Stoves and furnaces – Stove hoods
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-04-24
Yeung, James C. (Department: 3743)
Stoves and furnaces
Stove hoods
C126S29900R, C055SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220238
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a high efficiency modular grease extractor, more particularly of the type to be used for replacing standard filters of all shapes and sizes in a cooking assembly which utilises a plurality of such standard filters. The modular grease extractor according to the invention is a liquid tight enclosure which is used in order to drain out condensates or any liquid detergent or other liquid or solution that may be sprayed inside the enclosure in order to clean or deodorize the interior of the modular grease extractor.
(b) Description of Prior Art
In a large number of cooking assemblies, various heating elements are used for different purposes, wherein the filtering capacity of the grease extractor need not be the same. However, since the standard filters which are used in a multi-unit are always the same, it is not possible to vary the quantity of exhausted air. This of course means that an unnecessary amount of energy is often used by the exhaust unit and that the grease extracting units do not always function adequately, because the flow of air which is required to exhaust grease and fumes cannot be adequately adjusted.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a modular grease extractor which can be adjusted to specific needs.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a modular grease extractor that can be used to replace standard filters in a cooking assembly and that can be fitted in the same place as the standard filters, wherein the filtering capacity for the various cooking units need not be the same.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a high efficiency modular grease extractor which can be designed with various sizes so as to fit into the space provided for any grease filter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects of the present invention may be achieved by providing a high efficiency modular grease extractor of the type to be used for replacing existing filters in a unit which utilises a plurality thereof to accommodate grease extracting needs for various air flows generated by each cooking appliance of the unit and which operate through a suction fan. The modular grease extractor comprises
a hopper shaped member which is opened at a wide end and is terminated by at least one opening, for example a plurality of holes at a narrow end thereof,
the hopper shaped member having a front panel and a rear panel, and lateral sides joining the front and rear panels, the hopper shaped member defining a grease extracting chamber,
a sliding member having an upper end and a lower end,
means for mounting the sliding member between the lateral sides to divide the grease extracting chamber into an entrance portion and an exit portion of the grease extracting chamber and to provide a variable communication between the entrance portion and the exit portion depending on the extent of penetration of the sliding member into the grease extracting chamber.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment, the mounting means comprise a middle panel member formed with lateral flanges and an uppermost flange at an upper end thereof, the middle panel member having sliding rails at a lower end thereof provided in the continuation of the lateral flanges, the sliding rails terminating short of the narrow end of the hopper shaped member, the middle panel member being fixedly mounted on the lateral sides of the hopper shaped member through the lateral flanges and the sliding rails, the sliding member being slidably mounted on the middle panel between the lateral flanges and onto the sliding rails so as to be movable between an uppermost position where the upper end of the sliding member abuts the uppermost flange, and a lowermost position wherein after sliding down between the lateral flanges and along the sliding rails, the lower end of the sliding member coincides with a location corresponding to the lower extremity of the sliding rails.
The sliding member preferably comprises a rectangular base, projecting borders provided on both lateral sides of the rectangular base, a main deflector at an end of the rectangular base corresponding to the upper end of the sliding member, the main deflector forming an acute angle with the rectangular base, and longitudinal slides cut in the rectangular base enabling to move the sliding member from the uppermost to the lowermost positions.
The high efficiency modular grease extractor preferably comprises studs mounted on the middle panel member to engage within the longitudinal slides, and means associated with the studs to tighten the sliding member in a preselected position according to the air flow requested over each cooking appliance of the unit.
The studs are preferably threaded and nuts are provided to screw over the studs while tightening the sliding member in a selected position relative to the middle panel member.
Preferably, the projecting borders regularly increase in height from bottom to top, to reinforce same, and are shaped to glide along the lateral flanges and the sliding rails as the sliding member is lowered or raised relative to the hopper shaped member. The front and rear panels preferably form an acute angle with respect to one another.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, the front panel consists of a straight rectangular sheet and the rear panel consists of a bent rectangular sheet, the bent rectangular sheet forming an obtuse angle between a lower portion and an upper portion thereof.
The hopper shaped member preferably comprises a channel member provided at the bottom thereof.
In accordance with another embodiment, the main deflector angularly projects from the middle panel member in a manner to cause grease contained in an air flow circulating through the grease extracting chamber and produced by the suction fan, to be substantially entirely released in the grease extracting chamber by the action of centrifugal force, to be thereafter evacuated through the openings.
The main deflector is preferably terminated by a secondary deflector forming an obtuse angle with the main deflector.
In accordance with another embodiment, the uppermost flange is in the form of a rectangular channel having the same cross-section as the channel member, the rectangular channel shaped uppermost flange being joined to the channel member by means of lateral rectangular channel shaped members fixed to the lateral sides, the channel member, the uppermost flange and the channel shaped lateral members thereby defining a frame enabling to handle the modular grease extractor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3364664 (1968-01-01), Doane
patent: 5042457 (1991-08-01), Gallagher
patent: 5540214 (1996-07-01), Boudreaulat
patent: 5960786 (1999-10-01), Lambertson
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
Yeung James C.
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