U.S. patent application number 12/006381 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-02 for instantaneous steam boiler.
Invention is credited to Gyung-Hee Haan.
Application Number | 20090165734 12/006381 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40796592 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090165734 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Haan; Gyung-Hee |
July 2, 2009 |
Instantaneous steam boiler
Abstract
The present invention relates to an instantaneous steam boiler
generating steam in a steam cleaner, a steam-vacuum cleaner, a
steam iron, etc. The instantaneous steam boiler has a substantially
short traveling path of water against the formation of fur by
insertedly molding a separate flow tube while being in contact with
a U-shaped heater.
Inventors: |
Haan; Gyung-Hee; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Law Office of Michael N. Cohen, P.C.
9025 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 301
Beverly Hills
CA
90211
US
|
Family ID: |
40796592 |
Appl. No.: |
12/006381 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
122/235.14 ;
122/235.23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F22B 1/28 20130101; F22B
27/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/235.14 ;
122/235.23 |
International
Class: |
F22B 27/04 20060101
F22B027/04 |
Claims
1. An instantaneous steam boiler, comprising: a heater; a flow tube
with a water inlet and a steam outlet; and a body embedded in a
manner to expose ports of the heater and the water inlet and the
steam outlet of the flow tube.
2. The instantaneous steam boiler according to claim 1, wherein the
flow tube is embedded in the body while being in contact with the
heater.
3. The instantaneous steam boiler according to claim 2, wherein the
body is molded with the heater and the flow tube already inserted,
and the flow tube is formed into a U-shape.
4. The instantaneous steam boiler according to claim 1, wherein the
flow tube is made out of a copper material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an instantaneous steam
boiler generating steam in a steam cleaner, a steam-vacuum cleaner,
a steam iron, etc. More specifically, the present invention relates
to an instantaneous steam boiler featuring a substantially short
traveling path of water against the formation of fur by insertedly
molding a separate flow tube while being in contact with a U-shaped
heater.
[0002] Steam boilers are largely classified into reservoir type
water heaters and instantaneous water heaters. The reservoir type
water heater has an electric boiler built in a water tank. By
heating the steam boiler, water temperature increases and the
heated water finally generates steam (vapor). The steam is then
discharged through a steam outlet on the top of the water tank. On
the other hand, the instantaneous water heater has a water tank and
a steam boiler, which are separately installed. In such system,
water is transferred from the water tank toward the steam boiler
with aid of a pump located between the water tank and the steam
boiler.
[0003] The instantaneous water heater is built in a body made of a
thermoconductive metal such as aluminum having a water transfer
tube (or hose) formed therein. When the heater temperature
increases, its heat is transferred to the body and water traveling
inside the transfer tube in the body is eventually converted into
steam. That is to say, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, a
conventional instantaneous steam boiler is provided with a body
forming a water transfer tube and including an inlet 22 for water
and an outlet 23 for steam formed on both ends of the transfer tube
and a built-in heater 25. The body is divided into a first body 10
and a second body 20 connected to the first body 10 to form the
transfer tube, and a packing 30 for preventing leakage of water
from the tube is interposed between the first body 10 and the
second body 20. The heater 25 is built in the second body 20, and a
plurality of projections 26 are formed protrusively on a bottom
surface of a transfer tube forming portion 21.
[0004] These projections 26 interfere with rapid flow of water to
increase contact time between water and the body and increase a
heat transfer area of between water and the body, so that steam may
be generated in a stable manner.
[0005] However, since heat is transferred from the heater 25 to the
transfer tube (i.e., conduction system), the transfer tube is
typically made long (curved U-shape tube) and wide in order to
produce sufficient steam.
[0006] When the transfer tube has an extended length, it is more
likely to retain water therein and fur exposure is inevitable. That
is to say, it is rather natural that the transfer tube constantly
being exposed to water is furred up (because of the presence of
impurities) or has an oxidation coating or scale (which is a thin
film of an oxide formed on the surface of metal in result of
chemical reaction) especially when the tube is made out of metal.
Such fur or oxidation coating is descaled when it reaches a certain
thickness. Unfortunately though, this descaled fur or oxidation
coating is particularly fatal to the instantaneous steam boiler.
Because a steam outlet of the instantaneous steam boiler normally
has a small volume and a very small diameter, the boiler may easily
get clogged up, producing steam in an unstable and non-uniform
manner and losing pump pressure. These drawbacks are led to a
serious deterioration in the durability of the steam boiler.
[0007] In addition, a complicated mold structure is required to
form the projections 26 and a separate process needs to be done in
order to connect/separate an upper and a lower body.
[0008] Normally, a suitable temperature for generating steam ranges
from 130 to 140.degree. C. To this end, 1200-1300 watts of power
should be applied to the heater. If the tube of the heater is
7.PHI. in diameter, it is approximately 22 cm long. Since this is
quite long, the tube has to be bent into U-shape. Still, the tube
has a length of 10 cm, occupying a substantial portion of the
space.
[0009] As a counter scheme, some instantaneous steam boilers have
linear transfer tubes for their bodies. This body of a linear
transfer tube is also obtained by connecting/assembling two parts
(upper and lower parts). Even though the transfer path became
shorter than the U-shaped tube described above, since the same heat
transfer method was adopted, the tube was made either broader or
deeper as much as it got relatively shorter in length. Therefore,
water is left to stand in the tube for an extended period, and
similar to before, the tube may readily be clogged up with fur or
oxidation coatings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide an instantaneous steam boiler, which is manufactured in a
very simple molding structure and through a very simple process and
which has a substantially reduced traveling path of water by coming
in a contact with a heater, whereby the formation of fur or an
oxidation coating can be suppressed as much as possible.
[0011] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
an instantaneous steam boiler, including: a heater, a flow tube
having a water inlet and a steam outlet, and a body embedded in a
way to expose ports of the heater and the water inlet and the steam
outlet of the flow tube.
[0012] According to the exemplary embodiment described above,
because the body is molded with the heater and the flow tube
already embedded, a molding structure is very simple and the body
can be manufactured by an one-step process, eliminating an
assembly/disassembly process.
[0013] Since the flow tube and the heater are embedded in the body
while being in contact with each other, the transfer path of the
flow tube is substantially reduced through the contact with the
heater and water does not remain stationed in the tube. This in
turn makes it possible to suppress the formation of fur or an
oxidation coating as much as possible.
[0014] Preferably, the body is molded with the heater and the flow
tube already inserted.
[0015] Moreover, with the U-shaped transfer tube, the contact
efficiency between the tube and the heater increases, and a steam
boiler incorporating such tube does not occupy a lot of space but
is easily installed in a small space.
[0016] Particularly, if the flow tube is made out of copper
materials, it demonstrates excellent heat conductivity. Therefore,
steam can be supplied in a stable manner even when the flow tube
length is reduced even further.
[0017] The other objectives and advantages of the invention will be
understood by the following description and will also be
appreciated by the embodiments of the invention more clearly.
Further, the objectives and advantages of the invention will
readily be seen that they can be realized by the means and its
combination specified in the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 respectively illustrate a perspective
view of an instantaneous steam boiler, according to various
embodiments of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
steam boiler; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 8.
DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS
[0021] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention
will be set forth in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the
invention.
Embodiment I
[0022] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler with a heater and a flow tube arranged 180 degrees apart,
facing opposite directions.
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a steam boiler 100 according to a first
embodiment of the present invention is constituted by a U-shaped
heater 110, a flow tube 130, and a body 150 for housing parts of
them 110 and 130.
[0024] Because the flow tube 130 is separately embedded in the body
150, a molding process of the body for forming a complicated flow
path is much simplified, compared with a conventional
technique.
[0025] The heater 110 is preferably formed into a U shape. That is,
the heater 110 is composed of a first linear portion 111 and a
second linear portion 113 in parallel to each other and an
arc-shaped return portion 115. Ports 112 and 114 are formed at the
other ends of the first linear portion 111 and the second linear
portion 113.
[0026] Similar to the heater 110, the flow tube 130 is preferably
formed into a U shape. One end of the flow tube 130 functions as an
inlet 131 for water and the other end functions as an outlet 133
for steam. Of course, the flow tube 130 may have a linear shape,
but in such case its contact efficiency with the heater 110 is not
good compared with the U-shaped tube and its extended length
occupies a large portion of a defined space, together making a
linear flow tube less favorable.
[0027] Moreover, the flow tube 130 and the heater 110 are arranged
180 degrees apart, facing opposite directions, with the flow tube
130 lying upon on top of the heater 110. In the drawing, the water
inlet 131 and the steam outlet 133 of the flow tube 130 are
arranged on the left hand side, while the ports 112 and 114 on the
right hand side.
[0028] As the flow tube 130 and the heater 110 are brought into
contact with each other, heat transfer to the flow tube 130 is done
by direct heating, not by conduction, convection, or radiation.
Therefore, even though the length of the flow tube 130, i.e., the
traveling path of water, may be reduced substantially, high
evaporation rate makes it possible to discharge steam. In this
manner, since water is not left to stand in the tube, the steam
outlet 133 can be kept from getting clogged up by fur or an
oxidation coating.
[0029] Further, because the flow tube 130 and the heater 110 are in
contact with each other, it is possible to mold the body 150 as one
unit with the flow tube 130 and the heater 110 already inserted.
That is to say, the heater 110 and the flow tube 130 lying upon the
top of the heater 110 are tied up with a binding twine for example.
The heater 110 and the flow tube 130 being tied up together are
then inserted to a mold for forming the body 150. In so doing, the
water inlet 131 and steam outlet 133 of the flow tube 130 and the
ports 112 and 114 of the heater 110 are embedded in the body 150,
while part of each being exposed to outside. The body 150 is
obtained by die casting or injection molding.
[0030] Therefore, the one unit body eliminates an
assembly/disassembly process and improves productivity.
[0031] Preferably, the flow tube 130 is made out of copper
material. Copper is nontoxic and demonstrates a high corrosion
resistance and an excellent thermal conductivity so it contributes
not only to a decrease in the length of the flow tube 130 but also
to a substantial improvement on the evaporation rate (or water
vaporization rate).
[0032] As such, with the separate flow tube 130 being in contact
with the heater 110 in the steam boiler 100, the traveling path of
water is markedly reduced and evaporation rate is increased even
more. This enables to expand the diameters of the water inlet 131
and steam outlet 133, compared with the conventional ones.
[0033] The diameter of the water inlet 131 is closely related to an
amount of water input. Therefore, provided that the same amount of
water is fed, an increased diameter can lower pump pressure,
thereby reducing noises or vibrations as much as possible. Also,
the wider steam outlet 133 allows the steam to easily escape
despite the presence of small impurities in water, so the tube is
hardly clogged up.
Embodiment II
[0034] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, although similar in structure and
functions, a steam boiler 200 of the second embodiment differs from
the steam boiler 100 of the first embodiment by an orthogonal
arrangement of a flow tube 230 with respect to a heater 110.
[0036] By placing the flow tube 230 at right angles to the heater
110, it becomes possible to adjust the gap between a water inlet
231 and a steam outlet 233 of the flow tube 230, thereby expanding
the limit of the layout area for product design.
Embodiment III
[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 3, although similar in structure and
functions, a steam boiler 300 of the third embodiment differs from
the steam boiler 200 of the second embodiment in that a return
portion 331 of a flow tube 330 is in a coiled form and a heater 110
is orthogonally arranged inside the coil.
Embodiment IV
[0039] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 4, although similar in structure and
functions, a steam boiler 400 of the fourth embodiment differs from
the steam boiler 100 of the first embodiment in that a return
portion 415 of a heater 410 is in a twisted form.
[0041] The heaters 110 in the first through third embodiments are
7.PHI. wide and about 10 cm long, but length `a` of a heater 410
according to the fourth embodiment is reduced as much as a twisted
length of a return portion 415. Therefore, because a body 450 now
has a smaller size to fit in a narrow space, small and light
products can be manufactured.
[0042] That is, in case of a steam cleaner, a steam boiler is built
in a main body with a bottom or is installed at an extension bar.
When the steam boiler is built in the main body, the size of the
main body is increased especially if the body 450 is large by
itself. This makes it difficult to clean the gap between the steam
boiler and the body. The space becomes even smaller when the main
body is designed as a vacuum cleaner as well. Meanwhile, when the
steam boiler is installed at the extension bar, it creates a
large-size steam boiler that does not look stylish or neat in
design.
[0043] From these aspects, the coiled or twisted return portion 415
of the heater 410 is a first optimization process for producing
small, light appliances.
[0044] Moreover, the flow tube 430 can be made shorter as much as
the reduced length of the body 450.
[0045] It is also evident to people skilled in the art that the
length of the heater 410 can be reduced by bending the return
portion 415 of the heater 410 into a U-shape, not the twisted shape
(the overall shape of the heater is an M-shape).
[0046] The operational effects of the heater 410 of the fourth
embodiment are same whether it is installed at a separate flow tube
or whether it is built in a steam boiler with a body and a flow
tube combined as one unit.
Embodiment V
[0047] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 5, although similar in structure and
functions, a steam boiler 100' of the fifth embodiment differs from
the steam boiler 100 of the first embodiment in that a return
portion 135' of a flow tube 130' is curved into a circle.
Embodiment VI
[0049] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present
invention.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 6, although similar in structure and
functions, a steam boiler 200' of the sixth embodiment differs from
the steam boiler 200 of the second embodiment in that a return
portion 235' of a flow tube 230' is in a curved-corner square
shape.
Embodiment VII
[0051] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an instantaneous steam
boiler in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present
invention.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 7, although similar in structure and
functions, a steam boiler 400' of the seventh embodiment differs
from the steam boiler 400 of the fourth embodiment in that a return
portion 435' of a flow tube 430' is curved into an oval shape and a
water inlet 431' and a steam outlet 433' are aligned at the ends of
the heater 410.
[0053] As has been explained so far, the instantaneous steam boiler
of the present invention has the following advantages.
[0054] Because a part of the flow tube and of the heater are
embedded in the body, a complicate mold for forming a flow path in
the body itself is no longer required to thereby increase
productivity and economic efficiency.
[0055] In addition, by embedding the flow tube and the heater while
being in contact with each other, heat transfer to the flow tube is
done by direct heating, not by conduction, convection, or
radiation. Therefore, even though the traveling path of water may
be reduced substantially, water evaporation still takes place and
water is not left to stand in the tube. Consequently, the steam
outlet can be kept from getting clogged up by fur or an oxidation
coating.
[0056] Moreover, because the flow tube and the heater are inserted
to a mold for the body while they are in contact with each other,
an assembly/disassembly process is no longer required and such a
simple structure of the molding for the body can markedly lower
manufacturing costs.
[0057] Besides, the U-shaped flow tube features a high contact
efficiency with the heater yet occupies a small portion of the
space defined in the product, resulting in a substantial decrease
in manufacturing costs.
[0058] Also, the flow tube is made out of copper material which is
nontoxic and demonstrates a high corrosion resistance and an
excellent thermal conductivity. Therefore, even though the length
of the flow tube may be shortened even further, steam can be
supplied in a stable manner.
[0059] While the present invention has been described with respect
to the specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled
in the art that various changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined in the following claims.
* * * * *