Cook Fume Extractor Slat Mechanism for Wear-Resistant Airflow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extractor devices for cooking vapors face issues with the robustness and durability of the mechanism that controls the opening and closing of slats, leading to susceptibility to wear and potential inefficiencies in vapor directionality.

Innovation Solution

The extractor device features slats that are arranged to displace parallel to each other within the suction panel, allowing for a more robust mechanism that is less prone to wear, with a combined orthogonal and parallel movement mechanism driven by a motor and coupling system, enabling efficient vapor direction towards the suction surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If slats are pivotally attached to control opening and closing movement, then the slats can be positioned to direct vapors towards the suction surface, but the mechanism becomes susceptible to wear and less robust

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverobustness of slat mechanismVSAvoidmechanism complexity for slat movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of pivotally attaching slats to a stationary housing and rotating them, the invention inverts the approach by slidably guiding the slats within a suction panel that itself is pivotally attached. This transforms the rotational movement into a combination of panel rotation and slat sliding, eliminating pivot joints in the slats and reducing wear-prone components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the traditional mechanical pivot joint system with a slidable guidance mechanism. The slats move linearly within guides on the suction panel rather than rotating on pivot points, substituting a wear-prone rotational mechanical system with a linear sliding system that is more robust and easier to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If a pivotal suction panel with slats is used, then vapor directionality is improved, but the device occupies more space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor extraction efficiencyVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention utilizes the third dimension by allowing slats to move not only with the pivotal rotation of the suction panel but also independently slide within the panel plane. This combined orthogonal and parallel movement enables the slats to achieve precise positioning in three-dimensional space, improving vapor directionality while maintaining a compact overall device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2072908B1Fume extracting device

Publication Date: 2014.10.08 MIELE & CO KG

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6a

AI summary

The device (1) has a housing (70), and a suction unit (7) comprising a suction blower (8) for sucking cook fumes in a cook place. A suction surface is provided with lamellas (4a-4c), which are movable from a non-use position in which the lamellas close suction surface, to a use position in which the lamellas release the suction surface. A suction panel (3) is in flow current connection with the suction unit, and the lamellas are movably arranged parallel to each other in the panel that is pivotable from the non-use position to the use position relative to the suction unit.