Method and device for generating steam comprising a scale container and steamer appliance with such a device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10598373-B2
Application number	US-201615544105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2016
Priority date	Jan 23, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for generating steam. The device (1) comprises a plate (2) forming a surface, and a heating element (3) to heat the plate (2) to a predetermined temperature being at least above water evaporation temperature. The plate (2) is inclined at an angle compared to the horizontal direction to define an upper end and a lower end. The device (1) also comprises a water inlet arrangement (4) for dispensing water onto the plate (2) proximate the upper end, a control unit (11) to control the flow of water dispensed onto the plate (2), and a scale collection container (5) disposed adjacent to the plate (2). The control unit (11) is configured to control the flow of water dispensed onto the plate (2) and the temperature of the plate (2) so that substantially all the water dispensed onto the plate (2) evaporates before it reaches the lower end (15) of the plate (2). This invention allows an easy scale collection, thanks to the inclination angle of the plate's surface that causes the dislodged scale to travel down the plate's surface toward the lower end of the plate and, ultimately, into the container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for generating steam, the device comprising:
a plate forming a surface, the plate being inclined at an angle (A 0 ) compared to a horizontal direction (H) to define an upper end and a lower end, the plate being partially bordered by a wall configured to ensure water is guided down the plate towards the lower end;
a heating element to heat the plate to a temperature being at least above water evaporation temperature;
at least one water inlet for dispensing water onto the plate proximate the upper end of the plate;
a scale collection container, disposed adjacent to the lower end of the plate, for collecting scale falling from the plate; and
a control unit configured to control flow of water dispensed onto the plate and the temperature of the plate so that substantially all the water dispensed onto the plate evaporates before it reaches the lower end of the plate, so that the water does not react with the scale collected in the scale collection container.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the plate has at least one channel extending between the upper end and the lower end.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the at least one channel comprise a plurality of channels extending in parallel.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the scale collection container comprises a bottom surface portion extending downwards in a plane parallel to a plane of the plate.

5. The device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one water inlet comprises multiple water inlets to dispense water onto multiple regions of the plate proximate the upper end of the plate.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the number of water inlets equals the number of the plurality of channels, and wherein each of the water inlets faces one channel of the plurality of channels, respectively.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the scale collection container comprises a bottom surface portion having a horizontal surface portion lower than the lower end of the plate.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the scale collection container comprises a bottom surface portion and a plurality of lateral walls which surround the bottom surface portion.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the scale collection container is formed integrally with the plate.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the plate is inclined at least 45 degrees from the horizontal.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the scale collection container comprises a plurality of walls, an opening being formed in at least one of the walls to access an inside part of the scale collection container, the opening being closed by a cover.

12. A steamer appliance comprising a device for generating steam according to claim 1 .

13. The steamer appliance according to claim 12 , further comprising a water pump controlled by the control unit to deliver the water to the water inlet in dependence on the temperature.

14. A method of collecting scale in a device for generating steam, the method comprising:
heating a plate inclined at an angle (A 0 ) compared to a horizontal direction (H), the plate being heated to a temperature at least above water evaporation temperature, the plate defining an upper end and a lower end, and being partially bordered by a wall configured to ensure water is guided down the plate towards the lower end;
dispensing water on the plate proximate the upper end;
controlling flow of the water dispensed onto the plate and temperature of the plate so that substantially all the water dispensed onto the plate evaporates before it reaches the lower end of the plate, so that the water does not react with scale collected in a scale collection container disposed adjacent to the lower end of the plate; and
collecting in the scale collection container the scale which falls down from the lower end of the plate.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the plate defines a plurality of parallel channels.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein dispensing the water on the plate comprises dispensing the water in each of the plurality of parallel channels through a corresponding plurality of inlets.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the scale collection container comprises a bottom surface portion having a horizontal surface portion lower than the lower end of the plate.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the scale collection container further comprises a plurality of lateral walls surrounding the bottom surface portion.

19. A device for generating steam, comprising:
a plate having a planar top surface, the plate being inclined at an angle (A 0 ) compared to a horizontal direction (H) to define an upper end and a lower end, the plate being partially bordered by a wall configured to ensure water is guided down the plate towards the lower end;
a heating element configured heat the plate to a temperature at least above water evaporation temperature;
at least one water inlet configured to dispense water onto the plate proximate the upper end of the plate;
a scale collection container disposed adjacent to the lower end of the plate and configured to collect scale falling from the plate, the scale collection container comprising a plurality of lateral walls connected to the wall of the plate and providing a receptacle in which the scale is collected; and
a control unit configured to control flow of the water dispensed onto the plate and the temperature of the plate such that water dispensed onto the plate evaporates before it reaches the lower end of the plate to prevent reaction with the scale collected in the scale collection container.

20. The device of claim 19 , further comprising:
a casing formed of at least the wall bordering the plate and the plurality of lateral walls of the scale collection container; and
a lid fixed onto the casing to enclose the device.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Xu Zhifeng
• Valiyambath Krishnan Mohankumar
• Pang Yen Leng
• Date Milind Vishwas

Classifications

• F22B1/288

  Instantaneous electrical steam generators built-up from heat-exchange elements arranged within a confined chamber having heat-retaining walls · CPC title

• F22B27/165

  with film flow of water on heated surfaces · CPC title

• F22B1/287 Primary

  with water in sprays or in films · CPC title

• D06F75/18

  the water being fed slowly, e.g. drop by drop, from the reservoir to a steam generator · CPC title

• F22B27/16

  involving spray nozzles for sprinkling or injecting water particles on to or into hot heat-exchange elements, e.g. into tubes {(F22B1/287 takes precedence)} · CPC title