IT202000002998U1 - CONDENSATE COLLECTOR DEVICE FOR USE IN A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE EQUIPPED WITH MEANS FOR SUCTION AND/OR FILTERING OF FUMES AND VAPOR - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

annexed to the application for a patent for an industrial invention entitled:

?DEVICE TO COLLECT CONDENSATE USABLE IN A DOMESTIC APPLIANCE EQUIPPED WITH MEANS FOR

ASPIRATION AND/OR FILTERING OF FUMES AND VAPOR?

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a condensate collection device which can be used in any household appliance provided with means for sucking in and/or filtering the fumes and vapors produced during the usual operations of preparing and cooking food.

Preferably, the present invention relates to a condensate collection device which can be used in a hob, in particular in an extractor hob provided with means for sucking in and/or filtering fumes and vapours.

As is known, there are cooking hobs equipped both with heating means, suitable for allowing food to be cooked, and with suction means, suitable for intercepting and aspirating the fumes and vapors produced during said cooking.

These aspirating hobs have achieved good success, thanks to their contained dimensions and the possibility of? to avoid installing an extractor hood positioned above the hob itself.

Over time they have been perfected and produced in different variations so? to be able to adapt to different installation requirements.

However, these aspirating hobs are not free from problems and/or critical points.

The main problem? linked to the formation of condensation in the intake area.

Such a problem ? been partially resolved by providing condensate collection containers, such as trays, capable of receiving and storing the condensate.

These containers must be periodically checked by the user and emptied by removing them from the hob.

Isn't this removal? always easy and pu? cause, due to clumsy or accidental movements of the user, spills of liquid on the hob or in its vicinity.

Another problem? due to the noise? of these hobs, noisiness? mainly due to the means of suction.

Purpose of the present invention? to obviate this kind of inconvenience, providing a condensate collection device capable of simplifying the removal and emptying phases.

Further object of the present invention, at least for one or more? executive variants, ? provide a condensate collection device that can be easily integrated and installed on an extractor hob or similar household appliances provided with suction and/or filtering means.

This and other aims, which will become clear hereinafter, are achieved with a condensate collection device and related devices in accordance with the provisions of claim 1.

Other objects can also be achieved by the additional features of the dependent claims.

Further characteristics of the present invention will be better highlighted by the following description of a preferred embodiment, in accordance with the patent claims and illustrated, purely by way of non-limiting example, in the attached drawings, in which:

- fig. 1 shows a perspective sectional view of the device according to the present invention in accordance with a first possible embodiment installed on an extractor hob;

- fig. 2 shows a second perspective view in section of the device of Fig. 1;

- fig. 3 shows a third perspective view in section of the device of Fig. 1;

- fig. 4 shows a fourth perspective view in section of the device of Fig. 1;

- fig. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of the device according to the present invention in accordance with a second possible embodiment variant installed on a different type of extractor hob; - fig.6 shows a sectional view of the device of fig.5;

- fig. 7 shows a perspective sectional view of the device according to the present invention installed on a different type of extractor hob;

- Fig.8 perspective view in section of the device of Fig.7;

- figs. 9a and 9b respectively show a perspective view of the device according to the present invention in accordance with a first possible embodiment;

- figs. 10a and 10b respectively show a perspective view of the device according to the present invention in accordance with a second possible embodiment variant;

- fig. 11 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 5 with the protection grille of the suction mouth of the hob in its maximum lifted position;

- fig. 12 is a sectional view of the device of Fig. 5 with the protection grille of the suction mouth of the hob in its maximum lowered position;

- fig.13 shows a front sectional view of the device of fig.12.

The characteristics of the condensate collection device and of the relative means according to the present invention are now described, making use of the references contained in the figures.

It should be noted that the aforementioned figures, although schematic, reproduce the elements of the invention according to proportions between their dimensions and spatial orientations which are compatible with a possible embodiment.

Furthermore, it is specified that any dimensional and spatial term (such as ?lower?, ?superior?, ?internal?, ?external?, ?frontal?, ?rear?, ?vertical?, ?horizontal? and the like) possibly used in the hereinafter refers, unless otherwise indicated, to the position according to which the object of the invention represented in the drawings, is placed in operational condition.

The condensate collection device according to the present invention ? susceptible to intercept and collect l?humidity? transported by the fumes that surround the device itself and/or the condensate that forms on the filtering means, on the internal walls of the hood or its components, or the like during the suction of the fumes and vapors from cooking food.

The condensate collection device according to the present invention intends to solve the problem of emptying the collected and accumulated condensate and at the same time intends to reduce the noisiness? of the suction means.

The condensate collection device according to the present invention comprises at least one absorbent medium, suitably shaped and made so as to be able to be installed on different types of household appliances, such as extractor hoods, extractor hoods, extractor hobs or the like, and arranged according to the ? various ways as long as? compatible with the purposes.

Said at least a medium absorbent ? capable of absorbing and retaining the condensate, avoiding the use of the currently used liquid collection trays.

In addition, the absorbent medium pu? allow for the reduction and attenuation of the noise caused by means of extraction, such as for example electric motors, or by the flow of air and aspirated cooking fumes which hit and/or cause the walls of the appliance and/or its ducts to vibrate of aspiration.

In accordance with a preferred variant, said at least one absorbent medium can include absorbent sponges or the like, advantageously made of natural or artificial material, fireproof, washable and with excellent properties? hygroscopic.

even more preferably said absorbent device can? be made in a single component or provide for the cooperation of more? parts, or ? is it possible to provide a single sponge or more? sponges suitably arranged and cooperating with each other.

In general, said condensate collection device ? it can be installed in any household appliance equipped with means for the suction and/or filtering of the fumes and vapors produced during the usual food preparation and cooking operations.

Said appliance can? be provided with means for? suction and/or filtering of fumes and vapours, and can? comprise at least one intake port for the interception of cooking fumes, at least one plenum, intake means and filtering means.

In accordance with the present invention, said household appliance ? characterized in that it comprises at least one condensate collection device 2, wherein said condensate collection device 2 comprises at least one absorbent medium and can be positioned inside said plenum 13 along the path of said fumes.

Without any limiting intent, the condensate collection device according to the present invention is described below, applied to different types of hobs, preferably extractor hobs; nothing prevents that what is illustrated here can be applied, with appropriate precautions, also to different types of household appliances such as wall hoods, downdrafts or the like.

Similarly the hob can? be preferably electric and/or induction although nothing prevents the use of known and/or suitably designed and manufactured gas hobs.

Will it be done? hereinafter reference to an extractor hob equipped with the essential components for its operation, disregarding all those components and accessories (lighting means, control means, filters or the like), which can be installed on an extractor hob, which are not covered by the present treatment.

With the numeral 1 ? indicated as a whole a suction hob equipped with the device 2 to collect condensation according to the present invention.

Said extractor hob 1 can? comprise a cooking hob 10, heating means 11, such as induction modules, resistances, burners or the like, to implement the cooking operations, at least one suction mouth 12 for the interception of the cooking fumes, and at least one plenum 13, substantially a box-shaped body positioned below said cooking surface 10, communicating with at least one exhaust duct 14.

For purposes that will soon be understood, said box-shaped body which defines the plenum 13 ? suitably constrained, by means of known fixing means and/or brackets, to the cooking hob 10 in correspondence with at least a portion of its upper wall 130, hereinafter also called ?lid 130? of the plenum.

In accordance with a first embodiment variant, shown by way of non-limiting example in Figs. from 1 to 4, said suction hob 1 provides for positioning the suction means 100 preferably inside said plenum 13, suitably fixed to said cover wall 130.

Naturally, nothing prevents alternative positioning of said suction means 100, for example, at the bottom 131 of the plenum 13 and/or outside the box-like body of the plenum 13 itself.

The cooking vapors and fumes, recalled by the suction means 100, enter the plenum 13 through the suction mouth 12, reach the suction section 110 and pass through said suction means 100 to then be sent to the exhaust duct 14 through the outlet section of the suction means 100 themselves.

Advantageously, before reaching and passing through said suction means 100, said vapors and fumes pass through at least one filtering means.

In general ? therefore at least one filtering means is provided, preferably of the anti-grease type; nothing prevents you from providing two or more? filtering means which can belong to the same type of filter (grease, ceramic, carbon, etc.) or differ from one another.

For example, at least a first grease filter 30 can preferably be provided, advantageously arranged close to the of said suction mouth 12, and at least one second filter 31, preferably of the ceramic type, advantageously arranged downstream of said first filter 30, for example near the? of the suction section 110 of said suction means 100.

Said second filter 31 pu? be of the carbon, ceramic, long life (panel filter) or similar type.

This combination of the filters 30 and 31 is particularly used in the case of a filtering hood or a filtering hob.

In accordance with a preferred variant, said second ceramic filter 31 can be housed inside a frame or casing 301, preferably made of stainless steel or plastic materials or the like, having the upper wall 310 inclined so to facilitate the movement? Inside the plenum 13 of the flow of fumes intercepted by the suction mouth 12 and make suction and filtering easier? performing.

Furthermore, said inclination allows, in the event of accidental pouring of cooking liquids or the like inside the plenum 13, to guide and slide said liquids towards the condensate collection device 2.

In general, said condensate collection device 2 can? be advantageously positioned inside the plenum 13 along the flue gas path, e.g. downstream of the filters that capture more humidity? from the fumes and therefore generate more condensation.

Preferably the condensate collection device 2 can? be positioned downstream of the first anti-grease filter 30, said first filter 30 capturing the main quantity? of humidity.

In general, said condensate collection device 2 can? be arranged and/or fixed along any wall of the plenum 13 which allows it to be positioned downstream of said first filter 30.

The condensate collection device 2 can? preferably be placed on the bottom 131 of the plenum 13.

In accordance with a possible embodiment variant, shown by way of non-limiting example, said condensate collection device 2 can be positioned between said first filter 30 and said second filter 31.

It should be noted that said condensate collection device 2 can be easily reached and removed by the user, preferably through the suction mouth 12, thus to be replaced, washed and/or emptied/squeezed.

The disassembly operation of said device 2 involves the removal of the protection grid 120 of the suction mouth 12, of the first filter 30 and therefore of the condensate collection device 2.

Once the sponge of said device 2 has been reached, the user can? proceed by removing it, substantially and advantageously without the aid of tools or implements, squeezing it and repositioning it.

The protective grille 120 ? preferably provided with a plurality? d?openings or holes or slots or similar capable of allowing the suction and passage of fumes and cooking vapours.

For the maintenance and removal of the condensate collection device 2, inspection doors (not shown) can also be provided formed on the box-shaped body of the aspirating hob of the invention.

Similarly, also said filters 30 and 31 can advantageously be removed and/or positioned in the plenum 13 without the aid of tools or implements.

Preferably, in fact, the installation of said filters 30 and 31 and of said condensate collection device 2 in the plenum 13 can be carried out by resting them on said plenum 13 or, preferably, in suitable seats and/or grooves and/or support frames, not illustrated, made therein.

Furthermore, in accordance with a possible executive variant, ? possible to arrange the suction means 100 inclined with respect to the cooking surface 1.

Advantageously, the suction means 100 can be inclined by an angle ? between 1?10 degrees, preferably between 2?5 degrees, where with ? is meant the angle between the hob 10 and the installation wall of said suction means 100.

Said installation wall can comprise any wall of the plenum 13 capable of supporting and/or receiving the suction means 100; for example can? consist of the cover wall 130 or the bottom 131.

In the variant of Fig. 4, the angle ? ? between the hob 10 and the lid wall 130 of the box-shaped body which defines the plenum 13.

In general, this inclination pu? be obtained:

- inclining the wall of the plenum 13 intended, according to the preferred embodiment, for the installation of said suction means 100 (in the variant of Fig. 4 said installation wall being said cover wall 130); - providing supports or spacers capable of inclining said suction means 100 with respect to the walls of the plenum 13 (in this case the aforementioned installation wall can be substantially parallel to the cooking surface 10).

The variation of the angle ?, i.e. of the inclination of the suction means 100, allows to improve the suction power of the suction hob 1 and contributes to having a greater space between the plenum 13 and the heating means 11 of the hob 10 .

This inclination, in fact, allows the suction section 110 of the suction means 100 to be oriented towards the suction mouth 12, reducing the load losses that the flow of fumes undergoes along its path to the benefit of the suction power of the hob baking 1 same.

Furthermore, this arrangement? particularly useful in the case of use of induction (or electric) hobs in order to improve the cooling of the induction (or electric) modules thanks to the greater space provided between the plenum 13 and the heating means 11.

Further ? It is possible to vary, in addition to the orientation by modifying the angle ?, also the arrangement of the suction section 110 of the said suction means 100 in such a way as to improve the suction of the same.

In fact, the position of the suction section 110 influences the flow and path of the fumes and therefore the suction power of the hob 1.

In accordance with a preferred variant, said suction section 110 can be advantageously placed facing downwards so? to expand the path of the fumes, in order to install more? filters or more? condensate collection devices 2, and at the same time keep pressure drops low.

The possible modification of both the inclination and the orientation of said interception means 100 makes it possible to improve the interception and capture of the fumes and therefore increase the performance in terms of aspirated flow rate.

In accordance with a second possible embodiment, shown by way of non-limiting example in Figs. 5 and 6, said extractor hob 1 provides for positioning the suction means 100 outside the said plenum 13, preferably near the? of the plinth of the piece of furniture intended to house said extractor hob 1.

In this case, plenum 13 can? be dedicated exclusively to the treatment of cooking fumes and vapors, for example by improving the interception of the fumes, their filtering by providing for different types and/or arrangements of the filters 30, 31; there? advantageously facilitates the choice and installation, by number and size, of the condensate collection devices 2.

For example, the condensate collection device 2 can? be made using two sponges arranged parallel to each other.

In the variant shown in Figs. 5 and 6, said condensate collection device 2 comprises two sponges, suitably arranged on the sides of a protective casing 5 of the movement mechanism of the protective grid 120, positioned on the bottom 131 of the plenum 13 downstream of said first filter 30 anti grease.

In fact, in this variant, the hob 1 has a downdraft type of suction and the protection grid 120? capable, by means of suitable mechanisms, of rising and/or falling with respect to the hob 10.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 show how said protection grille 120 can be raised (Fig. 11) and/or lowered (Figs. 12 and 13) with respect to the position plane of the suction mouth 12, said movement being able to be adjusted and controlled by the user through known control means.

Also in this case the disassembly operation of said device 2 provides for the removal of the protection grid 120, so as to make accessible the inside of the plenum 13, of the first filter 30 and therefore of the condensate collection device 2.

Advantageously? Is it possible to carry out this operation by bringing the movement mechanism of the protection grid 120 to its maximum lowering position, i.e. that of Fig. 13, so? to avoid that it could constitute an obstacle for the user during the removal of the condensate collection device 2.

In the variant shown in Figs. 7 and 8, said sponge ? made in a single piece and is arranged on the bottom 131 of the plenum 13 downstream of said first anti-grease filter 30.

It should be noted that the suction mouth 12, and consequently also the respective protection grille 120, can be made of different shapes and sizes, for example they can be rectangular or circular, as in the illustrated variants, but they can also be square, elliptical , polygonal or similar.

Based on the shape of the inlet port 12 and/or the plenum 13 or the type of application, ? It is possible to provide different shapes and shapes for said condensate collection device 2.

With reference to Figs. 9a and 9b, a possible embodiment of said condensate collection device 2, substantially rectangular in shape, is described by way of non-limiting example.

In this case, the condensate collection device 2 ? advantageously housed inside a container 4 which can be arranged and inserted inside the plenum 13 along the flue path.

Said container 4 comprises a base 40 capable of accommodating said sponge 2 and at least one filtering means suitably arranged and/or constrained and comprising various types of filters, such as for example the first grease filters 30.

In accordance with a possible embodiment variant, said container 4 can comprise at least two anti-grease filters 30 which can be constrained to the base 40 in a rotatable and/or translatable manner so to be able to:

- adapt to the internal dimensions of the plenum 13; and/or

- vary their inclination with respect to the flow of intercepted and aspirated fumes; and/or

- facilitate the extraction and removal of the container 4.

Figs. 10a and 10b illustrate a further embodiment variant of said condensate collection device 2, made substantially circular.

In this case, the condensate collection device 2 ? advantageously housed inside a container 5 of similar geometry, which can also be inserted inside the plenum 13.

Advantageously the container 5 can be provided with a gripping means 50, preferably made in the form of a central pin, capable of facilitating the removal of the container 5 itself from the plenum, for example for maintenance and/or cleaning operations.

For this purpose, the condensate collection device 2 can be provided with a through hole 20 able to ensure the passage of said pin.

The condensate collection device according to the present invention ? therefore able to capture and retain the condensate avoiding the use of current liquid collection trays.

Compared to a traditional tray, the condensate collection device according to the present invention is capable of retaining the condensate, preventing it from spilling during the steps for removing the condensate itself.

In fact, the tray could be handled clumsily by the user, with the risk of accidentally pouring liquid on the hob or in the areas surrounding it.

Using the device according to the present invention, on the other hand, the user interacts with a hygroscopic medium, substantially a sponge, capable by its nature of retaining the captured liquid, thus avoiding that the liquid itself can be inadvertently poured by the user during the operation of emptying.

The removal of the collected liquid and condensate would therefore be possible only through voluntary actions of crushing and/or squeezing of the absorbent medium.

In accordance with what has been illustrated, said absorbent sponge can be placed directly inside the plenum, for example resting on the bottom of the plenum itself, or housed inside a container suitably positioned in said plenum; in both cases the absorbent sponge retains the captured liquid, preventing it from being spilled during the emptying operation.

How already? also said, said sponge as well as acting as a means of collecting the condensate, thanks to its typical structure and known properties? physical-mechanical allows you to reduce the noise? caused by the operation of the suction means 100, essentially acting as a sound-absorbing means.

As illustrated, the condensate collection device according to the present invention can be applied to different types of extractor hobs.

Similarly can? be applied to different types of appliances, such as for example to extractor hoods only, preferably wall units, island, downdraft, wall mounted, suspended, ceiling, built-in or top kitchen hoods.

? It is clear that numerous variants to the invention described above are possible for a person skilled in the art, without thereby departing from the areas of novelty inherent in the inventive idea, cos? like ? it is clear that in the practical implementation of the invention the various components described above can be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

Claims (11)

1. Household appliance provided with means for the suction and/or filtering of the fumes and vapors produced during the usual food preparation and cooking operations, said household appliance comprising at least one suction mouth (12) for the interception of the cooking, at least one plenum (13), suction means (100) and filtering means (30, 31) characterized by the fact of comprise at least one condensate collection device (2) capable of intercepting and collecting the condensate transported by said fumes and vapors and/or which forms on said filtering means (30, 31), said condensate collection device (2): - comprising at least one absorbent means comprising absorbent sponges or the like; - being positioned inside said plenum (13) along the path of said fumes. 2. Household appliance according to the preceding claim, wherein said condensate collection device (2) is housed inside a container (4; 5) arranged and housed inside said plenum (13). 3. Household appliance according to the preceding claim, wherein said container (4) comprises a base (40) capable of receiving said sponge, and at least one filtering means (30; 31). 4. Household appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein said household appliance is an extractor hob (1) comprising a hob (10), heating means (11), at least one inlet (12) for the interception of cooking fumes, at least one plenum (13) positioned below below said hob (10). 5. Household appliance according to the preceding claim, wherein said aspirating hob (1) provides for positioning the suction means (100) inside said plenum (13). 6. Household appliance according to the preceding claim 4 or 5, wherein said aspirating hob (1) comprises at least a first filter (30) arranged near the of said suction mouth (12). 7. Household appliance according to the preceding claim, wherein said aspirating hob (1) comprises at least one second filter (31) arranged downstream of said first filter (30) and close to the of the suction section (110) of said suction means (100). 8. Household appliance according to the preceding claim, wherein said second filter (31) is housed inside a casing (301) having an inclined upper wall (310). 9. Household appliance according to any preceding claim from 6 onwards, wherein said condensate collection device (2) ? positioned downstream of said first filter (30). 10. Household appliance according to any preceding claim from 2 onwards, wherein said suction means (100) are inclined with respect to said cooking surface (1) by an angle ? between 1?10 degrees. 11. Condensation collection device (2) capable of intercepting and collecting the humidity? transported by the fumes that lap said device (2) and/or the condensate that forms on the filtering means (30, 31) during the aspiration of the fumes and cooking vapors themselves, said condensate collection device (2) comprising at least one means absorbent, shaped and made so as to be able to be installed on a household appliance according to the preceding claims from 1 to 10, characterized by the fact that - said at least one absorbent means comprises absorbent sponges or the like; - said household appliance ? a hob (1) or an extractor hood.