Central Downdraft Hob Venting to Prevent Suction Flow Cancellation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hobs with suction slits on both sides and the back are inefficient due to canceled suction flows, high manufacturing and maintenance costs, noise, and limited countertop usage, as they require separate mounting frames and three grease filters, leading to ineffective vapor removal and high energy expenditure.
Innovation Solution
A hob design featuring a central recess for downward suction of cooking vapors, integrated with a single foul-air duct and grease filter system, allowing for efficient vapor removal without using side and back surfaces, reducing manufacturing and assembly costs, and minimizing noise and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If suction slits are provided on both sides and on the back of the hob, then cooking vapours can be removed through suction, but the suction flows cancel each other out in the centre area, allowing vapours to expand and rise unimpeded
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the suction function from the traditional side-and-back slit configuration and concentrates it in a single central recess. The central recess with downward-facing suction opening removes the conflicting lateral suction flows and directs all suction effort vertically downward, eliminating the cancellation effect while maintaining effective vapour removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the suction direction from horizontal (lateral and rearward flows) to vertical (downward flow). By orienting the suction opening to face downward and positioning it centrally, the system exploits the vertical dimension to create unidirectional suction flow that does not cancel itself, thereby improving suction efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If suction slits are provided on both sides and on the back of the hob, then cooking vapours can be removed through suction, but the surfaces on the countertop cannot be completely used for temporary storage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the suction slits from the side and back surfaces of the hob, extracting the suction function and concentrating it in the centre. This frees up the entire side and back countertop surfaces for storage and other uses, while the central recess remains hidden beneath the hob surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention relocates the suction opening to the vertical dimension (downward-facing) rather than using horizontal openings along the sides and back. This allows the horizontal countertop surfaces to remain fully accessible and usable for storage purposes.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If three suction devices with lateral and rear suction flows are used, then cooking vapours can be removed, but manufacturing and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three separate suction devices (two lateral and one rear) into a single integrated central suction system. The central recess with its downward-facing opening and connected foul-air duct combines the functions of multiple devices, reducing manufacturing complexity and material requirements while maintaining effective vapour removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the suction function from the complex three-device configuration and implements it through a single centralized system. This simplification reduces the number of components, assembly steps, and materials needed, thereby lowering manufacturing and material costs.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If three grease filters are installed in the hob, then comprehensive filtration is achieved, but maintenance costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three separate grease filters into a single filtration system integrated with the central recess. The foul-air duct leading from the central suction opening incorporates one grease filter that handles all filtered vapours, reducing maintenance complexity and costs while maintaining comprehensive filtration capability.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If strong suction flows are released through all suction slits simultaneously, then cooking vapours are removed effectively, but energy expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the suction function from multiple simultaneous lateral and rear flows and concentrates it in a single downward flow through the central recess. This eliminates the energy waste associated with multiple conflicting suction streams while maintaining effective vapour removal through unified vertical suction.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the suction flow direction from horizontal (lateral and rearward) to vertical (downward). This dimensional change creates more efficient airflow patterns that reduce energy expenditure by eliminating turbulent interactions between conflicting horizontal flows and utilizing the natural downward movement of cooking vapours.
6Object-affected harmful factors
If three strong suction flows are required, then cooking vapours are removed, but noise generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges three separate fan motor systems into a single fan motor that drives the central downward suction flow. This consolidation reduces the total noise output by eliminating the sound from multiple motors and their associated mechanical components, while maintaining effective vapour removal through the unified suction system.
7Reliability
If a separate mounting frame is used to secure the hob on the countertop, then the hob is securely installed, but assembly time and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mounting function into the hob body itself through the central recess structure. The recess and its integration with the countertop provide secure installation without requiring a separate mounting frame, thereby reducing assembly time and material costs while maintaining installation stability.
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 enables efficient vapor removal, reduces manufacturing and maintenance costs, minimizes noise, and allows for unrestricted countertop usage, achieving high energy efficiency and effective vapor management without the need for separate mounting frames.
Implementation Method 1
A hob design featuring a central recess for downward suction of cooking vapors
Data Source
AI summary
A hob (1) with one or more cooking locations (2), which, as viewed from above, exhibits one or more recesses (4) only in the area (25) around its geometric center (3), which are respectively connected with one or more devices (5) for removing cooking vapors through suction, wherein these devices (5) for removing cooking vapors through suction downwardly remove the cooking vapors that arise above the cooking locations (2) by suction in a direction pointing vertically below the hob (1), and such a hob (1), which in the assembly unit is designed with a device (36) for operating the hob (2) and downwardly removing cooking vapors by suction.