface or placement surface or is a washbasin, the two air ducts 10 and 11 are situated between the wall 2 and the cover 13. The depth T_A of the recess 8 may be less than the depth T of the kitchen combination section, for example, because the recess 8 is provided for placement of a kitchen device whose device depth is less than the depth T of the kitchen combination section. This is the case for a freestanding coffee machine, for example. In this case, at least one component of the ventilation device may be situated behind a cover 13 delimiting the recess 8.

The first air duct 10 opens into the kitchen in this example, but it may also deliver a part of the supply air into other rooms via corresponding air ducts.

The ventilation device contains at least one fan as one of the components 12 to set the air stream in the first air duct 10 or the air stream in the second air duct 11 into circulation. The fan is a ventilator or another pump, for example. It is advantageous to control the operation of the fan with the operation of a further ventilation means, such as a vapor exhaust, as is used for a stove, for example, or the ventilation of a bathroom. FIG. 3 illustrates such an example schematically. A cabinet combination section similar to the example of FIG. 2 is shown on the left side in FIG. 3. The ventilation device contains a fan 14, which is situated in the second air duct 11 for removing the return air. A vapor exhaust is shown on the right side of FIG. 3, which, as is typical, comprises a vapor exhaust hood 15, an exhaust air duct 16, and a fan 17 situated in the exhaust air duct 16. The fan 17 is a ventilator, for example. The vapor exhaust may be placed in the kitchen combination section 1 shown in FIG. 3 or another location in the kitchen. Control means 18 control the fan 14 according to the following function: at a high exhaust power of the vapor exhaust (and/or the ventilation of the bathroom), the fan 14 conveys a smaller air volume flow out of the room than at lower exhaust power. The formation of a partial vacuum in the kitchen (and/or in the bathroom) and/or in the entire apartment is thus prevented. The exhaust action of the vapor exhaust is not impaired. Therefore, there is no or only a reduced pressure drop in the apartment. The control means 18 obtains the required information about the exhaust power of the vapor exhaust either from a controller of the vapor exhaust or by detecting the speed of the fan 17 or the air volume flow conveyed by the fan 17. For this purpose, a sensor is provided, for example. The control means 18 is, for example, integrated as shown in the front of the upper section 5 of the kitchen combination section 1 where it is accessible to the user in a user-friendly way. The control means 18 may, however, also be placed at any arbitrary other location. The second air duct 11 and the exhaust air duct 16 may be guided individually to the ambient air, or they may open into a shared ventilation duct already before the exit into the ambient air.

Alternatively, the air stream in the second air duct 11 may be reduced, for example, using means 19 for reducing the air stream situated in the second air duct 11, such as a throttle valve or a pneumatic valve, so that the cited means 19 may throttle the outgoing air stream in the second air duct 11 if an air stream occurs in the exhaust air duct 16 of the vapor exhaust. Such means 19 are also shown in FIG. 3.

A combination of reducing the return air flow by the corresponding controller of the speed of the fan 14 and using the means 19 for reducing the air stream is also possible.

A further possibility is to provide a sensor 20 which measures the air pressure existing in the room, and, depending on the embodiment, to reduce the air stream in the second air duct 11 in the event of underpressure by reducing the speed of the fan 14 and/or a corresponding setting of the means 19 for reducing the air stream, so that the air pressure in the room remains the same as in the ambient air. The sensor 20 is integrated in the control means 18, for example. The control means 18 control the speed of the fan 14 and/or the cited means 19 as a function of the output signal of the sensor.

A reduction of the partial vacuum also has an advantageous effect if a woodfired oven or an open fireplace is provided in the apartment. The equalization or stabilization of the pressure conditions has the advantage here that the vapor exhaust and/or the ventilation no longer impairs the exhaust of the smoke through the chimney.

If the kitchen comprises multiple kitchen combination sections 1, like the one shown in detail in FIG. 1, neighboring one another, the kitchen device 7 may also be in a neighboring kitchen combination section. Because the corresponding supply lines are already provided in the neighboring kitchen combination section, the above-mentioned advantages are also provided in this case. The lines have to be guided through the partition wall which is located between the two kitchen combination sections here.

The external temperature of the external walls of the house oriented to the north are known to be cooler than the remaining walls. To operate the ventilation device as optimally as possible, it is advantageous to have the air ducts 10 and 11 exit to the environment on a wall oriented to the north. Because the kitchen is frequently oriented to the north, it is therefore advantageous to situate the ventilation device in the kitchen.

In the present embodiment, it is obvious that the kitchen device 7 has a depth which is less than the standard depth T. Instead of such a kitchen device 3, however, another of the above-mentioned kitchen elements may also be used.

While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. Cabinet combination section having a lower section, a middle section and an upper section situated one on top of another and further having a ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device has a first air duct for conditioning outdoor air and supplying the conditioned air as supply air to a room, wherein the ventilation device has a second air duct for removing return air from the room and discharge the return air as exhaust air to the environment, wherein the ventilation device has various components which are arranged in the first air duct and/or in the second air duct, and wherein the components of the ventilation device are situated in the lower section and/or the upper section of the cabinet combination section.

2. Cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein an electrical kitchen device is situated in the middle section, the electrical kitchen device having a depth that is smaller than a depth of the cabinet combination section, and wherein at least one component of the ventilation device is situated behind the kitchen device.

3. Cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein the middle section is formed as recess with a free accessible floor.

4. Cabinet combination section according to claim 3, wherein a depth of the recess is smaller than a depth of the cabinet combination section and wherein at least one component of the ventilation device is situated behind a cover delimiting the recess.

5. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

6. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 2, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

7. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 3, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

8. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 4, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

9. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

10. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 2, wherein a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

11. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 3, wherein a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

12. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 4, wherein a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a power of a further ventilation means.

13. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in the room.

14. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 2, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in the room.

15. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 3, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in the room.

16. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according to claim 4, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in the room.