Exemplary embodiments herein generally relate to a ventilating device for placement over a source of heat and, more particularly, to a ventilating hood for cooking areas to exhaust heat, smoke and other related cooking odors.
It is known to provide a ventilating range hood over the kitchen stove to remove heat, smoke and other related cooking orders produced during cooking. Typically, the ventilating range hood will have an intake opening in a bottom wall and a fan or blower assembly for drawing heated air and smoke into the intake opening. In exhausting the heated air and smoke from the range hood, an exhaust path is provided through a top wall of the range hood by attaching a large cylindrical duct to the hood and extending ductwork upwardly through the building structure to the outside. However, it is oftentimes the case that the structural arrangement of the building or residence does not permit an exhaust duct to be extended through the space above. In that instance, it becomes necessary to provide alternate exhaust paths for the range hood. One alternative is to provide a rearwardly directed exhaust path through a back wall of the range hood by providing an opening in the back wall of the range hood to which a vent duct can be affixed. Another alternative is to provide a forwardly directed exhaust path through a front wall of the range hood.
As each of the different alternative exhaust paths are often encountered, manufacturers often provide a separate model adapted for use in a particular exhaust path mode. The result of having a number of different range hood models is that inventory control is made more difficult and the costs associated with numerous models is prohibitive. Therefore, the present disclosure provides a ventilating range hood having a number of selectable exhaust paths.
In accordance with one aspect, a ventilating range hood comprises a top wall having a top exhaust opening, a back wall including a rear exhaust opening, a bottom wall having an air intake leading to an interior of the range hood, a pair of side walls interconnecting the top and bottom wall and connected to the back wall, and an interior transverse wall spanning between the side walls. The transverse wall is configured to provide strength and rigidity to the range hood and to separate the range hood into a rear chamber which is in direct communication with the air intake and rear exhaust opening and a forward chamber which is in direct communication with the top exhaust opening. The transverse wall includes an aperture for allowing communication between the forward and rear chambers. The transverse wall further includes a closure member provided in the aperture for selectively opening and closing the aperture. A plate is removably connected to the back wall for completely covering the rear exhaust opening. When the range hood is configured in a recirculation only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member is opened so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows through the aperture and out the top exhaust opening. When the range hood is configured in a rear ducted only mode, the plate is removed from the back wall and the closure member blocks the aperture so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows out the rear exhaust opening.
In accordance with another aspect, a ventilating range hood having a number of selectable exhaust paths comprises an enclosure member and a hood member separate from the enclosure member. The enclosure member includes a top wall, a back wall having a rear exhaust opening and a bottom wall having an air intake. The enclosure member defines a rear chamber. The hood member includes a sloping top wall having a top exhaust opening, a bottom wall and a transverse wall. The hood member defines a forward chamber. The transverse wall separates the forward chamber from the rear chamber. The transverse wall includes an aperture for communication between the forward and rear chambers and an integral closure member associated with the aperture for selectively opening and closing the aperture depending on an operational mode of the range hood. A pair of side walls interconnects the hood member and the enclosure member. A fan assembly is mounted in the rear chamber of the enclosure member and adapted to draw air into the rear chamber through the air intake. The fan assembly is aligned with both the aperture and rear exhaust opening. A knock-out plate is removably connected to the back wall of the enclosure member for completely covering the rear exhaust opening. An air baffle is positioned in the rear chamber and associated with the fan assembly. When the range hood is configured in a recirculation only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member is opened so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows through the aperture into the forward chamber and out the top exhaust opening. When the range hood is configured in a rear ducted only mode, the plate is removed from the back wall and the closure member blocks the aperture so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows out the rear exhaust opening.
It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are merely illustrative and that various modifications and changes can be made in the structures disclosed without departing from the present disclosure. It will also be appreciated that the various identified components of the exemplary ventilating range hood disclosed herein are merely terms of art that may vary from one manufacturer to another and should not be deemed to limit the present disclosure.
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views,
The range hood 100 is configured to have a number of selectable exhaust paths which, in turn, requires a number of selectable exhaust openings. With reference to
The bottom wall 114 of the range hood 100, and particularly the bottom wall of the enclosure member 130, has an air intake 170 which leads to an interior of the rear chamber 140 of the range hood 100. As indicated above, the transverse wall 120 separates the range hood into the rear chamber 140 which is in direct communication with the air intake 170, the rear exhaust opening 160 and the second top exhaust opening 164 and the forward chamber 142 which is in direct communication with the first top exhaust opening 162. To this end, the transverse wall 120 includes a cutout or aperture 176 for allowing communication between the rear chamber 140 and forward chamber 142. The aperture 176 is sized to allow maximum airflow from the air inlet 170 into the forward chamber 142, and in the illustrated embodiment, the aperture 176 is rectangular shaped; although, this is not required. A closure member 178 is provided in the aperture 176 for selectively opening and closing the aperture depending on the operational mode of the range hood 100. In addition to the closure member 178, a first plate 180 (i.e., a first knock-out plate) is removably connected to the back wall 112 for completely covering the rear exhaust opening 160. A second plate 182 (i.e., a second knock-out plate) is removably connected to the top wall 110 for completely covering the second exhaust opening 164. The removable plates 180, 182 can be connected via conventional manners, the only requirement being that the selected first or second plate is completely removed in a ducted only operation mode of the range hood 100.
With particular reference to
The range hood 100 further includes a fan assembly 196 mounted in the rear chamber 140 and adapted to draw air into the rear chamber 140 through the air intake 170. The fan assembly 196 is both vertically and horizontally aligned with both the rear exhaust opening 160 and the aperture 176. This allows air that is being drawn into the range hood 100 to exit the rear chamber 140 in a more natural flow path without the air having to be redirected by the top wall 110. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the fan assembly 196 is a squirrel-cage type fan having a fan or blower wheel 198 located near the air inlet 170 of the range hood 100; although, it should be appreciated that other fan assemblies can be provided for the range hood 140. To aid in the mounting of the fan assembly 196, a fan assembly housing 200 is provided in the rear chamber 140 of the range hood 100.
As best illustrated in
The rear exhaust opening 160, second top exhaust opening 164, and aperture 176 are positioned between the housing side walls 202, 204 such that the rear exhaust opening, second top exhaust opening and aperture are in direct communication with an interior of the fan assembly housing 200. As stated above, the fan assembly 196 is positioned in the fan assembly housing 200. To this end, a mounting member 230 is connected to the housing 200 and is configured to engage the fan assembly 196 such that the mounting member 230 suspends the fan assembly 196 substantially centrally in the housing 200. In the depicted embodiment of
With reference back to
As shown in
With reference back to
As it relates to the rear ducted only mode and the top ducted only mode, removal of one of the respective knockout plate 180, 182 allows the exposed rear exhaust opening 160 or second top exhaust opening 164 to receive therein an airflow duct. It would be appreciated that the duct can be attached in a number of ways. For example, the duct can be press fit into the exhaust opening 160, 164 and a sealing compound applied there around. Alternatively, the duct can be routed to the top or back wall 110, 112 of the range hood 100 and a damper assembly (not shown) can be attached with screws to that wall 110, 112. The airflow duct is then attached to the damper assembly. It should also be appreciated that the first and second plates 180, 182 can be separate members secured to the back wall 112 and top wall 110 to completely cover the exhaust openings 160, 164 or can be knock-out plates formed in their respective enclosure walls 110, 112. The first and second plates 180, 182 can be affixed by fasteners or a tier strip seal, and in the ducted only mode, the first and second plates 180, 182 are to be removed and discarded. Further, the bottom wall 114 and transverse wall 120 can be configured to have associated electrical components mounted thereon. For example, as shown in
As is evident from the foregoing, the ventilating range hood 100 is adapted to provide a number of selectable exhaust paths for air brought into the range hood from the ambient. The range hood 100 includes the enclosure member 130 having removable first and second plates 180, 182 which selectively cover the rear exhaust opening 160 and second top exhaust opening 164. The closure member 176 provided in the transverse wall 120 can be selectively opened and closed to allow air to be drawn into the hood member 132 and out of the first top exhaust opening 162. Therefore, with the present range hood 100, alternate exhaust paths can be provided depending on the structural arrangement of the building or residence.
It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.