VAPOR DETECTING DEVICE FOR A COOKING APPLIANCE AND UNIT CONSISTING OF A COOKING APPLIANCE AND A VAPOR DETECTING DEVICE

In one aspect of a vapor detecting device for a cooking appliance and a unit containing a cooking appliance and a vapor detecting device, the exhaust air that flows in through a first opening and/or through a second opening into the vapor collecting device flows through the following stations arranged within the vapor collecting device, one after the other, namely: a coolable body, as a station of the condensation device, so as to clean the exhaust air of aerosols and water droplets and to condense out at least part of the steam and preferably partially cool it; a grease separator filter as the first station of the treatment device; a sponge filter as the second station of the treatment device; a plasma as the third station of the treatment device, for sterilization, ionization and/or dissociation; and an activated charcoal filter as the fourth station of the treatment device.

The present invention relates to a vapor collecting device for a cooking appliance, having at least a first opening that can be connected with at least one cooking space of the cooking appliance by way of a ventilation system of the appliance, to allow exhaust air from the cooking appliance to flow into the vapor collecting device, at least a second opening into which ambient air and, if the door of the cooking space is at least partially open, exhaust air can flow in from the cooking appliance, a condensation device for at least partial removal of aerosols and steam from exhaust air, and a treatment device for at least partial removal of undesirable substances and/or odors from the exhaust air. Furthermore the invention relates to a unit consisting of such a vapor collecting device and a cooking appliance.

In the state of the art, numerous extractor hoods, which can also be referred to as vapor collecting devices, are known, which clean the exhaust air of a cooking appliance, so to speak, in that they specifically free this air of vapors and other undesirable substances, and decompose exhaust gases that carry odors. In this regard, the exhaust air can get into the extraction hood in two different ways, namely on the one hand by way of a ventilation system for the cooking space and, if applicable, further interior spaces of the cooking appliance, and, on the other hand, if the door of the cooking space is open, together with the atmosphere outside of the cooking space, in other words the ambient air.

It is furthermore usual to provide an activated charcoal unit separately from a condensation unit in an extraction hood, wherein an arrangement in which the exhaust air passes first through the condensation unit and then through the activated charcoal unit is preferred, since usual activated charcoal units are not supposed to come into contact with moisture.

During operation of cooking appliances, in particular such appliances in which food to be cooked can be impacted optionally with hot air and/or steam, the atmosphere in a kitchen in which the cooking appliances are set up can be greatly impaired due to vapors, namely both with regard to odors and with regard to moisture and substances carried with it, for example in the form of grease. For this reason, DE 10 2007 042 284 A1 proposes a combination of known devices in an exhaust hood, in which the vapor first passes through a condensation segment, then experiences a deflection, and finally passes through an odor treatment segment. In this regard, condensation of moisture from the vapor comes about in the condensation segment, while unpleasant odors are reduced during the course of the odor treatment segment, before being passed out into the ambient air. In this regard, it is supposed to be essential to provide a separation of functions within an extraction hood, wherein the deflection of the flow between the two functional units is supposed to lead to a compact structure.

An extraction hood is also known from DE 20 2011 050 141 U1.

Proceeding from this prior art, the invention is based on the task of improving a vapor collecting device with regard to its structure and/or its effect.

This task is accomplished, in the case of a vapor collecting device in accordance with the preamble of claim1, by means of the characterizing features of claim1. Further developments and advantageous embodiments of the invention are evident from the dependent claims.

The invention proceeds from a vapor collecting device for a cooking appliance, having at least a first opening that can be connected with at least one cooking space of a cooking appliance by way of a ventilation system of the appliance, to allow exhaust air from the cooking appliance to flow into the vapor collecting device, having at least a second opening into which ambient air and, if the door of the cooking space is at least partially open, exhaust air can flow in from the cooking appliance, having a condensation device for at least partial removal of aerosols, water droplets and steam from the exhaust air, and having a treatment device for at least partial removal of undesirable substances and/or odors from exhaust air, and having at least a third opening from which the treated exhaust air can flow out of the vapor collecting device.

According to the invention, it is provided that the exhaust air that flows in through the first opening and/or preferably through the second opening into the vapor collecting device flows through the following stations arranged within the vapor collecting device, one after the other, namelya coolable body, as a station of the condensation device, so as to clean the exhaust air of aerosols and water droplets and to condense out at least part of the steam and preferably partially cool it,a grease separator filter as the first station of the treatment device,a sponge filter as the second station of the treatment device,a plasma as the third station of the treatment device, for sterilization, ionization and/or dissociation, andan activated charcoal filter as the fourth station of the treatment device.

The arrangement according to the invention, of a condensation device and a treatment device having the stations mentioned above, is also suitable for a vapor collecting device that is arranged above a cooktop.

Accordingly, the invention also relates to a vapor collecting device for a cooktop, having at least one opening into which ambient air and exhaust air can flow from the cooktop into the vapor collecting device that is arranged at a distance from the cooktop, having a condensation device for at least partial removal of aerosols, water droplets and steam from the exhaust air, and having a treatment device for at least partial removal of undesirable substances and/or odors from exhaust air, and having at least one other opening from which the treated exhaust air can flow out of the vapor collecting device, wherein the exhaust air that flows into the vapor collecting device through the one opening flows through the following stations arranged within the vapor collecting device, one after the other, namelya coolable body, as a station of the condensation device, so as to clean the exhaust air of aerosols and water droplets and to condense out at least part of the steam and preferably partially cool it,a grease separator filter as the first station of the treatment device,a sponge filter as the second station of the treatment device,a plasma as the third station of the treatment device, for sterilization, ionization and/or dissociation, andan activated charcoal filter as the fourth station of the treatment device.

If the exhaust air stream is divided up into multiple partial exhaust air streams, then the partial exhaust air streams pass through the aforementioned stations of the treatment device in parallel. Accordingly, the stations can also be divided, for example one activated charcoal filter of the fourth station can be present for the one partial exhaust air stream, and another activated charcoal filter of the fourth station, at a distance from the former, can be present for a different partial exhaust air stream.

The grease separator filter is preferably a knitted metal mesh filter. It is advantageous that such a filter can be treated or regenerated at any time by washing it. Contaminants, in particular grease particles, are deposited on such a filter.

The sponge filter, which is configured as a filter mat composed of foam material, for example, filters larger particles, grease particles, but also water, if applicable, out of the exhaust air. It is advantageous that such a filter can be treated or regenerated at any time by means of washing it.

By means of the production of a plasma as the third station of the treatment device during operation of the vapor collecting device according to the invention, the result is achieved that undesirable substances and odors are converted or neutralized out of the exhaust air, at least in part to produce unobjectionable and odor-free components.

According to the invention, a plasma should be understood to be a gas, the components of which have ions and electrons, at least in part, and thereby contain free charge carriers. As a result, a plasma brings about neutralization of undesirable particles, wherein odors that are perceived as being unpleasant can also be eliminated or reduced from the exhaust air by means of the plasma that is formed. As a result of the plasma formation or the exhaust air ionization, ozone occurs, among other things, and brings about cleavage of different types of molecules and/or molecule chains.

The excitation of air or of the exhaust air to form a plasma leads to a plasma state of the air or of the exhaust air, in which the ions that are formed, which form free radicals in the plasma, or in which the free electrons bring about the result that these in turn react with the molecules/molecule chains, aerosol particles or undesirable substances contained in the air or the plasma, in order to reduce their undesirable effect on people and the environment to a desired dimension.

The plasma has the property that in an oxidation process, undesirable or unstable molecules/molecule chains of the air or of the exhaust air are decomposed or converted to stable compounds by the plasma. Such an oxidation process or decomposition process is also referred to as cold combustion in many cases. The ozone formed during the formation of the plasma contributes to this and develops an odor-neutralizing effect within the scope of the vapor collecting device according to the invention. Unpleasant smells as they usually occur during cooking of foods are clearly reduced.

Excitation of the air or of the exhaust air for plasma formation can take place in different ways.

A plasma generator, which has a lattice composed of electrodes to which voltage can be applied, through which lattice the exhaust air can flow and which passes crosswise through the flow channel, each electrode having an electrically conductive core and an insulator mantle that sheathes the core, preferably in the form of a small glass tube, as well as power electronics that can be connected with the electrode lattice, for building up differences in potential between electrodes that are adjacent to one another, by means of corresponding application of voltage to the same, wherein the electrodes are structured in rod shape, each passing through the flow channel, and are arranged parallel to and equidistant from one another, is particularly suitable. Preferably a voltage of 5-10, preferably 8 kilovolts is applied to the aforementioned electrode lattice.

In order to filter the molecules/molecule chains that were converted/neutralized in the third station of the treatment device, configured as a plasma, out of the exhaust air, after this air has flowed through the third station during operation of a vapor collecting device according to the invention, it is provided that the treatment device has an activated charcoal filter that follows the third station, in terms of flow technology, in order to filter out residual particles, particularly those contained in the exhaust air. Use of an activated charcoal filter also serves to make it possible to decompose any compounds, which might not have been converted by the plasma yet, in the activated charcoal. The activated charcoal therefore serves not as a storage mechanism but rather as a catalyst and an additional reaction platform. Furthermore the ozone that is formed during plasma formation is removed by means of the activated charcoal. This simultaneously leads to regeneration of the activated charcoal.

It can be advantageous if a blower device, preferably a radial fan, is provided between the condensation device and the treatment device. The blower device brings about acceleration of the exhaust air stream, which thereby flows through the condensation device and the treatment device in the predetermined manner.

It can be advantageous if the blower device is arranged in such a manner that it deflects the exhaust air stream upward, preferably upward by 90°. In this way, a compact construction of the vapor collecting device can be achieved.

It can be advantageous if the exhaust air stream divides into two partial exhaust air streams behind the blower device, wherein each partial exhaust air stream flows through a treatment device, i.e. the stations of the treatment device. Division of the exhaust air stream into two partial streams has the advantage that space for holding at least one transformer is formed between the exhaust air streams. Preferably two transformers for generating one plasma per partial exhaust air stream, in each instance, are provided in the aforementioned space. Preferably an electrode lattice as described above is provided in each partial exhaust air stream.

It can be advantageous if the coolable body is a pipe package that comprises multiple pipes that are spaced apart from one another and arranged above and behind one another. Preferably the pipes of the pipe package are oriented transverse to the exhaust air stream, so that the exhaust air stream flows around the pipes, and the exhaust air stream flows through the pipe package as such.

It can be advantageous if the coolable body is arranged directly behind the second opening in the flow path of the exhaust air that flows in through the second opening or through the one opening.

It can be advantageous if the grease separator filter, the sponge filters and/or the activated charcoal filter of the treatment device are configured, in each instance, in plate form, preferably in the form of an insert or slide-in module that can be removed from the vapor collecting device. If the exhaust air stream is divided up into partial streams, preferably a separate insert or slide-in module that can be removed from the vapor collecting device is provided, in each instance, of the grease separator filter, the sponge filter and/or the activated charcoal filter, per partial stream. The slide-in modules can preferably be pushed into and pulled out of the vapor collecting device from its front side.

It can be advantageous if a preferably plate-shaped grease separator filter is arranged ahead of or in the second opening or the one opening, which filter is arranged ahead of the coolable body in the flow path of the exhaust air that flows in through the second opening or the one opening. This filter is preferably replaceable, in particular washable for treatment, and already serves for removing undesirable particles, in particular grease particles, from the exhaust air, before the exhaust air comes into contact with the coolable body of the condensation device.

It can be advantageous if a baffle plate is arranged ahead of the second opening or the one opening, which plate is arranged in the flow path of the exhaust air that flows in through the second opening or the one opening, ahead of the grease separator filter that is arranged in the second opening or the one opening. The baffle plate essentially serves the purpose of increasing the air speed and improving the in-flow of exhaust air into the vapor collecting device.

It can be advantageous if the third opening is provided with a HEPA filter, preferably a plate-shaped one, which is arranged after the treatment device in the flow path of the exhaust air, or if the other opening is provided with an electrostatic filter, preferably a plate-shaped one, which is arranged after the treatment device in the flow path of the exhaust air.

HEPA filters (High Efficiency Particulate Air filters) are micro-filters for filtering out dust, smoke particles, and aerosol particles, for example, from the exhaust air that flows through them for treatment. These filters are commercially available and are therefore cost-advantageous for removing residual particles that remain in the exhaust air. The filters in question yield the advantage that further particles, such as those that can get into the air through the activated charcoal filter, are filtered out as they flow through the fine-particle filter, and thereby the purity of the air, i.e. filtering out of undesirable components in the air is improved. As a result, the reliability of functioning of a vapor collecting device according to the invention, with regard to the filtering effect, is improved in a simple manner.

Preferably the HEPA filter is arranged in a removable lid of the vapor collecting device. The at least one third opening for exiting of the treated exhaust air from the vapor collecting device is also located in this lid.

It can be advantageous if the condensation apparatus has a bottom that is provided with a pipe-like drain, so as to carry away condensate and, if applicable, grease particles or other undesirable particles from the vapor collecting device.

It can be advantageous if the blower device is arranged in a pass-through of a basin arranged under the treatment device, wherein the basin has a pipe-like drain in its bottom, so as to conduct condensate and/or grease particles or other undesirable particles into the pipe-like drain of the bottom of the condensation apparatus and carry it/them away out of the vapor collecting device.

The ozone released during plasma formation represents an aggressive medium that can attack and possibly decompose materials or components. For this reason, it is provided, in a further advantageous further development of the invention, that an existing wall consists of a stainless steel material, at least in certain sections, or has a stainless steel material. In this way, decomposition or damage, in particular, caused by ozone, of components or sections of a ventilation apparatus according to the invention that are accordingly configured by means of stainless steel is prevented in a simple manner.

Finally, the invention also relates to a unit consisting, on the one hand, of a cooking appliance having a cooking space, of at least one device for applying hot air, steam or microwaves to food to be cooked in the cooking space, and of at least one device for cleaning at least the cooking space, and, on the other hand, of a vapor collecting device according to the invention, wherein the first opening of the vapor collecting device is connected with a ventilation system of the cooking appliance that stands in an active connection with the cooking space.

In the following, the invention will be explained using an exemplary embodiment that is shown in the drawing. In the drawing, the figures show:

In the drawing, the characteristics that are essential for understanding the invention are shown and explained. In this regard, when the same reference numbers are used in the figures, they always refer to the same parts, as well.

FIG.1shows a schematic exploded representation of a vapor collecting device10according to the invention, for a cooking appliance, not shown here, comprising at least a first opening12, which can be connected with at least one cooking space of the cooking appliance, by way of a ventilation system of the appliance, for in-flow of exhaust air from the cooking appliance into the vapor collecting device, and at least a second opening14, into which ambient air and, when the door of the cooking space is at least partly open, exhaust air from the cooking appliance can flow. The vapor collecting device10has a condensation device16for at least partial removal of aerosols, water droplets, and steam from the exhaust air, and a treatment device18for at least partial removal of undesirable substances and/or odors from the exhaust air. Furthermore the vapor collecting device comprises at least a third opening20, from which the treated exhaust air can flow out of the vapor collecting device10.

According to the invention, it is provided that the exhaust air that flows in through the first opening12, which can be recognized well inFIG.3, and through the second opening14, into the vapor collecting device10, flows through the following stations arranged within the vapor collecting device10, one after the other, namely through a coolable body22as a station of the condensation device16, so as to clean the exhaust air of aerosols and water droplets and to condense out at least part of the steam and preferably partially cool it, a grease separator filter24as the first station of the treatment device18, a sponge filter26as the second station of the treatment device18, a plasma28as the third station of the treatment device18, for sterilization, ionization and/or dissociation, and an activated charcoal filter30as the fourth station of the treatment device18.

Furthermore a blower device32, in the present case a radial fan, is provided between condensation device16and treatment device18. The blower device32can be recognized well inFIG.2.

The blower device32is arranged in such a manner that it deflects the exhaust air stream upward.

In the present case, the exhaust air stream divides into two partial exhaust air streams behind the blower device32, wherein each partial exhaust air stream flows through a treatment device18. In the present case, the partial streams are separated from one another by a space54, in which two transformers56for generating a volume plasma per partial exhaust air stream, in each instance, are situated. According to the invention, each partial exhaust air stream flows through the treatment device18. For this purpose, the individual stations24,26, and30—as shown inFIG.1—are provided per partial stream, in other words they are present twice. In order to generate the plasma that is provided per partial stream, lattices58are provided, through which the exhaust air can flow and which pass transversely through a flow channel, and which are composed of electrodes to which voltage can be applied, each having an electrically conductive core and an insulator mantle that sheathes the core, as well as of power electronics connected with the electrode lattice58, comprising the aforementioned transformers56, for building up differences in potential between electrodes that are most closely adjacent to one another, by means of corresponding application of voltage to the same, wherein the electrodes are configured in rod shape, each pass through the flow channel, and are arranged parallel to as well as equidistant from one another. Preferably the electrode lattices have 5-10, preferably 8 kilovolts applied to them.

The coolable body22—as shown inFIG.3—is a pipe package that comprises multiple pipes34that are spaced apart from one another and arranged above and behind one another. In the present case, 6×6, in other words 24 pipes are provided, wherein the individual rows are arranged alternately offset from one another.

As can be seen well inFIG.1, the coolable body22is arranged directly behind the second opening14, in the flow path of the exhaust air that flows in through the second opening14.

The grease separator filter24, the sponge filter26and/or the activated charcoal filter28of the treatment device18are each configured in plate form, in the form of a removable insert or slide-in module, per partial stream in the present case. InFIGS.5and6, the slide-in modules36that form the activated charcoal filter28and the sponge filter26are shown in detail.

As can be seen well inFIG.1, a preferably plate-shaped grease separator filter38is arranged ahead of or in the second opening14, which filter is arranged in the flow path of the exhaust air that flows in through the second opening14, in front of the coolable body22. As can also be seen inFIG.1, a baffle plate39is arranged in front of the second opening14, which plate is arranged in the flow path of the exhaust air that streams in through the second opening14, ahead of the grease separator filter38that is arranged in the second opening14.

The third opening20, which can be recognized well inFIG.4, has a plate-shaped HEPA filter40, which is arranged in the flow path of the exhaust air after the treatment device18.

The condensation device16has a bottom42that is provided with a pipe-like drain44, so as to conduct away condensate and any undesirable particles that might have been removed, for example grease particles, out of the vapor collecting device10.

The blower device32is arranged in a pass-through46of a basin48arranged under the treatment device16, wherein the basin48has a pipe-like drain52in its bottom50, so as to conduct away condensate and, if applicable, other undesirable particles that have been removed, for example grease particles, into the pipe-like drain44of the bottom42of the condensation apparatus16and carry it/them away out of the vapor collecting device10.

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