Fan, particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens

Abstract

 A fan (1), particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens, comprising a supporting structure (2) which is associated with at least one impeller (3) which can be actuated by motor means (4) and is adapted to draw an air stream which is oriented in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis (3a) of the impeller (3), and conveyance means (5) which are adapted to redirect the air stream in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the axis (3a) of the impeller (3).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fan particularly adapted to be used in ventilation assemblies of kitchen ovens.

[0002] Generally, fans used in kitchen ovens are constituted by so-called cross-flow drum fans.

[0003] In particular, such fans are constituted by a substantially cylindrical drum made of sheet metal (or plastic material), which accommodates internally an impeller whose vanes are arranged parallel to the internal surface of the drum.

[0004] An intake port and a delivery port are provided in the drum; the intake port is generally provided by a rectangular window which lies longitudinally with respect to the drum, while the delivery port is arranged substantially parallel to the intake port but on the opposite side of the drum with respect to the rotation axis of the impeller.

[0005] The air drawn by the fan through the intake port is propelled, through the delivery port, into a duct (or conveyance element), which guides it toward a front opening which is arranged between the control panel and the front door of the oven.

[0006] Although such devices are currently extremely widespread and widely used, they have as their main drawback a high production cost, which in certain applications is a considerable limitation.

[0007] Moreover, if the impeller is supported by silicone rubber supports, it has been observed that the noise of the apparatus increases as a consequence of their wear.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is to eliminate or at least reduce drastically the drawback noted above in known types of fans particularly for kitchen ovens.

[0009] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a fan which has a competitive production cost, so that its use is advantageous also from an economical standpoint.

[0010] Another object of the invention is to provide a fan which can offer high reliability in operation.

[0011] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a fan which has a very simple structure which is highly durable and easy to assemble.

[0012] This aim and these and other objects, which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a fan according to the invention, particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens, characterized in that it comprises a supporting structure associated with at least one impeller which can be actuated by motor means and is adapted to draw an air stream which is oriented in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of said impeller, and conveyance means which are adapted to redirect the air stream in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said impeller.

[0013] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a fan, particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens, which comprises a supporting structure associated with an impeller and means for conveying the air stream generated by said impeller to a delivery port which is connected to a conveyance duct which leads into the region of the oven closure door, characterized in that said conveyance means and said conveyance duct are formed monolithically.

[0014] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a fan according to the invention, illustrated by way of nonlimiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top elevation view of the conveyance means associated with an impeller;

Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the conveyance means associated with the impeller shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the conveyance means;

Figure 4 is a perspective view, from another angle, of the conveyance means;

Figure 5 is again a perspective view of the conveyance means associated with the conveyance duct;

Figure 6 is a top elevation view of the conveyance means associated with the conveyance duct shown in Figure 5.

[0015] In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments.

[0016] Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

[0017] With reference to the figures, a fan particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens is generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a supporting structure 2 which is associated with at least one impeller 3.

[0018] The impeller 3 has an axis 3a with respect to which a plurality of mutually angularly spaced vanes 3b protrude radially.

[0019] The impeller 3 can be actuated by motor means 4 and is adapted to draw an air stream which is oriented along a direction which is substantially parallel to its axis 3a.

[0020] Also according to the invention, the fan 1 is further provided with conveyance means 5, which are adapted to redirect the aspirated air stream generated (at the intake) by the impeller 3 along a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said impeller 3.

[0021] In greater detail, the conveyance means 5 comprise a lateral containment body 6 and at least one closure wall 7, which faces the impeller 3. Generally, the closure wall is designed to be arranged, in the particular application of kitchen ovens, below the impeller 3.

[0022] According to an important aspect of the present invention, the closure wall 7 is at least partially formed by an upper closure housing 7a of the oven with which the fan 1 is associated.

[0023] Of course, nothing prevents the provision of the closure wall 7 in a different manner, for example by providing monolithically (and in a single die) both the lateral containment body 6 and the closure wall 7.

[0024] Advantageously, as clearly shown in the perspective views shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lateral containment body 6 defines an intake port 8, which is arranged axially with respect to the axis 3a of the impeller 3, and a delivery port 9, which is arranged laterally with respect to the axis 3a of the impeller 3.

[0025] Conveniently, the delivery port 9 can be connected to a duct 10 for conveying the air stream: said conveyance duct 10 leads into the region of the oven closure door and typically substantially at a front opening arranged between the control panel and the front door of the oven.

[0026] The conveyance duct 10 also, as shown, can be formed in a downward region by a portion of the upper closure housing 7a.

[0027] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, according to a further particularly important aspect of the present invention, the conveyance duct 10 is formed monolithically with the lateral containment body 6.

[0028] Conveniently, the motor means 4 can be constituted by an electric motor 4a, which can be supported by the upper closure housing 7a of the oven (or by the supporting structure 2) and is connected axially, with its output shaft, to the impeller.

[0029] Advantageously, the lateral containment body 6 has, on its outer side, elements 6a (such as openings which can be engaged by screws or similar elements) for fixing it to the upper closure housing 7a.

[0030] More particularly, the lateral containment body 6 may support a supporting collar 11 for the impeller 3 and for the motor means 4.

[0031] According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a fan 1 particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens which comprises a supporting structure 2 which can be associated with an impeller 3 and means 5 for conveying the air stream generated by the impeller 3 to a delivery port 9, which is connected to a conveyance duct 10 which leads to the region of the oven closure door.

[0032] According to the present invention, the conveyance means 5 and the conveyance duct 10 are provided monolithically. Conveniently, said monolithic body can be provided by using a single die.

[0033] According to this last aspect, there is nothing to prevent the conveyance means from comprising a lateral containment body which defines an intake port which is arranged laterally with respect to the axis of said impeller: in this case, the delivery port is arranged on the opposite side of the intake port with respect to the axis of the impeller so as to form in practice a cross-flow fan.

[0034] Operation of the fan 1 according to the invention is evident from what has been described above.

[0035] In particular, by way of the actuation of the motor means 4 the impeller 3 is turned and draws the air through the intake port 8 (therefore axially) and directs it toward the delivery port 9 and from there through the conveyance duct 10.

[0036] As a consequence of this, it has been possible to use effectively a fan with axial intake and tangential delivery in kitchen ovens, achieving a cost reduction and high reliability at the same time.

[0037] In practice it has been found that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects in all of its embodiments.

[0038] By providing part of the conveyance means by using the surface of the upper closure housing, the production cost has been further reduced and the die has been simplified so as to allow optionally to provide monolithically the conveyance means and the conveyance duct.

[0039] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

[0040] All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

[0041] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2006A000001 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0042] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. A fan, particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens, characterized in that it comprises a supporting structure which can be associated with at least one impeller which can be actuated by motor means and is adapted to draw an air stream which is oriented in a direction which is substantially parallel to the axis of said impeller, and conveyance means which are adapted to redirect said air stream in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of said impeller.

2. The fan according to claim 1, characterized in that said conveyance means comprise a lateral containment body and at least one closure wall which faces said impeller.

3. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said closure wall is at least partially provided by an upper closure housing of said oven.

4. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral containment body defines an intake port, which is arranged axially with respect to the axis of said impeller, and a delivery port, which is arranged laterally with respect to the axis of said impeller.

5. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is possible to connect to said delivery port a duct for conveying said air stream which leads to the region of the oven closure door.

6. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said conveyance duct is provided monolithically with said lateral containment body.

7. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said motor means comprise an electric motor which is supported by said upper closure housing of the oven and is connected axially to said impeller by means of its output shaft.

8. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral containment body has, on its outer side, elements for fixing it to said upper closure housing.

9. The fan according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said lateral containment body supports a supporting collar for said impeller and said motor means.

10. A fan particularly for the ventilation of kitchen ovens, comprising a supporting structure which can be associated with at least one impeller and means for conveying the air stream generated by said impeller to a delivery port which is connected to a conveyance duct which leads to the oven closure door region, characterized in that said conveyance means and said conveyance duct are formed monolithically.

11. The fan according to claim 10, characterized in that said conveyance means comprise a lateral containment body which defines an intake port which is arranged laterally with respect to the axis of said impeller, said delivery port being arranged on the opposite side of said intake port with respect to the axis of said impeller.

Drawing