Vent system for cooking appliance

Abstract

A vent system for venting hot gas and effluents from a cooking appliance. The vent system includes a first direct vent structure having an inlet for receiving hot gas and effluents and an outlet communicating with atmosphere. The first direct vent structure defines a first flow path. At least one effluent-removal device is positioned in the first flow path for removing effluents from the hot gas. An atmospheric flue communicates with the outlet of the first direct vent structure for venting hot gas to atmosphere after it has passed through the effluent-removal device. A damper system and integrated control system are also disclosed.

1 . A vent system for venting hot gas and effluents from a cooking appliance, said vent system comprising
 a direct exhaust vent adapted to be positioned above the cooking appliance,   said direct exhaust vent comprising a first direct vent structure having an inlet for receiving said hot gas and effluents and an outlet communicating with atmosphere,   said first direct vent structure defining a first flow path from said inlet to said outlet for flow of said hot gas and effluents along the flow path,   at least one effluent-removal device in said first flow path for removing effluents from said hot gas, and   an atmospheric flue communicating with the outlet of the first direct vent structure for venting hot gas to atmosphere after it has passed through said effluent-removal device.   
     
     
         2 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said direct vent structure is movable so that it may be positioned adjacent an exhaust area of said cooking appliance. 
     
     
         3 . A system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said direct vent structure has an upper section and a lower section movable up and down relative to the upper section to facilitate positioning adjacent said exhaust area of the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         4 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said direct exhaust vent further comprises a second direct vent structure having an inlet for receiving hot gas and effluents and an outlet communicating with said atmospheric flue, said second direct vent structure at least partially defining a second flow path for directing hot gas and effluents from the environment surrounding said cooking appliance to said outlet of the second direct vent structure. 
     
     
         5 . A system as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising a second effluent-removal device in said second flow path. 
     
     
         6 . A system as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said second direct vent structure surrounds said first direct vent structure and is spaced from the first direct vent structure to define said second flow path. 
     
     
         7 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising an exhaust canopy having an exhaust duct and a powered exhaust fan for collecting hot gas and effluents from an environment surrounding said cooking appliance, said direct exhaust vent being mounted inside said exhaust canopy. 
     
     
         8 . A system as set forth in  claim 1  further incorporating a damper system comprising a damper member movable in the first direct vent structure between an open position allowing flow along the first flow path at a first flow rate and a closed position allowing flow along the first flow path at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate but greater than zero to allow venting of the cooking appliance while also reducing heat loss from the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         9 . A vent system for cooking appliance having a first exhaust area for exhausting cooking hot gas and effluents from the cooking appliance and a second exhaust area through which cooking hot gas and effluents escape the cooking appliance, said vent system comprising
 a first direct vent structure defining a first flow path for receiving hot gas and effluents from said first exhaust area,   a second direct vent structure defining a second flow path for receiving hot gas and effluents from said second exhaust area, and   at least one atmospheric flue communicating with said first and second flow paths.   
     
     
         10 . A vent system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said second direct vent structure surrounds said first direct vent structure and combines with said first direct vent structure to define said second flow path. 
     
     
         11 . A vent system as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said first and second flow paths communicate with a single atmospheric flue. 
     
     
         12 . A method of venting cooking gas and effluents from a cooking appliance of the type having a cooking chamber, a first exhaust area for exit of hot gas and effluents from the cooking chamber, and a second exhaust area for exit of hot gas and effluents from the cooking appliance into an environment surrounding the cooking appliance, said method comprising
 venting cooking gas from said first exhaust area into a first direct vent structure defining a first flow path,   venting cooking gas from said second exhaust area into a second direct vent structure at least partially defining a second flow path, and   venting said cooking gas flowing along said first and second flow paths into a common atmospheric flue.   
     
     
         13 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising catalyzing said hot gas and effluents as they flow along at least one of said first and second flow path. 
     
     
         14 . A method as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising catalyzing said hot gas and effluents as they flow along said first and second flow path. 
     
     
         15 . A damper system for adjusting flow from an exhaust outlet of a cooking appliance, said damper system comprising
 a damper housing adapted to be connected to said exhaust outlet and defining a flow path for exhaust from said exhaust outlet, and   a damper member movable in the damper housing between an open position allowing flow along the flow path at a first flow rate and a closed position in which the damper member partially blocks the first flow path for flow at a second flow rate less than said first flow rate to allow venting of the cooking appliance while reducing heat loss from the cooking appliance.   
     
     
         16 . A damper system as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising an effluent-removal device in said damper housing. 
     
     
         17 . A damper system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said effluent-removal device is located upstream from said damper member. 
     
     
         18 . A damper system as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said damper member is perforated. 
     
     
         19 . A damper system as set forth in  claim 16  further comprising a damper motor for moving said damper member between said open and closed positions, and a control for operating said damper motor responsive to operation of said cooking appliance. 
     
     
         20 . A damper system as set forth in  claim 15  further comprising a catalyst in said damper housing upstream from said damper member whereby movement of the damper member to its closed position is adapted to reduce heat loss from the cooking appliance and catalyst. 
     
     
         21 . An integrated cooking and ventilation system comprising
 a cooking appliance,   a vent system for venting hot gas and effluents from said cooking appliance, said vent system comprising at least one movable venting component and at least one motor for moving the at least one venting component, and   an integrated control system for controlling operation of said at least one motor and associated venting component as a function of the operation of the cooking appliance.   
     
     
         22 . A system as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said at least one movable venting component is a variable-speed fan driven by said at least one motor, said control system being operable to operate said fan at a first lower speed during a low-vent mode of the cooking appliance and at a second higher speed during a high-vent mode of the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         23 . A system as set forth in  claim 21  wherein said at least one movable venting component is a damper member movable by said at least one motor between open and closed positions, said control system being operable to move said damper member to its closed position when the cooking apparatus is operating in a low-vent mode and to its open position when the cooking apparatus is operating in a high-vent mode. 
     
     
         24 . A system as set forth in  claim 23  wherein said damper member in its said open position allows flow along a first flow path at a first flow rate through the vent system, and wherein said damper member in its said closed position only partially blocks the first flow path for flow at a second flow rate less than said first flow rate but greater than zero to allow venting of the cooking appliance while also reducing heat loss from the cooking appliance. 
     
     
         25 . A system as set forth in  claim 24  further comprising a catalyst in said first flow path upstream from said damper member whereby movement of the damper member to its closed position is adapted to reduce heat loss from the cooking appliance and catalyst. 
     
     
         26 . An integrated cooking and ventilation system comprising
 a cooking appliance,   a vent system for venting hot gas and effluents from said cooking appliance, and   an integrated control system for controlling operation of said vent system and said cooking appliance,   said integrated control system being responsive to operation of the cooking appliance to vary flow characteristics of the vent system.   
     
     
         27 . An integrated cooking and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 26  wherein said vent system comprises a damper member movable between an open position to allow the flow of hot gas and effluents from the cooking appliance along a flow path at a first flow rate and a closed position partially blocking the flow path for flow of hot gas and effluents from the cooking appliance at a second flow rate less than said first flow rate but greater than zero to allow venting of the cooking appliance while also reducing heat loss from the cooking appliance, said control system being operable to move said damper member to its closed position when the cooking apparatus is operating in a low-vent mode and to its open position when the cooking apparatus is operating in a high-vent mode. 
     
     
         28 . An integrated cooking and ventilation system as set forth in  claim 27  further comprising a catalyst in said flow path upstream from said damper member whereby movement of the damper member to its closed position is adapted to reduce heat loss from the cooking appliance and catalyst. 
     
     
         29 . A method of operating a cooking appliance and vent system for venting hot gas and effluents from the cooking appliance, said method comprising
 operating the cooking appliance, and   varying the flow characteristics of the vent system as a function of the operation of the cooking appliance.   
     
     
         30 . A method as set forth in  claim 29  further comprising operating the cooking appliance in a cycle having different cycle segments, and varying the flow through the vent system as a function of the cycle segments. 
     
     
         31 . A method as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said vent system comprising at least one movable venting component and at least one motor for moving the at least one venting component, said method further comprising controlling said at least one motor to move said at least one venting component to increase or decrease the flow through the vent system as a function of the cycle segment. 
     
     
         32 . A method as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said venting component is a damper. 
     
     
         33 . A method as set forth in  claim 30  wherein said venting component is a fan.