U.S. patent application number 11/216090 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for exhausting and cooling system for cooking utensil.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Chul Kim, Dong Won Kim, Byoung In Lee, Seon Uk Na, Seong Je Wu.
Application Number | 20060150965 11/216090 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36651994 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060150965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Dong Won ; et
al. |
July 13, 2006 |
Exhausting and cooling system for cooking utensil
Abstract
An exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil, which
exhausts gas or smoke generated during a cooking process and cools
a lower portion of a grill. The exhausting and cooling system for
the cooking utensil, which has a main body provided with a grill
unit mounted on the upper surface thereof, includes an exhaust
channel and an exhaust fan for inhaling air around the grill unit
and exhausting the air downwardly; and a cooling channel and a
cooling fan for blowing external air to the lower portion of the
grill unit to cool the lower portion of the grill unit.
Inventors: |
Kim; Dong Won; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Na; Seon Uk; (Yongin-si, KR) ; Lee;
Byoung In; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Wu; Seong Je;
(Anyang-si, KR) ; Kim; Chul; (Yongsi-Si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
36651994 |
Appl. No.: |
11/216090 |
Filed: |
September 1, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/299D ;
126/39R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/2042
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/299.00D ;
126/039.00R |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/20 20060101
F24C015/20 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 13, 2005 |
KR |
2005-3393 |
Jan 28, 2005 |
KR |
2005-8141 |
Claims
1. An exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil having a
main body provided with a grill unit mounted on the upper surface
thereof, comprising: an exhaust channel and an exhaust fan for
inhaling air around the grill unit and exhausting the air
downwardly; and a cooling channel and a cooling fan for blowing
external air to the lower portion of the grill unit to cool the
lower portion of the grill unit.
2. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 1,
further comprising a driving motor for simultaneously driving the
exhaust fan and the cooling fan.
3. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 2,
wherein the exhaust fan and the cooling fan are connected to a
rotary shaft extended from the driving motor.
4. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 1,
wherein the exhaust channel comprises an exhaust duct extended from
inlets formed through the upper surface of the main body adjacent
to the grill unit to the lower portion of the main body, and
containing the exhaust fan therein.
5. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 4,
wherein the cooling channel comprises: a first cooling duct
extended from an inlet formed through the lower surface of the main
body to the lower portion of the grill unit, and containing the
cooling fan therein; a second cooling duct installed below the
grill unit for cooling the lower portion of the grill unit, and
communicating with an outlet of the first cooling duct; and a third
cooling duct extended downwardly from an outlet of the second
cooling duct, and provided with an outlet connected to the exhaust
duct below the exhaust fan.
6. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 5,
further comprising a driving motor for simultaneously driving the
exhaust fan and the cooling fan.
7. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 6,
wherein the exhaust fan and the cooling fan are connected to a
rotary shaft passing through the exhaust duct and the first cooling
duct so that the exhaust fan and the cooling fan are simultaneously
rotated, and the rotary shaft is rotated by the driving motor.
8. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 6,
wherein the exhaust fan and the cooling fan are multiblade
centrifugal fans.
9. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 6,
wherein the exhaust fan and the cooling fan are axial fans.
10. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 4,
further comprising a filter installed in the exhaust duct above the
exhaust fan for filtering out contaminants in air passing through
the exhaust duct, wherein the filter comprises a grease filter for
removing oil components from the air, a fine dust collection filter
for removing fine dust from the air, and a deodorization filter for
deodorizing the air.
11. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 4,
further comprising a cooling heat exchanger installed in the
exhaust channel for cooling and dehumidifying air exhausted through
the exhaust channel.
12. An exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil having a
main body provided with a heating device for cooking mounted on the
upper surface thereof, comprising: an exhaust channel and an
exhaust fan for inhaling air around the heating device and
exhausting the air downwardly; a filter installed in the exhaust
channel above the exhaust fan for purifying the exhausted air; and
a cooling heat exchanger installed in the exhaust channel for
cooling and dehumidifying the exhausted air.
13. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 12,
wherein the exhaust channel comprises an exhaust duct extended from
inlets formed through the upper surface of the main body adjacent
to the heating device to the lower portion of the main body, and
containing the exhaust fan therein.
14. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 12,
wherein the filter comprises a grease filter for removing oil
components from the air, a fine dust collection filter for removing
fine dust from the air, and a deodorization filter for deodorizing
the air.
15. The exhausting and cooling system as set forth in claim 12,
wherein a flow control valve for controlling the supply of cooling
water to the cooling heat exchanger is installed in a pipe at an
inlet of the cooling heat exchanger.
16. A cooking utensil for performing a cooking process, the cooking
utensil comprising: a main body provided with a grill unit
installed at one side of the upper surface of the main body; a gas
range having a plurality of burners installed at the other side of
the upper surface of the main body; an operating panel having a
plurality of operating switches for controlling the operation of
the cooking utensil installed on the main body; inlets for sucking
gas, smoke, and odors generated during the cooking process formed
through the central part of the upper surface of the main body; an
exhausting device for exhausting air sucked into the inlets; a
cooling device for blowing external air to a lower portion of the
grill unit to cool the lower portion of the grill unit installed in
the main body.
17. The cooking utensil of claim 16, wherein the grill unit
comprises: a case placed in the main body through an opening formed
through an upper plate of the main body; a plurality of electric
heaters placed on the sides of the inside of the case; and a grill
mounted on an opened upper surface of the case.
18. The cooking utensil of claim 17, wherein the grill unit further
comprises a reflecting plate closing the lower portion of the case,
wherein the reflecting plate is bent in a mountain shape to reflect
the heat radiated by the heaters upward.
19. The cooking utensil of claim 16, wherein the exhausting device
comprises: an exhaust channel for guiding air formed through the
upper surface of the main body to the lower portion of the main
body; and an exhaust fan installed in the exhaust channel.
20. The cooking utensil of claim 19, wherein the exhaust channel
comprises: an exhaust duct extended from the inlets to an outlet
formed through the lower surface of the main body, wherein the
exhaust duct comprises an upper exhaust duct extended from the
inlets formed through the upper surface of the main body to an
inlet of the exhaust fan and a lower exhaust duct connected to the
upper exhaust duct and containing the exhaust fan in the upper
portion of the inside thereof.
21. The cooking utensil of claim 20, further comprising a filter
installed in the upper exhaust duct above the exhaust fan.
22. The cooking utensil of claim 21, wherein the filter comprises:
a grease filter; a fine dust collection filter; and a deodorization
filter.
23. The cooking utensil of claim 19, wherein the cooling device
comprises: a cooling channel for inhaling air from the lower
portion of the main body to cool the lower portion of the grill
unit; and a cooling fan installed in the cooling channel.
24. The cooking utensil of claim 23, wherein the cooling channel
comprises: a first cooling duct extended from an inlet formed
through the lower surface of the main body to the lower portion of
the grill unit; a second cooling duct extended from the first
cooling duct along the under part of the grill unit; and a third
cooling duct extended downwardly from the second cooling duct and
provided with an outlet.
25. The cooking utensil of claim 24, wherein the first cooling duct
comprises: a lower duct extended upwardly from the inlet formed
through the lower surface of the main body to the inlet of the
cooling fan; and an upper duct connected to the lower duct, wherein
the upper duct extends to the second cooling duct and contains the
cooling fan.
26. The cooking utensil of claim 24, further comprising a driving
motor installed at one side of the first cooling duct for driving
the cooling fan and the exhaust fan, wherein the cooling fan and
the exhaust fan are connected to a rotary shaft extended from the
driving motor.
27. The cooking utensil of claim 23, wherein the cooling fan and
the exhaust fan are multiblade centrifugal fans.
28. The cooking utensil of claim 23, wherein the cooling fan and
the exhaust fan are axial fans.
29. The cooking utensil of claim 26, further comprising a cooling
heat exchanger installed in the outlet of the exhaust channel.
30. The cooking utensil of claim 29, further comprising: a cooling
water supply pipe connected to the cooling heat exchanger; a
cooling water discharge pipe connected to the cooling heat
exchanger; and a flow control valve installed in the cooling water
supply pipe, wherein the flow control valve is configured to open
or close according to the operation of the driving motor.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2005-3393, filed Jan. 13, 2005, and Korean Patent
Application No. 2005-8141, filed Jan. 28, 2005, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an exhausting and cooling
system for a cooking utensil, and more particularly, to an
exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil, which exhausts
gas or smoke generated during a cooking process and cools a lower
portion of a grill.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,982 discusses a cooking utensil having
an exhausting device for exhausting gas, smoke, and food odors
generated during a cooking process.
[0006] The disclosed cooking utensil includes a main body provided
with a general gas range at one side of the upper surface thereof
and a grill employing an electric heater installed at the other
side of the upper surface thereof. Inlets for exhausting gas,
smoke, and food odors generated during the cooking process
therethrough are formed through the central portion of the upper
surface of the main body (between the gas range and the grill), and
an exhausting device for inhaling air from the inlets and
exhausting the air to the outside is installed in the main body.
The exhausting device includes an exhaust channel extended
downwardly from the inlets, an air blowing fan for blowing the gas
or odors inhaled through the exhaust channel to the outside, and a
filter installed in the exhaust channel.
[0007] Such a cooking utensil inhales gas, smoke, and food odors
generated during the cooking process through the inlets formed
through the upper surface of the main body when the air blowing fan
is operated, and exhausts the inhaled gas, smoke, and food odors
through a descending current of air along the exhaust channel. When
the exhausted air passes through the exhaust channel, contaminants
are filtered out by the filter.
[0008] When food is cooked using the grill for the cooking utensil,
waste or oil is dropped from the food onto a reflecting plate or a
pan placed in the lower portion of the grill, and is burned because
the reflecting plate or the pan is heated by a heater, thereby
generating smoke or odors, thus inconveniencing users. For this
reason, in order to cool the reflecting plate or the pan, the lower
portion of the grill was conventionally filled with water. In this
case, the water must be refilled or replaced with new water,
thereby causing inconvenience to the users.
[0009] Since the above conventional cooking utensil is configured
such that the air exhausted by the operation of the exhausting
device is guided to an outdoor space, when the cooking utensil is
installed, the cooking utensil requires a separate exhaust duct for
guiding the exhausted air to the outdoor space. That is, in order
to install the exhaust duct extended to the outside, a through hole
must be formed through a wall of a building, in which the cooking
utensil is installed, thus causing a difficulty in installing the
cooking utensil. Accordingly, another structure for the cooking
utensil in which the air exhausted from the exhausting device for
the cooking utensil is exhausted to an indoor space, had been
proposed. However, this structure increases the temperature of
indoor air due to heat of the exhausted air. Further, although the
exhausted air is purified by the filter, the filter filters out
only oil components or waste, thereby being incapable of providing
a satisfactory purification effect, thus causing the indoor air to
be impure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
[0011] Therefore, one aspect of the invention is to provide an
exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil, which
simultaneously exhausts gas or odors generated during a cooking
process and cools the lower portion of a grill.
[0012] Another aspect of the invention is to provide an exhausting
and cooling system for a cooking utensil, which inhales and
purifies gas or odors generated during a cooking process, exhausts
purified air to an indoor space, and cools and dehumidifies the air
exhausted to the indoor space, thereby maintaining the indoor
environments in a fresh state.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides an exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil
having a main body provided with a grill unit mounted on the upper
surface thereof, including: an exhaust channel and an exhaust fan
for inhaling air around the grill unit and exhausting the air
downwardly; and a cooling channel and a cooling fan for blowing
external air to the lower portion of the grill unit to cool the
lower portion of the grill unit.
[0014] The exhausting and cooling system may further include a
driving motor for simultaneously driving the exhaust fan and the
cooling fan.
[0015] Further, the exhaust fan and the cooling fan may be
connected to a rotary shaft extended from the driving motor.
[0016] The exhaust channel may include an exhaust duct extended
from inlets formed through the upper surface of the main body
adjacent to the grill unit to the lower portion of the main body,
and containing the exhaust fan therein.
[0017] Further, the cooling channel may include a first cooling
duct extended from an inlet formed through the lower surface of the
main body to the lower portion of the grill unit, and containing
the cooling fan therein; a second cooling duct installed below the
grill unit for cooling the lower portion of the grill unit, and
communicated with an outlet of the first cooling duct; and a third
cooling duct extended downwardly from an outlet of the second
cooling duct, and provided with an outlet connected to the exhaust
duct below the exhaust fan.
[0018] The exhausting and cooling system may further include a
driving motor for simultaneously driving the exhaust fan and the
cooling fan.
[0019] Further, the exhaust fan and the cooling fan may be
connected to a rotary shaft passing through the exhaust duct and
the first cooling duct so that the exhaust fan and the cooling fan
are simultaneously rotated, and the rotary shaft is rotated by the
driving motor.
[0020] The exhaust fan and the cooling fan may be multiblade
centrifugal fans.
[0021] Alternatively, the exhaust fan and the cooling fan may be
axial fans.
[0022] The exhausting and cooling system may further include a
filter installed in the exhaust duct above the exhaust fan for
filtering out contaminants in air passing through the exhaust
duct.
[0023] In accordance with another aspect, the present invention
provides an exhausting and cooling system for a cooking utensil
having a main body provided with a heating device for cooking
mounted on the upper surface thereof, including: an exhaust channel
and an exhaust fan for inhaling air around the heating device and
exhausting the air downwardly; a filter installed in the exhaust
channel above the exhaust fan for purifying the exhausted air; and
a cooling heat exchanger installed in the exhaust channel for
cooling and dehumidifying the exhausted air.
[0024] The filter may include a grease filter for removing oil
components from the air, a fine dust collection filter for removing
fine dust from the air, and a deodorization filter for deodorizing
the air.
[0025] A flow control valve for controlling the supply of cooling
water to the cooling heat exchanger may be installed in a pipe at
an inlet of the cooling heat exchanger.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external
appearance of a cooking utensil in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration of the cooking utensil in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration of a cooking utensil in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration of a cooking utensil in accordance with a third
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the annexed
drawings.
[0032] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a cooking utensil in accordance
with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS.
1 and 2, the cooking utensil of this embodiment includes a main
body 10 provided with a grill unit 20 installed at one side of the
upper surface thereof and a gas range 30 having a plurality of
burners 31 and 32 installed at the other side of the upper surface
thereof. An operating panel 11 having a plurality of operating
switches 12 for controlling the operation of the cooking utensil is
installed on the upper part of the front surface of the main body
10.
[0033] Inlets 13 for sucking gas, smoke, and odors generated during
a cooking process are formed through the central part of the upper
surface of the main body 10, i.e., between the grill unit 20 and
the gas range 30. As shown in FIG. 2, an exhausting device 40 for
exhausting air (air including gas, smoke, and odors) sucked into
the inlets 13, and a cooling device 50 for blowing external air to
a lower portion of the grill unit 20 to cool the lower portion of
the grill unit 20 are installed in the main body 10.
[0034] The grill unit 20 includes a case 21 placed in the main body
10 through an opening 15 formed through an upper plate 14 of the
main body 10 such that the case 21 is introduced from the upper
part of the opening 15 to the lower part of the opening 15,
electric heaters 22 installed on both sides of the inside of the
case 21, and a grill 23 mounted on an opened upper surface of the
case 21 for roasting meat or sausage placed thereon. The grill unit
20 further includes a reflecting plate 24 closing the lower portion
of the case 21 so that heat radiated by the heaters 22 is reflected
by the reflecting plate 24 towards the grill 23. The reflecting
plate 24 is bent in a mountain shape to reflect the heat radiated
by the heaters 22 upward.
[0035] The grill unit 20 transfers the heat from the heaters 22 to
the grill 23 through the reflecting plate 24, thereby allowing meat
or sausage placed on the grill 23 to be roasted. The above
configuration of the grill unit 20 causes oil or waste dropped from
food to be collected on the upper surface of the reflecting plate
24.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the exhausting device 40 includes an
exhaust channel 41 for guiding air inhaled through the inlets 13,
formed through the upper surface of the main body 10, to the lower
portion of the main body 10, and an exhaust fan 42 installed in the
exhaust channel 41.
[0037] The exhaust channel 41 includes an exhaust duct extended
from the inlets 13 to an outlet 43 formed through the lower surface
of the main body 10, and the exhaust fan 42 is a multiblade
centrifugal fan installed in a lower exhaust duct 45. The exhaust
duct includes an upper exhaust duct 44 extended from the inlets 13
formed through the upper surface of the main body 10 to an inlet of
the exhaust fan 42, and the lower exhaust duct 45 connected to the
upper exhaust duct 44, extended to the outlet 43 formed through the
lower surface of the main body 10, and containing the exhaust fan
42 in the upper portion of the inside thereof. Here, a connection
portion between the upper exhaust duct 44 and the lower exhaust
duct 45 is bent. A filter 46 for eliminating contaminants (noxious
gas, smoke, odors, food waste) in exhausted air is installed in the
upper exhaust duct 44 above the exhaust fan 42.
[0038] The exhausting device 40 serves to exhaust air inhaled from
the inlets 13, formed through the upper surface of the main body
10, to the outlet 43 formed through the lower surface of the main
body 10 when the exhaust fan 42 is operated, and the contaminants
in the exhausted air are eliminated by the filter 46.
[0039] The filter 46 filters out oil components, fine-grained
waste, odors, and smoke in air introduced from the inlets 13,
formed through the upper surface of the main body 10. The filter 46
is constructed by stacking a grease filter 46a for removing oil
components from the exhausted air, a fine dust collection filter
46b generally referred to a HEPA filter for removing fine dust or
waste from the exhausted air, and a deodorization filter 46c
including activated carbon for removing odors from the exhausted
air. The filter 46 may include a photocatalytic filter (not shown)
deposited with photocatalyst and an ultraviolet lamp (not shown)
for irradiating ultraviolet rays to the photocatalytic filter
according to use conditions for the cooking utensil, thereby
improving a deodorizing function and having a sterilizing
function.
[0040] The cooling device 50 includes a cooling channel 51 for
inhaling air from the lower portion of the main body 10 to cool the
lower portion of the grill unit 20 and then re-exhausting the air,
and a cooling fan 52 installed in the cooling channel 51.
[0041] The cooling channel 51 includes a first cooling duct 54
extended from an inlet 53 formed through the lower surface of the
main body 10 to the lower portion of the grill unit 20, a second
cooling duct 55 extended from the first cooling duct 54 along the
lower part of the reflecting plate 24 for cooling the reflecting
plate 24 under the grill unit 20, and a third cooling duct 56
extended downwardly from the second cooling duct 55 and provided
with an outlet connected to the lower exhaust duct 45 under the
exhaust fan 42. The cooling fan 52 is a multiblade centrifugal fan
installed in the first cooling duct 54. The first cooling duct 54
includes a lower duct 54a extended upwardly from the inlet 53
formed through the lower surface of the main body 10 to the inlet
of the cooling fan 52, and an upper duct 54b connected to the lower
duct 54a, extended to the second cooling duct 55, and containing
the cooling fan 52 in the lower portion of the inside thereof.
Here, a connection portion between the lower duct 54a and the upper
duct 54b of the first cooling duct 54 is bent.
[0042] The cooling device 50 causes air, inhaled through the inlet
53 formed through the lower surface of the main body 10 when the
cooling fan 52 is operated, to passes through the lower part of the
reflecting plate 24 and cool the reflecting plate 24, and then to
be exhausted to the outside through the lower exhaust duct 45.
[0043] The cooking utensil of this embodiment further includes a
driving motor 60 installed at one side of the first cooling duct 54
for driving the cooling fan 52 and the exhaust fan 42. The cooling
fan 52 and the exhaust fan 42 are connected to a rotary shaft 61
extended from the driving motor 60. For this reason, the rotary
shaft 61 extended from the driving motor 60 transversally passes
through the first cooling duct 54a and is extended to the inside of
the exhaust duct 45, and the cooling fan 52 and the exhaust fan 42
are connected to the rotary shaft 61. Thereby, the cooling fan 52
and the exhaust fan 42 are simultaneously rotated by operating one
driving motor 60.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration of a cooking utensil in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention. The cooking utensil of this
embodiment differs from the cooking utensil of the first embodiment
in that a cooling fan 52' and an exhaust fan 42' are axial fans and
a first cooling duct 54' and an exhaust duct 44' respectively
containing the cooling fan 52' and the exhaust fan 42' have a
rectilinear structure. Other components for the cooking utensil of
this embodiment are the same as those for the cooking utensil of
the first embodiment. The cooking utensil of this embodiment
employs axial fans as the cooling fan 52' and the exhaust fan 42'
and has the rectilinear first cooling duct 54' and the rectilinear
exhaust duct 44', thus simplifying the structures of the first
cooling duct 54' and the exhaust duct 44', compared to the cooking
utensil of the first embodiment.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the internal
configuration for a cooking utensil in accordance with a third
embodiment of the present invention. A cooling heat exchanger 70
for cooling and dehumidifying the exhausted air is installed in the
cooking utensil of this embodiment close to the outlet of the
exhaust channel 41.
[0046] The cooling heat exchanger 70 is a fin-tube heat exchanger
through which cooling water flows. That is, a cooling water supply
pipe 73 for supplying cooling water from an external water supply
source to the cooling heat exchanger 70 and a cooling water
discharge pipe 74 for discharging the water passed through the
cooling heat exchanger 70 to the outside are connected to the
cooling heat exchanger 70.
[0047] A flow control valve 75 for controlling the supply of the
cooling water to the cooling heat exchanger 70 is installed in the
cooling water supply pipe 73. The flow control valve 75 is
configured such that the channel of the flow control valve 75 is
opened or closed according to the operation of the driving motor 60
driving the exhaust fan 42 and the cooling fan 52, and is
controlled such that a small quantity of water is continuously
supplied to the cooling heat exchanger 70 when the channel is
opened. For this reason, an electric switch valve is used as the
flow control valve 75. The flow control valve 75 is operated such
that the channel of the flow control valve 75 is opened when the
operating switch 18 (with reference to FIG. 1) formed on the
operation panel 11 is turned on and is closed when the operating
switch 18 is turned off. This operation of the flow control valve
75 causes the cooling water to be supplied to the cooling heat
exchanger 70 when the exhaust fan 42 and the cooling fan 52 are
operated so that air is exhausted to the outside through the
exhaust channel 41, thereby cooling and dehumidifying the exhausted
air.
[0048] A condensed water collector 76 for collecting condensed
water, which is generated on the surface of the cooling heat
exchanger 70 and is dropped, is installed below the cooling heat
exchanger 70, and a drainage pipe 77 for discharging the condensed
water is connected to the condensed water collector 76. The
condensed water collector 76 collects the condensed water generated
from the cooling heat exchanger 70 during a process for cooling and
dehumidifying the exhausted air, and then discharges the condensed
water to the outside.
[0049] Hereinafter, the overall operation of the above exhausting
and cooling system for a cooking utensil will be described.
[0050] When a user operates the exhausting and cooling system by
manipulating the operating switch 18 formed on the operating panel
11 so as to roast meat using the grill unit 20 or to cook food
using the gas range 30 on the upper surface of the main body 10,
the exhaust fan 42 and the cooling fan 52 are simultaneously
operated by the operation of the driving motor 60.
[0051] In the exhaust channel 41, air inhaled through the inlets 13
formed through the upper surface of the main body 10 forms a
descending current, thus being exhausted to the outlet 43 formed
through the lower surface of the main body 10. Here, gas, smoke,
and odors generated from the cooking process using the grill unit
20 or the gas range 30 are inhaled through the inlets 13 formed
through the upper surface of the main body 10, and are then
discharged downwardly through the exhaust channel 41. Foreign
substances in the exhausted air are filtered out by the filter
46.
[0052] In the cooling channel 51, air inhaled through the inlet 53
formed through the lower surface of the main body 10 by the suction
force of the cooling fan 52 ascends towards the lower portion of
the grill unit 20 along the first cooling duct 54, and passes
through the second cooling duct 55 below the grill unit 20, thereby
cooling the reflecting plate 24 of the grill unit 20. Then, the
air, passed through the second cooling duct 55, is exhausted to the
lower exhaust duct 45 below the exhaust fan 42 through the third
cooling duct 56, and is joined with the air in the lower exhaust
duct 45, thereby being exhausted to the outside. Through the above
cooling operation, the cooled state of the reflecting plate 24 of
the grill unit 20 is maintained even when the heater 22 is operated
during the cooking process. Accordingly, when oil or waste is
dropped from the food onto the upper part of the reflecting plate
24 during the cooking process, the oil or waste on the reflecting
plate 24 is not burned, thereby not generating smoke.
[0053] When the cooling heat exchanger 70 is installed in the
exhaust channel 41, the cooling heat exchanger 70 simultaneously
cools and dehumidifies the exhausted air. That is, the temperature
of the heated air in the cooking process is lowered by exchanging
heat between the heated air and the air in the cooling heat
exchanger 70, and moisture generated in the cooking process is
condensed on the surface of the cooling heat exchanger 70 by
contact with the cooling heat exchanger 70. Accordingly, the air
exhausted to an indoor space through the outlet 43 formed through
the lower surface of the main body 10 is in a refreshed state. When
the operation of the exhaust fan 42 and the cooling fan 52 is
stopped after the cooking process is completed, the flow control
valve 75 closes the cooling water supply pipe 73, thereby no longer
supplying the cooling water to the cooling heat exchanger 70.
[0054] As apparent from the above description, the present
invention provides an exhausting and cooling system for a cooking
utensil, in which an exhausting device and a cooling device are
simultaneously operated, thereby simultaneously exhausting gas and
odors generated in a cooking process and cooling the lower portion
of a grill unit.
[0055] The exhausting and cooling system of the present invention
simultaneously drives an exhaust fan and a cooling fan by the
operation of a single driving motor, thereby simultaneously
performing an exhausting function and a cooling function, reducing
the consumption of energy for driving the exhaust fan and the
cooling fan, and having a simple configuration.
[0056] The exhausting and cooling system of the present invention
purifies exhausted air through a filter, and cools and dehumidifies
the exhausted air through a cooling heat exchanger, thereby
maintaining indoor environments in an exhilarating state during the
cooking process.
[0057] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and
described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the
principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is
defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *