Induction cook top system with integrated ventilator

• US 20070023420A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 02/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc. DBA GE Appliances (Haier Group Company)
• Original Assignee: Western Industries Incorporated (B-G Western Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gagas, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,687,748 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/623
• CPC Class Codes: F24C 15/2042 Devices for removing cooking fumes structurally associated with a cooking range e.g. downdraft F24C15/2007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/1263 using coil cooling arrangements

Abstract

An indoor or outdoor induction cook top system with integrated downdraft or telescoping ventilator uses cross flow or centrifugal blower technology. The system is controlled by an electronic or mechanical controller through a touch device, a slide, or knob. These provide precise control and an efficient way of removal of gases/fumes. A smooth glass cook top incorporates the induction hobs and a downdraft. The ventilator'"'"'s blower assembly has a fan and a filter. The system uses sensors to detect temperature, fire, effluent, filter change requirements, fan speed, power, and voltage. The system has programmable operations and numerous set points.

Claims

1. A cook top comprising:

at least one induction heating element;

a cook top vent for removing at least one of air and effluent from the cook top to a lower cavity;

a filter in fluid communication with air from the cook top; and

a blower assembly below the filter in fluid communication with the vent.

2. The cook top of claim 1, wherein the blower assembly includes a cross flow blower.

3. The cook top of claim 1, wherein the blower assembly includes a centrifugal flow blower.

4. The cook top of claim 1, wherein the vent includes a telescoping downdraft.

5. The cook top of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a means for adjusting fan speed and the vent comprises a vent cover for covering a vent hole;

and further comprising a sensor for the cook top.

7. The cook top of claim 1, further comprising:

a keypad being at least one of the following;

located on the cook top, located remotely, split into parts between the top and another location, and matched to a size, appearance, and function of another neighboring appliance and the cook top.

8. The cook top of claim 1, further comprising a control board in at least one of the following locations:

on the cook top, remotely, and split into several parts between the cook top and other locations and attached thereto.

9. The cook top of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to scan the cook top for an item placed thereon and provide feedback to operate the blower assembly.

10. The cook top of claim 1, further comprising at least one of:

an output display, a rotating display, an LED display, a LCD display, a sliding panel, a retractable display, a removable display, a fixed display, an illuminated display that can be adjusted in color and intensity, a plasma display, a dot matrix display, a vacuum fluorescent display, and a pop up display.

11. The cook top of claim 1, further comprising:

a cooking surface on the cook top;

a ventilator operably connected to the event and having an inner cavity;

wherein the blower assembly includes a blower having adjustable speeds; and

an electronic circuit controller operably connected to the blower.

12. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising:

movable lighting attached to the ventilator for illuminating a work surface;

a device for making the controller at least one of;

automatic with no user interface, semi-automatic with a limited user interface, completely manual with the user setting, operating, and adjusting the ventilator; and

at least one sensor operably connected to the cooking surface.

13. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the ventilator is adjacent at least two cavities and the cook top has at least two blowers.

14. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the cook top is mounted to an appliance that is at least one of:

an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, a mobile unit, an island unit, a fixed location unit, a drop or slide in cook top, and a grill.

15. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the electronic circuit controller controls blower speed and movement of the ventilator, and wherein the electronic controller includes at least one of:

a touch device, a keypad, a slide, and a knob.

16. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising at least one sensor to detect at least one of:

air flow, gas, smoke, heat, temperature, filter change requirements, speed, power, resistance, voltage, programmed operations, and set points.

17. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the controller includes an electronic control panel having at least one of a piezo, tactile, membrane, inductive, capacitance, and resistance device;

and

wherein the panel is constructed of at least one of;

glass, metal, plastic, wood, and composite substrates.

18. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the controller is at least one of:

a piezo, capacitance, and resistance type touch control keypad for use with any size cook top, a membrane switch, a tactile, resistance, inductive, capacitance control with decorative overlays, labels, or trim, and a complete control panel assembly; and

wherein the controller is installed relative to the cooking surface at least one of flush, raised, recessed, and remotely.

19. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the controller is a touch control keypad panel installed in a plane.

20. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising at least one of:

a microcontroller, an IC, a driver, a PC board, a processor, and a power controller in communication with the electronic controller.

21. The cook top of claim 11, wherein the controller is a remote control for wireless control of an operation.

22. The cook top of claim 11,

wherein the filter is attached at an angle and coated with an agent for cleansing air that passes therethrough.

23. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising a second blower having a speed control independent from a first for moving a different volume of air away from a second induction heating element.

24. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising a display mounted on the cooking surface for easy viewing;

and wherein the blower has an AC or DC motor and at least one of;

a tangential fan, a cross flow fan with blades of straight or skewed design, a long length axial wheel fan, and a centrifugal fan.

25. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising:

a scanner to determine whether an item has been place on the cooking surface; and

a means for detecting at least one of;

filter build-up, air flow, gas, and back pressure.

26. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising:

a sound activated control to control an operation of the cook top; and

a computer system for connecting the cook top to a whole house system.

27. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising a device that displays to the operator at least one of:

operations, temperature, functions, ventilator position, and times; and

wherein the ventilator folds, slides, telescopes, or retracts.

28. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising an actuator driven venting system having at least one of:

a motorized, electromagnetic, solenoid, and powered venting control.

29. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising;

a system for controlling air temperature in the cook top comprising a means for cooling air from the cooking surface, and a selection switch for setting the temperature of cooking surface air.

30. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising a device to illuminate the cooking surface;

and wherein the device is at least one of;

an adjustable light level device, adjustable light position, hidden lights, exposed lights, a series of lights, a mini fluorescent tube, mini neon tube, an LED, rope lights under a decorative flange trim of the ventilator, recessed lighting, direct lighting, and indirect lighting.

31. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising a programmable controller to monitor at least one of:

temperature, operations, speed, time, blower efficiency, lighting, and air movement.

32. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising a heat exchanger in communication with the vent for at least one of:

extracting effluents, cooling drawn air to a proper temperature, and recycling air back; and

wherein the heat exchanger includes at least one of;

a heat pump, an electronic cooling device, a refrigeration unit, and a magnetic cooling device.

33. The cook top of claim 11, further comprising:

a second cross flow blower;

a circuit board for controlling functions of the ventilator;

a fire suppression system operably connected to the cooking surface;

an IR system operably connected to the cooking surface for detecting at least one of temperature, resistance, heat, fire, distance, moisture, and steam;

a sensor having at least one an electronic, an electromechanical, and mechanical component;

remote control wiring operably connected to the circuit board;

an electronic touch controller in communication with the circuit board;

a display to interface with the operator on at least one of;

function, temperature, speed, need for a filter change, and time;

exhausting controls in communication with the vent; and

a flap to close the vent.

6. A cook top comprising:

at least one induction heating element;

a cook top vent for removing at least one of air and effluent from the cook top to a lower cavity; and

a blower assembly in fluid communication with the vent,

wherein the blower assembly includes at least one of;

a system that manages air and effluent from the cook top and cooling air from the induction heating element, a regulator for electrical current to a blower motor such that the power output can be changed as needed, a tangential fan to circulate air downward, a cross flow fan, a centrifugal fan, a fan that can be remotely located in attached duct work, a fixed speed fan, a variable speed fan to control air movement, squirrel cage wheel fan, a fan with adjustable speeds that may be preset, a fan used as a power vent for removing air, a fan for management of moisture build up and controlled by a humidity sensor, a re-circulating system, a mechanism for sucking air from the cook top, a fan for management of heat build up and controlled by a heat sensor, large chamber plenum assembly, and a fan to move air through a heat exchanger.

34. A cook top comprising:

an induction heating element under a cooking surface;

a vent in fluid communication with the cooking surface on the cook top; and

a blower assembly including a cross flow blower having an adjustable speed control attached to the vent.

35. The cook top of claim 34, wherein the vent has a shape that is at least one of:

rounded, squared, oval, triangular and rectangular.

36. The cook top of claim 34, wherein controls for the induction element are integrated with the control for the vent.

37. The cook top of claim 34, further comprising a controller that has a graphic specific to the design and function of at least one of the blower assembly, lighting, and the vent.

38. The cook top of claim 34, further comprising a device that includes at least one of:

a device for detecting and controlling speed for the blower;

an air flow sensor for detecting the flow of air past a filter;

a sensor that measures the air flow and provides a signal to user for filter replacement due to restricted air flow;

a beam, an IR sensor, or detector sensor to scan the surface of the work area for an item placed on the work area and to provide feed back or control with automatic operation of the vent;

a means for detecting gas flow;

an ultrasonic sensor;

a thermo detection device for the control of the vent;

a digital CO2 sensor;

an NDIR technology sensor; and

a sensor having the ability to detect back pressure that triggers an increase in fan speed to maintain the proper volume of extraction.

39. The cook top of claim 34, wherein the blower is synchronized with the operations of the induction element by a user when operating.

40. The cook top of claim 34, further comprising a heat exchanger that makes the vent a cooling/heating ventilator.