JPS6248482B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a steam generator applied to a steam hair curler or the like.

[Background technology]

Conventionally, a typical steam generator used in a steam hair curler has a heater 52 inside a heat transfer cylinder 51, as shown in FIG. have. 55 is a water tank, 56 is a water absorber, and 57 is water. However, there is a problem in that dew condensation is likely to occur on the inner surface of the outer cylinder 53.

Therefore, the inside of the heat transfer cylinder is used as a steam passage,
We proposed one with a heater on the outside. The heat transfer cylinder provided with the heater is housed in a heater case, and silicone rubber potting material is injected between the two to prevent heat transfer due to the heater floating during heating. However, as a result, heat conduction from the heater to the outer surface of the case improves, resulting in a problem in that the amount of wasted heat radiation increases and thermal efficiency decreases. Also, as heat is more easily transferred to the outer surface of the case, the temperature of the grip becomes too high.
The problem was that it was difficult to use.

[Purpose of the invention]

The steam generator of the present invention has good thermal efficiency in steam generation, does not cause excessive temperature rise, and is easy to use.
Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steam generator that does not have the problem of condensation.

[Disclosure of the invention]

The steam generator of the present invention includes a heat transfer cylinder whose interior serves as a steam passage, a heater provided on the outer surface of the heat transfer cylinder, and a foamed heat insulating material provided on the outer periphery of the heat transfer cylinder to cover the heater. The heat exchanger includes a cylindrical case that is fitted around the foamed heat insulating material, and a water absorbing body that is movable toward and away from the end surface of the heat transfer tube.

Embodiment An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a steam hair curler is shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. This steam hair curler has a hair curler main body 31 which includes a heater block _b1 and a tank block _b2 , and a hair winding body C having a hair locking projection 15a.
It is attached removably. Reference numeral 3 denotes a heat transfer tube of the heater block _b1 , which is formed into a thin rectangular tube with flat upper and lower surfaces. The heat transfer tube 3 has a steam passage 3a inside thereof, and has a disc-shaped water absorbent contact portion 3d at one end that contacts the water absorbent 10 to generate steam. The other end of the heat transfer cylinder 3 is closed by an end wall, and a screw cylinder 3b is opened in the end wall. Heat transfer tube 3
A PTC heater 1 is attached to the upper and lower surfaces of the heater 1 through an insulating plate 2 made of alumina or the like. The heat transfer tube 3 with this PTC heater 1 pasted thereon is inserted into the heater case 42, and the packing 41 is placed between the water absorber contacting portion 3d of the heat transfer tube 3 and the bottom surface of the sliding guide tube 42a provided in the heater case 42. intervene. The threaded cylinder 3b of the heat transfer cylinder 3 is passed through the hole 43a of the spacer 43, and the female threaded part of the end of the steam nozzle 44 is screwed from the opposite side and tightened. By this tightening, the heat transfer cylinder 3 and the heater case 42 are sealed with the packing 41. With the block constructed in this manner as shown in FIG. 5, a foamed heat insulating material 45 is injected through the gap between the heater case 42 and the spacer 43, and the heater block _b1 is completed. 46 is an injection tube. The heater case 42 is made of heat-resistant plastic. The foamed heat insulating material 45 is made of silicone closed foam or the like. Commercially available products are two-component, and after mixing equal amounts of the two components, they are poured into the heater case 42, and after some time, they foam and solidify. This foaming state is independent foaming and has a high heat insulating effect. The foamed heat insulating material 45 does not fill the entire space within the heater case 42, but fills only a space 50. This is provided to release the heat from the PTC heater 1, which expands the foamed heat insulating material 45.

In the tank block _b2 , a water absorbent 10 for generating steam is fixed to the water absorbent fixing frame 6 by contacting with the water absorbent contact portion 3d, and one end thereof is inserted into the water tank 5 to suck up water. I have to. The tank 5 and the water absorbent fixing frame 6 are removably sealed and fixed via an O-ring 8. Further, a hole 6a for releasing the negative pressure generated in the tank 5 due to continuous generation of steam and a water absorber 7 for preventing water leakage are formed in the side surface of the water absorbent fixing frame 6 in a recess. In addition, while preventing water leakage with the water absorber 7, the hole 6a
Release the negative pressure with . The tank block b2 is fitted into the inner periphery of the sliding guide tube 42a provided at one end of the heater case 42, and the tank block _b2 is inserted into the O
The structure is such that the water absorbent body contact portion 3d and the water absorbent body 10 are brought into contact with each other in a steam-sealed state with a ring 9 to generate steam. The rear end of the tank 5 is
It is constructed so as to be in contact with a pressure plate 27 which is subjected to pressure by a coil spring 28, and the water absorbent body contact portion 3d of the heater block _b1 and the water absorbent body 10 are pressed against each other at a constant pressure, thereby stabilizing steam generation.

Reference numerals 20 and 21 indicate a switch handle and a switch, which can switch between turning on one of the two PTC heaters 1 provided above and below the heat transfer cylinder 3 and turning on two of them. The number of watts can be changed, that is, the amount of steam can be changed. The handle 22 and the first push button 23 are used to control generation and stop of steam. When the steam is to be stopped, when the handle 22 is slid against the pressure of the spring 28, the protrusion 22a pushes a part of the tank block _b2 , and the water absorber contact part 3d of the heat transfer cylinder 3
The water absorbent body 10 is separated from the water absorbent body 10. Also, at this time, the recess 22b of the handle 22 is connected to the first push button 23.
The hook portion 23a of the heater block b2 is fitted and held so that the tank block _b2 can be held in a state separated from the water absorbent contact portion 3d of the heater block _b1 . If you want to generate steam again, press the first push button 23 to restart. In addition, the hook 23a
is removed from the recess 22b, and at the same time the tank 5 is pushed back by the pressure of the spring 28, the handle 22 is also pushed back.

The lid 32 holding the rotary connector 29 is configured to rotate around a hinge 30, and the other end is controlled to open and close by the hook portion 25a of the second push button 25, so that the lid 32 can be opened and the tank 5 can be taken out. I have to.

A steam nozzle 44 provided at one end of the heater block _b1 is inserted into the inner periphery of the steam pipe 12, and is steam-sealed with an O-ring. There is a second pipe inside the steam pipe 12 for the purpose of preventing condensation.
A heater 11 is provided. Further, a cap 17 is fixed to the front end of the steam pipe 12, and a winding drum locking projection 17a is integrally formed at one end of the cap 17. Reference numeral 13 denotes a winding drum holding attachment, which is inserted and fixed into the front end of the main body 31 and is prevented from coming off by the hook portion 18a of the third push button 18, and can be attached or detached by operating the third push button 18.

The hair winding body C is a winding body 15 around which hair is wound.
and a clip body 14. A plurality of fixing pins 14a are formed on the clip body 14, and a cylindrical portion 14b is fitted into the inner periphery of the winding drum body 15 so as to be freely slidable. A locking portion 14c provided on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 14 catches the end of the winding drum main body 15 to prevent it from coming off, and the locking portion 14c slides between the notches 15e of the winding drum main body 15. do. Also,
The stop pin 14a is configured to slide through a hole 15c provided at the end of the winding drum body 15. A slit 14e is formed at the end of the clip body 14, so that when the hair wrapping cylinder C is inserted into the outer periphery of the steam pipe 12, the hair wrapping cylinder locking protrusion 17a enters into the slit 14e and is held elastically. It is composed of A plurality of locking holes 15d are formed in the other end of the winding drum main body 15, into which the locking pieces 13a of the winding drum holding attachment 13 are inserted, and held by the bulge at the tip of the locking piece 13a. It is becoming more and more common. The steam pipe 12 and the winding drum body 15 each have a steam discharge hole 12a,
15b. Reference numeral 15a denotes a hair wrapping protrusion formed on the winding drum main body 15.

Operation First, open the lid 32, take out the tank block _b2 , separate the tank 5 and the water absorbent fixing frame 6, fill the tank 5 with water, and reconnect the tank 5 and the water absorbent fixing frame 6. , put it in the main body 31, close the lid 32, and prepare for water. Next, switch handle 20
Turn on one or two PTC heaters 1 to heat the heat transfer cylinder 3. When the water absorbent body contact portion 3d reaches a temperature that allows steam generation, steam is generated, and water is drawn up one after another by the steam generation portion due to the capillary action of the water absorbent body 10, and steam generation is performed continuously. Steam generated at the water absorbent contact portion 3d passes through the steam passage 3a and is sent into the steam pipe 12. Since the PTC heaters 1 are located above and below the steam passage 3a, the temperature is high and dew condensation can be avoided between them. In other words, the PTC heater 1 has the effect of both generating steam and preventing condensation. The steam pipe 12 is also kept at a high temperature by the second heater 11, and no dew condensation occurs even if steam is continuously generated. When steam starts coming out from the discharge hole 12a of the steam pipe 12, the hair wrapping cylinder C is set on the steam pipe 12. Then, hair is wrapped around the hair while steam is coming out from the outer periphery of the winding drum main body 15 (steam is applied to the hair during the winding operation), and when the winding is finished, the steam pipe 12 is connected to the winding drum main body 15.
pull it out. Leave the hair wrapper C on the head. By repeating such an operation, the hair winding cylinder C is wound one after another. Experiments have shown that sufficient curling can be achieved if the hair wrapper C is wrapped around the hair and held on the head for 2 minutes or more.

When used in this manner, the heater block _b1 is configured in this manner, resulting in the following advantages. That is, since the foamed heat insulating material 45 is used as the filler for holding down the PTC heater 1, it is possible to reduce heat radiation from the PTC heater 1 to areas other than the steam generation surface, and the thermal efficiency is improved. Moreover, it is possible to prevent excessive temperature rise of the surrounding parts, especially the hair curler main body 31 which serves as the grip, and it is easy to use. Since the foamed heat insulating material 45 for holding down the PTC heater 1 acts as a cushion, it is possible to prevent the PTC heater 1 from cracking due to impact such as dropping. Heater case 42
A sliding guide tube 4 for guiding the tank 5 is integrated with the
2a is provided and the entire heater case 42 is made of heat-resistant resin, so that heat from the PTC heater 1 is difficult to be transmitted to the tank 5, and water leakage due to an increase in water temperature in the tank 5 can be prevented. Since the foamed heat insulating material 45 is filled in the heater case 42 with a space 50, cracking or deformation of the heater case 42 due to expansion of the foamed heat insulating material 45 caused by a rise in temperature can be prevented.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The steam generator of the present invention has good thermal efficiency in steam generation, does not cause excessive temperature rise, and is easy to use.
Furthermore, it has the effect of preventing dew condensation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional example, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a steam hair curler equipped with a steam generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view thereof, and Fig. 4 is the same. Partially exploded perspective view, No. 5
The figure is also an explanatory diagram of the manufacturing process. b ₁ ...heater block, b ₂ ...tank block, C
...Hair winding cylinder, 1...PTC heater, 3...Heat transfer tube, 5
...Tank, 10...Water absorber, 11...Heater, 12...
Steam pipe, 31...Hair curl device body, 4
2... Heater case, 45... Foamed heat insulating material, 50... Space part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A heat transfer tube whose inside is a steam passage, a heater provided on the outer surface of the heat transfer tube, and a foamed heat insulating material provided on the outer periphery of the heat transfer tube to cover the heater. , a cylindrical case fitted over this foam insulation material,
A steam generating device comprising: a water absorbing body that is freely movable toward and away from the end surface of the heat transfer cylinder. 2. The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the case has an end plate portion at one end and a space inside the end plate portion without the foamed heat insulating material.