Range hood

Abstract

The application relates to a range hood and relates to the technical field of kitchen appliances. The range hood comprises a smoke collecting hood and a fan box body, the fan box body is internally provided with a fan, a noise reduction structure and a water tank assembly, the noise reduction structure is arranged in front of a ventilation opening and jointly encloses the hollow cavity with the fan box body, the water tank assembly comprises a water tank body and a water tank seat, the water tank body is detachably inserted into the water tank seat along an assembly direction, and the water tank seat is arranged in the hollow cavity; a side cavity is formed between the side wall of the hollow cavity and the water tank assembly along a limiting direction; one of the water tank body and the water tank seat is provided with a limiting groove, and the other is provided with a limiting rib; the limiting rib is slidably inserted into the limiting groove along with the insertion of the water tank body, so as to limit the movement of the water tank body along the limiting direction. The application utilizes the side cavity air layer to attenuate the lateral propagation of the medium and low frequency noise, and locks the thickness of the side cavity air layer at the design value through the cooperation of the limiting groove and the limiting rib, so that the noise reduction effect is continuously stable, and the assembly shaking and collision abnormal sound are eliminated.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of kitchen appliance technology, and in particular to a range hood. Background Technology

[0002] When a range hood is running, the fan draws in cooking fumes, generating significant aerodynamic and mechanical vibration noise. Among these, low- and mid-frequency noise is highly penetrating, decays slowly, and easily propagates into the kitchen space, affecting the user experience. Currently, some range hoods reduce operating noise by incorporating noise reduction modules within the fan frame.

[0003] Meanwhile, as oil stains easily accumulate on the impeller, volute, and other parts of a range hood after long-term use, some range hoods are equipped with a cleaning device. The cleaning device includes a water tank that is detachably inserted into the water tank base, so that users can easily add and empty water.

[0004] However, on the one hand, the water tank is prone to shifting and shaking relative to the water tank base, which may cause collision noises during the operation of the whole machine. On the other hand, ultra-thin range hoods are gradually becoming the mainstream in the market. Compressing space to reduce the size of the range hood has become the core direction of the current range hood structural design. However, the internal space of ultra-thin range hoods cannot accommodate both the noise reduction module and the water tank at the same time, making it difficult to balance the noise reduction effect and the cleaning function. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, it is necessary to address the problem that the current ultra-thin range hoods cannot accommodate both noise reduction modules and cleaning water tanks in the same size, and that the water tank itself can easily become a noise source. A range hood that can achieve both noise reduction and cleaning functions in a smaller size is needed.

[0006] This application provides a range hood, comprising: a smoke collection hood with an air inlet; a fan housing connected above the smoke collection hood, forming a ventilation opening for airflow at the connection between the fan housing and the smoke collection hood; the fan housing contains a fan, a noise reduction structure, and a water tank assembly, the noise reduction structure being arranged in front of the ventilation opening; the noise reduction structure and the fan housing together form a hollow cavity; the water tank assembly includes a water tank body and a water tank base, the water tank body being detachably mounted along the assembly direction. The water tank is inserted into the water tank seat, which is disposed within the hollow cavity. One of the water tank body and the water tank seat is provided with a limiting groove extending along the assembly direction, and the other is provided with a limiting rib corresponding to the limiting groove. The limiting rib is configured to slide into the corresponding limiting groove as the water tank body is inserted, thereby restricting the movement of the water tank body along the limiting direction, which is perpendicular to the assembly direction. A side cavity is formed between the side wall of the hollow cavity along the limiting direction and the side wall of the water tank assembly along the limiting direction.

[0007] With this configuration, on the one hand, the noise reduction structure and the fan housing together form a hollow cavity, and the water tank seat is set inside the hollow cavity. While the noise reduction structure guides the airflow, the space it encloses is reused as the housing space for the water tank assembly, without increasing the overall size of the machine. On the other hand, a side cavity is formed between the side wall of the hollow cavity along the limiting direction and the side wall of the water tank assembly along the limiting direction. When the fan noise propagates laterally, it needs to pass through the wall of the water tank assembly, the air layer of the side cavity, and the side wall of the hollow cavity in sequence. The acoustic impedance of the wall and the air layer are different, forming a multi-layer impedance mismatch interface. The sound waves are repeatedly reflected and interfered with each other at each interface, so that the sound energy is consumed. Moreover, the thickness of the air layer in the side cavity matches the wavelength characteristics of the mid- and low-frequency sound waves, thereby effectively interfering and attenuating the mid- and low-frequency noise propagating laterally. On the other hand, the limiting rib slides into the limiting groove along with the water tank body, restricting the movement of the water tank body along the limiting direction. This prevents the water tank body from shaking in the water tank seat along the limiting direction and prevents the water tank seat from shifting due to impact or shaking. It ensures that the thickness of the side cavity air layer between the hollow cavity sidewall and the water tank seat remains at the design value under repeated loading and unloading, operating vibration and thermal expansion and contraction conditions. The low-frequency noise propagated laterally is stably attenuated by interference, and the noise reduction effect remains stable throughout the entire lifespan of the machine and does not fluctuate with the operating conditions. Meanwhile, the sliding fit between the limiting rib and the limiting groove restricts the left and right movement of the water tank body, preventing the water tank body from impacting the water tank seat and the side wall of the hollow cavity due to operating vibration, thus eliminating collision noise at the source. In the overall operating noise, the collision noise caused by the water tank movement is eliminated at the generation stage by the limiting rib, and the low-frequency noise transmitted by the fan is attenuated at the propagation stage by the air layer in the side cavity. The two act on the noise generation stage and the propagation stage respectively, thereby further reducing the overall operating noise.

[0008] In one embodiment, a rear cavity is formed between the rear portion of the water tank assembly and the rear portion of the noise reduction structure; the noise reduction structure is disposed below the fan, and the top of the water tank assembly and the top of the noise reduction structure are spaced apart to form a top cavity; the thickness of the side cavity along the limiting direction, the thickness of the rear cavity along the front-rear direction, and the thickness of the top cavity along the vertical direction are all different.

[0009] With this configuration, air layers of different thicknesses have different interference attenuation effects on sound waves of different frequencies. The side cavities, rear cavities, and top cavities are all of different thicknesses, which creates a multi-directional air layer surrounding the water tank assembly from the sides, rear, and top. Noise of different frequency bands propagating in all directions can be effectively attenuated, and the noise reduction effect covers more frequencies of sound waves.

[0010] In one embodiment, the thickness of the side cavity along the limiting direction is greater than the thickness of the rear cavity along the front-rear direction, and the thickness of the rear cavity along the front-rear direction is greater than the thickness of the top cavity along the vertical direction.

[0011] With this configuration, the three cavities form an air layer gradient from thick to thin. The thicker side cavity effectively attenuates the low-to-mid frequency noise propagating laterally, while the moderately thick rear cavity and the thinner top cavity attenuate the mid-to-high frequency noise, respectively. The noise in the low, mid, and high frequency ranges is effectively reduced, which is compatible with the frequency characteristics of the fan noise, which is mainly low-to-mid frequency.

[0012] In one embodiment, the water tank seat includes a first seat portion and a second seat portion disposed vertically. The projection of the first seat portion in the horizontal plane is smaller than the projection of the second seat portion in the horizontal plane. The distance between the top surface of the first seat portion and the top of the noise reduction structure is smaller than the distance between the top surface of the second seat portion and the top of the noise reduction structure, so that the top cavity has a different thickness in the front-back direction.

[0013] With this configuration, the head cavity forms segmented air layers of different thicknesses along the front-to-back direction. The different thicknesses of the segments correspond to the interference attenuation of sound waves at different frequencies. The head cavity expands the coverage of the noise reduction frequency band in a stepped manner. At the same time, the smaller projection of the first seat makes room for the thicker air layer above the second seat, thus balancing the water tank capacity and the acoustic structure arrangement.

[0014] In one embodiment, the top of the noise reduction structure includes a top plate that extends obliquely backward from the front side of the fan housing to the vent, and the top wall of the water tank assembly is horizontally arranged so that the thickness of the head cavity gradually changes along the airflow direction.

[0015] With this configuration, the thickness of the head cavity gradually changes along the airflow direction, and the air layers at different thicknesses effectively interfere with and attenuate the sound waves of their corresponding frequencies, allowing the noise reduction effect to continuously cover more frequency bands; the tilted top plate guides the airflow and condensed grease to flow smoothly to the vent, and the horizontal top wall helps to keep the liquid level inside the water tank stable.

[0016] In one embodiment, the fan housing is provided with a housing support plate, the water tank seat is disposed on the housing support plate, and the housing support plate, the noise reduction structure, the side wall and the front wall of the fan housing together enclose the hollow cavity.

[0017] With this configuration, the housing support plate provides a stable support benchmark for the water tank base. The boundary of the hollow cavity is enclosed by the existing wall of the fan housing and the internal panels, eliminating the need for additional enclosure parts and simplifying the assembly process.

[0018] In one embodiment, there are at least two limiting grooves and at least two limiting ribs that correspond one-to-one, and the at least two limiting grooves are distributed at intervals along the limiting direction.

[0019] With this configuration, the spaced limiting grooves and limiting ribs form sliding constraints on both sides of the water tank body along the limiting direction. When pressing one side of the water tank body, the water tank body is not easy to deflect or lift on one side, and the assembly process is smooth. The symmetrical constraints on both sides keep the water tank body in the center, and the thickness of the side cavities on both sides is balanced, avoiding the cavity on one side being squeezed.

[0020] In one embodiment, the wall of the limiting groove is provided with a protrusion, which is configured to make interference contact with the side of the corresponding limiting rib when the water tank body is inserted into place.

[0021] With this configuration, when the water tank body is inserted into place, the protrusion and the side of the limiting rib make an interference fit. The clamping force generated by the interference fit eliminates the looseness caused by the gap of the groove rib. The shaking of the water tank body after it is in place is further reduced, and the thickness of the air layer in the side cavity is locked at the design value for a long time.

[0022] In one embodiment, the starting end of the limiting groove for the insertion of the limiting rib is provided with a flared opening, the opening width of the flared opening gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the limiting rib, and the protrusion is provided at the end of the limiting groove away from the flared opening along the assembly direction.

[0023] With this design, the flared opening provides a gradual insertion guide for the limiting rib. Even if there is a slight misalignment between the limiting rib and the limiting groove, it can still enter the limiting groove under the guidance of the flared opening, preventing misaligned assembly. The protrusion is located at the end away from the flared opening. During the insertion process, the protrusion does not interfere with the limiting rib, resulting in less insertion resistance. It only interferes with the water tank body when it is inserted into place, taking into account both the assembly feel and the positioning.

[0024] In one embodiment, a fitting gap is provided between the side of the limiting rib and the groove wall of the limiting groove.

[0025] With this design, the fit clearance allows for the thermal expansion and contraction deformation of the plastic parts, and the grooves are less likely to jam or interfere when the temperature changes. The limiting function remains effective throughout the entire temperature range, and the frictional resistance between the grooves is small during the insertion process. The looseness caused by the fit clearance is eliminated by the interference fit of the protrusion at the position, thus balancing the assembly feel, temperature adaptability, and positioning reliability. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the overall structure of a range hood provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 for Figure 1 The exploded view of the range hood shown; Figure 3 for Figure 1 The image shows a front and rear sectional view of the range hood. Figure 4 for Figure 3 The image shows a magnified view of a portion of the hollow cavity of the range hood shown. Figure 5 for Figure 1 The image shows a horizontal sectional view of the range hood. Figure 6 for Figure 1 The exploded view of the water tank assembly of the range hood shown. Figure 7 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the bottom structure of the water tank body in the water tank assembly shown; Figure 8 for Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the structure of the water tank base in the water tank assembly shown; Figure 9 for Figure 6 The diagram shows a partial cross-sectional view of the water tank assembly at the junction of the limiting rib and the limiting groove.

[0027] Reference numerals: 1. Smoke hood; 11. Air inlet; 2. Fan housing; 21. Fan; 22. Volute; 23. Inlet; 24. Fan casing; 245. Left side wall; 246. Right side wall; 25. Fan frame; 4. Noise reduction structure; 41. Top plate; 42. Rear plate; 5. Water tank assembly; 51. Top wall; 52. Water tank base; 52a. Positioning part; 521. Receiving cavity; 522. First base; 523. Second base; 52 4. Reinforcing rib; 53. Water tank body; 53a. Tank wall rib; 53b. Thickened part; 53c. Bottom positioning rib; 53d. Side wall positioning rib; 531. Water tank cover; 532. Water inlet; 533. Water inlet plug; 54. Water inlet pipe; 551. Limiting groove; 551a. Protrusion; 551b. Flared mouth; 552. Limiting rib; 6. Ventilation opening; 7. Hollow cavity; 71. Rear cavity; 72. Top cavity; 73. Side cavity. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0029] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0030] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0031] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0032] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "above" or "below" the second feature can mean that the first and second features are in direct contact, or that they are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, "above," "over," and "on top" of the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. "Below," "below," and "under" the second feature can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply indicates that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature.

[0033] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. When an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0034] For ease of description and understanding, some terms in this application are uniformly explained as follows: Assembly direction refers to the direction of movement of the water tank body 53 when it is inserted into or pulled out of the water tank seat 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly direction is the horizontal front-back direction; Limiting direction refers to the direction perpendicular to the assembly direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the limiting direction is the horizontal left-right direction.

[0035] Reference Figures 1 to 3 One embodiment of this application provides a range hood, including a smoke collection hood 1 and a fan housing 2. The smoke collection hood 1 is connected to the lower part of the fan housing 2 and has an air inlet 11. The connection between the fan housing 2 and the smoke collection hood 1 forms a ventilation opening 6 for airflow. The fan housing 2 is equipped with a fan 21, a noise reduction structure 4 and a water tank assembly 5. During cooking, the oil fumes are drawn into the smoke collection hood 1 by negative pressure through the air inlet 11, enter the fan housing 2 through the ventilation opening 6 and are then drawn out by the fan 21. The noise reduction structure 4 is arranged in front of the ventilation opening 6 to guide the airflow to flow smoothly towards the air inlet side of the fan 21, while allowing the grease condensed on its wall to slide along the wall towards the ventilation opening 6 area.

[0036] The noise reduction structure 4 and the fan housing 2 together form a hollow cavity 7. The water tank assembly 5 includes a water tank body 53 and a water tank seat 52. The water tank seat 52 is disposed inside the hollow cavity 7. The water tank body 53 is detachably inserted into the water tank seat 52 along the assembly direction. A side cavity 73 is formed between the side wall of the hollow cavity 7 along the limiting direction and the side wall of the water tank assembly 5 along the limiting direction. The noise of the fan 21 is mainly low-to-mid frequency and includes broadband eddy current noise. When the noise propagates laterally, it must pass through the wall of the water tank assembly 5 in sequence. The air layer of the side cavity 73 and the side wall of the hollow cavity 7 form a multi-layer impedance mismatch interface. Sound waves are repeatedly reflected and interfered at each interface and consumed. The low-frequency noise propagating laterally is effectively attenuated. In addition, the water tank assembly 5 reuses the space enclosed by the noise reduction structure 4 without increasing the overall size of the machine. This gap also serves as the assembly tolerance gap and the loading and unloading gap of the water tank body 53, avoiding the assembly stress and contact noise caused by the mutual contact of the noise reduction structure 4 and the water tank assembly 5.

[0037] It should be noted that the internal space of ultra-thin range hoods is extremely compressed, and maximizing space occupancy is the core guiding principle of structural design in this field. Under this guidance, when placing water tank components within the noise reduction structure, those skilled in the art typically choose to make the noise reduction structure fit the shape of the water tank component as closely as possible to minimize the gap between them, or directly integrally form a guide surface on the water tank base of the water tank component to integrate the water tank base and the noise reduction structure into one. The common point of these two conventional methods is to eliminate gaps and achieve structural fit and integration.

[0038] In contrast, this application takes the opposite approach, deliberately maintaining a gap between the noise reduction structure 4 and the water tank assembly 5 to form a side cavity 73. On the surface, this seems like a waste of internal space and runs counter to the design direction of ultra-thin range hoods. However, in reality, this application takes the opposite technical means to overcome the design bias in the field, and maintains the gap to construct an acoustic air layer for low-frequency noise of the fan 21.

[0039] Based on this, one of the water tank body 53 and the water tank seat 52 is provided with a limiting groove 551 extending along the assembly direction, and the other is provided with a limiting rib 552 corresponding to the limiting groove 551. When the water tank body 53 is inserted, the limiting rib 552 slides into the corresponding limiting groove 551 as the water tank body 53 is inserted, so as to limit the movement of the water tank body 53 along the limiting direction. The limiting cooperation between the limiting groove 551 and the limiting rib 552 can prevent the water tank body 53 from shaking in the water tank seat 52 along the limiting direction, and prevent the water tank seat 52 from shifting due to impact or shaking. This ensures that the air layer thickness of the side cavity 73 between the side wall of the hollow cavity 7 and the water tank seat 52 remains at the design value under repeated loading and unloading, running vibration and thermal expansion and contraction conditions. The low-frequency noise propagated laterally obtains stable interference attenuation, and the noise reduction effect remains stable throughout the entire lifespan of the machine and does not fluctuate with the operating conditions. Meanwhile, the sliding fit between the limiting rib 552 and the limiting groove 551 constrains the left and right movement of the water tank body 53, preventing the water tank body 53 from colliding with the water tank seat 52 and the side wall of the hollow cavity 7 under operating vibration, thus eliminating collision noise at the source. In the overall machine operating noise, the limiting rib eliminates the structural noise caused by the water tank movement, while the side cavity 73 attenuates the low- and mid-frequency noise of the fan 21 propagating along the air. The two act on the noise generation and propagation links respectively, thereby further reducing the overall machine operating noise. It can be seen that although the limiting structure is a conventional mechanical means, its cooperation with the side cavity 73 locks the air layer thickness at the design value, forming an organic guarantee for the continuous and stable overall noise reduction effect.

[0040] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4In some embodiments, a rear cavity 71 is formed between the rear of the water tank assembly 5 and the rear of the noise reduction structure 4. The noise reduction structure 4 is disposed below the fan 21, and the top of the water tank assembly 5 and the top of the noise reduction structure 4 are spaced apart to form a top cavity 72.

[0041] It is understandable that when the sound from the fan 21 is incident downwards onto the noise reduction structure 4, some of the sound penetrates into the hollow cavity 7. It passes through the air layer of the rear cavity 71 at the rear, and then through the air layer of the top cavity 72 and the air layer inside the water tank body 53 at the front. It also passes through the air layer of the side cavity 73 on the left and right sides. Thus, the rear, top, left and right sides of the water tank assembly 5 are surrounded by air layers of different thicknesses in multiple directions. According to acoustic principles, air layers of different thicknesses have different interference attenuation effects on sound waves of different frequencies. The thickness of the side cavity 73 along the limiting direction, the thickness of the rear cavity 71 along the front-back direction, and the thickness of the top cavity 72 along the vertical direction are all different, so that noise of different frequency bands propagating in each direction can be effectively weakened.

[0042] Specifically, the noise from the fan 21 propagates to the user through two paths: Path one is that when the noise propagates downwards, it passes through the double air layer formed by the top cavity 72 and the air layer inside the water tank body 53 on the front side and is directly projected towards the user. The double-layer structure has strong reflection and low transmission, effectively blocking direct sound. Path two is that when the noise propagates downwards, the front noise propagates backwards after passing through the front double air layer, and then passes through the rear single air layer formed by the rear cavity 71. The rear noise passes directly through the rear single air layer. Finally, both parts of the noise are transmitted downwards from the vent 6. High-frequency sound waves are first attenuated by the thinner air layer, and low-frequency sound waves are further attenuated by the thicker air layer. Sound waves of different frequencies can be effectively attenuated along the propagation path.

[0043] In one specific embodiment, the vent 6 is located below the rear end of the hollow cavity 7 and is adjacent to the rear cavity 71 in the front-rear direction.

[0044] In addition, after water is added to the water tank body 53, its wall surface is less likely to be excited by sound waves to vibrate, reducing the transmitted sound energy. Moreover, sound must pass through water to continue to propagate. Liquid has a much stronger sound barrier than air, further reducing the transmitted noise. The hollow cavity 7 also isolates the water tank assembly 5 from the high-temperature airflow, preventing the water tank assembly 5 from being directly heated, thus playing a role in heat insulation and preventing scalding, and extending the service life of the water tank assembly 5.

[0045] In one specific embodiment, the thickness of the side cavity 73 along the limiting direction is 80mm-100mm, preferably 90mm; the thickness of the rear cavity 71 along the front-rear direction is 35mm-45mm, preferably 42mm; the maximum thickness of the top cavity 72 along the vertical direction is 10mm-30mm, preferably 21mm, and the minimum thickness is 0mm-5mm, preferably 3mm. The thickness difference of the three cavities covers the attenuation requirements from low frequency to high frequency.

[0046] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the thickness of the side cavity 73 along the limiting direction is greater than the thickness of the rear cavity 71 along the front-to-back direction, and the thickness of the rear cavity 71 along the front-to-back direction is greater than the thickness of the top cavity 72 along the vertical direction. The noise of the range hood fan is mainly low-to-mid frequency, and a thicker air layer has a better interference attenuation effect on low-frequency sound waves. The thickest side cavity 73 corresponds to the propagation path of the higher proportion of lateral low-to-mid frequency noise, so that the low-to-mid frequency noise is attenuated to the fullest extent. The rear cavity 71 with a medium thickness and the thinnest top cavity 72 are respectively for mid-frequency and high-frequency noise. The three cavities form an air layer gradient from thick to thin, and the attenuation degree of low, mid and high frequency noise is adapted to the frequency distribution characteristics of the fan noise.

[0047] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 6 In some embodiments, the water tank base 52 includes a first base 522 and a second base 523 arranged vertically. The projection of the first base 522 in the horizontal plane is smaller than the projection of the second base 523 in the horizontal plane, that is, the water tank base 52 is in a stepped shape with a smaller top and a larger bottom.

[0048] It is understandable that the distance between the top surface of the first seat 522 and the top of the noise reduction structure 4 is smaller than the distance between the top surface of the second seat 523 and the top of the noise reduction structure 4, so that the top cavity 72 has different thicknesses along the front-to-back direction. The thicker and thinner air layers correspond to the interference attenuation of sound waves of different frequencies, and the top cavity 72 covers more noise reduction frequency bands in a stepped manner in the airflow direction. At the same time, the stepped shape with the smaller top and larger bottom makes the first seat 522 give way to the thicker air layer above the second seat 523, so that the water storage capacity of the water tank body 53 and the arrangement of the acoustic structure are taken into account.

[0049] In one specific embodiment, the vertical distance between the top surface of the second seat 523 and the lowest point of the corresponding portion of the top plate 41 of the noise reduction structure 4 is 10mm-30mm, preferably 20mm; the vertical distance between the top surface of the first seat 522 and the lowest point of the corresponding portion of the top plate 41 is 0mm-5mm, preferably 3mm.

[0050] In some embodiments, the top surface of the first seat portion 522 is further provided with a reinforcing rib 524, forming an air layer of another thickness between the top surface of the reinforcing rib 524 and the top plate 41. In a specific embodiment, the vertical distance between the rear end of the reinforcing rib 524 and the top plate 41 is 5mm-15mm, preferably 12mm, and the vertical distance between the front end of the reinforcing rib 524 and the top plate 41 is 5mm-15mm, preferably 10mm; this makes the top cavity 72 present a richer thickness distribution in the front-rear direction; the reinforcing rib 524 also enhances the structural strength of the top surface of the first seat portion 522, suppresses the deformation of the thin-walled top surface under thermal expansion and contraction and operating vibration, and keeps the dimensions of each thickness of air layer above the first seat portion 522 stable.

[0051] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, the top of the noise reduction structure 4 includes a top plate 41 that extends backward from the front side of the fan housing 2 to the vent 6. The top wall 51 of the water tank assembly 5 is horizontally arranged, and the thickness of the head cavity 72 between the top plate 41 and the top wall 51 gradually changes along the airflow direction.

[0052] It is understandable that air layers of different thicknesses can effectively interfere with and attenuate sound waves of their corresponding frequencies. The continuous and gradual change in thickness allows the noise reduction of the head cavity 72 to cover a continuous frequency band, avoiding the problem that an air layer of a single thickness is only effective for a specific frequency while other frequencies are not sufficiently attenuated. In addition, the tilt of the top plate 41 helps to guide the airflow and condensed grease to flow smoothly along the tilted wall to the vent 6, preventing grease from accumulating on the top plate 41. The horizontal setting of the top wall 51 helps to keep the liquid level inside the water tank body 53 stable and prevents the liquid from shaking and overflowing during operation.

[0053] In this embodiment, the noise reduction structure 4 has a rear plate 42 at the rear. The rear plate 42 starts from the front edge of the vent 6 and extends upward. One end of the top plate 41 is connected to the rear plate 42, and the other end of the top plate 41 extends towards the fan 21, so that the noise reduction structure 4 as a whole tilts downward from the front side of the fan housing 2 towards the vent 6. The rear plate 42 extends downward to the vent 6 to ensure that the airflow and grease can be smoothly guided to the vent 6 along the wall of the rear plate 42. It can be understood that the top plate 41 and the rear plate 42 can be integrally formed into a straight plate or a bent plate. The gradual change in the thickness of the top cavity 72 includes uniform change and non-uniform change, which is not limited in this application.

[0054] In one specific embodiment, the vertical height of the front end of the hollow cavity 7 is 50mm-100mm, preferably 70mm, the vertical height of the rear end is 0mm-80mm, preferably 47mm, the depth in the front-to-back direction is 150mm-250mm, preferably 208mm, the vertical distance between the lowest point of the top plate 41 and the box support plate is 20mm-60mm, preferably 46mm, and the shape of the hollow cavity 7, which is higher in the front and lower in the back, is consistent with the inclined extension of the top plate 41.

[0055] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the fan housing 2 is provided with a housing support plate, and the water tank seat 52 is disposed on the housing support plate. The housing support plate, the noise reduction structure 4, the side wall and the front wall of the fan housing 2 together enclose a hollow cavity 7.

[0056] The tank support plate provides a flat and stable support reference for the water tank base 52, making it less prone to displacement under the vibration of the entire machine during operation. This ensures the dimensional reference of the side cavity 73 and each cavity. Furthermore, the boundary of the hollow cavity 7 is formed by the existing wall surface and internal panels of the fan housing 2, eliminating the need for additional enclosure parts. In one specific embodiment, the water tank base 52 is connected to the tank support plate by screws, clips, or other commonly used fixing methods.

[0057] In this embodiment, the fan housing 2 includes a fan frame 25 and a fan cover 24 surrounding the fan frame 25. The fan cover 24 forms the outer peripheral wall of the fan housing 2. The fan cover 24 has a left side wall 245 and a right side wall 246. The left side wall 245 and the right side wall 246 respectively form the boundaries of the hollow cavity 7 in the left and right directions. The top plate 41, the rear plate 42, the left side wall 245, the right side wall 246 and the housing support plate cooperate with each other to form a closed hollow cavity 7.

[0058] It is understood that in other embodiments, the noise reduction structure 4 itself may also have a top plate 41, a rear plate 42 and left and right side plates. Each wall is connected to the other and forms an independent and closed hollow cavity 7 with the front wall of the fan box 2 and the box support plate. The complete cavity boundary can be formed without the aid of the side wall of the fan box 2. This application does not limit the specific enclosure method of the hollow cavity 7.

[0059] Reference Figures 7 to 9 In some embodiments, there are at least two limiting grooves 551 and at least two limiting ribs 552, which correspond one-to-one, and the at least two limiting grooves 551 are distributed at intervals along the limiting direction.

[0060] It is understandable that during the insertion of the water tank body 53, the spaced grooves and ribs cooperate to form a sliding constraint on each side of the water tank body 53 along the limiting direction. When the user presses one side of the water tank body 53 for assembly, the sliding constraints on both sides jointly restrict the deflection and unilateral upward tilting of the water tank body 53, making it less likely for the water tank body 53 to tilt on one side, and the assembly process is smooth. After the water tank body 53 is inserted into place, the symmetrical constraints on both sides keep the water tank body 53 centered, and the thickness of the side cavities 73 on both sides is balanced, preventing the water tank body 53 from tilting to one side and squeezing the cavity on one side.

[0061] In one specific embodiment, the water tank base 52 has a receiving cavity 521 inside. The shape of the receiving cavity 521 is adapted to the shape of the water tank body 53. The water tank body 53 is generally in the shape of a cuboid adapted to the receiving cavity 521. After the water tank body 53 is inserted into the receiving cavity 521, it is supported and positioned by the inner wall of the water tank base 52 to prevent the water tank body 53 from shaking or shifting during the operation of the range hood. When the dimension of the water tank body 53 along the limiting direction is greater than 100mm, the middle part of the water tank body 53 is far away from the side walls on its left and right sides. The cooperation between at least two limiting grooves 551 and limiting ribs 552 distributed at intervals along the limiting direction has a particularly significant effect on improving the positioning effect of the water tank body 53.

[0062] In one specific embodiment, the limiting groove 551 is formed on the bottom surface of the water tank body 53, and the limiting rib 552 protrudes from the inner bottom wall of the water tank seat 52. The groove and rib mating parts are hidden inside the water tank assembly 5, which does not affect the appearance of the water tank assembly 5. In addition to the groove and rib mating, the inner bottom wall of the water tank seat 52 can also provide support for the water tank body 53.

[0063] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the limiting groove 551 is provided with groove wall ribs 53a protruding from the bottom surface of the water tank body 53 on both sides along the limiting direction, the limiting groove 551 extends to the groove wall ribs 53a, the groove wall ribs 53a increase the mating area between the groove wall of the limiting groove 551 and the limiting ribs 552 and enhance the structural strength of the groove wall.

[0064] In some embodiments, the inner bottom wall of the water tank body 53 is provided with a thickened portion 53b that protrudes inward and corresponds to the limiting groove 551, so as to ensure the depth of the limiting groove 551 while avoiding local thinning of the bottom wall of the water tank body 53.

[0065] In some embodiments, at least two bottom positioning ribs 53c are provided at intervals along the limiting direction at the bottom of the water tank body 53. The bottom positioning ribs 53c abut against the inner bottom wall of the water tank seat 52 to support the water tank body 53. The height of the bottom positioning ribs 53c is greater than or equal to the height of the tank wall ribs 53a, so that the water tank body 53 is not prone to tilting like a seesaw due to unilateral force.

[0066] In some embodiments, the water tank body 53 and the water tank base 52 are both plastic parts and are injection molded. The limiting groove 551 and the protrusion 551a are integrally formed with the water tank body 53, the limiting rib 552 is integrally formed with the water tank base 52, and the groove wall rib 53a and the thickened part 53b are integrally injection molded with the water tank body 53.

[0067] In some embodiments, the height of the limiting rib 552 extending into the limiting groove 551 is 1.5mm to 2.5mm, and in this embodiment, the height is 2mm.

[0068] It is understandable that if the height is too small, the limiting rib 552 will easily come out of the limiting groove 551 and lose its limiting function. If the height is too large, the insertion resistance of the water tank body 53 will increase and affect the assembly feel. The above value range achieves a balance between limiting reliability and assembly feel. The thickness of the bottom positioning rib 53c is 1mm, which reduces the amount of material used while ensuring the support strength and facilitates injection molding demolding.

[0069] Reference Figure 2 , Figure 7 In some embodiments, the water tank body 53 is provided with a side wall positioning rib 53d on each side along the limiting direction, and the water tank seat 52 is provided with a positioning part 52a corresponding to the side wall positioning rib 53d on each side inner wall along the limiting direction. When the water tank body 53 is inserted into place, the side wall positioning rib 53d abuts against the corresponding positioning part 52a.

[0070] It is understood that the side wall positioning ribs 53d and positioning parts 52a form lateral positioning on both sides of the water tank body 53 along the limiting direction, and together with the groove ribs at the bottom of the water tank body 53, they form a multi-directional positioning of the water tank body 53. The water tank body 53 is not easy to move along the limiting direction in the water tank seat 52, and the thickness of the side cavities 73 on both sides is further maintained.

[0071] Furthermore, the number of limiting grooves 551 and limiting ribs 552 can be one set, or two or more sets distributed at intervals along the limiting direction. When one set is provided, it can also restrict the movement of the water tank body 53 along the limiting direction. The positions of the limiting grooves 551 and limiting ribs 552 can also be interchanged, that is, the limiting grooves 551 are opened on the inner bottom wall of the water tank seat 52, and the limiting ribs 552 protrude from the bottom surface of the water tank body 53, which can also achieve sliding limiting. The limiting grooves 551 can also extend into the thickened part 53b, which is not limited in this application.

[0072] Reference Figure 7 In some embodiments, the wall of the limiting groove 551 is provided with a protrusion 551a. When the water tank body 53 is inserted into place, the protrusion 551a is in interference contact with the side of the corresponding limiting rib 552.

[0073] It is understandable that the clamping force generated by the interference fit eliminates the looseness caused by the gap of the groove rib. After the water tank body 53 is in place, it is not easy to move under the vibration of operation. The air layer thickness of the side cavity 73 is locked at the design value for a long time. The tactile and audible feedback generated when the protrusion 551a and the limiting rib 552 are in interference fit can also remind the user that the water tank body 53 has been assembled in place.

[0074] In one specific embodiment, a protrusion 551a is provided on the outer side of the groove wall of each limiting groove 551, and a protrusion 551a is provided on the groove wall of each limiting groove 551. The protrusion 551a is a hemispherical protrusion.

[0075] It is understood that the protrusion 551a can also be cylindrical or wedge-shaped, and the number of protrusions 551a can also be two or more and arranged at intervals along the assembly direction. The protrusion 551a can also protrude from the side of the limiting rib 552 and make interference contact with the groove wall of the limiting groove 551 when the water tank body 53 is inserted into place. This application does not limit this.

[0076] Reference Figure 7 and Figure 9 In some embodiments, the starting end of the limiting groove 551 for the insertion of the limiting rib 552 is provided with a flared opening 551b, and the opening width of the flared opening 551b gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the limiting rib 552.

[0077] It is understandable that when the water tank body 53 is pushed into the water tank seat 52, the limiting rib 552 first contacts the flared mouth 551b, and the flared mouth 551b forms a gradual insertion guide for the limiting rib 552. Even if there is a slight misalignment between the limiting rib 552 and the limiting groove 551, it can still enter the limiting groove 551 under the guidance of the flared mouth 551b to prevent misaligned assembly.

[0078] Furthermore, the protrusion 551a is located at the end of the limiting groove 551 away from the flared opening 551b along the assembly direction. During the insertion of the water tank body 53, the protrusion 551a does not contact the limiting rib 552, resulting in less insertion resistance. The protrusion 551a only makes interference contact with the limiting rib 552 when the water tank body 53 is inserted into place, thus balancing the assembly feel and positioning.

[0079] In one specific embodiment, the guide surface of the flared opening 551b is an inclined surface; in another embodiment, the guide surface of the flared opening 551b may also be a circular arc transition, and this application does not limit this.

[0080] Reference Figure 9 In some embodiments, a fitting gap is provided between the side of the limiting rib 552 and the groove wall of the limiting groove 551.

[0081] It is understood that both the water tank body 53 and the water tank base 52 are plastic parts, which will undergo thermal expansion and contraction deformation when the temperature changes. The fitting clearance provides a margin for such deformation. When the temperature changes, the grooves and ribs of the water tank assembly 5 are less likely to jam or interfere. The limiting function remains effective throughout the entire temperature range. Furthermore, the frictional resistance between the limiting rib 552 and the limiting groove 551 is small during the insertion of the water tank body 53, resulting in a smooth insertion feel. The looseness caused by the fitting clearance is eliminated by the interference fit of the protrusion 551a at the position. The assembly feel, temperature adaptability, and positioning reliability are all taken into account. The specific value of the fitting clearance can be determined according to the linear expansion coefficient and size of the materials of the water tank body 53 and the water tank base 52. This application does not limit this value.

[0082] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the fan housing 2 is further provided with a fan frame 25 and a volute 22. The fan 21 is housed in the fan frame 25, and the volute 22 is fixedly connected to the fan frame 25. The upper end of the noise reduction structure 4 is connected to the lower end of the front side of the fan frame 25. The airflow is guided upward from the vent 6 along the inclined surface of the top plate 41, enters the front area of ​​the fan frame 25 through the upper end of the noise reduction structure 4, and then enters the air inlet side of the fan 21. The airflow transition is smooth, reducing the eddies and turbulence caused by the sudden change in airflow cross section. The grease on the fan frame 25 can also be guided downward along the wall of the noise reduction structure 4, and this connection relationship enhances the overall rigidity of the noise reduction structure 4.

[0083] Reference Figures 1 to 3 In some embodiments, the fan housing 2 also includes a fan cover 24 surrounding the fan frame 25. The front side of the fan cover 24 has an inlet 23 located below the upper end of the noise reduction structure 4. The water tank body 53 passes through the inlet 23 and is inserted into the water tank seat 52 in a horizontal direction. When the water tank body 53 is inserted into place, its front side is on the same plane as the front side of the fan cover 24, forming a flat and uniform appearance surface, which is convenient for cleaning and wiping. The user can take out and put in the water tank body 53 by standing in front of the range hood and pulling it horizontally.

[0084] Reference Figure 6 In some embodiments, the top of the water tank body 53 has a water tank cover 531, which covers the top opening of the water tank body 53. The water tank cover 531 has a water inlet 532, and a water inlet plug 533 is provided at the water inlet 532. When adding water, it is not necessary to remove the water tank cover 531. Water can be added into the water tank body 53 by opening the water inlet plug 533. Keeping the water tank cover 531 closed can prevent the liquid from overflowing due to shaking during handling and movement.

[0085] Reference Figure 4 and Figure 5In some embodiments, the rear end of the water tank base 52 is connected to a water inlet pipe 54. The water inlet end of the water inlet pipe 54 is connected to the inner cavity of the water tank base 52. The water inlet pipe 54 is in the rear cavity 71 and extends laterally to one side of the fan housing 2. The internal space of the rear cavity 71 is used to accommodate the pipeline, without occupying the external space of the fan housing 2, which is conducive to the compactness of the whole structure.

[0086] In one specific embodiment, in some embodiments, the reinforcing rib 524 includes a transverse reinforcing rib disposed at the opening of the first seat portion 522. The transverse reinforcing rib and the wall surface at the opening of the first seat portion 522 are arranged in an L-shape. Multiple longitudinal ribs are provided at intervals on the transverse reinforcing rib. Each longitudinal rib is connected to the transverse reinforcing rib and forms a T-shape. The height of each longitudinal rib is greater than half the height of the transverse reinforcing rib, and the height of each longitudinal rib gradually decreases in the direction away from the transverse reinforcing rib. This reduces the amount of material used while ensuring the planar strength of the opening of the first seat portion 522.

[0087] In some embodiments, the width of the limiting rib 552 along the limiting direction gradually increases along the assembly direction. After the water tank body 53 is fully inserted into the water tank seat 52, except for the interference fit between the protrusion 551a and the limiting rib 552, the gap between the wider limiting rib 552 and the groove wall of the limiting groove 551 is small, which can also play the role of positioning and limiting, and the positioning stability of the water tank body 53 is further improved.

[0088] In other embodiments, the width of the limiting groove 551 along the limiting direction gradually increases along the assembly direction. That is, the starting end of the limiting groove 551 for the insertion of the limiting rib 552 is wider. During the process of pushing the water tank body 53 into the water tank seat 52, the width of the limiting groove 551 that the limiting rib 552 cooperates with gradually decreases. The groove wall of the limiting groove 551 guides the limiting rib 552 to move along the limiting direction, and finally guides the limiting rib 552 to the position where it is interference-fitted with the protrusion 551a. The assembly process is smooth and the position is accurate.

[0089] In some embodiments, the range hood can be controlled by a voice module, which is equipped with a controller, a voice receiving module, and a voice parsing module. The voice receiving module receives user commands, and the voice parsing module parses the commands. Based on the parsed commands, the controller controls the range hood to perform corresponding operations, thereby realizing intelligent control of the range hood and improving the user experience.

[0090] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0091] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of the present invention, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A range hood, comprising: A smoke hood (1) is provided with an air inlet (11). Fan housing (2), the fan housing (2) is connected above the smoke hood (1), and a ventilation opening (6) for airflow is formed at the connection between the fan housing (2) and the smoke hood (1). The fan housing (2) is equipped with a fan (21), a noise reduction structure (4) and a water tank assembly (5), and the noise reduction structure (4) is arranged in front of the ventilation opening (6); Its features are: The noise reduction structure (4) and the fan box (2) together form a hollow cavity (7). The water tank assembly (5) includes a water tank body (53) and a water tank seat (52). The water tank body (53) is detachably inserted into the water tank seat (52) along the assembly direction. The water tank seat (52) is disposed in the hollow cavity (7). One of the water tank body (53) and the water tank base (52) is provided with a limiting groove (551) extending along the assembly direction, and the other is provided with a limiting rib (552) corresponding to the limiting groove (551). The limiting rib (552) is configured to slide into the corresponding limiting groove (551) as the water tank body (53) is inserted, so as to restrict the movement of the water tank body (53) along the limiting direction, which is perpendicular to the assembly direction. The hollow cavity (7) forms a side cavity (73) between the side wall of the water tank assembly (5) along the limiting direction and the side wall of the water tank assembly (5) along the limiting direction.

2. The range hood according to claim 1, characterized in that, A rear cavity (71) is formed between the rear part of the water tank assembly (5) and the rear part of the noise reduction structure (4). The noise reduction structure (4) is located below the fan (21), and the top of the water tank assembly (5) is spaced apart from the top of the noise reduction structure (4) to form a top cavity (72). The thickness of the side cavity (73) along the limiting direction, the thickness of the rear cavity (71) along the front-rear direction, and the thickness of the top cavity (72) along the vertical direction are all different.

3. The range hood according to claim 2, characterized in that, The thickness of the side cavity (73) along the limiting direction is greater than the thickness of the rear cavity (71) along the front-back direction, and the thickness of the rear cavity (71) along the front-back direction is greater than the thickness of the top cavity (72) along the vertical direction.

4. The range hood according to claim 2, characterized in that, The water tank base (52) includes a first base (522) and a second base (523) arranged vertically. The projection of the first base (522) in the horizontal plane is smaller than the projection of the second base (523) in the horizontal plane. The distance between the top surface of the first base (522) and the top of the noise reduction structure (4) is smaller than the distance between the top surface of the second base (523) and the top of the noise reduction structure (4), so that the top cavity (72) has a different thickness in the front-back direction.

5. The range hood according to claim 2, characterized in that, The top of the noise reduction structure (4) includes a top plate (41) that extends backward from the front side of the fan housing (2) to the vent (6). The top wall (51) of the water tank assembly (5) is horizontally arranged so that the thickness of the top cavity (72) gradually changes along the airflow direction.

6. The range hood according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fan housing (2) is provided with a housing support plate, and the water tank seat (52) is set on the housing support plate. The housing support plate, the noise reduction structure (4), the side wall and the front wall of the fan housing (2) together enclose the hollow cavity (7).

7. The range hood according to claim 1, characterized in that, The limiting groove (551) and the limiting rib (552) are both at least two and correspond one to one, and the at least two limiting grooves (551) are distributed at intervals along the limiting direction.

8. The range hood according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wall of the limiting groove (551) is provided with a protrusion (551a), which is configured to make interference contact with the side of the corresponding limiting rib (552) when the water tank body (53) is inserted into place.

9. The range hood according to claim 8, characterized in that, The limiting groove (551) has a flared opening (551b) at the starting end for the insertion of the limiting rib (552). The opening width of the flared opening (551b) gradually decreases along the insertion direction of the limiting rib (552), and the protrusion (551a) is located at the end of the limiting groove (551) away from the flared opening (551b) along the assembly direction.

10. The range hood according to claim 8, characterized in that, A fitting gap is provided between the side of the limiting rib (552) and the groove wall of the limiting groove (551).

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