Flat Panel Hood Depth Stop for Flush Fit and Grease Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flat panel hoods face issues with visible and inaccessible mechanical stops in the air flow, which can lead to functional impairment, increased repair costs, and manufacturing complexity due to deposition of fat and moisture, as well as aesthetic and assembly challenges.
Innovation Solution
A flat panel hood design featuring a variable position depth stop element that can be mounted and adjusted to ensure the vapor deflector is flush with the kitchen furniture, allowing for easy access and protection from vapors, and reducing assembly efforts by allowing user installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical fixed stops are located in the airflow of the fumes, then the depth of the flat panel hood can be adjusted, but grease and moisture accumulate on the stops impairing their function
Solution Approach 1:
The depth stop element is extracted from the airflow path and relocated to the rear side of the vapor screen, where it is accessible for adjustment but not exposed to grease and moisture accumulation that would impair its function.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor screen acts as an intermediary between the user and the depth stop element, allowing the stop to be positioned at the rear where it is protected from harmful factors while still controlling the depth adjustment mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical fixed stops are located in the airflow of the fumes, then the depth can be adjusted, but the stops are visible to the user which may be perceived as visually distracting
Solution Approach 1:
The depth stop element is extracted from the visible front area and relocated to the rear side of the vapor screen, making it invisible to users while maintaining its depth adjustment functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth stop element is repositioned from the front visible dimension to the rear hidden dimension, allowing it to remain functional while being concealed from user view to improve visual appearance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical fixed stops are located in the airflow of the fumes, then the depth can be adjusted, but the stops are difficult to access for repairs increasing repair costs
Solution Approach 1:
The depth stop element is extracted from the enclosed airflow path and repositioned to the rear side of the vapor screen where it is easily accessible for maintenance and repair operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth stop element is positioned such that users can easily access and adjust it themselves without requiring professional service, enabling simple maintenance and depth adjustments.
4Adaptability or versatility
If mechanical fixed stops are installed during manufacturing, then the depth can be adjusted, but it represents additional assembly effort increasing manufacturing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The depth stop element is designed to be movable and adjustable by the user after installation, eliminating the need for precise pre-positioning during manufacturing and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The depth adjustment is transferred from the manufacturing process to the user, allowing the product to be manufactured more simply while enabling end-users to customize the depth setting themselves.
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 solution enhances the durability and visual appeal of the flat panel hood by hiding the depth stop element, reducing maintenance and manufacturing costs, and ensuring a flush fit with kitchen furniture despite manufacturing tolerances, while maintaining easy accessibility for repairs.
Implementation Method 1
The extractor hood also has a fan to draw air, along with the fumes, from the cooktop into the fume hood and through the grease filter
Implementation Method 2
The intake screen can also be called a fume hood. The extractor hood also has a fan to draw air, along with the fumes, from the cooktop into the fume hood and through the grease filter, thus removing as much grease as possible from the fumes
Implementation Method 3
Recirculating extractor hoods typically also have an additional odor filter, for example, in the form of an activated carbon filter, to remove cooking and frying odors from the fumes as completely as possible
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a flat panel hood (1) designed to draw in and filter fumes, wherein the flat panel hood (1) is further designed to be attached, at least partially, to and/or in a kitchen unit (2), and wherein the flat panel hood (1) has a fume shield (12) which is designed to be arranged in the vertical direction (Z) below the kitchen unit (2) and to be moved in the longitudinal direction (X) relative to the kitchen unit (2) towards and away from a user by means of at least one extension (14). The flat panel hood (1) is characterized by at least one depth stop element (15) which is designed to be variably positioned on and/or in the extension (14) in the longitudinal direction (X) such that the extent of movement of the fume shield (12) in the longitudinal direction (X) away from the user can be limited by the positioning of the depth stop element (15).