Overhead ventilation system incorporating a downwardly configured rear supply plenum with upward configured and reverse bended directional outlet

Abstract

A ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance to maintain an atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed space surrounding the cooking appliance. A hood establishes a three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configuration and which is supported above the appliance. A filter within the hood communicates with a vacuum driven exhaust extending from the enclosed space. A supply plenum secures in downwardly and opposing fashion relative to a side of the cooking appliance. An air intake communicates the supply plenum with an exterior environment, the plenum terminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by the hood and thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF TEE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates generally to an overhead ventilation system, such as is utilized in combination with commercial cooking appliances or industrial oven processes. More particularly, the present invention teaches a ventilation system, such as in use with a commercial pizza or other food related cooking process and by which products of such process include heated air, grease and / or other contaminants. The present invention is an improvement over prior art oven hood designs, and by which an associated inlet plenum is reconfigured to assist in introducing air from an exterior, while reducing the requirement for oversized air conditioning or heated makeup air units,[0003]2. Description of the Prior Art[0004]The prior art is well documented with examples of oven hood and makeup air devices, such as which are utilized in the removal of heat and airborne particulates (i.e., grease, other solids, etc.) associated wit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]The present invention discloses a supply plenum module incorporated into an improved filter and ventilation system associated with a cooking appliance and which maintains a desired pressure balance, or equilibrium, within an enclosed space in which the appliance is situated during filtration of the same. In particular, the module operates in cooperation with the associated ventilation system in order to introduce, from an exterior location, a volume of raw untreated air for subsequent conditioning and conveyance to the inner hood perimeter, the same balancing the outflow of exhaust air drawn through an associated filter and evacuated from the hood and in order to prevent or minimize the loss of other conditioned air (heated or cooled) existing within the enclosed space.

[0015]The extended length of the intake supply plenum, combined with the arraying of the outlet relative to the side of the cooking appliance and the recessed interior of the hood, serves to better warm and precondition the raw intake air for rising within the hood interior. The configuration and arrangement of the plenum results in a volume of intake air introduced generally equaling that exhausted from the hood and, by virtue of establishing a pressure equilibrium within the hood interior, preventing loss of additional volumes of quality AC or heat conditioned air from within the enclosed space.

[0016]It is further noted that the length and depth of the supply plenum assists in maintaining an air velocity (i.e., speed of air) out of the supply plenum. The maintenance of a desired air velocity out of the supply plenum does not affect the exhaust air drawn and evacuated. Further, the directional upward outlet of the present invention introduces air flow as the heated (thermal) air flow of the cooking device. As is known, heated air rises naturally off cooking appliances, with the upwardly introduced air assisting in the removing of heat, odor, grease, and gas by-products more efficiently. In this fashion, the untreated air introduced by the present ventilation system does not affect the air temperature of the room and further serves to reduce the need for mechanical makeup air treatment devices (e.g. again heaters or chillers).

Problems solved by technology

A common problem in the prior art is the tendency of such devices to introduce significant volumes of untreated air, requiring further significant capacity from such as air conditioning and heated makeup air units.

The cost of maintaining a desired interior air temperature can therefore be greatly increased, both in terms of heating or conditioning volumes of makeup introduced.

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