Sensor-Controlled Range Hood Airflow and Guide Plate Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing range hoods fail to automatically adjust air volume, air inlet area, and smoke guide plate position in response to changing smoke and vapor concentrations during cooking, leading to inefficient operation, energy wastage, and reduced service life due to mechanical wear.
Innovation Solution
An intelligent range hood equipped with sensors and a controller that adjust the fan motor speed and smoke guide plate position in real-time based on smoke and vapor concentration, using a push rod mechanism to ensure smooth operation and isolate the driving mechanism from smoke, preventing noise and jitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rotation speed of the motor is manually set using a two-level or three-level air volume key, then the motor operates at fixed air volume and air pressure, but the range hood cannot adapt to changing kitchen environments or cooking methods, resulting in inefficient operation and energy wastage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors to detect smoke and vapor concentration in real-time, feeding this information back to the controller which automatically adjusts motor rotation speed. This closed-loop feedback system enables the range hood to adapt to changing cooking conditions without manual intervention, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and energy consumption by optimizing motor operation based on actual needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The range hood system performs self-adjustment through automatic detection and control. The sensor-controller-motor system operates autonomously to maintain optimal performance without requiring user knowledge or action, enabling the device to serve itself in adapting to environmental changes while minimizing energy waste.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the smoke guide plate is moved up and down only when the range hood is activated and deactivated, then the air inlet is opened or closed, but the lifting position cannot be adjusted in real time according to smoke and vapor concentration, resulting in single adjustment function
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke guide plate transitions from static positions (only moved during activation/deactivation) to dynamic continuous adjustment. The push rod mechanism enables the plate to move to any position within its range, allowing real-time adaptation to varying smoke concentrations. This dynamic capability greatly enhances the adjustment function without significantly increasing control complexity, as the same actuator serves both purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoke guide plate mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls air inlet opening/closing during activation/deactivation, and simultaneously enables real-time adjustment of lifting position during operation to optimize smoke capture. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making a single mechanism perform both basic and adaptive functions.
3Ease of operation
If the smoke guide plate driving mechanism operates in the smoke environment, then the mechanism can drive the plate, but after long-term use each component is stained with oil dirt, increasing kinetic friction and reducing service life
Solution Approach 1:
The driving mechanism components (motor, push rod, connecting components) are extracted from the smoke-prone environment and relocated to the clean space above the range hood. This spatial separation removes the source of contamination (oil dirt from smoke), preventing accumulation on mechanical components. The mechanism maintains smooth movement capability throughout its service life without degradation from friction increases, thereby extending service life while preserving ease of operation.
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 intelligent range hood effectively adapts air volume and smoke guide plate position to changing cooking conditions, improving energy efficiency, reducing mechanical wear, and maintaining cleanliness by automatically adjusting fan speed and smoke guide plate movement.
Implementation Method 1
a senor for detecting concentration of smoke and/or vapor inside or outside the housing
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses an intelligent range hood and a control method thereof, which comprises a housing, a fan (4), a smoke collecting hood (3), a smoke guide plate (6), a controller and a sensor (8) for detecting concentration of smoke and/or vapor inside or outside the housing. The sensor (8) outputs an electrical signal to the controller; and, the controller controls rotation speed of the fan motor (5) and position of the smoke guide plate (6) according to the signal received from the sensor (8). The controller not only can automatically adjust the rotation speed of the fan motor (5) so as to allow the air volume of the fan (4) to adapt to the working condition of the range hood in real time, but also can adjust the air inlet area and the distance between the negative pressure region and the smoke source by moving the smoke guide plate (6) up and down, so as to adapt the change in the working condition.