Steamer with filter unit, filter cartridge and method of conveying steam

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10132025-B2
Application number	US-201414916246-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Nov 20, 2018
Grant date	Nov 20, 2018

Abstract

The present application relates to a steamer which has a steam generator ( 11 ) with a steam outlet ( 33 ). A steam path extends from the steam outlet to convey steam, and a filter unit ( 7 ) is positioned in the steam path. The filter unit has a filter cartridge ( 24 ) removably mounted along the steam path having a cartridge housing, a filter medium received in the cartridge housing. The filter unit also has a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet which are at or towards a first end ( 32 ) of the cartridge housing ( 34 ), and a barrier ( 20 ) configured to guide the steam to flow in the cartridge housing to a second end ( 17 ). The filter unit is spaced from the steam outlet ( 33 ), to filter impurities from steam passing along the steam path. The present application also relates to a filter cartridge for a steamer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steamer comprising:
a steam generator with a steam outlet;
a steam path extending from the steam outlet to convey steam;
a filter unit in the steam path, wherein the filter unit comprises a filter cartridge removably mounted along the steam path having a cartridge housing, a filter medium received in the cartridge housing, a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet which are at or towards a first end of the cartridge housing, and a barrier configured to guide the steam to flow in the cartridge housing to a second end, the filter unit being spaced from the steam outlet to filter impurities from steam passing through the filter medium as the steam travels along the steam path; and
a base unit and a head unit having one or more steam vents for supplying steam to a surface to be steamed, and
wherein the filter unit is on the base unit.

2. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the filter unit comprises a cartridge mount configured to mount the filter cartridge in the steam path.

3. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium is disposed between the first end and the second end of the cartridge housing.

4. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the barrier is a tube extending in the cartridge housing which is configured to fluidly connect the cartridge inlet or cartridge outlet with the second end of the cartridge housing.

5. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium is spaced from the cartridge inlet.

6. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the cartridge housing is transparent or translucent.

7. The steamer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a body, wherein the cartridge housing is removably attachable to the body such that it extends from the body.

8. The steamer of claim 1 , further comprising a filter unit on the head unit.

9. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the head unit is a steam iron having a soleplate that comprises the one or more steam vents.

10. A filter cartridge for a steamer, the filter cartridge comprising:
a cartridge housing;
a connector for mounting the filter cartridge along a steam path of said steamer;
a filter medium in the cartridge housing to filter impurities from steam passing through the filter medium as the steam travels along said steam path;
a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet which are at or towards a first end of the cartridge housing; and
a barrier configured to guide the steam to flow in the cartridge housing to a second end,
wherein the steamer comprises a base unit and a head unit having one or more steam vents for supplying steam to surface to be steamed, and
wherein the filter cartridge is on the base unit.

11. A method of conveying steam with a steamer, the method comprising the steps of:
directing steam from a steam outlet of the steamer and along a steam path to a filter cartridge removably mounted along the steam path, wherein the filter cartridge comprises a cartridge housing, a filter medium received in the cartridge housing, a cartridge inlet and a cartridge outlet which are at or towards a first end of the cartridge housing; and
filtering impurities from steam passing through the filter medium as the steam passes along the steam path at a position in the steam path that is spaced from the steam outlet, the steam being guided via a barrier, in the cartridge housing to flow in the cartridge housing to a second end,
wherein the steamer comprises a base unit and a head unit having one or more steam vents for supplying steam to a surface to be steamed, and
wherein the filter cartridge is on the base unit.

12. The steamer of claim 1 , wherein the filter medium has a maximum pore size adapted to filter impurities from steam passing through the filter medium.

13. The steamer of claim 12 , wherein the maximum pore size of the filter medium is between 50 micrometers and 300 micrometers.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Chua Hee Keng
• Ching Boon Khian
• Jiang Yong

Classifications

• B01D46/0002

  Casings; Housings; Frame constructions · CPC title

• C02F1/001

  Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance (C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00) · CPC title

• C02F2201/008

  Mobile apparatus and plants, e.g. mounted on a vehicle · CPC title

• F22B1/284

  with water in reservoirs · CPC title

• C02F2103/02

  Non-contaminated water, e.g. for industrial water supply · CPC title