Filter for a kitchen hood
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen hood filters are prone to clogging, expensive, and sensitive to detergents, with metal filters being heavy and costly, and textile filters having short flow paths and low value solutions.
Innovation Solution
A filter comprising elongated profile parts with wave-like surfaces arranged side by side, forming labyrinthine air flow channels that generate vortex flows to separate grease from air streams, made from lightweight and cost-effective plastic materials with optional porous fillings and adsorbents, and featuring a simple geometric structure for easy assembly and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal filters are used, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the weight characteristic while maintaining filtering function through geometric design. The plastic filter elements achieve comparable filtering effectiveness through their labyrinthine structure rather than material density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a functional copy of metal filter performance using plastic material. The labyrinthine geometry of the plastic filter elements replicates the grease-capturing function of metal filters without requiring the same material properties, thus achieving similar filtering effectiveness with reduced weight.
2Reliability
If metal filters are used, then filtering effectiveness is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to plastic, fundamentally altering the cost characteristic. Plastic materials are inherently less expensive than metal, and the extrusion process for creating the profile parts is more cost-effective than metal fabrication processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a functional copy of metal filter performance using plastic material. The labyrinthine geometry replicates the grease-capturing function without requiring expensive metal materials, achieving similar filtering effectiveness at lower manufacturing cost.
3Ease of manufacture
If textile filters are used, then cost is reduced, but flow path length decreases causing rapid clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses curved, wave-like surfaces in the filter element geometry to create extended flow paths. The sinusoidal or undulating structure of the partition walls forces the air flow to follow a longer, more tortuous path, increasing the effective flow path length while maintaining a compact overall filter size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a planar filter structure to a three-dimensional labyrinthine structure. By creating multiple layers and levels of partition walls with wave-like surfaces, the filter extends the flow path through additional spatial dimensions, effectively increasing the flow path length without proportionally increasing the filter's external dimensions.
4Reliability
If labyrinth filters with multiple metal layers are used, then grease separation is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the filter into multiple discrete profile parts, each with a specific geometric configuration. These segmented elements can be individually manufactured and then assembled, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while maintaining the complex labyrinthine flow paths needed for effective grease separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite geometric structures within the plastic material - combining solid partition walls with open flow channels in a unified lattice configuration. This composite geometry achieves effective grease separation through the labyrinthine path while maintaining structural integrity and reducing material usage compared to solid metal constructions.
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 filter effectively separates grease from air streams with low flow resistance, reducing clogging and maintenance costs while being easy to handle and clean, using lightweight and affordable materials.
Implementation Method 1
the shapes of opposite surfaces of two adjacent filter elements are substantially complementary to each other and have a wave-like structure... an air flow channel is formed in each intermediate space between two adjacent filter elements, so that an air stream through said air flow channel extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the filter elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a filter (1) for a kitchen hood. Said filter (1) comprises a plurality of filter elements (2). The filter elements (2) are formed as elongated profile parts. The filter elements (2) are arranged side by side and parallel to each other. The shapes of opposite surfaces of two adjacent filter elements (2) are substantially complementary to each other and have a wave-like structure. The opposite surfaces of the adjacent filter elements (2) are spaced from each other at a predetermined distance. An air flow channel (8) is formed in each intermediate space between two adjacent filter elements (2), so that an air stream (9) through said air flow channel (8) extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the filter elements (2).