Steam generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11197571-B2
Application number	US-201916299945-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2019
Priority date	May 23, 2018
Publication date	Dec 14, 2021
Grant date	Dec 14, 2021

Abstract

A steam generator includes: a base module which has a water supply port for receiving steam water; and a steam module which is connected to an upper side of the base module, in which the steam module includes: a main body which has an upper surface and a lower surface; a flow pipe which is positioned at a central portion of the main body and into which the steam water flows; and a heater which supplies heat to the flow pipe, and in which another steam module is selectively coupled to an upper side of the steam module. According to this, the internal volume of the steam generator and the output of the heater provided in the steam generator can be selectively varied so as to provide an optimum output according to the volume of a cooking device in which the steam generator is installed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steam generator comprising:
a base module that includes a water supply port configured to receive water; and
a plurality of steam modules configured to be detachably stacked on an upper side of the base module, each of the plurality of steam modules comprising a main body,
wherein main bodies of the plurality of steam modules have an identical structure, and
wherein each of the main bodies includes:
a flow pipe that extends in a vertical direction along a central axis and that defines a flow path configured to guide steam and water,
a latching protrusion that extends vertically upward from an outer end of an upper surface of the main body and that defines a space between an outer circumferential surface of the flow pipe and an inner surface of the latching protrusion, the space being configured to seat another steam module among the plurality of steam modules,
a latching groove that is recessed from a lower portion of the main body toward the flow pipe, that has a shape corresponding to the latching protrusion, and that is configured to receive the latching protrusion of another steam module among the plurality of steam modules inserted from an outside of the main body, and
a heater that is accommodated inside of the main body, that is disposed outside of the flow pipe, and that is configured to supply heat to the flow pipe, the heater comprising:
an insertion terminal that extends upward and penetrates the upper surface of the main body, and
an integration portion that is recessed upward from a lower surface of the main body and that is configured to receive and electrically connect to the insertion terminal of the heater of another steam module among the plurality of steam modules.

2. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module, and
wherein the latching protrusion of the first steam module has a shape corresponding to the shape of the latching groove defined by the second steam module.

3. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module, and
wherein an upper end portion of the latching protrusion of the first steam module has a shape corresponding to a lower end portion of the latching groove defined by the second steam module.

4. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module, and
wherein the latching protrusion of the first steam module defines an upper fastening hole at a central portion of the latching protrusion, the upper fastening hole being configured to guide insertion of a fastening member.

5. The steam generator according to claim 4 , wherein the latching groove of the first steam module defines a lower fastening hole configured to receive a fastening member.

6. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the flow pipe is connected to the water supply port, and
wherein the flow pipe and the water supply port are coaxial.

7. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the flow pipe includes:
an expanded pipe portion that is located at a lower side of the flow pipe and that is recessed radially outward from an inner surface of the flow pipe; and
an insertion portion that extends upward from the upper surface of the main body.

8. The steam generator according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module, and
wherein the insertion portion of the first steam module is configured to insert into the expanded pipe portion of the second steam module.

9. The steam generator according to claim 7 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module,
wherein the first steam module further includes a packing, and
wherein a diameter of the packing is greater than an outer diameter of the insertion portion of the first steam module and less than an inner diameter of the expanded pipe portion of the second steam module.

10. The steam generator according to claim 9 , wherein the packing is configured to provide a seal between the insertion portion of the first steam module and the expanded pipe portion of the second steam module.

11. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the integration portion includes a tapered inner space.

12. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the insertion terminal includes a pogo type pin.

13. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the base module is configured to detachably couple to a first steam module among the plurality of steam modules.

14. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module, and
wherein an outer surface of the main body of the first steam module is flush with an outer surface of the main body of the second steam module.

15. The steam generator according to claim 1 , wherein the flow pipe of each of the plurality of steam modules has an upper opening and a lower opening, the central axis passing through centers of the upper opening and the lower opening.

16. The steam generator according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of steam modules include a first steam module and a second steam module stacked on the first steam module, and
wherein the upper opening of the flow pipe of the first steam module directly faces and is in communication with the lower opening of the flow pipe of the second steam module.

17. The steam generator according to claim 16 , wherein a diameter of the upper opening of the flow pipe of the first steam module about the central axis is equal to a diameter of the lower opening of the flow pipe of the second steam module about the central axis.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Lim Hakjoo
• Yang Jaekyung
• Lee Suyong
• Lee Soochan
• Lee Yongsoo

Classifications

• F22B1/288 Primary

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

• F22B37/24

  Supporting, suspending or setting arrangements, e.g. heat shielding · CPC title

• F22B37/60

  specially adapted for steam boilers of instantaneous or flash type · CPC title

• A47J2027/043

  for cooking food in steam · CPC title

• A47J27/04 Primary

  for cooking food in steam; Devices for extracting fruit juice by means of steam {; Vacuum cooking vessels (steam-heated vessels for hotels, restaurants or canteens A47J27/16)} · CPC title