Range hood cleaning assembly

Abstract

A range hood cleaning assembly utilizes compressed air to drive accumulated grease on range hood surfaces towards drainage holes. A plurality of air dispensers, preferably air hoses and directional nozzles, through which compressed air from at least one source of compressed air is blown, direct compressed air against surfaces within a motor housing interior, on the fan(s) and within grease trays to drive accumulated grease towards drainage holes. The air dispensers may be attached to a plate mounted within the motor housing interior about a motor and above a fan, may be integral or releasably attachable to the motor housing or may be integral or releasably attachable to grease trays. The compressor may be set to activate automatically or may be activated manually.

1 . A range hood including a motor housing having an interior defined by upper, lower and side surfaces containing at least one motor and at least one fan and having at least one drain hole, said range hood also including a cleaning assembly comprising at least one source of compressed air located externally to said motor housing and a plurality of air dispensers for delivering said compressed air to said interior to drive grease towards said at least one drain hole.  
   
   
       2 . A range hood including a motor housing having an interior defined by upper, lower and side surfaces containing at least one motor and at least one fan, and at least one grease tray releasably attachable to said motor housing, the or each grease tray comprising an opening, first, second and third tray walls extending around said opening, a first trough formed between the first and second tray walls, a second trough formed between the second and third tray walls, and at least one drain hole, said range hood also including a cleaning assembly comprising at least one source of compressed air located externally to said motor housing, and a plurality of air dispensers for delivering said compressed air to said interior to drive grease towards said at least one drain hole.  
   
   
       3 . A range hood according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said plurality of air dispensers is fixed relative to said first, second and third tray walls.  
   
   
       4 . A range hood according to  claim 3 , wherein said at least one of said plurality of air dispensers directs compressed air from said source of compressed air against said at least one fan.  
   
   
       5 . A range hood according to  claim 2 , wherein, in respect of the or each tray, at least one of said plurality of air dispensers is fixed relative to the first tray wall and directs compressed air from said source of compressed air into the first trough.  
   
   
       6 . A range hood having a cleaning assembly comprising: 
 a range hood body defining an enclosure, said range hood body having a removable lower panel;    a motor housing defining a further enclosure, said motor housing having an intake opening and a drainage hole and being mounted within said range hood body;    a motor mounted within said motor housing enclosure;    a fan releasably connected to said motor, said fan being positioned within said motor housing enclosure;    a source of compressed air located externally to said motor housing; and    a plurality of air dispensers for delivering said compressed air into said motor housing enclosure to drive grease within the motor housing towards said drainage hole.    
   
   
       7 . The range hood of  claim 6  further comprising a plate releasably attachable about said motor above said fan, a space being located between said plate and said motor housing and above said plate.  
   
   
       8 . The range hood of  claim 7  wherein a first one of said air dispensers is mounted to said plate in said space.  
   
   
       9 . The range hood of  claim 8  wherein said motor housing having an interior and said first one of said air dispensers directing compressed air from said source of compressed air against the upper surface of said motor housing interior.  
   
   
       10 . The range hood of  claim 9  wherein a second one of said plurality of air dispensers being releasably attachable to the lower surface of said motor housing, said second one of said air dispensers directing compressed air from said source of compressed air against said at least one fan.  
   
   
       11 . The range hood of  claim 10  wherein a third one of said plurality of air dispensers being integral with the side of said motor housing, said third one of said air dispensers being positioned within said motor housing interior above a top side of said lower surface of said motor housing, said third one of said air dispensers directing compressed air from said source of compressed air along said top side of said lower surface of said motor housing.  
   
   
       12 . The range hood of  claim 6  further comprising a grease tray releasably attachable to said motor housing, said grease tray comprising an opening, first, second and third tray walls extending around said opening, a first trough formed between said first and second tray walls, a second trough formed between said second and third tray wall, and at least one drainage hole, and wherein a first of said plurality of air dispensers is integral with said first, second and third tray walls and directs compressed air from said source of compressed air against said at least one fan.  
   
   
       13 . The range hood of  claim 12  wherein a second one of said plurality of air dispensers is integral with said first tray wall, said second air dispenser directing compressed air from said source of compressed air into said first trough.  
   
   
       14 . The range hood of  claim 13  wherein said motor housing having an interior and a third one of said plurality of air dispensers being adapted to direct compressed air from said source of compressed air against the upper surface of said motor housing interior.  
   
   
       15 . The range hood of  claim 6  wherein said motor housing having upper, lower and side surfaces defining said enclosure, said intake opening and drain hole being defined in said lower surface, said intake opening being defined by a wall projecting from said lower surface into the interior of said enclosure; and said range hood further comprising a tray releasably connectable to said intake opening, said tray comprising an opening, first and second tray walls extending around said opening, and a floor between said first and second tray walls.  
   
   
       16 . The range hood of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said plurality of air dispensers is releasably attachable to said lower surface of said motor housing, directing compressed air from said source of compressed air against said at least one fan.  
   
   
       17 . The range hood of  claim 16  further comprising a plate releasably attachable to said motor housing about said motor and above an upper surface of said fan such that there is a space between said plate and said motor housing.  
   
   
       18 . The range hood of  claim 17  wherein a first one of said plurality of said air dispensers is mounted to said plate in said space.  
   
   
       19 . The range hood of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said plurality of air dispensers is integrally mounted in said side of said motor housing, said at least one of said plurality of air dispensers being positioned within said motor housing interior above said lower surface of said motor housing, and being adapted to direct compressed air from said source of compressed air against said top side of said lower surface of said motor housing.  
   
   
       20 . The range hood of  claim 15  wherein at least one of said plurality of air dispensers is releasably attachable to said tray, said at least on of said plurality of air dispensers directing compressed air from said source of compressed air against said at least one fan when said tray is releasably connected to said intake opening.