JP2004275211A

JP2004275211A - Liquid heating container

Info

Publication number: JP2004275211A
Application number: JP2003066875A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Mitsuharu Santo; 光治山藤; Masatoshi Maekawa; 正敏前川; Shinsuke Ikenaga; 伸介池永
Original assignee: Zojirushi Corp
Current assignee: Zojirushi Corp
Priority date: 2003-03-12
Filing date: 2003-03-12
Publication date: 2004-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-12
Also published as: JP3938552B2

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate air bubbles by a simple structure without using an independent component such as a bubble discharge valve in order to discharge the air bubbles generated in the heating chamber in the case of installing a heating auxiliary device at the bottom part of an inner container so as to respond to the request of needing a small capacity of hot water to be required for drinking a cup of coffee in an early stage. <P>SOLUTION: In a liquid heating container, a gas trap part 12 composed of a generally inverse U shape passage opened to the inside of the inner container 2 is provided on the upper end part of an inclined upper surface wall 8 of the heating chamber 9, and the air bubbles generated by heating are guided from the upper surface wall 8 to the gas trap part 12 and replaced with a gas inside the gas trap part 12. A gas accumulation 15 inside the gas trap part 12 blocks the movement of heat inside and outside the heating chamber 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
この発明は、電気湯沸かし器等の液体容器に用いられる液体加熱容器に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
電気湯沸かし器の内部に設けられる液体加熱容器は、一般に、湯沸かし器の外殻の内部に設けられた内容器、その内容器底部に装着された加熱部としてのヒーター、内容器内部に接続された液排出通路、その液排出通路を通じて内部の液体を外部に吐出させる手動エアーポンプ、電動ポンプ等の排出手段等により構成される。
【０００３】
このような液体加熱容器を備えた電気湯沸かし器において、高温の湯を吐出させようとすると、内容器内部の水の全体をその温度になるように加熱する必要があるため、水から沸かす場合は相当な時間がかかることになる。このため、例えば、一杯のコーヒーが早急に入用な場合等において、少容量の高温の湯が早目に得られるように、内容器の底面上部に所要の間隔をおいて沸騰時の蒸気（気泡）通過用のすき間を残して邪魔板を設け、その邪魔板によりその下部の液体と上部の液体を区画し、下部の小容量の液体を優先的に加熱することにより、早目に高温の湯が吐出できるようにした電気湯沸かし器が従来から知られている（特許文献１参照）。この場合、蒸気通過用のすき間が小さければ、高温の湯が早目に得られるが、すき間から出て行く蒸気量が発生する蒸気量より少なければ蒸気が中に溜り液がなくなる。逆に、すき間が大きいと蒸気を逃がすことはできるが、熱の対流が積極的に起こり高温の湯ができない問題がある。
【０００４】
また、前記の問題を解消すべく、前記の邪魔板に相当する仕切り板を傾斜状態に設置し、その仕切り板上端部に排泡弁を設けたものが知られている（特許文献２参照）。この構造は、傾斜した仕切り板によって気泡を上端部の排泡弁に導き、その排泡弁から気泡のみを排出し、液体の移動を阻止することにより熱効率を上げるようにしたものである。
【０００５】
【特許文献１】
実願平２−８８１０４号（実開平４−４４８２９号マイクロフィルム）（第１の考案の実施例及び第１図、第２の考案の実施例及び第２図）
【特許文献２】
特開２００１−７０１６３号公報（発明の実施の形態、図１）
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、前記特許文献２の構造は、排泡弁が独立した部品として必要となるため、部品点数の増加と構造の複雑化をもたらし、製品のコストアップにつながる問題がある。
【０００７】
そこで、この発明は、小容量の高温の湯を早期に得られるようにした液体加熱容器において、排泡弁のような独立した部品を用いることなく気泡を排出するとともに、熱の対流を阻止して熱効率を上げることを課題とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記の課題を解決するために、この発明は、内容器の底面に装着した加熱部、その内容器内部に連通した液排出通路、その液排出通路を経て内部の液体を排出する排出手段を備えた液体加熱容器において、前記加熱部の装着範囲を含む内容器の底面上に加熱補助器を設置し、該加熱補助器にその底面が開放された加熱室を設け、該加熱室底部と内容器内部とを微小連通部により連通させ、該加熱室に前記液排出通路を接続し、該加熱室の上面壁に前記内容器内部に連通した逆Ｕ字形通路からなる気体トラップ部を設けた構成としたものである。
【０００９】
上記構成の液体加熱容器は、内容器の内部に規定量の液体（水）を入れると、前記の加熱補助器が水中に没し、前記の微小連通部から加熱室内部に液体が入るとともに気体トラップ部に気体溜りが生じる。その状態で加熱部に通電して加熱を行うと、加熱室内部の液体が加熱部に近いために外部の液体より先に加熱され温度が上昇する。加熱の進行によって気泡が発生すると、その気泡は加熱室上面壁に当たるとともに次第に移動して気体トラップ部に入りその中の空気と置換される。置換された空気が気体トラップ部から排出され、内容器の液体中を上昇し外部に排出される。この気体トラップ部に生じた気体溜りは加熱室内部の液体と加熱室外部の液体との熱の対流を遮断し、加熱室内部の液体の昇温を促進する。加熱室内部の液体が所定の高温になったことをセンサーで検知すると適宜表示して使用者に知らせ、使用者が排出手段を作動させその高温の液体を排出させる。加熱室外部の液体も加熱補助器を通じて次第に加熱され、最終的には内容器内の液体全体が所定の高温に加熱される。
【００１０】
なお、前記加熱補助器の上面壁を一定方向に傾斜して設け、その傾斜した上面壁の上端に前記気体トラップ部を設けた構成をとると、発生した蒸気が上面壁の傾斜に沿って上方に速やかに移行し、その上端部の気体トラップ部に流入する。
【００１１】
また、前記の課題を解決するためのその他の手段として、内容器の底面に装着した加熱部、その内容器内部に連通した液排出通路、その液排出通路を経て内部の液体を排出する排出手段を備えた液体加熱容器において、前記加熱部の装着範囲を含む内容器の底面上に加熱補助器を設置し、該加熱補助器にその底面が開放された加熱室を設け、該加熱室底部と内容器内部とを微小連通部により連通させ、該加熱室の内部を一定方向に傾斜した通液性の仕切り板により上室と下室に区画し、その上室の上面壁に上部気体抜き穴及び下室の仕切り板上端部に下部気体抜き穴をそれぞれ設け、前記の上部気体抜き穴を下部気体抜き穴より相対的に小さく形成し、前記液排出通路を該上室に連通させた構成をとることもできる。
【００１２】
この場合も、前記の場合と同様に、内容器の内部に規定量の液体（水）を入れると、前記の加熱補助器が水中に没し、前記の微小連通部から加熱室内部に液体が入り、内部の空気が下部と上部の気体抜き穴を通じて排出される。加熱部に通電して加熱を行うと、加熱室内部の液体が加熱部に近いためにその外部の液体より先に加熱され温度が上昇する。仕切り板は通液性があるため、加熱室内部においてはその仕切り板を通じて熱の対流が行われる。加熱の進行によって気泡が発生すると、その気泡は仕切り板に捕捉されその傾斜に従って上方に移行し、上端部に設けられた下部気体抜き穴から排出される。また、仕切り板を通過することがあるわずかな気泡は、上室上面壁に当たるとともに次第に移動して上部気体抜き穴から排出される。発生する気泡の大部分は仕切り板で捕捉され、下部気体抜き穴から排出されるので、上部気体抜き穴は下部気体抜き穴に比べて小さいものでよい。その結果、上室の液体の方が下室の液体に比べ外部液体との間での熱の対流が生じ難いため、先に温度上昇してしかも高温になる。上室内部の液体が所定の高温になったことをセンサーで検知し、その検知結果を表示して使用者に知らせると、使用者が排出手段を作動させ上室に連通された液排出通路を経て高温の液体を排出させる。加熱室外部の液体も加熱補助器を通じて次第に加熱され、最終的には内容器内の液体全体が所定の高温に加熱される。
【００１３】
この場合も、前記加熱補助器の上面壁を前記仕切り板の傾斜方向と逆方向に傾斜させて設け、その傾斜した上面壁の上端部に前記上部気体抜き穴を設けた構成をとると、上室に流入した蒸気が上面壁の傾斜に沿って上方に速やかに移行し、その上端部に設けられた上部気体抜き穴から排出される。
【００１４】
なお、前記の通液性の仕切り板として、加熱時に発生する気泡を捕捉しうる大きさの網目をもったネットである構成を採用することができる。
【００１５】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、この発明の実施形態を添付図面に基づいて説明する。図１（ａ）から（ｃ）に示した電気湯沸かし器において、その外殻１の内部に設けられた液体加熱容器は、内容器２とその底面に取付けられた加熱部３、内容器２の底面からその内部に連通された液排出通路４、その液排出通路４を経て内部の液体を外部に排出する排出手段５（電動ポンプ）を備えている。前記加熱部３の設置部分を含む内容器２の底面上に加熱補助器６が設置される。この加熱補助器６は、内容器２の内部に液体が満たされた場合でも浮上することがないよう適宜な手段で内容器２の底面に固定するか又は所要の重量をもった金属（通常はステンレス鋼）製又は合成樹脂製のものである。また、前記の排出手段５としては、電動ポンプの代わりにベローズ式のエアーポンプを蓋１０に設ける場合もある。
【００１６】
上記の加熱補助器６の平面形状は、図１（ｂ）に示したように全体として小判形であり、内容器２の底部に設けられた加熱部３の全体と液排出通路４の接続端部４ａの範囲をカバーし得る大きさを有する。この加熱補助器６は、図２（ａ）（ｂ）に示すように、側壁７と上面壁８とからなり、底面が開放されるとともに、上面壁８が一定方向（接続端部４ａに対向した側が高くなるよう）に傾斜している。その側壁７と傾斜した上面壁８とにより囲まれた内側が加熱室９となっている。加熱室９の容積は、コーヒーカップ１〜２杯分程度（１５０〜３００ｃｃ程度）である。
【００１７】
前記の側壁７の下端に浅い切欠き部１１が設けられ（図２（ａ）（ｂ）参照）、該加熱補助器６を内容器２の底面上に設置すると、その切欠き部１１と底面との間でスリット状の微小連通部１６が形成される（図１（ａ）参照）。また、上面壁８の上端部（傾斜面の最も高い部分であって前記接続端部４ａに対向した部分）に逆Ｕ字形通路からなる気体トラップ部１２の一端部が連通される。この気体トラップ部１２は加熱補助器６の上面壁８側に湾曲され、その下向きの端部が内容器２の内部に開放される。
【００１８】
なお、内容器２の下面には前記加熱室９内部の液体の温度を検知する温度センサー１３と、加熱室９外部に存在する液体の温度を検知する温度センサー１４が取付けられる。
【００１９】
実施形態の液体加熱容器は以上のようなものであり、図１（ａ）に示すように、その加熱補助器６を内容器２の底面上に設置すると、加熱部３と液排出通路４の接続端部４ａがその加熱室９によりカバーされる。また内容器２の底面と切欠き部１１との間に液体の流通する微小連通部１６が形成される。この状態で内容器２の内部に液体（水）を一定レベルＬまで入れる。加熱補助器６は前記のように底面に固定されるか、又は所要の重量を有するので浮上することはない。加熱補助器６内部の加熱室９には前記の微小連通部１６から液体が浸入し、内部の気体を気体トラップ部１２から排出する。排出を完了すると加熱室９内部の液体と外部の液体とによって、気体トラップ部１２に気体を閉じ込め気体溜り１５を形成する（図１（ｃ）参照）。加熱部３に通電すると、内容器２の底面に接した加熱室９内部の液体が早期に加熱される。加熱補助器６自体も一定の熱容量をもっているので、加熱室９外部の液体を加熱するに至るまでには一定の時間がかかる。その間に加熱室９内部の液体は液量が少ないこと、及び気体トラップ部１２内部の気体溜り１５が内部の液体と外部の液体間の熱の対流を防止することとが相まって早急に温度上昇する。
【００２０】
液体の加熱によって発生した気泡は、図１（ｃ）の矢印で示すように、上面壁８に当りその傾斜に沿って上端部に移行し気体トラップ部１２に入る。気体トラップ部１２に入った気泡２５は、気体溜り１５の気体と置換され、置換された気体が気体トラップ部１２の出口から外部の液体内に排出される。
【００２１】
このようにして加熱室９内の液体の温度が所定の高温になったことを温度センサー１３で自動検知すると、適宜な表示により使用者に報知する。使用者が排出手段５を操作すると、液排出通路４を通じて加熱室９内の液体が外部に吐出される。このとき、前記の微小連通部１６から外部の冷たい液体が流入するので、その液体が液排出通路４から早期に排出されることがないように、液排出通路４の接続位置と微小連通部１６の位置はできるだけ離して設けることが好ましい。微小連通部１６の大きさは、液体の流通を妨げない範囲でできる限り小さく設定することが、熱の移動を抑えるうえで望ましい。
【００２２】
前記のようにして、コーヒーカップ１〜２杯分程度の高温の液体を吐出させた後は、時間の経過とともに加熱室９内外の液体が次第に温度上昇し、内容器２の温度センサー１４がそれを検知すると適宜な報知を行うとともに保温工程に移行する。
【００２３】
なお、前記加熱補助器６の上面壁８の傾斜は、図３（ａ）に示すように、前記の場合とは逆に液排出通路４の接続側が低くなるようにしても同様の作用が得られる。場合によっては、上面壁８の傾斜を付けず水平に設けても、上面壁８下面に溜まる蒸気の量が一定以上になると気体トラップ部１２から排出される。また、気体トラップ部１２の湾曲方向は、図示の場合外向きに示しているが、内向き（上面壁８上方側）に湾曲したものでもよい。また、図３（ｂ）（ｃ）に示したように、四角い箱形の外通路１７の内部に縦仕切り１８を設けることにより、角形の逆Ｕ字形の通路により気体トラップ部１２を構成してもよい。
【００２４】
次に、図４（ａ）（ｂ）に示した他の実施形態は、内容器２の底面に設置した加熱補助器６の内部構造において前記のものと相違している。即ち、この場合の加熱補助器６は、液排出通路４の接続端部４ａ側が高くなる方向に傾斜した上面壁８と側壁７によって囲まれた加熱室９を有する点では前記の場合と同様であるが、前記の気体トラップ部１２に相当するものがなく、その代わりに上面壁８と逆の傾斜をもったメッシュからなる通液性の仕切り板１９により、加熱室９の内部を上室２１と下室２２とに区画している。
【００２５】
上室２１は、仕切り板１９と上面壁８との間に形成され、上面壁８の傾斜した上端部に上部気体抜き穴２３が設けられる。また、下室２２は内容器２の底面、即ち加熱部３に対向して開放されており、傾斜した仕切り板１９の上端部分において側壁７に下部気体抜き穴２４が設けられる。前記の上部気体抜き穴２３は、下部気体抜き穴２４より相当小さく形成される。液排出通路４は、仕切り板１９を貫通して上室２１に連通するように接続される。なお、上室２１の容量はコーヒーカップ１〜２杯分程度である。液排出通路４の接続端部４ａは、図４（ａ）に示すように、上室２１に連通される。
【００２６】
前記の仕切り板１９を形成するメッシュの網目の大きさは、内容器２の底面で発生した蒸気による気泡２５を捕捉し、その網目を通過させない程度の大きさ（１平方センチメートル当り２０×２０メッシュ程度）に選定される。メッシュ以外に多孔板を使用してもよいが、その場合の孔の大きさも上記網目に準じた大きさに選定される。このような仕切り板１９を用いることにより、下室２２と上室２１の液体の熱の対流は自由に行われるが、下室２２で発生した気泡２５は、仕切り板１９を通過することなくその下面で止まるとともに、その傾斜面に沿って上方に移行し、下部気体抜き穴２４から外部に抜け出す。
【００２７】
仕切り板１９を通過して上室２１に入る少量の気泡２５’は、上面壁８に当ってその傾斜に沿って上方に移行し上部気体抜き穴２３から外部に抜け出す。この上部気体抜き穴２３から抜け出す蒸気の量は、下部気体抜き穴２４から抜け出す蒸気の量に比べてはるかに少ないので、上部気体抜き穴２３の大きさは下部気体抜き穴２４の大きさに比べて小さい微小な穴でよい。
【００２８】
各気体抜き穴２３、２４から熱の出入りがあるが、上述のように上部気体抜き穴２３は微小な穴であるので、上室２１の液体の温度は下室２２の液体の温度より早期に高温に加熱される。その高温に加熱された液体が排出手段５により液排出通路４を経て外部に吐出される。その後、時間の経過とともに加熱室９の内部及びその外部の液体が次第に温度上昇し、内容器２の温度センサー１４がそれを検知すると適宜な報知を行うとともに保温工程に移行することは前述の場合と同様である。
【００２９】
なお、この場合も上面壁８は前記実施形態の場合と同様に、傾斜を付けず水平に設けてもよい。
【００３０】
【発明の効果】
以上のように、この発明は、加熱補助器に設けたコーヒーカップ１〜２杯分程度の小容量の加熱室内の液体は、その外部の液体に比べて早期に高温になるので、小容量の高温の液体が早期に得られる便利さがある一方、その加熱の際に発生する気泡は気体トラップ部を経て排出されるので排泡弁のような独立した部品を用いる必要がなく、従って低コストで製作できる効果がある。また、蒸気を逃がすための気体トラップ部の径が大きくても気体溜りにより熱の対流を遮ることができる。
【００３１】
更に、前記の加熱室内を通液性の仕切り板で区画したものは、前記と同様に小容量の高温の液体が早期に得られる便利さがある一方、排泡弁や気体トラップ部が不要であるとともに、低コストで入手可能なメッシュ等の通液性の仕切り板を用いることができる利便性がある。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】（ａ）実施形態の断面図
（ｂ）同上のｂ−ｂ線の断面図
（ｃ）同上の気体トラップ部の一部拡大断面図
【図２】（ａ）同上の加熱補助器の斜視図
（ｂ）（ａ）図の断面図
【図３】（ａ）加熱補助器の他の例の断面図
（ｂ）同上の気体トラップ部の変形例の斜視図
（ｃ）（ｂ）図の断面図
【図４】（ａ）他の実施形態の断面図
（ｂ）（ａ）図の加熱補助器の一部切欠斜視図
【符号の説明】
１外殻
２内容器
３加熱部
４液排出通路
４ａ接続端部
５排出手段
６加熱補助器
７側壁
８上面壁
９加熱室
１０蓋
１１切欠き部
１２気体トラップ部
１３温度センサー
１４温度センサー
１５気体溜り
１６微小連通部
１７外通路
１８縦仕切り
１９仕切り板
２１上室
２２下室
２３上部気体抜き穴
２４下部気体抜き穴
２５、２５’ 気泡[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a liquid heating container used for a liquid container such as an electric water heater.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The liquid heating container provided inside the electric water heater generally includes an inner container provided inside the outer shell of the water heater, a heater as a heating unit mounted on the bottom of the inner container, and a liquid discharge connected inside the inner container. It is composed of a passage, a discharge means such as a manual air pump or an electric pump for discharging the liquid inside through the liquid discharge passage.
[0003]
In an electric water heater equipped with such a liquid heating container, when trying to discharge high-temperature water, it is necessary to heat the entire water inside the inner container to that temperature. It will take a long time. For this reason, for example, when a cup of coffee is urgently needed, a small amount of high-temperature hot water can be obtained early so that the steam ( (Bubble) A baffle plate is provided leaving a gap for passage, the lower liquid and the upper liquid are partitioned by the baffle plate, and the lower-volume liquid is heated preferentially, so that the high-temperature 2. Description of the Related Art An electric water heater capable of discharging hot water is conventionally known (see Patent Document 1). In this case, if the gap for passing the steam is small, hot water can be obtained earlier, but if the amount of steam going out of the gap is smaller than the amount of generated steam, the steam will remain inside and no liquid will remain. Conversely, if the gap is large, steam can escape, but there is a problem that heat convection actively occurs and hot water cannot be produced.
[0004]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a partition plate corresponding to the baffle plate is installed in an inclined state, and a bubble discharge valve is provided at an upper end of the partition plate (see Patent Document 2). . In this structure, the inclined partition plate guides the air bubbles to a bubble discharge valve at the upper end, discharges only the air bubbles from the bubble discharge valve, and prevents the movement of the liquid, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2-88104 (Micro-film of Japanese Utility Model Application No. 4-44829) (Example of the first invention and FIG. 1, Example of the second invention and FIG. 2)
[Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-70163 A (Embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1)
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the structure of Patent Literature 2 requires the exhaust valve as an independent part, which causes an increase in the number of parts and a complicated structure, which leads to an increase in product cost.
[0007]
Accordingly, the present invention provides a liquid heating container capable of obtaining small-volume high-temperature hot water at an early stage, and discharges bubbles without using an independent component such as a discharge valve, and prevents heat convection. To increase thermal efficiency.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a heating unit mounted on a bottom surface of an inner container, a liquid discharge passage communicating with the inside of the inner container, and a discharge unit for discharging the liquid inside through the liquid discharge passage. In the liquid heating container, a heating auxiliary device is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container including the mounting range of the heating unit, and a heating chamber having an open bottom surface is provided in the heating auxiliary device, and the heating chamber bottom portion and the inner container are provided. The inside is communicated with a minute communication portion, the liquid discharge passage is connected to the heating chamber, and a gas trap portion including an inverted U-shaped passage communicating with the inside of the inner container is provided on an upper wall of the heating chamber. It was done.
[0009]
In the liquid heating container having the above-described configuration, when a predetermined amount of liquid (water) is put into the inner container, the heating auxiliary device is immersed in water, the liquid enters the heating chamber from the minute communication portion, and the gas enters. Gas accumulation occurs in the trap section. In this state, when the heating section is energized and heated, the liquid inside the heating chamber is close to the heating section and is heated before the external liquid, so that the temperature rises. When air bubbles are generated by the progress of heating, the air bubbles hit the upper wall of the heating chamber and gradually move to enter the gas trap portion and be replaced with air therein. The displaced air is discharged from the gas trap portion, rises in the liquid in the inner container, and is discharged to the outside. The gas reservoir generated in this gas trap block the convection of heat between the liquid inside the heating chamber and the liquid outside the heating chamber, and promote the temperature rise of the liquid inside the heating chamber. When the sensor detects that the liquid inside the heating chamber has reached a predetermined high temperature, the sensor appropriately displays and notifies the user, and the user operates the discharging means to discharge the high-temperature liquid. The liquid outside the heating chamber is also gradually heated through the heating auxiliary, and eventually the entire liquid in the inner container is heated to a predetermined high temperature.
[0010]
When the upper wall of the heating auxiliary device is provided to be inclined in a certain direction, and the gas trap portion is provided at the upper end of the inclined upper wall, the generated steam flows upward along the inclination of the upper wall. To the gas trap portion at the upper end thereof.
[0011]
Further, as other means for solving the above problems, a heating unit mounted on the bottom surface of the inner container, a liquid discharge passage communicating with the inside of the inner container, and a discharge means for discharging the internal liquid through the liquid discharge passage In the liquid heating container provided with, a heating auxiliary device is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container including the mounting range of the heating unit, and a heating chamber having an open bottom surface is provided in the heating auxiliary device, and the heating chamber bottom portion is provided. The interior of the inner vessel is communicated with the micro communication portion, and the interior of the heating chamber is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a liquid-permeable partition plate inclined in a certain direction, and an upper gas vent hole is formed in an upper wall of the upper chamber. A lower gas vent hole is provided at the upper end of the partition plate of the lower chamber, and the upper gas vent hole is formed relatively smaller than the lower gas vent hole, and the liquid discharge passage communicates with the upper chamber. Can also be taken.
[0012]
In this case, as in the case described above, when a predetermined amount of liquid (water) is put into the inner container, the heating auxiliary device is immersed in water, and the liquid flows from the minute communication portion into the heating chamber. Air enters and is exhausted through the lower and upper vent holes. When the heating section is energized to perform heating, the liquid inside the heating chamber is close to the heating section, so that the liquid is heated before the liquid outside the heating section and the temperature rises. Since the partition plate has liquid permeability, heat convection is performed through the partition plate inside the heating chamber. When air bubbles are generated by the progress of heating, the air bubbles are caught by the partition plate, move upward according to the inclination thereof, and are discharged from a lower gas vent hole provided at an upper end portion. Also, a small amount of air bubbles that may pass through the partition plate hit the upper chamber upper wall and gradually move to be discharged from the upper vent hole. Most of the generated bubbles are captured by the partition plate and discharged from the lower gas vent hole, so that the upper gas vent hole may be smaller than the lower gas vent hole. As a result, the liquid in the upper chamber is less likely to generate heat convection with the external liquid than the liquid in the lower chamber. When the sensor detects that the liquid inside the upper chamber has reached a predetermined high temperature, and displays the detection result to inform the user, the user operates the discharging means to cause the liquid discharging passage communicated with the upper chamber to be formed. Through which hot liquid is discharged. The liquid outside the heating chamber is also gradually heated through the heating auxiliary, and eventually the entire liquid in the inner container is heated to a predetermined high temperature.
[0013]
Also in this case, when the upper wall of the heating auxiliary device is provided to be inclined in a direction opposite to the direction of inclination of the partition plate, and the upper gas vent hole is provided at the upper end of the inclined upper wall, The steam flowing into the chamber quickly moves upward along the slope of the upper wall, and is discharged from an upper vent hole provided at the upper end thereof.
[0014]
Note that, as the liquid-permeable partition plate, a configuration that is a net having a mesh having a size capable of capturing bubbles generated during heating can be adopted.
[0015]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the electric water heater shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, a liquid heating container provided inside an outer shell 1 includes an inner container 2, a heating section 3 attached to the bottom surface thereof, and a bottom surface of the inner container 2. And a discharge means 5 (electric pump) for discharging the liquid inside to the outside through the liquid discharge passage 4. A heating auxiliary device 6 is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container 2 including the installation portion of the heating unit 3. This heating auxiliary device 6 is fixed to the bottom surface of the inner container 2 by an appropriate means so as not to float even when the inside of the inner container 2 is filled with liquid, or a metal having a required weight (usually (Stainless steel) or synthetic resin. Further, as the discharging means 5, a bellows type air pump may be provided on the lid 10 instead of the electric pump.
[0016]
The planar shape of the heating auxiliary device 6 is an oval shape as a whole as shown in FIG. 1B, and the connection end of the entire heating portion 3 provided at the bottom of the inner container 2 and the liquid discharge passage 4. It has a size that can cover the range of the portion 4a. As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), the heating auxiliary device 6 includes a side wall 7 and an upper surface wall 8, the bottom surface is opened, and the upper surface wall 8 is fixed in a certain direction (facing the connection end 4a). Side so that it is higher). The inside surrounded by the side wall 7 and the inclined upper wall 8 is a heating chamber 9. The volume of the heating chamber 9 is about one to two cups of coffee (about 150 to 300 cc).
[0017]
A shallow notch 11 is provided at the lower end of the side wall 7 (see FIGS. 2A and 2B). When the heating auxiliary device 6 is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container 2, the notch 11 and the bottom surface are formed. A slit-shaped minute communication portion 16 is formed between the two (see FIG. 1A). In addition, one end of a gas trap portion 12 formed of an inverted U-shaped passage communicates with the upper end portion of the upper surface wall 8 (the highest portion of the inclined surface and the portion facing the connection end portion 4a). The gas trap portion 12 is curved toward the upper wall 8 of the heating auxiliary device 6, and its downward end is opened to the inside of the inner container 2.
[0018]
A temperature sensor 13 for detecting the temperature of the liquid inside the heating chamber 9 and a temperature sensor 14 for detecting the temperature of the liquid existing outside the heating chamber 9 are attached to the lower surface of the inner container 2.
[0019]
The liquid heating container according to the embodiment is as described above. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the heating auxiliary device 6 is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container 2, the heating unit 3 and the liquid discharge passage 4 The connection end 4a is covered by the heating chamber 9. Further, a minute communication portion 16 through which the liquid flows is formed between the bottom surface of the inner container 2 and the notch portion 11. In this state, a liquid (water) is put into the inner container 2 to a certain level L. The heating auxiliary device 6 is fixed to the bottom surface as described above or does not float because it has a required weight. The liquid enters the heating chamber 9 inside the heating auxiliary device 6 from the minute communication portion 16 and discharges the gas inside from the gas trap portion 12. When the discharge is completed, the gas inside the heating chamber 9 and the liquid outside are trapped in the gas trap section 12 to form a gas reservoir 15 (see FIG. 1C). When the heating unit 3 is energized, the liquid inside the heating chamber 9 in contact with the bottom surface of the inner container 2 is heated at an early stage. Since the heating auxiliary device 6 itself has a certain heat capacity, it takes a certain time to heat the liquid outside the heating chamber 9. In the meantime, the temperature of the liquid inside the heating chamber 9 rises quickly due to the fact that the liquid amount is small and the gas reservoir 15 inside the gas trap section 12 prevents convection of heat between the internal liquid and the external liquid. .
[0020]
Bubbles generated by the heating of the liquid strike the upper wall 8 as shown by the arrow in FIG. The gas bubbles 25 that have entered the gas trap unit 12 are replaced with the gas in the gas reservoir 15, and the replaced gas is discharged from the outlet of the gas trap unit 12 into an external liquid.
[0021]
When the temperature sensor 13 automatically detects that the temperature of the liquid in the heating chamber 9 has reached a predetermined high temperature, the user is notified by an appropriate display. When the user operates the discharge unit 5, the liquid in the heating chamber 9 is discharged to the outside through the liquid discharge passage 4. At this time, since an external cold liquid flows in from the minute communication portion 16, the connection position of the liquid discharge passage 4 and the minute communication portion 16 are set so that the liquid is not discharged from the liquid discharge passage 4 at an early stage. Are preferably provided as far apart as possible. It is desirable to set the size of the minute communication portion 16 as small as possible within a range that does not hinder the flow of the liquid, in order to suppress heat transfer.
[0022]
As described above, after discharging about 1-2 cups of hot liquid, the temperature of the liquid inside and outside the heating chamber 9 gradually rises over time, and the temperature sensor 14 of the inner container 2 Is detected, an appropriate notification is made, and the process proceeds to a warming step.
[0023]
The inclination of the upper surface wall 8 of the heating auxiliary device 6 is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 (a), even if the connection side of the liquid discharge passage 4 is made lower, contrary to the above case. Can be In some cases, even if the upper surface wall 8 is provided horizontally without inclination, when the amount of steam accumulated on the lower surface of the upper surface wall 8 reaches a certain level or more, the vapor is discharged from the gas trap section 12. In addition, the bending direction of the gas trap unit 12 is shown to be outward in the illustrated case, but it may be curved inward (upper side of the upper wall 8). Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, by providing a vertical partition 18 inside a rectangular box-shaped outer passage 17, the gas trap portion 12 is constituted by a square inverted U-shaped passage. Is also good.
[0024]
Next, the other embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B is different from the above-described embodiment in the internal structure of the heating auxiliary device 6 installed on the bottom surface of the inner container 2. That is, the heating auxiliary device 6 in this case is the same as the above case in that the heating auxiliary device 6 has a heating chamber 9 surrounded by an upper surface wall 8 and a side wall 7 which are inclined in a direction in which the connection end 4a side of the liquid discharge passage 4 becomes higher. However, there is no equivalent to the above-described gas trap portion 12, and instead, the inside of the heating chamber 9 is divided into an upper chamber 21 by a liquid-permeable partition plate 19 made of a mesh having a slope opposite to that of the upper surface wall 8. And a lower chamber 22.
[0025]
The upper chamber 21 is formed between the partition plate 19 and the upper surface wall 8, and an upper gas vent hole 23 is provided at an inclined upper end of the upper surface wall 8. Further, the lower chamber 22 is opened facing the bottom of the inner container 2, that is, the heating unit 3, and a lower gas vent hole 24 is provided in the side wall 7 at the upper end portion of the inclined partition plate 19. The upper gas vent hole 23 is formed considerably smaller than the lower gas vent hole 24. The liquid discharge passage 4 is connected to penetrate the partition plate 19 and communicate with the upper chamber 21. The capacity of the upper chamber 21 is about one to two cups of coffee. The connection end 4a of the liquid discharge passage 4 communicates with the upper chamber 21 as shown in FIG.
[0026]
The size of the mesh of the mesh forming the partition plate 19 is such that the bubbles 25 generated by the vapor generated at the bottom of the inner container 2 are trapped and do not pass through the mesh (about 20 × 20 mesh per square centimeter). ). A perforated plate may be used in addition to the mesh, but in this case, the size of the holes is also selected according to the mesh. By using such a partition plate 19, heat convection of the liquid in the lower chamber 22 and the upper chamber 21 can be freely performed, but the bubbles 25 generated in the lower chamber 22 do not pass through the partition plate 19 without being convected. While stopping at the lower surface, it moves upward along the inclined surface and escapes from the lower gas vent hole 24 to the outside.
[0027]
A small amount of bubbles 25 ′ passing through the partition plate 19 and entering the upper chamber 21 hit the upper surface wall 8, move upward along the slope thereof, and escape from the upper gas vent hole 23 to the outside. The size of the upper gas vent hole 23 is smaller than the size of the lower gas vent hole 24, since the amount of steam that escapes from the upper gas vent hole 23 is much smaller than the amount of steam that escapes from the lower gas vent hole 24. Small holes.
[0028]
Although heat flows in and out of each of the gas vent holes 23 and 24, since the upper gas vent hole 23 is a minute hole as described above, the temperature of the liquid in the upper chamber 21 is earlier than the temperature of the liquid in the lower chamber 22. Heated to high temperature. The liquid heated to the high temperature is discharged to the outside by the discharge means 5 through the liquid discharge passage 4. Thereafter, as the time elapses, the temperature of the liquid inside and outside the heating chamber 9 gradually rises, and when the temperature sensor 14 of the inner container 2 detects the temperature, an appropriate notification is made and the process proceeds to the warming step. Is the same as
[0029]
Also in this case, the upper surface wall 8 may be provided horizontally without being inclined, as in the case of the above embodiment.
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the liquid in the heating chamber having a small capacity of about one to two cups of coffee provided in the heating auxiliary device becomes higher in temperature earlier than the liquid outside the heating chamber. While there is the convenience of obtaining a high-temperature liquid at an early stage, the bubbles generated during the heating are discharged through the gas trap part, so that there is no need to use an independent part such as a discharge valve, and therefore, the cost is low. There is an effect that can be produced with. Further, even if the diameter of the gas trap portion for releasing the vapor is large, the convection of heat can be blocked by the gas reservoir.
[0031]
Further, the above-described heating chamber partitioned by a liquid-permeable partition plate has the convenience of quickly obtaining a small volume of high-temperature liquid as described above, but does not require a bubble discharge valve or a gas trap portion. In addition, there is the convenience that a liquid-permeable partition plate such as a mesh that can be obtained at a low cost can be used.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment; FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line bb in FIG. 1C; FIG. 2C is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of a gas trap portion in FIG. FIG. 3 (a) is a cross-sectional view of another example of the heating auxiliary device. FIG. 3 (b) is a cross-sectional view of another example of the gas trap section. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment. FIG. 4B is a partially cutaway perspective view of the heating auxiliary device of FIG.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer shell 2 Inner container 3 Heating part 4 Liquid discharge passage 4a Connection end part 5 Drainage means 6 Heating auxiliary unit 7 Side wall 8 Top wall 9 Heating chamber 10 Cover 11 Notch part 12 Gas trap part 13 Temperature sensor 14 Temperature sensor 15 Gas Reservoir 16 Micro communication part 17 External passage 18 Vertical partition 19 Partition plate 21 Upper chamber 22 Lower chamber 23 Upper gas vent hole 24 Lower gas vent holes 25, 25 'Bubbles

Claims

In a liquid heating container equipped with a heating unit mounted on the bottom of the inner container, a liquid discharge passage communicating with the inside of the inner container, and discharge means for discharging the liquid inside through the liquid discharge passage, the mounting range of the heating unit is A heating auxiliary device is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container including the heating container, a heating chamber having an open bottom surface is provided in the heating auxiliary device, and the bottom of the heating chamber communicates with the inside of the inner container through a minute communication portion. And a liquid trap provided with an inverted U-shaped passage communicating with the inside of the inner container on an upper wall of the heating chamber.

The liquid heating container according to claim 1, wherein an upper wall of the heating auxiliary device is provided to be inclined in a certain direction, and the gas trap portion is provided at an upper end of the inclined upper wall.

In a liquid heating container equipped with a heating unit mounted on the bottom of the inner container, a liquid discharge passage communicating with the inside of the inner container, and discharge means for discharging the liquid inside through the liquid discharge passage, the mounting range of the heating unit is A heating auxiliary device is installed on the bottom surface of the inner container including the heating container, a heating chamber having an open bottom surface is provided in the heating auxiliary device, and the bottom of the heating chamber communicates with the inside of the inner container through a minute communication portion. Is divided into an upper chamber and a lower chamber by a liquid-permeable partition plate inclined in a certain direction, and an upper gas vent hole in the upper wall of the upper chamber and a lower gas vent hole in the upper end of the partition plate in the lower chamber. A liquid heating container provided, wherein the upper gas vent hole is formed relatively smaller than the lower gas vent hole, and the liquid discharge passage communicates with the upper chamber.

The upper gas vent hole is provided in the upper end part of the inclined upper surface wall, and the upper surface wall of the said heating auxiliary device was provided inclining in the direction opposite to the inclination direction of the said partition plate, The claim 3 characterized by the above-mentioned. Liquid heating vessel.

The liquid heating container according to claim 3, wherein the partition plate is a net having a mesh having a size capable of capturing bubbles generated during heating.