TABLE GRILL AND FILTER UNIT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an electric table grill.

[0002] Tabletop grills are designed to be placed on the dining table during a meal so that those present can prepare their own food. For this purpose, the grills have special feet that allow them to be placed on the tabletop without damaging it, for example, through excessive heat.

[0003] Tabletop grills include both appliances with a heated grill plate on which the food is placed, and raclette grills, where the food is placed in small pans under an electric heating element and heated from above. Of particular interest are raclette grills with a grill plate, which combine the two functions by providing a compartment for the raclette pans below the grill plate and the electric heating element.

[0004] A well-known problem in food preparation is the development of odors. In kitchens, this problem is addressed by steam extraction systems. Fully or partially enclosed ovens with a grill function and an extraction system, for example with a filter, are also known, e.g., from EP 2 767 764. However, such extraction systems are not used for tabletop appliances, as extractor hoods, enclosed housings, or cover plates under which the resulting fumes could be extracted are not compatible with the function of these appliances.

[0005] US 2006 / 0191895, US 2021 / 0310665, WO 2019 / 179115 and CN110089946 each show a portable grilling device with an integrated extraction system and filter.

[0006] US2010 / 051010 shows a ventilation system for commercial cooking systems, with tangential fans.

[0007] CN205402972U shows a standalone air purifier with ionization function.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution which overcomes disadvantages of the prior art and which solves the problem of odor development without impairing functionality.

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, an electric table grill is provided. This grill has, in a manner known per se, support elements, in particular feet, for placing it on a table surface, as well as an electric heating element for warming food on the dining table. It is further characterized by a fan, a filter, and intake openings within the device. The fan is arranged such that, during operation, it draws air through the intake openings into a filter chamber, causing the air to flow through the filter and subsequently exit the filter chamber through at least one exhaust opening.

[0010] The fan can be positioned either before or after the filter in the direction of airflow. Positioning it after the filter has the advantage of exposing the fan to less dirt and debris.

[0011] The shut-off elements are generally designed so that they do not heat up significantly when the electric heater is in operation.

[0012] It is a finding of the invention that a system with intake openings, a filter, and a fan is also useful for table grills, even though these are neither designed as enclosed ovens nor equipped with a hood or similar. Rather, experiments, for example with visible smoke, show that the airflow generated by a fan, directed away from the food being grilled or cheese being melted and through a filter, is sufficient to eliminate at least a significant portion of the odor. This also applies if the airflow is neither directed upwards (as with a hood) nor can be guided along a ceiling in a fully or partially enclosed volume. The airflow generated by a fan sufficiently counteracts the tendency for odorous gas mixtures and oil droplets to rise due to heating.

[0013] At least one filter can be, in particular, an activated carbon filter.

[0014] It is particularly advantageous if the filter chamber with the fan is centrally located inside the table grill, so that grilling surfaces and / or holders for pans are available on both sides of the filter chamber. The table grill is thus essentially divided into two sections (e.g., halves) by the filter chamber, each with support surfaces for pans and / or a portion of a grill plate. The two sections of the table grill appear to the user as the front and back, respectively, although this does not preclude the presence of support surfaces accessible from the sides, as is generally the case. Overall, the table grill can have an approximately rectangular or elliptical footprint, with the filter chamber extending roughly along the longer axis. However, square or essentially circular footprints are not excluded.

[0015] The table grill can therefore be designed in such a way that, when placed on a table, it is accessible from at least two opposite sides and can be operated from both sides, e.g. by placing food on it and / or inserting pans, with the filter chamber located between the two sides, for example in the middle.

[0016] As an alternative to a centrally located filter chamber, a design with a side-mounted filter chamber is also possible. Such a side-mounted arrangement can be a good alternative, especially—but not exclusively—for smaller table grills with only 6, 4, or fewer grilling slots.

[0017] A particularly advantageous arrangement is one in which the fan is a radial fan. According to the terminology used here, so-called tangential fans or cross-flow fans are considered radial fans. Tangential fans draw in air tangentially and expel it tangentially, and are often characterized by a fan axis that is particularly long relative to its circumference, with air being drawn in and expelled along essentially the entire length of the axis. Tangential fans represent a particularly advantageous design of radial fan for all aspects of the invention.

[0018] In particular, the axis of rotation of the radial fan (e.g., tangential fan) can be horizontal. The table grill, by its design, defines a vertical and a horizontal dimension, and it can also be designed—especially with a substantially rectangular or elliptical floor plan as mentioned above—such that a longitudinal dimension (connecting users sitting opposite each other) and a transverse dimension (perpendicular to the transverse dimension) are defined in the horizontal plane, with the transverse dimension (width) of the table grill being greater than the longitudinal dimension (depth). In such a case, it can be particularly advantageous if the axis of rotation of the radial fan is transverse, i.e., parallel to the axis of the greater horizontal dimension. However, especially with a lateral arrangement of the filter chamber, a longitudinal arrangement of the radial fan's axis of rotation can also be a good option.

[0019] The use of a radial fan, especially a tangential fan, has the advantage that the air transport can occur over a comparatively large width – corresponding to the axial extent of the radial fan – and therefore a largely parallel flow path through the filter(s) is possible. This geometry helps to reduce flow resistance and, consequently, the potential noise level – in addition to the generally lower noise level of radial fans compared to axial fans.

[0020] The filter chamber (and, if applicable, the radial fan) can extend across a large portion of the table grill's transverse width, so that the intake opening(s) also extend towards the outer support points and / or the edge of the grill plate. Therefore, no significant transverse air transport is necessary. "Across a large portion of the width" can, for example, in a design with support points for pans, mean that the filter chamber extends to within a maximum of half the width of a support point from the outer edges of the support area (formed by the support points).

[0021] Tabletop grills are often designed to allow multiple people to use them simultaneously; in particular, with a generally rectangular or elliptical shape, there may be support areas in two opposing rows of pans. The air intakes are then located, for example, between the rows. Specifically, there may be at least one air intake on each side, i.e., facing both rows, or a row of several air intakes.

[0022] The intake opening(s), or at least some of the intake openings, can be formed in a vertical wall of the housing that runs between the rows of support positions or between the sections of the grill plate. Instead of a row of intake openings, an elongated intake slot can also be present, e.g., one such intake slot on each side.

[0023] The table grill is designed as a combination device, in that it has both a grill plate and a storage area for pans, generally requiring only a single electric heating element, which is located directly below the grill plate and above a storage area with the support places for the pans.

[0024] The table grill has at least one upper intake opening and at least one lower intake opening, with the upper intake opening being open to the space above the grill plate and the lower intake openings – which are generally several – being open to the receiving space.

[0025] The table grill may, in particular, have a transverse strip running between the sections of the grill plate, in which the upper air intake opening(s) is / are located. Such a strip prevents food from accidentally being placed on the air intake openings. The upper air intake openings may be located on both sides of a vertical wall formed by the strip.

[0026] Lower intake openings can be located on a vertical wall. For example, they can be situated above the recording chamber, below the electric heater.

[0027] The intake opening(s) can be closable and / or adjustable. If upper and lower intake openings are present, these can be closable or adjustable independently of each other. In one example, the table grill has one or more sliders, the movement of which opens or closes the intake openings. Such a slider can, for example, be simply equipped with holes whose size corresponds at least to the size of the intake openings and which, by sliding the slider, are moved from a position in which they are aligned with the intake openings to a position in which they are not, and the slider closes the intake openings.

[0028] This text further describes an unused filter device that is independent of the table grill and can, for example, be placed next to a conventional table grill without a fan. Like the table grill, it is designed to be placed on the surface of a set table. It has a housing with intake openings and at least one exhaust opening. The device has an overall elongated cuboid shape, with its length being significantly greater (e.g., by at least a factor of 1.8, in particular by at least a factor of 2, e.g., by a factor of 2.5 or more) than its width and height. A tangential fan is located inside the housing. The axis of rotation of the tangential fan is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter device. A filter chamber, also extending longitudinally, containing at least one activated carbon filter, runs along the tangential fan.The tangential fan causes air to be drawn in through the intake openings, then flow through the filter(s) and blown out through the outlet opening(s).

[0029] The overall elongated shape is particularly advantageous in conjunction with the use of the radial fan, as it allows for flexible placement on the table, with a vertical arrangement (length and fan axis being vertical) being especially space-saving. Even though the required fan power is somewhat higher than with the approach described in the first point, since the intake openings cannot be as close to the food being grilled or cooked, the elongated design with the radial fan ensures that air can be drawn in and cleaned relatively efficiently over a wide area.

[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals denote identical or analogous elements. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a view of a table grill; Figs. 2 and 3 a view of the table grill of Fig. 2 from the operator side or from above; Fig. 4 a sectional view of the table grill (section along plane IV-IV in Fig. 3 ); Fig. 5 a view of an unclaimed filter device; and Fig. 6 a sectional view of the filter device of Fig. 5 . Figures 1 to 3 They show a table grill 1 of the type «raclette oven with grill plate».

[0031] The table grill 1 has a frame with four columns 2, each forming a foot 20 on its underside. It features an electric heating element in the form of a heating rod, a heating coil, or the like. Below the electric heating element are support positions 3 for small pans. Positioning aids 5 are arranged between the support positions 3, their spacing and alignment being adapted to the dimensions of the pans. The grill plate 7 can be ribbed in a known manner or have another surface design optimized for grilling. Below the support positions 3 for the pans, an optional unheated storage area 9 is provided, on which pans not currently in use can be placed without heating up.

[0032] The table grill has an approximately rectangular base shape, with two opposing rows of support positions 3, four support positions per row in the illustrated embodiment. The grill plate is also divided into two halves by a strip 11, one of which is the front half and the other the rear half from the user's perspective.

[0033] Figs. 1-3 The diagram also shows a Cartesian coordinate system, where the z-axis corresponds to the vertical and the x-axis to the transverse; that is, the three support positions for the pans are arranged side by side in the x-direction. The pans are inserted and removed in the y-direction or -y-direction, which is why y- or -y-directions are also referred to as "longitudinal directions" in this text.

[0034] As one can also find out particularly in Figure 4As can be seen, the table grill has an air extraction system. This is located inside the table grill, between the opposing rows of cooking surfaces 3. It comprises a fan 21, namely a radial fan of the "tangential fan" type, whose axis of rotation is parallel to the transverse direction (x-direction) and which extends over a large part of the width (transverse extent) of the table grill. The fan draws in air tangentially through upper intake openings 23, which are located on both sides of the frame, and / or through lower intake openings 25, which are located below the grill plate, passes it through a filter chamber 27 with at least one activated carbon filter, and blows it out through an exhaust opening 29. The airflow direction is in Fig. 4Illustrated with arrows. Inside a fan compartment 22 containing the fan 21, and possibly also elsewhere in the area of ​​the airflow to be generated, e.g. in the filter compartment, a flow control element 24 or several flow control elements can support the effect of the fan 21.

[0035] The fan is electrically driven and features an electric motor for this purpose. The table grill can be configured so that the fan runs continuously when the grill is plugged into the mains or when a main switch is turned on. However, it can also be optionally switched on and off by the user; different fan speeds are also possible; these speeds can even depend on the state of the sliding elements or similar components (described below) that open or close the intake openings. For this purpose, the state of the sliding elements (or other components used to open or close the intake openings) can be monitored by a switch or sensor.

[0036] In Fig. 1 On strip 11, two upper-side closable maintenance slots 12 can still be seen, which are closed during use.

[0037] The upper intake openings 23 and the lower intake openings 25 can be closed independently of each other (i.e., the upper intake openings 23 can be opened or closed regardless of whether the lower intake openings 25 are open or closed, and vice versa). In the illustrated embodiment, this is achieved by an upper sliding element 31 for the upper intake openings 23 and a lower sliding element 32 for the lower intake openings.

[0038] The size of the table grill 1 is designed to be placed on a set table and used to accompany a meal. The width (transverse dimensions) is typically between 40 cm and 70 cm, the depth (longitudinal dimensions) generally between 20 cm and 40 cm, and the height between 8 cm and 25 cm.

[0039] An unused filter unit 101 can be seen in Figures 5 and 6 .The device has a housing 111 with intake openings 123 and outlet openings (in Figs. 5 and 6 (not visible). The device has an overall elongated cuboid shape, with its length being significantly greater than its width and height. Inside the housing 111 is a fan, specifically a radial fan of the "tangential fan" type 121. The tangential fan is aligned along the length of the housing 111, i.e., the axis of rotation of the tangential fan is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the filter device. Extending along the tangential fan is a filter chamber 127, also extending longitudinally, containing at least one activated carbon filter. The tangential fan draws in air through the intake openings 123, directs it through the filter(s), and expels it through the outlet openings.

Claims

1. Electric tabletop grill comprising a housing with support elements for placing the tabletop grill on a table surface, and comprising an electric heater, an electrically drivable fan (21), and at least one filter, wherein the housing forms a filter chamber and at least one intake opening (23, 25), wherein the at least one filter is arranged in the filter chamber (27), and the fan is arranged such that, in an operating state, air is drawn in through the at least one intake opening and conveyed from there into the filter chamber and through the at least one filter out of the filter chamber, further comprising a grill plate (7) above the electric heater and a receiving space for pans below the grill plate (7), characterized by at least one upper intake opening (23) and at least one lower intake opening (25), wherein the upper intake opening is open toward a space above the grill plate (7) and the lower intake opening (25) is open toward the receiving space.

2. Tabletop grill according to claim 1, wherein the filter chamber is arranged centrally in the tabletop grill such that, on both sides of the intake opening or intake openings, support areas for pans and / or portions of a grill plate are provided.

3. Tabletop grill according to claim 2, wherein at least one intake opening is provided on each of both sides.

4. Tabletop grill according to claim 2 or 3, comprising an upper transverse bar (11), on both sides of which a portion of a grill plate (7) extends, wherein the intake opening or at least one of the intake openings (23) is provided on the transverse bar.

5. Tabletop grill according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a rectangular or elliptical floor plan, wherein the filter chamber extends transversely in the tabletop grill along a main axis.

6. Tabletop grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fan is a crossflow fan.

7. Tabletop grill according to claim 6, comprising a rectangular or elliptical floor plan, wherein an axis of rotation of the crossflow fan is horizontal and parallel to the dimension of the greatest horizontal extent.

8. Tabletop grill according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one intake opening (23, 25) is closable and / or has an adjustable cross-section.