Cooktop Vapor Extractor Baffle Layout for Grease Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ventilation devices integrated into cooktops struggle with effective grease and moisture separation, leading to soiling of critical components and increased cleaning effort, particularly at high extraction rates.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of baffles on the collection tray to separate liquid and grease carried along in steam, with one baffle positioned between the grease filter and the blower, ensuring the baffle's upper surface maintains the same or smaller distance to the cooktop than the grease filter's underside, and airflow is directed as an underflow between the grease filter and collection tray.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If high suction power is used to increase extraction rate, then fume extraction performance is improved, but grease and moisture contamination of the fan increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction rateVSAvoidgrease and moisture contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The vapor outlet is divided into two separate outlets positioned on opposite sides of the grease filter. This segmentation allows the vapor stream to be split, with one portion passing through the grease filter and the other bypassing it, thereby reducing grease and moisture contamination while maintaining high extraction rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A baffle is introduced as an intermediary element between the grease filter and the fan. The baffle is positioned to allow underflow of vapor beneath the grease filter while blocking direct flow paths that would carry grease and moisture to the fan, thus protecting the fan from contamination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If vapor flows directly from grease filter to fan, then extraction efficiency is maintained, but cleaning effort increases due to grease accumulation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle serves as a protective intermediary between the grease filter and the fan. It allows vapor to pass through while blocking grease and moisture, thereby reducing the accumulation of contaminants on the fan and significantly decreasing cleaning effort and frequency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The harmful components (grease and moisture) are extracted from the vapor stream by the baffle before reaching the fan. This selective extraction protects the fan from contamination while allowing the vapor extraction function to continue efficiently

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enhances grease and moisture separation, reducing soiling of the fan and odor filter, allowing for higher flow rates with less grease and moisture reaching these components, thus improving extraction efficiency and reducing cleaning effort.

Implementation Method 1

two vapor outlets, each designed as a filter wall for removing grease contained in the vapor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

at least one baffle is arranged on the collection tray for separating liquid and grease carried along in the steam

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLiquid-grease separation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 3

a fan arranged in the extractor hood housing and in the direction of flow towards the grease filter and the drip tray for extracting fumes rising above the cooktop

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 4

the vapor exiting the grease filter on the side facing away from the fan can flow in an underflow between the grease filter and the collection tray towards the fan

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure gradient flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentEP4328497B1Vapour extraction device that can be integrated structurally into a cooking hob and cooking hob
Publication Date: 2026.04.29 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP4328497B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a fume extraction device (4) comprising a grease filter (12), a collection tray (14) for liquid (16) arranged below the grease filter (12), and a blower (18), wherein the grease filter (12) has a fume inlet opening (22) and two fume outlets (24, 26) each designed as a filter wall, and wherein one fume outlet (24) is arranged on a side of the grease filter (12) facing the blower (18) and the other fume outlet (26) is arranged on a side of the grease filter (12) facing away from the blower (18), and wherein the fumes (20) exiting away from the blower can flow in an underflow between the grease filter (12) and the collection tray (14) in the direction of the blower (18), wherein at least one baffle wall is provided on the collection tray (14). (28, 30) is arranged for the separation of liquid (16) and fat carried along in the vapor (20),wherein one of the baffles (30) is arranged in a flow path of the vapor (20) between the grease filter (12) on the one hand and the blower (18) on the other, and wherein an upper surface of this baffle (30) facing the cooktop (8) has the same distance to the cooktop (8) as, or a smaller distance to, the cooktop (8) than an underside of the grease filter (12) facing the drip tray (14). The invention further relates to a cooktop (2).