Range hood

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of range hood, comprising: cabinet, its front portion has air inlet and the fixed panel in the upper portion of air inlet;Movable panel, can be driven by drive mechanism and move relatively the cabinet to open and close the air inlet;The back of the movable panel is provided with panel support near lower edge position, the panel support itself or the back between panel support and movable panel forms the vertical extension and the upper part of open mouth of the accommodation slot, in the state that the movable panel opens the air inlet, the movable panel is attached to the front side of the fixed panel, and parallel with fixed panel, at least bottom edge portion of the fixed panel is embedded in the accommodation slot. Advantage is that: the form of movable panel opening air inlet state is thinner, and can avoid the oil liquid adhered on movable panel to flow to outside.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Range hoods are an indispensable kitchen appliance in modern homes. To improve smoke extraction, range hoods typically have a baffle plate at the air inlet, which opens and closes by moving the baffle. Currently, the air inlet panels of existing range hoods are generally classified as one-section (full-screen), two-section (one section is a fixed panel, and the other is a movable panel, i.e., the baffle), and three-section (the top and bottom sections are fixed panels, and the middle section is a movable panel, i.e., the baffle). For two-section or three-section range hoods, there are at least two independent panels on the same plane. In traditional range hoods, the movable panel opens and closes the air inlet by flipping it.

[0003] To achieve a slim range hood design, existing technologies also employ movable panels with a composite translational movement. These are primarily based on a four-bar linkage as the motion mechanism. For example, Chinese invention patent application number 202410897616.7 discloses a range hood baffle movement mechanism, including a smoke inlet chamber and a baffle plate. An air inlet is located at the front of the smoke inlet chamber, and the baffle plate is positioned at the air inlet and moves relative to the air inlet under the drive of a driving mechanism. The baffle plate includes a first baffle plate and a second baffle plate arranged side-by-side. The driving mechanism includes a main driving mechanism and a secondary driving mechanism located within the smoke inlet chamber. The first and second baffle plates move synchronously under the drive of the main driving mechanism, and can also move independently under the drive of either the main or secondary driving mechanism. The first and second baffle plates can also perform oblique translational movement relative to the air inlet, and remain in a vertical position throughout this oblique translational movement.

[0004] The moving mechanism of the smoke baffle in the aforementioned patent application has certain shortcomings: the range of motion of the movable panel shifting forward and upward is limited, thus restricting the opening area of ​​the air inlet and affecting the smoke extraction efficiency. Furthermore, when the smoke baffle (i.e., the movable panel) is in the open state, it protrudes forward a relatively large distance relative to the fixed panel. This makes it difficult for the oil adhering to the front and back of the movable panel to flow smoothly into the oil cup below. This necessitates a larger oil cup to collect the oil, affecting the overall aesthetics of the range hood. Utility Model Content

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this utility model is to provide a range hood with a thinner shape when the movable panel is open and the air inlet is open, and to prevent the oil on the movable panel from flowing to the outside, in view of the current situation of the prior art.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by this utility model to solve the above-mentioned technical problems is: a range hood, comprising:

[0007] The casing has an air inlet at the front and a fixed panel located above the air inlet.

[0008] The movable panel can be moved relative to the housing by a drive mechanism to open and close the air inlet;

[0009] The back of the movable panel is provided with a panel bracket near the lower edge. The panel bracket itself or the back of the movable panel forms a vertically extending and open-top clearance groove. When the movable panel opens the air inlet, the movable panel is against the front side of the fixed panel and parallel to the fixed panel. At least the bottom edge of the fixed panel is embedded in the clearance groove.

[0010] The "attached" in the above-mentioned "movable panel abutting against the front side of the fixed panel" can be understood as the movable panel and the fixed panel being in contact front to back or the distance between them in the front-back direction is not large. Therefore, even when the air inlet of the movable panel is open, the front-back depth of the range hood is not large, which meets the design purpose of a slim range hood.

[0011] As an improvement, the panel support is an overall U-shaped structure with an open top. The panel support includes a front wall panel and a rear wall panel facing each other. The power output end of the drive mechanism is connected to the rear wall panel, and the back of the movable panel is connected to the front wall panel. By using a U-shaped panel support, the drive mechanism is connected to the rear wall panel, and the movable panel is connected to the front wall panel, achieving indirect power transmission, reducing the impact of direct stress on the panel, and improving durability and smoothness of movement. The U-shaped structure is simple, reliable, and easy to manufacture and assemble. It is conceivable that the panel support could also be an L-shaped or Z-shaped panel structure.

[0012] To guide the flue gas at the air inlet and reduce turbulence, the bottom of the front wall panel is constructed with a first guide wall that slopes backward from top to bottom, and the bottom of the rear wall panel is constructed with a second guide wall that slopes forward from top to bottom. The first and second guide walls connect at the bottom, resulting in a downward-protruding V-shaped structure at the bottom of the panel support. This V-shaped structure formed by the first and second guide walls serves two purposes: firstly, it guides the flue gas at the air inlet, allowing it to smoothly enter the housing along the bottom of the movable panel, reducing turbulence; secondly, it effectively collects and guides oil droplets, causing them to converge downward along the sloped walls, preventing accumulation, improving oil droplet management efficiency, and reducing cleaning workload.

[0013] Oil accumulated at the bottom of the panel bracket can be drained from the left and right side ports. However, considering the low drainage efficiency, especially the possibility of collected oil droplets remaining and causing oil to overflow at inappropriate locations or contaminate internal components, oil leakage holes are provided at the bottom junction of the first and second guide walls. At least two of these leakage holes are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the panel bracket. These leakage holes allow oil droplets to drain smoothly, and the multiple, spaced-apart leakage holes ensure uniform and reliable drainage, prevent clogging, and further optimize the oil droplet collection system.

[0014] To prevent oil droplets adhering to the front of the movable panel (especially when the panel is moving) from dripping directly onto the stovetop, the top of the first guide wall connects to the bottom edge of the movable panel, and the bottom edge of the movable panel is constructed with a guide slope that slopes backward from top to bottom. The connection between the guide slope of the bottom edge of the movable panel and the first guide wall guides oil droplets from the front of the panel to the guide wall, where they enter the V-shaped collection structure. This ensures that the oil droplets are collected and processed, preventing oil from dripping directly onto the stovetop and maintaining the cleanliness and overall hygiene of the stovetop.

[0015] As an improvement, the housing has an upward-sloping guide plate inside the air inlet, and a vibration damper is also provided on the second guide wall. When the movable panel is in the closed air inlet state, the vibration damper on the second guide wall abuts against the guide plate. The vibration damper abuts against the guide plate when the panel is closed, playing a buffering and vibration reduction role, reducing vibration transmission and noise, and improving the stability and quietness of the structure.

[0016] To facilitate the installation, replacement, and disassembly of the vibration isolator, the vibration isolator is a rubber pad, and corresponding mounting holes for mounting the rubber pad are provided on the second guide wall. The rubber pad, as a vibration isolator, has good elasticity and wear resistance. Fixing it through the mounting holes simplifies the assembly process and ensures the reliability and durability of the vibration reduction.

[0017] As an improvement, an oil cup is also included at the bottom of the housing. The top of the oil cup is open, and when the movable baffle is in the open air inlet state, the vertical projection of the bottom of the first guide wall and the bottom of the second guide wall is located inside the oil cup. By ensuring that the bottom of the V-shaped structure is vertically projected into the oil cup, oil droplets are ensured to drip directly into the oil cup, preventing oil spillage, improving oil droplet collection efficiency, and facilitating oil cup cleaning. This structural design also means that the front-to-back width of the oil cup does not need to be too large, allowing it to fit with the slim design of the housing and ensuring aesthetics.

[0018] As an improvement, the fixed panel extends vertically, and the movable panel, when the air inlet is closed, also extends vertically. Furthermore, the front wall of the movable panel and the front wall of the fixed panel are located on the same vertical plane. Having the front walls of both the movable and fixed panels on the same vertical plane results in a flat and aesthetically pleasing appearance when the panel is closed, enhancing the overall visual integrity and premium feel of the product.

[0019] As an improvement, the drive mechanism includes a drive motor and a four-bar linkage. The output shaft of the drive motor is connected to the power output end of the four-bar linkage, which is connected to the panel support. The combination of the four-bar linkage and the drive motor provides a stable and smooth motion trajectory, ensuring the movable panel remains vertical during movement. It also makes opening and closing smoother, reduces impact and noise, and extends the lifespan of the drive mechanism.

[0020] Compared with existing technologies, the advantages of this invention are as follows: When the movable panel of the range hood is in the open air inlet state, it does not move forward significantly or flip over, but rather rests against and is parallel to the front side of the fixed panel. This retractable opening shape minimizes the overall depth of the range hood's front, significantly optimizing the overall thickness and better meeting the aesthetic and space requirements of modern slim range hoods. Furthermore, the structural design of the range hood effectively catches dripping oil from the movable panel without increasing the size of the oil cup, maintaining a clean appearance. In summary, this invention achieves an ultra-thin appearance while cleverly balancing cleanliness and convenience, comprehensively improving both the product's practicality and aesthetics. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the movable panel in the closed air inlet state;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a vertical sectional view of the range hood of this utility model, cut along the front-to-back direction, with the movable panel in the closed air inlet state;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the range hood according to an embodiment of the present utility model, with the movable panel in the open air inlet state;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a vertical sectional view of the range hood of this utility model, cut along the front-to-back direction, with the movable panel in the open air inlet state;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the back of the movable panel according to an embodiment of the present utility model, including a panel support;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a vertical sectional view of the movable panel and panel support of this utility model embodiment, cut along the front-to-back direction, with the cut surface passing through the vibration isolation member;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a vertical sectional view of the movable panel and panel support of this utility model embodiment, cut along the front-to-back direction, with the cut surface passing through the oil leakage hole. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0029] 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.

[0030] Figures 1-7 A preferred embodiment of the range hood of this utility model is shown. The range hood includes a housing 1, a movable panel 22, a drive mechanism, and an oil cup 101. The front of the housing 1 has an air inlet 10, and a vertically extending fixed panel 21 is fixedly disposed on the upper part of the air inlet 10. The movable panel 22 is used to open and close the air inlet 10, and it is moved relative to the housing 1 by being driven by the drive mechanism. In the closed state of the air inlet 10, the movable panel 22 is also vertically extended, and its front wall surface is located on the same vertical plane as the front wall surface of the fixed panel 21, forming a flat appearance.

[0031] See Figures 5-7A panel bracket 23 is fixedly installed on the back of the movable panel 22 near its lower edge. In this embodiment, the panel bracket 23 adopts a U-shaped structure with an open top, including a front wall panel 231 and a rear wall panel 232 facing each other. The front wall panel 231 is fixedly connected to the bottom edge of the back of the movable panel 22 by adhesive bonding, while the rear wall panel 232 is connected to the power output end of the drive mechanism. In this way, the drive mechanism indirectly drives the movable panel 22 to move through the panel bracket 23, reducing the direct stress on the panel. The U-shaped structure of the panel bracket 23 creates a vertically extending and upper-opening clearance groove 230 between the front wall panel 231 and the rear wall panel 232. When the movable panel 22 has its air inlet 10 open, the movable panel 22 moves upward and abuts against the front side of the fixed panel 21, parallel to the fixed panel 21. At this time, at least the bottom edge of the fixed panel 21 is embedded in the clearance groove 230, making the overall thickness of the front of the range hood thinner when open, meeting the requirements of a thin design.

[0032] To optimize flue gas flow and oil collection, the bottom of the panel support 23 is designed with a V-shaped structure. Specifically, the bottom of the front wall panel 231 has a first guide wall 2310 that slopes backward from top to bottom, and the bottom of the rear wall panel 232 has a second guide wall 2320 that slopes forward from top to bottom. The first guide wall 2310 and the second guide wall 2320 meet at the bottom to form a V-shape. This V-shaped structure can guide the flue gas at the air inlet 10, reduce turbulence, and facilitate the collection of oil droplets. At the bottom position where the first guide wall 2310 and the second guide wall 2320 meet, multiple oil drain holes 2301 are provided. These oil drain holes 2301 are arranged sequentially at intervals along the extension direction (i.e., the left-right direction) of the panel support 23, so that the accumulated oil can be discharged smoothly.

[0033] Furthermore, the bottom edge of the movable panel 22 is constructed with a guide slope 221 that slopes backward from top to bottom, and the bottom of the guide slope 221 is in contact with the top of the first guide wall 2310. When oil droplets attached to the front of the movable panel 22 flow downward, the guide slope 221 guides the oil droplets to the first guide wall 2310, where they converge along the V-shaped structure and drip through the oil drain hole 2301. This design prevents oil droplets from dripping directly onto the stovetop, keeping the countertop clean.

[0034] Inside the housing 1, a guide plate 102, inclined upwards from front to back, is provided on the inner side of the air inlet 10 to guide the flue gas upwards. A vibration damper 233 is also provided on the second guide wall 2320 of the panel bracket 23. In this embodiment, the vibration damper 233 is a rubber pad. A mounting hole 2302 is correspondingly provided on the second guide wall 2320, and the rubber pad (with a corresponding groove in its center) is fixedly embedded in the mounting hole 2302. When the movable panel 22 is in the closed air inlet 10 state, the rubber pad on the second guide wall 2320 abuts against the guide plate 102, providing buffering and vibration damping, and reducing noise.

[0035] The oil cup 101 is located at the bottom of the housing 1, with an opening at the top for collecting oil. When the air inlet 10 is open on the movable panel 22, the vertical projection of the V-shaped structure at the bottom of the panel bracket 23 (i.e., the position where the first guide wall 2310 and the second guide wall 2320 meet) falls within the opening of the oil cup 101, ensuring that oil dripping from the drain hole 2301 falls directly into the oil cup 101. Because the oil is effectively collected, the front-to-back width of the oil cup 101 does not need to be excessive, matching the slim design of the housing and maintaining an overall aesthetically pleasing appearance.

[0036] See Figure 2 The two adjacent side edges of the fixed panel 21 and the movable panel 22 are defined as the first side edge 210 and the second side edge 220, respectively. A decorative strip 24 is provided between these side edges, consisting of a decorative strip body 241 and a protrusion 2424. The decorative strip body 241 includes a connecting portion 2411 and an extension portion 2422: the connecting portion 2411 extends upward from the protrusion 2424 and is fixedly connected to the rear side of the first side edge 210 of the fixed panel 21; the extension portion 2422 extends downward from the protrusion 2424 to the rear side of the second side edge 220 of the movable panel 22. The protrusion 2424 protrudes forward from the decorative strip body 241, and its side facing the movable panel 22 has an inclined surface 24240 that slopes from the inside out in a direction away from the second side edge 220. This inclined surface 24240 is used to guide the flow of oil stains and visually conceal the gap between the panels.

[0037] A limiting step 2423 is formed at the junction of the connecting portion 2411 and the protrusion 2424 of the decorative strip 24. This limiting step 2423 abuts against the first side edge 210 of the fixed panel 21 to prevent the decorative strip 24 from moving forward. The connecting portion 2411 is fixed to the rear side of the fixed panel 21 by an adhesive method (such as using high-strength double-sided tape or epoxy resin adhesive) to ensure a firm connection. A gap is maintained between the extension 2422 and the second side edge 220 of the movable panel 22. This gap prevents oil flowing down from the front of the fixed panel 21 through the inclined surface 24240 of the protrusion 2424 of the decorative strip 24 from contacting the movable surface.

[0038] The rear side of the decorative strip body 241 is designed to be flat, and the top of the rear side of the decorative strip 24 smoothly transitions to the rear side of the fixed panel 21, facilitating the smooth flow of oil stains on the rear side of the fixed panel 21 to the rear side of the decorative strip body 241, and then flowing down vertically. The front part of the protrusion 2424 is flush with the front side of the fixed panel 21, allowing oil stains on the front side of the fixed panel 21 to smoothly transition to the inclined surface 24240 of the protrusion 2424. The decorative strip 24 can be made of ABS plastic or aluminum alloy, and the surface can be screen-printed or spray-coated to coordinate with the panel color and improve the consistency of appearance.

[0039] See Figure 2 and Figure 4 The drive mechanism includes a drive motor 3 and a four-bar linkage 32. The output shaft of the drive motor 3 is connected to one of the links (as the power output end) of the four-bar linkage 32 via a swing rod assembly 31. Two adjacent hinge points (i.e., the power output ends) on the four-bar linkage 32 are connected to the rear wall plate 232 of the panel support 23. When the drive motor 3 is working, it drives the panel support 23 and the movable panel 22 to move through the four-bar linkage 32, ensuring that the movable panel 22 remains in a vertical position during opening and closing, and that the movement is smooth and reliable.

[0040] In another embodiment, the panel support 23 can use an L-shaped or Z-shaped plate structure instead of a U-shaped structure. For example, when using an L-shaped plate, the vertical portion of the L-shaped plate is connected to the back of the movable panel 22, and the horizontal portion extends rearward to form the bottom of the clearance groove 230, with the drive mechanism connected to the horizontal portion. This variant can also achieve the effect of embedding the bottom of the movable panel 22 into the clearance groove 230, but the U-shaped structure has advantages in terms of flow guidance and stability.

[0041] The range hood of this utility model, through the above-described structural design, allows the entire unit to be flush against the front of the fixed panel 21 when the movable panel 22 is opened, significantly reducing the overall thickness of the unit. Simultaneously, the V-shaped structure and flow-guiding design of the panel support 23 effectively collects oil, preventing spillage, thus balancing a slim appearance with practical functionality. Those skilled in the art can make appropriate modifications based on the above embodiments and common knowledge, and all such modifications should fall within the protection scope of this utility model.

[0042] The range hood (such as the opening and closing control of the movable panel, the air volume control of the centrifugal fan, etc.) can be controlled by a voice module. It is equipped with a controller, a voice receiving module, and a voice parsing module. The voice receiving module receives the user's instructions, and the voice parsing module parses the instructions. Based on the parsed instructions, the controller controls the range hood to perform the corresponding operations, thereby realizing the intelligent control of the range hood and improving the user experience.

Claims

1. A range hood, comprising: The housing (1) has an air inlet (10) at the front and a fixed panel (21) located above the air inlet (10); The movable panel (22) can be moved relative to the housing (1) by a drive mechanism to open and close the air inlet (10); The feature is that: a panel support (23) is provided on the back of the movable panel (22) near the lower edge, and a vertically extending and open-top relief groove (230) is formed between the panel support (23) itself or between the panel support (23) and the back of the movable panel (22). When the movable panel (22) opens the air inlet (10), the movable panel (22) is against the front side of the fixed panel (21) and parallel to the fixed panel (21). At least the bottom edge of the fixed panel (21) is embedded in the relief groove (230).

2. The range hood according to claim 1, characterized in that: The panel support (23) is a U-shaped structure with an open top. The panel support (23) includes a front wall panel (231) and a rear wall panel (232) that are opposite each other. The power output end of the drive mechanism is connected to the rear wall panel (232). The back of the movable panel (22) is connected to the front wall panel (231).

3. The range hood according to claim 2, characterized in that: The bottom of the front wall panel (231) is constructed with a first guide wall (2310) that slopes backward from top to bottom, and the bottom of the rear wall panel (232) is constructed with a second guide wall (2320) that slopes forward from top to bottom. The first guide wall (2310) and the second guide wall (2320) are connected at the bottom, so that the bottom of the panel support (23) has a downward convex V-shaped structure.

4. The range hood according to claim 3, characterized in that: The first guide wall (2310) and the second guide wall (2320) are provided with oil leakage holes (2301) at the bottom junction, and at least two oil leakage holes (2301) are arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the panel support (23).

5. The range hood according to claim 3, characterized in that: The top of the first guide wall (2310) is connected to the bottom edge of the movable panel (22), and the bottom edge of the movable panel (22) is constructed to form a guide slope (221) that slopes backward from top to bottom.

6. The range hood according to claim 3, characterized in that: The housing (1) has a guide plate (102) that slopes upward from front to back inside the air inlet (10). The second guide wall (2320) is also provided with a vibration damping member (233). When the movable panel (22) is in the closed air inlet (10), the vibration damping member (233) on the second guide wall (2320) abuts against the guide plate (102).

7. The range hood according to claim 6, characterized in that: The vibration isolation component (233) is a rubber pad, and the second guide wall (2320) is provided with a mounting hole (2302) for mounting the rubber pad.

8. The range hood according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that: It also includes an oil cup (101) located at the bottom of the housing (1). The top of the oil cup (101) is open. When the movable baffle is in the open air inlet (10) state, the vertical projection of the position where the bottom of the first guide wall (2310) and the bottom of the second guide wall (2320) meet is located inside the oil cup (101).

9. The range hood according to claim 8, characterized in that: The fixed panel (21) extends vertically, and the movable panel (22) in the closed air inlet (10) state also extends vertically, and the front wall of the movable panel (22) and the front wall of the fixed panel (21) are located on the same vertical plane.

10. The range hood according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The drive mechanism includes a drive motor (3) and a four-bar linkage (32). The output shaft of the drive motor (3) is connected to the power output end of the four-bar linkage (32), and the power output end of the four-bar linkage (32) is connected to the panel bracket (23).

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