Range hood with cleaning function

Abstract

This utility model relates to a range hood with a cleaning function, comprising: a housing; a fan system disposed within the housing, including a volute and an impeller disposed within the volute, the volute having an air inlet; a steam cleaning device including a water tank, a water pump, a steam generator, and nozzles, the water pump being used to pump water from the water tank to the steam generator, the steam generated by the steam generator being sprayed into the volute through the nozzles; and a steam recovery system, the steam recovery system including: a steam collector, the steam collector having steam inlets distributed on it for absorbing steam from inside the housing; a Venturi drain pipe is also provided in the flow path between the water pump and the nozzles, the drain port of the Venturi drain pipe being connected to the steam collector through a drain pipe. The advantage is that during the steam cleaning process, it can effectively reduce steam leakage from the seams of the housing, thereby improving the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of range hood technology, and in particular to a range hood with a cleaning function. Background Technology

[0002] A range hood is a kitchen appliance used to purify the kitchen environment. During use, a large amount of grease accumulates on the impeller and filter, which can easily cause blockages, increase the load, and affect the range hood's performance. With the continuous advancement of self-cleaning technology, steam cleaning has become widely used in the field of range hood self-cleaning. The basic principle of steam cleaning is that a steam generator produces steam, which is then delivered to the nozzles at the end of the spray pipe. The steam is rapidly ejected from the nozzles, washing and cleaning the impeller and volute.

[0003] However, existing self-cleaning technologies for range hoods, such as steam cleaning, still have some problems. For example, the high-temperature steam used for cleaning is continuously discharged into the common flue from the air outlet as the fan operates, resulting in insufficient amount of high-temperature steam in the fan and a short duration of existence. This makes it difficult to soften and remove stubborn oil stains adhering to the impeller surface, affecting the cleaning effect. In addition, after the high-temperature steam is discharged into the common flue, the high-temperature steam wash will dissolve the oil stains adhering to the walls of the common flue. The backflow of oil stains will cause secondary pollution. At the same time, the humidity of the high-temperature steam will cause bacteria to grow in the common flue, which will endanger the health of users.

[0004] To address the aforementioned technical problems, Chinese invention patent application CN109519988A discloses a self-cleaning range hood and its control method. The range hood includes an outer casing, a fan, a check valve, a temperature sensing element, and a self-cleaning assembly. The check valve is an electrically controlled check valve located on the air outlet of the volute and can open or close the outlet. The temperature sensing element is electrically connected to the control circuit of the check valve, and the control circuit controls the opening or closing of the check valve based on the electrical signal transmitted from the temperature sensing element. The self-cleaning assembly has a nozzle located on the volute and can spray cleaning medium into the volute. The temperature sensing element is positioned near the outlet end of the nozzle. During self-cleaning of the range hood, the temperature sensing element is heated by high-temperature cleaning, which connects the check valve circuit and closes the fan outlet, preventing high-temperature steam from flowing into the common flue. This keeps the volute at a consistently high temperature, facilitating the softening and removal of grease, improving the self-cleaning effect, and simultaneously preventing high-temperature steam from flowing into the common flue and causing secondary pollution.

[0005] While the range hood in the aforementioned patent application solves the problem of preventing steam from entering the public flue, it still has certain shortcomings in actual use: when the volute is filled with a large amount of steam, the steam will come out from the air inlet of the volute and fill the lower box. Since the lower box of the range hood cannot be completely sealed, steam will inevitably overflow from the joints of the box, especially from the baffle glass, which will have a negative impact on the user experience.

[0006] Therefore, existing range hoods still need further improvement. Utility Model Content

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a range hood with a cleaning function that can effectively reduce steam leakage from the seams of the casing, thereby improving the user experience, in light of the current state of the technology.

[0008] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a range hood with a cleaning function, comprising:

[0009] chassis;

[0010] A fan system, located within the casing, includes a volute and an impeller located within the volute;

[0011] A steam cleaning device includes a water tank, a water pump, a steam generator, and a nozzle assembly. The water pump is used to pump water from the water tank to the steam generator, and the steam generated by the steam generator is sprayed into the volute through the nozzle assembly.

[0012] It also includes a steam recovery system, which comprises:

[0013] A steam collector, which has steam inlets distributed on it for absorbing steam inside the casing;

[0014] A Venturi drain pipe is also provided in the flow path between the water pump and the nozzle, and the drain port of the Venturi drain pipe is connected to the steam collector through a drain pipe.

[0015] The aforementioned "Venturi tube" utilizes the negative pressure effect generated when fluid (water or steam) passes through a narrow pipe at high speed to achieve gas ejection. In this application, when a water pump drives water to flow through the throat of the Venturi tube, the flow velocity increases and the pressure decreases, drawing steam through the outlet. The Venturi tube can employ a conventional drainage tube structure based on the Venturi principle in the prior art.

[0016] The Venturi tube can be located on the steam pipeline after the steam generator or in the water flow pipeline before or after the steam generator. However, considering that the Venturi tube is located after the steam generator (in the high-temperature and high-pressure steam section), its high-temperature and high-pressure resistance requirements are extremely high, increasing cost and failure risk. In particular, when high-temperature and high-pressure steam flows through the Venturi tube, its drainage effect (negative pressure magnitude) may be affected by the steam's physical properties (density, viscosity). Therefore, the Venturi tube is placed in the flow path between the water pump and the steam generator. With this structural design, the Venturi tube is located in the ambient / low-temperature water flow environment at the water pump outlet, avoiding contact with high-temperature and high-pressure steam. This reduces the requirements for the temperature and pressure resistance of the Venturi tube material, improves system reliability and service life, and reduces cost. Utilizing water flow (liquid) to generate the Venturi effect is generally more stable and produces a stronger negative pressure (due to the higher density of the liquid) than using steam (gas), ensuring a stable and sufficient suction force for the steam collector. The recovered steam / water mist is introduced into the water flow, where it is thoroughly mixed and heated before entering the steam generator, which is beneficial for the uniform generation of subsequent steam.

[0017] Considering that water pumps and steam generators (which operate at high temperatures) are easily contaminated by oil fumes, experience accelerated aging due to heat, or have their efficiency affected if installed near the volute or in the fume path, the casing includes an outlet plate, with the water pump and steam generator located on top of this plate. The top of the outlet plate is typically a relatively clean and cool area (close to the exhaust outlet or the outside). Installing the water pump and steam generator here effectively avoids direct impacts from oil fume contamination and volute / motor heat dissipation, improving the reliability and lifespan of critical components. Utilizing the space at the top of the casing (above the outlet plate) results in a compact layout that does not occupy main air duct space. The top location is generally easier to access and maintain than locations below the volute.

[0018] As an improvement, the water tank is located outside the casing. This structural design frees up internal space, allowing for a more optimized layout of the air ducts, fans, and recycling system. The external water tank (usually on the panel or side) greatly facilitates user observation of the water level and water filling operations, enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, the reduced external space constraints allow for the design of larger capacity water tanks, reducing the frequency of water filling.

[0019] As an improvement, the steam collector is arranged below the volute. With the steam generator located directly below the volute, it can most directly and effectively collect steam and condensate / water mist settling and diffusing from the volute area, significantly improving steam recovery efficiency.

[0020] In order to enable the steam collector to effectively cover a large area under the volute without affecting the normal intake and flow of oil fumes, the steam collector is a hollow frame that extends laterally inside the casing or at the air inlet of the casing, and the steam intake ports are distributed on the hollow frame.

[0021] The aforementioned "perforated frame" refers to a steam collector that is a frame-like, non-solid structure, primarily composed of rods, strips, and meshes, with numerous gaps ("perforations") in between. This structure provides a carrier for distributing steam intakes (through holes / slits in the rods, strips, and meshes) while ensuring low flow resistance, allowing fumes to rise smoothly through the gaps. Alternatively, a shape similar to a barbecue grill rack could be used, but designed to fit the space beneath the volute, forming a suitable flat or curved surface, with small holes or slits throughout its frame structure serving as steam intakes.

[0022] The steam collector employs a horizontally extending perforated frame structure, creating a wider coverage area beneath the volute casing. This ensures a higher probability of capturing settled steam / condensate, improving recovery rates. The perforated steam generator (such as a mesh or slit design) minimizes resistance to rising oil fume airflow, almost completely unaffected by the range hood's normal exhaust function. The steam collector distributes steam inlets across the frame, resulting in a more even distribution of negative pressure suction within the collection area, preventing excessively strong localized suction or dead zones.

[0023] As an improvement, a control valve for controlling the steam flow rate is also provided in the flow path between the steam collector and the Venturi tube. The control valve (such as a solenoid valve or a manual valve) allows for adjustment of the steam recovery rate and intensity as needed, ensuring the system operates at its optimal state. It can also adjust the recovery intensity according to the cleaning progress, oil content, or specific program instructions, improving the system's adaptability and cleaning effect. Furthermore, it prevents excessive recovery flow from interfering with the main water / steam flow, or insufficient flow from leading to inadequate recovery, ensuring the overall efficiency of the Venturi tube and steam cleaning.

[0024] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: By installing a steam collector with a steam inlet in a key area inside the casing, the system can actively capture and collect residual steam escaping from the volute air inlet or diffusing into the casing. This directly addresses the fundamental problem of steam overflowing due to the casing's inability to be completely sealed, effectively reducing the possibility of steam overflowing from the baffle glass, panel seams, etc., preventing steam from spreading into the kitchen environment and ensuring user comfort during cleaning. A Venturi drain pipe is installed in the water path between the water pump and the nozzle, and the steam collector is connected to the Venturi drain port through the drain pipe. When the water pump drives the water flow through the narrow throat of the Venturi tube, a significant negative pressure is generated at the drain port according to the Venturi effect. This negative pressure efficiently draws the steam collected by the steam collector and reintroduces it into the water flow. This not only recovers the steam but also allows the recovered steam to be sent to the steam generator along with the water flow, realizing the recycling of steam. The recovered steam re-enters the steam generator system and can be reheated and reused, supplementing the amount of steam required for cleaning. This helps maintain a more stable and longer-lasting steam environment inside the fan system (such as in the volute and impeller), which helps soften stubborn oil stains and potentially improves the self-cleaning effect. At the same time, recycling reduces the consumption of fresh steam, thus contributing to energy and water conservation. Attached Figure Description

[0025] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model, omitting components such as the casing. Detailed Implementation

[0027] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0028] In the specification and claims of this utility model, terms indicating direction, such as "front," "rear," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "side," "top," and "bottom," are used to describe various exemplary structural parts and elements of this utility model. However, the use of these terms is merely for the purpose of explanation and is based on the exemplary orientations shown in the accompanying drawings. Since the embodiments disclosed in this utility model can be arranged in different orientations, these terms indicating direction are for illustrative purposes only and should not be regarded as limitations. For example, "upper" and "lower" are not necessarily limited to directions opposite to or consistent with the direction of gravity.

[0029] Figures 1-2This illustration shows a preferred embodiment of the range hood with cleaning function of this utility model. The range hood includes a housing 10 and a fan system 20 disposed within the housing 10, the fan system 20 generally employing a centrifugal fan. The housing 10 generally includes a fan frame 101 and a smoke collection hood 102 disposed at the bottom of the fan frame 101, the inner cavity of the fan frame 101 communicating with the inner cavity of the smoke collection hood 102. An air inlet 1020 is provided on the front side wall of the smoke collection hood 102, allowing external fumes to enter the smoke collection hood 102 through the air inlet 1020. The centrifugal fan is disposed within the fan frame 101; when the centrifugal fan operates, it generates negative pressure, allowing external fumes to be drawn into the smoke collection hood 102 through the air inlet 1020. An oil cup 61 is provided at the bottom of the smoke collection hood 102, the oil cup 61 being a long strip extending laterally, used to collect oil stains flowing down from the smoke collection hood 102. The front of the smoke hood 102 is also provided with a smoke baffle that can deflect back and forth relative to the smoke hood 102. The smoke baffle is connected to the main body of the smoke hood 102 via a hinge mechanism. Specifically, it can deflect forward to open the air inlet 1020 and deflect backward to block and close the air inlet 1020. The hinge mechanism used to drive the deflection of the smoke baffle can be a conventional hinge mechanism in the prior art, which will not be described in detail here.

[0030] Centrifugal fans generally include a volute 21, an impeller 22 housed inside the volute 21, and a motor for driving the impeller 22 to rotate.

[0031] The range hood in this embodiment also includes a steam cleaning device and a steam recovery system. The steam cleaning device is used to clean the inner wall of the volute 21 and the impeller 22. Specifically, the steam cleaning device includes a water tank 31, a water pump 32, a steam generator 33, and a nozzle assembly 34. The water tank 31 can be installed outside the range hood housing 10 for easy water filling. The water pump 32 and the steam generator 33 can be installed on the top plate of the fan frame 101 of the range hood. The water pump 32 sends water from the water tank 31 to the steam generator 33 through the water inlet pipe 321, where the steam generator 33 heats the water into steam. The generated high-temperature steam is sprayed into the interior of the volute 21 through the nozzle assembly 34, washing away the grease on the impeller 22 and the inner wall of the volute 21. During the cleaning process, steam inside the volute 21 overflows from the front and rear air intakes of the volute 21.

[0032] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2The steam recovery system of this embodiment includes a steam collector 41 and a Venturi drain pipe 35. The steam collector 41 is a hollow frame that extends laterally inside the housing 10 or at the air inlet 1020 of the housing 10, and steam intake ports 410 are distributed on the hollow frame. In this embodiment, the "hollow frame" means that the steam collector 41 is a frame-like, non-solid structure, the main body of which is composed of rods, strips, grids, etc., with a large number of gaps ("hollows"). This structure provides a carrier for distributing the steam intake ports 410 (openings / slits in the rods, strips, and grids), and ensures low flow resistance, allowing oil fumes to rise smoothly through its gaps. For example, a shape similar to a barbecue grill or grid can be adopted, but designed into a suitable planar or curved shape according to the space below the volute 21, and its skeleton structure is filled with small holes or slits as steam intake ports 410. The steam collector 41 adopts a "laterally extending perforated frame" structure, which can form a wider coverage area below the volute 21, ensuring that the settled steam / condensate has a greater chance of being captured and improving the recovery rate. The perforated steam generator 33 (such as mesh or slit-like) ensures that the frame itself has very little resistance to the rising oil fume airflow, and hardly affects the normal smoke exhaust function of the range hood. The steam collector 41 "distributes" the steam inlets 410 on the frame, making the negative pressure suction more evenly distributed in the collection area, avoiding excessively strong local suction or the existence of suction dead zones.

[0033] The aforementioned grille structure can also be installed at the air inlet 1020 of the housing 10. The grille has air inlet holes for airflow, thus forming an oil mesh structure. The grille bars of the oil mesh structure are hollow inside, and corresponding steam inlets 410 are opened inside the grille bars. The hollow interior of each grille bar forms a steam channel connecting each steam inlet 410.

[0034] In this embodiment, the Venturi tube 35 of the range hood is positioned in the flow path between the water pump 32 and the nozzle component 34. The Venturi tube 35 can be located on the steam pipeline after the steam generator 33, or in the water flow pipeline before or after the steam generator 33. However, considering that the Venturi tube 35 is located after the steam generator 33 (in the high-temperature, high-pressure steam section), its high-temperature and high-pressure resistance requirements are extremely high, increasing cost and the risk of failure. In particular, when high-temperature, high-pressure steam flows through the Venturi tube, its drainage effect (negative pressure) may be affected by the steam's physical properties (density, viscosity). Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the Venturi tube 35 is positioned in the flow path between the pump 32 and the steam generator 33. The Venturi tube 35 is located in the ambient / low-temperature water flow environment at the outlet of the water pump 32, avoiding contact with high-temperature, high-pressure steam, reducing the requirements for the temperature and pressure resistance of the Venturi tube material, improving system reliability and service life, and reducing costs. Utilizing water flow (liquid) to generate the Venturi effect is generally more stable and produces stronger negative pressure (due to the higher density of the liquid) than using steam (gas), ensuring a stable and sufficient suction force for the steam collector 41. The recovered steam / water mist is introduced into the water flow, where it is thoroughly mixed and heated before entering the steam generator 33, which is beneficial for the uniform generation of subsequent steam.

[0035] The flow path between the steam collector 41 and the Venturi drain pipe 35 is a drain pipe 36, in which a control valve 51 is installed. The control valve 51 can be a three-way solenoid valve. This allows the rate and intensity of steam recovery to be adjusted as needed, ensuring the system operates in an optimized state. Furthermore, the recovery intensity can be adjusted according to the cleaning progress, oil content, or specific program instructions, improving the system's adaptability and cleaning effect. On the other hand, it prevents excessive recovery flow from interfering with the main water / steam flow, or insufficient flow from leading to inadequate recovery, ensuring the overall efficiency of Venturi drainage and steam cleaning.

[0036] This embodiment incorporates a steam collector 41 with a steam intake 410 in a key area inside the casing 10 (such as inside the casing 10 or near the air inlet 1020 of the casing 10). This allows the system to actively capture and collect residual steam escaping from the air inlet 1020 of the volute 21 or spreading into the casing 10. This directly addresses the fundamental problem of steam overflowing due to the casing 10's inability to be completely sealed, effectively reducing the possibility of steam overflowing from the baffle glass, panel seams, etc., preventing steam from permeating the kitchen environment and ensuring user comfort during cleaning. A Venturi drain pipe 35 is installed in the water path between the water pump 32 and the nozzle, and the steam collector 41 is connected to the venturi drain port via a drain pipe 36. When the water pump 32 drives water flow through the narrow throat of the venturi, a significant negative pressure is generated at the drain port according to the Venturi effect. This negative pressure efficiently draws the steam collected by the steam collector 41 and reintroduces it into the water flow. This not only recovers steam but also allows the recovered steam to be sent to the steam generator 33 along with the water flow, achieving steam recycling. The recovered steam re-enters the steam generator 33 system and can be reheated for reuse, supplementing the steam required for cleaning. This helps maintain a more stable and longer-lasting steam environment inside the blower system 20 (such as in the volute 21 and impeller 22), which is beneficial for softening stubborn oil stains and potentially improving the self-cleaning effect. At the same time, recycling reduces the consumption of fresh steam, playing a certain role in energy and water conservation.

Claims

1. A range hood with a cleaning function, comprising: Casing (10); The fan system (20) is located inside the housing (10) and includes a volute (21) and an impeller (22) located inside the volute (21); The steam cleaning device includes a water tank (31), a water pump (32), a steam generator (33), and a nozzle (34). The water pump (32) is used to send water from the water tank (31) to the steam generator (33). The steam generated by the steam generator (33) is injected into the volute (21) through the nozzle (34). Its characteristic is that it further includes a steam recovery system, the steam recovery system comprising: Steam collector (41) with steam inlets (410) distributed on it for absorbing steam inside the casing (10); A Venturi drain pipe (35) is also provided on the flow path between the water pump (32) and the nozzle (34), and the drain port of the Venturi drain pipe (35) is connected to the steam collector (41) through the drain pipe (36).

2. The range hood with cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The Venturi drain pipe (35) is located in the flow path between the water pump (32) and the steam generator (33).

3. The range hood with cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The housing (10) includes an air outlet plate, and the water pump (32) and steam generator (33) are located on the top of the air outlet plate.

4. The range hood with cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water storage tank (31) is located outside the casing (10).

5. The range hood with cleaning function according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The steam collector (41) is arranged below the volute (21).

6. The range hood with cleaning function according to claim 5, characterized in that: The steam collector (41) is a hollow frame that extends laterally inside the housing (10) or at the air inlet (1020) of the housing (10), and the steam inlets (410) are distributed on the hollow frame.

7. The range hood with cleaning function according to claim 1, characterized in that: A control valve (51) for controlling the steam flow rate is also provided in the flow path between the steam collector (41) and the Venturi drain pipe (35).

Images