Island cooker hood and methods for operating an island cooker hood

Abstract

A range hood (1) that can be used as an island range hood and whose housing (10) can be suspended from the ceiling (D) of a room by means of a suspension device (7) with at least one support element (71), wherein a fan unit (2) driven by a drive motor (20) is arranged in the housing (10), and wherein the range hood (1) has a control unit (4) that controls the fan unit (2) during operation of the range hood (1), characterized in that the range hood (1) includes a sensor that is connected to the control unit (4) for control purposes, by which a movement of the freely suspended housing (10) is detected when the drive motor (20) is switched on during operation of the fan unit (2), wherein a braking process for the drive motor (20) of the fan unit is initiated when a movement of the housing (10) is detected by the sensor. (2) is causedand subsequently the start-up of the drive motor (20) to the programmed operating speed is initiated again.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a range hood that can be used as an island range hood and whose housing can be attached and suspended from the ceiling of a room by means of a suspension device with at least one support element, wherein a fan unit driven by a drive motor is arranged in the housing, and wherein the range hood has a control device that controls the operation of the range hood. The invention further relates to a control method for operating the range hood.

[0002] A wide variety of cooker hoods in numerous designs are now available on the market, with the design of these ventilation systems primarily influenced by aesthetic considerations. For example, so-called island hoods are enjoying increasing popularity, as they can create new visual and design accents in a room. This has led to the development of island hoods that, in addition to those mounted on the ceiling via a duct, are also offered by various manufacturers where the housing can be suspended from the ceiling, for example, by cables. Such island hoods, designed for recirculation mode, are described, for example, in EP 2 498 006 A1 or DE 10 2016 103 125 A1.

[0003] The housing of such an island cooker hood contains, in addition to the usual filters and air ducts, at least one fan driven by a motor. However, during operation, these island cooker hoods tend to exhibit undesirable housing movement. This is because, during the motor's start-up and as the fan wheel accelerates, the hood housing experiences a torque acting in the opposite direction to the motor's rotation. This causes the entire hood housing to move, potentially resulting in the undesirable wobbling motion.

[0004] The invention thus addresses the problem of providing a cooker hood that avoids unwanted movements of the hood housing during operation and, in particular, during startup to the predetermined operating point of the fan drive.

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a cooker hood with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims. A method for controlling a cooker hood designed according to the invention is specified in claim 8 and the dependent claims relating thereto.

[0006] The invention is applicable to all cooker hoods designed as so-called island cooker hoods with a round, oval, or rectangular housing and which can be suspended from the ceiling of a room by means of a support device with at least one support element. In practical implementation, wire ropes are used, for example, as support elements. This type of construction essentially creates a spring-mass damper system, in which undesirable vibrations and movement of the hood housing can occur when the fan is switched on and the drive motor is accelerating to operating speed. The control concept underlying the invention therefore counteracts these unwanted housing movements.

[0007] The advantages achievable with the invention lie particularly in the fact that the extractor hood and its control system are designed in such a way that any undesirable movement or vibration of the hood housing can be prevented when the drive motor is switched on and starts up to the intended operating speed. At the very least, the control system design is intended to reduce any housing movement that may occur to a tolerable intensity. To this end, during the fan's start-up process to the appropriate operating point, and after any such hood movement occurs, an abrupt braking process is initiated on the drive motor before the drive motor is subsequently restarted.

[0008] When the engine starts up to the intended operating speed and the drive motor accelerates, a torque acts on the housing of the extractor hood, which can cause the hood housing to move. According to the invention, this movement is counteracted by negative acceleration, i.e., by the braking impulse and by decelerating the drive motor.

[0009] In the embodiment of the invention, the drive motor of the blower unit is accelerated more slowly when starting up to its operating point than it is decelerated during the interim. Via its control electronics, the drive motor is thus subjected to a higher acceleration rate during the braking process compared to the acceleration process. The acceleration rate for the deceleration process can, for example, be twice as high as that set during acceleration to operating speed.

[0010] The abrupt braking generates a torque opposing the rotation of the extractor hood's housing. This counter-torque dampens and smooths any housing movement that occurs during the motor's startup. A new startup attempt can then be initiated. Advantageously, these two opposing torques can be achieved through a simple control system upgrade of the extractor hood.

[0011] The air delivery capacity of the blower unit is not affected by the control-related intervention during the start-up process, since the compensation of the housing vibration is only carried out after reaching the operating point and the braking process does not lead to a significant loss of delivery capacity.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides that the extractor hood has a sensor that is connected to the control unit via control and signal technology. This sensor detects movement of the freely suspended hood housing during operation of the fan unit after the drive motor has been switched on. The control unit is connected to an evaluation unit that is configured and set up such that, when the sensor detects movement of the housing, the control unit initiates a braking process for the drive motor of the fan unit. Subsequently, the drive motor can then be restarted to the programmed operating speed.

[0013] Commercially available and inexpensive accelerometers can be used as motion sensors. Depending on the specific design of the hood housing and the arrangement of the fan unit, a simple 1D accelerometer may suffice. Alternatively, a 2D or even 3D accelerometer could be used. Furthermore, a gyroscope could be employed. These components are increasingly available for such applications and would also represent a practical alternative.

[0014] The sensor used can be appropriately adjusted so that, through empirical determination, a predetermined movement deflection of the hood housing or a predetermined movement intensity is defined as an impermissible movement, which then activates the braking process.

[0015] An acceleration sensor used according to the invention is preferably attached in an area on the housing of the extractor hood that is located as far away as possible from the drive unit for the blower device, so that the sensor has the highest possible sensitivity for detecting the movement of the hood housing.

[0016] In contrast, a gyroscope would be appropriately placed axially with the drive axis of the drive motor for the blower unit in the hood housing.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment, a drive motor controlled by a frequency converter can be used for the fan drive of the extractor hood. The frequency converter control electronics can be supplemented with a so-called brake chopper to perform the braking process. Alternatively, braking can also be triggered by a descending frequency ramp in the control signal of the drive motor.

[0018] In a further advantageous embodiment, the evaluation unit interacting with the control device is configured and set up such that the signals from the motion sensor can be analyzed with regard to the temporal oscillation profile of the housing movement. Depending on this, the braking process can then be initiated at a time when the system's oscillation curve is at or near zero. This oscillation-dependent and time-determined triggering of the braking process allows for a rapid and effective damping of the housing movement.

[0019] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Fig. 1 in a perspective view an island hood suspended above a hob, Fig.2 in a simplified schematic diagram in a sectional view the housing of the island hood with the blower device arranged therein and the device for generating a counter-torque, Fig. 3 a simplified and schematic circuit diagram, which represents a design for a control arrangement by which the blower device for the extractor hood can be controlled, Fig. 4 in two representations, one a speed / time diagram in Fig. 4a) and furthermore an acceleration / time diagram in the Fig. 4b).

[0020] In the Fig. 1 is one possible embodiment of a cooker hood 1 above a suggested cooking surface 9 shown as an island hood with a housing 10 is designed in a round body shape. In this embodiment, the suspension device 7 for mounting on a ceiling (D) of three support elements71 for example, formed in the form of support cables that are offset by 120° at the attachment points 70 on the case 10 the extractor hood 1 to be attached.

[0021] Furthermore, only the exhaust vents are shown in this drawing. 12 , the operating and display unit 11 on the extractor hood 1 as well as a ceiling connection device 8 listed, which also provides the electrical connection to the power grid.

[0022] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a simplified schematic diagram of the housing. 10 the extractor hood 1 with the components arranged therein, which are essential only for illustrating the invention. In the present embodiment, a blower device is used. 2 assumed to be a radial blower unit powered by the drive motor 20 and the blower wheel 21is formed.

[0023] Furthermore, in the Fig. 2 the control device that is usually present 4 indicated, which, as the heart of the control system, ensures the programmed operation of the extractor hood 1 controls. The control unit includes 4 the control unit 40 for the actual device control, the control electronics 41 for the drive motor 20 and the evaluation unit 42 for the signals of the motion sensor used. A known accelerometer from the prior art can serve as the motion sensor. 5 can be used. Alternatively, a so-called gyroscope could also be used. 6 possible, as indicated in the drawing by dashed lines.

[0024] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a simplified and purely schematic block diagram illustrating the control system of the extractor hood.1 This drawing provides a rough overview. Additionally, it also shows the usual diagram associated with the control unit. 4 connected operating and display control 3 listed symbolically.

[0025] The control units involved in the control system are connected via a bus system 43 connected to each other in a known manner. With the switching on of the drive motor. 20 The movement of the hood housing is monitored by the accelerometer. 5 , whose signals are sent to the evaluation unit 42 the control unit 4 be directed to it. If an impermissibly high movement of the extractor hood occurs, 1 If this is determined, the control electronics will be used. 41 for the drive motor 20 The braking process provided for in the invention is initiated. After this movement has subsided, the control unit can then 4A new startup attempt will be started.

[0026] The Fig. Figure 4, with the illustrations in 4a) and 4b), refers to two diagrams intended to clarify the braking function of the drive motor for the blower unit according to the invention. The diagram shows... Fig. 4a) a speed / time diagram showing the speed behavior of the drive motor 20 during the startup process and the motion sensor 5 The initiated braking impulses are displayed. Fig. 4b) shows the corresponding acceleration / time diagram in parallel.

[0027] As in the Fig. 4a) can be seen, the drive motor starts 20 the blower unit 2 at the time T0 with constant acceleration and travels to the operating point AP at the predetermined speed. T1No further acceleration of the rotational speed is applied; instead, it is carried out using the activated motion sensor. 5 The detection of housing movement or the detection of any vibrations of the hood housing. If the housing movements 10 the extractor hood 1 If a predetermined intensity is exceeded, the calculation of the braking impulses is performed so that at T2 a braking impulse is applied to the drive motor. 20 is exerted, which results in a reduction of the rotational speed and a weakening of the vibration amplitude of the hood housing.

[0028] After the braking impulse, a restart to the intended operating point is initiated from T3 onwards, and possibly a braking process is initiated again from T4 onwards to further reduce the vibration amplitudes of the housing oscillation. From T5 Eventually, the housing vibration is so low that no further braking is necessary.

[0029] The braking process itself is implemented in a practically relevant design such that the drive motor is controlled by means of sensor monitoring and a braking impulse derived from control technology. 20 The motor is abruptly slowed to a lower speed, which can weaken or calm any movement of the hood housing. The ramp-up process is then restarted and continued. This process, with the braking impulse and subsequent ramp-up, can be repeated until the housing vibration is so minimal that further intervention is unnecessary.

[0030] In a suitable embodiment, the motion monitoring and the initiation of a braking impulse can be designed in such a way that, after starting up to the intended operating point (OP) and when impermissible vibration movements of the hood housing occur, the timing of the braking impulse is adjusted so that it intervenes in the self-excited vibration state of the housing when a rapid and effective vibration reduction can take place.

[0031] The extractor hood 1 forms with its suspension device formed by the wire ropes 7 During the startup process, it essentially acts as a spring-mass damper system. The signals from the accelerometer 5Therefore, not only can the intensity of movement or the extent of the deflection of the hood housing be evaluated, but the temporal oscillation profile of the typically sinusoidal oscillation motion can also be evaluated by the evaluation unit. 42 to be analyzed. For this purpose, the control unit is required. 4 cooperating evaluation unit 42 Advantageously configured and set up such that the braking impulse is initiated when the system's vibration curve passes through zero, and not when it is at its maximum deflection. This control design accelerates vibration reduction and allows any housing movements to be quickly dampened or contained.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment, the fan drive of the extractor hood can be 1a drive motor controlled by a frequency converter 20 These can be used. A frequency converter control electronics unit can be supplemented with a so-called brake chopper to perform the braking process. Alternatively, braking can also be triggered by a descending frequency ramp in the control signal of the drive motor. Reference symbol list 1. extractor hood 10 Housing 11 Control and display panel 12 Exhaust vents 2. blower unit 20 drive motor 21 blower wheel 22 drive axle drive motor 3. Operating and display control 4. Control unit 40 Device control 41 Control electronics for drive motor 42 Evaluation unit for signals from the motion sensors 43 bus system 5. Accelerometer 6. gyroscope 7. Suspension device 70 Mounting points 71 load-bearing elements 8. Ceiling connection plate 9. cooktop QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2498006 A1

[0002] DE 102016103125 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] A range hood that can be used as an island range hood (1) and whose housing (10) can be attached and suspended from the ceiling of a room by means of a suspension device (7) with at least one support element (70), wherein a fan unit (2) driven by a drive motor (20) is arranged in the housing, and wherein the range hood (1) has a control device (4) which controls the fan unit (2) during operation of the range hood (1), characterized by , that the extractor hood (1) includes a sensor (5, 6) which is connected to the control unit (4) in terms of control technology, by which a movement of the freely suspended housing (10) is detected when the drive motor (20) is switched on during the operation of the fan unit (2), that when the sensor (5, 6) detects a movement of the housing (10), a braking process is initiated for the drive motor (20) of the blower unit (2), and that the drive motor (20) is then restarted to reach the operating speed specified in the program. [2] Extractor hood according to claim 1; characterized by , that the control device (4) is connected to an evaluation unit (42) for the signals of the motion sensor (5, 6), wherein the evaluation unit (42) is configured and set up in such a way that a movement of the hood housing and / or the vibration profile of any hood movement that may occur can be determined by means of the signals emanating from the motion sensor (5, 6). [3] Extractor hood according to claim 2; characterized by, that the evaluation unit (42) cooperating with the control device (4) is configured and set up in such a way that the signals emanating from the sensor (5) can be analyzed and evaluated with regard to the temporal vibration profile of the housing movement, and that, depending on this, the initiation of the braking process can be initiated at a time when the detectable vibration curve of the system is in the area of ​​the zero crossing. [4] Extractor hood according to claim 1, 2 or 3; characterized by , that the drive motor (20) of the blower device (2) is accelerated more slowly when starting up to the desired operating point (AP) than it is intermittently accelerated and decelerated to a lower speed after the occurrence of a movement detected by the sensor (5). [5] Extractor hood according to one or more of claims 1 to 4; characterized by, that an acceleration sensor (5) is used as a sensor (5) for detecting an impermissible movement of the housing (10) of the extractor hood (1), which is attached in or on the housing (10) and which is connected to the control unit (4) of the extractor hood (1) via an evaluation unit (42). [6] Extractor hood according to claim 5; characterized by , that the accelerometer (5) is placed in or on the outer area of ​​the hood housing. [7] Extractor hood according to one or more of claims 1 to 4; characterized by , that a gyroscope (6) is used as a sensor (5) to detect an impermissible movement of the housing (10) of the extractor hood (1), and that the gyroscope (6) is placed in or on the hood housing in an axially aligned position relative to the drive axis (22) of the drive motor (20). [8] Method for controlling a cooker hood 1 according to the preamble of claim 1, characterized by, that after the drive motor (20) of the blower unit (2) is switched on and during the start-up of the drive motor (20) to its intended operating point, a sensor (5) detects any movement of the housing (10) of the extractor hood (1), that when the housing (10) of the extractor hood (1) moves, the sensor (5) sends a signal to an evaluation unit (42) connected to the control unit (4), that a braking process is triggered via the control electronics (41) for the drive motor (20), and that the start-up of the drive motor (20) to the intended operating point and a braking process dependent on the movement of the housing are repeated until the housing movement has been reduced to a permissible level. [9] Method for controlling a cooker hood 1 according to claim 8, characterized by, that the starting up of the drive motor (20) to the intended operating point, the braking process controlled by the sensor (5) depending on movement is repeated alternately until the drive motor (20) has been started up to the intended operating speed, without the housing (10) of the extractor hood (1) moving. [10] Method for controlling a cooker hood 1 according to claim 7, characterized by , that the control arrangement formed by the control device (4) and the evaluation unit (42) is configured and set up in such a way that the vibration profile of any housing movement that may occur can be detected, and that, depending on the detected vibration profile, the time for initiating a braking process is determined in such a way that a rapid and effective reduction of the housing movement can be achieved.

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