Patent Publication Number: US-2006005828-A1

Title: Ventilator assembly and method of installing same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS  
      None.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention relates to a ventilator assembly, and a method for removing exhaust fumes from an area surrounding a cooking unit, particularly such as are used in restaurants and other commercial food preparation areas. Such assemblies are known in the art, and typically include a ventilation hood located above the cooking unit and attached to a bearing and/or overhead wall of the kitchen. A typical prior art assembly includes a roof-top or outside blower in communication with the hood to pull air from the cooking area to the outside. Kitchen exhaust fumes generated by the cooking unit and entrained in the air stream are pulled upwardly through the ventilation opening. One or more filters are generally located in the hood for filtering the exhaust fumes from the surrounding air stream as the air stream is passed through the ventilation opening of the hood to the atmosphere.  
      A ventilator assembly of the present invention is particularly suited for use in a fast food restaurant where food is prepared in large quantities on an open fryer or grill surface or in a deep fryer. This method of cooking produces grease-contaminated, exhaust fumes which must be moved upwardly away from the cooking area. Once removed from the cooking area, the fumes are captured, and the filtered air stream is dispersed into the atmosphere outside of the restaurant.  
      Prior art ventilator assemblies are subject to several disadvantages and struggle to meet safety standards. The well-recognized, and followed, NFPA Code 96, directed to kitchen exhaust hoods, does not allow for needed wall fasteners to penetrate hood panels without taking added steps to ensure there are no fumes or grease leakage from the hood interior. Such fastener preclusion avoids the resort to panel welding and polishing. Towards this end, hood makers resort to top-mounted brackets to hold up the hood securely. If such prior art special brackets/rods are not used, it is difficult to meet the NFPA Code 96 installation constraints.  
      To conform to their needs, the prior art hoods are suspended from kitchen ceiling using externally mounted brackets with connecting depending rods. Less complex, but still effective means of meeting NFPA codes are desirable and are addressed by the present invention. Presently taught exhaust hoods are adapted to the reduced effort in installation and do so: (1) Make the use of costly hanging rods unnecessary; (2) ease hood positioning to conform to Code demands; (3) and preclude resort to added welding to fire-proof external panel penetrations by fasteners through the hood panels themselves.  
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the invention to provide a ventilator assembly located above a cooking unit which is handily installed and still effectively draws away kitchen exhaust fumes from an area surrounding the cooking unit.  
      Another object of the invention is to provide an exhaust hood assembly and installation method therefore that allows for easy installation of an off-the-shelf exhaust hood structure by service persons in the field.  
      It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for more precisely positioning off-the-shelf exhaust hoods on the support back wall, without need of excessive adjusting and measuring, such as swinging or height adjustments to compensate for the standard top-mounted hoods.  
      It is still another object to provide on top-mounted hoods that conform to an NFPA Code 96, but which require no penetration of the internal panels of the hoods by fasteners, precluding the resort of welding of hood to support brackets.  
      A yet further object is the preclusion to resort of specially configured, mounting brackets, which usually serve to effect hood mounting in order to maintain NFPA code requirements that exhaust hoods must necessarily be conformed to.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to the invention, there is now provided a hood-like ventilation assembly for removing kitchen exhaust fumes, in which the stove-overhanging, hood component defines the ventilation means to be located over the kitchen stove, with the hood having a top panel with one or more air vents in the top panel; a front panel, spaced-apart, side panels, and a specially-configured, vertical back panel; the back panel having along each of its lower and upper horizontal edges, a substantially linear, projecting an upper first and lower second rigid flanges that maintain the hood box-like configuration, and which back panel flanges serve as the mating and anchoring elements of the hood, adapted for the mounting thereof solely upon the back support wall for the entire ventilation assembly.  
      There is further provided an underlying elongate first bracket member, having an open, channel-like configuration when viewed in vertical cross section, with the first member being fixedly mounted on a vertical back support wall while nesting therein of the lower first rigid flange of the hood. An overlying, elongate second bracket member is provided with a configuration when seen in vertical cross section, which is adapted to engage and maintain the upper second rigid flange of the back panel in close abutment with the back support wall, and a fumes and grease filter element positioned transversely within the venting hood and adapted for removing the fumes from the moving airstream during the course of ventilation hood utilization.  
      In a preferred embodiment, the lower first bracket member, with its channel-like vertical configuration, engages the flange-like depending protrusion of the lower horizontal edge of the hood, with the first bracket member being sized to secure the depending protrusion in close contact. Also in a preferred embodiment, the depending protrusion of the back panel lower edge is provided with an outwardly slanted leading edge, adapted to contact and retain the lowermost edge of the hood filter element. Also in a preferred embodiment, the upper second bracket member is provided with a first longitudinal segment adapted to engage and retain the upper second flange of the back panel in abutment to the support wall, while an integral second longitudinal segment of the second bracket is fixedly mounted to the support wall for the vent assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  is a side elevational view in vertical section of a building venting system, including a conventional prior art exhaust duct assembly for a kitchen depicting the off wall location of the hood venting means;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic, side elevational view of how a venting hood assembly of the venting system of  FIG. 1  that was erected using prior art installation components and procedures;  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an odor venting hood mounted upon a paneled bearing wall, also depicting the exhaust duct cutout in the hood (duct omitted for clarity of view), such hood having been installed according to use of the components of present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a perspective and exploded view of the operative components of the hood assembly of  FIG. 3 , seen in the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view in the vent hood mounting procedure, depicting the initial step of placing the underlying hood elongate support bracket now being as seen mounted on the pre-paneled bearing wall of  FIG. 4 ;  
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged end elevational view in vertical section of the installed venting hood of  FIGS. 3 and 4 , better depicting in juxtaposition all the assembled components of the already installed venting system.  
       FIG. 7  is another enlarged and elevational view, in vertical section, better showing how the planar filter element is functionally positioned and how the hood assembly is mounted securely upon the bearing wall;  
       FIG. 8U and 8L  are broken-out, enlarged views in vertical sections of the lower and upper support means for the hood depicting in greater detail the dual means of hood securement; and  
       FIGS. 9U and 9L  are a broken out, enlarged view in vertical section, also of the upper and lower secured bracket support means for the hood, seen in greater detail, depicting the dual means of hood assembly for secure wall mounting. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      A conventional exhaust duct assembly  10  enclosed by a vertical conduit is shown schematically in the prior art arrangement of  FIG. 1 . It typically included a vertically-aligned exhaust fan duct  12  that penetrates one or more building floorings  16  and  24 , and has ensconced at the upper longitudinal end, a powered outward exhaust fan  18 , with an associated grease trap (not seen). The exhaust is mounted outside the roof  20  on the building. Proximal to the lower longitudinal end  12 L of duct assembly  10  is a bearing side wall  22 , with a thereon mounted exhaust hood, generally  24 , being substantially offset above the base floor  14 , and mounted overlying a cooking device  26 , such as a commercial, multi-burner cook stove. Such an exhaust hood  24  is an essential feature of all commercial kitchens, which must conform to building code requirements, including use of non-combustible materials for constructions and particularly proper modes of arranging and securing the operative components.  
      In the schematic side elevational view of  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a typical set up for ceiling mounting and wall securing of the venting hood in the kitchen area above a stove, in the manner of the prior art installations. Hood  24 A is suspended by a pair of cables  28 L and  28 R, which, in turn, are anchored to overhead ceiling fixtures,  30 L and  30 L, at the upper cable ends; and below to mounting fixtures,  32 L/R, each affixed to the upper horizontal panel  34  of the prior art venting hood  24 A. Also several elongate bolts, like  34 U/L, connect the hood pack panel  34 B to the support side wall  36 , which wall abuts the hood, and which also overlies the stove  26 A itself. The complexity and workmanship needed to safely and durably install such a kitchen exhaust hood is manifestly significant when looking at the prior art configuration of  FIG. 2 .  
      In the present case, a similarly configured exhaust hood  38 , but having been wall mounted according to the present invention, is depicted in the perspective view of  FIG. 3 . A bearing side wall  40 , perhaps of stacked bricks as depicted, provides a solid facade for supporting a variable number of planar metallic modules,  42 A/B, and the associated module-mounted, exhaust hood  38  of the present configuration. The sidewall-fastened planar modules,  42 , serves as the mounting surface for the hood, while there provide a firmer support manes against the brick wall for the use of conventional fasteners (not seen).  
      Note that the present hood is solely wall-mounted, which precludes the need for the use of ceiling-depending support rods,  28 L/R of  FIG. 2 . The upper panel  44  of hood  38  is also provided with a rectangle shaped, cutout  46 , which will be operably joined at installation time with a venting duct (not shown), but arranged to look like the exhaust fan duct  12 L of  FIG. 1 . Air vents are formed in the top wall of hood  38 , that are in communication with the air exhaust duct  12  of  FIG. 1 . An underlying kitchen stove (not seen) is usually positioned under exhaust hood  38 , as depicted in  FIGS. 1 &amp; 2 . The upper edges of conjoined modules  42  are secured to a back wall  40  ( FIG. 2 ) by rigid channel member  48  with plural fasteners, like metal screws,  49 A-F.  
      In the exploded view of  FIG. 4 , the key installation components of mountable exhaust hood  38 , to be configured and conjoined according to the present invention, are conveniently depicted. Such includes underlying, an elongate rigid support bracket  50 , which present an upwardly oriented, open channel  52  , which trough is sized to nest easily the first lower rigid flange  54  of the back panel  56  of the hood  38 . Seen in vertical cross-section of  FIG. 6 , bracket  50  presents a U-shaped, elongate trough  52 . This lower support bracket  50  also applies plural fastener elements,  58 A-D, which will affix this elongate bracket to rigid back wall modules  42 A/B.  
      Also seen is a standard particulate filter  60  normally positioned wholly within the hood  38 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 , being in an inwardly/downwardly oriented juxtaposition. The filter element itself presents a serrated/recessed surface, such as seen in corrugated containers for products. Such filters are available from Component Hardware Group of Lakewood, N.J. However, the filter does not comprise a part of the present invention, but is a standard component of stove-exhaust hood assemblies. Note the single squared opening  46  in upper stove panel to hood panel  44 , to which an exhaust duct assembly (not seen) will be operably connected.  
      Hood  38  is seen as oriented ready to be nested along its lower flange  54 , in the to be side wall mounted, horizontal, support bracket  50 .  
      In the elevational view of  FIG. 5 , is shown the first step of achieving a side wall mounted exhaust hood by securing an first elongate, rigid support bracket  50  to side wall  42 , at a height of up to four feet above the surface of a cooking stove (not seen). Underlying bracket  50  is wall mounted fixedly with conventional fasteners,  58 A/D, at spaced-apart locations, perhaps coincident with any vertical studs (not seen) to which the support wall module  42  is abutting.  
      Also seen above hood  38  is a horizontally-aligned, elongate rigid bracket  62 , which functions as a retaining and flange-pinning means upon engaging the uppermost rigid flange  64  of hood  38  ( FIG. 4 ). An overlying bracket  62  has two elongate segments,  62 U and  62 L. The lower segment  62 L is offset from the conjoined integral upper segment  62 U, so as to be adapted to overlap upper flange  62  of hood  38 . After the hood low flange  54  is nested in the underlying bracket  50 , the hood is rotated to the upright position depicted, being temporarily, and manually held there. With hood  38  now flush against support wall  42 , the upper bracket  62  is positioned overlying flange  64 , then is affixed to the support wall  42  along the uppermost segment,  62 U, which flange is in flush contact with the support wall  42 .  
      The final result is depicted in  FIG. 3 , where the engagement of upper bracket  62  and flange  64  is evident.  
      Similarly, a plurality of mounting fasteners,  66 A- 66 D (bolts or screws) are employed to anchor offset upper bracket  62  to the support wall, along its upper segment  62 U. The vertical cross sectional configuration of the upper bracket  62  is first depicted in  FIG. 8U and 9U .  
      In sum, first installing the lower bracket  50  ( FIG. 5 ) fixedly to the support wall; then hood  38  is nested along its lower flange  54 , in trough  52  of underlying support bracket  50 ; the hood is rotated to the upright position until upper flange  64  is in contact with back wall  42  and is held thereto. Upper bracket  62  is arrayed overlapping hood upper flange  64 , then fastened to the back wall. After both well-mounted brackets are fixedly set, then the transient manual support for the mounted hood is ended with the end result depicted in  FIG. 3 .  
      In the side elevational view of  FIG. 6 , a means of positioning and retaining a filter element  60  is depicted. Depending from upper hood panel  44  is a clamp-like, bracket  70  which engages the upper outward edge  72 U of filter  60 . The lower horizontal edge  72 L of the filter contacts hood back panel  56  and also abuts an inclined leading edge  74  of lower flange  54  of panel  56  support.  
      The enlarged vertical sectional view of  FIG. 7  shows the details of the dual opposing, horizontal brackets supporting hood assembly  38 , and associated filter  60 . The lowermost flange  54  of hood  38  present a U-shaped, depending projection  54 P, which projection is sized to nest snugly in the complemental U-shaped channel  52  of lower support bracket  50 . Projection  54 P is further provided with an outwardly slanted leading edge  74 , which contacts the outer surface of the filter lower edge  72 L, and holds the inner surface resting against back panel  56 , until the latter is manually dislodged for servicing or replacement. This facilitates the channel of protrusion  54 P serving as a grease trap.  
       FIGS. 8U and 8L  are broken out, enlarged views of the major support brackets. Better seen is the trough-like configuration of lower bracket  50 , and the offset, dual segmented, configuration of upper bracket  62 . Similarly,  FIGS. 9U and 9L  depict, in finer detail, the mating of the hood support components. Flange-like protrusion  54 P nests within bracket trough  52 , while the hood protrusion also contacts filter lower edge  72 L; hood upper flange  64  contacts abutting support module  42 ; and wall-anchored modules  42  abut with overlapping upper bracket  62 , which retains upper flange  64 .