Suction device for a range hood comprising a volute including a first semi-shell and a second semi-shell forming a compartment for housing a capacitor and a connector electrically coupled to an electric motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10704557-B2
Application number	US-201916372601-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 2, 2019
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

The present invention relates to a suction device for a hood, comprising an impeller, an electric motor that drives said impeller, a volute that houses inside the electric motor and the impeller, a capacitor, and a connector electrically connected to the capacitor for supplying power to the electric motor; the volute comprises a first semi-shell and a second semi-shell joined with each other so as to constitute the structure of the volute surrounding the impeller; the capacitor is housed in a first compartment formed in the first semi-shell, and the connector is housed in a second compartment formed in the second semi-shell; the first compartment and the second compartment are adjacent to each other in the volute.
The present invention further relates to an associated range hood.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A suction device for a range hood, comprising:
a volute having an interior portion and an exterior portion, wherein the volute includes a first semi-shell and a second semi-shell detachably coupled to one another and configured to be joined together to define the interior portion and the exterior portion of the volute;
a compartment disposed on the exterior portion of the volute, wherein the compartment includes a first compartment disposed on the first semi-shell, and a second compartment disposed on the second semi-shell, and further wherein the first compartment includes an inwardly opening aperture that aligns with an inwardly opening aperture of the second compartment;
a capacitor housed within the compartment;
a connector housed within the compartment, wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect to the capacitor in a detachable manner, wherein the connector is electrically connected to the capacitor when the first semi-shell and the second semi-shell are joined together, and further wherein the connector and the capacitor are disconnected when the first semi-shell and the second semi-shell are separated; and
an electric motor electronically coupled to the capacitor and housed within the interior portion of the volute.

2. The suction device of claim 1 , wherein the capacitor is housed within the first compartment.

3. The suction device of claim 2 , wherein the connector is housed within the second compartment.

4. A suction device comprising:
a volute having a first semi-shell and a second semi-shell detachably coupled to one another and configured to be joined together;
an outflow collar opening into an interior portion of the volute;
a compartment disposed externally to the volute, wherein the compartment includes a first compartment disposed on the first semi-shell, and a second compartment disposed on the second semi-shell;
a capacitor housed within the compartment;
a connector housed within the compartment, wherein the connector is configured to electrically connect to the capacitor in a detachable manner, and further wherein the connector is electrically connected to the capacitor when the first semi-shell and the second semi-shell are joined together; and
an electric motor housed within the interior portion of the volute and electrically coupled to the capacitor.

5. The suction device of claim 4 , wherein the connector is housed within the second compartment.

6. The suction device of claim 5 , wherein the capacitor is housed within the first compartment.

7. The suction device of claim 4 , wherein the first compartment includes an inwardly opening aperture that aligns with an inwardly opening aperture of the second compartment.

8. The suction device of claim 4 , wherein the connector and the capacitor are disconnected when the first semi-shell and the second semi-shell are separated.

9. The suction device of claim 4 , wherein the compartment is disposed proximal to the outflow collar.

10. A method of assembling a suction device, comprising:
providing a first semi-shell having a first compartment disposed on an exterior thereof;
providing a second semi-shell having a second compartment disposed on an exterior thereof, wherein the second compartment includes an opening;
placing a capacitor into an interior portion of the first compartment;
providing an electric motor;
aligning the first semi-shell and the first compartment with the second semi-shell and the second compartment, respectively;
coupling the first semi-shell to the second semi-shell to enclose the electric motor therebetween; and
inserting a connector through the opening of the second compartment to electrically connect the capacitor to the electric motor.

11. The method of assembling the suction device of claim 10 , wherein the electric motor includes a set of apertures, and further wherein the set of apertures of the electric motor align with a set of apertures disposed on the first semi-shell.

12. The method of assembling the suction device of claim 11 , including the step of:
coupling the electric motor to the first semi-shell using a plurality of fasteners.

13. The method of assembling the suction device of claim 12 , including the step of:
providing a plurality of covering elements, wherein each covering element of the plurality of the covering elements is inserted on a top portion of each fastener of the plurality of fasteners to insulate each fastener of the plurality of fasteners.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Emea Spa
• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Santucci Mauro

Classifications

• F04D25/0693 Primary

  Details or arrangements of the wiring · CPC title

• F04D29/281

  for fans or blowers · CPC title

• F04D29/4233

  with volutes extending mainly in axial or radially inward direction · CPC title

• F04D29/624

  especially adapted for elastic fluid pumps · CPC title

• F04D25/08

  the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation · CPC title