US3587555A - Ventilated range - Google Patents

Abstract

A HOUSING ARRANGEMENT FOR A VENTILATE COOKING RANGE INCLUDING A BURNER BOX FOR CONTAINING SURFACE LEVEL HEATING UNITS AND/OR OPEN AIR BROILER, AN AIR EXHAUST PLENUM CHAMBER EXTENDING THROUGH AND BISECTING THE BURNER BOX FOR COMMUNICATION WITH AN AIR EXHAUST FAN FOR EXPELLING SMOKE AND GREASE LADEN FUMES TO THE OUTSIDE OF A BUILDING WALL, AND AN OVEN OR AN OVEN PROVIDED WITH AN ENCLOSED BROILER WHICH IS IN VENTING COMMUNICATION WITH THE PLENUM CHAMBER.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Joseph J. Ceroln Indianapolis, Ind. Appl. No. 824,043 Filed May 13, 1969 Patented June 28, 1971 Assignee Jenn-Air Corporation Indianapolis, Ind.

VENTILATED RANGE 4 Claims, 9 Drawing Figs.

11.8. CI 126/1, 126/21,126/37,126/300 Int. Cl F24c 1/00, F24c 15/20 Field of Search 126/299,

m), 299 (C), 300, 301, 303, 214 (A), 21, 21 (A), 39 (H), 37; 98/36, 115 (K) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,564,087 8/1951 Warren 126/21AX 2,674,991 4/1954 Schaefer 126/21AX 3,142,295 7/1964 Blee 126/37 3,367,320 2/1968 Jenn et al 126/300 Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre Altorney Kenneth E. Walden ABSTRACT: A housing arrangement for a ventilated cooking range including a burner box for containing surface level heating units and/or open air broiler, an air exhaust plenum chamber extending through and bisecting the burner box for communication with an air exhaust fan for expelling smoke and grease laden fumes to the outside of a building wall, and an oven or an oven provided with an enclosed broiler which is in venting communication with the plenum chamber.

PATENTED JUH28 I971 sum 1 BF 4 INVE JOSEPH J. CER

NTOR. O L A ATTORNEY PATENTED unzalgn- SHEET 3 0F 4 INVENTOR. JOSEPH J. cER OLA ma /Q4 ATTORNEY PATENTED JUH28 I971 SHEET b 0F 4 INVENTOR. JOSEPH J. CEROLA MAJ/Q NwN Qwm IT I I NNN ATTORNEY VENTILATED RANGE Disclosure herein is made to a ventilated range. It amounts to a further development over the disclosure in U. S. Application Ser. No. 628,499 filed Apr. 4, 1967 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,805. The specification to follow will make reference to the drawings herein which form a part of this disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of one fonn of the ventilated range shown in the counter in which it is mounted.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ventilated range taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the control panel.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the broiler.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken through a grease collecting jar carried from the bottom of the burner box.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2 but with a modification.

FIG. 7 represents a cross-sectional view of a grease collecting tray.

FIG. 8 represents cation.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the oven and linkage associated therewith.

In the counter top shown in phantom by FIG. 1 is received a ventilated range generally designated by the numeral 10. This range shown in FIG. 1 includes plural heating units 12 on one side and an open air broiling grill 14 on the other. An air intake grill l6 defines an entrance to a plenum chamber which will be described in detail later in the specification. The front portion of the range shows a control panel 18 and an oven door 20.

FIG. 2, which is a cross-sectional view of the range, shows housing 20 and its various parts. The housing generally defines an enclosure for the range. It is provided with portions 22 which are adapted to overhang and be supported from edges of a cabinet 24 (in phantom) in which the range is received. A burner box 26 is received in the top of the housing and extends substantially across its entire surface. It is defined as an upwardly facing recessed box for receiving heater units 12 and broiler and grill 14. The burner box is supported on projections 19 from a top portion of housing 20 and generally received below the top surface thereof.

A plenum chamber 28 is located in the housing beneath the burner box. The plenum chamber projects through the bottom of the burner box 26 and extends upwardly to a level of the top of the housing and terminates in an air intake grill 16. The plenum chamber partially lies adjacent to that portion of the burner box underneath the broiler. The lower portion of the plenum chamber terminates in an opening 30 adjacent power driven exhaust fan 32. The exhaust fan is driven by an electric motor 34. A fan housing 36 is connected to an exhaust conduit 41 which is adapted to carry smoke and grease laden fumes through a building wall to the outside.

The lowest portion of plenum 28 is provided with an opening 40 through which grease drains into a tray 42. The tray is held in position by channels 44 which permits removal of the tray for emptying grease therefrom. A filter 46 is located in the plenum chamber just in front of the entrance to the exhaust fan for the purpose of causing grease fumes from the air to be collected thereon and drain into the bottom portion of the plenum.

The broiler, previously referred to by the numeral 14, includes a grill, electric heating elements 50, grill rock basket 52 (containing basalt rock 54) and a drip pan 56. The electric elements rest on support 51 of the basket. All of the elements comprising the broiler, with the exception of the grill are located within one end of burner box 26. Drip pan 56 is separated by a space 57 from burner box 26 for the purpose of permitting air to pass therebetween for cooling the bottom of the drip pan. In this manner the temperature of the bottom of the drip pan and the grease therein are maintained below a temperature sufficiently high to sustain continuous combustion of grease. Air is permitted to enter space 57 between the burner box and drip pan through slot 58 fonned in the botin cross-sectional view of another modifitom of the burner box. This cooling air is drawn into the plenum chamber 28 at slot 60. Cooling air enters the range housing through an overlay vent 62 and after flowing around motor 34 passes on to cool drip pan 56. In addition to the cooling air drawn underneath the drip pan a substantially greater volume of air is drawn horizontally across grill l4 and through air intake grill 16 into plenum chamber 28 as indicated by the arrows. This air collects smoke and grease laden fumes emitting from broilingmeat or the like. At the same time, air is drawn in the opposite direction across heating units 12 for picking up cooking odors.

The midportion of burner box 26 is provided with an opening extending thereacross to permit plenum 28 to extend-upwardly therethrough. The plenum underlies a portion of the burner box and overlies a portion of the oven.

The vast volume of air that is being handled travels horizontally across the broiler and heating units and is drawn into the plenum chamber at grill [6. Fan housing 36 which receives fan 32 is adapted to be secured in any one of plural positions to direct its discharge 38 in the desired direction to accommodate the particular installation. The direction of discharge 38 can be rearward or downward, as shown.

As shown in FIG. 5, the bottom of burner box is provided with an opening 64 which receives a drip nozzle 66 in the bottom of drip pan 56. A fruit jar lid 68, having an opening therethrough, is riveted or otherwise secured to the burner box, as shown, for receiving a fruit jar 70. Grease and food particles dropping into drip pan 56 drain into jar 70. Therefore, grease collecting means 70 are provided at a low point for the drip pan. Grease collecting tray 42 is located at the low point in the plenum chamber.

As shown in FIG. 2, the right-hand end of the burner box receives cooking units 12. These units are supportedly carried through openings in cover 88. A formed member having a dished surface 64 underlies the burners for collecting debris falling through the openings from food being cooked.

FIG. 2 further discloses an oven chamber defined by walls 72 in which is located heating units 74. Insulation 76 is provided around the oven. 1

Control panel 18 (FIG. 3) includes a circuit breaker 78, electric outlet 80, light switch 82, thermostat 84 and oven pilot light 86.

FIG. 6 represents in cross section a modification of the structure shown in FIG. 2. Like arrangements have been identified by similar numerals differing only in that the numerals in FIG. 6 are of a century higher. The basic difference in FIG. 6 is that heating units 12 of FIG. 2 have been replaced by broiler 114. This is shown in FIG. 6 wherein the right-hand portion of the cross section represents a substantial mirror image of the left-hand side. As before an air intake grill 116 defines an entrance to a plenum chamber 128. The housing 120 contains a plurality of parts all substantially enclosed within the range. The housing is provided with overhanging parts or ears 122 which are adapted to support the housing from the top of a cutaway counter. Such a counter is shown in phantom lines and designated by the numeral 124. A burner box 126 having a bottom and sidewalls is received within the top of housing 120 and extends substantially along the entire top surface thereof. It is supported by projections 119 which overhang or otherwise connect to a portion of the housing.

Plenum chamber 128 includes an entrance portion which bisects the bottom of burner box 126 and extends upwardly therefrom and terminates in an opening substantially level with the top of the housing. A body portion of the plenum chamber is located between the burner box and an oven (to be described later). A lower part of the plenum chamber terminates in an opening 130 leading into a housing 136 containing a power driven exhaust fan 132. The lowermost portion of the plenum chamber is provided with an opening leading into a removable grease collecting tray 142. This tray may be supported in position by channels 144. Fan 132 driven by air motor 134 draws air into the plenum chamber as indicated by the arrows above the broilers in through grill 116 to plenum Located on either side of plenum chamber entrance are up-,

wardly facing recesses defined by the burner box and the plenum. A broiler designated generally by the numeral 115 contains heating elements 150 supported in position by a rod 151 form a perforated basket 152 containing basalt rock 154. Grease from broiling meats, or the like, fall downwardly from grill 114 onto the heated rocks, where smoke is given off to enhance broiling, and then fall into the bottom of drip pan 156. The bottom of the drip pan is provided with an aperture similar to 66 as shown in FIG. 5. The bottom of the burner box is additionally provided with an entrance through which grease may drain from the drip pan into a receptacle such as 70 in FIG. 5 or 171 in FIG. 7.

In addition to the air that is drawn across the top of the broiler, a lesser amount is permitted to flow underneath the drip pan in space 157 for the purpose of cooling the drip pan so as to maintain collecting grease therein at a temperature sufiiciently low so as to not support continuous combustion. This cooling air is permitted to enter the housing through overlay opening 162 and enter through slot 158 formed in the bottom 'of burner box and finally to exit through slot 160 into the plenum chamber. The path of cooling air on the right-hand broiler (FIG. 6) is through slot 163 and slot 159 and into the plenum chamber through opening 161.

As shown in FIG. 6 grease is pennitted to drain away from the righthand broiler through a conduit 165 which leads toward tray 142. A tray 17] as shown in FIG. 7 may be used instead of conduit 165 for the purpose of collecting grease and fallen food particles.

A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 8 wherein similar numerals are applied to like elements in other FIGS. but of a higher century number. Herein surface cooking units 212 are provided on either side of plenum entrance 216. The arrangement is substantially identical to the arrangement shown in heating units 12 in FIG. 2. Since certain parts are common and similar numerals are being applied, a complete description of the structure shown in FIG. 8 is not believed essential for an understanding thereof. The plenum chamber arrangement remains substantially unchanged, but one substantial modification has been made in the ventilating system. It will be noted in FIG. 8 that a broiling element 275 is located in the top of the oven and that positionable broiling tray is located underneath. The oven chamber includes an opening 280 which communicates with plenum chamber 228 for passage of air therethrough. A damper 282 is pivotally secured to the oven chamber walls so as to close this openingfifl' he positioning of damper 282 is attained by manipulation of rod 284 (FIG. 9) which operates through a bellcrank arrangement 286 and link 288. By pushing or pulling rod 284 the desiredsetting on damper 282 can be attained. While the oven door is not shown other than in FIGS.'1 and 3, it is common in the art for oven doors to be fully closed or left in an ajar position so as to permit air to enter the oven during broiling operation. This arrangement is followed in the instant application. Another way of permitting air to enter the oven when the oven door is fully closed is to provide the door with an incomplete seal for this purpose.

By this specification referring to the various modifications applicant has disclosed his improvement upon which patent protection is sought.

I claim: V

l. A housing for a ventilated cooking range comprising:

a burner box having sidewalls and a bottom received below the top surface of the housing,

an oven located beneath said burner box, a plenum chamber having an entrance portion bisecting the bottom of the burner box and extending thereabove so as to define spaced apart upwardly facing recessed portions on either side thereof for receiving surface cooking devices,

said plenum including a body portion disposed generally between the burner box and oven and terminating in a lower portion in communication with a power driven exhaust fan whereby air is drawn into the plenum chamber entrance from across the surface cooking devices on either side thereof and discharged from the exhaust fan by ducting through a building wall to the atmosphere,

said oven including a chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with said plenum,

and means adjacent said oven chamber outlet to said plenum chamber to control the volume of air drawn through said oven chamber into said plenum chamber.

2. The claimed subject matter of claim 1 wherein said means comprisesa damper manually controllable through articulated linkage.

3. A housing for a ventilated cooking range comprising:

burner box means having side and bottom walls received below the top surface of the housing and defining upwardly facing recess portions for receiving therein surface cooking devices,

an oven chamber beneath said burner box means,

an air plenum chamber having an entrance portion disposed generally between said burner box means and extending upwardly,

said plenum including a body portion disposed generally between the burner box means and oven and terminating in a lower portion in communication with a power driven exhaust fan whereby air is drawn into the plenum chamber entrance from across the surface cooking devices on either side thereof for discharging from the exhaust fan by ducting through a building wall to the atmosphere,

said oven chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with said plenum,

and damper means adjacent said oven chamber outlet to said plenum chamber to control the volume of air drawn through said oven chamber into said plenum chamber.

4. The claimed subject matter of claim 3 wherein said damper means is manually controllable through articulated linkage from outside said housing.

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