AU7734198A - Apparatus for steaming food - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS FOR STEAMING FOOD This invention relates to apparatus for steaming food.

This invention relates particularly to apparatus for steaming food in a commercial environment as opposed to a domestic or home environment. For example it relates particularly to apparatus suitable for use in a food kiosk, fast food outlet, milk bar or the like.

Apparatus for steaming foods of many different types are known. One such apparatus which is designed primarily for domestic use includes a water tank which can be filled with water and incorporates an immersion heating element. When the element is energised by electricity the water is heated and steam is generated. A receptacle in which food is placed for steaming, is mounted over the container. The food receptacle has a plurality of apertures defined therein through which steam can pass to effect cooking and/or heating of food within the receptacle.

However a shortcoming of this apparatus is that the water container has to be regularly and repeatedly replenished with water and this is obviously not desirable 20 in a busy commercial environment. Accordingly it would be advantageous if an apparatus could be devised which was not subjected to this shortcoming.

.According to an aspect of this invention there is provided apparatus for steaming food, including: 25 a housing defining a steam generating compartment and a food compartment; at least one receptacle for canying food inside the food compartment of the S~s~~iii;~ RC~- l~r.2---E.Wow housing; a container for water located within the steam generating compartment of the housing; steam generating means for heating water within the container to generate steam; and directing means for directing steam generated in the container over food within the food receptacles.

Typically the steam directing means includes an apertured duct extending from the water container means to the food compartment.

Preferably there are at least two food receptacles within the housing.

In one particularly preferred form there are at least two levels of food receptacles within the food compartment one above the other, and each level of food receptacles comprises two said receptacles arranged side by side.

Typically each of the food receptacles is apertured so as to admit steam into the receptacle, eg the receptacles are made out of gauze or other apertured sheet 20 material.

Preferably the duct comprises an upper duct portion and a lower duct portion in communication with each other, the duct portions being arranged in series and each being releaseably mounted to the housing.

SAdvantageously the duct portions are releaseably mounted to the housing by means of complementary mounting formations on each of the duct and housing.

In one particularly preferred form the upper portion of the duct is substantially aligned with the upper level of food receptacles and the lower portion is substantially aligned with the lower level of food receptacles, and wherein the two portions are arranged to communicate with each other when mounted in the housing permitting steam flow therethrough.

Preferably the duct has a flattened configuration with two major surfaces on each side thereof extending from a front face of the housing rearwardly towards the rear of the housing, and wherein a plurality of apertures are defined broadly in each of the major surfaces so as to permit steam to flow out of the duct into the food compartment. Preferably the apparatus includes means for collecting moisture produced as a result of condensation of the steam being passed over the food receptacles.

Typically the collecting means includes a condenser for condensing water and directing it to side walls of the housing where the water flows by gravity down the 20 walls.

Preferably the apparatus also includes a pair of condensate tanks disposed proximate the side walls of the housing for collecting moisture running down the side walls.

i 25 Advantageously the apparatus also includes means for automatically controlling the level of: heating of water by the heating means and thereby the quantity of steam 4 generated by the steam generating means, eg including a temperature sensor.

Advantageously the apparatus also includes a reservoir positioned proximate to the container, for replenishing water to the water container, and a conduit placing the reservoir in fluid communication with the water container.

Advantageously the apparatus also includes a float and valve assembly located in the water container and operatively coupled to the conduit, for opening water flow from the reservoir to the container when the water level drops below a predetermined lower level and closing off water flow from the reservoir to the water container when the float level rises above a predetermined upper level.

Apparatus in accordance with this invention may manifest itself in a variety of forms. It will be convenient to hereinafter describe in detail one preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The purpose of providing this description is to instruct persons skilled in the art having an interest in the subject matter of the patent application how to put the invention into practical effect. It is to be clearly understood however that the specific nature of this description does not supersede the generality of the preceding statements.

In the drawings: FIG. I is a three dimensional view of steaming apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 2 b) and c) illustrate respectively front side, and rear views of the apparatus of FIG. 1; 25 FIG. 3 is an exploded three dimensional view of the apparatusof FIG. 1 provided for the purpose of showing the internal components; -77 FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, section through

IV-IV;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, section through V-V; FIG. 6 is a sectional side view of steaming apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the embodiment with steam duct detail omitted for clarity; FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 with steam duct detail omitted for clarity; FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the front face of the housing of the apparatus of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a front view of the steam ducting of the apparatus of FIG. 6; FIG. 10 is a sectional end view of the ducting of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a front view of a food receptacle for the apparatus of FIG. 6; FIG. 12 is a topplan view of the food receptacle of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is an end view of the food receptacle of FIG. 11; FIG. 14 is a front view of a partition positioned between the steam compartment and the food compartment; FIG. 15 is a plan view of the partition of FIG. 14; and FIG. 16 is a sectional front view of part of the partition of FIG. 14.

In FIGS. 1 to 5 reference numeral 10 refers to steaming apparatus in accordance with the invention.

The apparatus 10 comprises a housing 11 defining a steam generating compartment 25 12 and a food compartment 13. A number of receptacles 15 are contained within the food compartment 13 for carrying food to be steamed. A container 16 which is S. i r 6 a tank for holding water is located within the steam generating compartment 12 of the housing 11. A steam generating means in the form of an immersion heater 18 is located within the tank 16 for generating the steam. Directing means in the form of an apertured duct 19 extends upwardly from the tank 16 to the food compartment 13 and more specifically the food receptacles The housing 11 is in the form of a rectangular box with the food compartment 13 above the steam generating compartment 12. There are two layers of food receptacles 15 in the food compartment 13. Each layer comprises two food receptacles 15 side by side. The food receptacles 15 are made of gauze or the like to define apertures to permit.steam to enter therethrough.

The housing 11 has a front face 20 and a rear face 2 Iwith a pair of transparent doors 22 and 23 defined in the front face 22 for providing access to the food receptacle within the housing 11. Typically the doors 22 and 23 slide laterally between open Sand closed positions.

The tank 16 is square rectangular with an open top and is slidably received within the steam generating compartment 12. The tank 16 can be withdrawn through the rear face 21 of the housing 11. The structure of the immersion heater 18 is shown in FIG. 2 and in any event the structure and functioning of the heater 18 would be well known to persons skilled in the art and will therefore not be described in further detail.

25 A controller25 for automatically controlling the energy introduced to the immersion heater 18 is located on the frontface 20 of the housing 11 beneath the doors 22 and 7 23. This controller 25 enables the level of heating and thereby the amount of steam generated in the tank 16 to be controlled Naturally the controller 25 includes a temperature sensor within the housing 11 for switching the heater 18 on and off when predetermined upper and lower temperature limits are obtained.

The apertured duct 19 comprises an upper duct portion 31 in alignment with the upper level of the food receptacle 15 and a lower portion 30 aligned with the lower level of the food receptacle 15. Each duct portion 30 and 31 is releaseably mounted to the housing 11 by means of complementary bracket formations 35 and the two portions 30 and 31 are arranged to communicate with each other like a steam chimney.

Overall the duct 19 has a flat rectangular configuration with a narrow front wall 36, two side walls 37 and 38, and a narrow rear wall 39, ie it is tall and thin- An array of apertures is defined in the side walls 37 and 38 through which steam issues from the duct 19 into the food compartment 13.

I" An example food receptacle 15,is shown in FIG. I11. The receptacle 15 comprises o a shallow open topped basket formed from wire gauze 40. A handle 41 is mounted on thefront of the receptacle 15 for enabling it to be pulled out of the door 22 and 23 on the front face 20 of the housing 11. Thus the receptacle 15 has an open or slotted configuration upon which food is supported.

Condensers 45 are located at the top of te food receptacle 15 for condensing steam 25 which has been passed over the food. Theondensed water runs outwardly towards S" the side walls 47 and 48 of the housing arinadown the walls 47 and 48 to moisture I~1- ,pSnsrrra i--i 8 or condensation tanks 49 and 50 located beneath the respective side walls. As is illustrated in the drawings, the tanks typically have a handle for pulling them out of the rear face 21 of the housing 11.

A reservoir 51 is located on top of the housing I L The reservoir 51 is connected to the tank 16 in the steam compartment 12 by means of a conduit (not shown). The reservoir 51 provides a supply of water for replenishing the water in the tank 16 as it is driven off by the steaming process. Associated with the tank 16 is a float and valve arrangement (not shown) such that the valve is opened to permit water flow therethrough when the level of the float in the tank 16 drops below a lower predetermined level. Correspondingly the valve is closed when the float level rises above a higher predetermined level.

In addition the front face 20 of the housing 11 also hasa filler cap 54 which can be lifted by a user to refill the tank 16 with water. Typically the cap 54 is not positively attached to the housing 11, it simply rests by weight of gravity.

Accordingly when a userlifts the free end thereof it pulls awayfirom the housing 11.

Naturally the heater18 also has a switchfor cutting off the electricity should the 20 immersion heater everbecome exposed to air. This naturally ieduces the risk of damage to the equipmet should the water supply be exhausted for whatever reason.

It also reduces the risk of fire.

In use the tank 16 is filled withlwater and the immersion heater 18 is used to generate steam. The steam rises up trough the steam generating compartment 12 and into the duct 30. The steam then fibs out ofthe apertures of the duct 19 into i 9 the food containing compartment 13. The steam passes through the receptacle and around the foodstuffs on the receptacle 15 to efficiently heat the food stuffs The steam has a minimum temperature of 65 0 C, and can go up to 90 0 C or higher.

In this way food is heated and cooked by the steam. As water in the steam compartment 12 is consumed, it is replenished from the reservoir 51 above the Shousing which is largely integral with the apparatus. Thus the tank 16 does not need to be manually filled from time to time which would require a fair amount of user attention.

FIGS. 6 to 13 illustrate a steaming apparatus in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention This embodiment is structurally and functionally very similar to the first embodiment although it is perhaps technically more advanced than the first embodiment. Accordingly unless otherwise illustrated the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same components.

As with the first embodiment, the water tank 16 is coupled to a reservoir (not shown) by means of a conduit 60. The conduit 60 thus extends from the tank down the rear face 21 of the housing 11 and directly into the water tank 16- A float valve 62 arrangement is located at the end of the conduit 60. When the float 63 drops below a certain level the valve 64 opens admitting water to the tank 16 through the conduit. When the float 63 rises with the rising water to a predetermined height the valve 64 shuts off again. This way itis not necessary for the tank 16 to be manually replenished with water by a user. The principle involved with the float valve arrangement 62 is analogous to that in a cistern for a toilet Although not illustrated 25 in the drawings it would also be possible for the conduit 60 to be coupled to a S"domestic mains water supply.

1o The tank 16 also has a tap 70 for draining water from the tank 16 for whatever reason. The tap 70 has agate valve and a handle 71 at the end of a rotatable spindle.

Manual rotation acts to lift the gate out of the flow path mereby pennitting water to flow therethrough. The structure and function of the float valves and gate valves would be well known to persons skilled in the art and accordingly wili not be described in further detail in the specification.

In FIGS. 14 to 16, the partition for separating the steam compartment 12 from the food compartment 13 is indicated by numeral 70. The partition 70 defines an opening 71 into which the lower end of the steam duct is received. The waiter tnmk 16 is positioned below the opening 71. The partition also has steam vents 72 defined in the upper portion thereof. The partition 70 is designed to be supported by complementary bracket formations within the housing I Naturally the housing and other components are made out of steel of an appropriate thickness such that the equipment overall is robust and will not easily be damaged or destroyed. Further the housing is appropriately insulated to keep heat in, reducing heat losses to the outside.

20 An advantage of the apparatus described above, particularly that in FIGS. to 13 is that it does not need to be manually replenished with water. Rather this occurs automatically. Another advantage is that the apparatus is fairly simple and can be provided fairly inexpensively and is of a size suitable for use in a food kiosk or the like.

S It will of course be realised that the above has been given only by way of illustrative 11 example of the invention and that all such modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as is herein set forth.

a i s 3**

Claims (14)

1. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the steam directing means includes an apertured duct extending from the water container means to the food .i compartment. S I
2. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein there are at least two i food receptacles within the housing. 0 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein there are at least two levels of food receptacles within the food compartment one above the other, and wherein each level of food receptacles comprises two said receptacles arranged side by side. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the food .1 i 13 receptacles is apertured so as to admit steam into the receptacle.
3. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each of the food receptacles is made out of gauze or other apertured sheet material.
4. 7. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 6, wherein the duct comprises an upper duct portion and a lower duct portion in communication with each other, the duct portions being arranged in series and each being releaseably mounted to the housing.
5. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7,wherein the duct portions are releaseably mounted to the housing by means of complementary mounting formations on each of the duct and housing.
6. 9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the upper portion of the duct is substantially aligned with the upper level of food receptacles and the lower portion is substantially aligned with the lower level of food receptacles, and wherein the two portions are arranged to communicate with each other when mounted in the housing.
7. 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the duct has a flattened configuration with two major surfaces on each side thereof extending from a front face of the housing rearwardly towards the rear of the housing, and wherein a plurality of apertures are defined broadly in each of the major S 25 surfaces so as to permit steam to flow out of the duct into the food compartment. 14
8. 11. Apparatus according to any one of claims I to 10, including means for collecting moisture produced as a result of condensation of the steam being passed over the food receptacles.
9. 12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the collecting means includes a condenser for condensing water and directing it to side walls of the housing where the water flows by gravity down the walls.
10. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, including a pair of condensate tanks disposed proximate the side walls of the housing for collecting moisture running down the side walls.
11. 14. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, including means for automatically controlling the level of heating of water by the heating means and thereby the quantity of steam generated by the steam generating means.
12. 15. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14, including a reservoir positioned proximate to the container for replenishing water to the water container, and a conduit placing the reservoir in fluid communication with the water container.
13. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, including a float and valve assembly located in the water container and operatively coupled to the conduit, for opening water flow from the reservoir to the container when the water level 25 drops below a predetermined lower level and closing off water flow from the reservoir to the water container when the float level rises above a predetermined upper level.
14. 17. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS Twenty First DAY OF July 1998 BRETT DAWSON BY PIZZEYS PATENT AND TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS a C r- 0- o .I 52,i