Vapour extraction device

Abstract

The invention relates to a vapour extraction device for extracting cooking vapours downward. The vapour extraction device comprises a fan apparatus for sucking in the cooking vapours having a fan impeller which can be driven in rotation, a fan motor for supplying a drive torque, and a releasable fan coupling for transmitting the drive torque to the fan impeller.

Claims

1. A vapour extraction device for extracting cooking vapours downward, comprising an extraction duct for conducting the cooking vapours, a fan apparatus for sucking in the cooking vapours having a rotatably drivable fan impeller which is configured to be arranged in the extraction duct, a fan motor for supplying a drive torque, and a releasable fan coupling for transmitting the drive torque to the fan impeller, wherein the fan impeller is removable from the extraction duct via an inflow opening, and wherein the fan apparatus has a sealing means for liquid-tightly sealing the fan motor with respect to the extraction duct, and a collecting tray for holding liquids, wherein the collecting tray is removable from the extraction duct through the inflow opening.

2. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan motor is arranged outside the extraction duct.

3. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan motor is arranged in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation at a distance from the fan impeller.

4. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan impeller is coupled contactlessly to the fan motor via at least one of the group comprising a gearing mechanism and a belt drive.

5. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan impeller is removable from the extraction duct without using tools.

6. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan coupling is a magnetic coupling.

7. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan coupling has a locking means which is movable between a release position and a locking position, wherein the fan coupling can be released only in the release position of the locking means.

8. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the collecting tray is attached to the fan impeller.

9. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fan impeller is designed to be dishwasher-safe.

10. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a protective grating, for protecting against people reaching into the fan impeller, which is reversibly attachable to a protective grating seat upstream from the fan impeller.

11. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the protective grating has a grease filter insert.

12. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, comprising a circuit breaker, connected to an energy supply of the fan motor, for interrupting the operation of the fan motor.

13. The vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the circuit breaker is arranged for the purpose of detecting the attachment of the protective grating to the protective grating seat, wherein the operation of the fan motor is interruptible when the protective grating is not attached to the protective grating seat.

14. A stovetop system comprising at least one vapour extraction device as claimed in claim 1, and at least one stovetop with at least one cooking zone for heating food.

15. The stovetop system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the vapour extraction device has a total structural height of no more than 11 cm.

16. A vapour extraction device for extracting cooking vapours downward, comprising an extraction duct for conducting the cooking vapours, and a fan apparatus for sucking in the cooking vapours having a rotatably drivable fan impeller which is configured to be arranged in the extraction duct, a fan motor for supplying a drive torque, and a releasable fan coupling for transmitting the drive torque to the fan impeller, wherein the fan impeller is removable from the extraction duct via an inflow opening, and wherein the fan impeller is designed to be dishwasher-safe.

17. A vapour extraction device for extracting cooking vapours downward, comprising an extraction duct for conducting the cooking vapours, a fan apparatus for sucking in the cooking vapours having a rotatably drivable fan impeller which is configured to be arranged in the extraction duct, a fan motor for supplying a drive torque, and a releasable fan coupling for transmitting the drive torque to the fan impeller, and a protective grating, for protecting against people reaching into the fan impeller, which is reversibly attachable to a protective grating seat upstream from the fan impeller, wherein the fan impeller is removable from the extraction duct via an inflow opening.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features, advantages, and details of the invention follow from the following description of the vapour extraction device and the stovetop system with the aid of the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a stovetop system with a stovetop and a vapour extraction device,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a view in section of the stovetop system in FIG. 1, wherein a fan impeller is connected non-rotatably to a fan motor via a fan coupling,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a view in section of the vapour extraction device in FIG. 1, wherein the fan coupling is released and the fan impeller is removed upward from the extraction duct,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view from above of the stovetop system in FIG. 1,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view in section of a stovetop system according to another exemplary embodiment, according to which a grease filter insert is arranged on a fan housing projection via a filter carrier and is integrally formed with the protective grating,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a view in section of a stovetop system according to another exemplary embodiment, according to which the grease filter insert is arranged on the fan housing projection via a filter carrier and an inflow gap is configured between the protective grating and the inflow opening,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a view in section of a stovetop system according to a further variant, and

(9) FIG. 8 shows a view from above of the stovetop system according to FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Various details of a stovetop system 1 and a vapour extraction device 2 are described below with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 4.

(11) A stovetop system 1 is shown in FIG. 1 with a vapour extraction device 2 for extracting cooking vapours downward and a stovetop 3 for heating food. The stovetop system 1 takes the form of a compact assembly unit and has a fastening flange 4 for fastening to a kitchen work surface 5 and a system housing 6.

(12) The stovetop comprises four cooking zones 7 and a control unit 8. Both the cooking zones 7 and the control unit 8 are arranged on a stovetop panel 9.

(13) The stovetop panel 9 takes the form of a Ceran stovetop panel. The system housing 6 is adhesively bonded to the stovetop panel 9. The fastening flange 4 is formed by the edge region of the stovetop panel 9. The stovetop panel 9 rests on the kitchen work surface 5 from above. The stovetop panel 9 has an extraction opening 10 for the ingress of cooking vapours. The extraction opening 10 has a circular design when viewed from above and is arranged centrally with respect to the stovetop panel 9. The stovetop panel 9 has a circumferential border collar 11 at the edge of the extraction opening 10.

(14) The control unit 8 is fastened on the system housing 6. The control unit 8 has touch-sensitive sensors (not shown) which can be operated via an upper side of the stovetop panel 9. The control unit 8 is signal-linked to the cooking zones 7.

(15) The vapour extraction device 2 is arranged inside the system housing 6. The vapour extraction device 2 has an extraction duct 12 and a fan apparatus 13. The extraction duct 12 has a reduced-pressure duct section 14 which extends between the extraction opening 10 and the fan apparatus 13. The extraction duct 12 has an inflow opening 15 in order to suck the cooking vapours into it. The inflow opening 15 is covered by a protective grating 16. The protective grating 16 rests on the border collar 11. The protective grating 16 is permeable to cooking vapours and designed such that it prevents people from reaching into the reduced-pressure duct section 14.

(16) A grease filter insert 17 is arranged in the reduced-pressure duct section 14. The grease filter insert 17 has an essentially cylindrical design. A grease filter collar 18 of the grease filter insert 17 is here connected liquid-tightly to the reduced-pressure duct section 14. The grease filter collar 18 is supported vertically from above on a duct projection 19. The grease filter insert 17 is designed to be dishwasher-safe.

(17) The fan apparatus 13 comprises a fan impeller 20 which can be driven in rotation, a fan motor 21 for supplying a drive torque and a releasable fan coupling 22 for transmitting the drive torque to the fan impeller 20. The fan impeller 20 is arranged in a fan housing 23. The fan housing 23 is attached to the system housing 6.

(18) The fan housing 23 has a housing opening 24 and an exhaust opening 24a. The reduced-pressure duct section 14 is connected liquid-tightly to the fan housing 23 in the region of the housing opening 24. The fan housing 23 is thus connected to the inflow opening 15 so that liquid can be conducted. The fan housing is connected to high-pressure duct section (not shown) via the exhaust opening 24a so that liquid can be conducted.

(19) The housing opening 24 and the reduced-pressure duct section 14 have a circular design in cross-section. The housing opening 24, the reduced-pressure duct section 14, and the inflow opening 15 are configured such that the fan impeller 20 can be removed from the fan housing 23 and the extraction duct 12 via said housing opening 24, reduced-pressure duct section 14, and inflow opening 15. An external diameter D of the fan impeller is here smaller than the internal diameter of the housing opening 24, the reduced-pressure duct section 14, and the inflow opening 15. The grease filter insert 18 can be removed from the reduced-pressure duct section 14 and the protective grating 16 can be detached from the border collar 11.

(20) The fan motor 21 is attached to the system housing 6. The fan motor 21 acts on the fan impeller 20 via the fan coupling 22 for the purpose of transmitting the drive torque. The fan coupling 22 comprises a driving component in the form of a drive pin 25 and a driven component in the form of a drive bell housing 26. The drive pin 25 is connected non-rotatably to a drive shaft (not shown) of the fan motor 21. The drive bell housing 26 is connected non-rotatably to the fan impeller 20. The fan coupling 22 has an interlocking profile in the form of a splined shaft connection for the purpose of transmitting the drive torque between the drive pin 25 and the drive bell housing 26. The drive pin 25 here takes the form of a splined shaft and the drive bell housing 26 takes the form of a splined hub.

(21) The fan coupling 22 has a locking means 28 for the purpose of fastening the fan impeller 20 on the drive pin 25 along an axis of rotation 27. Pins 29 of the locking means 26 engage in a locking position in bores 30 of the drive bell housing 26. The fan impeller 20 is thus connected to the drive bell housing 26 in interlocking fashion along the axis of rotation 27.

(22) A collecting tray 31 for holding liquid is arranged between the fan impeller 20 and the fan housing 23. The collecting tray 31 is connected non-rotatably to the fan housing 23. An external tray diameter W of the collecting tray 31 is here dimensioned such that the latter can be removed upward from the fan housing 23 and the extraction duct 12 through the housing opening 24, the reduced-pressure duct section 14, and the inflow opening 15.

(23) The collecting tray 31 and the fan impeller 20 are designed to be dishwasher-safe. The collecting tray 31 and the fan impeller 20 are manufactured from a rust-free metal, deburred, and rounded at the corners and edges.

(24) A circuit breaker 32 is arranged on the underside of the stovetop panel 9. The circuit breaker 32 is connected to an energy supply of the fan motor 21 via a signal link 33. The protective grating 16 is attached to a protective grating seat 34 formed by the border collar 11 and the reduced-pressure duct section 14. The circuit breaker 32 is configured to detect the attachment of the protective grating 16 to the protective grating seat 34. If the protective grating 16 is unattached to the protective grating seat 34, the operation of the fan motor 21 can be interrupted via the signal line 33.

(25) A sealing means 33a is arranged between the drive shaft and the fan motor 21 and the fan housing 23. The sealing means 33a ensures a liquid-tight seal between the fan motor 21 and the fan housing 23 and the extraction duct 12. The sealing means 33a takes the form of a shaft sealing ring.

(26) The stovetop system 1 functions as follows:

(27) The individual cooking zones 7 and the fan motor 21 can be controlled by means of the control apparatus 8. An operator of the stovetop system 1 can activate or deactivate the cooking zones 7 and the fan motor 21 via the control unit 8, and adjust the power output via the cooking zones 7 and the fan motor 21. For this purpose, the control unit 8 is signal-linked to the cooking zones 7 and the fan motor 21.

(28) The vapour extraction device 1 is shown in FIG. 2 in a ready-to-use state. The fan impeller 20 is arranged in the fan housing 23 and connected non-rotatably to the drive pin 25 via the drive bell housing 26. The locking means 28 is situated in a locking position in which the fan coupling 22 is locked. The fan impeller 20 is thus rigidly connected to the drive pin 25 along the axis of rotation 27. The grease filter insert 17 is arranged in the reduced-pressure duct section 14. The protective grating 16 is attached to the protective grating seat 34. By virtue of the attachment of the protective grating 16 to the protective grating seat 34, the supply of energy to the fan motor 21 is enabled by the circuit breaker 32. The collecting tray 31 is arranged below the fan impeller 20.

(29) By activating the fan motor 21, a drive torque is applied to the rotatably mounted fan impeller 20 via the drive shaft and the fan coupling 22. The fan impeller 20 is set in rotational movement about the axis of rotation 27. As a result, a reduced pressure is generated in the region of the reduced-pressure duct section 14. The cooking vapours which occur above the stovetop panel 9 are extracted downward through the protective grating 16 into the inflow opening 15. The cooking vapours flow through the grease filter insert 17 in the region of the reduced-pressure duct section 14, wherein oil and grease are removed from the flow of cooking vapours by the grease filter insert 17. The cooking vapours thus purified pass into the fan housing 23 via the housing opening 24.

(30) Solid or liquid constituents remaining in the cooking vapours can be deposited in the collecting tray 31. Some of these liquid or solid constituents of the cooking vapours also accumulate on the fan impeller 20. As a result, unpleasant smells can occur and the efficiency of the vapour extraction device 2 can be reduced. The fan impeller 20 can be removed from the fan housing 23 and the extraction duct 12 for cleaning purposes.

(31) The stovetop system 1 in a removed state is shown in FIG. 3. The fan motor 21 is deactivated via the control unit 8. The protective grating 16 is detached from the protective grating seat 34 and removed upward. The grease filter insert 17 is removed upward from the reduced-pressure duct section 14 through the inflow opening. The locking means 28 is situated in a release position, wherein the pins 29 are arranged completely inside the drive pin 25. The fan impeller 20 is thus displaced relative to the drive pin 25 in the direction of the axis of rotation 27. The fan impeller 20 is removed vertically upward from the fan housing 23 and the extraction duct 12 via the housing opening 24, the reduced-pressure duct section 14, and the inflow opening 15. The collecting tray 31 is likewise removed upward from the fan housing 23 and the extraction duct 12.

(32) Because the protective grating 16 is detached from the protective grating seat 34, the circuit breaker 32 is activated. The supply energy of the fan motor 21 is interrupted by the circuit breaker 32. Activation of the fan motor 21 is thus not possible. The fan impeller 20 and the collecting tray 31 can be cleaned safely.

(33) The collecting tray 31 and the fan impeller 20 is installed in the fan housing 23 in the reverse sequence to their removal. In the same way, the grease filter insert 17 is also replaced in the reduced-pressure duct section 14 and the protective grating 16 can be attached to the protective grating seat 34. The vapour extraction device 2 is thus restored to its ready-to-use state.

(34) According to another exemplary embodiment (not shown) of the invention, the fan coupling 22 takes the form of a magnetic coupling. The drive bell housing 26 is here mounted so that it can rotate relative to the drive pin 25. The drive pin 25 is connected non-rotatably to the fan housing 23. The drive pin 25 takes the form of a stator and gas electrical conductive windings. The drive bell housing 26 takes the form of a rotor and comprises permanent magnets. When electrical energy is applied to the windings, the latter interact with the permanent magnets of the drive bell housing 26, as a result of which the drive torque is transmitted contactlessly to the fan impeller 20. Because there is no relative movement between the drive pin 25 and the fan housing 23, a seal can be made particularly robustly and safely between the fan housing 23 and the components of the fan motor 21 through which electrical current flows. The fan motor 21 is hereby, in the form of an external rotor motor, formed by the windings arranged in the drive pin 25 and the permanent magnets connected to the fan impeller 20.

(35) The fan impeller 20 is mounted so that it can rotate on the drive pin 25. The drive impeller 20 can be detached from the drive pin 25 vertically upward along the axis of rotation 27. The stovetop system 1 according to the second exemplary embodiment functions in a manner which corresponds essentially to that according to the first exemplary embodiment.

(36) A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is described with the aid of FIG. 5. In contrast to the previous embodiment, the grease filter insert 19 is not attached to the reduced-pressure duct section 14 of the extraction duct 12 via the duct projection 19. The reduced-pressure duct section 14 is configured without a duct projection 19. The grease filter insert 17 is supported on a grease filter carrier 35. The grease filter carrier 35 is attached to a fan housing projection 36 of the fan housing 23. The filter carrier 35 has four carrier feet via which it is in contact with the fan housing projection 36. In addition, the filter carrier 35 has a central opening arranged in the region of the axis of rotation 27 and is thus designed to be permeable by cooking vapours. The filter carrier 35 is connected reversibly to the grease filter insert 17 and to the fan housing projection 36. The filter carrier 35 can, in the same way as the grease filter insert 17, be removed reversibly from the extraction duct 12, in particular from the reduced-pressure duct section 14 and through the inflow opening 15.

(37) The grease filter insert 17 has a side wall which is permeable by cooking vapours. Cooking vapours can thus be sucked into the fan housing 23 through the side walls of the grease filter insert 17 and between the carrier feet of the filter carrier 35, according to the schematically indicated flow lines 36a. The grease filter insert 17 is connected gas-tightly to the reduced-pressure duct section 14 in its radially outer edge region.

(38) A further exemplary embodiment of the invention is described with the aid of FIG. 6. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiments, the grease filter insert 17 has a circular cylindrical design and is attached gas-tightly to the fan housing projection 36 via the filter carrier 35. In addition, an inflow gap 37 is formed between the protective grating 16 and the inflow opening 15. The reduced-pressure duct section 14 does not have a duct projection 19. The filter carrier 35 is designed with no carrier feet and is connected gas-tightly to the grease filter insert 17 and the fan housing 23. The filter carrier 35 has a central opening which is permeable to cooking vapours. This central opening is arranged in the region of the axis of rotation 27. The filter carrier 35 comprises a carrier tray 38 which is arranged in a region of the filter carrier 35 which is situated radially on the outside with respect to the axis of rotation 27. The carrier tray 38 is configured to hold liquids.

(39) The side wall of the grease filter insert 17 is configured to be permeable to cooking vapours. The protective grating 16 is attached to the grease filter insert 17. Cooking vapours which are sucked in by the fan impeller 20 pass via the inflow gap 37, according to the schematically indicated flow lines 36a, and from outside through the side wall of the grease filter insert 17, via the central opening of the filter carrier 35 and into the fan housing 23.

(40) Both the grease filter insert 17 and the filter carrier 35 and the protective grating 16 can be removed reversibly upward from the extraction duct 12 m in particular through the inflow opening 15.

(41) A further variant of the stovetop system 1 is described below with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. Reference should be made to the preceding description of the other variants for the basic structure of the stovetop system 1.

(42) In this variant, the motor 21 is coupled to the fan impeller 20 via a drive means, in particular a belt drive 40. The belt drive 40 comprises a first drive belt 41. The motor 21 is coupled to a direction-changing means 42 via the first drive belt 41. A rotatably mounted pin or cylinder, in particular a hollow cylinder, serves as the direction-changing means 42.

(43) The direction-changing means 42 is coupled to the fan impeller 20 via a second drive belt 43.

(44) A particularly flexible arrangement of the fan motor 21 relative to the fan impeller 20 is possible via the direction-changing means 42.

(45) According to a variant not shown in the drawings, the fan motor 21 can also be connected to the fan impeller 20 directly via a drive belt.

(46) According to another alternative not shown in the drawings, the fan motor 21 can be coupled to two, three, four, or more fan impellers directly or indirectly, in other words in particular via a direction-changing means 42. The fan impellers can hereby preferably be coupled to the fan motor 21 independently of one another.

(47) As can be seen by way of example in the schematic FIG. 7, the motor 21 can be arranged offset laterally with respect to the fan impeller 20. The motor 21 can be arranged in particular so that it vertically overlaps the fan impeller 20. It can in particular be arranged at the same height as the fan impeller. This enables a particularly compact design of the stovetop system 1, in particular a particularly low structural height h thereof. The structural height h of the stovetop system 1 is limited essentially by the height h.sub.L of the fan impeller 20 of the fan. The height h.sub.L of the fan impeller is in particular no more than 10 cm, in particular no more than 8 cm, in particular no more than 6 cm, in particular no more than 5 cm, in particular no more than 4 cm.

(48) The total structural height h of the stovetop system 1 can be 5 cm or less. It has proven to be the case that it is even possible to design a stovetop system 1 with an integrated vapour extraction device having a total structural height h of 4 cm. In general, the total structural height h of the stovetop system 1 is no more than 25 cm, in particular no more than 20 cm, in particular no more than 15 cm, in particular no more than 11 cm, in particular no more than 8 cm, in particular no more than 5 cm.

(49) The motor 21 is arranged so that it is suspended. It is in particular suspended from the stovetop panel 9. It can also be arranged on a housing element of the stovetop system 1, for example on a housing element of a housing for holding the stovetop electronics. This makes it possible to mechanically decouple the motor from the stovetop panel 9.

(50) A gap, in particular in the form of an open space, is arranged between the motor 21 and a base 44 of the system housing 6. This results in a higher degree of safety, in particular to resistance of the stovetop system 1, in particular of the motor 21, to liquid which might possibly penetrate the system housing 6. The gap between the motor 21 and the base 44 of the system housing 6 can in particular be at least 1 cm.

(51) According to an alternative not shown, the motor can also be attached so that it stands upright.

(52) According to another alternative not shown in the drawings, the fan impeller 20 is arranged essentially directly below the inflow opening 15. The gap between an upper edge of the fan impeller 20 and an underside of the stovetop panel 9 is in particular no more than 3 cm, in particular no more than 2 cm, in particular no more than 1 cm. As a result, an even more compact design of the stovetop system 1 is enabled, in particular an even smaller structural height h thereof.

(53) In this alternative, a plurality of fan impellers 20 can advantageously be provided. The fan impellers 20 can be arranged in the regions between the cooking zones 7. In particular in the case of an arrangement of a plurality of fan impellers 20 in the region between the cooking zones 7, the individual fan impellers 20 can advantageously have a compact design. They can in particular have an external diameter of no more than 250 mm, in particular no more than 200 mm, in particular no more than 160 mm, in particular no more than 150 mm, in particular no more than 130 mm, in particular no more than 120 mm, in particular no more than 100 mm.

(54) In the case of a plurality of fan impellers 20, each individual fan impeller 20 can advantageously be removed reversibly from the stovetop system 1 via an inflow opening 15. An individual separate inflow opening 15 can hereby be associated with each of the fan impellers 20.