JP2004208757A - Steam blower - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steam blower which prevents dew condensation at a blowing channel to prevent a dew drop from wetting an object. <P>SOLUTION: The steam blower M includes a gas-liquid separation means 12 connected to a steam source 10, the blowing channel 13 for blowing out steam obtained from the gas-liquid separation at the gas-liquid separation means 12, an opening and closing means 15 for opening and closing the blowing channel, an exhaust channel 18 divided from the blowing channel on the air-liquid separation means side from the opening and closing means, and a restrictor means 19 for restricting the exhaust channel. The exhaust channel 18 on the downstream side from the restrictor means 19 is joined to a drain channel 14 on the gas-liquid separation means side from a trap 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steam blowing device used for a steaming step in cleaning clothes, for example.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, this type of steam blowing device is configured to guide steam from a steam source to a gas-liquid separator to separate moisture, and then blow the steam to a target from a blowing pipe (for example, see Patent Document 1). The blow-off pipe is provided with an on-off valve. The water separated by the gas-liquid separator is guided to a drain pipe, temporarily stored in a trap of the drain pipe, and then discharged.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-146600 (page 1, FIG. 1)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional device, there is a possibility that dew condensation may occur in the outlet pipe between the gas-liquid separator and the on-off valve during a period in which the on-off valve is closed. Sometimes the target was wet.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a steam blowing device according to the present invention includes a gas-liquid separating device that separates moisture from steam from a steam source, a blowing passage that blows steam that has passed through the gas-liquid separating device, It is characterized by comprising opening and closing means for opening and closing the outlet path, an exhaust path branched from the outlet path on the side of the gas-liquid separating means from the opening and closing means, and throttle means for narrowing the exhaust path. Thus, even during the period in which the opening / closing means is closed, the flow of steam is formed in the blow-out path to prevent dew condensation. As a result, when the opening / closing means is opened thereafter, it is possible to reliably prevent the water droplets from being blown out to wet the object. Further, the flow rate of steam in the exhaust passage can be limited by the throttle means, and the loss of steam can be reduced.
[0006]
A trap is provided in a drain path of the water (liquid phase) separated by the gas-liquid separation means, and an exhaust path downstream of the throttle means is joined to a drain path of the gas-liquid separation means from the trap. Is desirable. Thereby, the loss of steam can be reduced more reliably. Further, by restricting the amount of steam to the trap by the restricting means, it is possible to prevent the trap from functioning, and it is possible to reliably discharge water accumulated in the gas-liquid separating means.
[0007]
The opening degree of the throttle means is desirably small enough that steam that joins from the exhaust path to the drain path when the trap is opened does not at least block the flow of water (liquid phase) in the drain path. It is more desirable that the water is small enough to flow the water smoothly. This makes it possible to more reliably prevent the trap from functioning, and to more reliably discharge the water accumulated in the gas-liquid separation unit.
[0008]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows, as one embodiment of the present invention, a steam blowing device M for a steaming step in cleaning clothes. The steam blowing device M includes a steam source 10 for producing steam from liquid-phase water, and a gas-liquid separator 12 (gas-liquid separation means) connected to the steam source 10 via a steam supply pipe 11 (steam supply path). And a discharge pipe 13 (blow-out path) extending from the gas phase chamber of the gas-liquid separator 12 and a drain pipe 14 (drain path) extending from the liquid-phase chamber of the gas-liquid separator 12.
[0009]
The outlet pipe 13 is provided with an electromagnetic on-off valve 15 (opening / closing means). The opened downstream end (blowing end) of the blowing pipe 13 is directed to clothing (not shown) to be steamed.
[0010]
In the drain pipe 14, a check valve 16A and a trap 17 are sequentially provided from the upstream side. The trap 17 temporarily stores water from the drain pipe 14 on the upstream side, and when the stored amount becomes equal to or more than the set value of the opening operation, opens and allows the water to flow downstream, and thereafter, decreases to or less than the set value of the closing operation. When it becomes, it closes. Of course, “open operation set value”> “close operation set value ($ 0)”. In addition, the trap 17 may open and close according to not only the amount of stored water but also various other physical quantities such as temperature.
The downstream end of the drain pipe 14 is connected to a drain ditch or the like.
[0011]
The main part of the present invention will be described.
In the steam blower M, an exhaust pipe 18 (exhaust passage) branches and extends from an outlet pipe 13 upstream of the on-off valve 15 (on the side of the gas-liquid separator 12). It is desirable that the branch portion 18a of the exhaust pipe 18 be as close as possible to the on-off valve 15 (that is, the length of the outlet pipe 13 between the branch portion 18a and the on-off valve 15 is as short as possible). .
[0012]
The exhaust pipe 18 is provided with a throttle valve 19 (throttle means). Although a variable throttle valve is used as the throttle valve 19, a fixed throttle valve having a small opening degree as described later may be used. A check valve 16B is provided on the secondary side of the throttle valve 19. The downstream end of the exhaust pipe 18 is joined to the drain pipe 14 on the upstream side (on the side of the gas-liquid separator 12) of the check valve 16A (a junction 18b).
[0013]
The operation of the steam blowing device M configured as described above will be described.
Saturated steam generated by the steam source 10 is introduced into the gas-liquid separator 12 via the steam supply pipe 11. In the gas-liquid separator 12, water (liquid phase) is separated and removed. The separated liquid-phase water is stored in the liquid-phase chamber of the gas-liquid separator 12, and is also stored in the trap 17 via the drain pipe 14. When the amount of water stored in the trap 17 reaches the opening operation set value, the trap 17 opens. As a result, not only the water accumulated in the trap 17 itself, but also the water accumulated in the drain pipe 14 upstream of the trap 17 and the gas-liquid separator 12 is sequentially discharged. When the amount of water stored in the trap 17 reaches the closing operation set value (# 0) by discharging, the trap 17 is closed.
[0014]
When carrying out the steaming step of the clothes after the washing step, the clothes are arranged at the tip of the blowing pipe 13 and the on-off valve 15 is opened. Thereby, the steam from which water has been removed by the gas-liquid separator 12 is blown out toward the clothes through the blow-out pipe 13. This allows the clothing to be steamed.
At the time of this blowing, the check valves 16A and 16B serve to prevent the water in the passages 14 and 18 and hence the trap 17 from flowing back.
[0015]
When the steaming is completed, the on-off valve 15 is closed. Thereby, the blowing of steam is stopped.
[0016]
On the other hand, regardless of whether the opening / closing valve 15 is opened or closed, the throttle valve 19 of the exhaust pipe 18 is always open with an extremely small opening degree. Then, when the trap 17 is opened, the steam in the exhaust pipe 18 and thus in the blow-out pipe 13 flows into the drain pipe 14 and merges with the water, and is discharged through the trap 17.
[0017]
Therefore, even when the on-off valve 15 is closed, a steam flow can be formed in the blow-out pipe 13. As a result, it is possible to prevent dew condensation from occurring in the blow-out tube 13. As a result, even if the closing period of the on-off valve 15 continues for a long time, when the on-off valve 15 is subsequently opened, it is possible to prevent water droplets from being blown out from the blow-out pipe 13 and to wet the clothes. Can be eliminated.
[0018]
In addition, the exhaust pipe 18 can be sufficiently throttled by the throttle valve 19, and the amount of steam flowing therethrough, and hence the amount of steam discharged from the trap 17, can be reduced. As a result, the loss of steam can be minimized, and a sufficient amount of steam can be stored in the gas-liquid separator 12 at all times.
[0019]
Furthermore, as a result of the restriction by the restriction valve 19, the amount of steam that is combined with the drain pipe 14 at the junction 18b can be extremely reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reliably eliminate the possibility that the combined steam blocks the flow of the water in the drain pipe 14. As a result, the water accumulated in the gas-liquid separator 12 can be smoothly discharged, and the trap 17 can be kept open until almost all the water has been discharged. As a result, the function of the trap 17 can be sufficiently maintained.
[0020]
The steam blowing device M has a simple configuration in which only the throttle valve 19 is provided in the exhaust path 18. For example, the device configuration is simplified as compared with a case in which a trap different from the trap 17 is provided in the exhaust path 18. And product cost can be reduced.
[0021]
The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can adopt various modes.
For example, the downstream end of the exhaust passage may be released without joining the drain passage. In this case, since high-temperature steam is released into the atmosphere, it is preferable to take safety measures and recovery measures against it.
The throttle means may be fully closed when the opening / closing means is open (during the execution of steam blowing), and may be opened to the above-mentioned small opening degree when the opening / closing means is closed.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, even during the period in which the opening / closing unit is closed, the flow of steam can be formed in the blowout path to prevent dew condensation. As a result, when the opening / closing means is subsequently opened, it is possible to reliably prevent the target from getting wet. Further, the flow rate of steam in the exhaust path can be restricted by the throttle means, the loss of steam can be reduced, and when the steam flows into the drain path on the upstream side of the trap, the trap function can be reliably maintained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a steam blowing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 steam source 11 steam supply pipe (steam supply path)
12 Gas-liquid separator (gas-liquid separation means)
13 blow-off pipe (blow-out path)
14. Drain pipe (drain path)
15 Electromagnetic on-off valve (opening / closing means)
17 Trap 18 Exhaust pipe (exhaust passage)
18a Branch of exhaust pipe from outlet pipe 18b Junction of exhaust pipe with drain pipe 19 Throttle valve (throttle means)

Claims (3)

Gas-liquid separating means for separating moisture from the steam from the steam source, a blowing path for blowing the steam having passed through the gas-liquid separating means, an opening / closing means for opening / closing the blowing path, and a gas / liquid separating means side of the opening / closing means A steam blower, comprising: an exhaust passage branched from the discharge passage of (1); and a throttle means for narrowing the exhaust passage. A trap is provided in a drain path of the water separated by the gas-liquid separation means, and an exhaust path downstream of the throttle means is joined to a drain path on the gas-liquid separation means side of the trap. The steam blowing device according to claim 1, wherein 3. The steam blower according to claim 2, wherein the degree of opening of the throttle means is so small that steam that joins from the exhaust path to the drain path when the trap is opened does not at least block the flow of water in the drain path. 4. apparatus.

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