Vapour Extractor Housing Cover With Eccentric Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional extractor hoods with edge suction designs suffer from open gaps when not in use, allowing contaminants to enter and odors to escape, and have complex structures with finger-trapping risks during retraction.

Innovation Solution

An extractor device with a movable cover, such as a baffle plate or flap, actuated by an eccentric mechanism, which can transition between rest and operating positions to seal or open the housing opening, ensuring reliable vapor extraction while maintaining a simple structure and user safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a baffle plate cover is used to conceal the filter surface, then the visual appearance is improved and soiling is hidden, but gaps remain open allowing contaminants to enter and odors to escape

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual appearanceVSAvoidcontaminant entry and odor escape
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle plate is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position between covering the opening during idle periods and retracting during operation. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the cover to provide both aesthetic concealment and protective sealing at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The position parameter of the baffle plate is changed from static to variable, allowing it to assume different spatial configurations. When retracted, it seals the opening to prevent contaminant entry; when extended, it conceals the filter surface for aesthetic purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a movable cover is implemented to seal the opening, then contaminant entry is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex with potential finger-trapping risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontaminant preventionVSAvoidstructural complexity and safety risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The baffle plate utilizes its own weight and gravity to automatically return to the closed sealing position after being pushed open, eliminating the need for complex motors, sensors, or control systems. This self-service mechanism reduces structural complexity while maintaining effective sealing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The complex actuation mechanisms (motors, controllers) are extracted from the system, replacing them with a simple manual push-open design that relies on gravity for automatic closing. This extraction of unnecessary complexity reduces both structural burden and safety risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If the baffle plate is pushed away from the housing during operation, then vapor extraction is enabled, but the cover may not return reliably to the closed position

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevapor extraction efficiencyVSAvoidcover return reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The gravitational force acting on the baffle plate serves as a natural counterweight that automatically pulls the plate back to its closed sealing position after being pushed open during operation. This gravity-based counterbalancing mechanism ensures reliable return without additional actuators.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 provides improved visual appearance, reliable vapor extraction, and user safety by ensuring the cover is securely closed when not in use, preventing contaminants and odors from entering while allowing easy operation and cleaning.

Implementation Method 1

The actuating device has at least one eccentric arranged so that it can be brought into contact with the side of the cover facing the interior of the extractor hood housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric mechanism: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3299725B1Vapour extraction device with cover for a housing aperture of the housing of the vapour extraction device
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3299725B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3299725B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The present invention relates to an extractor device with an extractor housing (10), a housing opening (100) provided in the extractor housing (10) and at least one cover (17, 12, 15) for at least part of the housing opening (100). The extractor device (1) is characterized in that the cover (17, 12, 15) is movably mounted on the extractor housing (10) and the extractor device (1) comprises an actuating device (2) which has at least one eccentric (21). , which is arranged so that it can be brought into contact with the side of the cover (17, 12, 15) facing the interior of the extractor housing (10).