IP Library Granted Patent US 9,125,244
Granted Patent B2
US 9,125,244 · App. 13/151,828 · Granted Sep 1, 2015

Induction cooktop cooling kit

Inventors: Howard James Oagley (Louisville, KY); Mark Davis Johnson (Louisville, KY); Daniel Stephen Frazer (West Chester, OH); David Joseph Najewicz (Prospect, KY)
Assignee: General Electric Company
H05B6/1263H05B6/1209
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,125,244
App. No.
13/151,828
Granted
Sep 1, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

An induction cooktop appliance includes a housing having an air intake opening and an air exhaust opening, the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening defining an air cooling circulation path, an induction cooktop disposed on top of the housing, electronics for the induction cooktop disposed within the housing, and a vent tube having a first end and a second end, the vent tube being disposed in the cooling air circulation path and configured to segregate air entering the air intake opening from air exiting the air exhaust opening.

Claims (31)

1. An induction cooktop appliance comprising:

a housing having an air intake opening at one end and an air exhaust at an opposite end, the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening defining an air cooling circulation path through an interior of the housing;

an induction cooktop disposed on top of the housing;

electronics for the induction cooktop disposed within the housing; and

a vent tube having a first end and a second end, the vent tube being configured to segregate air entering the air intake opening of the housing from air exiting the air exhaust opening of the housing,

the first end of the vent tube being coupled to a cool air supply and the second end of the vent tube being coupled to the air intake opening of the housing, wherein only air from the vent tube enters the air intake opening of the housing,

wherein air exiting the air exhaust opening of the housing does not mix with air from the vent tube entering the air intake opening of the housing.

2. The induction cooktop appliance of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the vent tube comprises an air intake and the second end comprises an air exhaust.

3. The induction cook top appliance of claim 1 , further comprising a cabinet defined by a top, a bottom, a back and sidewalls, the induction cook top being disposed in an opening in the top of the cabinet.

4. The induction cook top appliance of claim 3 , further comprising a built-in appliance disposed in the front wall of the cabinet below the induction cooktop, an area between the housing for the induction cooktop and the built-in appliance defining an interior cabinet area, an area below the built-in appliance defining a cool air region, wherein the intake opening receives cooling air from the cool air region.

5. The induction cook top appliance of claim 4 , wherein the first end of the vent tube is disposed in the cool air region and the second end is coupled to the air intake opening of the housings.

6. The induction cook top appliance of claim 4 , wherein the first end of the vent tube is coupled to the air exhaust opening of the housing and the second end is coupled to an exhaust air discharge vent.

7. The induction cook top appliance of claim 1 , wherein a length of the vent tube is adjustable.

8. The induction cook top appliance of claim 1 , wherein the vent tube comprises a flexible conduit.

9. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet defined by a front wall, a top wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and side walls;

an induction cooktop disposed in an opening in the top wall of the cabinet;

a housing for the induction cooktop, electronics for the induction cooktop disposed within the housing, the housing including an air intake opening at one end of the housing and an air exhaust opening at an opposite end of the housing, the air intake opening and the air exhaust opening defining an air cooling circulation path through an interior of the housing;

a built-in appliance disposed in an opening in the front wall of the cabinet and below the induction cooktop;

a first interior cabinet air area defined between the built-in appliance and the induction cooktop;

a second interior cabinet air area defined between the built-in appliance and the bottom wall of the cabinet;

a vent in the back wall of the cabinet proximate the second interior cabinet air area; and

a vent tube disposed within the cabinet having one end coupled to the air intake opening in the housing and a second end disposed in the second interior cabinet air area proximate the vent in the back wall, wherein the coupling of the one end of the vent tube to the air intake opening fluidly segregates the air intake opening from the first interior cabinet air area.

10. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the air exhaust opening is communicatively coupled with the first interior cabinet air area.

11. The appliance of claim 10 , wherein the second end of the vent tube is disposed a predetermined distance above the bottom floor of the cabinet.

12. The appliance of claim 10 , wherein the vent defines an opening to an exterior of the cabinet and the second end of the vent tube is coupled to the vent.

13. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the air intake opening comprises an intake side and an exhaust side, a fan being coupled to the exhaust side of the air intake opening and configured to draw air from the vent tube and direct the air into the air cooling circulation path.

14. The appliance of claim 9 , wherein the air circulation path is defined between the top wall of the cabinet and the electronics.

15. The induction cook top appliance of claim 3 , comprising a vent in the back of the cabinet to air external to the cabinet, the first end of the vent tube coupled to the vent in the back of the cabinet.

16. The induction cook top appliance of claim 1 , wherein the air intake opening comprises an intake side and an exhaust side, a fan being coupled to the exhaust side of the air intake opening and configured to draw air from the vent tube and direct the air into the air cooling circulation path.

17. The induction cook top appliance of claim 1 , wherein the air cooling circulation path is between the induction cooktop and the electronics.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2016
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: HAIER US APPLIANCE SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 038966/0459 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 2, 2011
From: OAGLEY, HOWARD JAMES; JOHNSON, MARK DAVIS; FRAZER, DANIEL STEPHEN; NAJEWICZ, DAVID JOSEPH
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026379/0777 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120305544A1 · Dec 6, 2012