Overhead ventilation system incorporating a downwardly configured rear supply plenum with upward configured directional outlet and including baffle plates and dampeners incorporated into the plenum for evenly distributing an inlet airflow through the plenum outlet

Abstract

A ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance to maintain an atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed space surrounding the cooking appliance. A hood establishes a three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configuration and which is supported above the appliance. A filter within the hood communicates with a vacuum driven exhaust extending from the enclosed space. A supply plenum secures in downwardly and opposing fashion relative to a side of the cooking appliance. An air intake communicates the supply plenum with an exterior environment, the plenum including at least one air flow restricting and redistributing baffle plate and terminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by the hood and thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.

1 . A ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance which maintains an atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed space surrounding the cooking appliance, said system comprising:
 a hood establishing a substantially three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configuration and which is supported in generally elevated fashion above the appliance, said hood incorporating a filter communicating with a vacuum driven exhaust extending from said hood and the enclosed space; and   a supply plenum secured in downwardly and opposing fashion relative to a side of the cooking appliance, an air intake communicating said supply plenum with an exterior environment, said plenum further including at least one baffle plate secured within its widthwise extending interior for regulating at least one of a flow velocity and distribution of an airflow originating from said air intake, said plenum terminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by said hood thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.   
   
   
       2 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 1 , said hood exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a generally rectangular shape. 
   
   
       3 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 2 , said plenum exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a three-dimensional and elongated module secured along a side edge of said hood, said at least one baffle plate further comprising first and second spaced apart baffle plates mounted within said plenum in widthwise extending and vertically spaced apart fashion. 
   
   
       4 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 3 , said first baffle plate exhibiting a first surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures, said second baffle plate being position below said first baffle plate and exhibiting a second surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures which is less than said first percentage associated with said first baffle plate. 
   
   
       5 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of elongated and substantially planar skirts secured in downwardly extending fashion from first and second ends of said hood, said skirts overlaying associated ends of said supply plenum, said plenum outlet extending in substantially lengthwise fashion between said ends. 
   
   
       6 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an additional elongated and perforated baffle plate secured over said plenum outlet. 
   
   
       7 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 5 , said plenum exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a first downwardly extending passageway in communication with said air intake and incorporating said first and second baffle plates, a second reverse angled and upwardly extending passageway communicating with said first passageway and terminating in said outlet. 
   
   
       8 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum generating blower incorporated into an exterior location of said exhaust. 
   
   
       9 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of elongated support hangers extending from a ceiling location of the enclosed space and securing to respective top face locations associated with at least one of said support plenum and said hood. 
   
   
       10 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 1 , said filter exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a baffle filter secured in angled fashion between first and second interior defining ends of said hood. 
   
   
       11 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 10 , said hood interior further comprising respective upper and lower lengthwise extending supports for securing said baffle filter in communication with said vacuum driven exhaust, a grease collection trap associated with a tilted end location providing for disposal of liquid based contaminants collected by said filter. 
   
   
       12 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 1 , further comprising an incandescent light fixture secured to an interior location associated with said hood. 
   
   
       13 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 3 , said air intake further comprising first and second branches communicating with individual locations associated with said elongated module, each of said branches incorporating a balancing damper for adjusting the intake air flow from said branches and prior to delivery to said plenum and passage through said baffle plates. 
   
   
       14 . A ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance which maintains an atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed space surrounding the cooking appliance, said system comprising:
 a hood establishing a substantially three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configuration overlaying the appliance, a vacuum driven exhaust extending from said hood and the enclosed space; and   an elongated supply plenum extending downwardly from an associated side of the cooking appliance and which is supplied by an air intake communicating with an exterior environment, said air intake including at least one balancing damper for adjusting an intake air flow, said plenum further comprising at least one at least one baffle plate secured within its widthwise extending interior for regulating at least one of a flow velocity and distribution of an airflow originating from said air intake, said plenum terminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by said hood thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.   
   
   
       15 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 14 , said air intake further comprising first and second branches communicating with individual locations associated with said elongated module, each of said branches incorporating a balancing damper for adjusting the intake air flow from said branches and prior to delivery to said plenum. 
   
   
       16 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 15 , said plenum exhibiting a specified shape and size and further comprising a first downwardly extending passageway in communication with said air intake and within which are mounted a first baffle plate exhibiting a first surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures, a second baffle plate being position below said first baffle plate and exhibiting a second surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures which is less than said first percentage associated with said first baffle plate, said plenum further including a second reverse angled and upwardly extending passageway communicating with said first passageway and terminating in said outlet. 
   
   
       17 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 14 , further comprising a vacuum generating blower incorporated into an exterior location of said exhaust. 
   
   
       18 . A supply plenum module for use with a hood filter assembly for a cooking appliance and which maintains an atmospheric pressure balance existing within an enclosed space surrounding the cooking appliance, comprising:
 the hood establishing a substantially three-dimensional and interiorly recessed configuration and which is supported in generally elevated fashion above the appliance, a filter being disposed within an interior of the hood and communicating with a vacuum driven exhaust extending from the enclosed space;   an air intake having first and second branches, each of which incorporating a balancing damper for adjusting an intake air flow from said branches;   said air intake branches communicating with individual locations associated with a supply plenum further comprising a three-dimensional and elongated module secured in downwardly extending fashion along a side of the hood and in order to be arrayed in opposing fashion to a corresponding side of the cooking appliance;   said plenum further including first and second baffle plates secured within its widthwise extending interior for regulating at least one of a flow velocity and distribution of an airflow originating from said air intake; and   said plenum terminating in an upwardly angled outlet for introducing intake air along the side of the appliance, resulting in heating and elevating the intake air within a perimeter defined by said hood, thereby minimizing loss of conditioned air existing within the enclosed space.   
   
   
       19 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 18 , said first baffle plate exhibiting a first surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures, said second baffle plate being position below said first baffle plate and exhibiting a second surface area, by percentage of flow through apertures which is less than said first percentage associated with said first baffle plate. 
   
   
       20 . The ventilation system as described in  claim 19 , said first baffle plate exhibiting 48% by surface area of available flow through apertures, said second baffle plate exhibiting 40% by surface area of available flow through apertures.