Oil capture device

Abstract

The overall height of the device is designed to be relatively low. [Solution] The oil collection device comprises a housing 10 having a gas flow path A between a downward-facing suction port 21a and an outlet a21 that intersects the suction port 21a, and a grease collection unit 31 that collects oil from the gas sucked in from the suction port 21a. The gas flow path A has a first flow path a1 that extends upward from the suction port 21a, and a second flow path a2 that is continuous downstream of the first flow path a1 and extends in a direction that intersects the first flow path a1. A damper device 34 that opens and closes the second flow path a2 and a blower 41 that forcibly transports the gas that has passed through the damper device 34 to the outlet a21.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oil collection device including a range hood with an oil collection function, a ventilation device, and the like.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, for this type of invention, there is, for example, a cooking ventilation device in which a rectifying plate, an oil collection filter, a fire damper, a blower, and an upward exhaust port are arranged above a downward hood opening as described in Patent Document 1. According to this cooking ventilation device, the air sucked into the hood opening passes through the rectifying plate, the oil collection filter, the fire damper, the blower, etc. on the way up, and is discharged upward from the exhaust port with oil and the like removed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the above prior art, since a fire damper, a blower, an exhaust port, etc. are arranged above the oil collection filter, the height of the entire device becomes large (or high). Therefore, installation may be difficult at sites with a low ceiling height or sites where other equipment is installed on the ceiling side. That is, due to reasons such as that a separation distance defined by laws and regulations, etc. must be provided between the heat source of the heating cooking appliance provided below and the lowermost part of the oil collection filter of the ventilation device, the dimension in the height direction may be restricted.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In view of such problems, one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. An oil collection device comprising a housing having a gas flow path between a downward-facing suction port and an outlet facing in a direction intersecting the suction port, and a grease collection unit for collecting oil from the gas drawn in from the suction port, wherein the gas flow path has a first flow path extending upward from the suction port and a second flow path that is continuous downstream of the first flow path and extends in a direction intersecting the first flow path, and the second flow path is provided with a damper device for opening and closing the second flow path and a blower for forcibly transporting the gas that has passed through the damper device to the outlet. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] As the present invention is configured as described above, the overall height of the device can be made relatively low. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an example of an oil collection device according to the present invention, viewed from the upper right. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, taken from the lower right. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, with the upper half of the casing cut out to reveal the internal structure. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, with the upper half cut out to reveal the gas flow path. [Figure 5] This is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the main part of the oil collection device, with the front half cut out to reveal the internal structure. [Figure 6] This is a vertical cross-sectional perspective view of key parts, showing enlarged views of the grease collection section, resistance plate, oil receiver, etc. [Figure 7] This is a magnified vertical cross-sectional view of key components such as the grease collection section, resistance plate, and oil receiver, with the oil discharge path indicated by a dashed line. [Figure 8] This is a side view of the grease collection unit. [Figure 9] This is a top view of the grease collection unit. [Figure 10]This is a bottom view of the grease collection unit, with the key parts shown in detail. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, taken from the lower right, showing the device with the rectifier plate removed. [Figure 12] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, taken from the lower right, showing the components from the rectifier plate to the grease collection section removed. [Figure 13] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, taken from the upper right, showing the device with the purification filter removed. [Figure 14] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, taken from the upper right, showing the filter unit removed. [Figure 15] This is a perspective view of the oil collection device, taken from the upper right, showing the blower unit removed. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The oil collection device 1 is installed indoors above cooking appliances such as stoves, suspended from the ceiling by suspension bolts or the like. This oil collection device 1 is a circulating type range hood that sucks up oil fumes generated by cooking appliances, purifies them, and returns them to the room.

[0009] This oil collection device 1 comprises a housing 10 that contains a gas flow path A between a downward-facing suction port 21a and an outlet port a21 that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the suction port 21a, and a grease collection unit 31 that collects oil from the gas drawn in from the suction port 21a.

[0010] The gas flow path A is a continuous space from the suction port 21a to the discharge port a21, surrounded by the inner walls of the grease collection unit casing 35 of the grease collection unit 30 (described later), the blower unit casing 42 of the blower unit 40, the filter unit casing 51 of the filter unit 50, etc. The upstream side of this gas flow path A means the side of the suction port 21a, and the downstream side of the gas flow path A means the discharge port a21.

[0011] In the housing 10, this gas flow path A has a first flow path a1 that extends upward from the suction port 21a and passes through the grease collection part 31, and a second flow path a2 that is downstream (upper side) of the first flow path a1 and extends in a direction (substantially horizontal direction in the illustrated example) intersecting the first flow path a1, constituting a continuous flow path (see Fig. 4).

[0012] In the first flow path a1, the grease collection part 31 of the grease collection unit 30 is provided. Also, an oil receiver 21 is provided below the periphery of the grease collection part 31, and an oil recovery part 22, a rectifying plate 23, etc. are provided below the suction port 21a.

[0013] In the second flow path a2, a damper device 34 of the grease collection unit 30, a blower unit 40 that forcibly conveys the gas passing through the damper device 34 to the discharge port a21, a filter unit 50, etc. are provided.

[0014] The second flow path a2 is a flow path that sequentially passes through the inside of the damper device 34, the inside of the blower 41, and the inside of the filter unit casing 51 of the filter unit 50 along a virtual plane intersecting the first flow path a1, and is formed to bypass to one side in the lateral width direction of the oil collection device 1 (left side as viewed from the front of the oil collection device 1 in an example shown in Fig. 4) and head toward the front discharge port a21 (see Fig. 4). Here, the "front side" is the side designed to be in the same direction as the front side of cooking equipment etc. provided below the oil collection device 1.

[0015] The housing 10 includes a substantially horizontally plate-shaped partition part 11 having an opening 11a (see Fig. 12) at substantially the center in plan view, a rectangular frame-shaped hood 12 with the hood opening 12a facing downward so as to cover the periphery of this partition part 11, left and right horizontal curtain plates 13, 14, left and right front curtain plates 15, 16, a front cover 17, and an upper frame 18 that surround the space above the partition part 11 in a substantially U shape in plan view.

[0016] The partition 11 is constructed in a roughly rectangular plate shape and has a rectangular opening 11a (see Figure 12) that penetrates through it in the vertical direction, approximately in the center. The partition 11 in the illustrated example is formed from two metal plates with a gap between them vertically, and a structural material sandwiched between these metal plates, to have a predetermined thickness.

[0017] A roughly rectangular plate-shaped oil receiver 21 is detachably fitted into the opening 11a of the partition 11 via a frame or the like.

[0018] The oil receiver 21 is formed to receive oil, moisture, etc. below the suction port 21a and is detachably attached to the partition portion 11 of the housing 10. More specifically, the oil receiver 21 comprises an inner wall portion 21b surrounding the periphery of the rotating filter 31a and the resistance plate 31b, an extended portion 21d extending inward from the lower end of the inner wall portion 21b, and a projection portion 21a1 projecting toward the rotating filter 31a from the inner edge end of the extended portion 21d, and is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape in plan view.

[0019] The inner wall portion 21b protrudes upward from all four sides of the oil receiver 21, enclosing the rectangular bottom surface of the oil receiver 21 in a rectangular cylindrical shape. The upper end of this inner wall portion 21b is positioned higher than at least the outer circumference of the resistance plate 31b (see Figure 7).

[0020] The extended portion 21d is formed as a flat plate that extends from at least one end of the inner wall portion 21b on the rotating filter side or the resistance plate side (in the illustrated example, the lower end of the inner wall portion 21b) toward the center of the rotating filter 31a to the inner edge end which is circular in shape in plan view (see Figures 6 and 7).

[0021] In the illustrated example, the projection 21a1 rises upward from the inner edge of the extended portion 21d to form the suction port 21a.

[0022] The intake port 21a is a circular opening located approximately in the center of the bottom surface of the oil receiver 21, drawing in gas from below. It is formed in a bell-mouth shape that rises upward around its entire circumference. The inner diameter of this intake port 21a is smaller than the outer diameter of the rotating filter 31a and larger than the outer diameter of the resistance plate 31b. In other words, if the intake port 21a is larger than the rotating filter 31a, there is a possibility that the gas containing oil mist will pass through without colliding with the rotating filter 31a. Also, if the intake port 21a is smaller than the resistance plate 31b, there is a problem that the airflow resistance will increase. In a preferred example of this embodiment, in order to prevent such problems, the inner diameter of the intake port 21a is set to an appropriate size as described above.

[0023] The oil accumulated in the oil receiver 21 with the above configuration flows out through an oil drain hole 21c formed near one side at the lower end of the inner wall portion 21b, is collected by the oil recovery section 22 below, and is discharged to the outside of the oil collection device 1 through the oil discharge pipe 22a of the oil recovery section 22.

[0024] Furthermore, a rectifier plate 23 is provided at intervals directly below the opening 11a of the partition 11. This rectifier plate 23 is formed in the shape of a rectangular plate that covers the opening 11a and is detachably attached to the lower surface of the partition 11 via a bracket or a locking / detaching member.

[0025] The hood 12 is a roughly cylindrical member that protrudes downward along the periphery of the partition 11. According to the illustrated example, this hood 12 is formed from multiple sheet metal members into a relatively short rectangular tube shape in the vertical direction, and has a hood opening 12a at its lower end for drawing in air from below.

[0026] The gas drawn into the hood opening 12a and rising passes through the gap between the rectifier plate 23 and the partition 11, and further passes through the intake port 21a in the center of the oil receiver 21, and then through the holes 31a1 of the rotating filter 31a.

[0027] The upper part of the partition section 11 is enclosed in a roughly box-like shape with openings at the top and rear by the left and right side panels 13, 14, the left and right front panels 15, 16, the front cover 17, and the upper frame 18, etc.

[0028] The left and right side panels 13 and 14 are constructed as plates that rise upward from the left and right sides of the partition 11, respectively.

[0029] The front panels 15 and 16, spaced apart on the left and right, and the upper frame 18, which extends horizontally along their upper ends, are detachably attached to the left and right side panels 13 and 14 (see Figure 14).

[0030] The front cover 17 is positioned to close the space between the left and right front panels 15 and 16, and is detachably secured to the front of the filter unit 50, which will be described later. This front cover 17 is a rectangular plate-shaped member having a roughly rectangular discharge opening a21, and handles 17a are provided on the outer surfaces of both the left and right ends for gripping during attachment and detachment operations. In addition, another example of this front cover 17 is that it may rotate to open and close around a pivot axis on one side.

[0031] In the illustrated example, the outlet a21 is a rectangular opening located on the front side of the housing 10. The opening area of ​​this outlet a21 is set to be larger than the air outlet 41b of the blower 41, which will be described later. This configuration helps to suppress the flow velocity of the gas from the air outlet 41b to the outlet a21.

[0032] The upper frame 18 is positioned along the upper edges of the front panels 15, 16 and the front cover 17, and is detachably attached to the left and right side panels 13, 14 (see Figure 14).

[0033] The grease collection unit 30 comprises a grease collection section 31 that collects oil, moisture, dust, and other particles from the gas in the middle of a first upward-moving flow path a1, a motor 33 that drives and rotates the grease collection section 31 above it, a damper device 34 that opens and closes a second flow path a2 that extends laterally from the space above the grease collection section 31, and a grease collection unit casing 35 that covers the space above the grease collection section 31 and the damper device 34, and is configured as an integrated unit.

[0034] The grease collection unit 31 comprises a rotating filter 31a having holes 31a1 that allow the gas to pass upward, a resistance plate 31b on the side of the rotating filter 31a opposite to the suction side (upper side in the illustrated example) that acts as resistance to the gas passing through the holes 31a1, and a connecting hub 31c and a connecting sleeve 31d that connect the rotating filter 31a and the resistance plate 31b at the center, all of which are integrally rotatable (see Figure 8). This grease collection unit 31 is detachably attached to the drive rotation shaft 33a of the motor 33.

[0035] The rotating filter 31a is configured in a roughly disc shape and has numerous holes 31a1 extending from its periphery to its center (see Figure 10), with a connecting hub 31c inserted through its center.

[0036] Each hole 31a1 is an elongated hole that inclins in the direction of rotation (clockwise according to Figure 10) toward the center of the rotating filter 31a. Multiple holes 31a1 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating filter 31a, and furthermore, multiple layers of these holes 31a are provided at predetermined intervals in the radial direction of the rotating filter 31a. As the rotating filter 31a rotates, each hole 31a1 moves at high speed in the circumferential direction of the rotating filter 31a. As a result, oil, moisture, and other substances contained in the gas attempting to pass through each hole 31a1 come into contact with the inner edge of the hole 31a1 and are blown away.

[0037] The resistance plate 31b is formed in a circular flat shape and is mounted on the side of the connecting hub 31c opposite to the suction side of the rotating filter 31a (the upper side in the illustrated example), with a gap between it and the rotating filter 31a, so that it is close downstream to the holes 31a1 located closer to the center of the rotating filter 31a among the many holes 31a1 of the rotating filter 31a (see Figure 8).

[0038] The connecting hub 31c penetrates the center of the rotating filter 31a and the resistor plate 31b from below, and its upper end is connected to the drive rotating shaft 33a. This connecting hub 31c is a stepped cylindrical member with an enlarged lower end, and the rotating filter 31a and the resistance plate 31b are mounted in an annular manner above the enlarged portion.

[0039] The connecting sleeve 31d is mounted in a crown-like manner on the upper part of the connecting hub 31c, sandwiching the rotating filter 31a and the resistance plate 31b between it and the enlarged diameter portion on the lower part of the connecting hub 31c. This connecting sleeve 31d is detachable from the connecting hub 31c. By removing this connecting sleeve 31d from the connecting hub 31c, the rotary filter 31a and the resistor plate 31b can be separated (see Figure 8).

[0040] According to the grease collection unit 31 with the above configuration, the resistance plate 31b acts as resistance to the gas passing through the hole 31a1 near the center. In other words, the gas rising along the first flow path a1 inside the housing 10 has a higher flow velocity closer to the center than closer to the outer edge. Therefore, if there is no resistance plate 31b, a large amount of oil mist and other particles will flow relatively quickly towards the center of the rotating filter 31a, but the peripheral velocity is slower towards the center of the rotating filter 31a, resulting in a decrease in collection efficiency. However, with the grease collection unit 31 of this embodiment, the flat resistance plate 31b acts as resistance to the oil mist and other substances flowing near the center of the rotating filter 31a, so that the flow rate of the oil mist and other substances flowing near the outer diameter of the rotating filter 31a increases relatively. As a result, the oil, water, dust, and other particles contained in the oil mist and other substances can be efficiently captured by the outer diameter portion of the rotating filter 31a, which has a high peripheral speed.

[0041] Furthermore, with the grease collection unit 31 of this embodiment, the resistance plate 31b rotates integrally with the rotating filter 31a, so that oil and moisture captured by the rotating filter 31a, as well as oil and moisture that are not captured by the rotating filter 31a and adhere to the resistance plate 31b, can be blown away in the centrifugal direction. The splashed oil and moisture hit the inner wall portion 21b of the oil receiver 21, flow downward, pass through the oil drain hole 21c to the oil recovery section 22, and are discharged to the outside from the oil discharge pipe 22a of the oil recovery section 22 (see Figure 7). Therefore, it is possible to prevent oil, moisture, etc., adhering to the rotating filter 31a or the resistance plate 31b from dripping when the rotation stops, which could contribute to external leakage.

[0042] Furthermore, in Figures 6 and 7, reference numeral 36 denotes a cover plate that prevents oil, moisture, etc., that are ejected in the centrifugal direction from hitting the inner wall portion 21b and scattering. This cover plate 36 also functions as a member that regulates the height position of the oil receiver 21 so that it does not come into contact with the rotating filter 31a. In the illustrated example, the cover plate 36 is fixed to the inner surface of the grease collection unit casing 35, but it may also be fixed to the upper end of the inner wall portion 21b.

[0043] The motor 33 is an AC or DC electric motor and comprises a drive rotating shaft 33a that extends in the vertical direction and a motor body 33b that drives and rotates the drive rotating shaft 33a at the upper end of the peripheral wall of the gas flow path A.

[0044] The drive shaft 33a penetrates a lowered portion 35a of the upper wall of the grease collection unit casing 35 upstream of the blower 41, which will be described later. The gap formed by this penetration is sealed by a shielded bearing 37 that is mounted annularly on the drive shaft 33a inside the grease collection unit casing 35, or by a sealing material.

[0045] The motor body 33b is connected to the upper surface of the grease collection unit casing 35 via the motor bracket 33c. The motor bracket 33c is formed in a box shape that covers and supports the lower half of the motor body 33b, and is fixed to the outer wall surface of the grease collection unit casing 35. The motor bracket 33c is provided with through holes to allow the gas surrounding the motor body 33b to flow and dissipate heat from the motor body 33b. This motor bracket 33c securely fixes the motor body 33b, promotes heat dissipation from the motor body 33b, and reduces noise generated from the motor body 33b when the motor 33 is in operation.

[0046] In a preferred example of this embodiment, the motor bracket 33c covers only the lower half of the motor body 33b so as not to impair the heat dissipation of the motor 33. However, another example of the motor bracket 33c is that it can cover substantially the entire motor body 33b.

[0047] The damper device 34 is a fire damper that prevents flames and smoke from flowing into the gas flow path A in the event of a fire. This damper device 34 comprises a damper body 34a that opens and closes a partition plate, and a temperature sensor 34b. When the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 34b exceeds a predetermined value, the damper device is controlled to close the partition plate of the damper body 34a.

[0048] The damper body 34a is positioned upstream of the second flow path a2 so as to open and close the second flow path a2, and is fixed to the housing 10 via the grease collection unit casing 35 or the like.

[0049] The temperature sensor 34b is located near the damper device 34 in the space created by extending the intake port 21a vertically upward. More specifically, the temperature sensor 34b is located approximately directly above the outermost hole 31a1 in the rotating filter 31a, which is not covered by the resistance plate 31b, and is fixed to the damper body 34a near the intake port 21a (see Figures 5 and 10). With this configuration, the temperature sensor 34b is located near the outer diameter of the rotating filter 31a, which has the highest gas flow rate, so the temperature of the overheated gas can be accurately detected by the temperature sensor 34b. Furthermore, with the above configuration, the temperature sensor 34b is located in the space created by extending the suction port 21a vertically upward within the outer casing of the damper body 34a. This allows access to the temperature sensor 34b by reaching through the suction port 21a, resulting in excellent maintainability.

[0050] The grease collection unit casing 35 forms a roughly box-shaped gas flow path A with openings on the upstream side (downward side) and the downstream side (lateral side), and covers the space above the grease collection section 31 and the damper device 34, and is fixed to the upper surface of the partition section 11. In a preferred example shown in Figure 5, the grease collection unit casing 35 is formed in a stepped shape so that the upper wall constituting the gas flow path A becomes lower toward the upstream side, thereby securing a space S above the lowered portion 35a of the upper wall. The motor body 33b of the motor 33 is located in this space S.

[0051] As an alternative, it is also possible to lower the height of the lowered portion 35a of the upper wall even further than in the illustrated example, and shorten the drive rotating shaft 33a to create a lower-cost configuration. However, in this case, the height dimension of the gas flow path A becomes smaller, which may lead to excessive pressure loss, difficulty in maintaining the damper device 34, and the inability of the temperature sensor 34b to correctly detect a fire. Therefore, in a preferred example of this embodiment, the height of the lowered portion 35a of the upper wall of the grease collection unit casing 35 is set to be at least above the lower end of the opening of the damper device 34.

[0052] The blower unit 40 integrally comprises a blower 41 that forcibly transports the gas that has passed through the damper device 34 to the purification filter 52 and the outlet a21, and a blower unit casing 42 that covers the blower 41, and is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the partition portion 11 of the housing 10.

[0053] The blower 41 is an electric blower having a fan intake port 41a on one side of the axial direction of the rotating blades and an air outlet port 41b on the tangential side of the rotating blades, and is referred to as a sirocco fan or multi-blade fan.

[0054] The blower unit casing 42 is formed in a roughly rectangular box shape that covers the blower 41, with the fan intake port 41a and the air outlet port 41b exposed.

[0055] The blower unit 40 with the above configuration is mounted on the housing 10 with the fan intake 41a facing the outlet of the damper device 34 and the air outlet 41b facing the front.

[0056] The filter unit 50 integrally comprises a filter unit casing 51 located in front of (closer to the front of) the grease collection unit 30 and the blower unit 40, and a plurality of purification filters 52 that are detachably mounted inside the filter unit casing 51, and is detachably mounted to the housing 10.

[0057] The filter unit casing 51 is formed in a horizontally elongated box shape, having a rearward-facing opening 51a (see Figure 14) that communicates with the air outlet 41b, and a forward-facing opening 51b (see Figure 13) that communicates with the discharge port a21 and is used for removing and replacing the multiple purification filters 52.

[0058] A louver unit 51c is detachably attached to the opening 51b. The louver unit 51c has a louver 51c1 on one half in the width direction that communicates with the outlet a21 and changes the direction of airflow, and a closing plate portion 51c2 on the other half that closes the outlet opening of the purification filter 52 (see Figure 13).

[0059] The purification filter 52 is configured as a vertically oriented box shaped approximately perpendicular to the direction of gas flow. Multiple purification filters 52 are provided at intervals in the flow direction (X direction in the figure) within the filter unit casing 51. These multiple purification filters 52 purify the gas conveyed by the blower 41 and allow it to pass through.

[0060] Within the filter unit casing 51, a guide plate 51d is provided in the space upstream of the multiple purification filters 52 to redirect the air flowing in from the air outlet 41b and guide it to the purification filters 52. Furthermore, within the filter unit casing 51, downstream of the multiple purification filters 52, a guide plate 51e is provided to change the direction of the gas that has passed through the multiple purification filters 52 and guide it to the outlet a21.

[0061] The guide plates 51d and 51e are each formed in the shape of a plate inclined with respect to the direction of gas flow. These guide plates 51d and 51e may be part of the wall of the filter unit casing 51, or they may be separate plate materials from the filter unit casing 51. These guide plates 51d and 51e can have any shape that changes the direction of gas flow. In addition to the illustrated examples, they may also be formed as concave curved surfaces that curve the direction of gas flow.

[0062] For the purification filter 52, for example, a smoke removal filter or an odor removal filter can be used. Specific examples of the aforementioned smoke removal filter include those that use a quasi-HEPA filter to remove smoke. Furthermore, specific examples of deodorizing filters include those that use activated carbon to adsorb and separate odors contained in the air as air passes through it, and those that use a honeycomb structure filter made of ceramic material coated with a deodorant to deodorize attached odor components.

[0063] The filter unit 50, configured as described above, is detachably mounted on the upper surface of the partition 11 of the housing 10, in front of the grease collection unit 30 and the blower unit 40.

[0064] The grease collection unit 30, blower unit 40, and filter unit 50 configured as described above have their casings in contact with each other, and gas is passed through openings formed in the walls on both sides where they are in contact. In other words, the space surrounded by the peripheral walls of the casings of each unit, and the space within the openings in the walls of adjacent casings, become the gas flow path A.

[0065] <Effects and Effects> In the oil collection device 1 with the above configuration, the grease collection unit 30, blower unit 40, filter unit 50, etc., are arranged in a substantially horizontal direction. Therefore, the overall height of the oil collection device 1 can be made relatively small, and consequently, it can be installed relatively easily in various locations, such as sites with low ceiling heights or sites where other equipment is installed on the ceiling side.

[0066] Furthermore, according to the oil collection device 1 described above, the gas drawn into the suction port 21a rises along the first flow path a1 inside the housing 10, as shown in Figure 4, and its flow direction is changed to a nearly horizontal lateral direction above the grease collection section 31. Furthermore, the gas passes through the damper device 34, the blower 41, and the multiple purification filters 52 along a second flow path a2 that detours to the left in the diagram, and its flow direction is changed to the front side before being blown out to the outside from an outlet a21 which has a larger area than the blower outlet 41b of the blower 41. In this way, the oil collection device 1 changes the direction of air drawn into the intake port 21a multiple times, passes through the purification filter 52, and then blows it out from the discharge port a21, which has a relatively large flow area. Therefore, the flow velocity of the gas blown out from outlet a21 can be suppressed, reducing the impact on objects and people near outlet a21. Furthermore, since the purification filter 52 also functions as a sound-absorbing mechanism that reduces the noise generated by the blower 41, it can reduce noise such as the operating noise of the blower 41 that resonates into the room through the exhaust port a21.

[0067] Furthermore, as described above, the flow velocity of the gas discharged from outlet a21 is reduced, which prevents the gas blown out from outlet a21 from disrupting the gas flow from the cooking appliance below to the hood opening 12a.

[0068] Furthermore, with the oil collection device 1 described above, since the motor body 33b of the motor 33 is located outside the gas flow path A, it is possible to satisfy the provisions of various laws and regulations concerning exhaust ducts and canopies attached to kitchen equipment. In other words, oil collection devices and ventilation devices used for heating cookers, which are called kitchen equipment, are sometimes required to exclude electrical components (motor body 33b in this embodiment) from the flow path portion called the canopy. However, with this embodiment, since the provisions of the above laws and regulations are satisfied, it becomes possible to introduce the oil collection device 1 equipped with the motor 33 and rotary filter 31a, etc., even to kitchen equipment used for commercial purposes such as restaurants. Furthermore, maintenance of the gas flow path A and the damper device 34 can be performed without the need to remove the motor 33 and its electrical wiring. Furthermore, since the motor body 33b is not contaminated by the oil contained in the gas flow path A, safety is enhanced, and the maintenance cycle for the motor body 33b can be extended. Furthermore, since the number of obstacles in gas flow path A can be reduced, air can flow smoothly through gas flow path A.

[0069] Furthermore, the oil collection device 1 described above secures a space S for air to flow above the motor 33, thereby promoting the cooling of the motor 33. In other words, if the motor 33 is simply placed outside the gas flow path A, the cooling effect of the gas flowing through gas flow path A on the motor cannot be expected. Therefore, in a preferred example of this embodiment, a relatively large space S is secured above the motor 33 to prevent the air heated by the heat generated by the motor 33 from becoming trapped (see Figure 5). In addition to this effect, space S also functions as a maintenance space for the motor 33, allowing it to be removed, for example, by pulling the motor 33 upwards along with the drive shaft 33a.

[0070] Furthermore, according to the oil collection device 1 described above, the drive rotating shaft 33a of the motor 33 penetrates the peripheral wall of the grease collection unit casing 35 upstream of the blower 41. Therefore, if a gap occurs in the part of the drive rotating shaft 33a that penetrates due to a seal failure around the drive rotating shaft 33a, gas from outside the grease collection unit casing 35 will flow into the grease collection unit casing 35 through this gap. Thus, it is possible to prevent gas containing oil mist, etc., from leaking to the outside through the gap inside the grease collection unit casing 35.

[0071] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, the lowered portion 35a of the grease collection unit casing 35 is positioned higher than the lower end of the damper device 34 and the temperature sensor 34b. Therefore, by removing the rectifier plate 23, oil recovery section 22, oil receiver 21, grease collection section 31, etc., the gas flow path A (specifically, the first flow path a1) upstream of the damper device 34 can be used as a workspace for maintenance, such as replacing the temperature sensor 34b or cleaning the damper device 34.

[0072] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 13, by removing the louver unit 51c, the purification filter 52 can be removed from the filter unit 50 and replaced.

[0073] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 14, by removing the front panels 15, 16, the upper frame 18, and the filter unit 50 from the housing 10, the gas flow path A between the blower 41 and the outlet a21 (more specifically, a part of the second flow path a2) can be used as a workspace for maintenance.

[0074] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 14 and 15, the space inside the housing 10 from which the filter unit 50 has been removed can be used to remove the blower unit 40 located at the back (rear side) of the housing 10 and pull it out. In the figures, reference numeral 43 denotes a handle used to grip the blower unit 40 for pulling it out.

[0075] Furthermore, since the oil collection device 1 of this embodiment has its mechanisms unitized, it is possible to change the combination of the grease collection unit 30, the blower unit 40, and the filter unit 50. Therefore, depending on the site conditions and user requests, it is possible to select specifications such as a specification that only collects grease, a specification that collects grease and then exhausts it, or a circulation specification like the one in this embodiment. Depending on this selection, it is possible to combine and install the units 30, 40, and 50 as appropriate. Furthermore, since the blower unit 40 and the filter unit 50 are removable as separate units, the specifications can be easily changed even after installation.

[0076] <Variation> According to the above embodiment, the suction port 21a is an opening provided in the center of the oil receiver 21, but this suction port 21a can be any opening that faces downward on the lower side of the first flow path a1 and is configured to draw in gas from the outside of the housing 10. Therefore, as another example, the oil receiver 21 may be omitted from the oil collection device 1 with the above configuration, and the opening 11a of the partition 11 may be used as the suction port 21a.

[0077] According to the above embodiment, in a particularly preferred example, the discharge port a21 is located on the front side of the oil collection device 1. However, the discharge port a21 can also be located on a part other than the front of the oil collection device 1, as long as it is positioned in a direction that intersects with the suction port 21a. In other words, another example is that the discharge port a21 can be located on the rear, left, or right side of the oil collection device 1. In these other examples, the arrangement and structure of the grease collection unit 30, the blower unit 40, and the filter unit 50 are changed, and the plan view shape of the second flow path a2 through which they pass is also changed.

[0078] According to the above embodiment, in a particularly preferred example, the grease collection unit 31 is configured with a rotating filter 31a or the like, but in other examples, the grease collection unit 31 can also be configured with a fixed filter that does not rotate.

[0079] According to the above embodiment, in a particularly preferred example, the rotating filter 31a and the resistor plate 31b are integrally configured to rotate together. However, in other examples, the rotating filter 31a and the resistor plate 31b can be fixed to different drive rotation shafts located coaxially, and each can be driven and rotated independently.

[0080] According to the above embodiment, the lowered portion 35a of the upper wall of the grease collection unit casing 35 is formed in a stepped shape that slopes downward toward the upstream side. However, other examples of this lowered portion 35a include a configuration in which the upper wall of the grease collection unit casing 35 is lower toward the downstream side, or a configuration in which the upper wall of the grease collection unit casing 35 is lowered in a concave shape. In other words, even in these configurations, space for cooling, maintenance, etc., can be secured above the motor 33.

[0081] In the above embodiment, the grease collection unit 31 is provided in a horizontal orientation so that the axis of rotation is oriented vertically. However, in another example, the grease collection unit 31 can also be provided in a vertical orientation so that the axis of rotation is oriented horizontally (including diagonally). In this other example as well, a rotating filter and an inner wall portion 21b surrounding the periphery of the resistance plate 31b are provided on the centrifugal side of the resistance plate, and the oil is directed onto this inner wall portion 21b and discharged downward.

[0082] The oil collection device 1 in the above embodiment is configured as a circulating type that sucks in indoor air, collects oil and purifies it, and then returns it to the original room. However, other examples of this oil collection device 1 include a configuration in which indoor air is sucked in, oil is collected, and then blown out to the outdoors via a duct or the like, or a configuration in which indoor air is sucked in, oil is collected and purified, and then blown out to another room via a duct or the like.

[0083] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations described above, and can be modified as appropriate without altering the essence of the invention.

[0084] <Summary> As described above, the above embodiment discloses the following invention. (1) An oil collection device (see Figures 1 to 15) is characterized by comprising a housing having a gas flow path between a downward-facing suction port and an outlet facing in a direction intersecting the suction port, and a grease collection unit that collects oil from the gas drawn in from the suction port, wherein the gas flow path has a first flow path that extends upward from the suction port and a second flow path that is continuous downstream of the first flow path and extends in a direction intersecting the first flow path, and a damper device that opens and closes the second flow path and a blower that forcibly transports the gas that has passed through the damper device to the outlet. Here, "lateral direction" refers to the direction intersecting the "first flow path directed upward." Therefore, this lateral direction includes both a substantially horizontal lateral direction and an inclined lateral direction. (2) The oil collection device according to (1) (see Figure 5) is characterized in that the grease collection section includes a rotating filter having holes for the gas to pass through, and a motor that drives the rotating filter is provided outside the gas flow path. (3) The oil collection device according to (2) (see Figure 5), characterized in that the motor has a drive rotating shaft for rotating the rotating filter that penetrates the peripheral wall of the gas flow path, and this penetration portion is located upstream of the blower. (4) The oil collection device according to (2) or (3) (see Figure 5), characterized in that a lowered portion is formed in the upper wall of the gas flow path, thereby securing a space above the lowered portion of the upper wall, and the motor is located in the space. (5) An oil collection device according to any one of (2) to (4) (see Figure 12), characterized in that the rotary filter is detachably provided. (6) The oil collection device according to any one of (2) to (5) (see Figure 8) is characterized in that the grease collection section is provided with a resistance plate on the side opposite to the suction side of the rotating filter, which acts as resistance to the gas passing through the holes. (7) The oil collection device according to (6) (see Figures 5 to 7), characterized in that the suction port is smaller than the rotating filter and larger than the resistance plate. (8) An oil collection device according to (6) or (7) (see Figures 6 to 7), characterized by comprising an oil receiver having an inner wall portion surrounding the periphery of the rotating filter and the resistance plate, an extended portion extending inward from at least one end of the inner wall portion on the rotating filter side or the resistance plate side, and a projection portion projecting toward the rotating filter from the inner edge end of the extended portion. In the configuration of (8), the rotating filter and the resistor plate include both configurations in which they are installed horizontally so that the axis of rotation is oriented vertically, and configurations in which they are installed vertically so that the axis of rotation is oriented horizontally (including diagonally). (9) The oil collection device according to (1) (see Figure 3), characterized in that a filter is provided further downstream of the blower. (10) The oil collection device according to (9) (see Figures 14-15), characterized in that the filter constitutes a filter unit that can be attached to and detached from the housing, the blower constitutes a blower unit that can be attached to and detached from the housing, and the blower unit can be removed using the space after the filter unit has been removed. (11) The damper device is configured to close in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The oil collection device according to any one of (1) to (10) (see Figure 5), characterized in that the temperature sensor is provided near the damper device in the space obtained by extending the suction port vertically upward. (12) An oil collection device according to any one of (1) to (11) (see Figure 14), characterized in that the area of ​​the discharge port is larger than the air outlet of the blower. (13) An oil collection device according to any one of (1) to (12) (see Figures 1 to 2), characterized in that the discharge port is provided on the front of the housing. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 Oil collection device 10 cabinets 11 Partition 12 Food 12a Hood opening 21 Oil receiver 21a Inlet 21a1 Projection piece 21b Inner wall 21d Extension 22 Oil Recovery Department 23 Rectifier plate 30 Grease Collection Unit 31 Grease collection section 31a Rotating filter 31a1 hole 31b Resistance plate 33 Motor 33a Drive rotation shaft 33b Motor body 34 Damper device 34b Temperature sensor 35 Grease collection unit casing 40 Blower Unit 41 Blower 41b Air outlet 42 Blower unit casing 50 filter units 51 Filter Unit Casing 52 Purification filter A Gas flow path a1 First channel a2 Second channel a21 outlet

Claims

1. The device comprises a housing having a gas flow path between a downward-facing suction port and an outlet facing in a direction intersecting the suction port, and a grease collection unit that collects oil from the gas drawn in from the suction port. The gas flow path has a first flow path extending upward from the intake port, and a second flow path that is continuous downstream of the first flow path and extends in a direction intersecting the first flow path. An oil collection device characterized in that the second flow path is provided with a damper device for opening and closing the second flow path and a blower for forcibly transporting the gas that has passed through the damper device to the outlet.

2. The oil collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the grease collection section includes a rotating filter having holes for the gas to pass through, and a motor that drives the rotating filter is provided outside the gas flow path.

3. The oil collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor has a drive rotating shaft for rotating the rotating filter that penetrates the peripheral wall of the gas flow path, and this penetration portion is located upstream of the blower.

4. The oil collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that a lowered portion is formed in the upper wall of the gas flow path, thereby securing a space above the lowered portion of the upper wall, and the motor is located in the space.

5. The oil collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotary filter is detachably provided.

6. The oil collection device according to claim 2, characterized in that the grease collection section is provided with a resistance plate on the side opposite to the suction side of the rotating filter, which acts as resistance to the gas passing through the holes.

7. The oil collection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the suction port is smaller than the rotating filter and larger than the resistance plate.

8. The oil collection device according to claim 6, characterized in that it includes an oil receiver having an inner wall portion surrounding the periphery of the rotating filter and the resistance plate, an extended portion extending inward from at least one end of the inner wall portion on the rotating filter side or the resistance plate side, and a projection portion projecting toward the rotating filter from the inner edge end of the extended portion.

9. The oil collection device according to claim 1, further characterized in that a filter is provided downstream of the blower.

10. The filter constitutes a filter unit that can be attached to and detached from the housing, and the blower constitutes a blower unit that can be attached to and detached from the housing. The oil collection device according to claim 9, characterized in that the blower unit can be removed using the space after the filter unit has been removed.

11. The damper device is configured to close in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature sensor. The oil collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature sensor is provided near the damper device in the space obtained by extending the suction port vertically upward.

12. The oil collection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the area of ​​the discharge port is larger than the air outlet of the blower.

13. The oil collection device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the discharge port is provided on the front of the housing.

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