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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201255-A1
Application number	US-201414916246-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Sep 6, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 . A steamer comprising a steam generator with a steam outlet, a steam path extending from the steam outlet to convey steam, and a filter unit in the steam path, the filter unit comprising 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.

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 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

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

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

10 . The steamer of claim 1 , 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.

11 . The steamer of claim 10 , wherein the filter unit is on the base unit.

12 . The steamer of claim 10 wherein the filter unit is on the head unit.

13 . The steamer of claim 10 , wherein the head unit is a steam iron having a soleplate comprising the one or more steam vents.

14 . 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.

15 . A method of conveying steam, the method comprising the steps of:
directing steam from a steam outlet and along a steam path to 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, 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 in the cartridge housing to flow in the cartridge housing to a second end.

16 . 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.

17 . The steamer of claim 16 , wherein the maximum pore size of the filter medium is between 50 micrometers and 300 micrometers.

Assignees

• Koninkl 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

• B01D46/0041

  for feeding · CPC title

• D06F75/20 Primary

  Arrangements for discharging the steam to the article being ironed · CPC title

• C02F2103/02

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