Steaming device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016168778-A1
Application number	US-201414902700-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 9, 2014
Priority date	Jul 9, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present application relates to a steaming device. The steaming device comprises a steam generator ( 8 ) having a heated surface ( 6 ), a pump configured to direct fluid against the heated surface ( 6 ) to generate steam, an orientation detector to detect orientation of the heated surface ( 6 ), and a control unit. The control unit is configured to operate the pump to adjust the flow rate of the pump in dependence on the orientation of the heated surface determined by the orientation detector.

First claim

1 . A steaming device comprising a steam generator having a heated surface, a pump configured to direct fluid against the heated surface to generate steam, an orientation detector to detect orientation of the heated surface, and a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to operate the pump to adjust the flow rate of the pump in dependence on the orientation of the heated surface determined by the orientation detector.

2 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the pump at a first flow rate, and upon the orientation detector detecting a change in orientation of the heated surface, the control unit is configured to operate the pump at a second flow rate.

3 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the pump at a lower flow rate when the heated surface is in a second orientation than when the heated surface is in a first orientation.

4 . A steaming device according to claim 3 , wherein the first orientation is when the heated surface lies in a horizontal plane, and the second orientation is when the heated surface lies in a plane that is at an inclined angle relative to the horizontal plane.

5 . A steaming device according to claim 4 , wherein the second orientation is when the heated surfaces lies in a plane that is at an angle ranging from 5° to 90° relative to the horizontal plane.

6 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid inlet through which fluid enters and then exits in a direction so as to impact the heated surface within a predetermined region, and the velocity of the fluid exiting the fluid inlet is of a specific value so that as the orientation of the heated surface changes the fluid continues to impact the heated surface within said predetermined region.

7 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid inlet through which fluid enters and then exits in a direction so as to impact the heated surface, and the velocity of the fluid exiting the fluid inlet is unchanged irrespective of the orientation of the heated surface.

8 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to operate the pump to control the flow rate of fluid as a function of the angle of orientation of the heated surface.

9 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to adjust the flow rate of the pump by selective suppression of a predetermined number of electrical signals prompting a pump stroke within a predetermined time period.

10 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , further comprising a nozzle having an opening, wherein means are provided to vary the total area of the opening of the nozzle in dependence on the orientation of the heated surface determined by the orientation detector.

11 . A steaming device according to claim 10 , wherein the means to vary the total area of the opening area comprises a gravity actuated valve.

12 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to change location and/or orientation of the nozzle so to direct fluid to impact a preferred area of the heated surface.

13 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the steaming device is a steam iron.

14 . A steaming device according to claim 1 , wherein the steaming device is a steamer.

15 . A method of operating a steaming device comprising a steam generator having a heated surface, a pump, an orientation detector to detect orientation of the heated surface, and a control unit, the method including the steps of the control unit operating the pump at a first flow rate, the orientation detector detecting a change in orientation of the heated surface and signalling orientation information to the control unit, and the control unit adjusting the flow rate to a second flow rate.

Assignees

• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Wadhwa Sahil
• Valiyambath Krishnan Mohankumar
• Ong Chee Keong
• Yip Kin Leong

Classifications

• D06F75/18 Primary

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

• D06F75/26

  Temperature control or indicating arrangements · CPC title

• D06F87/00

  Apparatus for moistening or otherwise conditioning the article to be ironed or pressed (apparatus for smoothing or removing creases from garments or other textile articles by formers, cores, stretchers or internal frames, with the application of heat or steam D06F73/00 {; devices used in combination with a laundry dryer D06F58/203}) · CPC title

• F22B1/285

  the water being fed by a pump to the reservoirs · CPC title

• F22B1/28

  in boilers heated electrically · CPC title