JP2007303553A - Safety valve for steam cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safety valve for a portable steam cleaner in which the safety valve cannot be opened while high pressure remains in the steam cleaner and high pressure steam can be also safely released to the open air. <P>SOLUTION: In the safety valve 1 for a plug prepared for an inlet port 2d which supplies cleaning water to a high pressure tank 2c of the portable steam cleaner 2, the safety valve 1 is provided with a bolt 1a corresponding to the size of the inlet port at an end side, and also provided with a hollow structure in which the cleaning water can be led from the high pressure tank in a connecting state with the high pressure tank. The safety valve 1 can be detachable by the turning of the bolt 1a, and is provided with a cover 1b which can transmit a rotary force to the bolt 1a at the side of the bolt opposite to the high pressure tank. The safety valve is also provided with a pressure valve 5 which controls the discharge of pressure in the high pressure tank when steam pressure exceeds set conditions, a restraining chamber 1d for receiving steam discharged through the pressure valve is provided in the cover, and the steam is discharged to the open air through the restraining chamber. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a safety valve that opens and closes an inlet for supplying cleaning water to a high-pressure tank for generating high-temperature high-pressure steam for cleaning in a steam cleaner. This steam cleaner is particularly intended for a type having a supporting means for portable use by a user. The supporting means includes means for using the shoulder using a shoulder or the like in addition to means directly held by hand such as a handle or a knob. The present invention particularly has the following objects.

  When the internal pressure of the tank exceeds a preset first pressure, the pressure of the main body of the pressure device is safely released to the outside air after the temperature is lowered via the safety valve.

  The safety valve surely permits the opening / closing operation under the condition that the internal pressure of the tank is lower than the preset second pressure.

  A mechanism is provided that makes it impossible to open the safety valve when the internal pressure of the tank exceeds the preset first and second pressures. In addition, a cleaning function for eliminating dirt that hinders the mechanism is provided.

Many products have implemented a mechanism that discharges steam to the outside air when a certain pressure is exceeded, such as a conventional pressure cooker, and a device that prevents opening and closing unless the pressure falls below a certain pressure. It was. For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-5085 “Safety device for opening a pressure cooker” corresponds to this.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-5085

  However, if the mechanism for limiting the pressure used in such a pressure cooker is used as it is for the opening and closing mechanism of the steam cleaner, high-temperature and high-pressure steam is directly applied to the user near the opening and closing mechanism. There was a possibility of taking. Further, the high-pressure steam blows out loudly, and there is a high probability that the user will be afraid of the noise in this type of device based on hand-holding and shoulder use. In addition, the structure that makes it impossible to open the plug in a state where high pressure remains is likely to fail during repeated use. The cause of this malfunction is mainly due to dirt.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inlet for supplying cleaning water in a high-pressure tank for generating high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning a portable steam cleaner provided with a supporting means for portable use by a user. Is a safety valve that opens and closes the valve, and a bolt portion corresponding to the size of the inlet is provided on one end side so that cleaning high-temperature and high-pressure steam can be introduced from the high-pressure tank in a connected state with the high-pressure tank. Provided with a hollow structure, a cover that can be attached / detached by rotation of the bolt part, and that can transmit rotational force to the bolt part on the side opposite to the high-pressure tank of the bolt part, and is introduced into the hollow structure And a pressure valve for controlling the discharge of the pressure of the high-pressure tank under a condition in which the pressure of the cleaning high-temperature high-pressure steam exceeds a preset first pressure. A suppression chamber for receiving high temperature and high pressure steam for cleaning discharged through the chamber and suppressing the danger due to high temperature and the danger due to the momentum of steam is provided in the cover, and is released to the outside air through the suppression chamber. It is characterized by that.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the structure is such that the plug cannot be opened in a high pressure state in which the internal pressure of the high pressure tank exceeds a second pressure smaller than the preset first pressure. The high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning discharged from the pressure valve reaches the structure that makes the opening impossible.

The effects of the invention defined in claim 1 are as follows.
The safety valve for a portable steam cleaner is intended for a portable steam cleaner having a holding means that is carried by using a handle or a knob or by using a shoulder belt. And even when the handle is in the immediate vicinity of the safety valve or when the safety valve is positioned adjacent to the user's torso due to the use of a shoulder, the high temperature and high pressure steam for cleaning discharged from the vicinity of the safety valve Since the temperature is reduced through the suppression chamber and the steam discharge rate is also released outside through the chamber, the momentum is suppressed, and the user feels the heat, steam momentum or steam-specific sharp and horrible feeling Therefore, the sound that can be used is also suppressed, so that the user can use it with peace of mind.

The effects of the invention defined in claim 2 are as follows.
A structure is provided that makes it impossible to open the plug in a high-pressure state in which the internal pressure of the high-pressure tank exceeds a second pressure that is smaller than a preset first pressure. This is because if the opening is permitted with a certain pressure, the user may be burned by the blowing of steam. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the opening / closing permission is not permitted. Further, in the present invention, the cleaning high-temperature and high-pressure steam discharged from the pressure valve reaches the structure for permitting or not permitting the opening of the plug. Each time the structure is used, for example, due to adhesion, it is exposed to high temperature and high pressure steam for cleaning, so that it is possible to prevent the structure from moving normally due to adhesion of the dirt.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a part of FIG. In these drawings, 1 is a safety valve, 2 is a portable steam cleaner, and the safety valve 1 has a handle 2b, which is one of carrying means that can be used by a user in a portable manner. It is attached to the main body, and further includes a high-pressure tank 2c for generating high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning, and the high-pressure tank 2c has an inlet 2d for supplying water for cleaning.
On the other hand, the safety valve 1 that opens and closes the inlet 2d is provided with a bolt portion 1a adapted to the inner diameter of the inlet 2d on one end side and in a connected state with the high-pressure tank 2c, a high temperature for washing from the high-pressure tank 2c. A cover that has a hollow structure that can be introduced by high-pressure steam, that can be attached and detached by rotation of the bolt portion 1a, and that can transmit rotational force to the bolt portion 1a on the opposite side of the high-pressure tank 2c of the bolt portion 1a. 1b, and a pressure valve 5 that controls the release of the pressure of the high-pressure tank under the condition that the pressure of the high-temperature high-pressure steam for cleaning introduced into the hollow structure exceeds a preset first pressure. In addition, the cover is provided with a suppression chamber 1d for receiving high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning discharged through the pressure valve 5 and suppressing danger due to high temperature and danger due to steam momentum. Through the air.

  A structure 3 is provided that makes it impossible to open the plug in a high-pressure state in which the internal pressure of the high-pressure tank 2c exceeds a second pressure that is smaller than a preset first pressure. This is because the user may be burned by the blowing of steam if opening is permitted in a state of a certain pressure or higher. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that the opening / closing permission is not permitted. In the present invention, a structure 4 (details are disclosed in the figure) for permitting or not permitting the opening is provided in the suppression chamber 1d to which the cleaning high-temperature and high-pressure steam discharged from the pressure valve reaches. .

Details of the pressure valve 5 will be described with reference to FIG.
The safety valve 1 for opening and closing the cap has a bolt portion 1a adapted to the inner diameter of the inlet 2d (see FIG. 1) on one end side, and the high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning from the high-pressure tank 2c is connected to the high-pressure tank 2c. It introduce | transduces in the large sized cylinder 5a through the hollow part 1e. In the large cylinder 5a, a pressure valve 5 is further provided on a concentric circle. The structure of the pressure valve 5 is such that a small cylinder 5b having a slight gap in both the circumferential direction and the vertical direction is inserted into the large cylinder 5a, and a cover 5c is provided on the upper surface of the large cylinder 5a. . Further, a groove having an inverted U-shaped cross section is provided at the lower end of the small cylinder 5b. In order to form this groove, the small cylinder 5b is provided with a protruding portion 5f projecting toward the outer peripheral direction on the lower end side thereof. Further, a sealing ring 5d made of a flexible material is fitted into the groove formed below the protruding portion 5f, and the sealing ring 5d protrudes downward with respect to the groove. , Abuts the bottom portion 5e of the large cylinder 5a. Further, the level A of the press-bonding between the sealing ring 5d and the bottom portion 5e is the level A of the press-bonding due to the expansion force of the large spring 5g inserted in a compressed state between the protruding portion 5f and the lid portion 5c. Will be determined. This fine adjustment can be made according to the depth of fitting of the lid 5c.
Further, a through hole is formed in the center of the top surface of the small cylinder 5b and the lid portion 5c, and a piston member 5h is fitted so as to penetrate the through hole. Further, a seal cap 5i having an M-shaped cross section is provided at the lower end of the piston member 5h. The seal cap 5i has dimensions and a material that can slide in the vertical direction (axial direction) with no gap with respect to the inner periphery of the small cylinder 5b. Further, the top portion 5j of the piston member 5h is designed so as to hit the inner peripheral top surface of the polygonal cylinder 5k, whose outer periphery coincides with the inner diameter of the cover 1b having a polygonal shape. The center of the top of the polygonal cylinder 5k is provided with a protrusion, and a small spring 5m is provided so as to surround the protrusion. The small spring 5m is located between the top surface of the cap and the polygonal cylinder 5k. Acts to extend

The operation of the safety valve of the present invention configured as described above will be described below.
The safety valve 1 of the present invention is attached to an inlet 2d for supplying cleaning water to a high pressure tank 2c for generating steam in a steam cleaner 2 having a supporting means 2b. Further, the inner peripheral surface of the entrance 2d is provided with a spiral groove that matches the bolt portion 1a. Thus, the safety valve 1 of the present invention is attached to the steam cleaner 2 without any gap. Normally, a predetermined amount of cleaning water is added before the safety valve 1 is attached, and then the safety valve 1 is attached. Thereafter, when heating is started with respect to the high pressure tank 2c of the steam cleaner, the water in the high pressure tank 2c boils and the internal pressure rises. The high-temperature and high-pressure steam is then introduced into the large cylinder 5a through the hollow portion 1e, but the seal cap 5i provided in the small cylinder 5b first receives the high pressure of the steam. The seal cap 5i pushes up the piston member 5h, and the top 5j of the piston member 5h pushes up the polygonal cylinder 5k and compresses the small spring 5m. The piston member 5h hits the ceiling portion of the small cylinder 5b via a spacer ring 5p provided on an overhanging portion 5n extended to the lower end of the piston member 5h. At this point, the piston member 5h temporarily stops. The above operation can be increased by the second pressure, which is a relatively small pressure. The second pressure of the steam necessary to lift the polygonal cylinder can be adjusted by the expansion force of the small spring 5m. The inner peripheral surface of the large cylinder 5a has a cylindrical shape, but the outer peripheral surface has a polygonal shape that substantially matches the inner peripheral surface of the polygonal cylinder 5k. Therefore, in a state where the polygonal cylinder 5k is pushed down by the force of the small spring 5m, the large cylinder 5a, the polygonal cylinder 5k, and the polygonal inner peripheral surface provided on the cover 1b are all engaged. It becomes. Accordingly, when the cover 1b is rotated in this engaged state, the large cylinder 5a also rotates, and the bolt portion 1a directly connected to the large cylinder 5a also rotates, so that the safety valve is opened and closed with respect to the steam cleaner. It becomes possible. On the other hand, when the internal pressure in the high pressure tank 2c rises and exceeds the second pressure, the polygonal cylinder 5k rises, and the inner peripheral surface of the polygonal cylinder and the outer peripheral surface of the large cylinder 5a are separated, Even if the cover 1b is rotated, the rotation is not transmitted to the large cylinder 5a.

  Furthermore, if heating of the high-pressure tank 2c is continued, high-pressure steam more than necessary is generated in the high-pressure tank at a certain timing. This higher pressure than necessary is set as the second pressure. As described above, the piston member 5h hits the ceiling portion of the small cylinder 5b with the second pressure via the spacer ring 5p provided on the protruding portion 5n extended to the lower end of the piston member 5h, and further the small cylinder. The force which raises 5b works. When the large spring 5g loses its force, the small cylinder 5b starts to rise with respect to the large cylinder 5a. When the distance rises by a certain distance, a gap is formed below the sealing ring 5d beyond the level A where the sealing ring 5d and the bottom portion 5e are pressure-bonded. This state is the first pressure, and when the first pressure is exceeded, a gap is created. When this gap is formed, the high temperature and high pressure steam gas for cleaning, which has a higher pressure than necessary, passes through the space between the small cylinder 5b and the large cylinder 5a, and further on the top surface of the small cylinder 5b and the center of the lid 5c. It passes through a gap created by being sandwiched between the created through hole and the piston member 5h. Next, the cleaning high-temperature and high-pressure steam gas reaches the inside of the suppression chamber 1d in which the rectangular cylinder 5k formed inside the cover 1b moves up and down, so far, in addition to the space between the small cylinder 5b and the large cylinder 5a. The temperature and momentum of the cleaning high-temperature and high-pressure steam gas are suppressed by the two spaces of the suppression chamber 1d (the space indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 7 corresponds to 1d). Finally, it is discharged to the outside air through a gap 5r formed between the large cylinder 5a and the ring member 5q that rotatably connects the cover (the arrow D drawn by the dotted line in FIG. 7 is released). Route). Since the gap 5r formed by the large ring member 5q has a wide surface, the emitted steam does not have a momentum, and a sharp sound such as peculiar rupture is suppressed. In addition, since the high temperature is transmitted to the cover having a large area, the extremely high temperature portion is not released to the outside air. Therefore, there is no disadvantage caused by sudden exposure of the user to high temperatures. In the embodiment, the cover is devised so that the high temperature is not directly transmitted to the cover due to the presence of the spaces E and F (see FIG. 7) with respect to the passage D through which the steam passes. Therefore, the cover is devised so that the temperature does not rise extremely due to the hot air, and the sharp sound peculiar to steam is also eliminated by the front chamber effect of the spaces E and F, so that the cover can be used with peace of mind. The rectangular cylinder 5k formed on the inside of the cover 1b repeats vertical movement every time the temperature rises using this steam cleaner, but dirt that prevents the repeated operation adheres to the gap A in FIG. There are things to do. If this gap A is too large, the transmission of rotation from the cover 1d to the rectangular cylinder 5k is deteriorated, so it is necessary to make it appropriately narrow. Similarly, it is necessary to transmit the rotation from the rectangular cylinder 5k to the large cylinder 5a, and it is necessary for the rotation transmission to narrow these intervals to some extent. Therefore, if the gap A in FIG. 7 and the surface portion G of the large cylinder 5a are contaminated, there is a possibility that the normal opening / closing operation is hindered by the adhesiveness due to the contamination in the above vertical movement. However, since the high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning is discharged outside through the path D as described above, the gap A and the surface portion G existing in the vicinity of the path are cleaned every time. In that respect, normal opening and closing operations can always be performed for long use.

  4 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 3 at a different angle. Note that the cover 1d is drawn small in order to better see inside. In the figure, the state of engagement between the large cylinder 5a, the square cylinder 5k and the cover 1d is clarified. The shaded structure was eliminated by looking at it together with FIG.

  FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram in which the parts are arranged in the order of the assembly process. In addition, each spring is drawn as it is in the compressed state in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view for clearly showing the mechanism of engagement between the cover 1b and the ring member 5q. In FIG. 6, all parts other than the cover 1b and the ring member 5q are omitted. The cover 1b is engaged by the ring member 5q being pushed up from the opening side. When pushed up, the ring member 5q gets over the slide-type projection 1f formed integrally with the inner peripheral surface of the cover 1b. When viewed from the side, the slide-type projection 1f has a right triangle shape, and the ring member 5q is snapped in the state of overcoming it. The cover 1b is temporarily distorted when getting over, and the above-described series of operations is obtained. In addition, it is suitable for the said distortion | strain formation that the slide type | mold projection part 1f is formed in 1 pair per one place, and this pair of slide type | mold projection part 1f is provided in 3-4 places on the whole.

It is a section perspective view showing one example of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a part of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the safety valve according to the present invention under pressure when the high-pressure tank is heated and high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning is generated. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 3 at a different angle. FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram in which the parts are arranged in the order of the assembly process. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view for clearly showing the mechanism of engagement between the cover 1b and the ring member 5q. FIG. 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view in the state of FIG. 3 and mainly represents an end face.

Explanation of symbols

1: Safety valve,
2: Portable steam cleaner 2c: High-pressure tank 1b: Cover 1d: Suppression chamber 5a: Large cylinder

Claims (2)

  Opening and closing the inlet for supplying cleaning water in a high-pressure tank for generating high-temperature high-pressure steam for cleaning a portable steam cleaner equipped with a supporting means for portable use by the user A safety valve having a bolt portion corresponding to the size of the inlet on one end side and having a hollow structure that allows introduction of high-temperature high-pressure steam for cleaning from the high-pressure tank in a connected state with the high-pressure tank. The cover is provided with a cover that can be attached and detached by rotation of the bolt portion and can transmit the rotational force to the bolt portion on the opposite side of the bolt portion, and the pressure of the high-temperature and high-pressure steam for cleaning introduced into the hollow structure Has a pressure valve for controlling the release of the pressure of the high-pressure tank under a condition in which the pressure exceeds a preset first pressure, and is used for cleaning discharged through the pressure valve. A steam cleaner having a suppression chamber in the cover for receiving high temperature and high pressure steam to suppress danger due to high temperature and danger due to steam momentum, and discharging to outside air through the suppression chamber Safety valve for use.   A structure for disabling opening in a high-pressure state in which the internal pressure of the high-pressure tank exceeds a second pressure smaller than a first pressure set in advance, The safety valve for a steam cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning high-temperature and high-pressure steam discharged from the valve reaches.

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