WO2014020489A1

WO2014020489A1 - Module for extractor hoods

Info

Publication number: WO2014020489A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/056054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mauro Castello; Luca GALLOPPA; Riccardo RASTELLI
Original assignee: Elica S.P.A.
Priority date: 2012-07-31
Filing date: 2013-07-24
Publication date: 2014-02-06
Also published as: ITMI20121342A1

Abstract

A module for extractor hoods, comprising a box-like structure (2) having a bottom wall (3) with an opening (3a) and a top wall (4) with an opening (4a), a gas exhaust pipe (5) that extends through the box-like structure (2) from the bottom wall (3) to the top wall (4), the exhaust pipe (5) comprising an inlet section (5a) in fluid communication with the opening (3 a) of the bottom wall (3) and an outlet section (5b) in fluid communication with the opening (4a) of the top wall (4), the opening (3a) of the bottom wall (3) being adapted to be connected to a forced extraction unit (101) of an extractor hood (100). The box-like structure (2) comprises an intake opening (6) for outside air and at least one diffuser opening (7) in fluid communication with the intake opening (6) for supplying air from the intake opening (6) to the environment outside the box-like structure (2).

Description

MODULE FOR EXTRACTOR HOODS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a module for extractor hoods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hoods can be divided into two large classes: filter hoods and extractor hoods.

As compared with filter hoods, extractor hoods provide the advantage of ejecting gases from the rooms in which hoods is installed.

A number of configurations of extractor hoods have been developed, some of which are able to not only eject gases, but also introduce fresh air from outside into the room.

These hoods usually consist of a ventilation unit, with a gas extraction section associated therewith for extracting gases from the room. The first end of a first exhaust pipe for evacuating the extracted gases is connected to the extraction section; the second end of this pipe is connected to an opening that communicates with the outside environment. A second pipe (usually having a greater diameter than the first pipe) is fitted onto the first pipe, coaxial therewith, and also in fluid communication with the outside environment (via the above mentioned opening). An intake unit draws in air from the outside environment and introduces it into the room, through the second pipe. This ensures air renewal in the room in which the hood is installed (usually a kitchen).

Hoods as described above are particularly appreciated by demanding consumers. In modern houses, especially in city houses, increasingly narrow spaces are available. Usually, kitchens are not separate from the rest of the house, but are part of the living room or open thereto. Therefore, the need is particularly felt of ensuring introduction of fresh air into the room, in addition to fume exhaust. Thus, in new installations, or in case of kitchen replacement, these hoods are often appreciated by consumers and preferred over conventional extractor hoods.

It shall be noted in this respect that hoods of this type are alternative to traditional suction hoods, as they require special design and construction.

Nevertheless, the extractor hoods that can introduce fresh air into the room are still not widely used.

The reason for this is especially associated with cost concerns. As mentioned above, these hoods require special design and construction, and hence a dedicated production line, which involves non-negligible manufacturing costs. Furthermore, and most significantly, users that already own a conventional extractor hood are reluctant to replace a fully functioning hood with a new hood of the above described type, in spite of its higher performance.

Therefore, the technical purpose of the present invention is to provide a module for extractor hoods that can obviate the above drawbacks.

Particularly, an object of the present invention is to provide a module for extractor hoods that can provide those who own an extractor hood with the feature of fresh air supply into the room in which the hood is installed, without replacing such hood.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a module for extractor hoods that can reduce the manufacturing costs of the hoods that can eject cooking fumes and supply fresh air into the room in which the hood is installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the above mentioned technical purpose and objects are fulfilled by a module for extractor hoods as defined in one or more of the claims annexed hereto. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the present invention will result more clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a module for extractor hoods, as shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a module for extractor hoods of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows the module of Figure 1 installed on a filter hood; and

- Figure 3 is a perspective sectional view of the module of Figure 2, installed on a hood, as taken along the plane III - III;

- Figure 4 is a perspective sectional view of the module of Figure 2, installed on a hood, as taken along the plane IV - IV;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although this is not expressly shown, the individual features described with reference to each embodiment shall be intended as auxiliary and/or interchangeable with other features, as described with reference to other embodiments.

A module for extractor hoods of the present invention has been generally designated by numeral 1 in the figures.

The module 1 comprises a box-like structure 2 having a bottom wall 3 with an opening 3 a and a top wall 4 with an opening 4a. As used herein, the term box-like structure is intended to designate a body having walls which define in combination an inner cavity, that is fluid tightly sealed from the outside environment (except any opening formed in the walls) or anyway isolated from the outside environment.

The module comprises a gas exhaust pipe 5 which extends through the boxlike structure 2 from the bottom wall 3 to the top wall 4. The exhaust pipe 5 extends through the entire box-like structure 2 and is not in fluid communication with its interior. The pipe 5 has an inlet section 5a in fluid communication with the opening 3 a of the bottom wall 3 and an outlet section 5 b in fluid communication with the opening 4a of the top wall 4.

The opening 3a of the inlet section 3 is adapted to be connected to a forced extraction unit 101 of an extractor hood 100, such that the fumes extracted by the hood 100 may be transferred to the pipe 5. The outlet section 5b of the pipe 5, or an extension thereof, is adapted to be connected to an exhaust hole (i.e. the hole of a chimney flue) which provides fluid communication between the environment in which the hood is installed and the outside environment. The box-like structure 2 further comprises an intake opening 6 for outside air and at least one diffuser opening 7 in fluid communication with the intake opening 6 for supplying air from the latter to the environment around the box-like structure 2.

Thus, the fumes extracted by the hood 100, namely by its forced extraction unit, are evacuated outside, and fresh air is drawn in from the outside environment and introduced into the room in which the hood is installed. It shall be noted that the above may be implemented without requiring a special forced extraction unit, and using a forced extraction unit (and its operating electronics) of an existing hood. This allows the module 1 to be inserted into pre-installed "traditional" extractor hoods (by simply removing the conventional fume extraction pipe, as more clearly explained below). Furthermore, the module 1 may be employed during production, such that the same extractor hood may be used to make both conventional extractor hoods (by associating a fume exhaust pipe with the forced extraction unit) and extraction hoods with fresh air supply (by associating the module 1 with the forced extraction unit). Also, the same type of module (or with minor changes to the same module), may be used during production, to equip extractor hoods having different forms and appearances, thereby considerably reducing both design and manufacturing costs of hoods.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the module 1 comprises a connection 8 that is operable on the inlet section 5 of the exhaust pipe 5 and on the opening 3a of the bottom wall 3 of the box-like structure 2. This connection 5 has the purpose to connect the exhaust pipe 5 to the forced extraction unit 101 of the hood 100, e.g. to an exhaust duct 102 thereof. Preferably, the exhaust pipe 5 of the module

1 has a smaller diameter than the exhaust duct 102 of the hood 100 (as shown in Figure 2). The connection 8 extends from the bottom wall 3 of the box-like structure

2 or from a lower level thereof, and engages the entire extension of the opening 3 a of the bottom wall 3.

The intake opening 6 is placed at the opening 4a of the top wall 4 of the boxlike structure 2 and is physically separated from the outlet section 5b of the exhaust pipe 5, to avoid or limit the risk that the fumes from the exhaust pipe 5 may enter the box-like structure and flow out into the environment around the hood through the diffuser opening 7. Thus, the conventional hole of a chimney flue may be used for both fume exhaust and fresh air supply. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a sleeve 9 is provided at the intake opening 6, and is coaxial with the outlet section 5b of the exhaust pipe 5, or an extension thereof. In other words, the exhaust pipe 5 extends from the box-like structure 2 coaxial with the sleeve 9 (of greater diameter than the pipe 5), such that the section covered by the outlet section 5b of the exhaust pipe 5 engages a portion of the opening 4a of the top wall 4 of the box-like structure 2 and the annular gap between the sleeve 9 and the exhaust pipe 5 engages a remaining portion of the opening 4a of the top wall 4, thereby forming the above mentioned intake opening 6. The coaxial ducts formed by the combination of the exhaust pipe 5 and the sleeve 9 may be have respective coaxial ducts connected thereto, which extend to the chimney flue or outside the environment in which the hood is installed.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the box-like body 2 comprises four side walls 2a extending between the bottom wall 3 and the top wall 4. These side walls, as well as the bottom wall and the top wall, are preferably made of a metal material. In Figure 1, one of the side walls has been removed for clarity.

A ventilation unit 10 is operable at the diffuser opening 7, for supplying fresh air (i.e. air from the outside environment) drawn in through the intake opening 6, into the environment around the module. In the illustrated embodiment, this ventilation unit 10 is an axial fan. Preferably, an additional diffuser opening 7 is provided, which is engaged by an additional ventilation unit 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the diffuser openings 7 are formed on the side walls 2a of the box-like structure 2, particularly on two opposite side walls (as shown in Figure 3 or 4).

It shall be noted that no connection conduit is provided between the intake opening 6 and the diffuser opening 7. Connection is provided by the interior of the box-like structure itself, which ensures fluid communication between the two openings 6, 7 because, as mentioned above, the interior of the box-like structure 2 is in fluid communication with the outside environment via the intake opening 6 and the diffuser opening 7 only. In further embodiments, not shown, a tubular connection may be provided between the intake opening 6 and the diffuser opening 7.

The module 2 also comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of filters F operable on the diffuser opening 7 (as schematically shown in Figure 3). The filter F, or filter pack, is preferably located downstream from the diffuser opening 7, particularly in a housing 1 1 that extends out of the box-like structure (allowing easy access to the filters for maintenance). For example, up to three filters (preferably one or two) may be provided in each housing 11 , which are operably arranged in series, such as an odor filter, a HEPA filter located operatively downstream from the odor filter, an essential oil diffusing filter or an antibacterial filter located operatively downstream from the odor filter, preferably downstream from the HEPA filter.

For easy installation of the module 1, the module has attachment members 12, which are designed to engage the structure of a hood. For example, and as shown in the annexed figures, the attachment members 12 may consist of brackets for engaging the edges of the box-like structure, which extend toward the structure of the hood 100 that contains the forced extraction unit 101.

It shall be noted that the module 1 is not integral, i.e. formed of one piece, with the structure of the hood that contains the forced extraction unit. In other words, the walls of the box-like structure 2 are physically distinct from the walls that form the structure of the hood.

The module 1 is formed such that the dimensions of the bottom wall 3 are substantially equal to the dimensions of the outlet section of the forced extraction unit of the hood, thereby providing transverse dimensional continuity between the hood and the module. The longitudinal dimension of the module, i.e. the vertical extent of the module, is equal to or smaller than the distance between the outlet section of the forced extraction unit and the ceiling of the room in which the hood is installed.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs. All of these variants and changes fall within scope of the invention, as defined llowing claims.

Claims

1. A module for extractor hoods, characterized in that it comprises a box-like structure (2) having a bottom wall (3) with an opening (3 a) and a top wall (4) with an opening (4a), a gas exhaust pipe (5) that extends through said box-like structure (2) from the bottom wall (3) to the top wall (4), said exhaust pipe (5) comprising an inlet section (5 a) in fluid communication with the opening (3 a) of said bottom wall (3) and an outlet section (5b) in fluid communication with the opening (4a) of said top wall (4), said opening (3a) of the bottom wall (3) being adapted to be connected to a forced extraction unit (101) of an extractor hood (100), said box-like structure (2) comprising an intake opening (6) for outside air and at least one diffuser opening (7) in fluid communication with the intake opening (6) for conveying the air that flows from said intake opening (6) into the interior space of the box-like structure (2).

2. A module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said intake opening (6) is placed at the opening (4a) of the top wall (4) of the box-like structure (2) and is physically separated from said outlet section (5b) of the exhaust pipe (5).

3. A module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the outlet section (5b) of the exhaust pipe (5), or an extension thereof, extends through said opening (4a) of the top wall (4); a sleeve (9) coaxial to the outlet section (5b) of the exhaust pipe (5), or an extension thereof, being connected to said intake opening (6) and encircling said outlet section (5b) of the exhaust pipe (5) or an extension thereof.

4. A module as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a connection (9) operable on the inlet section (5a) of the exhaust pipe (5) and on the opening (3a) of the bottom wall (3) of the box-like structure (2) for connecting the exhaust pipe (5) to an exhaust duct of the forced extraction unit of the hood.

5. A module as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising at least one ventilation unit (10) operable on said diffuser opening (7) of the box-like structure (2).

6. A module as claimed in any preceding claims, comprising attachment means (12) for attaching the box-like structure (2) above the forced extraction unit of a hood.

7. A module as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said box-like structure (2) comprises four side walls (2a) extending between the bottom wall (3) and the top wall (4); said diffuser opening (7) being placed on a side wall (2a).

8. A module as claimed in claim 7, wherein said diffuser opening (7) is in fluid communication with said intake opening (6) through the interior space of the boxlike structure (2).

9. A module as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising at least one, preferably a plurality of filters (F) operable on the diffuser opening (7) for treating the air that flows out of the latter.

10. An extractor hood comprising a module (1), said module being formed as claimed in any claim from 1 to 9.