COOKTOP VENTILATION SYSTEM HAVING A COMPLEX CURVE INTERIOR FLOW SURFACE
A cooktop ventilation appliance or system provides ventilation of a domestic cooking appliance, and includes a complex curve interior flow surface in the housing, the complex curve interior flow surface partitioning the interior of the housing for separately conveying secondary air and exhaust air. A first side of the complex curve interior flow surface configured to guide and smooth a flow of the secondary air from an opening for receiving secondary air into the interior of the housing to an opening for permitting the secondary air to exit the housing to form an air curtain that enhances a capture ability of the domestic ventilation appliance.
This application is related to Applicants' co-pending U.S. application, which is filed concurrently herewith, entitled “COOKTOP VENTILATION SYSTEM HAVING A DUAL DIRECTION FLOW BLOWER/FAN,” Attorney Docket No. 2018P02094US, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a ventilation system for a domestic home appliance, and more particularly, to a domestic cooktop ventilation system providing an air curtain that enhances the capture ability of the ventilation device, the cooktop ventilation system having an airflow channel or cavity having a complex curve interior flow surface that guides and smooths air flow through the airflow channel or cavity.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSome modern domestic kitchens include an appliance, such as a cooking range or cooktop, that has an electric or gas heat source such as an inductive, electric, or gas cooktop, a griddle, an internal heat source such as an oven or warming drawer, or other feature that requires ventilation. Various types of ventilation appliances have been provided for ventilating or filtering air in a kitchen, such as a traditional wall ventilation hood, a chimney ventilation hood, or an island ventilation hood.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is directed to a cooktop ventilation appliance, or system, that provides an air curtain that enhances the capture ability of the ventilation appliance or system, and includes an airflow channel or cavity having a complex curve interior flow surface that guides and smooths air flow through the airflow channel or cavity, thereby reducing cavitation in the airflow channel or cavity, and provides sound insulation and sound deadening, thereby reducing noise levels associated with the operation of the appliance or system.
The present invention recognizes that, among other factors, the size, shape, and distance of the opening of a housing of a ventilation appliance or system affects the ability of the ventilation appliance or system to capture exhaust air (e.g., hot air, flue gases, contaminated air, etc.) from an appliance that requires ventilation, such as a cooking range or cooktop that has an electric or gas heat source such as an inductive, electric, or gas cooktop, a griddle, an internal heat source such as an oven or warming drawer, or other feature that requires ventilation. To solve these and other problems, the present invention provides an air curtain flowing from the housing of a cooktop ventilation appliance or system, such that the air curtain provides a virtual extension of the housing of the hood or ventilation capture system (e.g., away from the hood or ventilation capture system and toward or around the kitchen appliance needing ventilation), which enhances the capture ability of the ventilation appliance or system. The air curtain can be formed around a part of, or all of, a perimeter of a region where exhaust air is to be captured.
The air curtain can be formed by an airflow of secondary air, such as cool air, outside air, etc. (i.e., non-exhaust air), that is supplied to the ventilation appliance from either a specific blower, make-up blower, or other air flow source. In one example, the appliance can be configured to use, or supply, make-up air to form the air curtain, thereby supplying a quantity of make-up air into the kitchen environment to replace the exhaust air being drawn into and exhausted from the kitchen by the ventilation appliance while using the make-up air in a functional manner to provide a virtual extension to the end of the hood or ventilation capture system that will enhance capture ability of the ventilation device. Exemplary embodiments of the invention can be configured to be used with or without make-up air.
The air curtain can be directed through one or more air channels or cavities of a housing of the cooktop ventilation appliance or system towards the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing from either a specific blower, make-up blower, or other air flow source and that flows from one or more openings, slots, or ports at the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing. The air curtain will provide a virtual extension to the end of the hood or ventilation capture system that can enhance capture ability of the ventilation device, thereby improving the capture of, and increasing the efficiency of the capture of smoke, grease, air (aroma), flue gases, contaminated air, etc. from an appliance that requires ventilation, such as a cooking range or cooktop, that has an electric or gas heat source such as an inductive, electric, or gas cooktop, a griddle, an internal heat source such as an oven or warming drawer, or other feature that requires ventilation.
The present invention further recognizes that such an airflow being directed through one or more air channels or cavities of the housing of the cooktop ventilation appliance towards the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing during operation of the ventilation appliance can result in increased levels of noise (e.g. flow induced noise). The interior of a ventilation appliance typically is very rough or irregular with many cavities that can capture and redirect the air flow as well as provide cavitation points for the air flow, each of which can cause noise. Some conventional solutions for addressing noise rely on insulation and damping materials. However, these conventional techniques do not address issues of flow induced noise concerns.
To solve these and other problems, the present invention provides a cooktop ventilation system with a complex curve interior flow surface that can provide sound insulation and sound deadening, while at the same time directing, guiding, and/or smoothing out the air flow as it flows through the ventilation appliance towards the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing and exits from one or more openings, slots, or ports at the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing of the ventilation appliance, thereby reducing cavitation and noise levels, including flow induced noise, while also providing a compact arrangement.
The complex curve interior flow surface can be configured to form one or more channels or cavities in the interior of the housing of the ventilation appliance to direct or guide the airflow (e.g., either from a specific blower, make-up blower, or other air flow source) towards the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing during operation of the ventilation appliance. The complex curve interior flow surface can cooperate with one or more interior surfaces or components of the housing of the ventilation appliance to form the one or more channels or cavities, or in other examples, one or more parts or portions of the complex curve interior flow surface can be configured to discretely form the one or more channels or cavities. The airflow can exit the housing at one or more openings, slots, or ports at the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing.
In an example, the one or more channels or cavities formed by the complex curve interior flow surface can have a cross-section or profile similar to a syphon of a toilet bowl, thereby improving the flow efficiency of the airflow. However, the complex curve interior flow surface can have other cross-section or profile arrangements. For example, the complex curve interior flow surface can be configured to provide added space or clearance for other components of the ventilation appliance, such as for a filter system (e.g., one or more air filters and/or grease filters), a control system, one or more sensors, etc.
The complex curve interior flow surface can include, for example, one or more parts (e.g., one or more stamped plastic parts) that fit inside the interior of the housing of the ventilation appliance. The complex curve interior flow surface can be formed from a single part (e.g., a single stamped or molded part formed from high temperature plastic) or from a plurality of parts (e.g., a plurality of stamped or molded parts formed from high temperature plastic) that fit together or cooperate with one another to fit inside the interior of the housing of the ventilation appliance and provide sound insulation and sound deadening, while at the same time directing, guiding, and/or smoothing out the flow of the cool air, thereby reducing cavitation and noise levels, including flow induced noise across the interior of the housing of the ventilation appliance, while providing a compact system or arrangement. The complex curve interior flow surface can be formed from other materials, such as sheet metal, high temperature composite materials, or a combination of one or more high temperature materials configured to fit inside the interior of the housing of the ventilation appliance.
The complex curve interior flow surface can be secured in the interior of the housing of the ventilation appliance by press fitting the part or parts into the interior of the housing or by securing the part or parts using securing means, such as one or more of fasteners, high temperature adhesive, high temperature tape, or the like (e.g., high temperature resistant securing means). The part or parts of the complex curve interior flow surface can be secured to and/or supported by one or more interior surfaces of the housing of the ventilation appliance, to one or more openings in the housing (e.g., an air supply opening or exhaust outlet), and/or to one or more ducts or blowers in or on the housing, among other things.
The complex curve interior flow surface can form a dividing wall or partition between a flow of the cool air used to form the air curtain and a flow of exhaust air captured by the ventilation appliance. In an example, one side of the complex curve interior flow surface guides the flow of the cool air used to form the air curtain from the air supply to the one or more openings, slots, or ports at the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing, while another, opposite side of the complex curve interior flow surface guides the flow of the exhaust air captured by the ventilation appliance from the air capture region of the housing to one or more exhaust ducts or other elements for conveying the exhaust air from the kitchen, thereby providing dual functionality and facilitating a compact system and arrangement with improved flow efficiency. Each side of the complex curve interior flow surface can directly contact the respective air flow, or an intervening layer or component can be provided, such as an insulation layer, temperature resistant layer, etc., between the complex curve interior flow surface and one or more of the air flows. In an example, a direction of flow of the cool air on one side of the complex curve interior flow surface can be opposite to a direction of flow of the exhaust air on the other side of the complex curve interior flow surface.
In an example, the housing of the ventilation appliance can be coupled to a bi-directional air duct that both supplies the cool air to the interior of the housing and exhausts the exhaust air from the housing. In another example, the housing of the ventilation appliance can include a bi-directional air duct within the interior of the housing. An example of a bi-directional duct according to the invention can include a duct having an inner flow channel (e.g., for conveying exhaust air in a first direction) and an outer flow channel (e.g., for conveying cool air in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction). The bi-directional duct can be formed from concentric cylinders forming the flow paths. In other examples, the bi-directional duct can include square or rectangle shaped flow paths, with an interior flow path being nested within an exterior flow path, or with flow paths formed by individual ducts or a duct divided into flow paths arranged next to or adjacent to each other (e.g., side-by-side or above and below each other). In other examples, the housing of the ventilation appliance can be coupled to or include one or more discrete air ducts supplying the cool air to the interior of the housing and/or one or more discrete air ducts exhausting the exhaust air from the housing.
The cool air can be supplied to the interior of the housing, either directly from a blower, a secondary blower or fan, or another source, or via a duct (e.g., bi-directional duct) coupled to a blower, a secondary blower or fan, or another source. The blower, a secondary blower or fan, or another source can be arranged, for example, in-line with the duct, in communication with the duct (e.g., either locally/adjacent to the duct or remote from the duct), or within the housing of the ventilation appliance or system.
Exemplary embodiments of the complex curve interior flow surface according to the invention can be provided in various types of ventilation appliances, such as a traditional wall hood, a chimney wall hood, or an island hood.
For purposes of this disclosure, the term exhaust air refers to, for example, one or more of hot air, flue gases, contaminated air, etc. from an appliance that requires ventilation, such as a cooking range or cooktop that has an electric or gas heat source such as an inductive, electric, or gas cooktop, a griddle, an internal heat source such as an oven or warming drawer, or other feature that requires ventilation. The term secondary air refers to non-exhaust air including, for example, one or more of cool air, outside air, make-up air, etc. that is supplied to the ventilation appliance, for example, from either a specific blower, make-up blower, or other air flow source.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention addresses and solves the above-recognized problems and others by providing a domestic ventilation appliance for providing ventilation of a domestic cooking appliance, the domestic ventilation appliance and system comprising a housing having a first opening for capturing exhaust air from the domestic cooking appliance, a second opening for receiving secondary air into the interior of the housing, and a third opening for permitting the secondary air to exit the housing to form an air curtain that enhances a capture ability of the domestic ventilation appliance, and a complex curve interior flow surface in the housing, the complex curve interior flow surface partitioning the interior of the housing for separately conveying the secondary air and the exhaust air, a first side of the complex curve interior flow surface configured to guide and smooth a flow of the secondary air from the second opening to the third opening.
Another exemplary embodiment provides a domestic ventilation system for providing ventilation of a domestic cooking appliance, comprising a cooktop ventilation appliance including a housing and a complex curve interior flow surface in an interior of the housing, the complex curve interior flow surface partitioning the interior of the housing for separately conveying secondary air and exhaust air through the housing, a first side of the complex curve interior flow surface configured to guide and smooth a flow of the secondary air from an opening in the housing for receiving secondary air into the interior of the housing to one or more outlets in the housing that allow the secondary air to exit the housing to form an air curtain that enhances a capture ability of the domestic ventilation appliance for providing ventilation of the domestic cooking appliance.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description and drawings.
These and other aspects and features of embodiments of the present invention will be better understood after a reading of the following detailed description, together with the attached drawings, wherein:
The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
With reference to
In the examples shown in
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The sections (e.g., 202a, 202b, 202c) of the complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be planar sections, curved sections, or a combination thereof to smooth and guide the flow of the air A20. The sections (e.g., 202, 204, 206) of the complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be configured to form one or more channels or cavities 108 in the interior of the housing 102 to direct or guide the airflow A20 towards the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing 102 during operation of the ventilation appliance 100. The one or more channels or cavities 108 formed by, for example, the sections 202a, 202b, and 202c of the complex curve interior flow surface 200 can have a cross-section or profile similar to a syphon of a toilet bowl, which can increase the flow efficiency of the air A20 over the body 202. The airflow A20 can exit the housing 102 at one or more openings, slots, or ports 110 at the front, sides, rear, and/or perimeter of the housing 102.
In the example shown in
As shown in the example illustrated in
For simplicity,
The complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be configured to fit inside the interior of the housing 102 of the ventilation appliance 100. The complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be formed from a single part (e.g., a single stamped high temperature plastic part) or from a plurality of parts (e.g., a plurality of stamped high temperature plastic parts, each forming one or more of portions or sections) that fit together or cooperate with one another to form the complex curve interior flow surface 200. The complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be formed from any suitable material, such as stamped or injection molded plastic (e.g., high temperature plastic), sheet metal, composite materials, or a combination of one or more materials (e.g., high temperature materials) configured to fit inside the interior of the housing 102 of the ventilation appliance 100. The complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be secured in the interior of the housing 102 in any suitable manner, such as by press fitting the part or parts into the interior of the housing 102 or by securing the part or parts of the complex curve interior flow surface 200 using one or more securing means, such as one or more of fasteners, high temperature adhesive, high temperature tape, or the like (e.g., high temperature resistant securing means). The part or parts of the complex curve interior flow surface 200 can be secured to and/or supported by one or more interior surfaces of the housing 102 of the ventilation appliance 100, to one or more openings 106 in the housing 102 (e.g., an air supply opening or exhaust outlet), and/or to one or more ducts 300 or blowers in or on the housing, among other things.
With reference to
The example features and arrangements are not limited to any particular embodiment and can be included alone or in combination with each other, or alone or in combination with one or more of the other example features described and illustrated herein.
With reference again to the examples illustrated in
With reference again to the examples illustrated in
In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.
The present invention has been described herein in terms of several preferred embodiments. However, modifications and additions to these embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It is intended that all such modifications and additions comprise a part of the present invention to the extent that they fall within the scope of the several claims appended hereto.
Claims
1. A domestic ventilation appliance for providing ventilation of a domestic cooking appliance, comprising:
- a housing having a first opening for capturing exhaust air from the domestic cooking appliance, a second opening for receiving secondary air into the interior of the housing, and a third opening for permitting the secondary air to exit the housing to form an air curtain that enhances a capture ability of the domestic ventilation appliance; and
- a complex curve interior flow surface in the housing, the complex curve interior flow surface partitioning the interior of the housing for separately conveying the secondary air and the exhaust air, a first side of the complex curve interior flow surface configured to guide and smooth a flow of the secondary air from the second opening to the third opening.
2. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 1, wherein the second opening of the housing is configured to both receive the secondary air into the interior of the housing and to exhaust the exhaust air from the interior of the housing.
3. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 2, wherein a second side of the complex curve interior flow surface, which is opposite to the first side of the complex curve interior flow surface, is configured to guide and smooth a flow of the exhaust air from the first opening of the housing to the second opening of the housing.
4. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 2, further comprising:
- a bi-directional duct coupled to the second opening of the housing, the bi-direction duct configured to convey the secondary air in a first direction through the second opening of the housing into the interior of the housing and to convey the exhaust air in a second direction, which is opposite to the first direction, from the interior of the housing through the second opening of the housing.
5. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 4, wherein the bi-directional duct includes:
- an outer wall; and
- an inner wall nested within the outer wall,
- the outer wall and the inner wall defining a first flow path configured to convey the secondary air through the bi-directional duct in the first direction, and the inner wall defining a second flow path configured to convey the exhaust air through the bi-directional duct in the second direction.
6. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 5, wherein the outer wall and the inner wall are concentric cylindrical walls.
7. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 5, wherein the outer wall of the bi-directional duct is coupled to a perimeter of the second opening of the housing.
8. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 5, wherein the complex curve interior flow surface includes a body having an opening, wherein a perimeter of the opening of the body is coupled to the inner wall of the bi-directional duct and configured to convey the exhaust air in the second direction through the opening in the body of the complex curve interior flow surface into the second flow path of the bi-directional duct.
9. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 8, wherein the outer wall of the bi-directional duct is configured to convey the secondary air in the first direction through the second opening of the housing and onto the first side of the complex curve interior flow surface to guide and smooth the flow of the secondary air from the second opening to the third opening.
10. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 1, wherein the complex curve interior flow surface includes a body having an opening configured to permit the exhaust air to pass through the body.
11. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 1, wherein the first side of the complex curve interior flow surface includes a plurality of sections configured to guide and smooth the flow of the secondary air from the second opening to the third opening, the plurality of sections including at least a first section that directs the flow of the secondary air from the second opening in a first direction, a second section that directs the flow of the secondary air in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and a third section that directs the flow of the secondary air in a third direction that is different from the second direction and extends toward the third opening.
12. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 1, wherein a shape of the complex curve interior flow surface is configured to guide and smooth the flow of the secondary air from the second opening to the third opening while providing clearance for at least one component disposed within the interior of the housing.
13. The domestic ventilation appliance of claim 12, wherein the at least one component includes at least one of an air filter, a grease filter, a blower, a control system, or a sensor.
14. A domestic ventilation system for providing ventilation of a domestic cooking appliance, comprising:
- a cooktop ventilation appliance including a housing and a complex curve interior flow surface in an interior of the housing,
- the complex curve interior flow surface partitioning the interior of the housing for separately conveying secondary air and exhaust air through the housing, a first side of the complex curve interior flow surface configured to guide and smooth a flow of the secondary air, which is received into the interior of the housing from an opening in the housing, through the housing to one or more outlets in the housing that allow the secondary air to exit the housing to form an air curtain that enhances a capture ability of the domestic ventilation appliance for providing ventilation of the domestic cooking appliance.
15. The system of claim 14, further comprising:
- a bi-directional duct coupled to the opening of the housing, the bi-direction duct configured to convey the secondary air in a first direction through the opening of the housing into the interior of the housing on the first side of the complex curve interior flow surface and to convey the exhaust air in a second direction from the interior of the housing on a second side of the complex curve interior flow surface through the opening of the housing, the second direction being opposite to the first direction.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the bi-directional duct includes:
- an outer wall; and
- an inner wall nested within the outer wall,
- the outer wall and the inner wall defining a first flow path configured to convey the secondary air through the bi-directional duct in the first direction, and the inner wall defining a second flow path configured to convey the exhaust air through the bi-directional duct in the second direction.
17. The system of claim 15, further comprising:
- a blower coupled to the bi-directional duct for supplying the secondary air in the first direction through the opening of the housing into the interior of the housing.
18. The system of claim 15, further comprising:
- a blower for supplying the secondary air in the first direction through the opening of the housing into the interior of the housing.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the blower is disposed in the interior of the housing.
20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:
- a secondary air source coupled to the bi-directional duct for supplying the secondary air in the first direction through the opening of the housing into the interior of the housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 12, 2018
Publication Date: Jun 18, 2020
Inventor: Sean Scott (Tulsa, OK)
Application Number: 16/217,429