Range hood motor housing with integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir

Abstract: A motor housing having an integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir for use in a range hood. The motor housing comprises top and bottom sections connectable to one another. The top section has an upper surface and a perimeter side surface. A floor and a pair of end surfaces extend substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter side surface. An outer side surface extends from the floor and pair of end surfaces such that the outer side surface is spaced apart from the perimeter side surface, thereby forming the heating reservoir. The motor housing is made substantially of plastic with at least one portion of heat conducting material such as metal formed in the perimeter side surface in order to conduct heat from the motor housing interior to cleaning fluid within the heating reservoir. (end of abstract)

Agent: Nexus Law Group LLP - Vancouver, BC, CA
Inventor: Peter Yeung
USPTO Applicaton #: #20060196498 - Class: 12629900E (USPTO)

Range hood motor housing with integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir description/claims

The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060196498, Range hood motor housing with integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor housing for use in kitchen range hoods, and more particularly to a motor housing having an integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Range hoods are used above cooking surfaces to remove grease, common odors and hazardous gases created during the cooking process. Typically, range hoods for domestic use have a pair of motors horizontally installed in a motor housing within the hood body. Each motor drives a fan. The fans draw air from the cooking area below and force it through the motor housing to ventilation piping.

[0003] As the vaporized grease in the entrained air travels through the motor housing, some of it condenses on the inside walls of the housing and may accumulate. It is therefore known to provide a cleaning fluid under pressure in order to clean the interior of the exhaust system.

[0004] It is also known in the art to place a refillable reservoir within the interior of the range hood so as to provide an internal supply of cleaning fluid. The reservoir is typically constructed of plastic in order to remove any concerns with respect to rust and is attached to the upper surface of the range hood body, towards the front of the range hood and separate from the motor housing. Fluid delivery means connected to the reservoir deliver fluid under pressure from the reservoir to the interior surfaces of the range hood, in particular the motor housing. The reservoir may be filled through a coverable hole located in the range hood exterior. Once used, the cleaning fluid and any grease travelling therewith drains to an external grease receptacle.

[0005] Because the reservoir is spaced apart from the motor housing, the temperature of the fluid contained within it remains at approximately room temperature. However, cleaning fluid becomes more effective at removing grease as its temperature increases.

[0006] It is therefore an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide a range hood in which the cleaning fluid is heated above room temperature.

[0007] Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the present invention there is provided a motor housing for enclosing a motor and fan for use in a range hood for venting air from above a cooking surface. The motor housing comprises a top section and a bottom section, the sections being adapted to connect together. The top section has an upper surface, a perimeter side surface and a cleaning fluid heating reservoir.

[0009] The heating reservoir comprises an outer side wall, a pair of end walls and a floor. The end walls and the floor depend from and are substantially perpendicular to the perimeter side surface. The outer side wall depends from the pair of end walls and the floor such that the outer side wall is spaced apart from and shaped substantially identically to a corresponding portion of the perimeter side surface.

[0010] In another aspect, the heating reservoir further comprises an overflow outlet. A further outlet connects to a pump for pumping the cleaning fluid to spray nozzles which act to direct a spray of heated cleaning fluid against selected surfaces of the range hood.

[0011] The motor housing is preferably made substantially of plastic and has a portion made of heat conducting material. The heat conducting material, preferably a piece of metal molded into the plastic is positioned in at least the perimeter side surface of the motor housing. The heat conducting material may also form part of the perimeter side surface and the upper surface.

[0012] Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features of the invention will become more apparent from the following description in which reference is made to the appended drawings and wherein:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a motor housing with an integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the top section of the motor housing shown in FIG. 1 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of a motor housing with an integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The preferred embodiment of a motor housing 12 having an integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir 20 according to the invention for use in a kitchen range hood 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. An alternative embodiment of a motor housing and cleaning fluid heating reservoir is shown in FIG. 4.

[0019] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a motor housing 12 having the cleaning fluid heating reservoir 20 of the present invention. The motor housing 12 defines an enclosure and is mountable within a further enclosure formed by a range hood body 2. The motor housing has a top surface 14 a bottom surface 8 and a perimeter side wall 16, which when viewed from the top of the motor housing generally defines a figure-eight. The interior of the housing 12 is separated into two substantially similar, separate air chambers by divider wall 7, as shown in FIG. 1.

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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Industry Class:
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