Box-Like Range Hood Grease Filter for Uniform Suction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hood filters are prone to clogging from greasy particles, leading to maintenance challenges, uneven intake capacity, and suboptimal space occupation, with fouled areas being visible and potentially dirty during servicing.

Innovation Solution

A hood filter design featuring a compact, box-like structure with a large filtering surface, including a removable and washable first filter element, metal mesh side elements, and a non-permeable stainless steel closing element that prevents dirt from falling and isolates fouled areas, ensuring cleanliness and easy maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional flat filter element is used in the hood, then the filter can be simple in structure and easy to manufacture, but the filter is prone to clogging from greasy particles and has uneven intake capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter performanceVSAvoidfilter structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filter element is transformed from a traditional flat two-dimensional structure to a three-dimensional box-like structure with six filtering surfaces. This dimensional change allows air to be filtered from multiple directions (front, back, left, right, top, bottom), increasing the effective filtering surface area and improving air flow distribution while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The filter element is divided into six separate filtering surfaces arranged in a box configuration, with each surface independently contributing to the filtration process. This segmentation allows for more uniform air intake distribution and reduces localized clogging while maintaining ease of manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the filter structure is enlarged to increase filtering surface, then the filtering capacity is improved, but the space occupation in the hood becomes suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering capacityVSAvoidspace occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By transitioning from a flat 2D filter to a 3D box structure, the filter achieves a large total filtering surface area without requiring a large footprint in the hood. The vertical and depth dimensions are utilized to maximize filtering surface while maintaining a compact form factor that fits efficiently within the hood space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The box-like filter structure can be positioned within the hood's air inlet opening, effectively nesting the filter within the existing hood structure. This allows the filter to occupy minimal additional space while providing extensive filtering surface area through its six-sided configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Reliability

If the filter is designed with large filtering surface, then the filtering effectiveness is improved, but the fouled areas become visible and dirty during servicing

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering effectivenessVSAvoidvisibility of fouled areas
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The box-like structure positions the filtering surfaces in three-dimensional space, with the front and back surfaces facing the air inlet and outlet respectively. This spatial arrangement naturally directs soiled air toward the back surface, keeping the front serviceable surfaces cleaner and more visible, while the rear surface accumulates deposits that are less visible during maintenance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Volume of moving object

If a compact filter structure is used to optimize space, then the space occupation is improved, but the filtering surface area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace occupationVSAvoidfiltering surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The box-like filter structure utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently, extending the filtering surface into the depth and vertical dimensions of the hood. This allows the filter to maintain a compact footprint while achieving a large total filtering surface area through its six-sided configuration, with each surface contributing to the overall filtration capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design reduces clogging, maintains cleanliness, and provides uniform suction power and optimal space usage, allowing for efficient air filtration and easy filter servicing while hiding fouled areas from view.

Implementation Method 1

mechanical filters having a surface adapted to retain greasy particles while letting the air flow through

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2610555B1Hood with a grease filter
Publication Date: 2016.12.14 WHIRLPOOL EMEA SPA
  • EP2610555B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2610555B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2610555B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a filter (1103) configured for use in a hood (1101), comprising: a first flat filter element (1301) adapted to face towards an air inlet (1201) of the hood (1101), a plurality of second filter elements (1302, 1303, 1304, 1305) arranged along the perimeter of the first filter element (1301) to form a side wall extending externally to the air inlet (1202), and a third non-filtering closing element (1306) connected to the side wall to form a box-like structure (1103). The present invention also relates to a filter (2103a, 2103b) configured for use in a hood (2101), comprising: a first flat circular filter element (2301) adapted to face towards an air inlet of said hood (2101), one or more second flat filter elements (2302, 2303, 2304), having the shape of sectors of a circle, arranged along the perimeter of said first filter element (2301) to form a side wall, said side wall being adapted to extend externally to said air inlet, and a third non-filtering closing element (2306) connected to said side wall to form a box-like structure (2103). The present invention further relates to a range hood comprising: a central filter (3103) comprising: a first flat filter element (3301) located within said hood, a plurality of second flat filter elements (3302, 3303, 3304, 3305) arranged along the perimeter of said first flat filter element (3301) to form a side wall, said side wall being adapted to extend partly external and partly internal to said hood, and a third non-filtering closing element (3306) connected to said side wall, external to the hood, to form a box-like structure; one or more side filters (3501, 3502), each comprising a first filtering surface (3504) and a second non-filtering surface (3505), said first and second surfaces facing towards the outer bottom part of the hood, and having oppositely oriented inclinations, said first filtering surface (3504) facing towards the outside of the hood, and said second non-filtering surface (3505) facing towards the inside of the hood and towards said central filter.