Inflow nozzle

Abstract

An inflow nozzle for an intake opening of a device for downward extraction of cooking vapours has a supporting structure and a plurality of pin-like elements arranged on the supporting structure.

Claims

1. An inflow nozzle for an intake opening of a device for downward extraction of cooking vapours, comprising: a supporting structure; and a plurality of pins arranged on the supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure is formed as a grid structure, and the grid structure is formed from unitary cells with identical outer periphery, the grid structure comprising a checkerboard pattern of adjacent cells with transverse struts and cells without transverse struts; and wherein the transverse struts of any two cells that have transverse struts and share a corner are oriented in different directions.

2. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pins have a free end.

3. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of pins have a free end, and the free ends of two closest neighbouring pins are each configured differently.

4. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the surface density of the plurality of pins is at least 0.1 cm.sup.−2.

5. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, further comprising a free flow cross-section which is at least as large as 25% of a total cross-section of the inflow nozzle.

6. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, wherein: the plurality of the pins comprises one or more of: a grease filter; an odour filter and a moisture filter, or the plurality of the pins is connected to one or more of a grease filter, an odour filter and a moisture filter.

7. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure has a clear viewing angle range for the inflow nozzle that is at most 90°.

8. A hob system comprising: a hob with: at least one hotplate; and at least one opening for downward extraction of cooking vapours; and an inflow nozzle inserted in the at least one opening, the inflow nozzle comprising: a supporting structure; and a plurality of pins arranged on the supporting structure, wherein the supporting structure is formed as a grid structure, and the grid structure is formed from unitary cells with identical outer periphery, the grid structure comprising a checkerboard pattern of adjacent cells with transverse struts and cells without transverse struts.

9. The inflow nozzle according to claim 1, wherein of any two cells that are adjacent and share a side, one has a free inner cross-section and the other has a transverse strut traversing the inner cross-section.

10. The hob system according to claim 8, wherein of any two cells that are adjacent and share a side, one has a free inner cross-section and the other has a transverse strut traversing the inner cross-section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows as an example, a top view of a hob system with four hotplates, an opening for downward extraction of cooking vapours, and an inflow nozzle inserted in this opening,

(2) FIG. 2 shows as an example, a variant of an inflow nozzle for insertion in the extraction opening of the hob system according to FIG. 1, and

(3) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the inflow nozzle from FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) FIG. 1 shows as an example a hob system 1 with an opening 2 for downward extraction of cooking vapours.

(5) The hob system 1 comprises a hob 3. The hob 3 comprises a glass plate or a glass ceramic plate. The hob 3 has four hotplates 4.

(6) The hob system 1 also has a device (not shown in the figures) for extracting cooking vapours. This is in particular arranged below the hob 3. It may be arranged directly on the hob 3 or on a component for operation of the hob system 1. The hob system 1 is in particular a combination device. The hob system 1 is in particular configured as a mounting unit. For further details, reference is made for example to EP 2 975 327 B1.

(7) An inflow nozzle 5 is inserted in the opening 2.

(8) Details of the inflow nozzle 5 are described below with reference to the exemplary FIGS. 2 and 3.

(9) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a top view and a side view respectively of a variant of the inflow nozzle 5. The inflow nozzle 5 has a circular border 6. The border 6 may be made from plastic, in particular a plastic which is heat-resistant up to at least 250° C., or from metal. The border 6 is formed tapering conically in the inflow direction 7. This facilitates insertion of the inflow nozzle 5 in the opening 2. A flank angle b lies preferably in the range from 1° to 10°.

(10) The border 6 has a contact shoulder 8.

(11) The border 6 in particular has an upper edge 9 which protrudes beyond the rest of the border 6 in the direction perpendicular to the inflow direction 7.

(12) The upper edge 9 may also be formed as a bead. It may also have a flat top side.

(13) The upper edge 9 may be configured as a decorative ring, for example made of metal. In particular, it may be visually delimited from the remainder of the border 6.

(14) A sealing element, for example in the form of an O-ring, may be arranged in the region of the contact shoulder 8. Such a sealing element is preferably releasably connected to the inflow nozzle 5. In particular, it may be removed for cleaning purposes.

(15) The border 6 in particular surrounds a supporting structure 10. The supporting structure 10 comprises a plurality of struts 11. At least some of the struts 11 are oriented parallel to the axes of a Cartesian coordinate system.

(16) The struts 11 are in particular formed so as to be rectilinear. In particular, they have rectilinear part pieces 12.

(17) The struts 11 may also be formed so as to be continuous.

(18) The supporting structure 10 in particular forms a grid structure. The grid structure 10 comprises a plurality of unitary cells 13.

(19) The struts 11 delimit a plurality of unitary cells 13. According to the variant in FIG. 2, the unitary cells 13 are formed so as to be substantially square. In particular, they are formed so as to be cruciform-square. This means that they have a cruciform free inner cross-section which is inscribed into a square base form.

(20) The unitary cells 13 are arranged in rows 14 and columns 15.

(21) Laterally adjacent unitary cells 13 each share a common part piece 12 of a strut 11. Of any two laterally adjacent unitary cells 13, one has a free inner cross-section while the other has a diagonally running transverse strut 16.

(22) Precisely one of the transverse strut 16 ends at each of the intersection points of the struts 11.

(23) Unitary cells 13 with free inner cross-section and unitary cells 13 with a transverse strut 16 alternate in the rows 14 and columns 15. Within a given row 14 or given column 15, all transverse struts 16 have the same orientation. The transverse struts 16 of adjacent rows 14 or adjacent columns 15 are rotated by 90° relative to each other.

(24) A unitary cell 13 with free inner cross-section is in particular adjacent to two unitary cells 13 with transverse struts 16 in a first direction, and two unitary cells 13 with transverse struts 16 in a second direction running perpendicularly to the first direction.

(25) Each unitary cell 13 with a transverse strut 16 is laterally adjacent to four unitary cells with free inner cross-section.

(26) Each unitary cell 13 with a transverse strut 16 in a first direction lies adjacent at the corners to four unitary cells 13 with transverse struts 16 in a second direction oriented perpendicularly to the first direction.

(27) Each unitary cell 13 with free inner cross-section lies adjacent at the corners to four further unitary cells 13 with free inner cross-section.

(28) The supporting structure 10 is convex in the inflow direction 7, i.e. curved towards the outside. Alternatively, it may also terminate flat with a lower edge 17 of the inflow nozzle 5.

(29) A pin-like element 18 is arranged at each intersection point of two struts 11. The pin-like elements 18 have a square cross-section. As shown in FIG. 1 as an example, they may also have a round cross-section. Other cross-sectional forms are also possible.

(30) The pin-like elements 18 protrude beyond the upper edge 9 of the border 6 in the direction opposite the inflow direction 7. This is not absolutely essential. They may also have free ends 19 which lie in a common plane with the upper edge 9, or are set back relative to the upper edge 9 in the inflow direction. The latter may be advantageous in order to provide the inflow nozzle 5 with a cover-like closing element. The inflow nozzle 5 may in particular be closed air-tightly and/or fluid-tightly and/or opaquely by means of a corresponding cover or cover-like element (not shown in the figures).

(31) The free ends 19 of the pin-like elements 18 each have a double chamfer 20. Each chamfer 20 runs from a gable 21 oriented along a diagonal.

(32) Each gable 21 is oriented in the direction of the transverse struts 16 adjoining at the intersection point.

(33) The pin-like elements 18 are arranged in rows and columns. In a given row or column, the orientation of the gables 21 alternates. Along a 45° diagonal, all gables 21 have the same orientation.

(34) The pin-like elements 18 may each have a roughened surface. This may improve contact with the extracted cooking vapour stream.

(35) The pin-like elements 18 may also have a smooth surface. This facilitates cleaning of the inflow nozzle 5.

(36) The inflow nozzle 5 may in particular be placed in a dishwasher. It is in particular made of dishwasher-resistant material.

(37) According to a variant, the inflow nozzle 5 may be heated in the oven for cleaning and/or regeneration and/or activation. In particular, it is heat-resistant up to at least a temperature of 200° C., in particular at least 250° C., in particular at least 300° C., in particular at least 400° C.

(38) The supporting structure 10 lies behind the pin-like elements 18 in the inflow direction 7. In the inserted state of the inflow nozzle 5, in particular it lies below the pin-like elements 18.

(39) The supporting structure 10 is preferably substantially invisible when the inflow nozzle 5 is inserted in the opening 2. In particular, it is visible exclusively when viewed from a narrowly restricted angular range. In particular, the formation and/or arrangement of the pin-like elements 18 may suggest a substantially closed surface of the inflow nozzle 5.

(40) The inflow nozzle 5 may in particular have a perforated surface. The free flow cross-sections of the unitary cells 13 may here form the perforations.

(41) According to a variant of the invention, the inflow nozzle 5 may be provided with one or more filter elements. The filter elements may in particular be reversibly removably connected to the inflow nozzle 5, in particular to the border 6 and/or the supporting structure 10. The filter elements may in particular be exchangeable. The filter element may be a grease filter and/or an odour filter and/or a moisture filter (moisture separator).

(42) The inflow nozzle 5 itself, in particular the supporting structure 10 and/or the pin-like elements 18, may also have a filter effect. It may in particular be configured as a grease filter and/or odour filter and/or moisture filter.