Steam generation system for use in cooking appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016374499-A1
Application number	US-201514753219-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2015
Priority date	Jun 29, 2015
Publication date	Dec 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A steam generator system for a cooking appliance includes an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein water from a water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture. A first supply line is coupled to the heating tube to carry the mixture to a separator without the need for moving or complex pump parts. The separator separates steam and hot water from the mixture of the two. A second supply line is coupled to the separator at a first end and opens into the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance at a second end. The second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A steam generator system for a cooking appliance having a cooking cavity, the steam generator system comprising:
a water reservoir configured to store water; a heating tube having an in-line heating element coupled thereto, wherein water from the water reservoir is gravitationally fed into the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture; a first supply line coupled to the heating tube at a first end and further coupled to a separator at a second end, wherein the hot water and steam mixture is moved under pressure up the first supply line from the first end thereof towards the separator disposed at the second end thereof, and further wherein the separator is configured to separate a steam component and a hot water component from the steam and hot water mixture; a second supply line coupled to the separator at a first end and opening into the cooking cavity at a second end, wherein the second supply line is configured to supply the steam component separated at the separator to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet disposed in the cooking cavity; and a return line coupled to the separator at a first end and further coupled to the heating tube at a second end, wherein the return line is configured to gravitationally deliver the hot water component separated by the separator to the heating tube at a location on the heating tube downstream from the in-line heating element.

2 . The steam generator system of claim 1 , wherein the system includes an upper portion and a lower portion, and further wherein a water line of stored water in the water reservoir defines a boundary between the upper and lower portions of the system.

3 . The steam generator system of claim 2 , wherein the heating tube is disposed in the lower portion of the system, and further wherein the separator is disposed in the upper portion of the system.

4 . The steam generator system of claim 2 , including:
a lower check valve disposed between the water reservoir and the in-line heating element in the lower portion of the system.

5 . The steam generator system of claim 4 , including:
an upper check valve disposed in the return line between the separator and the in-line heating element in the upper portion of the system.

6 . A steam generator system for a cooking appliance having a cooking cavity, the steam generator system comprising:
a water reservoir at least partially disposed in a lower portion of the steam generator system; an in-line heating element coupled to a heating tube, wherein the steam generator system is configured such that water from the water reservoir is gravitationally fed to the heating tube for heating by the in-line heating element to produce a hot water and steam mixture; a first supply line coupled to the heating tube at a first end and further coupled to a separator at a second end, wherein the separator is disposed in an upper portion of the steam generator system and further wherein the hot water and steam mixture defines a first bubble pump to move the hot water and steam mixture from the lower portion of the steam generator system to the separator in the upper portion of the steam generator system; a second supply line coupled to the separator at a first end and having a steam outlet opening into the cooking cavity at a second end, wherein the second supply line is configured to supply steam separated at the separator to the cooking cavity; and a return line coupled to the separator at a first end and further coupled to the heating tube at a second end, wherein the return line is configured to gravitationally deliver hot water separated by the separator to the heating tube.

7 . The steam generator system of claim 6 , including:
a lower check valve disposed between the water reservoir and the in-line heating element in the lower portion of the steam generator system.

8 . The steam generator system of claim 7 , including:
an upper check valve disposed in the return line between the separator and the in-line heating element in the upper portion of the steam generator system.

9 . The steam generator system of claim 6 , including:
a third supply line coupled to a descaling tank at a first end and further coupled to the return line at a second end; a descaling heater coupled to the third supply line, wherein the descaling heater is configured to heat hot water from the return line to produce a hot water and steam mixture.

10 . The steam generator system of claim 9 , wherein the hot water and steam mixture produced by the descaling heater defines a second bubble pump used to move the hot water and steam mixture produced by the descaling heater to the descaling tank.

11 . The steam generator system of claim 6 , including:
a user-actuated shut-off valve disposed along a length of the return line, the user-actuated shut-off valve operable between open and closed positions.

12 . The steam generator system of claim 11 , wherein the hot water and steam mixture will move through the second supply line to the cooking cavity when the user-actuated shut-off valve is in the closed position.

13 . The steam generator system of claim 12 , wherein the steam generator system provides a descaling clean-out feature when the user-actuated shut-off valve is in the closed position.

14 . The steam generator system of claim 11 , wherein the user-actuated shut-off valve is accessible from the cooking cavity.

15 . A method of generating and delivering steam to a cooking cavity of a cooking appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
gravitationally delivering water from a water reservoir to a heating tube in a lower portion of a system; energizing an in-line heating element thermally coupled to the heating tube; heating the water via the in-line heating element; producing a pressurized hot water and steam mixture by heating the water via the in-line heating element; transporting the hot water and steam mixture to a separator disposed in an upper portion of the system via pressure; separating the hot water and steam mixture into a hot water component and a steam component via the separator; and transporting the steam component to the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance via pressure.

16 . The method of claim 15 , further including the step of:
delivering the hot water component to a return line; and reintroducing the hot water component to the heating tube.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of reintroducing the hot water component to the heating tube further includes reintroducing the hot water component to the heating tube at a location on the heating tube downstream from the in-line heating element.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of gravitationally delivering water from a water reservoir to a heating tube in a lower portion of a system further includes passing the water through a lower check valve.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of delivering the hot water component to a return line further includes passing the water through an upper check valve.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of transporting the steam component to the cooking cavity of the cooking appliance via pressure further includes introducing the steam component to the cooking cavity via a steam outlet.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Donarski Robert S
• Crow Nicholas E
• Schneemann Jason

Classifications

• 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

• F22B37/26

  Steam-separating arrangements · CPC title

• A47J2027/043

  for cooking food in steam · CPC title

• F22B1/282

  with water or steam circulating in tubes or ducts · CPC title

• F24C15/327 Primary

  with air moisturising · CPC title