ES2769598T3 - Cooktop with integrated extractor hood - Google Patents

Abstract

Cooking plate (1) of predetermined width (L), length (1) and height (H), defining an upper surface (1A) and an opposite lower surface (1B), comprising: - a plurality of cooking zones (3) and a cavity (4) in said upper surface (1A); - a device (2) that forms a mounting unit with said upper surface (1A), to operate and control the cooking plate and allow the downward escape of cooking vapors (F), wherein said device (2) comprises in order from said upper surface (1A): - an apparatus (5) functionally configured to contain heating elements that can heat said plurality of cooking zones (3), and control and supervision electronics for said cooking plate, - a first cooking steam intake chamber (6) in fluid communication with said cavity (4), - a fan housing (7) for a radial fan (7A), - a second cooking steam intake chamber ( 8) in fluid communication with said cavity (4), - wherein said fan housing (7) is in fluid communication with said first intake chamber (6) and said second intake chamber (8), characterized by that said first admission chamber (6) is configured to divide said cooking vapors (F) into a first part (F1) of cooking vapors to transport down into the fan housing (7) and a second part (F2) of cooking vapors to transport upward into the fan housing (7) through said second intake chamber (8).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cooktop with integrated extractor hood

Technical field

The present invention relates to a hob in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

In particular, although without limitation, the present invention relates to a cooktop that has a commercially available cooker hood integrated under the name "downdraft cooker". Background of the Invention

Exhaust hoods for domestic use have become a common element in residential kitchens, due to their indisputable utility for the extraction of gases from food preparation, that is, vapors generated during cooking.

The provision of household range hoods that can ensure effective removal of cooking vapors generated during food preparation is becoming increasingly important.

To this end, range hoods have been developed that can both draw air in and exhaust air out of the home using an intake section, and filter such air and recirculate it to the home environment.

Downstream range hoods are among the variety of commercially available range hoods and are often integrated into a hob or kitchen counter top.

Specifically, a downdraft hood is configured to generate a cross flow that is greater than the rising rate of cooking steam, such that steam is drawn to the cooking plate in a vertical downward direction.

An example of these downdraft hoods is disclosed in US 2,674,991, US 2007/0062513 or WO 201 2/146237.

These documents disclose a cooktop with an integrated cooker hood. The range hoods disclosed in this document are configured to extract gases through a cavity or slot formed in the hob, substantially close to the geometric center defined by the food heating zones.

Although the hob implementations as disclosed in US 2,674,991, US 2007/0062513, and WO 2012/146237 allow for proper function for their intended purposes, they still have an inefficient construction in terms of both to energy and especially to the efficiency of fluid dynamics.

Therefore, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooktop with an integrated cooker hood that is generally more efficient than that of the prior art designs.

Brief description of the invention

In accordance with the present invention, the aforementioned technical purpose and objects are fulfilled thanks to a hob as defined in one or more of the claims annexed to this document.

Advantage

Furthermore, the present invention provides a cooktop with an integrated cooker hood that has improved energy efficiency, i.e. consumes less energy than prior art designs.

The present invention also provides a cooktop with an integrated cooker hood that has a more efficient filtering effect on the extracted gases.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the non-limiting and illustrative description of preferred non-exclusive embodiments of a household range hood, as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a top perspective view of an embodiment of a hob of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the extractor hood of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the parts of the extractor hood of figure 1; - Figure 4 shows a perspective sectional view of the extractor hood of figure 1, with some parts omitted to better show other parts;

- Figure 5 shows a side sectional view of the extractor hood of figure 1, with some parts omitted to better show other parts.

Detailed description

Although not expressly mentioned, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments will be understood as auxiliary to and / or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

A cooktop of the present invention is generally indicated by number 1 in the figures.

The hob 1 has a predetermined width "L", a length "1" and a height "H" and comprises, preferably within such height "H", a device 2 that houses the parts necessary to control and heat / cook food, as well as to extract cooking gases F, as described in more detail below.

Such a hob 1 defines an upper surface 1A and a lower surface 1B.

Specifically, when the hob 1 is installed, the top surface 1A is designed to be the side that is exposed or visible and the bottom surface 1B is designed to be the side that is hidden from the view of users, for example , integrated into the kitchen furniture.

In one aspect, a plurality of cooking zones 3 and a cavity 4 can be found on the top surface 1A.

The plurality of cooking zones 3 are conveniently arranged on the upper surface 1A and can in particular radiate heat to transfer such heat to a container containing the food to be heated.

In a preferred embodiment, the cooking zones 3 are incorporated as resistive or, more preferably, inductive heating elements.

Although the plurality of cooking zones 3 are four zones in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, other embodiments may conceive of a greater or lesser number of zones.

In one embodiment, the top surface 1A is incorporated as a sheet of glass or a sheet made of any material having glass-like properties.

The cavity 4 extends substantially between the upper surface 1A and the lower surface 1B and is preferably located in a central area in relation to the positions of the cooking zones 3.

In the particular embodiment of the figures, the cavity 4 extends from the upper surface 1A and almost reaches the lower surface 1B without touching it, that is, it leaves a space that, as described in more detail below, is designed to collect water, steam and / or fluids.

In particular, as also shown in Figure 1, the cavity 4 forms an intake port 4A, preferably circular in shape, which is protected by a grid 4B and a bottom part 4C (see Figure 5).

The cavity 4 has a cylindrical shape, which is open both on the lateral surface and on the base surface (that is, the surface that forms the lower part 4C) so that the cooking gases F can circulate towards the intake chambers 6 and 8, as described in more detail below.

It should be appreciated that the grid 4B can be removed from the intake port 4A and also has a safety function, since it prevents the introduction of elements that may interfere with the operation of the electric machine 8. In one aspect, also with reference to the figure 5, the cooking plate 1 comprises a filter 11 arranged in the cavity 4 to filter grease and cooking gas vapors.

That is, such a filter 11 is designed to create a shape fit with cavity 4.

Preferably, filter 11 is a grease filter consisting of metal mesh or other materials that have similar characteristics.

In a preferred embodiment, the filter 11 is cylindrical in shape and can be removed by the user from the cavity 4 to carry out normal maintenance operations, such as cleaning or replacement.

In one aspect, the device forms a mounting unit with the hob 1, to operate the hob and allow the cooking vapors F to flow downward, ie below the upper surface 1A.

That is, the device 2 is integrated with the upper surface 1A, so that the cooker hood is integrated in the hob.

Specifically, this device 2 is configured to transport the flow of cooking vapors F that has been generated and is generated over the cooking zones 3 in a vertical downward direction below the cooking plate itself.

In a peculiar aspect of the present invention, also with reference to figure 5, the device 2 comprises, successively, from the upper surface 1A:

- an apparatus 5 functionally configured to contain the heating elements necessary to heat the cooking zones 3 and the electronics to control the cooking plate 1,

- a first cooking steam admission chamber 6 in fluid communication with such cavity 4,

- a fan housing 7 for a radial fan 7A,

- a second cooking steam admission chamber 8 in fluid communication with such cavity 4.

It should be appreciated that, as used herein, the term "successively" indicates the succession of the aforementioned elements in the specific order, in the direction from top surface 1A to bottom surface 1B.

Conveniently, the fan housing 7 is in fluid communication with both the first intake chamber (6) and the second intake chamber (8).

In one aspect, the first intake chamber (6) is configured to divide the cooking vapors F into a first part F1 of the cooking vapors for transporting downwards in the fan housing 7 and a second part F2 for transporting upwards in the fan housing 7 through said second intake chamber 8. Therefore, due to the presence of the first intake chamber 6, the cooking vapors F are divided into two streams F1 and F2, which are transported with a less turbulent flow, i.e. a more laminar flow, towards the fan housing 7.

This separation of the cooking vapors F in the two streams F1 and F2 is particularly beneficial compared to a single downdraft of cooking vapors flowing towards the fan housing 7, as disclosed in the prior art, since that the two streams F1 and F2 have less vorticity and are less exposed to pressure losses.

Specifically, in the present invention, the cooking vapors F are separated in the two streams F1 and F2 by means of a perimeter wall 6a of the intake chamber 6.

Such wall 6A acts as a firing steam conveyor F and in particular acts as a partition for such firing vapors F circulating along cavity 4, between the first and second compensation chamber 6 and 8.

Such a perimeter wall 6A defines in particular an outer surface that faces the cavity and an inner cavity that faces the intake chambers 6 and 8, as well as the housing 7 for the fan 7A.

Due to the profile of the outer surface of the perimeter wall 6A, the cooking vapors F are divided into the first and second part F1, F2 respectively and, due to the profile of the inner surface of the perimeter wall 6A, the first part of steam F1 and the second steam part F2 are transported by laminar flow towards the housing 7. In particular, the curved shape of the perimeter wall 6A makes such parts F1 and F2 more laminar since it facilitates and favors their movement towards the housing of fan 7.

In a preferred embodiment, the curved shape of the perimeter wall 6A is in the shape of an arc of a parabola. In one aspect, the first stream part F1 will flow through an intake grille 6B to access the first intake chamber 6 from the cavity to reach the housing 7 of the fan 7A while the second stream part F2 will flow through of an intake grille 7E to access the housing 7 of the fan 7A.

It should be noted that the grills 6B and 7E are the grids required by regulations to protect the safety of the user, preventing users from directly reaching the fan 7A and the electrically powered parts.

It should be further appreciated that the 6B grid not only acts as a protection element, but can also give a more regular pattern to the first F1 stream.

For this purpose, the intake grille 6B is placed next to the lower part 5A of the electronics housing 5.

Due to this position of the grid 6B relative to the lower part 5A of the apparatus 5, the cooking steam part F1 will be directed outwards, i.e. substantially parallel to the upper surface of the cooking plate 1, before reaching housing 7.

In order for the cooking vapors F to be extracted through the cavity 4, the cooking plate 1 comprises an electric machine 12 which is configured to drive the radial fan 7A, for example, by means of a mechanical coupling between the rotor of the electric machine and the radial fan bushing 7A.

For example, the electric machine 12 is incorporated as a single electric motor.

Preferably, the hob 1 uses a single housing 7 (which is known to act as a volute for the two streams F1 and F2 and therefore as a path for the gases to the vent tube) that the fan 7A has in its interior.

In an alternative embodiment, two opposing fans can be provided in housing 7, which are driven by a single electric motor 12.

In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the fan 7A measures 185 mm and its rotation, imposed by the motor 12, can be up to 2700-3000 revolutions / min.

As shown in the table below, these dimensional characteristics, as well as the separation of the cooking vapors F into two streams F1 and F2, will provide a better energy efficiency class and a higher FDE index compared to hobs. of the prior art.

In one aspect, also with reference to Figure 5, the electric machine 12 is at least partially housed in the first intake chamber 6.

Specifically, a part of the electric machine is housed in the first suction chamber 6 and the rest is housed in the fan housing 7.

This is beneficial because, since the motor is not completely incorporated in housing 7, that is, part of it is outside the volume defined by housing 7, there will be more space in housing 7 and a greater amount of air can be introduced, which which will improve the performance of the hob 1.

In one aspect, also with reference to Figure 3, the electrical machine 12 is mechanically connected to the bottom 5A of the housing 5 for the electronics, in order to obtain a stable connection of the motor.

It should be appreciated that the control electronics for controlling the hob 1 are configured to supervise the operation of the heating elements and the operation of the devices necessary to extract the cooking vapors F, that is, the devices that form the extractor hood ( the first and second intake chambers 6 and 8, the fan housing 7, the fan 7A and the electric machine 12).

The hob 1 comprises a steam vent tube 9 which, in the case of a simple cooker hood (i.e. without additional filter elements), directly fits into the housing 7, and in the case of a cooker hood of filter is coupled to housing 7 with a filter block interposed therebetween, the latter being formed for example with one or more carbon-based filters (highly effective in removing odors from cooking vapors F).

It will be appreciated that the fan housing 7, as shown in Figure 3, defines a side wall 7B that acts as a volute, and a bottom part 7D that has an intake grille 7E through which the second part circulates. of cooking fumes F2.

The intake grille 7E is also designed to impart a regular pattern to the second steam portion F2 to improve the efficiency of fluid dynamics.

In one aspect, the lower part 7D of the housing 7 and the lower surface 1B of the cooking plate 1, also with reference to Figure 4, define an intake flow channel 10 for the second cooking steam part F2. The channel 10 extends particularly between the lower part 4C of the cavity 4 and the lower part 7D of the housing 7 for the fan 7A. This channel 10 actually forms the second intake chamber 8 and is placed upstream (compared to the firing steam path for the second part F2) from the housing 7.

Channel 10 is configured so that the cooking vapors F2 are directed outward. This outward direction is substantially parallel to the upper surface of the hob 1 (see figure 4).

It will further be appreciated that the cavity 4 extends along a preset Y-Y axial direction, which is different from the vertical Y-Y 'direction of the fan 7A or the electric machine 12.

That is, the YY axis of the cavity 4 is offset with respect to the Y'-Y 'axis of the fan 7A or of the electrical machine. In one aspect, it will be appreciated that the channel also acts as a collector for condensate, water, or other fluids.

Specifically, channel 10 is thus designed so that it can contain a certain amount of fluids that will not be extracted by fan 7A, and therefore will not affect the operation of electrical machine 12.

However, a hole will be provided in the lower surface 1B, with a cover 1C for the drainage of the fluids collected inside (see figure 3).

To assess compliance with the intended objects, the applicant compared the cooktop 1, in its range hood version, with the BORA® BFIA cooktop which has the characteristics of the disclosure of document WO 2012/146237.

In particular, the BORA® BFIA hob is a hob with an integrated extractor hood, the extraction components of which include mainly two motors, two volutes and a single downstream steam stream, which is divided into two streams within respective intake chambers only located close to the hob.

The results of this comparison are summarized in the following table:

It should be noted that the above tests have been carried out in accordance with the international standard "CEI IEC 61591: Household range hoods - Methods for measuring performance".

It should also be noted that the FDE index is the most representative parameter for evaluating the quality of the extractor hood since it expresses the relationship between the work produced by the extraction unit (that is, volute 7 and fan 7 in the case of the hob 1) and the energy supplied by the electric machine (i.e. the electric motor 12, in the case of the hob 1).

In view of the above, as shown by the results in the table, the hob 1 has a considerably better energy efficiency class compared to the BORA® BFIA hob. The energy efficiency class of the hob 1 is A + and the energy efficiency class of BORA® BFIA is B.

This is due both to the fact that the hob 1 uses a single motor instead of the two motors of the BORA®BFIA hob and that it especially has a better fluid dynamics behavior than the BORA® BFIA.

In this sense, it can be seen that the FDE index for the hob 1 is considerably better than that of the BORA® BFIA and is approximately 65% higher than the FDE index that can be achieved with the BORA® BFIA.

This advantage derives from the characteristic that the hob 1 has two different intake chambers 6 and 8, that is, one located close to the inlet 4A of the cavity 4 and the other located near the lower surface 1B of the hob. cooking 1 and in particular that the cooking steam stream is divided into two more regular streams F1 and F2.

Namely, the first stream F1 is directed downwards towards the fan housing 7 and the second stream F2 is raised towards such housing 7.

In contrast, in the BORA® BFIA hob, there is a single stream of cooking steam, which is a vortex flow directed towards the bottom of the hob and is divided into two streams, also forming vortices, formerly entering the respective fan housings.

In particular, in the BORA® BFIA cooktop, the current is only divided due to the fact that the cooking vapors impinge on the cooktop and separate randomly, i.e. with less efficiency compared to the separation of the two streams obtained with the hob of the present invention.

It should be further appreciated that the configuration of the hob 1 is advantageous compared to the BORA® BFIA hob also in terms of maximum static pressure, ie the ability to avoid pressure loss.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that various changes and variations can be made to the arrangements as described so far to meet unforeseen and specific needs.

All these variations and changes fall within the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. Cooktop (1) of predetermined width (L), length (1) and height (H), which defines an upper surface (1A) and an opposite lower surface (1B), comprising: - a plurality of cooking zones (3) and a cavity (4) in said upper surface (1A); - a device (2) that forms a mounting unit with said upper surface (1A), to operate and control the hob and allow the downward escape of cooking vapors (F), wherein said device (2) comprises in order from said upper surface (1A): - an apparatus (5) functionally configured to contain heating elements that can heat said plurality of cooking zones (3), and control and supervision electronics for said cooking plate, - a first chamber for cooking steam admission (6) in fluid communication with said cavity (4), - a fan housing (7) for a radial fan (7A), - a second cooking steam intake chamber (8) in fluid communication with said cavity (4), - in which said fan housing (7) is in fluid communication with said first intake chamber (6) and said second intake chamber (8), characterized in that said first intake chamber (6) is configured to divide said cooking vapors (F) into a first part (F1) of cooking vapors to transport downwards in the fan housing (7) and a second part ( F2) of cooking vapors to transport upwards in the fan housing (7) through said second intake chamber (8). 2. The hob according to claim 1, wherein said first intake chamber (6) comprises a curved perimeter wall (6A) that acts as a conveyor to separate said cooking vapors (F) in said first part (F1) and second part (F2). Cooktop according to claim 2, wherein said first intake chamber (6) comprises an intake grill (6B) through which said first steam part (F1) circulates, said intake grill being positioned next to said apparatus (5). Cooktop according to claim 1, comprising a steam exhaust duct (9), wherein said fan housing is in direct communication with said duct (9) in an extraction configuration or through a filter in a filter configuration of said cooktop. Cooktop according to claim 1, wherein said fan housing (7) has said fan (7A) installed therein and comprises a lower part (7D) having an intake grille (7E) through which circulates said second part of the cooking vapors (F2), and a wall that acts as a volute (7B). Cooktop according to claim 5, wherein said lower part (7D) of said fan housing (7) defines, with said lower surface (1B) an intake flow channel (10) for the cooking vapors . Cooktop according to claim 1, comprising an electric machine (12) configured to operate said radial fan (7A), said electric machine being at least partially housed in said first intake chamber (6). Cooktop according to claim 7, wherein said electric machine (12) is mechanically connected to a lower part (5A) of said apparatus (5). Cooktop according to claim 1, in which said first (F1) and second (F2) part of steams are transported respectively to said first (6) and second (8) intake chamber, in an outward direction parallel to said bottom surface of said cooktop. 10. The hob according to claim 1, wherein said cavity (4) extends in a preset vertical direction (YY) that is displaced with respect to the axis of rotation (Y-Y ') of said radial fan (7A) .