Extractor hood

Abstract

The invention relates to a range hood (1) with a vapor screen (11) having at least one vapor filter (13), preferably a grease filter (13), with a fan designed to convey a vapor stream (A) through the vapor filter (13), and with a front panel (14) facing a user and / or a cooktop, wherein an intermediate space (15) is provided between the front panel (14) and the vapor screen (11), which is designed to be traversed by the vapor stream (A) before the vapor stream (A) reaches the vapor filter (13). The range hood (1) is characterized in that an additional filter (16) is arranged in the intermediate space (15) to be reached by the vapor stream (A).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cooker hood.

[0002] It is known to use extractor hoods or extractor fans when carrying out cooking processes on hobs, which are usually arranged above the hob, but can also be arranged to the side or be retractable to the side.

[0003] A range hood, which can also be called a fume extractor, is a device for extracting and usually filtering the fumes produced during cooking and frying, i.e., the cooking or frying vapors. As known from German patent application DE 102021214396 A1, such a device typically consists essentially of a housing in which a grease filter, such as a disposable non-woven mat or a washable metal filter, is arranged.

[0004] The extractor hood also includes a fan to draw an airflow containing the cooking fumes from the cooktop into the hood and pass it through the grease filter, thus removing as much grease as possible from the fumes. Such devices are illustrated by examples in German patent applications DE 10 2014 208 388 A1, DE 10 2007 056 715 A1, DE 102 08 488 A1, DE 10 2010 039 411 A1, DE 10 2013 204 143 A1, and US 6 293 983 B1. The user can adjust the airflow strength, usually via a control on the extractor hood itself, by selecting a power level for the fan motor that generates the airflow.

[0005] As already mentioned, extractor hoods are usually designed as ceiling-mounted units, which are attached to the ceiling or a wall of the kitchen above the cooktop. Ceiling-mounted extractor hoods typically have integrated lighting that shines down onto the cooktop and can usually be switched on and off by the user via a control on the extractor hood itself.

[0006] If it is an exhaust air extractor, the cooking fumes are subsequently vented from the building into the surrounding environment, which can lead to a loss of heat energy. Therefore, for energy efficiency reasons, recirculating extractor hoods are now widespread, especially in private households. In these hoods, the cooking fumes are returned to the room, such as the kitchen, after passing through a grease filter, so that no heat energy is lost to the environment. Recirculating extractor hoods typically also have an additional odor filter, for example, in the form of an activated carbon filter, to remove cooking or frying odors from the fumes as completely as possible, which is perceived as more pleasant by the user. A cooker hood with an odor filter is shown in German patent application DE 10 2022 121 417 A1.As already mentioned, the grease filters in extractor hoods need to be replaced after a certain period of time and either replaced with disposable fleece mats or, if washable metal filters are used, cleaned and reinstalled.

[0007] An important criterion for cooker hoods is the so-called grease separation efficiency. This refers to the proportion or percentage of grease that is removed from the air by the cooker hood. The higher the proportion or percentage, the better the grease-cleaning effect of the cooker hood, which can be a significant purchasing criterion for the customer. All parts of the cooker hood that can be removed without tools are used to determine and evaluate the grease separation efficiency.

[0008] As mentioned previously, it is known that cooker hoods and extractor fans only use a grease filter to filter grease from the cooking fumes. This grease filter is positioned within the airflow of the cooking fumes. However, the grease separation efficiency achievable with this method has its limits.

[0009] A disadvantage of conventional cooker hoods is that the removable parts or housing components can be relatively large and cumbersome to clean. This can be inconvenient for the user and lead to infrequent cleaning, potentially resulting in the cooker hood being used with a dirty grease filter.

[0010] A further disadvantage of known extractor hoods is that the removable parts or housing components cannot currently prevent condensation from dripping from the extractor hood or its housing, which can soil the cooktop below or even the food in the cookware. An extractor hood with a channel for collecting oils is disclosed in publication DD 142 651 A1.

[0011] A further disadvantage is that cleaning the surfaces of the non-removable parts or housing components of the extractor hood that come into contact with the airflow of the cooking fumes can be difficult or even impossible for the user. This can make cleaning considerably more difficult or even impossible.

[0012] The invention thus addresses the problem of providing a range hood with an improved or increased grease separation efficiency. Additionally or alternatively, the possibilities for cleaning a range hood, particularly the surfaces of the range hood that come into contact with the airflow of cooking fumes, are to be improved. Additionally or alternatively, the dripping of condensate from a range hood is to be prevented. In any case, this should be achieved as simply, cost-effectively, compactly, durably, and / or user-friendly as possible. At the very least, an alternative to known range hoods is to be provided.

[0013] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a fume hood with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0014] The invention thus relates to a cooker hood with a vapor screen having at least one vapor filter, preferably a grease filter, with a fan designed to convey a vapor stream through the vapor filter, and with a panel which has a front facing a user and / or a cooktop, wherein there is a space between the panel and the vapor screen which is designed to be traversed by the vapor stream before the vapor stream reaches the vapor filter.

[0015] Such designs are generally known from cooker hoods, which can also be called extractor hoods or fume extractors. These cooker hoods can be designed as ducted or recirculating extractors. They can also be designed with surface extraction or perimeter extraction.

[0016] In any case, the extractor hood according to the invention is characterized in that an additional filter is arranged in the space between the panes in order to be reached by the vapor stream.

[0017] Thus, the possibilities for filtering the fume stream using the extractor hood according to the invention can be improved compared to known methods, at least by the fact that, in addition to the known fume filter as the so-called main filter, the fume stream can be further filtered by a further filter as an auxiliary filter. This allows more filters than previously known to be used in series along the fume stream to filter the fumes or the fume stream itself, which can improve its filtration.

[0018] In this case, at least the fume filter can be designed as a grease filter in order to filter grease out of the fumes. For the same reason, the additional filter can also be designed as a grease filter or as an additional grease filter. In this case, the grease-filtering effect of the extractor hood according to the invention can be improved, thereby increasing its grease separation efficiency, which can have a particularly positive effect on a user's purchasing decision.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the additional filter is designed and positioned in the intermediate space to be exposed to the flow of steam. Thus, the additional filter is used in such a way that it is at least substantially not exposed to the steam flow, as is usually the case with the main filter. Rather, the additional filter serves to be reached laterally or tangentially by the steam flow in order to not, or only minimally, influence or reduce the flow of the steam, while still achieving sufficient overlap or contact with the steam flow so that the steam flow can be partially filtered. In particular, the adhesion of grease to or within the additional filter can be achieved in this way, in order to partially separate the grease from the steam flow before the steam flow reaches the steam filter as the main filter, so that both filters can act sequentially in a filtering or cleaning manner.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, the additional filter is arranged on the back of the aperture. This can provide sufficient space to use the additional filter or to make the additional filter as large as possible, which can improve the filtering effect. In particular, the additional filter can be arranged directly against the back of the aperture, which can improve its stability and minimize the space required for the additional filter in the gap. At the same time, the additional filter can be positioned sufficiently close to the vapor stream in this way to come into contact with it.

[0021] According to a further aspect of the invention, the additional filter extends at least, preferably substantially, transversely to the steam flow. This ensures that the steam flow can come into contact with the additional filter over as much of its width as possible, i.e., transversely to its flow direction, in order to be filtered accordingly.

[0022] According to a further aspect of the invention, the additional filter extends at least, preferably substantially, along the steam stream. This allows the distance along the flow direction of the steam stream, along which the additional filter can exert its filtering effect, to be correspondingly long or large, which can improve the filtering effect.

[0023] By combining these two aspects, the additional filter can therefore be preferably designed to be sufficiently wide and long, and thus rectangular, in order to be in contact with the steam stream across as much of its width as possible and for as long as possible during the steam stream's movement along or parallel to the additional filter, thereby effectively filtering the steam stream. This can particularly promote or improve the filtering effect of the additional filter.

[0024] According to another aspect of the invention, the additional filter is designed as an additional expanded metal filter. This can represent one way of implementing the corresponding properties and advantages.

[0025] According to a further aspect of the invention, the additional filter is similar to and / or made of the same material as the vapor filter. "Similar" in this context refers to the same operating principle or functional principle of filtration, particularly grease filtration, and / or the same type of construction. In any case, this allows for the utilization of the properties and advantages of similar types of filters with regard to operating principle, construction, and / or material, which can thus complement each other.

[0026] According to a further aspect of the invention, the additional filter has a rough surface; preferably, the additional filter is made of a porous material, and more preferably, it is designed as a sintered metal filter. A comparatively rough surface relative to the surrounding surfaces of a housing or the like of the extractor hood around the additional filter can increase the surface area and, due to the roughness itself, improve or increase the adhesion of particles, and in particular grease, from the fume stream, thus enhancing the filtering effect of the additional filter. Implementing this with a porous material can be one way to create, in particular, the largest possible surface area of ​​the additional filter that can come into contact with the fume stream and thus have a filtering effect. Implementing this by means of a sintered metal filter can be a concrete application.

[0027] According to a further aspect of the invention, the additional filter is designed to be removable. This can make cleaning the additional filter easier for the user. It can also improve the cleaning result, for example, by placing the soiled additional filter in a sink with dish soap or by washing it in a dishwasher. Furthermore, a damaged or clogged additional filter can be replaced in this way.

[0028] According to another aspect of the invention, the steam filter is designed to be removable. This can make cleaning the steam filter easier for the user. It can also improve the cleaning result, for example, by placing the soiled steam filter in a sink with dish soap or by washing it in a dishwasher. Furthermore, a damaged or clogged steam filter can be replaced in this way.

[0029] According to a further aspect of the invention, the extractor hood is designed as a head-free extractor hood, such that the baffle is oriented obliquely to the horizontal. This can facilitate the implementation and use of the present invention, particularly in head-free extractor hoods. In this case, the space on one side or edge of the baffle, which is arranged along the bottom vertical axis, can be reached by the rising stream of fumes, thus enabling the fumes to be easily directed behind the baffle. This can also lead to a preferred flow direction for the fumes, relative to which the additional filter can be aligned and arranged, as previously described, in order to filter the fumes as effectively as possible.

[0030] According to a further aspect of the invention, the extractor hood also has a condensate tray which is designed and arranged to collect condensate dripping from the vapor screen. This can prevent condensate from dripping down onto the cooktop or even into a cooking vessel, which could soil the cooktop and the food in the cooking vessel.

[0031] This can be implemented particularly in a head-free extractor hood, in order to arrange the condensate tray horizontally or along the transverse axis as well as along the vertical axis below the lower edge of the vapor screen, in order to collect condensate dripping down there, which can form particularly on the sloping inside or back of the vapor screen.

[0032] According to another aspect of the invention, the condensate tray is designed to be removable. This can also facilitate or improve cleaning, repair, or replacement, as previously described with regard to the filters.

[0033] According to a further aspect of the invention, the extractor hood also has a housing that accommodates the fume filter, preferably removable, wherein the louver is movable relative to the housing, preferably pivotable, and / or removable, in order to allow the user access to the space between. This can make it easier for the user to reach the additional filter in order to remove, clean, and reinsert or replace it.

[0034] According to a further aspect of the invention, the extractor hood has perimeter extraction at least partially, preferably completely, around the vent. This can enable the implementation and use of the present invention in an extractor hood with perimeter extraction, which can be comparatively effective due to the concentrated flow of fumes.

[0035] An embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in the drawing and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a cooker hood according to the invention.

[0036] The figure above is viewed in Cartesian coordinates. A longitudinal axis X extends along it, which can also be called depth X or length X. Perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X is a transverse axis (not shown), which can also be called width. Perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis is a vertical axis Z, which can also be called height Z and corresponds to the direction of gravity. The longitudinal axis X and the transverse axis together form the horizontal plane.

[0037] Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a cooker hood 1 according to the invention, which can also be referred to as a cooker extractor 1. The cooker hood 1 according to the invention is designed as a head-free cooker hood 1.

[0038] The extractor hood 1 has a housing 10, which accommodates and connects the elements or components of the extractor hood 1 and serves to attach the extractor hood 1 to a wall (not shown) of a kitchen. Facing a user or a cooktop (not shown), the housing 10 has a downwardly and backward-sloping vapor screen 11, which has a through-opening (not shown) centrally located along both the transverse and vertical axis Z. A removable vapor filter 13, designed as a grease filter 13, is located in this opening. The grease filter 13 is designed as an expanded metal filter 13. Within an interior space (not labeled) of the extractor hood 1, formed by the housing 10 and the vapor screen 11 with the grease filter 13, the vapors are contained within the housing 10.Enclosed within the housing 10 is a fan (not shown) which draws in a vapor stream A from above the cooktop, conveys it through the grease filter 13, and returns it to the kitchen through another opening (not shown) in the housing 10, having been essentially cleaned of grease or filtered of grease. This part of the interior of the extractor hood 1 can be referred to as the flow channel 12.

[0039] On the housing 10 of the extractor hood 1, a pivotable or removable panel 14 is arranged as front glass 14 or as decorative glass 14, facing the user or the cooktop. The panel 14 also extends diagonally downwards or backwards and parallel to and in front of the vapor shield 11, thus forming a gap 15 behind the panel 14. In this gap 15, an additional filter 16 is removable directly on the back (not labeled) of the panel 14. This filter is designed as an additional grease filter 16 to absorb or filter out further grease from the vapor stream A, in addition to the grease filter 13. For this purpose, the vapor stream A can be directed along or...The gases flow parallel to the surface of the additional grease filter 16, thereby coming into sufficient contact with it and transferring some of the grease carried by the fumes A to the additional grease filter 16. This means that the grease filter 13 in the fume shield 11 only needs to filter out the remaining grease, or as much of it as possible, from the fumes A. This can increase the overall grease separation efficiency of the extractor hood 1. For this purpose, the additional grease filter 16 can be designed as an expanded metal filter 16 or as a sintered metal filter 16.

[0040] Furthermore, a condensate tray 17 is designed and arranged as a removable, elongated rail along the transverse axis on the housing 10 of the extractor hood 1 in such a way as to collect condensate dripping from the vapor screen 11 and thus keep it away from the hob and the like. Reference numeral list (part of the description)

[0041] A lawn stream; vapors Longitudinal axis; Depth; Length; Transverse axis; Width; Vertical axis; Height; Horizontal plane 1 (Head-free) extractor hood; (Head-free) extractor hood 10 Housing 11 Vapor screen 12 Airflow duct 13 Vapor filter; Grease filter; Expanded metal filter 14 Panel; Front glass; Decorative glass 15 Intermediate space 16 Additional filter; Additional grease filter; Additional expanded metal filter; Sintered metal filter 17 Condensate tray

Claims

1. Extractor hood (1) with a vapor screen (11) with at least one vapor filter (13), preferably a grease filter (13), with a fan designed to convey a vapor stream (A) through the vapor filter (13), and with a baffle (14) which faces a user and / or a cooktop with a front face, wherein a space (15) is provided between the baffle (14) and the vapor screen (11) which is designed to be traversed by the vapor stream (A) before the vapor stream (A) reaches the vapor filter (13), characterized by the fact that an additional filter (16) is arranged in the space (15) to be reached by the vapor flow (A).

2. Extractor hood (1) according to claim 1, wherein the additional filter (16) is designed and arranged in the space (15) to be overflowed by the vapor stream (A).

3. Extractor hood (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the additional filter (16) is arranged on the back of the aperture (14).

4. Extractor hood (1) according to claim 3, wherein the additional filter (16) extends at least, preferably substantially, transversely to the vapor flow (A).

5. Extractor hood (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the additional filter (16) extends at least, preferably substantially, along the vapor stream (A).

6. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional filter (16) is designed as an additional expanded metal filter (16).

7. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional filter (16) is of the same type and / or made of the same material as the vapor filter (13).

8. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional filter (16) has a rough surface, preferably has a porous material, and is particularly preferably designed as a sintered metal filter (16).

9. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional filter (16) is designed to be removable.

10. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vapor filter (13) is designed to be removable.

11. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extractor hood (1) is designed as a head-free extractor hood (1) such that the aperture (14) is oriented obliquely to the horizontal.

12. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a condensate tray (17) which is designed and arranged to collect condensate dripping from the vapor screen (11).

13. Extractor hood (1) according to claim 12, wherein the condensate tray (17) is designed to be removable.

14. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a housing (10) which accommodates the vapor filter (13), preferably removable, wherein the aperture (14) is movable, preferably pivotable, and / or removable relative to the housing (10) in order to allow the user access to the space (15).

15. Extractor hood (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the extractor hood (1) has perimeter extraction at least partially, preferably completely, around the baffle (14).

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