EXTRACTOR APPARATUS, AND KITCHEN ARRANGEMENT HAVING A HOB AND AN EXTRACTOR APPARATUS

Abstract

An extractor apparatus includes an extraction body having an extraction side provided with an extraction opening, a rear side opposite the extraction side, and three connecting walls. Each of the connecting walls extends between an edge of the extraction side and an edge of the rear side. At least one of the connecting walls of the extraction body is provided with a blow-out opening for blowing air out. A blower extracts air downwards via the extraction opening.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. An extractor apparatus, comprising: an extraction body having an extraction side provided with an extraction opening, a rear side opposite the extraction side, and three connecting walls, each of the connecting walls extending between an edge of the extraction side and an edge of the rear side, at least one of the connecting walls of the extraction body being provided with a blow-out opening for blowing air out; and a blower designed to extract air downwards via the extraction opening.

15. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the connecting walls represent two side walls and a top wall.

16. The extractor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the side walls have each a lower region provided with one of said blow-out opening.

17. The extractor apparatus of claim 15, wherein the top wall has a side region provided with the blow-out opening.

18. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the blow-out opening is adjacent to an edge of an extraction-side-adjoining one of the connecting walls.

19. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the blow-out opening is adjacent to an edge of the rear-side-adjoining one of the connecting walls.

20. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the blow-out opening extends in a direction in parallel relation to the extraction side.

21. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the extraction opening is embodied as an elongated opening which extends in a horizontal direction or in a vertical direction in the extraction side.

22. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a filter element arranged in the extraction body.

23. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, wherein the extraction body is configured to be extendable or fixed.

24. The extractor apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an additional blower connected to the blow-out opening.

25. A kitchen arrangement, comprising: a hob; and an extractor apparatus for extracting air from the hob, said extractor apparatus comprising an extraction body having an extraction side provided with an extraction opening, a rear side opposite the extraction side, and three connecting walls, each of the connecting walls extending between an edge of the extraction side and an edge of the rear side, at least one of the connecting walls of the extraction body being provided with a blow-out opening for blowing air out, and a blower designed to extract air downwards via the extraction opening.

26. The kitchen arrangement of claim 25, wherein the extractor apparatus is arranged to a rear of the hob.

Description

[0040] The present invention is described again hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures:

[0041] FIG. 1: shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the kitchen arrangement according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2: shows a schematic side view of the embodiment of the kitchen arrangement according to FIG. 1; and

[0043] FIG. 3: shows a schematic front view of the embodiment of the kitchen arrangement according to FIG. 1.

[0044] In FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the kitchen arrangement 1 according to the invention is shown. The kitchen arrangement 1 comprises a hob 3 and an extractor apparatus 2. The hob 3 is incorporated in a worktop 4. A cooking vessel T in the form of a pot is shown schematically on the hob 3. In the embodiment shown the hob 3 represents a gas hob which is indicated schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3 by the hotplate 30 designed as a gas burner. The extractor apparatus 2 is arranged to the rear of the hob 3.

[0045] The extractor apparatus 2 has a housing 23, only a frame-shaped cover thereof being able to be seen in FIG. 1. The extractor apparatus 2 comprises an extraction body 22 which is arranged in the housing 23.

[0046] The extraction body 22 can be held in the housing 23 so as to be retractable and extendable or fixed. In the embodiment in which the extraction body 22 is retractable and extendable, the state shown in FIG. 1 represents the extended state.

[0047] The extraction body 22 has an extraction side 220, a rear side 221 and three connecting walls 222. The connecting walls 222 represent a top wall 2220 and two side walls 2221. The extraction body 22 represents a hollow, upwardly closed body which can also be denoted as a channel. Extraction openings 20 are provided in the extraction side 220. Via the hollow extraction body 22 air can be extracted to the blower (not shown) located below the plane of the hob 3. In the embodiment shown, the extraction openings 20 are vertically running elongated slots. The extraction openings 20 are arranged adjacent to one another and extend from the bottom to above the center of the height of the extraction body 22.

[0048] Blow-out openings 21 are provided in the top wall 2220 and the side walls 2221. In the embodiment shown, the blow-out openings 21 are adjacent to the edge of the connecting wall 222 which adjoins the extraction side 220. In particular, blow-out openings 21 are provided in the side regions of the top wall 2220 and blow-out openings 21 are provided in the lower region of the side walls 2221.

[0049] It is indicated by the arrows A in FIG. 1 that in other embodiments the blow-out openings 21 can also be arranged offset from the edge of the connecting wall 222, which adjoins the extraction side 220, further to the rear toward the rear edge of the connecting wall 222.

[0050] The extractor apparatus 2 also has a blower (not shown), air being extracted thereby into the extraction opening 20. Additionally, the extractor apparatus 2 can have an additional blower (not shown), air being conducted thereby to the at least one blow-out opening 21.

[0051] Secondary air is blown out from the blow-out openings 21. A boundary layer flow is generated between the primary air flow and the secondary fluid flow S. Due to air friction the primary fluid is entrained and deflected in a targeted manner in the desired direction to the extraction openings 20. Due to the mass movement of the primary fluid in the direction of the extraction body 22, a division of the primary fluid takes place in the direction of the extraction opening 20 and counter to the extraction opening 20 (following the secondary fluid). A continuous flow is thus formed. As a result, the primary fluid is increasingly deflected from the front and upper region of the hob in the direction of the extraction opening 20.

[0052] Additionally, an air curtain is formed by the secondary fluid flow S which significantly impedes an air flow from the region in front of the extraction body 22 to the region to the rear of the extraction body 22.

[0053] As emerges from FIG. 3, in the embodiment shown of the cooking arrangement 1 the secondary fluid flow S is discharged in a fan-shaped manner. As is visible in FIG. 2, the secondary fluid flow S is additionally inclined slightly to the front, i.e. in the direction of the hob.

[0054] According to a further embodiment, not shown, the extraction opening 20 can represent one or more slot(s) running in the upper region of the extraction side 220 of the extraction body 22 in the horizontal direction, instead of the vertically running slots. In this embodiment, due to the secondary fluid flow S which is blown out through the blow-out openings 21, a fan which extends at least beyond the side edges of the extraction body 22 is also formed. Thus even in this embodiment an entrainment effect of the primary air flow P is generated by the secondary air flow S and the primary air flow P is reliably deflected toward the extraction opening 20 in the extraction body 22.

[0055] The speed of the secondary fluid flow is higher in the vicinity of the blow-out opening and is reduced at a greater distance from the blow-out opening 21.

[0056] The secondary air flow S in its front region entrains the mass of the primary air flow. For reasons of continuity, the mass of the primary fluid has to flow in.

[0057] A part of the extracted primary volume flow can come from the region to the rear of the hob and, in particular, to the rear of the extraction body 22. This volume flow is undesirable since, in the case of an extraction power which is too weak, it cannot downwardly entrain vapors which are produced on the hob and it takes up part of the total extraction power. According to the invention, the loss of flow can be limited by the secondary fluid entraining the mass of the primary fluid for reasons of continuity. As a result, in the remote upper region a flow tendency is already imposed on the primary fluid in the direction of the extraction opening 20 and thus the extraction body 22. Additionally, the secondary fluid functions as an air curtain which prevents the extraction of primary fluid from the rear of the extraction body 22.

[0058] The primary volume flow changed by the secondary volume flow counteracts the naturally rising thermal currents of the vapors and entrains these vapors in the direction of the extraction body 22 toward the extraction opening 20.

[0059] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown by way of example. In particular, the shape and arrangement of the blow-out openings, of the extraction body and of the extraction opening can differ from the embodiments shown.

[0060] In any case, however, the directed secondary air flow can deflect, in particular divert, the vapors such that these vapors pass in a targeted manner to the extraction openings. The exhaust air flow, i.e. the primary air flow, is extracted on the extraction side of the extraction body, and the directed secondary air flow is blown out on at least one of the connecting walls of the extraction body. By the targeted air guidance, the volume flow in the room above the hob can be regulated from the top, front and rear.

[0061] Preferably, therefore, an extractor apparatus, which can also be denoted as a downdraft extractor, is used with an integrated extraction opening, wherein at the same time a nozzle system for increasing the effective extraction power of the extractor apparatus can be accommodated in the extraction body. The extraction profile of the downdraft extractor is changed by the air which is preferably blown out upwards and to the sides, such that more air is extracted from the front and from the top. The extracted volume flow from the sides, i.e. from regions which are located adjacent to the hob, is correspondingly reduced. Due to the changed extraction profile the cooking fumes are transported more rapidly to the extractor apparatus so that these cooking fumes are extracted into the extractor apparatus before they are accelerated away too far from the extractor apparatus by their own thermal currents. The position of the blow-out openings, which can also be denoted as nozzles, is preferably provided at the side and at the top on the extraction body. The volume flow which is required by the extractor apparatus can range from 70 to 130 m.sup.3/h.

[0062] According to the invention, therefore, it is possible to reduce the required extraction power and thus the development of noise.

[0063] The present invention has a series of advantages. By means of the present invention, the vapor extraction behavior can be improved and additionally noise can be minimized and energy efficiency can be increased due to the lower conveying volume required for table ventilation systems. In particular, a very effective extraction, i.e. vapor capture rate, can be achieved on hobs which are located further away from the extraction region of the extraction opening, even in the case of tall pots. Current hob ventilation systems can extract vapors only over a defined distance. The distance of approximately 380 - 450 mm from the front cooking zone of a four-zone hob cannot be overcome by conventional conveying volumes, i.e. the vapors produced on the front cooking zone cannot be extracted. This problem does not occur in the present invention due to the targeted secondary air guidance. Additionally, extraction which is free from interference relative to cross flows is ensured. Moreover, a lower motor power of the blower is required and thereby the development of noise is minimized even with higher extraction power. Finally, by means of the present invention no additional cutouts and/or installation spaces are required around the hob since the blow-out openings are provided in the extraction body, and this extraction body and optionally an additional blower can be fitted in the extractor apparatus. Moreover, due to the provision of the blow-out openings in the extraction body, the outer shape of the extraction body can also be a continuous, in particular box, shape. As a result, the visual appearance and the cleanability is improved relative to extractor apparatuses in which a separate air channel is provided. The extractor apparatus according to the invention can also be used with a hob which is operated by gas.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference characters 1 Kitchen arrangement 2 Extractor apparatus 20 Extraction opening 21 Blow-out opening 22 Extraction body 220 Extraction side 221 Rear side 222 Connecting wall 2220 Top wall 2221 Side wall 23 Housing 3 Hob 30 Hotplate 4 Worktop T Cooking vessel A Change to distance of blow-out opening S Secondary air flow