CN116745558A - Extraction device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an extraction device (14) for removing air from an area above a cooking hob (12), comprising an air inlet opening (24), a fan (36) for sucking air from the area above the cooking hob (12) through the air inlet opening (24), a filter (60) element, and an outlet opening (30) for discharging air. According to the invention, the filter element (60) is arranged removably in the filter seat (62) downstream of the air inlet opening (24) and is accessible through the air inlet opening (24). Support means or actuation means are included for supporting or facilitating insertion and/or removal from the filter seat (62). The support means or the actuating means are arranged at the filter element (60) and/or act on the filter element in a direction at least partially opposite to the insertion direction.

Description

Extraction device

The present invention relates to an extraction device for removing air, in particular cooking vapors, from an area above a cooking hob according to the preamble of claim 1.

During a cooking activity using a cooking hob, cooking vapors are generated distributed in a cooking area. In order to avoid diffusion of these cooking vapors into the entire kitchen space, extraction devices, in particular extractor hoods, are often arranged. The extraction device operates in parallel with the cooking hob, sucking in those cooking vapours in order to filter out particles and droplets from the vapours and/or blowing the vapours to the outside of the building. Although it is common to arrange such hoods above the cooking area, the market for downdraft extraction devices has grown in recent years. Such extraction devices are typically arranged below the table of the associated cooking hob and comprise at least one fan for sucking air from the cooking area through an opening or recess arranged in the table.

It is very common for domestic extraction devices to operate with recirculated air, which means that the inhaled air is not extracted to the outside of the installation room or building, but is blown out into the kitchen cabinet after being filtered or directly into the surrounding air. The general arrangement sequence of the devices is as follows: air with cooking vapors is drawn in from a cooking zone above the table of the cooking hob and then through a particulate filter (e.g. a grease particulate filter). Then, after passing through the fan, the transported air passes through the odor filter and is then blown out through the outlet opening. In particular, in the case of a downdraft extraction device, the maintenance activity of the odor filter is cumbersome, as the filter is arranged close to the outlet opening (which is usually at the level of or arranged in the base or kitchen cabinet).

Extraction devices are also known on the market, comprising an odor filter accessible through an inlet opening for the entry of air comprising cooking vapours. However, the corresponding odor filter is typically arranged with a lateral displacement from the engagement space below the inlet opening and gripping the filter element for pulling it out of its filter seat is cumbersome.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an extraction device designed in such a way as to allow easy access to the filter element, in particular the odor filter, and to facilitate the removal of the filter element from the filter seat, for example for maintenance activities.

The object of the extraction device according to the preamble of claim 1 is achieved by the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.

An extraction device for removing air (in particular into the surrounding air) from an area above a cooking hob comprises: an inlet opening for air intake, a fan for drawing air from an area above the cooking hob through the air inlet opening, a filter element for treating the drawn air, and an outlet opening for discharging the air. The air inlet opening is in particular arranged at or below a cutout or recess of a work table, in particular a hob or a glass plate, which may be a cooking hob. The suction of air from the area above the cooking hob is in particular performed through a cut-out or recess of the table. The filter element may comprise an odour filter, in particular a carbon filter, for removing odours from inhaled air, and/or a grease particle filter for removing particles from inhaled air, and/or an electrostatic filter based on electrostatic principles for removing particles from inhaled air. According to the invention, the filter element is removably arranged in the filter seat downstream of the inlet opening and is accessible through the air inlet opening. The preferred positioning of this arrangement is formed by the interior of the extraction device. In particular, access to the filter element is provided through a cutout or recess of the table. More specifically, a receiving space may be arranged immediately downstream of the inlet opening, and access to the filter element is provided through this receiving space, in particular after passing through the inlet opening. Included in the extraction device is a support means or actuation means for supporting or facilitating insertion and/or removal of the filter element from the filter seat. In particular, the manual insertion and/or manual removal is supported or facilitated by a support means or an actuation means. The support means or the actuating means are arranged at the filter element and/or act on the filter element in a direction at least partially opposite to the insertion direction. Preferably, the support means and/or the actuation means are arranged at an end or side of the filter element, which end or side faces the direction of the insertion movement or removal movement, and/or the support means and/or the actuation means act on the end or side of the filter element in a direction at least partially opposite to the insertion direction. Facing direction is understood to mean that the corresponding end or side is penetrated perpendicularly by the axis of the filter element, which axis is arranged parallel to the direction of the insertion movement or removal movement.

The filter element may be loosely arranged in the filter seat. However, to achieve a safe and defined positioning, the filter element may be locked in the filter seat. For this purpose, the filter seat and/or the filter element preferably comprise a locking mechanism, which is activated in an operating position of the filter element, which assumes an operating position in which the filter element is fully active when the filter element is inserted in its defined position in the filter seat. This operating position or locking position can be accommodated by manual actuation by the user on the filter element and in particular against the force exerted by the support means or actuation means during the insertion movement. A particular embodiment may also provide the filter element and/or the support means or the actuating means with a locking mechanism comprising snap means, catch means and/or latching means. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the support means or the actuation means are connected to or integrated into the locking mechanism.

In particular, the extraction device is a range hood which can be installed in a domestic kitchen, but which is also possible to be arranged in an industrial kitchen or a restaurant kitchen. The suction air or the sucked air that is or should be removed from the cooking hob comprises in particular cooking vapours that occur in particular during cooking with a cooker without lid. Furthermore, the extraction device is in particular a downdraft range hood and/or can be combined with a cooking hob to form a combined appliance. More specifically, the extraction device in such a combined appliance is arranged below the cooking hob.

The present invention is advantageous in view of the many corresponding appliances, in particular combination appliances, on the market. A particularly simplified access to the filter element, in particular the odor filter, is provided by the extraction device being of a structure or design, which allows the filter element to be removed through the air inlet opening or recess. In that case, the user of the combined appliance need only access the interior of the appliance through the recess or air inlet opening, preferably without any excessive disassembly of any of the housing parts. Furthermore, the support means or the actuating means further facilitate access to the filter element, since handling during maintenance activities is simplified.

Another advantage achieved by the invention is the fact that the filter element, in particular the odor filter, is tool-free to be assembled and/or disassembled. This increases ease of use during operation of the extraction device and encourages the user to prepare for routine maintenance activities, in particular cleaning or replacement of the filter element or filter device.

The cooking hob as a source of inhaled cooking vapour may be of any type including an electric cooking hob or an air cooking hob. In particular, the electric cooking hob is an induction cooking hob. The cooking hob may further be a self-service cooking appliance, in particular integrated in a counter top of a kitchen furniture, or the cooking hob may be part of an oven.

The top surface of the cooktop or glass plate, which is accessible to the user, may be used for placing cookware thereon, in particular in order to perform a cooking process. For this purpose, the cooking hob preferably comprises at least one heating element defining a cooking zone on the hob or the glass plate, which heating element is advantageously made of glass ceramics.

The preferred embodiment of the invention provides a filter element which is arranged downstream of the fan and which can be removed through the air inlet opening, in particular through a cutout or recess of the table.

Preferably, the support means or actuation means facilitating the insertion and/or removal of the filter element comprises a guide mechanism, which may be a slider guide, and/or a spring element configured to at least partially displace the filter element from an operative position, which the filter element assumes when the filter element is inserted into the filter seat. At least one of insertion, removal and displacement occurs, in particular, when the user performs a manual operation. The guide means preferably comprises a cuboid guide means.

The filter element is positionable by actuation in the insertion direction to an operative position of the filter element in the filter seat and at least partly from the operative position of the filter element in the filter seat, more particularly the operative position assumed by the filter element when the filter element is inserted into the filter seat. This action is in particular a mechanical action that can be performed by the user.

According to one embodiment, the support device or the actuation device comprises an actuation surface configured to perform a manual insertion movement through and/or removal movement of the filter element, wherein the manual movement is in particular performed by a user. The actuation surface is in particular a gripping surface which may be arranged at or on the handle.

A lid or cover may be provided separating the filter seat from the inlet opening. More specifically, the spatial separation of the filter seat may be implemented towards a receiving space arranged downstream, in particular directly downstream, of the air inlet opening.

The extraction device according to the invention may be characterized in that: the separation of the filter seat from the inlet opening, or more particularly from the receiving space, may be performed in an airtight manner. In this case, the cover comprises in particular a sealing means, which is preferably configured as a radial seal. The sealing means comprise in particular an O-ring seal. In this way, the arrangement of the seal may be independent of the exact position along the displacement path, especially when the sealing surface is arranged along a channel or tube having a constant cross-section.

According to an embodiment, the transition portion is arranged adjacent to and immediately upstream of the filter seat through which the filter element passes during insertion of the filter element into the filter seat. In particular, the inner surface of the transition portion forms a contact surface for the sealing means. The transition portion advantageously extends along the above mentioned displacement path.

The cover is advantageously fixed to and/or integrally formed with the filter element. In particular, the cover is fixed to and/or integrally formed with the frame portion of the filter element. The preferred solution is characterized in that: the cover forms an end portion or end element of the filter element, seen in the direction of the insertion movement. In other words, during insertion of the filter element, the cover forms the last part or element of the filter element, which follows the other parts or elements of the filter element in the direction of movement.

The filter element may be bendable in the insertion direction to accommodate a curvilinear insertion path and/or removal path. Additionally or alternatively, the filter element may be incompressible or only slightly compressible in the direction of movement of the filter element. On the other hand, inextensibility of the filter element in the direction of movement of the filter element may also be provided.

The filter element may be included in or supported by a filter carrier or frame. The filter element may be arranged vertically or horizontally in the filter carrier. A particular embodiment is characterized by a filter carrier or filter frame made of a flexible but incompressible material.

An auxiliary means for finding the position of the filter element may be provided for the user, taking into account the fact that: maintenance activities are relatively infrequent and the user may not always remember the location of the filter element or how to reach the filter element. For this purpose, the extraction device may comprise marking means or indicator means for indicating to a user how to reach the filter element or to indicate the position of the filter element. Such marking means or indicator means are visible or noticeable through the inlet opening. Furthermore, the marking means or indicator means provide in particular a visual and/or tactile guidance for the user and/or are preferably located on the bottom cover or the intermediate bottom wall of the extraction device. The user is clearly facing the marking means or indicator means when looking through the inlet opening. The marking or indicator device comprises in particular a lighting element, which preferably comprises an LED. More specifically, the lighting element is configured to automatically open when a user accesses the interior of the extraction device through the inlet opening, in particular when a lid or grid covering the inlet opening is removed from the inlet opening (in particular a hob or a glass plate).

A particular embodiment of the invention features an insertion aid for facilitating insertion of the filter element into the filter seat, in particular for further facilitating the insertion. The insertion aid comprises in particular a rail guide or a rail guide and/or at least one guide surface. Preferably at least two guide surfaces, more preferably three guide surfaces are provided. With the aid of the insertion aid, guided insertion is made possible for smooth insertion. By means of the insertion aid, tilting or interlocking of the filter element during the insertion movement can be avoided.

More specifically, the insertion aid may be an integral element of the extraction device, so that the insertion aid may be permanently arranged in the extraction device. Alternatively, the insertion aid may be a unit or a component that is used only during the maintenance procedure, so that the insertion aid may be inserted into the extraction device before the filter element insertion procedure and may be removed from the extraction device after the filter element insertion procedure is completed. The positioning of the insertion aid may in particular be carried out through the inlet opening.

The filter element may be insertable into and/or removable from the filter seat in at least about a horizontal direction, and the horizontal extension of the filter element in the direction of movement may be equal to or greater than the vertical extension. A preferred design of the filter element is characterized by a rectangular, live oval vertical cross-section of the filter element, wherein said vertical cross-section is defined by a plane or surface formed through the cut-out of the filter element perpendicular to the direction of movement of the filter element.

To further facilitate maintenance activities on the filter element, in particular by enabling an extension of the corresponding maintenance intervals, it is preferred to include a cleaning device for cleaning the inhaled air. The purification device may be formed of silver ions included in the filter element that perform a disinfection, more specifically an antibacterial and antiviral effect, on the surface or structure of the filter element. Additionally or alternatively, in order to achieve a similar or additional effect, the extraction device comprises light emitting means emitting ultraviolet light therein, which illuminate the filter means at least during operation of the extraction device or at least a time range during operation of the extraction device.

The novel and inventive features of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

The invention will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined appliance comprising a cooking hob and a downdraft extraction device installed in a kitchen cabinet according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the disassembled cluster tool of FIG. 1 with the front face cut away;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cluster tool of FIG. 2;

fig. 4 is a perspective view from the rear left of a combined appliance similar to that of fig. 1 to 3, showing the positioning of the filter element, according to a second embodiment;

FIGS. 5a, 5b, 5c are front, side and top views of a filter element of the combination tool of FIG. 4;

fig. 6a, 6b, 6c are schematic top views of the combined appliance of fig. 1 to 3 or 4, illustrating three stages during the insertion movement of the filter element of fig. 5a, 5b, 5 c;

fig. 7 shows an early stage of the removal movement of the filter element of fig. 5a, 5b, 5c, which is an opposite movement to the insertion movement illustrated by fig. 6a, 6b, 6 c;

fig. 8 is a schematic rear view of the prototype kitchen cabinet of fig. 1, but with the air outlet expelled rearwardly as illustrated by fig. 4; and

fig. 9 is a rear view of a combination according to a modification of the combination of fig. 3, forming a third embodiment.

Throughout the drawings, identical or equivalent parts are labeled with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 shows a combined appliance 10 comprising a cooking hob 12 and a downdraft extraction device 14 mounted in a kitchen cabinet 16. The cooking hob 12 is implemented in a cutout of a kitchen counter 18 forming a top cover plate of the kitchen cabinet 16. The downdraft extraction device 14 is configured to carry away cooking vapors that occur during the cooking process, particularly when cooking with a non-covered cooker. The cooking hob 12 comprises cooking zones 20a, 20b arranged on a left and a right half of a hob 22 of the cooking hob 12, the left and the right half being separated from each other by a suction opening 24 for sucking cooking vapour, the suction opening 24 being arranged along a hob centre line. The suction opening 24 is covered by a cover mesh 26 to prevent items (e.g., cookware) from falling into the suction opening 24. Instead of covering the mesh 26, a cover may be used to completely cover the suction opening when the extraction device 14 is not in use, but the cover may be pivoted into an upright open position for operation of the extraction device 14.

The hood 28 of the extraction device 14 is shown in transparent presentation in fig. 1. The hood 28 provides a closed enclosure or first passage for inhaled cooking vapor to flow on its way from the suction opening 24 to the discharge opening 30 in the base region 32 of the kitchen cabinet 16. The discharge opening 30 is also covered, i.e. by an outlet grill 34.

The flow of the inhaled cooking vapour through the extraction device 14 is driven by the operation of an extraction fan 36 arranged inside the hood 28. The extraction fan 36 includes a bottom suction opening 38 for drawing cooking vapors from the interior space of the hood 28.

As illustrated by fig. 3, which is a rear view of the combined appliance 10, the rear side fan outlet 40 is arranged for horizontally exiting air blown rearwardly from the extraction fan housing 42. The fan outlet 40 is connected to a first end of an air duct 44 designed as a rectangular tube and forms a second channel arranged downstream of the first channel mentioned above. A 90 degree air duct bend is implemented directly at the path from the fan outlet 40 to the air duct 44, which diverts the air flow from horizontal to vertically downward. The air duct 44 may be directed along the rear side of the kitchen cabinet 16 and may be bent again 90 degrees near the rear lower edge of the kitchen cabinet 16 in order to direct the air flow toward the drain opening 30 in the base region 32 of the kitchen cabinet 16. Accordingly, a second end of the air duct 44 is connected to the discharge opening 30. The embodiment illustrated in fig. 1 shows a solution of the air duct 44, wherein the inclined portion of the downwardly directed portion of the air duct is directed slightly to the right. Naturally, solutions are also conceivable in which the parts are arranged in exactly vertical directions.

In fig. 1 by dashed arrow 46 ¹ To 46 to ⁵ A path for the cooking vapour from the cooking zone through the extraction device 14 back into the ambient air is shown. On its way through the extraction device 14, the cooking vapor passes through a filter assembly 48, which is arranged immediately downstream of the suction opening 24, for providing a purification of the air conveyed. The filter assembly 48 includes a filter carrier 50 that supports a filter element (not shown) that is generally configured to filter out grease particles and droplets.

The cross-sectional view of fig. 2 further shows two power boards 54, one for the left cooking zone 20a and one for the right cooking zone 20b, the power boards 54 providing power to the cooking zones in the left and right cooking zones 20a, 20 b. In the present embodiment, the cooking hob 12 is an induction cooking hob and the cooking zone is defined by induction coils (not shown) arranged below the hob 22 of the cooking hob 12. Another circuit board is attached to the bottom side of the power panel 54 assigned to the right cooking zone 20b and is arranged to form control electronics 56 for the combined appliance 10.

In addition to the grease filter element included in the filter assembly 48 described above, the downdraft extraction apparatus 14 includes another filter element 60 configured for removing cooking odors from the delivered air. As will be explained in more detail with reference to fig. 4 (showing a second embodiment of the combined appliance 10), an odor filter element 60 is arranged immediately downstream of the fan outlet 40. The second embodiment comprises modifications to the first embodiment according to fig. 1 to 3, which second embodiment mainly concerns the idea of re-entering the environment with the air being transported.

According to fig. 4, the outlet duct 58 (instead of the air duct 44 of the first embodiment and its air duct curvature) directly follows the fan outlet 40. Immediately after the fan outlet 40 (indicated in dashed lines in fig. 4) there is provided a discharge of air directly rearwards, through the outlet duct 58 and then through the discharge opening 30 on the rear side of the discharge device 14, instead of conveying the air through the interior of the kitchen cabinet 16 within the air duct 44. On its way through the outlet duct 58, the transported air passes through an odor filter element 60 to remove odors from the transported air, which is then re-entered into the ambient air on the opposite side of the kitchen cabinet 16. In this regard, the outlet conduit 58 comprises a receiving space for the odor filter element 60, which forms a filter seat 62 for receiving the odor filter element 60. For clarity reasons, only the filter seat is shown in fig. 4 (mainly in dashed lines), but the skilled person will easily understand the arrangement of the odor filter element 60 inside the filter seat 62. In any case, in order to provide an almost play-free placement of the odor filter element 60, the filter seat 62 has an inner shape almost identical to the outer contour of the filter element 60, however, with a slightly increased size. Naturally, the filter seat 62 comprises an open side in the direction of the air flow, so that the air flow can pass over almost the entire filter surface.

The odor filter element 60 is shown separated from the filter seat 62 by means of fig. 5a to 5c, such as forming an unused odor filter element ready for insertion into the extraction device 14, more specifically into the filter seat 62. Fig. 5a is a front view of the odor filter element 60, which is obtained when looking straight from the discharge opening 30 towards the outlet duct 58, in a line of sight direction towards the extraction fan 36. The rectangular parallelepiped filter frame 64 supports a carbon filter 66 formed of a filter fleece folded in a wave-like manner and sandwiched in the filter frame 64, thereby providing a sufficient filtering effect in this way. Rectangular cover plate 68 (see in particular fig. 5 b) forms a lateral closure for filter frame 64. The cover plate 68 also forms a handle for grasping the filter element 60 for insertion or removal of the filter element from the filter seat 62 during servicing. To improve the gripping safety, the handle surface of the cover plate 68 is provided with ribs 70. Unlike the open side in the direction of the air flow, the top side (see fig. 5 c) and bottom side of the filter frame 64 are all surface-closed.

As will now be explained in more detail with reference to fig. 6 a-6 c, the cover plate 68 of the filter frame 64 is surrounded by an O-ring gasket 72 to provide a radial seal against air delivery bypass in the axial direction of the filter element 60.

As previously mentioned, the odor filter element 60 having a cuboid outer shape is accommodated in its operating position in the filter seat 62, which is also cuboid in shape, but provides a small gap at least in height and width, so that the filter element 60 can be slid into insertion without friction. After removal of the filter carrier 50 and the filter assembly 48 included therein, the filter seat 62 of the filter element 60 can be accessed through the suction opening 24. The filter carrier 50, when removed, releases a receiving space 74 for the filter carrier 50, which is part of the interior of the hood 28. The receiving space 74 also serves as an initial receiving space for the odor filter element 60 at the beginning of the insertion process as shown in fig. 6 a. With the longitudinal axis of the odor filter element 60 in the insertion movement direction in the initial movement direction, which is similar or identical to the cooktop centerline, the odor filter element is introduced into the receiving space 74. The long sides of the rectangular cross section of the filter element 60 are arranged vertically, as well as in the operational position of the filter element 60, i.e. when the filter element assumes the final position at the end of the insertion process. The filter element 60 is oriented such that the cover plate 68, i.e., the handle of the filter element 60, follows the filter frame 64 during the insertion movement.

As shown in fig. 4, the operating position of the odor filter element 60 is behind the fan housing 42 from the perspective of the user, with the longitudinal axis of the odor filter element 60 being parallel to the long side of the cooktop 22. Currently, the final position of the filter element 60 at the end of the insertion movement is orthogonal to the initial orientation at the beginning of the insertion movement. This means that the filter element is deflected by 90 degrees during insertion of the filter element 60. To this end, the filter element 60, and in particular the filter frame 64 thereof, is constructed of a flexible material, which may be an elastic rubber or silicon material. To facilitate the user's deflection process during the insertion movement, the user has placed the insertion aid 76 in the receiving space 74 at the location of the turn prior to insertion of the filter element 60. The insertion aid 76 comprises a rail guide (not shown) at the surface forming the sliding surface for the filter frame 64 during the insertion movement. In this way, an introduction guide for the filter element 60 into the entry zone of the filter seat 62 is also provided. In order to fully guide the movement (which prevents the filter element 60 from changing direction up or down), a top guide surface and a bottom guide surface are included in which the guide grooves are provided.

Fig. 6b shows the odor filter element 60 having been partially inserted into the filter seat 62, which is a stage immediately after the deflection stage during the insertion movement. From this point on, the insertion aid 76 is no longer needed, so that the user can remove the insertion aid from the receiving space 74 (indicated in fig. 6 b). Only the final insertion actuation remains, as indicated by the arrow in fig. 6 b.

Fig. 6c shows the odor filter element 60 in its operative position after the insertion movement is completed. However, in order to fix the filter element 60 in this operating position, a final fixing movement must be applied by the user, which is indicated by the arrow in fig. 6 c. This final fixing movement is a further pressing in the insertion movement against the spring force acting against the insertion direction, during which a latching device (not shown) engages the filter frame side opposite the cover plate 68, thus preventing undesired translation of the filter element 60 in the operating position. The user may then stop applying force on the cover plate 68 and the filter element 60 performs a short return movement where the insertion movement is eventually completed.

Fig. 6c also shows that the filter element 60 is fully implemented in the filter seat 62, so that only the terminal part of the cover plate 68 is visible. This also means that the O-ring 72 also moves into the interior of the access zone of the filter seat 62. The access zone is designed in such a way that only a small gap remains between the inner surface of the access zone and the outer surface of the cover plate 68, which small gap is sealed in an airtight manner by the O-ring 72. The sealing by the O-ring 72 is provided not only in the operating position of the filter element 60, but also during the entire previously described final fixing movement (arrow in fig. 6 c) during which the O-ring 72 performs a short sliding movement along the inner surface of the entry partition.

Fig. 7 shows an early stage of the removal movement, i.e. when the user e.g. initiates a replacement of the odour filter element 60. To begin the removal movement, the user can also press the cover plate 68, so that the filter element 60 performs a short movement in the insertion direction, which has a length equal to the short return movement at the end of the insertion process. During this short movement, the latch releases the filter frame 64 and the force of the spring pushes the filter element 60 away from the filter seat 62 far enough that the user can grasp the handle, i.e. the cover plate 68 of the filter element 60, and the removal is achieved by the pulling action performed by the user. The pulling action must be performed in such a way that at the end thereof the filter element 60 is arranged in the receiving space 74, i.e. as illustrated in fig. 6 a. Thus, the user must again apply deflection to the filter frame 64, however, the insertion aid 76 need not be used due to the pulling action. When reaching into the receiving space 74, the filter element 60 can be lifted out of the receiving space and replaced by a new filter element in the manner described above with reference to fig. 6a to 6 c.

The cover plate 68, in combination with the sealing performed by the O-ring, acts as an airtight closing wall, which is necessary for separating the receiving space 74 arranged upstream of the exhaust fan 36 from the filter seat 62 arranged downstream of the exhaust fan 36. This separation prevents bypass airflow that would degrade the exhaust performance.

Fig. 8 schematically shows the rear side of a kitchen cabinet which is similar to the kitchen cabinet of fig. 1, except that the exhaust air outlet is directed backwards, as already described with reference to fig. 4. For this reason, the rear wall 78 of the kitchen cabinet 16 must be provided with a cutout 80 to enable the exhaust air to be blown out of the kitchen cabinet 16 towards the kitchen wall, where the exhaust air diffuses into the gap between the rear wall 78 and the kitchen wall. The ideal configuration of the rear side of the extraction device 14 is formed by a completely flat rear surface so that a kitchen installer can easily set the cutout by reproducing the rear surface of the extraction device 14 in the rear wall 78 of the kitchen cabinet 16, as illustrated in fig. 8.

Finally, compared to the arrangement of fig. 3, it is provided according to the concept of fig. 9 that the extraction fan 36 and the associated fan outlet 40 and the outlet duct 54 arranged downstream of the fan outlet are moved to a lower position inside the hood 28, which ventilation inlet is advantageously positioned above the outlet duct 58 for the purpose of cooling the power panel 54. With this lower positioning, sufficient space may be provided between the outlet duct 58 and the bottom wall of the power strip housing, which includes the vent inlet, so that sufficient cooling air may pass through the vent inlet.

Although illustrative embodiments of the present invention have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

List of reference numerals

10. Combined appliance

12. Cooking stove

14. Downdraft type extraction equipment

16. Kitchen cabinet

18. Kitchen table top

20a, 20b cooking zone

22. Cooking bench

24. Suction opening

26. Covering grid

28. Cover for vehicle

30. Discharge opening

32. Base region

34. Outlet grille

36. Extraction fan

38. Suction opening

40. Fan outlet

42. Fan shell

44. Air duct

46 ¹ To 46 to ⁵ Arrows indicating air flow

48. Filter assembly

50. Filter carrier

54. Power panel

56. Control electronics

58. Outlet pipe

60. Odor filter element

62. Filter seat

64. Filter frame

66. Carbon filter

68. Cover plate

70. Ribs

72 O-shaped gasket

74. Receiving space

76. Insertion aid

78. Rear wall

80. Incision

Claims (15)

1. Extraction device (14), in particular a range hood, for removing air, in particular cooking vapors, from an area above a cooking hob (12), the extraction device (14) in particular a downdraft range hood and/or in particular being combined with the cooking hob (12) to form a combined appliance (10), the extraction device (14) in particular being arranged below the cooking hob (12), the extraction device (14) comprising:

an air inlet opening (24) which is arranged in particular at or below a cutout or recess of a work table (22), in particular a hob or a glass plate of the cooking hob (12),

a fan (36) for sucking air from an area above the cooking hob (12) through the air inlet opening (24), in particular through a cutout or recess of the table (22),

a filter (60) element, which comprises in particular an odor filter, in particular a carbon filter, for removing odors from the inhaled air, and/or a grease particle filter for removing particles from the inhaled air, and/or an electrostatic filter based on the electrostatic principle for removing particles from the inhaled air,

an outlet opening (30) for discharging air, in particular air into the surrounding air,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the filter element (60) is removably arranged downstream of the air inlet opening (24), preferably in a filter seat (62) inside the extraction device (14), and is accessible through the air inlet opening (24), in particular a cutout or recess of the table (22), wherein support means or actuation means are included for supporting or facilitating the insertion and/or the removal, in particular the manual insertion and/or removal, of the filter seat (62), which support means or actuation means are arranged at the filter element (60) and/or act on the filter element, preferably on an end or side of the filter element (60) facing in the direction of the insertion or removal movement and/or act on an end or side of the filter element (60) in a direction at least partially opposite to the insertion direction.

2. The extraction device (14) according to claim 1,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the filter element (60) is arranged downstream of the fan (36) and can be removed through the air inlet opening (24), in particular through a cutout or recess of the table (22).

3. The extraction device (14) according to claim 1 or 2,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the support device or the actuation device comprises a guide mechanism, in particular a slider guide, and/or the support device or the actuation device comprises a spring element configured to at least partially displace the filter element (60) from an operating position, which the filter element assumes when the filter element (60) is inserted into the filter seat (62), wherein the displacement occurs in particular upon manual operation by a user, the guide mechanism preferably comprising a cuboid guide mechanism.

4. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the filter element (60) is positionable into an operative position of the filter element in the filter seat (62) by actuation, in particular by mechanical action, in the insertion direction and is at least partially removable from the operative position of the filter element in the filter seat.

5. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the support device or the actuation device comprises an actuation surface (68), in particular a gripping surface, configured for performing a manual insertion and/or removal movement of the filter element (60).

6. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that

A cover (68) separating the filter seat (62) from the air inlet opening (24), in particular from a receiving space (74) immediately downstream of the air inlet opening (24).

7. The extraction device (14) according to claim 6,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the separation of the filter seat (62) from the air inlet opening (24) can be performed in an airtight manner, wherein the cover (68) comprises in particular a sealing means (72), preferably a radial seal, which comprises in particular an O-ring seal.

8. The extraction device (14) according to claim 6 or 7,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

a transition portion is arranged adjacent to and immediately upstream of the filter seat (62), through which the filter element (60) passes during insertion of the filter seat (62), wherein in particular an inner surface of the transition portion forms a contact surface for the sealing device.

9. The extraction device (14) according to any one of claims 6 to 8,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the cover (68) is fixed to the filter element (60) and/or is formed integrally therewith, in particular to a frame part (64) of the filter element (60) and/or is formed integrally therewith, wherein the cover (68) preferably forms an end part or an end element of the filter element (60) viewed in the direction of insertion movement.

10. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the filter element (60)

-an insertion path and/or a removal path bendable in an insertion direction and/or a removal direction to accommodate a curve, and/or

Is incompressible or is only slightly compressible in the direction of movement of the filter element.

11. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that

Marking means or indicator means for indicating to a user how the filter element (60) is or the position of the filter element, the marking means or indicator means

Through which air inlet opening (24) is visible or noticeable,

in particular to provide visual guidance and/or tactile guidance to the user,

-preferably on the bottom cover or on the intermediate bottom wall of the extraction device (14).

12. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that

An insertion aid (76) for facilitating insertion of the filter element (60) into the filter seat (62), the insertion aid (76) comprising in particular

-a guide rail or track guiding means, and/or

At least one guiding surface, preferably at least two guiding surfaces, more preferably three guiding surfaces.

13. The extraction device (14) according to claim 12,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the auxiliary part (76)

-is an integral element of the extraction device (14), or

-being insertable into the extraction device (14) before the filter element insertion process, in particular through the air inlet opening (24), and being removable from the extraction device (14) after the filter element insertion process is completed.

14. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that the method comprises the steps of,

the filter element (60) is insertable into and/or removable from the filter seat (62) in at least about a horizontal direction, the filter element (60) having a horizontal extension in the direction of movement equal to or greater than a vertical extension, the vertical cross section of the filter element (60) preferably being rectangular or elliptical.

15. The extraction device (14) according to any one of the preceding claims,

it is characterized in that

A purifying device for cleaning inhaled air, the purifying device

-formed by silver ions comprised in the filter element (60), and/or

-formed by a light emitting means emitting ultraviolet light and comprised in the extraction device (14), the light emitting means illuminating the filter means at least during or at least over a time range of the operation period of the extraction device (14).