Operation of a vaporizer of a domestic appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10349775-B2
Application number	US-201515126607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2015
Priority date	Apr 2, 2014
Publication date	Jul 16, 2019
Grant date	Jul 16, 2019

Abstract

In a method for operating a vaporizer of a domestic appliance, the vaporizer is filled at least to a predetermined filling level. The vaporizer can be emptied using an emptying arrangement. A time measurement is started, when a filling level falls below the predetermined filling level. A heating system of the vaporizer is switched on, when the filling level falls below the predetermined filling level. The time measurement is stopped, when the heating system has overheated, and a delivery output is calculated during emptying of the vaporizer, from a duration for emptying that is determined by the time measurement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a vaporizer of a domestic appliance, said method comprising the steps of:
(i) filling the vaporizer at least to a predetermined filling level;
(ii) emptying the vaporizer using an emptying arrangement which includes a pump;
(iii) starting a time measurement when a filling level falls below the predetermined filling level;
(iv) switching on a heating system of the vaporizer when the filling level falls below the predetermined filling level;
(v) stopping the time measurement when the heating system has overheated; and
(vi) calculating a delivery output of the pump during emptying of the vaporizer, from a duration for emptying that is determined by the time measurement, thereby to avoid the pump from running dry.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (i) comprises filling the vaporizer beyond the predetermined filling level.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (iv) comprises switching on the heating system directly when the level falls below the predetermined filling level.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (iv) comprises switching on the heating system with a defined delay when the level has fallen below the predetermined filling level.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising switching off the heating system when the heating system has overheated in step (v).

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step (vi) comprises dividing a liquid volume of the vaporizer by the emptying duration.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after the step (vi), the steps of:
(a) filling the vaporizer at least to the predetermined filling level;
(b) establishing a duration for filling to the predetermined filling level; and
(c) calculating a delivery output during filling by dividing a liquid volume of the vaporizer by the duration for filling.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein in normal operation filling of the vaporizer is stopped, when a safety threshold value that is determined based on the delivery output during filling is reached or exceeded.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising executing the steps (i) to (vi) only in an abnormal operation where there is an absence of a vapor processing of food.

10. A vapor processing appliance, comprising:
a vaporizer including a level detector configured to detect a predetermined filling level, a heating system, and an overheating detector configured to determine when the heating system has overheated;
a filling arrangement for filling the vaporizer at least to a predetermined filling level;
an emptying arrangement which includes a pump for emptying the vaporizer;
a time measuring arrangement responsive, when a filling level falls below the predetermined filling level, thereby causing switching on of the heating system, said time measuring arrangement being configured to stop a time measurement when the heating system has overheated; and
a calculating arrangement configured to at least calculate a delivery output of the pump during emptying of the vaporizer, from a duration for emptying that is determined by the time measurement arrangement, thereby to avoid the pump from running dry.

11. The vapor processing appliance of claim 10 , wherein the vapor processing appliance comprises a steam cooking appliance.

12. The vapor processing appliance of claim 10 , wherein the vaporizer has a receiving chamber for liquid, said heating system being configured as a surface heating system which is arranged on a base of the receiving chamber, said receiving chamber capable of being filled via the filling arrangement and emptied via the emptying arrangement.

13. The vapor processing appliance of claim 10 , wherein the heating system serves as an overheating detector.

14. The vapor processing appliance of claim 10 , wherein the filling arrangement includes a pump or is a pump.

Assignees

• Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh

Inventors

• Lego Dieter
• Nagel Martin
• Wagner Benjamin

Classifications

• F24C15/327

  with air moisturising · CPC title

• F22B37/50

  for draining or expelling water · CPC title

• F22B1/28 Primary

  in boilers heated electrically · CPC title

• A21B3/04 Primary

  Air-treatment devices for ovens, e.g. regulating humidity · CPC title

• A47J27/004

  with integral electrical heating means (drinking cups with integral heating means A47J36/2466) · CPC title