WO2022013644A1

WO2022013644A1 - Cooker hood

Info

Publication number: WO2022013644A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/055265
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfonso COPPOLA
Original assignee: Rithema S.R.L.S.
Priority date: 2020-07-17
Filing date: 2021-06-15
Publication date: 2022-01-20
Also published as: EP4182607A1; IT202000004300U1

Abstract

Cooker hood for cooking fumes with integrated waste composting chamber, comprising: a hollow cylindrical body (1) comprising a first base (11) through which the inner volume of said cylindrical body communicates with a suction duct, and a second open base (7); a plurality of internally hollow appendixes, provided with downwards-directed openings (4) and whose inner recess communicates with the inner volume of said cylindrical body (1); at least a fume extraction means, characterized in that it comprises further an extractable container (8), configured to be filled with organic wastes and to be introduced inside said central cylindrical body (1) through said second base (7) and to seal, when introduced, said opening (7) of the central body, said hood being configured to suck air through said downwards-directed openings (4), to make it pass inside said extractable container (8), and after, to expel it outside.

Description

COOKER HOOD

Description

The present invention relates to a home composting system for compost production starting from biodegradable organic substances.

In particular, the present invention relates to a cooker hood configured both for cooking fumes suction and for organic waste decomposition. Summary of the invention

The present invention relates to an organic waste home composting system integrated in a cooker hood, which uses the heat of cooking fumes to speed up the decomposition process of the waste contained in a dedicated chamber, so that optimal temperature, humidity and ventilation conditions are provided and maintained therein and the waste decomposition and compost ripening occurs correctly.

Wastes are positioned inside a chamber provided in the hood central body and they are subjected to a forced thermo-ventilation when, while traditionally functioning, the hood sucks cooking fumes from suitable openings provided therefor, and, before being discharged outside the room where the hood is arranged, the air is conveyed inside the chamber containing the waste, thus speeding up the compost production .

During the composting cycle, wastes are moved and pressed by a helicoidal screw rotating them, so that a complete water evaporation is guaranteed.

Brief description of the state of the art and technical problem

Waste home composting systems are known at the state of the art and commonly used. An example is described in Patent application CN1858027A relating to a method for transforming cooking waste in fertilizer, with the following steps: waste immersion in water, elimination of salt, sugar, water and oil, separation of not degradable organic substance and crushing at 2 cm dimension .

Another example is described in Patent US9499963B2 relating to a device for waste treatment, which can be arranged under the sink, which comprises a separator extracting liquid from organic waste and conveying it directly to the sewer. The remaining solid, in form of organic pulp, is dried in a drier and put in a removable container.

Another example is described in WO1992020451, in which it is shown a kitchen composter which consists in a chamber floor-mounted and connected to a waste disposer for water elimination and collection of triturated food waste, suitable to produce compost for garden.

Disadvantageously, such systems are technically very complex. Some of them, as the one described in CN1858027A, need steps as sterilization and elimination of various elements from the organic substances to be recycled. Other ones, as the one described in US9499963B, need a complex installation to connect the device to home sewers. Yet other ones, as the one described in

WO1992020451, need, to be installed, expensive and complex structural and plant interventions of the apartment .

Generally, currently used composting systems, even the smallest or mini ones, are to be used in middle and large dimensions outdoor spaces, and they are not configured to allow their use in an inhabited place.

Moreover, considering the remarkable dimensions, currently used composters are used by processing large amounts of waste, since it would not be convenient to recycle small quantities of waste at a time.

Another technical problem is the energetic consumption needed for the composter functioning and in particular for creating the heat needed for the decomposition process.

All the existing systems are also characterized by high prices and management costs, in addition to a high electric energy consumption. The systems existing at the state of the art always send out also bad odours, above all if badly managed, and they produce also an excessive quantity of percolate . Advantageously, instead the device according to the present invention uses the heat present in cooking fumes to speed up the organic waste decomposition process. The consumptions are low since active cycle consumption is of only 150W, while in case of inactive cycle it is not over 2W.

According to an aim, the present invention provides a cooker hood which is also a kitchen composter, able to compost organic waste by exploiting the heat derived from the cooktop. According to another aim, the present invention provides a composting system configured to function also with no heat deriving from the cooktop, by providing heat by means of an inner resistance, and by activating automatic thermo-ventilation cycles. According to another aim, the present invention provides a composting system which eliminates the problem of bad odours linked to the compost production .

According to another aim, the present invention provides an adjustable hood, which by means of a slider can be height-adjusted according to needs.

On the basis of further aspects, another aim of the present invention is to provide a device indicating to the user the end of the composting process by light signaling means. Moreover, the hood can be provided with a sensor which activates suction and waste composting automatically when the heat coming from the cooktop is detected.

The device is also particularly apt to be used frequently, for constant recycling of small quantities of wastes.

The present invention reaches the prefixed aims since it is a cooker hood for cooking fumes with integrated waste composting chamber, comprising: a hollow cylindrical body (1) comprising a first base (11) through which the inner volume of said cylindrical body communicates with a suction duct, and a second open base (7); a plurality of internally hollow appendixes, provided with downwards-directed openings (4) and whose inner recess communicates with the inner volume of said cylindrical body (1); at least a fume extraction means, and characterized in that it comprises further an extractable container (8), configured to be filled with organic wastes and to be introduced inside said central cylindrical body (1) through said second base (7) and to seal, when introduced, said opening (7) of the central body, said hood being configured to suck air through said downwards-directed openings (4), to make it pass inside said extractable container (8), and after, to expel it outside.

The device is described in the following with reference to the appended figures:

Figure 1 shows a prospective view of the device according to the invention, highlighting the main elements thereof.

Figure 2 show a front view of the invention during its functioning.

Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the invention. Figure 4 shows the invention utility in creating organic compost useful to nourish plants.

As it is shown in the appended figures, the hood according to the invention comprises a central cylindrical body (1), hollow inside, and configured to be arranged horizontally on a cooktop (6). To such aim, the cylindrical body comprises a first base (11) integral to and communicating with a fumes suction duct, and a second open base (7). The device comprises further a plurality of internally hollow appendixes, starting from the central body, provided with downwards-directed openings and whose inner recess communicates with the inner volume of the cylinder (1).

Preferably, said appendixes comprise a couple of "C" shaped peripheral frames (2) which define a rectangular shape as a whole, the central cylindrical body being arranged therebetween. Advantageously, the two frames communicate on the side surface of the central cylindrical body (1) from opposite portions and at the first base (1) and second base (7).

Once the hood is installed, the first base (11) is configured to communicate with a suction duct conveying the fumes outwards. The device comprises also a fumes extraction means (i.e. a fan) configured to suck fumes through said central cylindrical body and to convey them outside through the suction duct. Preferably but not limitingly, the fan is introduced inside the fumes suction duct. The frames (2) are provided on the inner edges with suction slits (4) which convey in said central cylindrical body (1) the fumes coming from the cooktop (6) through the interspaces (3) made up by the hollow shape of said couple of frames (2).

Preferably, but not limitingly the frames (2) are provided, at lower sides, with light sources (13) configured to light up the cooktop (6).

The device is characterized in that it comprises an extractable container (8), configured to be filled with organic waste and to be introduced inside said central cylindrical body (1) through the opening (7). Preferably, the extractable container (8) has the shape of a half cylinder, and an helicoidal screw (14) is keyed therein, with axis parallel to the axis of the central cylindrical body (1).

The container is also configured to seal, once introduced, said opening (7) of the central body.

The helicoidal screw (14) is moved by an electric motor (15) controlled by an electronic unit (5), and is configured to rotate waste and push them, while rotating, towards the bottom of the extractable container (8).

The bottom of the extractable container is configured to keep the waste introduced therein, and to allow instead the passage of suction fumes. In an embodiment, the bottom of said extractable container is closed by a net or similar device.

Therefore, the device as a whole is configured to suck air from the room - and so also cooking fumes coming from a hot plate under the hood - through suction slits (4), to make them pass through the appendixes inside the central body, and in particular inside the extractable container containing the waste, and so to expel them outside. By exploiting the heat coming from the fumes sucked from the cooktop (6) the composting process of organic waste contained in said extractable container (8) is speeded up.

Preferably, but not limitingly, the device comprises also inside the central cylindrical body (1) an electric resistance (12) for generating heat useful to speed up the composting process of the organic waste contained in the extractable container (8). The device comprises also a sensor configured to detect if the extractable container is closed or open, a sensor configured to measure temperature inside the extractable container, and a control unit configured to acquire the data detected by said sensors and to control the air suction means and said electric resistance as a function of said values.

Finally, the hood comprises preferably a sensor for heat detection, and it is configured so that said control unit activates suction and composting of the organic waste contained in the extractable container (8) automatically when heat coming from hot plates (6) is detected.

In front of the extractable container (8), at the visible base, it is preferably provided a warning light (9) indicating the end of the composting process of the organic waste contained in the container .

Advantageously, said control unit switches on said warning light when the following conditions are satisfied:

- the extractable container has remained closed for a time longer than the whole time of predetermined treatment; - inside the hood, there are observed temperatures higher than a threshold minimum temperature for a time longer than a whole predetermined time of high temperature treatment.

Claims

1. Cooker hood for cooking fumes with integrated waste composting chamber, comprising:

- a hollow cylindrical body (1) comprising a first base (11) through which the inner volume of said cylindrical body communicates with a suction duct, and a second open base (7); a plurality of internally hollow appendixes, provided with downwards-directed openings (4) and whose inner recess communicates with the inner volume of said cylindrical body (1);

- at least a fume extraction means, characterized in that it comprises further an extractable container (8), configured to be filled with organic wastes and to be introduced inside said central cylindrical body (1) through said second base (7) and to seal, when introduced, said opening (7) of the central body, said hood being configured to suck air through said downwards-directed openings (4), to make it pass inside said extractable container (8), and after, to expel it outside.

2. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that said extractable container (8) comprises an helicoidal screw (14) with axis parallel to the axis of said central cylindrical body (1), moved by an electric motor (15) and configured to rotate waste and push them, while rotating, towards the bottom of said extractable container (8).

3. Hood according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom of said extractable container is configured to keep the waste introduced therein, and to allow instead the passage of suction fumes.

4. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises further an electric resistance (12) inside said central cylindrical body (1).

5. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising further a sensor configured to detect if said extractable container closes said central cylindrical body or not, a sensor configured to measure temperature inside said extractable container, and a control unit configured to acquire the data detected by said sensors and to control the air suction means and said electric resistance.

6. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising further a sensor for heat detection, configured so that said control unit activates said at least fume extraction means automatically when heat coming from hot plates (6) is detected.

7. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising further a warning light (9) indicating the end of the composting process of the organic waste contained in said extractable container (8).

8. Hood according to claim 1, characterized in that said control unit is configured to switch on said warning light when the following conditions are satisfied:

- the extractable container has remained closed for a time longer than the whole time of predetermined treatment;

- inside the hood, there are observed temperatures higher than a threshold minimum temperature for a time longer than a whole predetermined time of high temperature treatment.

9. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said appendixes comprise a couple of "C" shaped peripheral frames (2) which define a rectangular shape as a whole, the central cylindrical body being arranged therebetween .

10. Hood according to claim 9, characterized in that said frames communicate on the side surface of the central cylindrical body (1) from opposite portions and at the first base (1) and second base (7).

11. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fumes extraction means comprise a fan introduced inside the fumes suction duct.

12. Hood according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said frames (2) are provided at lower sides with light sources (13) configured to light up the cooktop (6).