Ventilation system for a household appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12474065-B2
Application number	US-202217673237-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 16, 2022
Priority date	Feb 16, 2022
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

A ventilation system for an appliance that generates an exhaust fluid when used. The appliance being provided within an interior of environment. The ventilation system being fluidly coupled to a ventilator operably coupled to the environment. The ventilation system can include a suction source in fluid communication with the appliance and the exhaust fluid, and a duct fluidly coupling the suction source to the ventilator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A ventilation system for an appliance, the appliance being configured to generate an exhaust fluid when used, the appliance being provided within an interior of an environment, the ventilation system comprising:
a suction source configured to be in fluid communication with the appliance and configured to draw in the exhaust fluid into the ventilation system; a ventilator located within the environment, the ventilator being a biological ventilator defined by a biowall provided within the interior or along an exterior of the environment; and a duct directly fluidly coupling the suction source to the ventilator.

2 . The ventilation system of claim 1 , wherein the biowall includes a connection with the duct, which transfers the exhaust fluid from the appliance to the biowall, the connection defining an inlet to the biowall.

3 . The ventilation system of claim 2 , wherein the biowall is configured to remove contaminants from the exhaust fluid.

4 . The ventilation system of claim 3 , wherein an outlet of the biowall is defined by an outlet fluid flow defined by no contaminants.

5 . A ventilation system for an appliance, the appliance being configured to generate an exhaust fluid when used, the appliance being provided within an interior of an environment, the ventilation system comprising:
a suction source configured to be in fluid communication with the appliance and configured to draw in the exhaust fluid into the ventilation system; a ventilator located within the environment, the ventilator being a Heat Recovery Ventilator (HRV) comprising: an inlet fluidly coupled to an atmosphere comprising an external air source with respect to the interior of the environment, the inlet defining an inlet fluid flow, a ground heat exchanger directly fluidly coupled to the inlet configured to exchange heat between the inlet fluid flow and a ground beneath or surrounding the environment, and a heat exchanger comprising:
a first inlet in fluid communication with the ground heat exchanger and the inlet fluid flow;
a first outlet in fluid communication with the interior of the environment;
a second inlet in fluid communication with the ventilator and the exhaust fluid; and
a second outlet in fluid communication with the atmosphere; and
a duct directly fluidly coupling the suction source to the ventilator.

6 . The ventilation system of claim 5 , wherein the heat exchanger is configured to heat the inlet fluid flow by transferring heat from the exhaust fluid to the inlet fluid flow.

7 . The ventilation system of claim 5 , wherein the appliance is at least one of a stovetop range, a dishwasher, a dryer, or a microwave.

8 . The ventilation system of claim 7 , wherein the appliance is a stovetop range and the suction source is provided within a range hood.

9 . The ventilation system of claim 5 , wherein the ventilator is an existing ventilator within the environment.

10 . The ventilation system of claim 9 , wherein the appliance is a range and the suction source is provided within a range hood.

11 . The ventilation system of claim 10 , wherein the range hood is directly coupled to the duct.

12 . The ventilation system of claim 11 , wherein the duct is at least partially formed within the existing ventilator.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Batek Andrew
• Schneemann Jason
• Smith Nicole
• Stuart Annie
• Voglewede Ronald

Classifications

• F28D21/0003

  the heat being recuperated from exhaust gases (F28D21/0014 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F24C15/20

  Removing cooking fumes (parts, details or accessories of cooking-vessels for withdrawing or condensing cooking vapours from such vessels A47J36/38) · CPC title

• F24C15/2035 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of filters (F24C15/2021 takes precedence; filters per se B01D46/00) · CPC title

• F28D21/0014 Primary

  the heat being recuperated from waste air or from vapors (for air conditioning F24F12/001) · CPC title