GB2147991A

GB2147991A - Fan unit

Info

Publication number: GB2147991A
Application number: GB08327640A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis David Smith; Michael Gordon Walker
Original assignee: Thorn EMI Domestic Appliances Ltd
Current assignee: Thorn EMI Domestic Appliances Ltd
Priority date: 1983-10-14
Filing date: 1983-10-14
Publication date: 1985-05-22
Also published as: GB8327640D0

Abstract

A fan unit (20) is mounted above a built-in oven (21). A fan (25) draws air into the unit through an inlet opening in the front wall thereof. Air entering the unit is cleansed by a grease filter (24) and, in dependence on the relative positions of a pair of user-operable closure plates the cleansed air is directed towards either an outlet opening (26) in the front wall, for recirculation, or towards an outlet opening in the rear wall, for venting. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fan unit The present invention relates to a fan unit for the treatment of fumes in a kitchen.

Conventionaily, a cooker fan unit for a builtin oven is fixed onto the exterior surface of the kitchen unit above and flush with the built-in oven, thus rising air and combustion products enter the projecting unit and are filtered before being returned to the unit.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fan unit more attractive in appearance than conventional fan units.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fan unit which has a less obtrusive appearance than that of the conventional fan units.

The present invention provides a fan unit for use with a built-in oven, the unit having an inlet located on an exterior surface of the unit, means to direct rising air and combustion products into the inlets of the unit, the directing means extending, in use, from said exterior surface, whereby the unit is suited for installation with said exterior surface substantially flush with the major exterior surface of a built-in oven.

In this way, only the directing means, and not the whole unit, need project substantially beyond the plane of the front surface of the built-in oven; thus the appearance of the fan unit is unobtrusive.

Preferably the directing means comprises a baffle which, in use, projects downwardly and outwardly from the exterior surface of the unit.

Preferably the directing means is retractable, as required, to a position in which it does not project substantially from the exterior surface of the unit. Thus, when operation of the fan unit is not required, the directing means can be moved so as to lie against the exterior surface. In this situation the fan unit is unobtrusive in appearance and economises on available space.

The fan unit may be used with a conventional gas oven, built into a fitted kitchen unit, so that it can treat the combustion gases emanating from the gas burner(s) as well as the hot air stream containing the cooking fats and impurities. Thus the fan unit may overcome what is thought to be a significent cause of potential customers deciding against purchasing gas ovens, namely their belief that gas ovens produce unpleasant combustion products which cannot be conveniently treated.

The fan unit can also be used with an electric oven built into a fitted kitchen unit.

The fan unit may also include an alternative outlet to direct the fumes away from the room.

Thus the present invention also provides a kitchen installation comprising a built-in oven and a fan unit, the fan unit having an inlet located on an exterior surface of the unit and means to direct rising air and combustion products into the inlet of the unit, the directing means extending, in use, from said exterior surface, whereby the fan unit is installed adjacent and above the oven with said exterior surface substantially flush with the major exterior surface of the built-in oven.

In order that the invention may more readily be understood, a description is now given, by way of example only, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figures 1 to 3 are schematic elevation views, partly in cross-section, of a fan unit embodying the present invention respectively in three different modes.

Figure 1 to 3 show, in various modes, a fan unit 20 which is suited for use with a gas oven 21 built into a fitted kitchen unit. More specifically Fig. 1 shows the fan unit 20 with a baffle formed of a flat rectangular flap 22 in the vertical, inoperative position, so that the depth (the lateral dimension as seen in Fig. 1) and the width of unit 20 correspond with those of oven 21; thus the exterior of unit 20 is flush with that of oven 21. The flap 22 is made of smoked glass to match the oven doors and thereby present an unobtrusive appearance.

Fig. 2 shows the fan unit 20 with flap 22 in the operative position, namely with flap 22 held inclined at an angle of about 30 to the vertical. Thus, in use rising combustion products and odours (mainly those from outlet vents 23 of oven 21) are deflected towards the inlet of unit 20 and urged through charcoal filter 24 by fan 25 for cleansing. The cleaned air stream is then forced through grille compartment 26 in order that it enters the kitchen substantially horizontally so that little, if any, of the stream is directed towards the region, vertically above the fan unit 20, which contains a storage cupboard 27.

Figure 3 shows the fan unit 20 in the operative position when venting to the exterior, rather than recirculation, is required.

Thus, closure plate 28 blocks off grille compartment 26 while closure plate 29 has been moved aside to allow the air stream to pass through outlet 30 to the exterior. The unit 20 has a manually operable lever (not shown) to actuate pivoting of closure plates 28 and 29 between the two positions in Fig. 2 and 3; the mechanism effecting the pivoting of the plates ensures that it is not possible for both plates to be in the closing position simultaneously.

The unit 20 has switch controls (not shown) to permit the user to select any one of the following switch modes: manual switching by a person while the flap 22 is in its operative position; automatic switching in accordance with the flap 22 being moved to the operative position; or automatic switching in accordance with an oven burner being turned on while flap 22 is in the operative position. Once the fan is on (regardless of the cause), it can be turned off manually; additionally, or alternatively, it can be turned off automatically either when the flap is moved from the operative position or when no oven burners remain on.

The rotational speed of the fan 25 can be varied (either discretely or continuously over a specified range) manually or in accordance with the power input to those burners 3 which are on.

Units 20 and oven 21 may be modified such that outlet vents 23 are omitted and the fumes from oven 21 pass directly into unit 20 without first entering the kitchen. Thus oven 21 has an outlet on its upper surface which is aligned with an inlet on the lower surface of unit 20.

In another modification, the grille compartment and cupboard 27 are omitted from unit 20 which otherwise remains as shown in Figs.

1 to 3. Whereas this modification results in less efficient use of space within the kitchen, the fumes from the built-in gas oven 21 are still treated effectively, thereby ensuring that the gas oven remains an attractive proposition to potential customers. This modification can also be used in fan units which operate only in one mode, whether it be recirculation or exterior venting.

Claims

CLAIMS Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A fan unit including a fan for drawing air into the unit through an inlet opening in a front wall thereof, and user-operable means for selectively directing air, drawn into the unit, towards an outlet opening in said front wall, for recirculation, or towards a further outlet opening in a rear wall of the unit, for venting.

2. A fan unit according to Claim 1 wherein said user-operable means comprises a pair of closure plates each capable of blocking a respective one of said outlet openings in the front and rear walls.

3. A fan unit according to Claim 2 wherein said closure plates are coupled together by a common, user-operable control means.

4. A fan unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 including filter means in said inlet opening.

5. A fan unit according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 including a cover, displaceable by a user between a first position wherein the cover lies against said front wall and substantially covers said inlet opening therein, and a second position wherein the cover is arranged to direct rising air and combustion products towards said inlet opening.

6. A fan unit according to Claim 5 wherein said cover is pivotable about an upper edge.

7. A kitchen installation comprising a built-in oven, and a fan unit, according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, arranged above the oven, and wherein the first surface of the unit is substantially flush with the front surface of the oven.

8. A fan unit substantially as hereinbefore described by reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.