Patent Application
20250216087
The present subject matter relates generally to vent hoods for cooking appliances.
Vent hoods for cooking appliance, such as overhead vents for oven and stovetop appliances, generally require airflow rates appropriate for clearing out steam, smoke, and other gases produced from operation of the cooking appliance. Insufficient airflow may result in diminished or undesired performance of the vent hood, which may lead to cosmetic or functional damage to the vent hood, cooking appliance, or surrounding kitchen area.
Accordingly, an improved vent hood for a cooking appliance would be advantageous and beneficial. Additionally, or alternatively, an improved system and method for airflow determination through a vent hood would be advantageous and beneficial.
Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a vent hood for a cooking appliance. The vent hood includes a vent body forming an inlet opening configured to receive a flow of gases into the vent body. The vent body forms an internal pathway through which the flow of gases is permitted to an outlet opening. The vent body forms a first port and a second port each extending through the vent body to provide fluid communication between the internal pathway and an exterior volume. The first port is positioned proximate to the inlet opening. The second port is positioned proximate to the outlet opening. The first port and the second port are each configured to transmit a respective pressure value from the internal pathway to a pressure transducer.
Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a system for airflow determination at a vent hood for a cooking appliance. The system includes a vent body forming an inlet opening configured to receive a flow of gases into the vent body. The vent body forms an internal pathway through which the flow of gases is permitted to an outlet opening. The vent body forms a first port and a second port each extending through the vent body to provide fluid communication between the internal pathway and an exterior volume. The first port is positioned proximate to the inlet opening. The second port is positioned proximate to the outlet opening. A computing device is operably coupled to the first port and the second port. The computing device is configured to obtain a differential pressure value corresponding to a difference in pressure between the first port and the second port. The difference in pressure between the first port and the second port correspond to the internal pathway at the vent hood.
Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for airflow determination at a vent hood for a cooking appliance. The method includes forming a first port and a second port each extending through the vent hood to provide fluid communication between an internal pathway and an exterior volume, the first port positioned proximate to the inlet opening, the second port positioned proximate to the outlet opening; obtaining, via a computing device, a differential pressure between the first port and the second port, wherein a first pressure from the first port and a second pressure from the second port each correspond to the internal pathway at the vent hood; and determining, via the computing device, an airflow value based at least on the differential pressure between the first port and the second port.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
As used herein, the term “or” is generally intended to be inclusive (i.e., “A or B” is intended to mean “A or B or both”). The terms “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used interchangeably to distinguish one component from another and are not intended to signify location or importance of the individual components. The terms “upstream” and “downstream” refer to the relative flow direction with respect to fluid flow in a fluid pathway. For example, “upstream” refers to the flow direction from which the fluid flows, and “downstream” refers to the flow direction to which the fluid flows.
Referring now to the drawings,
It should be appreciated that operation of the cooking appliance 100 may generally generate gases, such as, but not limited to, steam, smoke, un-burned gas, exhaust fumes, or combinations thereof. Exemplary embodiments of the vent hood 140 are positioned vertically above the cooking appliance 100, such as to receive a flow of air including the gases, such as depicted schematically via arrow A.
Referring to
Referring to
In some embodiments, the outlet opening 144 is formed at the central manifold 160 distal to the inlet manifold 150.
In still some embodiments, the inlet manifold 150 forms a greater cross-sectional area at the internal pathway 148 than a cross-sectional area at the internal pathway 148 formed at the central manifold 160.
In some embodiments, the first port 170 is positioned at the inlet manifold 150 and the second port 180 is positioned at the central manifold 160, such as depicted in
In still some embodiments, the first port 170 and the second port 180 are each positioned at the central manifold 160, such as depicted in
In still yet some embodiments, the first port 170 and the second port 180 are each positioned at the inlet manifold 150.
The first port 170 and the second port 180 are each positioned apart from one another relative to a direction of flow of gases (e.g., depicted via arrow A) through the internal pathway 148, In various embodiments, such as described herein, the ports 170, 180 are positioned separate from one another such as to allow for a pressure differential at the internal pathway 148 between the ports 170, 180.
Various embodiments of the vent hood 140 may include a flow device 152 configured to urge a flow of gases through the internal pathway 148. The flow device 152 may form a fan, a blower, a vacuum, or other device configured to generate a flow of fluid through the internal pathway 148. Although
Referring to
The communications interface 214 is configured to visually and/or audibly communicate signals to a user, such as, but not limited to, one or more signals corresponding to a pressure value, a differential pressure value, an airflow value, or an airflow threshold, corresponding to the internal pathway 148, such as further described herein. The communications interface 214 may form a display screen, such as depicted in
The selector inputs 212 may form, but not limited to, knobs, buttons, touchscreen interfaces, etc. configured to allow a user to provide inputs to the computing device 210. The selector input 212 is in operable communication with a processor, such as depicted schematically via processor 216. As used herein, processor 216 may generally refer to any suitable processing device, such as, but not limited to, a general or special purpose microprocessor, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a logic device, one or more central processing units (CPUs), a graphics processing units (GPUs), processing units performing other specialized calculations, semiconductor devices, etc. Embodiments of the computing device 210 are not necessarily restricted to a single element but may include any suitable number, type, and configuration of processors 216 integrated in any suitable manner to facilitate operation such as described herein.
Alternatively, computing device 210 may be constructed without using a microprocessor, e.g., using a combination of discrete analog and/or digital logic circuitry (such as switches, amplifiers, integrators, comparators, flip-flops, AND/OR gates, and the like) to perform control functionality instead of relying upon software.
The computing device 210 may be programmed to execute one or more steps of a method for airflow determination at a vent hood for a cooking appliance (hereinafter, “method 1000”), such as further described herein. The computing device 210 may include, or be associated with, one or more memory elements, depicted schematically via memory 218. Memory 218 may include, but is not limited to, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums, such as RAM, ROM, or electrically erasable, programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory devices, magnetic disks, or other suitable memory devices (including combinations thereof). Embodiments of the computing device 210 may include the processor 216 as a separate component from memory 218. Alternatively, computing device 210 may include the processor 216 and memory 218 as an integral unit, such as the memory included onboard within the processor 216.
One or more steps of method 1000 may be stored at the memory 218 as instructions, such as software, firmware, or any set of instructions that, when executed by the processor 216, causes the computing device 210 to perform operations, such as one or more steps of method 1000. For example, computing device 210 may be operable to execute programming instructions or micro-control code associated with embodiments of method 1000. In this regard, the instructions may be software or any set of instructions that when, executed by the processor 216, causes the computing device 210 to perform operations, such as running one or more software applications, displaying a user interface, receiving user input signals, processing input signals, or performing calculations, determinations, or obtaining data such as described herein.
In some embodiments, computing device 210 may be integrated to the cooking appliance 100. In such embodiments, the computing device 210 may be configured to receive and transmit signals corresponding to controls, operations, calculations, and determinations for a cooking appliance, such as may be associated with performing a cooking function, a heating function, a timing function, a cleaning function, a flow control function (e.g., a fan or flowrate therefrom), or other functions as may generally be understood for a cooking appliance or a vent hood therefor.
In various embodiments, the computing device 210 is configured to receive a first pressure value corresponding to the first port 170 and a second pressure value corresponding to the second port 180. The first pressure value and the second pressure value each correspond to the internal pathway 148 at the vent hood 140, such as described herein.
The computing device 210 may include a differential pressure transducer configured to determine a difference in pressure between the first port 170 and the second port 180, such as a difference between the first pressure value and the second pressure value. For instance, respective pressure values may be obtained and transmitted via conduits 174, 184 respectively coupled to ports 170, 180 at the vent hood and operably coupled to the computing device 210.
Referring now to
Method 1000 includes at 1010 forming a first port and a second port each extending through the vent hood to provide fluid communication between an internal pathway and an exterior volume, such as described herein in regard to ports 170, 180. The first port is positioned proximate to the inlet opening, and the second port positioned proximate to the outlet opening, such as depicted and described in regard to various embodiments of the vent hood 140 herein.
Method 1000 includes at 1020 obtaining, via a computing device (e.g., computing device 210), a differential pressure between the first port (e.g., first port 170) and the second port (e.g., second port 180). Obtaining the differential pressure between the first port and the second port may include determining a first pressure value corresponding to the first port and determining a second pressure value corresponding to the second port. The first pressure value and the second pressure value each correspond to the internal pathway at the vent hood, such as generally described herein in regard to
Method 1000 includes at 1030 determining, via the computing device, an airflow value based at least on the differential pressure between the first port and the second port. In various embodiments, method 1000 at 1030 includes determining the airflow value based at least on a difference between the first pressure value and the second pressure value. In still various embodiments, method 1000 at 1030 includes determining a volumetric airflow rate based on respective cross-sectional areas of the internal pathway 148 corresponding to a location along the direction of the flow of gases (e.g., arrow A) at which each port 170, 180 is positioned. Method 1000 at 1030 may further include any appropriate constants for corresponding to desired units and units of measurement for the airflow value. For instance, method 1030 may include determining the airflow value based on a look-up table, chart, graph, curve, or function corresponding to temperatures, densities, areas, unit conversions, constants, or other values as may be applied to determining airflow based at least on the difference between the first pressure value and the second pressure value.
In various embodiments, method 1000 may include at 1040 comparing the airflow value to an airflow threshold. The airflow threshold may include any desired threshold corresponding to desired flowrate through the internal pathway. Method 1000 may include at 1042 generating (e.g., via computing device 210) a first signal when the airflow value is at or above the airflow threshold value. The first signal may generally correspond to an acceptable airflow value, such as to indicate proper installation and operation of the vent hood 140 and/or flow device 152. Method 1000 may include at 1044 generating (e.g., via computing device 210) a second signal when the airflow value is below the airflow threshold value. The second signal may generally correspond to an unacceptable airflow value, such as to indicate improper installation and operation of the vent hood 140 and/or flow device 152. In some embodiments, improper installation and operation may correspond to dirt, grease, or debris build-up at the flow device that may impede operation, leaks, distortions, or obstructions at the vent hood that may impede airflow, insufficient power to, or power losses from, the flow device, or combinations thereof. Signals generated at 1042, 1044 may include visual and/or audio signals transmitted via the communications interface 214 at the computing device 210.
In some embodiments, method 1000 may include at 1050 obtaining a location signal. Method 1000 may include at 1052 determining the airflow threshold based on the location signal. The location signal may correspond generally to a facility at which the vent hood is installed (e.g., an address of a kitchen at which the vent hood is installed). Determining the airflow threshold may include comparing the location signal to a look-up table, chart, schedule, or database of airflow values at or above which may be considered acceptable or compliant (e.g., based on a regulation, code, etc. corresponding to a jurisdiction, authority, or district associated with the location signal). Accordingly, in some embodiments, the airflow threshold may change based on the location signal. Furthermore, generation of the signals at 1042, 1044 may be altered based on the location signal. For instance, a first airflow value corresponding to a first location signal may be acceptable (i.e., at or above the airflow threshold), such as to generate the first signal, and the first airflow value corresponding to a second location signal may be unacceptable (i.e., below the airflow threshold), such as to generate the second signal.
Embodiments of the vent hood 140, cooking appliance 100, system 200, and method 1000 provided herein may beneficially and advantageously facilitate accurate determination of airflow through the vent hood. Embodiments provided herein may allow a user to determine whether the vent hood is desirably installed, whether a fan or other flow device at the vent hood is operable, or sufficiently operable, or whether there are undesired leaks, distortions, or obstructions, at the vent body.
Additionally, or alternatively, embodiments provided herein may provide a method for determining a cleaning state of the vent hood and/or flow device. Embodiments provided herein may beneficially and advantageously provide a system and method for determining a time to clean a filter at the vent hood, to clean the flow device, or to clean the internal pathway of the vent hood, such as to remove dirt, grease, or debris build-up from any one or more components or surfaces. Embodiments may provide advantages and benefits over methods and systems that utilize pre-determined timers or intervals for cleaning. For instance, embodiments provided herein may beneficially and advantageously facilitate cleaning or replacement of the vent hood, or components thereof, based on amount and type of usage in contrast to pre-determined cleaning intervals.
Steps of a method for determining differential pressure or airflow value described herein may include steps for determining a first or second pressure value at respective first and second ports 170, 180. It should be appreciated that steps provided herein may include obtaining signals, values, readings, magnitudes, forces, or other reactions corresponding to discrete pressure values or magnitudes, or may correspond to differences without obtaining discrete values between the first and second ports.
This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
