U.S. patent application number 12/869732 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-01 for steam generator.
This patent application is currently assigned to ZWEITA INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Chih-Kao Hsu.
Application Number | 20120051723 12/869732 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 45697396 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120051723 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hsu; Chih-Kao |
March 1, 2012 |
STEAM GENERATOR
Abstract
For use in an electric home appliance, such as steam mop or
steam vacuum cleaner, a steam generator is disclosed to include an
electric heater, a fluid storage tank connected to the electric
heater, a pressure valve installed in the fluid storage tank and an
air compression unit operable by hand, electricity or steam to pump
air into the fluid storage tank to force fluid out of the fluid
storage tank to the electric heater for heating into steam for
application.
Inventors: |
Hsu; Chih-Kao; (Taipei,
TW) |
Assignee: |
ZWEITA INTERNATIONAL CO.,
LTD.
Bandar Seri Begawan
BN
|
Family ID: |
45697396 |
Appl. No.: |
12/869732 |
Filed: |
August 26, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
392/396 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F22B 1/285 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
392/396 |
International
Class: |
F22B 35/08 20060101
F22B035/08 |
Claims
1. A steam generator, comprising: an electric heater for heating a
fluid into steam, said electric heater comprising an electric
heating member, a fluid inlet for guiding in a fluid to said
electric heating member for heating into steam by said electric
heating member and a first steam outlet for guiding out generated
steam; a fluid storage tank, said fluid storage tank comprising a
fluid chamber holding a fluid, a fluid supply pipe arranged at a
bottom side thereof and connected to said fluid inlet of said
electric heater for guiding said fluid out of said fluid chamber
into said electric heater for heating by said electric heating
member; a pressure valve mounted on the outside of said fluid
storage tank and kept in communication with said fluid chamber for
discharge of excessive air pressure out of said fluid storage tank;
and an air compression unit connected to the air inlet of said
fluid storage tank and adapted for pumping air into said fluid
chamber of said fluid storage tank to force said fluid out of said
fluid chamber into said electric heater for heating into steam by
said electric heating member.
2. The steam generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air
compression unit is a hand pump operable to pump air into said
fluid chamber of said fluid storage tank.
3. The steam generator as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hand
pump comprises a housing, said housing having an air outlet located
on one end thereof and connected to the air inlet of said fluid
storage tank and a piston hole located on and opposite end thereof,
a piston rod inserted through said piston hole in an airtight
manner, and a piston fixedly connected to one end of said piston
rod and axially movable with said piston rod in said housing to
force air out of said housing through the air outlet of said hand
pump into the air inlet and fluid chamber of said fluid storage
tank.
4. The steam generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein said fluid
storage tank further comprises an air intake pipe extended from the
air inlet thereof and connected to the air outlet of said housing
of said hand pump.
5. The steam generator as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an
air pressure regulating valve installed in said air intake pipe for
regulating the flow rate of air passing out of said air compression
unit into said fluid chamber.
6. The steam generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air
compression unit is electrically operated.
7. The steam generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein said air
compression unit comprises an air pump and a drive adapted for
driving said air pump, said air pump having an air outlet connected
to the air inlet of said fluid storage tank.
8. The steam generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said fluid
storage tank further comprises an air intake pipe extended from the
air inlet thereof and connected to the air outlet of said hand
pump.
9. The steam generator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an
air pressure regulating valve installed in said air intake pipe for
regulating the flow rate of air passing out of said air compression
unit into said fluid chamber.
10. The steam generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
electric heater further comprises a second steam outlet, a steam
pipe extended from said second steam outlet and connected to said
air compression unit for forcing said air compression unit to pump
air into the air inlet of said fluid storage tank.
11. The steam generator as claimed in claim 10, wherein said air
compression unit comprises a housing, said housing comprising a
partition plate transversely arranged therein on the middle, a
first chamber and a second chamber defined therein and separated by
said partition plate, a piston hole cut through said partition
plate in communication between said first chamber and said second
chamber, an air inlet located on one end of said housing in
communication with said first chamber and connected to said steam
pipe, and an air outlet located on an opposite end of said housing
in communication with said second chamber and connected to the air
inlet of said fluid storage tank, a piston rod inserted through
said piston hole, and two pistons respectively fixedly connected to
two distal ends of said piston rod and respectively movably
accommodated in said first chamber and said second chamber for
enabling said air compression unit to be driven said the steam
passing out of said electric heater through said second steam
outlet and said steam pipe to pump air into said fluid chamber of
said fluid storage tank.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to apparatus for generating
steam and more particularly, to a steam generator practical for use
in an electric home appliance, such as steam mop or steam vacuum
cleaner.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Some electric home appliances, such as steam mop, steam
vacuum cleaner and steam iron, need to use steam. These electric
home appliances commonly have a steam generator mounted therein for
generating steam. A steam generator is know, as show in FIG. 1,
comprising a heating core 10, a water tank 20 and a manual or
electric water pump 30. The heating core 10 can be, for example, an
electric heater tube that generates heat when electrically
connected. The water tank 20 has a water pipe 201 connected to the
heating core 10. The water pump 30 is installed in the bottom side
of the water tank 20 or the water pipe 201 for pumping water out of
the water tank 20. When used in an electric home appliance, the
water pump 30 is operated manually or electrically to pump water
out of the water tank 20 through the water pipe 201 into the
heating core 10 where water is heated into steam for application.
However, the operation of this steam generator is to pump the water
out of the water tank 20 by the water pump 30.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention has been accomplished to provide an
innovative steam generator, which utilizes the known physical law
to force a fluid out of a fluid storage tank into an electric
heater for generating steam. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a steam generator, which is to have an
electric heater, a fluid storage tank, a pressure valve and an air
compression unit arranged together in such a manner that when an
air pressure is given to the inside of the fluid storage tank by
the air compression unit, a pressure is evenly distributed to the
fluid in the fluid storage tank subject to Pascal's principle,
forcing the fluid to flow into the inside of the electric heater
where the fluid is heated into steam for application. Thus, the
steam generator can deliver fluid from the fluid storage tank to
the electric heater without using any water pump. Therefore, the
steam generator is practical for home use and allows easy
regulation of the amount of fluid and steam.
[0006] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
a steam generator comprises an electric heater for heating a fluid
into steam, which comprises an electric heating member, a fluid
inlet for guiding in a fluid to the electric heating member for
heating into steam by the electric heating member and a first steam
outlet for guiding out generated steam, a fluid storage tank, which
comprises a fluid chamber holding a fluid, a fluid supply pipe
arranged at a bottom side thereof and connected to the fluid inlet
of the electric heater for guiding the fluid out of the fluid
chamber into the electric heater for heating by the electric
heating member, a pressure valve, which is mounted on the outside
of the fluid storage tank and kept in communication with the fluid
chamber for discharge of excessive air pressure out of the fluid
storage tank, and an air compression unit, which is connected to
the air inlet of the fluid storage tank and adapted for pumping air
into the fluid chamber of the fluid storage tank to force the fluid
out of the fluid chamber into the electric heater for heating into
steam by the electric heating member.
[0007] This, the steam generator enables the air compression unit
to output air into the fluid storage tank, increasing the internal
pressure of the fluid chamber of the fluid storage tank to force
the fluid out of the fluid chamber into the electric heater for
generating steam. Thus, the invention can deliver fluid without
using any water pump. The steam generator of the invention is
practical for home use, allowing easy regulation of the amount of
fluid and steam.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing illustrating a steam generator
according to the prior art.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating a steam generator
in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 illustrates the operation of the air compression unit
of the steam generator in accordance with the first embodiment of
the present invention (I).
[0011] FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of the air compression unit
of the steam generator in accordance with the first embodiment of
the present invention (II).
[0012] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a steam generator
in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating a steam generator
in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the air compression of
the steam generator in accordance with the third embodiment of the
present invention (I).
[0015] FIG. 8 illustrates the operation of the air compression unit
of the steam generator in accordance with the third embodiment of
the present invention (II).
[0016] FIG. 9 illustrates the operation of the air compression unit
of the steam generator in accordance with the third embodiment of
the present invention (III).
[0017] FIG. 10 corresponds to FIG. 2, illustrating an air pressure
regulating valve installed in the air intake pipe and a one-way
valve installed in the fluid supply pipe.
[0018] FIG. 11 corresponds to FIG. 5, illustrating an air pressure
regulating valve installed in the air intake pipe and a one-way
valve installed in the fluid supply pipe.
[0019] FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 6, illustrating an air pressure
regulating valve installed in the air intake pipe and a one-way
valve installed in the fluid supply pipe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] Referring to FIG. 2, a steam generator in accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention is shown comprising an
electric heater 1, a fluid storage tank 2, a pressure valve 3 and
an air compression unit 4.
[0021] The electric heater 1 comprises an outer shell 11, an
electric heating member 12 mounted in the outer shell 11, a fluid
inlet 13 connected to the outer shell 11 for guiding a fluid into
the inside of the outer shell 11 for heating by the electric
heating member 12 into steam, and a steam outlet 14 connected to
the outer shell 11 for guiding generated steam out of the outer
shell 11.
[0022] The fluid storage tank 2 is an enclosed container, having a
fluid chamber 21 defined therein, a fluid supply pipe 22 extended
from bottom side of the fluid chamber 21 and connected to the fluid
inlet 13 of the electric heater 1 and an air inlet 23 located on
the top side thereof in communication with the fluid chamber 21. A
fluid 7 is stored in the fluid chamber 21 for providing to the
electric heater 1 for generating the desired steam.
[0023] The pressure valve 3 is mounted on the outside of the fluid
storage tank 2 in communication with the fluid chamber 21 for
discharging excessive air pressure. The pressure valve 3 comprises
a valve body 31, a stopper 32 and a spring member 33. The stopper
32 is supported on the spring member 33 inside the valve body 31
and movable in one specific direction for enabling the pressure
valve 3 to discharge air.
[0024] The air compression unit 4 is adapted to force out air. The
air compression unit 4 can be a hand pump connected to the air
inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2.
[0025] The air compression unit 4 can be operated to pump air into
the fluid chamber 21 of the fluid storage tank 2 to impart a
pressure evenly to the fluid 7 in the fluid chamber 21 subject to
Pascal's principle, forcing the fluid 7 to flow through the fluid
supply pipe 22 and the fluid inlet 13 into the inside of the outer
shell 11 of the electric heater 1 where the fluid 7 is heated by
the electric heating member 12 into steam for output through the
steam outlet 14.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 and FIG. 2 again, the air
compression unit 4 comprises a housing 41 and a piston rod 42. The
housing 41 has an air outlet 411 located on its one end and
connected to the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2, and a
piston hole 412 located on its other end for the passing of the
piston rod 42. The piston rod 42 has a piston 421 fixedly connected
to its front end. The piston 421 fits the inside wall of the
housing 41 and axially movable with the piston rod 42 relative to
the housing 41 to pump air out of the housing 41 into the fluid
chamber 21 of the fluid storage tank 2. The air outlet 411 of the
housing 41 may be directly connected to the air inlet 23 of the
fluid storage tank 2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2, an air
intake pipe 24 is connected between the air outlet 411 of the
housing 41 and the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2. When
the user reciprocates the piston rod 42, the piston 421 is moved
back and forth in the housing 41 to pump air into the fluid chamber
21 of the fluid storage tank 2, forcing the fluid 7 to flow to the
inside of the electric heater 1.
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a steam generator in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention. This second embodiment
is substantially similar to the aforesaid first embodiment with the
exception the structure of the air compression unit. According to
this second embodiment, the air compression unit, referenced by 4a,
is electrically operated, comprising an air pump 41a and a drive
42a (for example, motor) adapted to move the air pump 41a in
pumping air. The air pump 41a comprises an air outlet 411a
connected to the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2. The air
outlet 411a of the air pump 41a may be directly connected to the
air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2. Alternatively, an air
intake pipe 24 is connected between the air outlet 411a of the air
pump 41a and the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2. When the
drive 42a is started up, the air pump 41a is moved to pump air into
the fluid chamber 21 of the fluid storage tank 2, forcing the fluid
7 to flow to the inside of the electric heater 1.
[0028] FIGS. 6.about.9 illustrate a steam generator in accordance
with a third embodiment of the present invention. According to this
third embodiment, the electric heater 1 further comprises a second
steam outlet 15 located on the outer shell 11 and a steam pipe 16
extended from the second steam outlet 15 and connected to the air
compression unit, referenced by 4b. The air compression unit 4b is
connected to the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2. Thus,
the steam generated by the electric heater 1 can drive the air
compression unit 4b to pump air into the fluid chamber 21 of the
fluid storage tank 2. According to this third embodiment, the air
compression unit, referenced by 4b, comprises a housing 41b and a
piston rod 42b. The housing 41 comprises a partition plate 411b
transversely arranged therein on the middle, a first chamber 412b
and a second chamber 413b separated by the partition plate 411b, a
piston hole 414b cut through the partition plate 411b in
communication between the first chamber 412b and the second chamber
413b, an air inlet 415b located on one end of the housing 41b in
communication with the first chamber 412b and connected to the
steam pipe 16, an air outlet 416b located on the other end of the
housing 41b in communication with the second chamber 413b and
connected to the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2. The
piston rod 42b is inserted through the piston hole 414b, having a
piston 421b fixedly connected to each of the two distal ends
thereof. The two pistons 421b are respectively movably accommodated
in the first chamber 412b and the second chamber 413b.
[0029] Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, the steam generated by the
electric heater 1 flows out of the first steam outlet 14 and the
second steam outlet 15. The steam coming out of the second steam
outlet 15 flows through the steam pipe 16 into the first chamber
412b to move the respective piston 421b in the first chamber 412b,
forcing the piston rod 42b toward the second chamber 413b, and at
the same time the piston 421b in the second chamber 413b pumps air
out of the housing 42 through the air outlet 416b into the air
inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2 to force the fluid 7 toward
the electric heater 1. This operation cycle is repeated again and
again to supply the cold fluid 7 to the electric heater 1
automatically and continuously.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 10.about.12, for allowing adjustment of
the flow rate and speed of the supply of air from the air
compression unit 4;4a;4b to the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage
tank 2 to further control the internal pressure of the fluid
chamber 21, an air pressure regulating valve 5 may be used and
installed in the air intake pipe 24. The air pressure regulating
valve 5 comprises a movable valve block 51. Moving the valve block
51 in the air pressure regulating valve 5 relatively regulates the
flow rate and speed of the supply of air from the air compression
unit 4;4a;4b to the air inlet 23 of the fluid storage tank 2 to
further control the internal pressure of the fluid chamber 21, and
therefore the flow rate and speed of the fluid 7 flowing from the
fluid chamber 21 to the electric heater 1 is relatively controlled.
Therefore the air pressure regulating valve 5 can control the
amount and temperature of steam generated by the electric heater
1.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 2, 5 and 6 again, a one-way valve 6 is
installed in the fluid supply pipe 22 of the fluid storage tank 2
for allowing flowing of the fluid 7 from the fluid chamber 21 to
the electric heater 1 and prohibiting reverse flow of the fluid 7
from the electric heater 1 back to the fluid chamber 21. The
one-way valve 6 can be made in any of a variety of commercially
available forms. Thus, when the air compression unit 4;4a;4b is
stopped, the fluid 7 will not flow backwardly from the electric
heater 1 to the fluid chamber 21. The functioning of the one-way
valve 6 can also prohibit flowing of the generated steam from the
electric heater 1 to the fluid chamber 21, assuring flowing of the
generated steam out of the outer shell 11 through the first steam
outlet 14 and the second steam outlet 15.
[0032] The design of the steam generator in accordance with the
present invention enables the air compression unit 4;4a;4b to
output air into the fluid storage tank 2, increasing the internal
pressure of the fluid chamber 21 of the fluid storage tank 2 to
force the fluid 7 out of the fluid chamber 21 into the electric
heater 1 for generating steam. Thus, the invention can deliver
fluid without using any water pump. The steam generator of the
invention is practical for home use, allowing easy regulation of
the amount of fluid and steam.
[0033] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *