U.S. patent application number 11/820828 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-27 for cabinet combination section having a ventilation device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Imes Management AG. Invention is credited to Urs Weidmann.
Application Number | 20070298704 11/820828 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37757947 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070298704 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Weidmann; Urs |
December 27, 2007 |
Cabinet combination section having a ventilation device
Abstract
A cabinet combination section has a ventilation device. The
ventilation device has a first air duct for conditioning outdoor
air and supplying the conditioned air as supply air to a room and a
second air duct for removing return air from the room and discharge
the return air as exhaust air to the environment. The ventilation
device comprises various components including a fan. The components
are situated in the first air duct and/or in the second air duct.
The cabinet combination section has a lower section, a middle
section and an upper section lying on top of another. The
components of the ventilation device are situated in the lower
section and/or the upper section of the cabinet combination
section.
Inventors: |
Weidmann; Urs; (Zug,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THELEN REID BROWN RAYSMAN & STEINER LLP
P. O. BOX 640640
SAN JOSE
CA
95164-0640
US
|
Assignee: |
Imes Management AG
|
Family ID: |
37757947 |
Appl. No.: |
11/820828 |
Filed: |
June 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
454/229 ;
454/234; 454/237 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 7/06 20130101; Y02B
30/70 20130101; F24F 11/77 20180101; Y02B 30/56 20130101; F24F
12/006 20130101; F24F 2221/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
454/229 ;
454/234; 454/237 |
International
Class: |
F24F 7/08 20060101
F24F007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 23, 2006 |
CH |
1011/06 |
Claims
1. Cabinet combination section having a lower section, a middle
section and an upper section situated one on top of another and
further having a ventilation device, wherein the ventilation device
has a first air duct for conditioning outdoor air and supplying the
conditioned air as supply air to a room, wherein the ventilation
device has a second air duct for removing return air from the room
and discharge the return air as exhaust air to the environment,
wherein the ventilation device has various components which are
arranged in the first air duct and/or in the second air duct, and
wherein the components of the ventilation device are situated in
the lower section and/or the upper section of the cabinet
combination section.
2. Cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein an
electrical kitchen device is situated in the middle section, the
electrical kitchen device having a depth that is smaller than a
depth of the cabinet combination section, and wherein at least one
component of the ventilation device is situated behind the kitchen
device.
3. Cabinet combination section according to claim 1, wherein the
middle section is formed as recess with a free accessible
floor.
4. Cabinet combination section according to claim 3, wherein a
depth of the recess is smaller than a depth of the cabinet
combination section and wherein at least one component of the
ventilation device is situated behind a cover delimiting the
recess.
5. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according
to claim 1, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and
wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
6. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according
to claim 2, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and
wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
7. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according
to claim 3, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and
wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
8. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according
to claim 4, wherein a fan is situated in the second air duct and
wherein a control means controls a speed of the fan depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
9. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section according
to claim 1, wherein a means for reducing the air stream is situated
in the second air duct and wherein a control means controls said
means for reducing the air stream depending on a power of a further
ventilation means.
10. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 2, wherein a means for reducing the air stream
is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means
controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
11. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 3, wherein a means for reducing the air stream
is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means
controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
12. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 4, wherein a means for reducing the air stream
is situated in the second air duct and wherein a control means
controls said means for reducing the air stream depending on a
power of a further ventilation means.
13. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 1, wherein a fan is situated in the second air
duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the
second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan
and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an
output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in
the room.
14. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 2, wherein a fan is situated in the second air
duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the
second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan
and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an
output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in
the room.
15. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 3, wherein a fan is situated in the second air
duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the
second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan
and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an
output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in
the room.
16. Cabinet combination with a cabinet combination section
according to claim 4, wherein a fan is situated in the second air
duct and/or a means for reducing the air stream is situated in the
second air duct, and wherein a control means controls the fan
and/or said means for reducing the air stream depending on an
output signal of a sensor measuring an air pressure prevailing in
the room.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] Applicant hereby claims foreign priority under 35 U.S.C
.sctn. 119 from Swiss Application No. 01011/06 filed Jun. 23, 2006,
the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a cabinet combination
section having a ventilation device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A first air stream, which is supplied as supply air to a
room, and a second air stream, which is removed as return air from
the room and supplied as exhaust air to the environment, flow
through the ventilation device. The ventilation device contains
various components including a fan, which are used for the purpose
of exchanging heat and/or moisture between the first air stream and
the second air stream, the components being connected to one
another by corresponding lines. Such ventilation devices are known
from the prior art.
[0004] For example, a plate heat exchanger having an integrated
electric filter and a cleaning device for cleaning the electric
filter is known from US 20060191413. The plate heat exchanger is
used for exchanging heat between two air streams.
[0005] A moisture exchanger for exchanging moisture between two air
streams is known from US 20050072303. Such a moisture exchanger
essentially comprises two cavities which are separated by a
structure permeable to water vapor. The structure permeable to
water vapor separates two air streams, but allows the exchange of
moisture between the two air streams.
[0006] An air-conditioning device is known from GB 1335886, which
has a heat exchanger, an air filter, a cooling assembly, a fan, a
humidifier, and a measurement and control unit. The
air-conditioning device is placed in a cabinet which has the
conventional appearance of the other cabinets which are used in a
kitchenette, for example. Because the volume occupied by this
air-conditioning device is quite large, its installation in a
kitchen has not become widespread on the market. The ventilation
devices are therefore typically installed in the basement of a
house. In a single-family house, this occurs without great
difficulty. In multifamily houses, in particular in apartment
buildings having multiple apartments lying one on top of another,
installation in the basement is disadvantageous. To ventilate the
individual apartments, pipeline systems must be installed. The
pipeline systems, which may have pipe lengths from several tens of
meters up to more than 100 meters, reduce the efficiency of the
ventilation device. In addition, the danger arises that foreign
particles, such as solids or even bacteria or fungi, will collect
in the pipeline system. In particular the warm and moist exhaust
air, but also the moist fresh air, form ideal conditions for the
propagation of bacteria or fungi in the pipeline system.
[0007] The present invention is based on the object of improving a
ventilation device and/or configuration in such a way that it may
be installed more easily and efficiently in a kitchen and/or in a
living space.
[0008] A living space is understood here as any room located in an
apartment or a single-family house, such as a kitchen, a bedroom, a
living room, an office, or a hallway.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The stated object is achieved according to the present
invention by a cabinet combination section having an installed
ventilation device, the cabinet combination section being executed
in the design of the individual elements or modules of a cabinet
combination of a living space or in the design of the individual
elements of a kitchen combination, if it is installed in a kitchen,
the cabinet combination section essentially having a lower section,
a middle section, and an upper section, which are situated one on
top of another. If the floor of the middle section is a freely
accessible work surface, the components of the ventilation device
are only situated in the lower and/or upper section. In contrast,
if the middle section accommodates a cooking device which does not
fill up the depth of the cabinet combination, such as a microwave
oven or a coffee machine, the components of the ventilation device
are situated in the lower and/or upper section and/or in the room
remaining between the kitchen device and the rear wall of the
cabinet combination. In this variation, the components of the
ventilation device and the cooking device may use the same supply
lines.
[0010] A cabinet combination of this type may be situated both in
single-family houses and also in individual apartments of a
multifamily house. The decentralized installation of the
ventilation devices allows individual invoicing of the ventilation
costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more
embodiments of the present invention and, together with the
detailed description, serve to explain the principles and
implementations of the invention. The figures are not to scale.
[0012] In the drawings:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cabinet
combination section according to the present invention having an
installed ventilation device,
[0014] FIG. 2 shows a schematic vertical sectional view of a
cabinet combination section, and
[0015] FIG. 3 shows a schematic vertical sectional view of a
further cabinet combination section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a cabinet combination
section 1. Typically, multiple such or similar cabinet combination
sections are assembled to form a cabinet combination, either built
on or freestanding. If the cabinet combination is installed in a
kitchen, then one refers to a kitchen combination. The present
invention is explained on the basis of a kitchen combination for
this example. The cabinet combination section 1 shown in FIG. 1 is
thus a kitchen combination section. A kitchen combination is
understood as the equipment of a domestic kitchen or an industrial
large kitchen, e.g., of a restaurant or a cafeteria. A kitchen
combination typically comprises multiple different or identical
kitchen elements which are combined with one another modularly.
Such kitchen elements are, for example, cabinets, drawers, rotating
cabinets, electrical kitchen devices, niches, work surfaces, sinks,
etc. Examples of electrical kitchen devices are steamer, oven,
microwave oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, coffee machine, stove and
vapor exhaust, etc.
[0017] Typically, such a kitchen combination is installed along the
walls of a kitchen. Such a wall is provided with the reference
numeral 2. However, it is also possible that a kitchen combination
or parts of a kitchen combination are situated in the middle of a
room. In the event of such a configuration, one skilled in the art
refers to a freestanding cooking island. The kitchen combination
sections typically have a standardized width B and a standardized
depth T. The standardization of the dimensions is advantageous,
because it allows simple replacement of individual kitchen elements
if they have reached their service life or if a new device is to be
installed. The standardized dimensions may be different from
country to country. In Switzerland, the standardized width B of the
kitchen combination section is typically 50 cm, 55 cm, or 60
cm.
[0018] The kitchen combination section shown in FIG. 1 essentially
comprises three sections in the vertical direction, namely a lower
section 3, a middle section 4, and an upper section 5, and contains
a ventilation device. The lower section 3 stands on a kitchen floor
or a console. All three sections together have a height H, the
height H being equal to or less than the room height of the
kitchen. The distance between the kitchen floor and the floor 6 of
the middle section 4 is preferably between 0.8 and 1.2 m, which
corresponds to an ideal working height. The floor 6 of the middle
section 4 may be a freely accessible work surface which may also
extend over multiple neighboring kitchen combination sections.
Alternatively, an electrical kitchen device 7 may be situated in
the middle section 4, in particular a microwave oven, a coffee
machine, a steamer, a stove, and/or a vapor exhaust. This kitchen
device 7 situated in the middle section may be operated especially
comfortably by the user. The niche in which the kitchen device 7 is
situated may also be referred to as a recess 8. There is an
intermediate space between the wall 2 and the rear wall 9 of the
kitchen device 7, through which supply lines may be guided to the
kitchen device 7.
[0019] The ventilation device comprises a first air duct 10 (FIG.
2) for supplying outdoor air, which flows into the kitchen as
supply air, and a second air duct 11 for the removal of return air
from the kitchen, which is discharged to the environment as exhaust
air, as well as various components 12 such as fan, filter, heat
exchanger, moisture exchanger, humidifier, dehumidifier, cooling
assembly, etc. These components 12 are used for conditioning the
outdoor air, so that it may be supplied to the kitchen as supply
air at a desired temperature and a desired humidity. The
conditioning of the outdoor air is advantageously performed in an
energy-saving way, by exchanging heat and/or moisture between the
air flows flowing in the first and second air ducts. Suitable heat
exchangers and moisture exchangers are known, for example, from US
20060191413, US 20050072303, and WO 2007012213. The components 12
of the ventilation device may also form a conventional
air-conditioning system, however.
[0020] If the middle section 4 of the kitchen combination section
is implemented as a freely accessible work surface or as a stove
with or without a vapor exhaust, the components 12 of the
ventilation device are situated in the lower section 3 and/or the
upper section 5 of the kitchen combination section.
[0021] If an electrical kitchen device 7 is situated in the middle
section 4 of the kitchen combination section and an intermediate
space remains between the rear wall 9 of the kitchen device 7 and
the wall 2, the components 12 of the ventilation device are
situated in the lower section 3 and/or the upper section 5 and/or
in this intermediate space. The installation of a steamer, a
microwave oven, or a coffee machine in the kitchen combination
section which contains the ventilation device is especially
advantageous, because on one hand the depth of these devices is
less than the depth T of the kitchen combination section, so that
individual components 12 of the ventilation device find space in
the intermediate space, and because, on the other hand, these
devices and the components 12 of the ventilation device may be
supplied with electrical energy and/or water via the same supply
lines. Because an already existing line system may be used, it is
accordingly possible in new and also in already existing kitchens
to install the components 12 of the ventilation device without
great effort. The user is spared complex processing of masonry.
[0022] FIG. 1 only shows individual components of the ventilation
device, but not the air ducts 10 and 11, which connect the
components 12. FIG. 2 shows an example of the ventilation device in
a lateral section of FIG. 1. If the kitchen device 7 is provided,
as in FIG. 1, the two air ducts 10 and 11 are situated between the
wall 2 and the rear wall 9 of the kitchen device 7. If, as in the
example of FIG. 2, the floor 6 of the middle section 4 is
implemented as a freely accessible work surface or placement
surface or is a washbasin, the two air ducts 10 and 11 are situated
between the wall 2 and the cover 13. The depth T.sub.A of the
recess 8 may be less than the depth T of the kitchen combination
section, for example, because the recess 8 is provided for
placement of a kitchen device whose device depth is less than the
depth T of the kitchen combination section. This is the case for a
freestanding coffee machine, for example. In this case, at least
one component of the ventilation device may be situated behind a
cover 13 delimiting the recess 8.
[0023] The first air duct 10 opens into the kitchen in this
example, but it may also deliver a part of the supply air into
other rooms via corresponding air ducts.
[0024] The ventilation device contains at least one fan as one of
the components 12 to set the air stream in the first air duct 10 or
the air stream in the second air duct 11 into circulation. The fan
is a ventilator or another pump, for example. It is advantageous to
control the operation of the fan with the operation of a further
ventilation means, such as a vapor exhaust, as is used for a stove,
for example, or the ventilation of a bathroom. FIG. 3 illustrates
such an example schematically. A cabinet combination section
similar to the example of FIG. 2 is shown on the left side in FIG.
3. The ventilation device contains a fan 14, which is situated in
the second air duct 11 for removing the return air. A vapor exhaust
is shown on the right side of FIG. 3, which, as is typical,
comprises a vapor exhaust hood 15, an exhaust air duct 16, and a
fan 17 situated in the exhaust air duct 16. The fan 17 is a
ventilator, for example. The vapor exhaust may be placed in the
kitchen combination section 1 shown in FIG. 3 or another location
in the kitchen. Control means 18 control the fan 14 according to
the following function: at a high exhaust power of the vapor
exhaust (and/or the ventilation of the bathroom), the fan 14
conveys a smaller air volume flow out of the room than at lower
exhaust power. The formation of a partial vacuum in the kitchen
(and/or in the bathroom) and/or in the entire apartment is thus
prevented. The exhaust action of the vapor exhaust is not impaired.
Therefore, there is no or only a reduced pressure drop in the
apartment. The control means 18 obtains the required information
about the exhaust power of the vapor exhaust either from a
controller of the vapor exhaust or by detecting the speed of the
fan 17 or the air volume flow conveyed by the fan 17. For this
purpose, a sensor is provided, for example. The control means 18
is, for example, integrated as shown in the front of the upper
section 5 of the kitchen combination section 1 where it is
accessible to the user in a user-friendly way. The control means 18
may, however, also be placed at any arbitrary other location. The
second air duct 11 and the exhaust air duct 16 may be guided
individually to the ambient air, or they may open into a shared
ventilation duct already before the exit into the ambient air.
[0025] Alternatively, the air stream in the second air duct 11 may
be reduced, for example, using means 19 for reducing the air stream
situated in the second air duct 11, such as a throttle valve or a
pneumatic valve, so that the cited means 19 may throttle the
outgoing air stream in the second air duct 11 if an air stream
occurs in the exhaust air duct 16 of the vapor exhaust. Such means
19 are also shown in FIG. 3.
[0026] A combination of reducing the return air flow by the
corresponding controller of the speed of the fan 14 and using the
means 19 for reducing the air stream is also possible.
[0027] A further possibility is to provide a sensor 20 which
measures the air pressure existing in the room, and, depending on
the embodiment, to reduce the air stream in the second air duct 11
in the event of underpressure by reducing the speed of the fan 14
and/or a corresponding setting of the means 19 for reducing the air
stream, so that the air pressure in the room remains the same as in
the ambient air. The sensor 20 is integrated in the control means
18, for example. The control means 18 control the speed of the fan
14 and/or the cited means 19 as a function of the output signal of
the sensor.
[0028] A reduction of the partial vacuum also has an advantageous
effect if a woodfired oven or an open fireplace is provided in the
apartment. The equalization or stabilization of the pressure
conditions has the advantage here that the vapor exhaust and/or the
ventilation no longer impairs the exhaust of the smoke through the
chimney.
[0029] If the kitchen comprises multiple kitchen combination
sections 1, like the one shown in detail in FIG. 1, neighboring one
another, the kitchen device 7 may also be in a neighboring kitchen
combination section. Because the corresponding supply lines are
already provided in the neighboring kitchen combination section,
the above-mentioned advantages are also provided in this case. The
lines have to be guided through the partition wall which is located
between the two kitchen combination sections here.
[0030] The external temperature of the external walls of the house
oriented to the north are known to be cooler than the remaining
walls. To operate the ventilation device as optimally as possible,
it is advantageous to have the air ducts 10 and 11 exit to the
environment on a wall oriented to the north. Because the kitchen is
frequently oriented to the north, it is therefore advantageous to
situate the ventilation device in the kitchen.
[0031] In the present embodiment, it is obvious that the kitchen
device 7 has a depth which is less than the standard depth T.
Instead of such a kitchen device 3, however, another of the
above-mentioned kitchen elements may also be used.
[0032] While embodiments and applications of this invention have
been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in
the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more
modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing
from the inventive concepts herein. The invention, therefore, is
not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims
and their equivalents.
* * * * *