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A self-cleaning exhaust system including a top, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls extending between the rear wall and the front wall. A baffle depending from the top intermediate the front wall and the rear wall. A plate extending forwardly from the rear wall to forwardly of the baffle. A fi

A self-cleaning exhaust system including a top, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls extending between the rear wall and the front wall. A baffle depending from the top intermediate the front wall and the rear wall. A plate extending forwardly from the rear wall to forwardly of the baffle. A first filter is located in an air flow path. A first spray outlet is located in the air flow path before the first filter for providing a first cleaning spray into the air flow so that the air flow draws the cleaning spray onto a first surface of the first filter. A method of removing contaminants is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system, comprising: a first filter in a path for an air flow, the first filter having a first mesh size to capture contaminants; a first spray outlet for providing a first fine spray into the air flow and directed to a front surface of th

The invention claimed is: 1. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system, comprising: a first filter in a path for an air flow, the first filter having a first mesh size to capture contaminants; a first spray outlet for providing a first fine spray into the air flow and directed to a front surface of the first filter to enable the first fine spray to be drawn along the path onto the front surface of the first filter; a second spray outlet for providing a second coarse spray into said air flow oath and directed to a rear surface of said first filter for providing a second cleaning spray onto the rear surface of said first filter; and a second filter in the path for the air flow downstream from the first filter, the second filter having a second filter mesh size for capturing contaminants; wherein the first spray has droplets sized to combine with droplets of a contaminant to form combined droplets in the air flow before the first filter to assist the combined droplets being captured by the first filter; and a plate mounted below the first filter for collection of the first spray such that the self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system is operative when cooking is taking place below the plate. 2. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first filter and the second filter are in an exhaust hood. 3. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 2, wherein: the exhaust hood includes a top, a front wall, a rear wall and side walls extending between the rear wall and the front wall; and a baffle depending from the top and intermediate the front wall and the rear wall for disrupting the air flow. 4. A self cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 3, wherein both the first and second filters are mountable to one of the front wall and the rear wall, and the baffle extends between the front wall and the rear wall. 5. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plate extends forwardly from one of the front wall and the rear wall beyond the baffle. 6. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate has an upwardly directed projection extending between the baffle and the one of the front wall and the rear wall. 7. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the projection extends upwardly to a height at least as high as the mounting of the first filter to the baffle. 8. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the spray outlet is mounted on the plate. 9. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first filter is inclined with respect to the path for the air flow, and substantially covers the path for the air flow. 10. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first filter is at an angle of inclination to the path substantially the same as that of the second filter. 11. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid comprises a cleaning solution that includes water and a degreaser in a ratio in the range 1:10 to 1:50. 12. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate forms a boundary for the air flow. 13. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate mounted below the first filter collects combined droplets. 14. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first spray is selected from a group consisting of water, and a mixture of water and a cleaning solution. 15. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system including a first filter having a first mesh size for filtering contaminants from an air flow along an air flow path, a first spray outlet for providing a fine, first spray of a cleaning solution into the air flow and directed to a front surface of the first filter to enable the fine, first spray to be drawn into the first filter by the air flow, wherein the fine, first spray has droplets sized to combine with droplets of the contaminant to form combined droplets in the air flow before the first filter to assist the combined droplets being captured by the first filter, a second spray outlet for providing a coarse second spray of cleaning solution into the air flow and directed to a rear surface of the first filter, and a plate mounted below the first filter for collection of the fine, first spray such that the exhaust system is operable when cooking is taking place below the first plate. 16. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plate is mounted below the first filter and includes an upwardly directed projection at an end of the plate. 17. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plate forms a boundary for the air flow. 18. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plate mounted below the first filter collects combined droplets. 19. A method of removing at least one contaminant in a kitchen exhaust system, comprising: providing a first fine spray into an air flow and directed to a front surface of a first filter, the first filter being mounted in a path of the air flow to enable the first spray to be drawn along the path onto the first filter having a first mesh size; the first spray being able to combine with droplets of the contaminant in the air flow before the first filter; the first spray being able to coat the first filter to assist the first filter in capturing at least one droplet of the contaminant in the air; providing a second coarse spray of cleaning solution into the air flow and directed to a rear surface of the first filter, and a plate mounted below the first filter for collection of the first spray such that the self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system is operable when cooking is taking place below the first plate. 20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the air flow causes at least a part of the first spray to pass through the first filter. 21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second spray also cleans a second filter in said airflow path downstream from said first filter, the second filter having a second mesh size. 22. A method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the second spray substantially coats the second filter to assist the second filter in capturing at least one contaminant. 23. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the second spray is drawn under the influence of the airflow to a second filter in said airflow path after said first filter, the second filter having a second mesh size. 24. A method as claim 19, wherein the first filter is has a relatively coarse first mesh size, the second filter is a relatively fine second mesh size. 25. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plate forms a boundary for the air flow. 26. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the plate mounted below the first filter collects combined droplets. 27. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system, comprising: a first filter in a path for an air flow, the first filter having a first mesh size; a first spray outlet for providing a first fine spray into the air flow and directed to a front surface of the first filter to enable the first spray to be drawn toward the first filter; a second spray outlet located in said air flow and directed to a rear surface of said first filter for providing a second coarse cleaning spray onto the rear surface of said first filter; and a second filter in the path for the air flow downstream from the first filter, the second filter having a second mesh size; wherein the first spray has droplets sized to combine with a contaminant to form combined droplets in the air flow before the first filter, such that the combined droplets are captured by the first filter; a plate mounted below the first filter for collection of the first spray such that the self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system is operative when cooking is taking place below the plate; and a drain for draining fluid collected on the plate. 28. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first filter is inclined with respect to the path of the air flow. 29. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the first spray is selected from a group consisting of water, and a mixture of water and a cleaning solution. 30. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the plate forms a boundary for the air flow. 31. A method of removing at least one contaminant in a kitchen exhaust system, comprising: providing a first fine spray into an air flow and directed to a front surface of a first filter, the first filter having a first mesh size mounting the first filter along a path of the air flow such that the first spray is drawn along the path of the air flow toward the first filter while combining with a contaminant to form combined droplets in the air flow before the first filter; providing a second coarse spray into said air flow path and directed to a rear surface of said first filter; mounting a plate below the first filter for collection of the first spray such that the self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system is operable when cooking is taking place below the first plate; and draining fluid collected on the plate. 32. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system, comprising: a first filter in a path for an air flow and inclined with respect to the path for the air flow, the first filter having a first mesh size; a first spray outlet for providing a first fine spray into the air flow and directed to a front surface of the first filter to enable the first spray to be drawn toward the first filter; a second spray outlet for providing a second coarse spray into said air flow path and directed to a rear surface of said first filter for providing a second cleaning spray onto the rear surface of said first filter; and a second filter in the path for the air flow downstream from the first filter, the second filter having a second mesh size; wherein the first spray has droplets sized to combine with a contaminant to form combined droplets in the air flow before the first filter, such that the combined droplets are captured by the first filter; and a plate mounted below the first filter for collection of the first spray such that the self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system is operative when cooking is taking place below the plate. 33. A self-cleaning kitchen exhaust system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the first spray is selected from a group consisting of water, and a mixture of water and a cleaning solution.