Stove Hoods Patents (Class 126/299R)
  • Patent number: 6142142
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for safely and efficiently controlling a ventilation hood having at least one blower unit disposed within a hood. The blower unit operates at a first speed which is substantially below a threshold speed when a speed controller is in a first setting and a sensor does not detect a trigger condition. The blower unit also operates at or above the threshold speed when the speed controller is in a first setting and the sensor detects the trigger condition. In addition, the blower unit operates at or above the threshold speed when the speed controller is in a second setting, and deactivates when the speed controller is in a third setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Vent-A-Hood
    Inventors: Miles Woodall, III, Tom Kuhnke
  • Patent number: 6143047
    Abstract: A containment assembly for collecting grease or other effluent that includes a layered composite of effluent filtering and trapping materials in the form of a separation filter, a center filter and a barrier layer disposed in a layered manner. The separation filter and center filter desirably include a polypropylene material and each have a different porosity. The separation filter, center filter and barrier layer may be disposed between a top and bottom spacer layer in a layered manner. The composite may be received within a frame assembly. The effluent containment assembly also may include flashing for deflecting the effluent away from the equipment or other effluent source, an assembly for securing the frame assembly to equipment or other source of effluent at an elevation relative to a roof or other surface to be protected, a pole assembly for holding the composite within the frame assembly, and a windbar assembly for holding the composite together during wind conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Facilitec Corporation
    Inventors: Jean L. Jodoin, Christopher S. Barry, Charles M. Murphy, Patrick A. Malloy, Jeffrey A. Kennedy, James J. Yunker
  • Patent number: 6131559
    Abstract: A convection heating apparatus with smoke and grease management means and an improved temperature controlled gas delivery system. The apparatus includes an exterior cabinet, an interior chamber and intermediate walls disposed between the exterior cabinet and interior chamber such that an intermediate cavity is provided between the interior chamber and intermediate walls and an outer cavity is provided between the exterior cabinet and intermediate walls. The apparatus further includes a product support, preferably a conveyor, disposed in the interior chamber. A blower for circulating temperature controlled gas into said interior chamber is also provided which is in fluid communication with at least one duct (preferably a plurality) having a jet plate with orifices positioned to direct temperature controlled gas toward the product support. A second blower is provided for circulating air through the outer cavity and intermediate cavity to cool the exterior cabinet walls and interior chamber walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Patentsmith Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: John R. Norris, Michael J. Dobie, Linda J. Talley, Jarald E. High, Carl J. Dougherty, Neal S. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6125841
    Abstract: Shots of grease biodegrading bacteria consortia are mixed with a flow of air which ascends through an exhaust hood. Preferably, the exhaust hood includes a filter device which comprises a narrowing passageway which is located immediately below a baffle filter thereby regularly distributing the air flow through the entire area of the baffle filter. The hood is constructed to cause a swirling motion to the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Boudreault
  • Patent number: 6119680
    Abstract: A ventilation system for an appliance, such as a clothes dryer or a cooking device, includes a blower unit which is located remote from the appliance and connected to the appliance through an elongated duct. To control the operation of the blower unit, a transmitter is used to send signals to a receiver electrically connected to the blower unit. In accordance with certain preferred embodiments of the invention, radio frequency, ultrasonic or other similar types of signals are directed through the duct to the receiver. In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a power line transmitter is utilized. A method of remotely controlling the operation of the appliance ventilation system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventor: William D. Barritt
  • Patent number: 6104016
    Abstract: A wall-mounted microwave oven and a control method for controlling a hood motor are provided. Here, the wall-mounted microwave oven having a main body forming a cavity for accommodating foods to cook, a casing enclosing the main body and forming a hood duct having an inlet located on a bottom area and an outlet located on an upper area, a hood fan installed in the hood duct, and a hood motor driving the hood fan, includes an inverter part for controlling the frequency of a supply current supplied from an external electrical power source to the hood motor, and a microcomputer for controlling the speed of the hood motor by transmitting a control signal to the inverter part, based on an external control signal. Thus, the size of the hood motor can be reduced, thus reducing a cost. Also, since the speed of the hood fan can be varied, ventilation and exhaust are performed within an optimal time to thereby seek conveniences of users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 6070517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for removing dampness form a cooking space (3) of a steam cooking device or a pressure cooker (1). The cooking space is at least partially filled with steam. The steam or the mixture of hot air and steam, respectively, is circulated in the cooking space (3) by means of a ventilating wheel (9) or a radial fan. The gas mixture to be circulated is sucked in substantially axially in the central area (10) of the ventilating wheel (9) and is drawn off to the outside substantially radially, with superfluous steam or superfluous mixture of hot air and steam, respectively, being removed from the cooking space (3) through a waste air opening (11) and dry fresh air being supplied from the outside for removing dampness. The dry fresh air is supplied at the rear, is sucked in through an opening (27) provided in the rear front end (25) of the ventilating wheel (9) and is deflected to the outside of the ventilating wheel (9) by way of a deflecting device (29).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Eloma GmbH Grobkuchentechnik
    Inventor: Peter Helm
  • Patent number: 6058929
    Abstract: An exhaust hood is disclosed which comprises an open underside and a grease filter defining an exhaust plenum between the hood and the grease filter and a flow path through the grease filter. A shutter-like panel is slidable into the flow path adjacent to the grease filter for blocking a portion of the flow path to adjust the distribution of air across the face of the hood without altering the volume of air flowing through the exhaust hood. Multiple side-by-side panels may be provided and each panel preferably tapers in height across its width. An intake fan is provided at a front portion of the hood to direct room air from adjacent the hood through an intake plenum and downwardly at a front portion of the space beneath the hood to create a partial air curtain which is then exhausted through the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Randell Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick F. Fritz
  • Patent number: 6050258
    Abstract: An upblast exhaust fan for commercial kitchens is constructed with components that are coated with a dry lubricant. The non-stick surfaces that collect grease condensed from the hot cooking gases are easily cleaned with hot water during routine maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Greenheck Fan Corporation
    Inventors: Emery W. Neitzel, Arnold S. Heil, David C. Dahl, Joseph A. Knoedler
  • Patent number: 6044838
    Abstract: A fume exhaust apparatus including a hood chamber, a primary air duct, a series of air tracks adapted to direct the air around the perimeter of the hood chamber, an exhaust plenum and a plurality of blowers to draw air into the primary air duct, force air downward over an area defined by the perimeter of the hood chamber through the air tracks in order to contain fumes generated by use of a cooking appliance and to draw the fumes away from the ambient cooking area and into the exhaust plenum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Inventor: David Deng
  • Patent number: 6041774
    Abstract: An overhead ventilation hood for a ventilation system of a conventional cooking appliance. The hood includes a housing with a planar base surface and a recessed interior arrayed in a downwardly facing manner which is defined by a first side, a second spaced apart side, a first interconnecting end and a second interconnecting end. Intake and exhaust openings are formed through the housing proximite the first and second sides. The ventilation system includes a first blower mounted in communication with a first length of ductwork extending to the intake opening to provide a stream of pressurized intake air and a second blower mounted in communication with a second length of ductwork extending from the exhaust opening to provide a stream of pressurized exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: EVS, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Ward, Gregory Kolecki
  • Patent number: 6041772
    Abstract: An overhead ventilation hood for use within a ventilation system of a conventional cooking appliance. The hood includes a housing with a planar base surface and a recessed interior arrayed in a downwardly facing manner which is defined by a first side, a second spaced apart side, a first interconnecting end and a second interconnecting end. Intake and exhaust openings are formed through the housing proximate the first and second sides. The ventilation system includes a first blower mounted in communication with a first length of ductwork extending to the intake opening to provide a stream of pressurized intake air and a second blower mounted in communication with a second length of ductwork extending from the exhaust opening to provide a stream of pressurized exhaust air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: EVS, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Ward, Gregory Kolecki
  • Patent number: 6029652
    Abstract: A cover hood for a cooking utensil, such as a pot, kettle, pan, or the like, which includes a conical hood made from a spray protection grid and a bearing part comprising a bearing ring attached to a lower edge of the hood and protruding substantially horizontally from the lower edge of the hood. The spray protection grid is made of a wire mesh or a perforated metal plate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: H. Zenker GmbH & Co. KG Metallwarenfabrik
    Inventor: Horst Riedl
  • Patent number: 6025582
    Abstract: A wall type microwave oven having a hood device and an output control method thereof are disclosed. The microwave oven includes a first switch section for switching a power supply to a hood motor of the hood device, and a second switch section for switching power supply to a hood lamp of the hood device. A third switch section controls the output of the microwave oven by several stages. A control section switches/controls the third switch section, responsive to a control of the first or second switch section, such that when the microwave oven is operated with the hood motor or said hood lamp, output of the microwave oven is to be a low level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeon-hong Kang, Sang-jin Jeong
  • Patent number: 5992412
    Abstract: A smoke diverter system is provided including an elongated ceiling housing, an elongated outlet slot formed along a length of a bottom face of the ceiling housing. An elongated inlet slot is formed along a length of one of a pair of side faces of the ceiling housing adjacent to the top face thereof. At least one elongated intake filter is mounted between the inlet slot and the outlet slot of the housing. A vacuum fan is secured within the interior space of the ceiling housing for suctioning air from the inlet slot and excreting the same from the outlet slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Russell A. Paulger
  • Patent number: 5983888
    Abstract: A low noise hood is provided having a housing with an air inlet and an air outlet. A first modular device in the form of an intake muffler with a first air duct passage extending therethrough is mounted within the housing near the air inlet. A second modular device in the form of a discharge muffler with a second air duct passage extending therethrough is mounted within the housing near the air outlet. The second air duct passage is shaped to prevent a straight unobstructed passage for air flow through the second passage. A third device comprising an air moving device is secured by a mounting arrangement within the housing. A first vibration isolator such as a plastic saddle is provided in the mounting arrangement for the air moving device for absorbing vibrations and a second vibration isolator in the form of a flexible connector is positioned between the air moving device and the second air duct passage. A third vibration isolator in a mounting arrangement for the discharge muffler may also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffery John Anselmino, Guolian Wu
  • Patent number: 5979436
    Abstract: A smoke exhauster includes one or more drawing devices secured in a hood for drawing a smoke. A plate is secured to the bottom of the hood and has one or more holes aligned with the drawing devices and has a number of slots formed in the peripheral portion. A casing is disposed on the plate and has a number of grooves formed in the lower peripheral portion for allowing the smoke in the peripheral portion of the plate to be drawn into the casing and for allowing the smoke to be effectively drawn out by the smoke exhauster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventors: Chao Cheng Chiang, Chi Shyong Chiang
  • Patent number: 5967136
    Abstract: A ventilation hood (1, 2) for cooking stoves (20) comprising a generally U-shaped shell having an upper portion (2) and a lower portion (1), the upper portion being transparent, and the lower portion being highly heat resistant. The shell is open in the front, covered transparently at the top, and is tall enough to allow convenient access to the cook top (21). It transmits illumination to the cook top from available lighting above the hood. It catches fumes rising from the cook top, guides them to a conventional exhaust fan inlet (23) at the back of the cook top, and blocks any spatter projected from the cook top toward the sides, back, or upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventors: Jimmie L. Gray, Karl L. Magleby
  • Patent number: 5960786
    Abstract: An adjustable cartridge filter for use in a cartridge ventilator hood comprises a filter housing including a front wall having a front wall opening and a back wall spaced from the front wall and having a back wall opening. A flow diverter is disposed obstructively at the back wall opening and extends between the front wall and the back wall, causing a flow restriction between the front wall opening and the back wall opening. The flow diverter is adjustable with respect to the front wall and back wall to change the amounts of the resistance generated by the cartridge and the size of the air passage through the cartridge filter. A rear choke portion may be placed about the housing to be adjustably spaced from the back wall and back wall opening to further control flow resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Gemini Steel, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Lambertson
  • Patent number: 5941235
    Abstract: An exhaust unit for filtering air from an exhaust hood above cooking equipment comprising modular components including an exhaust hood, filtering means and blower means operating as a single unit regardless of configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Garland Commercial Ranges Limited
    Inventor: Thomas E. Carter
  • Patent number: 5927268
    Abstract: A smoke exhauster includes a housing having a top flue. A casing is secured to the housing and has an outlet communicating with the flue and has one or more front openings for engaging with one or more fan devices. A smoke guide is secured to the front portion of the housing and has a chamber for receiving and collecting smoke. The fan devices may draw the smoke in the smoke guide into the casing and outward through the outlet. The smoke guide 20 may receive and collect and guide the smoke for allowing the smoke to be effectively drawn by the fan devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventors: Chao Cheng Chiang, Chi Shyong Chiang
  • Patent number: 5906195
    Abstract: A ventilation system having a hood located above cooking equipment which generates heat and fumes due to cooking. The hood has an inclined air filter at the back of the hood which rests on a flange extending along the length of the hood at the top thereof and the bottom of the inclined air filter rests on a grease collector extending along the length of the hood. The grease collector is located at a given distance downwardly from the top of the hood. The back of the inclined air filter defines an exhaust area, and the hood also includes an exhaust duct being in direct communication with the exhaust area and a fan for drawing the contaminated air out of the exhaust area. The hood also has a fresh air output that is connected to a fresh air duct including a fan and located along the length of the hood at the front thereof, this fresh air output being designed to inject fresh air into the hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Ko-Nik Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Stavros Georgaras
  • Patent number: 5890484
    Abstract: An exhaust device (100) for a kitchen exhaust system incorporating a range hood (11) is disclosed, which is capable of substantially reducing generation of noise while efficiently evacuating fumes from the kitchen without a suction loss. The exhaust device (100) comprises a vent box (20) communicating with an exhaust duct (40), which may be housed in the hood (11) or in a housing box (10) provided above the hood (11). The vent box (20) includes a connection enclosure (20a) in its upper portion, which converges toward the duct (40). The vent box (20) contains a pair of partitions (21) each having a tilted plate (22), which provide a pair of vent routes (23). Between the partitions (21) is provided a drive motor (31) and in each vent route (23) is provided a sirocco fan (33) driven by the motor (31) whose blades (33a) are converged toward the motor (31).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 5886330
    Abstract: An over-the-range microwave oven includes air intakes in its bottom wall and fans disposed at an upper portion of the oven for drawing air through respective intakes. The fans are mounted in respective cases, each of which forms an air inlet and an air outlet. Each air inlet communicates with a respective intake, and the air outlets communicate with a common duct leading to a discharge grill. Filters extend across respective ones of the air outlets and are of substantially the same size as the respective air outlets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jun-Hong Kang, Sun-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 5874292
    Abstract: A commercial and institutional kitchen retrofit system for 1. the automatic daily cleaning of commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and flues, 2. a low pressure, low volume, recirculating cleaning system designed for the removal of oily residue from hard surfaces and the accelerated bioremediation of the resulting collective hydrocarbon waste, 3. the collection and elimination of roof-top grease accumulations, 4. the systematic on site incubation and enhanced propagation of cultured, hydrocarbon specific, bacterial microorganisms in an automatically mixed aqueous solution containing PH neutral oxidizers and hydrocarbon base emulsifiers altogether, producing a regenerative, recyclable cleaning solution specifically developed for use in 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Pearson Vernie McMinn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5842464
    Abstract: A stove safety guard system that includes a lower safety guard that is detachably attachable to the side walls of a stove unit and supported in the front by the oven handle and an upper safety guard that is detachably secured to the upper and side exterior surfaces of the exhaust hood of the stove unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Inventor: Vivian R. Koch
  • Patent number: 5836297
    Abstract: The invention aims to achieve a strong low-noise exhaust from a smoke collecting hood disposed right above a gas range on a cooking table through a piping in a ceiling in a high-rise apartment house or a detached house. The cooking table is provided on a floor, and the smoke collecting hood is disposed right above the gas range placed on the cooking table and is connected to the piping in the ceiling. The piping is connected to one side of a box-like hollow member provided on an outer surface of an external wall of the house, and a drawing port of an exhaust blower is connected to another side of the box-like hollow member so that the space through which the piping and the drawing port face each other is maximized. The box-like hollow member is formed so that its inside diameter is larger than the inside diameters of the drawing port and the piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Inventor: Tomeji Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 5809993
    Abstract: An upblast exhaust fan for commercial kitchens is constructed with components that are coated with a dry lubricant. The non-stick surfaces that collect grease condensed from the hot cooking gases are easily cleaned with hot water during routine maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Greenheck Fan Corporation
    Inventors: Emery W. Neitzel, Arnold S. Heil, David C. Dahl, Joseph A. Knoedler
  • Patent number: 5803072
    Abstract: A kitchen ventilator, including a collecting box (11) supporting on its upper side a fan casing (10) enclosing a chamber which, by means of an essentially vertical partition (21), delimits an inlet channel (23) and a fan housing with an outlet channel (18), respectively. The collecting box (11), via an outlet opening (19) provided in its upper wall, is connected to the inlet channel (23) and the fan housing contains an impeller (16) rotatable in a vertical plane. The inlet side of the impeller (16) is connected to the inlet channel (23) via an essentially circular opening (20) provided in the partition (21) and the outlet side of the impeller (16) is connected to the outlet channel (18). Each of the inlet and outlet channels (23,18) is formed in inserts (22,17) made of sound-absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux
    Inventor: Markus Strand
  • Patent number: 5775319
    Abstract: A hood comprising a suction and/or filtration unit, to collect cooking fumes of a houshold cooker, complete and functionally independent from the hood housing, provided with means for simple and fast insertion and pull-out from the housing without the use of tools in a fully safe manner for the user.Said suction and/or filtration unit is provided with electric contacts firmly fastened to its structure, which upon insertion in the housing will be connected to a power take-off rigidly fastened inside the housing, so that the electric parts of the unit are live only when the unit is inserted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Turboair S.p.a.
    Inventor: Pierluigi Pettinari
  • Patent number: 5771879
    Abstract: A heated air makeup unit comprises a duct structure having a surrounding wall, a fan for moving air through the duct structure, and a gas burner mounted in the duct structure for heating air being moved past the burner. A pair of laterally spaced converging air-directing plates are disposed outwardly of the burner but inwardly of the surrounding walls of the duct structure for directing air into and through the burner. The laterally spaced converging plates define three air passageways through the duct structure, two outer air passageways between the respective plates and the surrounding walls of the duct structure and a third intermediate air passageway between the two plates with the intermediate air passageway being aligned with the burner. A preprogrammed heater control unit continuously monitors temperature, airflow and the flame about the burner and at the same time controls the temperature of the heated air being expelled from the heated air makeup unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Captive-Aire Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Saltzman
  • Patent number: 5742031
    Abstract: A downdraft cooktop includes an electrical switch having a plurality of cooking rate selections, a vapor withdrawal opening formed in the cooktop adjacent a grill element, a vapor withdrawal duct below and in communication with the withdrawal opening and with a withdrawal fan, an electric motor for driving the withdrawal fan, and a fan control switch for varying rates of operation of the fan. The withdrawal fan is operable for downdraft withdrawal of cooking vapors resulting from operation of the grill element. Grill operation is sensed and during grill operation, the fan control switch is bypassed and the electrical fan motor is operated at a high rate for vapor withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Paul H. Kelly, Ranya C. Hibbler
  • Patent number: 5738083
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hood for the suction and/or the filtration of cooking smokes in a domestic kitchen, having means which allows one, in a simple and rapid way, to direct the air flow sucked from a cooking stove towards a preferred outlet, among a plurality of possible outlets being provided by the hood, and to simultaneously change the operation of the hood from a filtration mode to a suction mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Turboaire S.p.a.
    Inventor: Pierluigi Pettinari
  • Patent number: 5720274
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vapor exhaust hood with a housing which features at least one intake opening equipped at a minimum with one filter, and features at least one outlet opening, and the inside surfaces of which are in part lined with a sound-deadening material, with a fan arranged in the housing. Arranged in the housing, at least opposite each inlet opening of the fan, is sound-absorbing material which from the opposite inlet opening is spaced at least the radius of the fan wheel. The sound-absorbing material has a surface which in size corresponds at least to a circular surface whose radius matches that of the fan wheel. Further measures for noise reduction consist in the arrangement of a vane in the area of the outlet opening, in the application of sound-deadening and/or sound-damping material as well as in the elastic mounting of fan and/or fan motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Gaggenau-Werke Haus-und Lufttechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Brunner, Joachim Damrath, Martin Kornberger
  • Patent number: 5718219
    Abstract: The exhaust hood assembly has a vertically disposed greast extractor which leads into a suction ventilator adapted for expelling air and odor to the outside. The assembly has a first deflector at the entrance into the grease extractor to cause a first swirl of the air loaded with grease, impurities and odors, and a first release thereof into a bucket provided below the greast extractor. Inside the greast extractor there are two deflectors to cause swirls of the air load with grease and odor and release of grease and particles into the bucket. Finally, any grease and/or impurities not released in the grease extractor are centrifugally expelled by the suction ventilator and sent through a tube which also feeds into the bucket. This device is inexpensive to produce and is much more efficient than those currently in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Boudreault
  • Patent number: 5713346
    Abstract: An exhaust hood ventilating system which uses an intake blower of outside air, and an exhaust blower with means for regulating the speed of the blowers and regulating the volume of air into the ventilating hood and means for diverting outdoor intake air into the kitchen area for ventilation before it is passed back to the hood for exhaust to the outdoors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: D.E.R. Investments Ltd.
    Inventor: Irv Kuechler
  • Patent number: 5690093
    Abstract: A range hood having a sleek, modern appearance has a keypad and control circuit which enable adjustment of fan speed and light intensity. The range hood includes a keypad having a linear array of keys which may be individually or collectively used to energize the fan at one of a variety of speeds. A control circuit responds to depression of one or a group of two of the keys and in response selects one of a plurality of possible fan speeds. The array of keys is also used in conjunction with a separate night light key to program the intensity of the light for use as a night light. An automatic shutoff key is used to gradually reduce the fan speed until, ultimately, the fan is deenergized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Nutone, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony L. Schrank, Robert Voosen, Chris Hentschel
  • Patent number: 5690018
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for use in heat treatment of for example French fried potatoes (10). This process takes place in a treatment chamber (3) where the product is exposed to intensive heat radiation from a number of quartz tubes (14) while they constantly are turned by means of a rotating driving wheel (15) with a number of carriers (16) placed along the periphery. Humidity, smoke and smell separated from the product during this process are sucked off by means of a ventilator (17) which leads the polluted air through a filter device (4) via a convector (5) between the treatment chamber (3) and the filter device (4). The whole arrangement is built up into a cabinet (2) which on the top and at the bottom is provided with ventilation openings (26, 27) through which secondary air is flowing for cooling the polluted air flowing through the convector (5). Thereby a heat exchange effect is obtained for reducing the sucked off temperature to an acceptable level before the air reaches the filter device (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Ejner Bjorn Hansen
  • Patent number: 5690848
    Abstract: A suction hood for cookers integrated with an electric which can be moved between a horizontal position for use and a vertical position for folding away. The grill, in its horizontal position for use, being parallel, underneath and at a short distance from the hood, whereas it is concealed behind the hood when folded away. The hood and grill have a single electric power supply and the grill bears a tray, a grid and removable heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Silvano Lamberti
  • Patent number: 5687707
    Abstract: A combined self-cleaning grease and particulate filter and heat exchanger used to collect thermal energy normally vented through flue hoods or other ventilation systems in commercial or institutional kitchens. Fluids circulated within the heat exchanger/filter may then be utilized for heating other mediums, such as water or air, and to promote drainage of the particulate matter and grease from the filter into a removable storage container. The heat exchanger/filter is provided with means for quick assembly and designed to replace existing grease filters, thus allowing economical retrofitting. A baffle filter is further provided which utilizes particular flow patterns to promote a more efficient transfer of grease and particulate matter from the airborne fumes to the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Hydro Hoods Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Henry Prasser
  • Patent number: 5678532
    Abstract: A guard device for protecting the front panel of a smoke exhauster is provided. The device comprises generally a rectangular guard plate slidingly held in a pair of securing appendages which are respectively secured to the ends of the front panel and each has a sliding space, a fillet and a hook member therein. So that the guard plate is snap fitted and repeatedly slides about the sliding space in order to protect the front panel of the smoke exhauster from contaminated with oil and grime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Inventor: Min-Wei Wu
  • Patent number: 5673681
    Abstract: A ventilation system for a single or stacked conveyor ovens includes an exhaust canopy which extends across the top of the ovens and defines exhaust channels positioned above the conveyor openings on opposite sides of the ovens. A make-up air system delivers make-up air beneath each conveyor opening where it is directed upward through an air curtain nozzle to produce an air stream that directs cooking gases emanating from the conveyor openings upward and into the exhaust channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Greenheck Fan Corporation
    Inventors: Emery W. Neitzel, Chris B. Check, Jay J. Bauman
  • Patent number: 5671726
    Abstract: A cooking fume treatment apparatus including at least one fan for drawing cooking fumes through at least one condenser. A condenser may be located above and/or below the cooking surface. A grease tray is located below each condenser for collecting condensate and particulate matter. Each condenser may be mounted to a slidable tray that is removable for maintenance. Each grease tray may be mounted to a slidable tray that is removable for maintenance. The invention also may include at least one filter for filtering the condensed fumes. Each filter may be mounted to a slidable tray that is removable for maintenance. The fumes may be exhausted into the atmosphere or recirculated back into the cooking area. Fluid from the condenser may be used for an auxiliary warming stove or other purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: Robert Y. Hsu
  • Patent number: 5653221
    Abstract: An appliance backsplash assembly includes a cover with a face having an opening for viewing and setting a clock. Top and bottom walls extend rearward of the face. An upper rear wall projects downward from the top wall and a lower rear wall projects upward from the bottom wall. A pair of mounting clips are positioned in the backsplash on each side of the opening. Each clip has a base extending vertically along the face, with a top arm and a bottom arm extending rearward along the top and bottom walls respectively. The clock includes a housing sized to overlie the opening and overlap the clips. Threaded connectors mount the clock housing to the clips and flex the clips to cause the clip bases to firmly engage the cover face and the top and bottom arms to firmly engage the top and bottom walls. The top arms include distal ends which engage the upper rear wall and the bottom arms include distal ends received in slots in the lower rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Charles Luken, Michael Stephen Woods
  • Patent number: 5647339
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device including a bottom frame connected to a gas source in which the connection includes a device for distributing gas emanating from the gas source to openings, the openings being distanced from each other. A middle frame is mounted on the bottom frame and provided with gas jets through which the gas emanating from the openings may flow and be ignited, the jets being located within a plate mounted upon the openings. An upper frame is mounted on the middle frame and includes slatted grills distanced from each other at a distance corresponding to the distance between the gas jets. All frames are located one upon another in one subframe or in separate frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Shalom Ezra
  • Patent number: 5619982
    Abstract: A downdraft cooktop includes an electrical switch having a plurality of cooking rate selections, a vapor withdrawal opening formed in the cooktop adjacent a grill element, a vapor withdrawal duct below and in communication with the withdrawal opening and with a withdrawal fan, an electric motor for driving the withdrawal fan, and a fan control switch for varying rates of operation of the fan. The withdrawal fan is operable for downdraft withdrawal of cooking vapors resulting from operation of the grill element. Grill operation is sensed and during grill operation, the fan control switch is bypassed and the electrical fan motor is operated at a high rate for vapor withdrawal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Maytag Corporation
    Inventors: Paul H. Kelly, Ranya C. Hibbler
  • Patent number: 5577490
    Abstract: An exhaust hood for commercial or institutional kitchens. The hood is designed to capture individually each of the plumes emanating from diverse cooking or heating devices disposed beneath the hood and includes means for minimizing the quantity of air removed from the atmosphere ambient to, but outside the hood, this means including a plenum within the hood and individually sized entrance openings into compartments defined above each of the cooking or heating devices and through which ambient air is drawn at a minimum capture velocity for that plume anticipated to be generated by the heating or cooking device that is associated with each compartment. A method for carrying out the invention is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Duncan E. Overton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5577817
    Abstract: A portable enclosure utilized for storing and working with paints and paint related items comprises a lower housing having a bottom surface and a spill containing upper working surface. Included is an upper housing positioned above the lower housing. Casters are associated with the lower housing bottom surface and permit movement of the storage enclosure over a supporting surface. An exhaust fan is provided to vent harmful vapors away from the working surface and the housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Cory Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5572984
    Abstract: A modular kiosk for use in the food service industry is described. The kiosk includes one or more structural units having upstanding sides and back, and a horizontal roof with couplings on the back thereof for coupling appliances disposed in the unit to sources of energy. The unit typically would have metal, upper and lower sections, each receiving a different appliance for cooking or storing food. The unit can include a hood disposed at eye level and a griddle or deep fat fryer disposed below the hood in the middle section. When a hood is included, the hood is intended to be coupled to a flue. The device is intended to be used in malls and open areas for cooking and dispensing food.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: G.S. Blodgett Corporation
    Inventors: Lorne B. Alden, James T. Cole, George McMahon
  • Patent number: 5567216
    Abstract: A grease filter assembly is provided for absorbing grease discharged from a spout of a grease discharge vent extending from a roof. A support frame is mountable to the duct of the grease discharge vent and a grease absorbing pad is supportable upon the support frame in stationary position below the spout and in spaced relation from the roof. The support frame includes support rods mounted adjacent respective sides of the discharge vent duct and can extend beyond their respective duct sides to overlap at two corners of the duct to provide a supporting grid including the end portions of each of two rods extending from two corners of the duct. A grease absorbing pad is supported on the supporting grid disposed adjacent a side of the duct. The pad can be of sufficient length to extend beyond the duct side on both ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: DGA Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Mirza, Robert A. Barasa