Range hood with oil cup

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of range hood with oil cup, comprising: cabinet;Oil cup, overall is strip, install in the bottom of the cabinet, the top of this oil cup has open mouth;Cleaning device, including for water or cleaning fluid is sent to the water pump in the oil cup;It further includes being located in oil cup, for detecting the turbidity of liquid in oil cup turbidity sensor, the turbidity sensor and the water pump are electrically connected with the control system of range hood, the control system is configured as: when the turbidity signal transmitted by the turbidity sensor reaches set turbidity threshold, the water pump is controlled to start to thereby supply water to the oil cup.In advantages: it can avoid that viscous, poor flowability oil dirt adheres on the inner wall of oil cup due to the viscous, poor flowability oil dirt in oil cup, leading to that oil cannot be smoothly discharged.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] A range hood is a kitchen appliance used to purify the kitchen environment. The grease cup is a key component of the range hood used to collect and store grease. Traditionally, the grease cup is installed at the bottom of the range hood body by plugging or snapping it on. When the range hood is working, the residual grease collected by the grease collection plate flows into the grease cup through the grease drain hole at the bottom of the casing. This type of grease cup needs to be removed and cleaned regularly to remove grease.

[0003] There are also range hoods that can clean the oil cup without disassembling it, such as a range hood with an oil cup according to application number CN201920236773.8. The oil cup has an opening at the top and is elongated. The oil cup is horizontally positioned below the corresponding position of the range hood body. At least one end of the oil cup can be raised and lowered relative to the range hood body through a lifting adjustment mechanism. The oil cup has an oil leakage hole at a position near or away from the lifting end and a sealing member that can open or close the oil leakage hole. When the oil stains inside the oil cup need to be cleaned, simply move one end of the oil cup downwards under the drive of the lifting and adjusting mechanism, so that the entire oil cup changes from a horizontal state to a tilted state. At this time, the oil stains inside the oil cup will accumulate at one end, and the oil drain hole at that end will be opened. The oil stains will then flow out from the oil drain hole. Simply install an oil collection box below the oil drain hole to clean out the oil stains inside the oil cup. The whole cleaning process is convenient and easy to operate, without the need to disassemble the oil cup, and there is no need for the design of pipelines.

[0004] However, the range hood in the aforementioned patent application (CN201920236773.8) has certain shortcomings: it only uses gravity to allow liquid oil to flow out by tilting the oil cup, but it is ineffective for heavy oil stains that are highly viscous and have poor flowability (such as solidified grease or food residue). These stubborn stains adhere firmly to the inner wall, corners, or bottom of the oil cup, and cannot be effectively peeled off and removed by simply relying on the tilt angle and gravity. Because it cannot effectively remove viscous residues, users still need to manually disassemble the oil cup regularly or use tools for deep cleaning to completely remove these stubborn oil stains. This not only fails to fully achieve the convenience of "no disassembly required" cleaning, but may also lead to odors, bacterial growth, or even oil circuit blockage due to residue accumulation. In summary, the above-mentioned patented solution lacks the ability to sense the state of oil stains (such as viscosity) and cannot proactively take differentiated cleaning measures (such as rinsing) based on the degree of contamination. Its operation is essentially a conventional physical drainage, which cannot intelligently cope with the different state changes of oil pollution from liquid to semi-solid and solid, resulting in helplessness in the face of heavy oil pollution.

[0005] Therefore, existing range hoods still need further improvement. Utility Model Content

[0006] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a range hood with an oil cup that can avoid the oil from being unable to drain smoothly due to the adhesion of oil stains with high viscosity and poor fluidity to the inner wall of the oil cup.

[0007] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a range hood with an oil cup, comprising:

[0008] chassis;

[0009] The oil cup, which is long and narrow, is installed at the bottom of the housing and has an open top.

[0010] The cleaning device includes a water pump for delivering water or cleaning fluid to the oil cup;

[0011] It also includes a turbidity sensor installed inside the oil cup for detecting the turbidity of the liquid inside the oil cup. The turbidity sensor and the water pump are electrically connected to the control system of the range hood. The control system is configured to control the water pump to start and supply water to the oil cup when the turbidity signal transmitted by the turbidity sensor reaches a set turbidity threshold.

[0012] The aforementioned turbidity sensors can be sensors that detect the turbidity of liquids using optical or electrical principles, such as infrared scattering sensors.

[0013] To facilitate the removal of liquids, including oil or diluted oil-water mixtures, from the oil cup, two opposite ends along its length are designated as a first end and a second end. The second end of the oil cup is lower than the first end, and an outlet is provided at the second end for the internal liquid to drain out. This structural design allows for gravity-assisted drainage, with the liquid automatically flowing to the lower outlet, improving the thoroughness of waste removal.

[0014] Considering that if water enters from the second end or middle of the oil cup, the water flow path is short and cannot fully rinse the entire length of the oil cup, the cleaning device pumps water or cleaning fluid to the first end of the oil cup. This structural design allows the liquid to flow from the high end to the low end, covering the entire oil cup and improving the rinsing effect.

[0015] The cleaning device can also be supplied with water directly through the open spout at the top of the oil cup. However, considering that direct spouting can easily cause splashing and makes it difficult to precisely control the water flow, a water inlet connector is provided on the side wall of the first end of the oil cup, communicating with the inside of the oil cup. The outlet of the water pump is connected to the water inlet connector. The connector guides the water flow, avoids splashing, and ensures concentrated and efficient rinsing.

[0016] The cleaning device can be connected to an external water source or use a water storage tank. However, considering the inconvenience of an external water source and the inability to store cleaning fluid, the cleaning device preferably includes a water storage tank, with the inlet of the water pump connected to the water storage tank. This independent water storage method allows for the addition of cleaning fluid and improves the level of automation.

[0017] In order to shorten the water supply path as much as possible and improve the water supply efficiency, the water storage tank is located on the side wall of the machine casing corresponding to the first end of the oil cup.

[0018] To prevent excessive cleaning fluid from overflowing from the oil cup, the control system is also configured to shut down after a set time has elapsed since the water pump was started, thereby stopping the supply of water to the oil cup.

[0019] As an improvement, the first end of the oil cup is rotatably connected to the housing about a horizontally extending axis of rotation, and the second end is held at a corresponding position on the housing by an adjustable elastic element. The oil cup automatically tilts downwards as the weight of the liquid increases, accelerating drainage; after emptying, the elastic element returns to its original position. The elastic element reduces the impact of the range hood's vibration on the oil cup, thus buffering the vibration.

[0020] Considering that the amount of grease in the oil cup varies, fixed rinsing parameters may lead to incomplete cleaning or waste. A distance sensor is also provided at the bottom of the housing corresponding to the second end of the oil cup to detect the height of the second end of the oil cup. The distance sensor is electrically connected to the control system of the range hood. The control system is configured to control the rinsing time and rinsing level of the water pump according to the height signal transmitted by the distance sensor.

[0021] The aforementioned distance sensors can be non-contact sensors for measuring the distance between objects, such as ultrasonic sensors and laser ranging modules.

[0022] The above structural design can achieve the purpose of dynamically adjusting the rinsing intensity and time. For example, when the amount of oil is large, the oil cup sinks more obviously, and the system automatically selects a shorter rinsing time and increases the water pressure (quickly dilutes the oil and increases fluidity) to improve cleaning efficiency. When the amount of oil is small, the oil cup sinks less obviously, and the system can automatically select a longer rinsing time and a lower water pressure to ensure that the oil and cleaning solution are in full contact.

[0023] As an improvement, the oil cup has a limiting groove extending along the length of the oil cup at the edge of the top opening, and the direction from the first end to the second end of the oil cup is referred to as the first direction.

[0024] A jump-prevention limiting structure is also provided between the oil cup and the bottom of the housing to limit the vertical movement of the second end of the oil cup. The jump-prevention limiting structure includes:

[0025] A balance shaft extends along the width of the oil cup, and the two ends of the balance shaft are slidably constrained in corresponding limiting grooves on the oil cup.

[0026] A balance block is located at the bottom of the housing, and a limiting slide is provided on it for the balance shaft to pass through. The limiting slide extends along the length of the oil cup. The bottom surface of the limiting slide includes a horizontal surface and an inclined surface connected sequentially along the first direction. The inclined surface gradually slopes downward along the first direction.

[0027] As the second end of the oil cup deflects downward under the force of gravity, the balance shaft moves downward along the inclined surface of the limiting slide.

[0028] During the process of the second end of the oil cup being reset upward by the action of the elastic element, the balance shaft moves upward along the inclined surface of the limiting slide until it enters the position of the horizontal plane.

[0029] The aforementioned structural design employs only a rotating connection structure (at the first end), a retractable elastic component (such as a spring at the second end), and a simple anti-jump limiting structure (such as a limiting groove / stop). These are all basic, inexpensive mechanical components, greatly simplifying the design, manufacturing, and assembly processes, and significantly reducing material and labor costs. The rotating connection structure and elastic suspension mechanism occupy minimal space (mainly at the connection points at both ends of the oil cup), eliminating the need to reserve space for a complex lifting mechanism between the oil cup and the bottom of the casing. This maximizes the oil cup capacity (without needing to make way for the mechanism) while freeing up vertical and horizontal space at the bottom of the casing, facilitating the optimization of the layout of other internal components (such as the fan and ductwork), resulting in a more compact and lightweight overall structure. Due to its simple structure and the absence of precision-fitted or easily damaged transmission components, the risk of jamming and wear failures is eliminated from the outset, making it particularly suitable for harsh environments with oil stains and high temperatures. The elastic component provides flexible support, adaptively absorbing vibrations during the operation of the range hood, reducing oil cup swaying and noise. The anti-jumping limiting structure can effectively constrain the vertical displacement range of the second end of the oil cup, ensuring that the oil cup remains horizontal and stable under normal conditions, and preventing accidental tilting or jumping due to airflow or vibration.

[0030] The anti-jump limiting structure achieves its anti-jump function by constraining the movement of the balance shaft within the limiting groove and limiting slide. When the second end of the oil cup moves downward under gravity, the balance shaft moves downward along the inclined surface of the limiting slide. This inclined surface acts as a guide and converts part of the vertical movement into a slight movement of the balance shaft along the length direction (first direction) of the oil cup, providing a certain degree of buffering. When the oil cup returns to its original position under the action of the elastic element, the balance shaft moves upward along the inclined surface. When the balance shaft reaches the horizontal position of the limiting slide, the vertical movement is "locked" by the horizontal surface, effectively preventing further upward movement of the second end of the oil cup, thus achieving precise and reliable limiting (anti-jump) at the upper limit position, forming a mechanical self-locking mechanism. The connection design between the inclined surface and the horizontal surface ensures a smooth transition, especially allowing the balance shaft to move downward along the inclined surface under its own weight. The aforementioned anti-jump limiting structure cleverly integrates the limiting function between the oil cup and the housing, using the deflection motion of the oil cup itself to drive the balance shaft to move within a specific slide to achieve the limiting function.

[0031] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: The range hood of this invention utilizes a turbidity sensor integrated within the oil cup to monitor changes in the state of oil stains in real time and objectively. When the oil stains gradually become viscous due to oxidation, condensation, or the introduction of impurities (manifested as increased turbidity), the sensor can promptly detect this change and send a signal to the control system when the turbidity reaches a preset threshold (indicating that the oil stains have reduced fluidity and are more prone to adhesion). Upon receiving the signal indicating excessive turbidity, the control system automatically starts the water pump to inject water or cleaning solution into the oil cup. The injected water or cleaning solution directly acts on the viscous oil stains, diluting and softening them, significantly reducing their viscosity and adhesion strength. The water flow (especially combined with the possible tilting design of the oil cup) creates a scouring force on the cup walls and corners, powerfully washing away solidified grease, food residue, and other substances that cannot be removed by gravity. Increasing the liquid volume and reducing the viscosity of the oil stains greatly improves the overall fluidity of the oil stains, allowing them to be smoothly discharged with the water flow. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0033] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the range hood according to another embodiment of the present utility model;

[0034] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model. The oil cup is in a slightly tilted state, close to horizontal.

[0035] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the oil cup at a large tilt angle;

[0036] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the oil cup according to an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the oil cup from another angle, representing an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0038] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0039] 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.

[0040] Figures 1-6 This illustration shows a preferred embodiment of the range hood with an oil cup according to the present invention. The range hood of this embodiment includes a housing 10 and an elongated oil cup 20 disposed at the bottom of the housing 10. The oil cup 20 extends in a left-right direction. The top of the oil cup 20 has an opening, and its first end is rotatably connected to the bottom of the housing 10 via a front-rear extending pin 24, allowing free rotation around a horizontal axis. The second end of the oil cup 20 is suspended by an elastic element, which is a tension spring 32. The bottom end of the tension spring 32 is fixed to the bottom wall of the oil cup 20, and the top end has a hook 33, which hooks onto a hanging portion at the bottom of the housing 10.

[0041] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 In this embodiment, an anti-jumping limiting structure is also provided between the oil cup 20 and the bottom of the housing 10 to limit the vertical movement of the second end of the oil cup 20. Specifically, the two opposite edges of the top opening of the oil cup 20 have limiting grooves 22 along the length direction (i.e., the left-right direction) for accommodating the balance shaft 25. Specifically, the balance shaft 25 extends along the width direction of the oil cup 20, and its two ends can slide left and right within the limiting grooves 22. A balance block 30 is fixed at the bottom of the housing 10, and a limiting slide 31 is provided on it. The balance shaft 25 on the oil cup 20 passes through the limiting slide 31.

[0042] In this embodiment, the bottom surface of the limiting slide 31 is formed by connecting a horizontal surface 311 and an inclined surface 312. The horizontal surface 311 is located near the first end of the oil cup 20 of the limiting slide 31 and has a constant height. The inclined surface 312 gradually slopes downwards towards the second end of the oil cup 20 along a first direction, and the height of this section of the limiting slide 31 increases with the inclination.

[0043] Under normal conditions, the tension spring 32 keeps the oil cup 20 at a relatively small tilt angle (close to horizontal), and the balance shaft 25 is located at the junction of the horizontal surface 311 and the inclined surface 312 of the limiting slide 31. When oil accumulation causes the weight of the oil cup 20 to increase, the second end of the oil cup 20 moves downward under gravity, and the balance shaft 25 slides down along the inclined surface 312 to the lowest point. At this time, the oil cup 20 is in a large tilted state, which facilitates the accumulation of oil at the second end. When the outlet 23 at the second end is opened to drain the oil, the weight of the oil cup 20 is reduced, the tension spring 32 pulls the second end upward to reset, and the balance shaft 25 slides upward along the inclined surface 312 until it is blocked by the horizontal surface 311, forming a rigid limit.

[0044] In some embodiments, a cleaning device is also provided. The cleaning device includes a water pump 11 and a water storage tank 12. The inlet of the water pump 11 is connected to the water storage tank 12, and the outlet of the water pump 11 is connected to the water inlet connector 21 on the first end of the oil cup 20 through a liquid supply pipe 13. The water storage tank 12 is provided on the side wall of the housing 10 corresponding to the first end of the oil cup 20. Specifically, the water storage tank 12 can adopt a detachable connection structure for easy removal for adding water and cleaning agents. The second end of the oil cup 20 is also provided with an outlet 23 for the liquid discharged from the oil cup 20 and a detachable sealing member (not shown) at the outlet 23. By adding the water pump 11, the water storage tank 12, and the water inlet connector 21 of the oil cup 20, a cleaning system is formed. After the water pump 11 is started, liquid enters the oil cup 20 at its first end, and the cleaning liquid can flow from the first end of the oil cup 20 to the second end, thereby effectively flushing the oil stains on the inner wall of the oil cup 20. The aforementioned cleaning device significantly reduces the frequency and labor intensity of users manually disassembling and cleaning stubborn oil stains inside the oil cup 20. An outlet 23 is provided at the second end of the oil cup 20 (usually the lower and movable end), along with a detachable sealing component (such as a rubber stopper or screw cap). This allows the sealing component to be opened when needed (such as after cleaning or when the oil cup 20 is nearly full), allowing the liquid (waste oil or wastewater) inside the oil cup 20 to flow out directly without having to remove and empty the entire oil cup 20. This makes operation more convenient and avoids the risk of oil spillage during removal.

[0045] In this embodiment, a turbidity sensor 15 (such as an infrared scattering type) is also installed inside the oil cup 20 to detect the viscosity of the oil in real time. When the sensor value exceeds a preset threshold (indicating that the oil has poor fluidity and is easy to adhere), the range hood control system immediately starts the water pump 11 to inject liquid into the oil cup 20 from the first end at the high end. The water flow washes the inner wall along the length of the oil cup 20, diluting and removing stubborn oil. The control system presets a rinsing time, and automatically shuts off the water pump 11 after the time is reached to prevent overflow.

[0046] See Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, a distance sensor 14 is added to the bottom of the housing 10 at the position corresponding to the second end of the oil cup 20. This distance sensor 14 is electrically connected to the control system of the range hood. When the oil stains in the oil cup 20 increase, causing the second end to move downwards, the sensor detects the change in distance between itself and the end of the oil cup 20, that is, it monitors the sinking height of the second end in real time. The control system determines the amount of oil stains based on the sinking amplitude. Specifically, when the sinking amplitude of the second end of the oil cup 20 is large (more oil stains), the control system automatically increases the water pump 11 setting (increases flow rate / pressure) and shortens the rinsing time to achieve rapid and powerful rinsing. When the sinking amplitude of the second end of the oil cup 20 is small (less oil stains), a lower setting is selected to extend the rinsing time to ensure thorough dissolution.

[0047] The working process of the range hood in this embodiment is as follows:

[0048] When the range hood is running, grease flows into the oil cup 20 through the oil drain hole of the casing 10. Initially, when the grease flows smoothly, the oil cup 20 is at a small tilt angle (gradually tilting downwards from the first end to the second end). The user can choose to periodically open the liquid outlet 23 to drain the grease. In this oil collection state, the balance shaft 25 is engaged at the edge of the horizontal surface 311 of the limiting slide 31 (connected to the inclined surface 312 of the limiting slide 31), and the tension spring 32 is in a semi-stretched state. When the turbidity sensor 15 detects that the viscosity of the grease exceeds the standard, the control system starts the water pump 11 to inject liquid from the water tank 12 into the first end of the oil cup 20. The water flow washes away and dilutes the adhering grease, and the mixture converges towards the second end and is discharged from the liquid outlet 23. The accumulation of liquid in the oil cup 20 increases its weight, causing the second end of the oil cup 20 to move downwards. The balance shaft 25 gradually moves downwards along the inclined surface 312 until it reaches the lowest point, and the oil cup 20 forms a relatively large tilt angle. Open the outlet 23 seal and start the water pump 11 to inject cleaning fluid. The oil-stain mixture is discharged from the second end. When cleaning is required, the distance sensor 14 also monitors the sinking of the oil cup 20 and dynamically adjusts the flushing parameters. After emptying, the oil cup 20 becomes lighter and, under the action of the tension spring 32, moves the second end of the oil cup 20 upward. At the same time, the balance shaft 25 slides back along the inclined surface 312 of the limiting slide 31 to the edge of the horizontal surface 311.

Claims

1. A range hood with an oil cup, comprising: Casing (10); The oil cup (20) is long and narrow, and is installed at the bottom of the housing (10). The top of the oil cup (20) is open. The cleaning device includes a water pump (11) for delivering water or cleaning fluid to the oil cup (20); The feature is that it further includes a turbidity sensor (15) disposed inside the oil cup (20) for detecting the turbidity of the liquid inside the oil cup (20). The turbidity sensor (15) and the water pump (11) are electrically connected to the control system of the range hood. The control system is configured to control the water pump (11) to start when the turbidity signal transmitted by the turbidity sensor (15) reaches a set turbidity threshold, thereby supplying water to the oil cup (20).

2. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The oil cup (20) has two opposite ends along its length, namely the first end and the second end. The height of the second end of the oil cup (20) is lower than that of the first end of the oil cup (20). The second end of the oil cup (20) is provided with an outlet (23) for the internal liquid to be discharged.

3. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 2, characterized in that: The cleaning device pumps water or cleaning fluid to the first end of the oil cup (20).

4. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 3, characterized in that: The oil cup (20) has a water inlet connector (21) on the side wall of the first end, which communicates with the inside of the oil cup (20), and the outlet of the water pump (11) is connected to the water inlet connector (21).

5. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 4, characterized in that: The cleaning device also includes a water storage tank (12), and the inlet of the water pump (11) is connected to the water storage tank (12).

6. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 5, characterized in that: The water storage tank (12) is located on the side wall of the housing (10) corresponding to the first end of the oil cup (20).

7. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control system is also configured to shut off after a set time has elapsed since the water pump (11) is started, thereby stopping the supply of water to the oil cup (20).

8. The range hood with an oil cup according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The first end of the oil cup (20) is rotatably connected to the housing (10) about a horizontally extending axis of rotation, and the second end is held at the corresponding position on the housing (10) by an elastic element that can be adjusted vertically.

9. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 8, characterized in that: The bottom of the housing (10) is also provided with a distance sensor (14) for detecting the height of the second end of the oil cup (20) at a position corresponding to the second end of the oil cup (20). The distance sensor (14) is electrically connected to the control system of the range hood. The control system is configured to control the flushing time and flushing level of the water pump (11) according to the height signal transmitted by the distance sensor (14).

10. The range hood with an oil cup according to claim 8, characterized in that: The oil cup (20) has a limiting groove (22) extending along the length direction of the oil cup (20) at the edge of the top opening. The direction from the first end to the second end of the oil cup (20) is called the first direction. An anti-jumping limiting structure is also provided between the oil cup (20) and the bottom of the housing (10) to limit the vertical movement of the second end of the oil cup (20). The anti-jumping limiting structure includes: A balance shaft (25) is arranged to extend along the width direction of the oil cup (20), and the two ends of the balance shaft (25) are correspondingly slidably constrained in the corresponding limiting grooves (22) on the oil cup (20); A balance block (30) is provided at the bottom of the housing (10), and a limiting slide (31) is provided on it for the balance shaft (25) to pass through. The limiting slide (31) extends along the length direction of the oil cup (20). The bottom surface of the limiting slide (31) includes a horizontal surface (311) and an inclined surface (312) connected sequentially along the first direction. The inclined surface (312) gradually slopes downward along the first direction. During the process of the second end of the oil cup (20) deflecting downward under the action of gravity, the balance shaft (25) moves downward along the inclined surface (312) of the limiting slide (31); During the process of the second end of the oil cup (20) being reset upward by the action of the elastic element, the balance shaft (25) moves upward along the inclined surface (312) of the limiting slide (31) until it enters the position of the horizontal surface (311).

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