WO2018015823A1

WO2018015823A1 - A cooktop

Info

Publication number: WO2018015823A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/053538
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jacopo PIRISINU
Original assignee: Elica SpA
Current assignee: Elica SpA
Priority date: 2016-07-19
Filing date: 2017-06-14
Publication date: 2018-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-19
Also published as: EP3488151A1; DE202017007464U1; IT201600075476A1

Abstract

A cooktop (1) comprising a support element (2) having at least one cooking area (3) for accommodating a heating element, and a suction opening (5) for drawing cooking fumes; the cooktop (1) further comprises a suction duct (7) in fluid communication with the opening (5); a centrifugal fan (8) having an inlet port (8a) and a outlet scroll (8b), the inlet port (8a) being in fluid communication with the suction duct (7); a motor (9) associated with the fan (8) to set it into rotation; the support element (2) having a connection area (17) on the bottom surface (2b), and the motor (9) being adapted to be connected to the support element (2) at the connection area (17); the connection area (17) has at least one projecting portion (18) which contacts the motor (9), the motor (9) being fixed to the support element (2) at the projecting portion (18).

Description

"A cooktop"

DESCRIPTION

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

Particularly, but without limitation, the present invention relates to a cooktop integrating a hood that is commercially available under the name of "downdraft hood".

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Domestic hoods have become a common feature in residential kitchens, due to their undisputed usefulness in extracting food preparation gases, i.e. vapors generated during by cooking. The provision of domestic hoods that can effectively remove cooking vapors generated during food preparation is of increasing importance.

For this purpose, hoods have been developed that can both extract air and exhaust the extracted air out of the house, using an intake section, and filter such air and recirculate it into the domestic environment.

Downdraft hoods are among the variety of commercially available hoods, and are often integrated either in a cooktop or in a kitchen furniture countertop. Namely, a downdraft hood is configured to generate a crossflow that is higher than the ascending flow rate of cooking steam, so that such steam is extracted toward the cooktop in a vertical downward direction.

One example of these downdraft hoods, which is particularly integrated in a cooktop, is shown in Patent Application IT 102016000034820, by the Applicant hereof.

This document discloses a cooktop comprising a support element. Such support element has a top surface and a bottom surface. Cooking areas are defined on the top surface, and have the purpose of accommodating a heating element.

The support element has a suction opening for drawing cooking fumes. The cooktop further comprises a suction duct, in fluid communication with the suction opening. A centrifugal fan is in fluid communication with the suction opening, and particularly has an inlet port in fluid communication with the suction duct. The fan ejects the fumes through a outlet scroll.

A motor is associated with the centrifugal fan to set it into rotation. Particularly, the support element has a connection area for the motor on its bottom surface.

The above described cooktop was found by the Applicant to be affected by the drawback of being subject to vibration. Such vibration is mainly caused by the combined action of the motor and the rotating mass of the fan, and has the undesired effect of producing noise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a cooktop that can obviate the above mentioned prior art drawbacks.

Particularly, the present invention has the object of providing a cooktop that can minimize vibration and the resulting acoustic noise.

The aforementioned technical purpose and objects are substantially fulfilled by a cooktop that comprises the technical features as disclosed in one or more of the accompanying claims.

Advantages

Particularly, a cooktop in accordance with the present invention comprises a support element that has a top surface and a bottom surface. At least one cooking area is configured to accommodate a heating element at the top surface. The support element further has a suction opening for drawing cooking fumes.

The cooktop also comprises a suction duct, in fluid communication with the suction opening. A centrifugal fan has an inlet port and a outlet scroll. The inlet port of the centrifugal fan is in fluid communication with the suction duct. A motor is associated with the centrifugal fan to set it into rotation.

The support element further has a connection area on its bottom surface. The motor is designed to be connected to the support element at the connection area.

The connection area has at least one projecting portion, which directly contacts the motor. Such motor is fixed to the support element at the projecting portion. The cooktop comprises connection means operable between the projecting portion of the connection area and the motor to fix the motor to the support element.

Optionally, the projecting portion has at least one hole. The connection means comprise at least one screw, which is configured to fix the motor to the support element through such hole.

According to a first embodiment of the invention, the connection area comprises a plurality of projecting portions. Each projecting portion has at least one hole formed therein for a respective screw.

According to a second embodiment, the connection area has a single projecting portion which has in turn a plurality of holes, preferably three. Each hole is configured to receive a respective fastening screw for fixing the motor.

The cooktop of the invention obviates the technical need of stiffening the connection area at the motor fastening points, thereby affording more stable fixation and increasing the frequency of system defined by the support element, the motor and the fan. All these effects contribute to a considerable reduction of noise.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the support element has at least one lightening area located proximate to the connection area. Particularly, the support element has a pair of lightening areas located outside the projecting portion.

Advantageously, the lightening areas impart higher flexibility to the structure of the support element, and help to confine any vibration in the lightening area. Furthermore, the lightening areas also afford a limited oscillation range in the connection area without allowing such range to have effects on other parts of the support element, which will provide further minimization of both vibration and noise generated thereby.

LIST OF DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will result more clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a cooktop as shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a cooktop of the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a perspective exploded bottom view of the cooktop of Figure 1, according to a first embodiment;

- Figure 2a is a perspective view of a detail of the cooktop of Figures 1 and 2;

- Figure 3 is a perspective bottom view of a detail of the cooktop of Figure 2; and

- Figure 4 is a perspective bottom view of the detail of Figure 3 according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Even when this is not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliary to and/or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the annexed figures, numeral 1 generally designates a cooktop of the present invention.

The cooktop 1 comprises a support element 2. The support element 2 has a top surface 2a and a bottom surface 2b. Namely, when the cooktop 1 is installed, the top surface 2a of the support element 2 is designed to be the exposed or visible side and the bottom surface 2b is designed to be the side that is hidden to the view of users, e.g. embedded in kitchen furniture.

In one embodiment, the top surface 2a is embodied as a glass sheet or a sheet made of any material having glass-like properties (not shown).

According to a preferred aspect, both the top surface 2a and the bottom surface 2b are embodied as parallel and opposed flat surfaces.

More in detail, the support element 2 has at least one cooking area 3 which is configured to accommodate a heating element (not shown) at the top surface 2a.

Particularly referring to Figure 1, a plurality of cooking areas 3 may be defined on the top surface 2a. In this case, the cooking areas 3 are suitably distributed over the top surface 2a of the support element 2 and are particularly designed to radiate heat, if the heating elements are of resistive type, o induce heat generation in appropriate cooking containers, if the heating elements are of inductive type.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, there are four cooking areas 3, although different alternative embodiments, not shown, may be provided, in which a greater or smaller number of cooking areas.

The support element 2 further has a cavity 4, which substantially extends between the top surface 2a and the bottom surface 2b. Preferably, the cavity 4 is located in a central area relative to the positions of the cooking areas 3. In the embodiment of the figures, the cavity 4 extends from the top surface 2a and almost reaches the bottom surface 2b without touching it, i.e. leaves a space that may be designed for collection of water, steam and/or fluids.

The support element 2 further has a suction opening 5, particularly situated at the cavity 4, for drawing cooking fumes. Preferably, the suction opening 5 has a circular shape and is protected by a grille 6. The grille 6 is preferably removable for maintenance purposes.

The grille 6 has a safety purpose, as it prevents the introduction of foreign elements into the suction opening 5.

Therefore, in one aspect, the support element defines a volume that is adapted to contain the parts required for controlling and heating/cooking food, as well as for downward extraction of cooking vapors.

The cooktop 1 also comprises a suction duct 7, in fluid communication with the suction opening 5.

The cooktop 1 further comprises a centrifugal fan 8 having an inlet port 8a and an outlet scroll 8b. The inlet port 8a is in fluid communication with the suction duct 7. Particularly referring to Figure 2, it shall be noted that the centrifugal fan 8 has two inlet ports 8a and 8a' at the axis of rotation, located on each side of the fan 8.

More in detail, as shown for instance in Figure 2, the cooktop 1 comprises a housing 10 for the centrifugal fan 8. The housing 10 defines both the suction duct 7 and the outlet scroll 8b of the centrifugal fan 8.

The housing 10 is in turn defined by first 10a and second 10b half-parts and a partition element lOd. It is further closed by a cover element 10c. As clearly shown in Figure 2, in operation the centrifugal fan 8a is situated between the two half-parts 10a, 10b.

More in detail, the first half-part 10a has a perimeter wall 11 which at least partially defines the suction duct 7 and the outlet scroll 8b. A partition wall 12 separates the suction duct 7 from the outlet scroll 8b of the centrifugal fan 8. A diaphragm 13 is transverse to the walls 11, 12 and at least partially defines the outlet scroll 8b of the centrifugal fan 8, and has one of the two aforementioned inlet ports 8a which, once the cooktop 1 is assembled, channels air into the centrifugal fan 8. The first half-part 10a is directly fixed to the support element 2.

The second half-part 10b is configured to close the first half-part 10a, and is particularly fixed to the first half-part 10a. More in detail, the second half-part has its own perimeter wall 14 and a partition wall 15, which correspond to the same walls 11, 12 of the first half-part 10a and are configured to mate against them. The second half-part 10b further comprises an additional diaphragm 16, transverse to the walls 14, 15, which defines the other inlet port 8a of the centrifugal fan 8.

The partition element 10b overlies the two half-parts 10a, 10b, at the partition walls 12, 15. In operation, the partition element divides the stream of fumes into two branches 7a of the suction duct 7. Each branch 7a ends in one of the respective inlet ports 8a of the fan 8.

More in detail, the partition element 10b has an outer surface 25 that faces a section 7b of the suction duct 7, and an inner surface 26 that faces the branches 7a of the suction duct 7.

Due to the profile of the outer surface 25 of the partition element lOd, the cooking vapors are divided between the two branches 7a of the suction duct 7 and, due to the profile of the inner surface 26, the two portions of the vapors are conveyed by laminar flow toward the two inlet ports 8a of the centrifugal fan 8. Particularly, the curved shape of the partition wall 1 Od makes such portions more laminar as it facilitates and promotes their movement toward the housing of the fan 8.

In a preferred embodiment, the curved shape of the partition element lOd has the shape of an arc of a parabola.

In one aspect, the first stream portion that flows in the respective branch 7b of the suction duct 7 to reach the port 8a of the centrifugal fan 8, shall flow through a first intake grille 27, and the second stream portion shall flow through a second intake grill 28 to access the port 8a' of the centrifugal fan 8.

It shall be noted that the grilles 27, 28 are the grilles required by regulations to protect user safety, by preventing users from directly reaching the centrifugal fan 8 and the electrically powered parts.

Concerning the cover element 10c, it has the shape of a half-shell and, once the cooktop 1 is assembled, it encloses the two half-parts 10a, 1 Ob and the partition element, in combination with the support element 2.

The cooktop 1 comprises a motor 9 associated with the centrifugal fan 8 to set it into rotation. Particularly, the motor 9 is mechanically coupled to the centrifugal fan 8, e.g. by a direct mechanical coupling between the rotor of the motor 9 and the hub of the centrifugal fan 8. In a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the centrifugal fan 8 is 185 mm and its rotation, imposed by the motor 9 may be as high as 2700-3000 revolutions/min. Alternative embodiments, not shown, can be provided, in which the dimensions of the centrifugal fan 8 and the rpm of the motor 9 may be changed to meet any new design specifications.

The support element 2 further has a connection area 17 on the bottom surface 2b for fixing the motor 9 to the support element 1. In other words, the motor is designed to be connected to the support element at such connection area 17.

Particularly referring to Figures 3 and 4, it shall be noted that the connection area 17 has at least one projecting portion 18 that directly contacts the motor 9. The projecting portion 18 is particularly defined by a protrusion of the bottom surface 2b which projects outwards, i.e. toward the motor 9.

In other words, the portion 18 projects out of the bottom surface 2b and faces the motor 9.

In one aspect, the motor 9 is fixed to the support element 2 at the projecting portion 18.

Particularly, the cooktop 1 comprises connection means 23 operable between the projecting portion 18 of the connection area 17 and the motor 9 to fix the motor 9 to the support element 2.

Still referring to the embodiments as shown in Figures 3 and 4, it can be noted that the projecting portion 18 has at least one hole 19. The connection means comprise at least one screw 24, which is configured to fix the motor 9 to the support element 2 through the hole 19. Particularly, the connection means 23 comprise as many screws 24 as there are holes 19 in the connection area 17.

In alternative embodiments, the screw 24 may be replaced by any analogous fastening element known to the skilled person, such as, by way of example, rivets, welds, glue or else.

More in detail, in the embodiment as shown in Figure 3, the connection area 17 comprises a plurality of projecting portions 18. Each projecting portion 18 has a single hole 19 formed therein for receiving a respective screw. Such projecting portions 18 have a preferably circular plan shape and are arranged along a circumference.

The projecting portions 18 of Figure 3 are preferably three in number, and are angularly equally spaced. In alternative embodiments, not shown, there may be four angularly equally spaced projecting portions, or two opposed projecting portions.

In alternative embodiments, not shown, any number of projecting portions 18 may be provided. Their arrangement may change depending on the design specifications.

Referring to the embodiment of Figure 4, the connection area 17 may have a single projecting portion 18 which has in turn a plurality of holes. In this case, the projecting portion 18 has a circular ring plan shape.

In this case, preferably three holes 19 are provided, which are angularly equally spaced on the projecting portion 18.

In one aspect of the invention, the support element 2 has at least one lightening area 20 located proximate to the connection area 17. Particularly, the lightening areas 20 substantially delimit the connection area 17.

More in detail, the support element 2 has a pair of lightening areas 20 located outside the projecting portions 18. These lightening areas 20 are particularly defined each by a respective cutout 21. The cutout 21 has the shape of a circular arc. The cutouts 21 are separated by two bridges 22 which connect the connection area 17 to the rest of the support element 2. In the embodiment of Figure 4, the cutouts 21 are arranged in substantially concentric positions relative to the single projecting portion 18

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs. All of these variants and changes fall within scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A cooktop (1) comprising:

- a support element (2) having a top surface (2a) and a bottom surface (2b);

- at least one cooking area (3) configured to accommodate a heating element at said top surface (2a);

- a suction opening (5) for drawing cooking fumes;

- a suction duct (7) in fluid communication with said intake opening (5);

- a centrifugal fan (8) having an inlet port (8a) and a outlet scroll (8b), said inlet (8a) being in fluid communication with said suction duct (7);

- a motor (9) associated with said centrifugal fan (8) to set it into rotation;

- sad support element (2) comprising a connection area (17) located on said bottom surface (2b);

- said motor (9) being designed to be connected to said support element (2) at said connection area (17);

characterized in that said connection area (17) has at least one projecting portion (18) which directly contacts said motor (9), said motor (9) being fixed to said support element (2) at said projecting portion (18), said cooktop (1) further comprising connection means (23) operable between said projecting portion (18) of said connection area (17) and said motor (9) to fix said motor (9) to said support element (2).

2. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said projecting portion (18) has at least one hole (19), said connection means (23) being configured to fix said motor (9) to said support element (2) through said hole (19).

3. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said connection area (17) comprises a plurality of projecting portions (18), each projecting portion (18) having at least one hole (19).

4. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said projecting portions (18) are arranged along a circumference and are equally angularly spaced.

5. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said connection area (17) comprises a three projecting portions (18), each having a respective hole (19).

6. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said connection area (17) comprises a single projecting portion (18), having a plurality of, preferably three holes (19).

7. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said projecting portion (18) has the shape of a circular ring.

8. A cooktop (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said support element (2) has at least one lightening area (20) located proximate to said connection area (17).

9. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 8, wherein said support element (2) has a pair of lightening areas (20) located outside said projecting portion (18).

10. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein each lightening area (20) is defined by a cutout (21) having the shape of a circular arc.

11. A cooktop (1) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said it comprises a housing (10) for the centrifugal fan (8), said housing (10) defining said suction duct (7), said housing (10) comprising a partition element (10b) operable on a vapor stream in the duct (7) to divide said vapor stream into two portions, each directed toward a respective inlet port (8a, 8a') of said centrifugal fan.

12. A cooktop (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said partition element (lOd) has the shape of an arc, preferably an arc of a parabola.