WO2017174773A1

WO2017174773A1 - An exhaust hood comprising an ion guide

Info

Publication number: WO2017174773A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/058364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet Cahit OZDEMIR
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-04-08
Filing date: 2017-04-07
Publication date: 2017-10-12

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exhaust hood (1) suitable for use with a cooking appliance (C), comprising a body (2); at least one ion generator (3) disposed in the body (2); an electrical signal source (4) transmitting current to the ion generator (3); at least one hollow ion guide (5) that is disposed on the ion generator (3), that generates magnetic field between the ion guide (5) and the ion generator (3) by being charged with reverse electrical charge and that allows the odor molecules to pass therethrough together with the air current; a chimney (6) disposed on the body (2), and a filter (7) that is disposed in the chimney (6) and that retains the odor molecules.

Description

AN EXHAUST HOOD COMPRISING AN ION GUIDE

The present invention relates to an exhaust hood that sucks the air by means of a magnetic field and removes odors.

In the state of the art exhaust hoods, rotary members are used to create an air current. The said rotary members generate noise due to the sweeping of the air current during their operation and draw a high amount of current in proportion to the air current desired to be generated, thus providing low energy efficiency.

In some exhaust hoods, ion generators are used in the body. The said generators ionize the odor molecules, thus providing the flow of the odor molecules between opposite poles in the body of the exhaust hood. However, in the state of the art, since the said electrical pole effect is insufficient to provide air current, a fan is used as a rotary member in the exhaust hoods in order to increase the flow rate of the air current, thus causing problems in terms of noise and energy.

In the state of the art Japanese Patent Document No. JP3799739, the air cleaning function with the negative ion generator added to the exhaust hood system is disclosed.

In the state of the art United States Patent Document No. US20100089240, the air cleaning function with the negative ion generator added to the exhaust hood system is disclosed.

In the state of the art Patent Document No. WO2013156922, the air cleaning function with the negative ion generator and the rotary member added to the exhaust hood system is disclosed.

The aim of the present invention is to remove odor particles in the exhaust hoods by means of the current of the ionized molecules generated by the corona effect, as known in the literature, in other words by oppositely charging two electrical poles.

The exhaust hood realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body port by which the odor molecules desired to be removed are sucked. The odor molecules entering the body together with the air sucked by the body port are charged while passing between the ion generator and the ion guide that are supplied by the electrical signal source and that have opposite poles so that the said molecules are accelerated along the ion guide and discharged out of the chimney. The inner structure of the ion guide can be hollow so as to facilitate the air flow or can be in the form of a spiral or the like so as to enable the air to flow with the least rubbing. The filter disposed close to the chimney of the exhaust hood is in the shape of the cross-section of the chimney and can be easily attached and detached, thus the odor molecules retained thereon can be easily cleaned by the user.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a protector separator providing mechanical cleaning is disposed at the side of the body sucking the air so as to prevent the user from accessing to the interior of the body. The base of the protector separator and the base of the body are almost at the same level. While in a derivative of this embodiment the protector separator is attached to the body by means of fixing means, in another embodiment the protector separator is mounted to the body with rotary installation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ion guide is coated with a carbon-based conductive coating, and in the other derivatives of the present invention a second carbon filter can be used as an addition to the said coating depending on the characteristics of the air to be cleaned such as pollution load, odor molecule density, etc.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the distance between the ion guide and the ion generator can be changed depending on the requirements. The most important factor in increasing the air current is to increase the number of electrons breaking away from the poles and the flow rate thereof between the ion generator and the ion guide. The number of the electrons breaking away is inversely proportional to the distance between the ion generator and the ion guide. The speed of the electrons breaking away is directly proportional to the voltage between the ion generator and the ion guide. Therefore, by changing the distance and the current between the ion guide and the ion generator, the speed of the air current generated and the number of the electros breaking away from the poles can be adjusted as per the requirements.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a control unit is disposed, that provides the control of the distance between the ion generator and the ion guide and the voltage applied.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the intensity and type of the voltage can be adjusted by the control unit as AC, DC, pulsed AC or pulsed DC according to the embodiment. According to the type of the selected voltage, the flow rate of the air current and the air mass moved vary.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood comprises a sensor that is used for detecting the characteristics of the molecules received by the ion generator such as the pollution load, odor molecule density, etc. The sensor transmits the data received from the air current to the control unit, thus the optimum current intensity and the distance value between the ion generator and the ion guide are used, preventing unnecessary energy consumption.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the ion guide is configured as a hollow cylinder and the circular surfaces of the cylinder provide openings.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the ion guide can be a hollow structure in the form of a cube, rectangular prism or elliptic cylinder, and the base and ceiling surfaces provide openings so as to allow air flow.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a small-sized fan is used so as to be activated in cases where the magnetic flux is insufficient. The said fan has a similar capacity and since the said fan is smaller than fans used in systems wherein magnetic field ventilation is not used, the fan consumes less energy and generates less noise.

By means of the present invention, the problem of low energy efficiency of the rotary members is eliminated, the low air current value encountered in devices where the corona effect is used is prevented, the generation of electric spark between the opposite poles is obviated, thus the formation of harmful ozone gas due to this spark is prevented.

An exhaust hood realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the front view of the exhaust hood in an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the cross-sectional/schematic view of the exhaust hood in an embodiment of the present invention;

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Exhaust hood
Body
Ion generator
Electrical signal source
Ion guide
Chimney
Filter
Sensor
Movement mechanism
Control unit
Fan

A. Inlet port

B. Outlet port

C. Cooking appliance

H. Vertical distance

The exhaust hood (1) suitable for use with a cooking appliance (C) comprises

a body (2),
at least one ion generator (3) disposed in the body (2),
an electrical signal source (4) transmitting current to the ion generator (3),
at least one hollow ion guide (5) that is disposed on the ion generator (3), that generates magnetic field between the ion guide (5) and the ion generator (3) by being charged with reverse electrical charge and that allows the odor molecules to pass therethrough together with the air current,
a chimney (6) disposed on the body (2), and
a filter (7) that is disposed in the chimney (6) and that retains the odor molecules.

The exhaust hood (1) of the present invention comprises the ion guide (5) that is positioned concentrically with the ion generator (3), wherein the vertical distance (H) between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) can be adjusted.

The corona effect used for creating air current in the exhaust hoods (1) is obtained by the ionization of the fluids surrounding an electrically charged conductor and by the movement of the ionized molecules in the magnetic field generated. The electrical potential difference generated between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) by means of the electrical signal source (4) generates a magnetic field between two terminals and the ionized gas molecules are enabled to flow from the ion generator (3) to the ion guide (5). The molecules gain speed while passing through the hollow ion guide (5) and accelerate upwards in the exhaust hood (1). The ion generators (3) and the ion guides (5) supplied by a continuous electrical current create a regular and homogeneous air current in the body (2). The ionized molecules passes through the filter (7) during their movement in the chimney (6), thus the odor molecules are retained. The detachable filter (7) can be detached and cleaned at certain intervals and then replaced for use. The molecules passing through the filter (7) move upwards in the body (2) and reach the chimney (6) portion of the exhaust hood (1) and then removed from the environment. The axes of the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) in the vertical plane are one above the other. Thus, the ion generator (3) is enabled to be at almost the same distance from every point of the edge of the air inlet port (A) of the ion guide (5). The distance between the ion generator (3) and the edges of the air inlet port (A) being equal provides the generation of a homogeneous magnetic field and hence a homogeneous air current.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises a sensor (8) that is disposed in the body (2) and that detects characteristics of the air-odor molecule mixture entering therein, such as density, type, moisture ratio, pollution load, etc. The said sensor (8) compares the characteristics of the air-odor molecule mixture entering the exhaust hood (1) with criteria predetermined during the production, such as density, type, moisture ratio, pollution load, etc. and determines the suitable operational conditions. Thus, the exhaust hood (1) is prevented from causing excessive energy consumption.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises a movement mechanism (9) that enables the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) to be changed. By means of the movement mechanism (9), the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) is adjusted in the vertical plane, and thus the ion generator (3) can be moved close to or away from the ion guide (5). During the said movement, the distance between the ion generator (3) and every point of the edge of the air inlet port (A) of the ion guide (5) becomes instantaneously equal. With the distance being equal during the said movement, the magnetic field and hence the air current become homogeneous. By moving the ion generator (3) close to or away from the ion guide (5), a magnetic field and hence an air current suitable for the values such as density, type, moisture ratio, pollution load, etc. of the air mixture entering the exhaust hood (1) are generated, thus preventing excessive energy consumption. Another advantage is that by increasing the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) in cases the molecule density of the air sucked into the exhaust hood (1) is high, the formation of sparks and ozone gas that may threaten the safety of the user is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises a control unit (10) that compares the values predetermined during the production with the values received from the sensor (8) and that, according to these values, provides to the movement mechanism (9) and the electrical signal source (4) the suitable values for adjusting the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) and/or the current density. By means of the control unit (10), the exhaust hood (1) compares the values predetermined during the production with the values received from the sensor (8) such as density, type, moisture ratio, pollution load, etc. of the air entering therein, thus the exhaust hood (1) increases/decreases the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) and the electrical current by means of the movement mechanism (9) and the electrical signal source (4). Thus, while providing energy savings, the formation of sparks and ozone gas that may threaten the safety of the user is prevented.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises the ion guide (5) the odor retaining performance of which is increased by being coated with a conductive and carbon-based coating. Thus, the ion guide (5) is used both for creating the air current and cleaning the air. Thereby, saving from the inner volume of the body (2) is provided and the air cleaning capacity of the exhaust hood (1) is increased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises the air guide (5) in the form of a hollow cylinder, of which the air inlet ports (A) and the air outlet ports (B) are in the form of circular openings. The projection of the center of the circular opening is on the same direction as the ion generator (3). Thus, the ion generator (3) remains at equal distance to the edges of the circular air inlet port (A) of the ion guide (5), thus providing homogeneous magnetic field and air current.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises the ion generator (3) in the form of a needle. Thereby, the ion generators (3) remain at equal distance to the edges of the circular air inlet port (A) of the ion guides (5), thus preventing the formation of sparks.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the exhaust hood (1) comprises a fan (11) that is used so as to be activated in cases where the magnetic flux and the air current generated are insufficient. The values predetermined during the production and the values received from the sensor (8) such as density, type, moisture ratio, pollution load, etc. of the air are compared by the control unit (10), and if the detected values are above the upper limit of the values predetermined during the production, the control unit (10) activates the fan (11). Thus, the exhaust hood (1) is enabled to operate with the desired performance under extensive operational conditions.

By means of the present invention, an exhaust hood (1) is realized, wherein different molecule densities are eliminated without allowing the formation of sparks and ozone gas by means of the adjustment of the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5), thus preventing low energy efficiency.

Claims

An exhaust hood (1) suitable for use with a cooking appliance (C), comprising

- a body (2),

- at least one ion generator (3) disposed in the body (2),

- an electrical signal source (4) transmitting current to the ion generator (3),

- at least one hollow ion guide (5) that is disposed on the ion generator (3), that generates magnetic field between the ion guide (5) and the ion generator (3) by being charged with reverse electrical charge and that allows the odor molecules to pass therethrough together with the air current,

- a chimney (6) disposed on the body (2), and

- a filter (7) that is disposed in the chimney (6) and that retains the odor molecules.

characterized by

- the ion guide (5) that is positioned concentrically with the ion generator (3), wherein the vertical distance (H) between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) can be adjusted.
An exhaust hood (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a sensor (8) that is disposed in the body (2) and that detects characteristics of the air-odor molecule mixture entering therein, such as density, type, moisture ratio, pollution load, etc.
An exhaust hood (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a movement mechanism (9) that enables the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) to be changed.
An exhaust hood (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by a control unit (10) that compares the values predetermined during the production with the values received from the sensor (8) and that, according to these values, provides to the movement mechanism (9) and the electrical signal source (4) the suitable values for adjusting the distance between the ion generator (3) and the ion guide (5) and/or the current density.
An exhaust hood (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ion guide (5) the odor retaining performance of which is increased by being coated with a conductive and carbon-based coating.
An exhaust hood (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the air guide (5) in the form of a hollow cylinder, of which the air inlet ports (A) and the air outlet ports (B) are in the form of circular openings.
An exhaust hood (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the ion generator (3) in the form of a needle.
An exhaust hood (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a fan (11) that is used so as to be activated in cases where the magnetic flux and the air current generated are insufficient.