COOKTOP SYSTEM AND FUME EXTRACTION DEVICE FOR THE DOWNWARD EXTRACTION OF COOKING FUMES

Abstract

A cooktop system has a cooktop for heating food, and a fume extraction device for the downward extraction of cooking fumes. The fume extraction device includes at least one inflow opening for entering of the cooking fumes into the fume extraction device, and at least one fan for suctioning the cooking fumes through the at least one inflow opening, wherein a front installation height of the cooktop system in a horizontal region between a front edge and a geometric center of area of the cooktop system is at most 100 mm.

Claims

1. A cooktop system comprising: a cooktop for heating food; and a fume extraction device for the downward extraction of cooking fumes, the fume extraction device comprising: at least one inflow opening for entering of the cooking fumes into the fume extraction device; and at least one fan for suctioning the cooking fumes through the at least one inflow opening; wherein a front installation height of the cooktop system in a horizontal region between a front edge and a geometric center of area of the cooktop system is at most 100 mm and an overall installation height of the cooktop system is at most 250 mm.

2. The cooktop system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fan has a fan propeller having a diameter of at most 150 mm.

3. The cooktop system according to claim 1, further comprising a flat region in which an installation height of the cooktop system is at most 75 mm, wherein the flat region, proceeding from the front edge, extends across at least 25% of an overall installation depth of the cooktop system.

4. The cooktop system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one odor filter which is disposed in a negative-pressure duct portion.

5. The cooktop system according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second fan to provide a plurality of fans wherein at least two of the fans have rotation axes that are oriented so as to be mutually oblique.

6. The cooktop system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one baffle element which for masking one side of an upper space lying upstream of the at least one inflow opening is adjacent to the at least one inflow opening and able to be repositioned along a vertical direction.

7. The cooktop system according to claim 6, wherein an upper side of the at least one baffle element in a restoring position is able to be disposed below or flush with the inflow opening adjacent to said baffle element.

8. The cooktop system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one inflow opening has a cross-sectional area of at most 100 mm.sup.2.

9. The cooktop system according to claim 1, wherein said cooktop system is configured as an assembly unit.

10. The cooktop system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fan, when viewed in a plan view, is horizontally disposed completely behind a geometric centre of area of the cooktop system.

11. (canceled)

12. The cooktop system according to claim 1, further comprising at least a second fan and a third fan.

13. The cooktop system, in particular according to claim 1, wherein the cooktop for heating food comprises a food carrier for carrying food; and at least one hob; and the cooktop system further comprising: a cooktop cover configured to be repositioned relative to the cooktop and which is configured to be disposed in an open position in which the at least one inflow opening and the at least one hob are non-covered; and is configured to be disposed in a closed position in which the at least one inflow opening and the at least one hob, when viewed in a plan view, are at least partially covered.

14. The cooktop system according to claim 13, wherein the at least one cooktop cover in the closed position air-tight closes the at least one inflow opening.

15. The cooktop system according to claim 13, wherein the cooktop cover comprises at least two cover members that are able to be repositioned in a mutually independent manner.

16. The cooktop system according to claim 13, wherein the cooktop cover is attached so as to be pivotable on the cooktop system.

17. Fume extraction device for a cooktop system, the fume extraction device comprising: at least one inflow opening for entry of cooking fumes into the fume extraction device; and at least one fan for suctioning the cooking fumes through the at least one inflow opening.

18. The cooktop system according to claim 13, wherein the cooktop cover is attached so as to be pivotable on the cooktop.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cooktop system having a cooktop and a fume extraction device;

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of the cooktop system along the section line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a plan view onto a cooktop system according to a further exemplary embodiment, according to which the cooktop system comprises six inductive heating units, a fume extraction device having a plurality of crossflow fans, and a food carrier having a plurality of inflow ducts, wherein said inflow ducts are distributed in an non-homogenous manner across a surface of the food carrier;

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of a cooktop system according to a further system of embodiment, comprising a fume extraction device having a single inflow opening configured by a food carrier, and a cooktop cover for reversibly and completely covering the food carrier and the inflow opening;

[0074] FIG. 5 shows a sectional illustration of the cooktop system along the section line V-V in FIG. 4, having four fans which are disposed so as to be equiangular and equidistant about a vertical axis that runs through a center of area of the inflow opening;

[0075] FIG. 6 shows a sectional illustration of the cooktop system along the section line VI-VI in FIG. 4, having a hollow-cylindrical filter;

[0076] FIG. 7 shows a perspective rear view of a cooktop system according to a further exemplary embodiment, wherein the cooktop system has a cooktop having four heating elements which disposed beside one another, a cooktop cover having two cover members which are able to be repositioned in a mutually independent manner, and a fume extraction device having an inflow opening which is disposed on the rear side on the cooktop;

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a sectional illustration of the cooktop system along the section line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7, wherein an odor filter of the extraction device is disposed in a negative-pressure duct portion that is disposed upstream of the fans;

[0078] FIG. 9 shows a perspective illustration of a cooktop system according to a further exemplary embodiment, having two repositionable cooktop baffle elements for masking in each case one side of an upper space that lies upstream of an inflow opening; and

[0079] FIG. 10 shows a sectional illustration of the cooktop system along the section line X-X in FIG. 9, having two fans that are disposed downstream of the two inflow openings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0080] Various details of a cooktop system 1 having a cooktop 2 and a fume extraction device 3 will be described hereunder by means of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The cooktop 2 comprises a food carrier 4 having four heating units 5 which for heating food 6 are disposed on said food carrier 4. The cooktop system 1 is disposed on a kitchen base unit 7. To this end, the cooktop system 1 is fastened to a worktop 8 of the kitchen base unit 7. A surface of the food carrier 4 herein is disposed so as to be flush with a surface of the worktop 8.

[0081] The cooktop system 1 comprises a user interface 9 for controlling the fume extraction device 3 and the heating units 5. The user interface 9 is configured as a touch-sensitive screen. The user interface 9 in terms of signals is connected to the fume extraction device 3 and the heating units 5 by way of the control unit which is not illustrated.

[0082] The food carrier 4 comprises a glass plate, in particular a glass-ceramics plate. The glass plate is penetrated by a multiplicity of inflow ducts 10 for extracting the cooking fumes. A cross-sectional area of the inflow ducts 10 is in each case less than 1 mm.sup.2.

[0083] A region which is level or above the food carrier 4 and is able to be heated by the respective heating unit 5 forms one hob 11. The respective heating unit 5 can act on the food 6 in the region of the hobs 11 and heat said food. The food carrier 4 in the region of the hobs 11 does not have any inflow ducts 10. With the exception of the region of the hobs 11, when viewed in a plan view, the inflow ducts 10 are disposed so as to be distributed in a mutually equidistant manner on the food carrier 4. The inflow ducts 10 extend in each case in a rectilinear manner and in the vertical direction through the food carrier 4. The inflow ducts 10 have a circular cross-section.

[0084] As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the cooktop system 1 has a housing 12. A food carrier receptacle 13 is disposed on the housing 12. The food carrier 4 bears from above on the food carrier receptacle 13 and is able to be reversibly removed from the latter without tools in an upward manner. The food carrier receptacle 13 has a tilting edge which is not illustrated. The tilting edge delimits a contact face of the food carrier receptacle 13 in relation to a depression. The depression is configured in such a manner that raising a region of the food carrier 4 that lies opposite the tilting edge can be achieved by stressing the food carrier 4 in a downward manner in a region above the depression.

[0085] The food carrier 4 is configured so as to be dishwasher safe. The food carrier 4 is in particular configured so as to be highly temperature resistant, in particular to temperatures of at least 350° C., and suitable for cleaning by pyrolysis.

[0086] The number of inflow ducts 10 that penetrate the food carrier 4 exceeds 50. The filter 14 is disposed below the food carrier 4, in particular in the regions that are penetrated by the inflow ducts 10. The filter 14, when viewed in a plan view, completely overlaps the inflow ducts 10. The filter 14 is configured as a combination filter for filtering grease and odor from the cooking fumes. The food carrier 4 has a filter receptacle 15. The filter 14 by means of the filter receptacle 15 is reversibly attached to the food carrier 4.

[0087] The food carrier 4 is configured so as to permeable to gases and impermeable to liquids. To this end, the food carrier 4 in the region of the inflow ducts 10 has a hydrophobic surface coating 16.

[0088] The filter 14 is disposed in a negative-pressure portion 17 of the fume extraction device 3. The negative-pressure duct portion 17 extends between inflow openings 18, which are configured by the inflow ducts 10 on the upper side of the food carrier 4, and fans 19 of the fume extraction device 3. The fume extraction device 3 comprises four fans 19. The fans 19 are configured as crossflow fans. A rotation axis 20 of the respective fan 19 is oriented so as to be horizontal, in particular so as to be parallel to a front edge 20a of the cooktop system 1. The fans 19 by way of the negative-pressure duct portion 17 are fluidically connected to the inflow openings 18, and by way of a positive-pressure duct portion 21 are fluidically connected to a cooking fumes outlet 21.

[0089] The fume extraction device 3 is configured for extracting cooking fumes by way of four extraction sections 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d which are able to be operated in a mutually independent manner. To this end, the respective extraction section 22a, 22b, 22, 22d is in each case connected to one of the fans 19 by way of a separate negative-pressure duct portion 17. The surface of the food carrier 4 is sub-divided into four extraction sections 22 of identical area.

[0090] Sealing elements (not illustrated) for connecting in an air-tight manner the negative-pressure duct portion 17 disposed downstream of the respective extraction section 22 to the food carrier 4 are disposed on the negative-pressure duct portion 17. The sealing elements herein completely border the respective extraction sections 22.

[0091] The food carrier 4 has a depth T of 500 mm. The cooktop system 1 in the front region, in particular across at least 70% of the depth T proceeding from the front edge 20a of the cooktop system 1, has a front installation height H.sub.V of 120 mm or less. The installation height HV of the cooktop system 1 in this region can in particular be in the range of only 3 cm to 5 cm. A storage space 23 of the kitchen base unit 7 remains largely unimpeded by the cooktop system 1 and free of any installations of the latter. A top drawer 24 of the kitchen base unit 7 herein is shortened neither in the vertical direction nor in the depth direction. It is optionally possible for the top drawer 24 of the kitchen base unit 7 to be configured so as to be somewhat shorter in the depth direction so as to have sufficient space for disposing the fan 19 in the rear region.

[0092] The fans 19 having each case one fan propeller 25. A diameter D of the fan propellers 25 is 80 mm.

[0093] The cooktop system 1 is configured as a compact apparatus and as a preassembled system can thus be inserted into the worktop 8 in a simple and rapid manner. The cooktop system 1 configured as a compact apparatus herein comprises the housing 12, the cooktop 2, and the fume extraction device 3, wherein the negative-pressure duct 17 and the fans 19 of the fume extraction device 3 are completely associated with the compact apparatus, but the positive-pressure duct portion 26 disposed downstream of the fans 19 is only partially associated with said compact apparatus.

[0094] The functional mode of the top stove system 1, the fume extraction device 3, the cooktop 2, and the food carrier 4 is as follows:

[0095] Putting the cooktop system 1 in operation takes place by way of the user interface 9. User inputs for controlling the heating units 5 and the fans 19 are transmitted to the control unit by way of the user interface 9. Electric power for operating the heating units 5 and the fans 19 is provided by means of the control unit. Status and output data of the heating units 5 and of the fans 19 are transmitted to the user interface 9 by way of the control unit, and visually displayed by way of the user interface 9.

[0096] The heating units 5 as well as the fans 19 can be provided with an electric output in a mutually independent manner by means of the control unit. By activating the heating unit 5 disposed in the region of the extraction section 22a, the food 6 disposed there is exclusively heated. By activating the fan 19 that is connected to the extraction section 22a, cooking fumes are extracted by way of the inflow ducts 10 associated with the extraction section 22a.

[0097] A further exemplary embodiment of the cooktop system 1 according to the invention will be described hereunder by means of FIG. 3. As opposed to the preceding exemplary embodiment, the inflow ducts 10 are disposed in a non-homogenous manner across the surface of the food carrier 4. Moreover, inflow ducts 10 are also disposed in the region of the hobs 11. The negative-pressure duct portion 17 herein extends in particular between the heating unit 5 and the food carrier 4. To this end, the heating unit 5 is disposed so as to be spaced apart from the food carrier 4. The number of inflow ducts 10 per unit area in a peripheral region of the respective hob 11 is larger than in a central region of the respective hob 11, and larger than in the peripheral region of the food carrier 4. A cross-sectional area of the inflow ducts 10 varies so as to correspond to the position of the respective inflow duct 10 relative to the hob 11. The inflow ducts 10 that are disposed in a peripheral region of the hob 11 have a larger cross-sectional area than those inflow ducts 10 in the central region of the hob 11 and in the peripheral region of the food carrier 4.

[0098] The inflow ducts 10 are configured so as to be permeable to gases and liquids. A collection tray 27 for overflow liquids is disposed below the food carrier 4. When viewed in a plan view, the collection tray 27 overlaps a multiplicity of the inflow ducts 10.

[0099] The cooktop system 1 comprises six cooktops 2 having in each case one food carrier 4. The food carriers 4 of the respective cooktops 2 are configured in a mutually separate manner.

[0100] The functional mode of the cooktop system 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 corresponds to the functional mode of the cooktop system 1 according to the above-described exemplary embodiment. On account of the cooktop system 1 having a plurality of cooktops 2 having only a single heating unit 5, the dimensions of the food carriers 4 are correspondingly minor. The food carriers 4 can thus be removed from the respective food carrier receptacle 13 in a particularly simple manner and be cleaned in particular in a dishwasher.

[0101] Upon the retrieval of the food carriers 4 from the respective food carrier receptacle 13, the collection trays 27 can be easily cleaned from above. The filter 14 disposed on the respective food carrier 4 can be cleaned or replaced in a particularly simple manner.

[0102] A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is described by means of FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. As opposed to the above-described exemplary embodiments, the food carrier 4 has a single inflow duct 10. An upper side of the inflow duct 10 forms the single inflow opening 18 of the fume extraction device 3. The inflow opening 18 is covered by an inflow mesh 28.

[0103] The cooktop system 1 comprises a cooktop cover 29 for reversibly covering the food carrier 4 and the inflow opening 18. The cooktop cover 29 comprises a cover member 30 which is able to be repositioned relative to the food carrier 4. The cover member 30 is able to be disposed in a closed position and in an open position. When viewed in a plan view, the cover member 30 in the closed position completely covers the food carrier 4 and the inflow opening 18. The cover member 30 comprises a closure seal 31 for closing the inflow opening 18 in an air-tight manner in the closed position.

[0104] The cooktop cover 29 is attached to the cooktop 2 in an articulated manner. The cooktop cover 29 in the open position exposes the food carrier 4, in particular the hobs 11, for heating the food, as well as the inflow opening 18 for extracting cooking fumes.

[0105] The surface of the food carrier 4 is disposed so as to be flush with the surface of the worktop 8. The cover member 30 in the closed position bears peripherally on the worktop 8. According to an alternative variant of embodiment (not illustrated) the surface of the food carrier 4 can be disposed below the surface of the worktop 8, and a surface of the cooktop cover 29 in the close position can be disposed so as to be flush with the surface of the worktop 8.

[0106] FIG. 5 shows a section of the cooktop system 1 from below. The fume extraction device 3 of the cooktop system 1 comprises four fans 19. The fans 19 have a horizontally oriented rotation axis 20. The fans 19, when viewed in a plan view, are disposed in an equidistant and equiangular manner about a vertical axis that runs through a central area of the inflow opening 18. The rotation axes 20 of in each case two mutually neighboring fans 19 are mutually oriented at an angle of 90°. The diameter D of the fan propellers 25 is 120 mm. The fans 19 are configured as axial fans.

[0107] The fans 19 are connected to the inflow opening 18 by way of a common negative-pressure duct portion 17. The fume extraction device 3 comprises a positive-pressure duct portion 26 that fluidically connects the fans 19.

[0108] As is illustrated in FIG. 6, an overall installation height H of the cooktop system is 150 mm A hollow-cylindrical filter 14 having a collection tray 17 for overflowing liquids is disposed downstream of the inflow opening 18. The filter 14 is configured as a grease filter.

[0109] The functional mode of the cooktop system 1 according to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 corresponds to the functional mode of the cooktop system 1 according to the preceding exemplary embodiments. The inflow mesh 27 is able to be reversibly removed from the food carrier 4. The filter 14 can be removed from the inflow opening 18. The cooktop cover 29 can be pivoted between the closed position and the open position. The food carrier 4 is fixedly connected to the worktop 8.

[0110] A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is described by means of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. As opposed to the preceding exemplary embodiments, the cooktop system 1 comprises a cooktop 2 having four heating units 5 which are disposed beside one another. An inflow opening 18 of the fume extraction device 3 has a rectangular contour and is disposed behind the heating units 5, or the hobs 11, respectively. The inflow opening 18 by way of a negative-pressure duct portion 17 is aerodynamically connected to four fans 19 which have in each case one fan propeller 25. The rotation axes 20 of the fan propellers 25 are oriented so as to be mutually parallel and horizontal.

[0111] A maximum front installation height H.sub.V in a horizontal region from the front edge 20a up to a geometric center of area SP of the cooktop system 1 is 120 mm or less. The installation height HV of the cooktop system 1 in this region can in particular be in the range of only 3 cm to 5 cm. The cooktop system 1, has a minor installation height of this type in particular proceeding from the front edge 20a thereof across a width T of at least 30 cm, in particular at least 40 cm. An overall height H of the cooktop system 1 is 180 mm or less.

[0112] The cooktop cover 29 has two cover members 30. The two cover members 30 are able to be disposed in a mutually independent manner between the open position and the closed position. Each of the cover members 30 in the closed position completely covers in each case two of the hobs 11, and laterally half of the inflow opening 18.

[0113] The two cover members 30 are in each case attached to the cooktop system 1 by way of a rotating mechanism 31a. The rotating mechanism 31a has a drive spring (not illustrated) and a damper element (likewise not illustrated). The rotating mechanism 31a guarantees that the respective cover member 30 can be opened and closed by way of a smooth and damped movement.

[0114] As is illustrated in FIG. 8, the fume extraction device 3 comprises two filters 14a, 14b that are disposed in the negative-pressure duct portion 17. The first filter 14a disposed downstream of the inflow opening 18 is configured as a grease filter, and the second filter 14b is configured as an odor filter. An activated carbon filter serves in particular as an odor filter. The second filter 14b can in particular have one or a plurality of activated carbon elements. Said activated carbon elements can be replaceable in a simple manner. Said activated carbon elements can in particular be able to be removed through the inflow opening 18.

[0115] Alternatively or additionally to the second filter 14b in the negative-pressure duct portion 17, an odor filter, in particular in the form of an activated carbon filter, can be disposed downstream of at least one of the fans 19. It is in particular possible for a corresponding odor filter to be disposed downstream of each of the fans 19. Said odor filters are preferably replaceable, in particular replaceable without tools. Said odor filters can in particular be able to be removed from the positive-pressure duct portion 26 by way of retrieval openings that are in each case provided.

[0116] The cooktop cover 29 comprises in each case one closure lid 32 which for closing the inflow opening 18 in an air-tight manner is connected to the cover member 30. The cover member 30 is disposed so as to be spaced apart from the closure lid 32.

[0117] The functional mode of the cooktop system 1 corresponds to the functional mode of the cooktop system 1 according to the afore-mentioned exemplary embodiments. On account of the relative repositioning capability of the cover members 30 in relation to one another, the inflow opening 18 can selectively be covered not at all, so as to laterally cover half said inflow opening 18, or be completely covered. When half the inflow opening 18 is laterally covered, the extraction output is increased in the non-covered region of the inflow opening 18 while the output of the fans 19 remains the same. The non-covered hobs 11 can continue to be used for heating food 6. The hobs 11 covered by the cover members 30 are automatically deactivated. To this end, the control unit in terms of signals is connected to contact switches 33 for detecting the cover member 30 disposed in the closed position.

[0118] A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is described by means of FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. As opposed to the preceding exemplary embodiments, the extraction device 3 comprises two inflow openings 18 which are formed by inflow ducts 10 that penetrate the food carriers 4. The fume extraction device 3 moreover comprises two baffle elements 34 which are in each case disposed so as to neighbor the inflow openings 18 and are oriented so as to be parallel to a main extent of the inflow openings 18. The baffle elements 13 are in each case configured as a shell with a single curvature. The baffle elements 34 are able to be repositioned relative to the food carrier 4 between a restoring position and a directing position. The respective baffle element 34 in the directing position is at least in portions disposed above the food carrier 4. The respective baffle element 34 in the directing position masks an upper space on one side that lies upstream of the respective inflow opening 18 in relation to the inflow opening 18. In the restoring position, an upper side of the respective baffle element 34 is disposed so as to be flush with the surface of the respective inflow opening 18 that adjoins said baffle element 34.

[0119] The baffle elements 34 have a closure element 35. The closure element 35 is configured for covering the respective inflow opening 18 in the restoring position.

[0120] As is illustrated in FIG. 10, the cooktop system 1 has one gate guide 36 for repositioning each of the baffle elements 34.

[0121] The functional mode of the cooktop system 1 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 corresponds to the functional mode of the cooktop system 1 according to the afore-described exemplary embodiments. The repositioning of the respective baffle element 34 along the gate guide 36 enables the upper space to be masked on one side in order for the cooking fumes to be extracted in a directed manner in the directing position, and the respective inflow opening 18 to be closed in the restoring position, wherein an exit of odors from the fume extraction device 3 is reliably prevented.