WO2008065619A1

WO2008065619A1 - Steaming device

Info

Publication number: WO2008065619A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/054820
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ajit Pal Singh; Asok Kumar Kasevan; Roel Alexander Rethmeier
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2006-11-28
Filing date: 2007-11-28
Publication date: 2008-06-05

Abstract

A steaming device (200) comprises a separator (220) to separate wet steam originating from a steam source into dry steam and water. The separator has at least one dedicated dry steam outlet (222) and at least one dedicated water outlet (221). The steaming device further includes a water handling system to receive the water from the water outlet for recycling or for re-using 5 the separated water. The steaming device further includes a receiving unit (230) to receive the dry steam from the dry steam outlet. The receiving unit is a soleplate of an iron, a steamer, a garment and/or the like.

Description

Steaming device

FIELD OF INVENTION:

The invention relates to a steaming device, more particularly to a garment steaming device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

In a steaming device, water is usually poured into a holding tank either by gravity or by force feeding it with aid of an electrical pump. The holding tank is equipped with a heating element to convert the water into steam. The holding tank can be integrated with the steaming device where the steam is allowed to escape to the atmosphere immediately as it is produced. This method is called 'flash steaming'. This is typically found in classical steam irons, travel irons and compact hand held multi-purpose steamers. On the other hand, in some steaming devices with an external steam supply, water is converted into steam in stand-alone boilers and then supplied to the device through a hose. This system is known as 'pressurized steaming' and is usually employed in garment steamers and high end steam cleaning apparatus. However, in either of the systems, the steam produced may not be dry and may contain some water in the form of tiny droplets. These tiny droplets of water would become large water drops as the steam loses its energy and condenses. There are some methods to address this problem. One of the methods is to increase the power of the heat source or to provide a heating means at the delivery outlet. The second method is to increase the space where water is retained. But unfortunately, the first approach makes the apparatus uneconomic in operating cost; meanwhile the second makes the apparatus bulkier. US20030136031 describes a steam iron with external steam supply that has a bundle, a switch for actuating a steam valve on a steam accumulator, a power supply for an electrical resistance heater, a steam tube, an iron base with a temperature-selection switch, a soleplate with a steam-supply connector, and a steam duct with at least one steam-outlet nozzle. The steam iron includes a steam dryer with a separate external or integrated housing to ensure that only dry steam passes into the steam iron. The water separated from wet steam is collected in the steam dryer and evaporated. However, depending on the location of the steam dryer (either on a boiler side or on an iron side) evaporation is not always possible, especially not if the separator is located on the boiler side. The amount of water can sometimes be very huge causing spitting of water. This is also known as vomiting and occurs due to foaming of water inside the steam source. In such cases, evaporation of water may not be a feasible and an economical solution. It is an object of the invention to provide a steaming device of the kind mentioned in the opening paragraph which does not have the disadvantages of the known steaming device described before, in particular to provide such a steaming device in which evaporation of the water separated from the wet steam is minimized.

This object is achieved by features of the independent claim. Further developments and preferred embodiments of the invention are outlined in the dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

In accordance with the invention, a steaming device includes a separator to separate wet steam originating from a steam source into dry steam and water, wherein the separator has at least one dedicated dry steam outlet and at least one dedicated water outlet. The steaming device further includes a water handling system to receive the water from the water outlet for recycling or for re-using the separated water. The steaming device further includes a receiving unit to receive the dry steam from the dry steam outlet. The water in the wet steam is extremely undesirable as it may soil or damage the garment to be ironed. The separator ensures separation of wet steam into dry steam and water. The dry steam means steam with essentially no water. The water is almost water with little or no steam. The separator separates the water from the wet steam and only dry steam is directed to the receiving unit. Hence, the design of the receiving unit can be simple. The dry steam is used for different applications, for example, for ironing or for steaming a garment or for any other purpose where dry steam is needed. The water separated is further converted to dry steam, reused as a water spray for ironing or recycled for generating steam. The water handling system can handle water in a very efficient way. If the amount of water is huge, then it can be stored in a buffer which can be emptied slowly in time. It can also be sent back to the steam generating source. Evaporation would be an option only when the amount of water is very little. The water can also be sprayed onto a garment to be ironed to moisten the garment.

According to another embodiment, the steaming device further comprises a hose wherein the hose is coupled between the steam source and the separator, wherein the separator receives the wet steam originating from the steam source via the hose. Then the separator is said to be on the iron side. When the separator receives the wet steam originating from the steam source directly, the separator is said to be on the boiler side. With the hose between the steam source and the separator, the steam has to travel a long distance through the hose resulting in steam condensation. This further leads to huge amount of water to be handled. In such cases the water handling system will be of particular advantage.

According to yet another embodiment, the receiving unit to receive the dry steam is a sole plate of an iron, a steamer, a garment and/or the like. As the receiving unit receives only dry steam, the design can be simple. When the receiving unit is a soleplate of an iron, labyrinth is not required and a steam cover can easily be repressed to the soleplate. This soleplate is unlike a complicated soleplate with labyrinth which leads to a higher pressure inside the soleplate and causes overheating of the steam. The steam will not be overheated due to short labyrinth. Furthermore, the mass of the soleplate is lower than the conventional soleplate. Lower mass of the soleplate results in a faster heating, thus resulting in a high steam rate. The temperature distribution of the soleplate is uniform when the soleplate receives only dry steam. The receiving unit can be a steamer, a garment and/or the like. Delicate garments cannot be ironed hence the dry steam is sprayed over them in order to maintain them.

According to yet another embodiment, the receiving unit is a soleplate of an iron. The soleplate comprises a first chamber for receiving the dry steam from the separator and a second chamber for receiving the water from the water handling system. As the water and dry steam are separated, the water will not be pushed forward with extreme high velocity through the soleplate. Water goes to a zone i.e., to the second chamber of the soleplate where there is almost no steam flow. Because of the low velocity of water, there will be more time available for evaporation of water in the soleplate. This results in more efficient evaporation of water and there will be no spitting of water. As all the water is not gushed into the soleplate in a short time, there will be no thermal shock. This will lead to a simple steam cover design.

According to another embodiment, the water handling system further comprises a flow regulator and the water from the separator may be directed to the second chamber of the soleplate via the flow regulator. The flow regulator regulates the water and may drip dose the water to the second chamber of the soleplate. Because of the low velocity of water, there is more time for evaporation of water in the soleplate.

According to another embodiment, the water handling system includes a water buffer to receive the water from the separator. It further includes a delivery system that is coupled to the water buffer to deliver the water to the second chamber of the soleplate or to a garment to be ironed. The amount of water in the wet steam originating from the steam source can be huge sometimes causing spitting of water. This is also known as vomiting and occurs due to foaming of water inside the steam source. In such cases, having a water buffer would be very advantageous to collect the water. The water buffer can be emptied slowly either by re-using or by recycling the collected water with the help of the delivery system. According to still another embodiment, the delivery system delivers the water to the second chamber and the delivery system is configured to drip dose the water into the second chamber of the soleplate using gravity, a pump, a piezo, or via a capillary. The water that is delivered to the second chamber of the soleplate will be vaporized and converted to dry steam for ironing. Since the water is drip dosed with a low velocity, it can be efficiently evaporated.

According to still further embodiment, the delivery system delivers the water to a garment to be ironed and the delivery system is configured to spray the water onto the garment. This helps in moistening the garment during ironing.

According to another embodiment, the water in the water buffer can also be evaporated to the atmosphere. If the water in the buffer is very little, then the water in the water buffer is evaporated and let out to the atmosphere. Since the water is evaporated there is no need for further management of water. According to another embodiment of the invention, the steaming device further comprises a main tank to hold water and to supply water to the steam source via a pump. The water handling system directs the water from the separator to the main tank. Thus the water separated from the separator is recycled to the main tank and is re-used to generate steam. According to another embodiment, the steaming device further comprises a main tank to hold water and to supply water to the steam source via a pump. The water handling system in this embodiment directs the water from the separator to the steam source via another pump. A pump is required to pump the water from the separator to the steam source as the steam source is always at a higher pressure. Thus the water separated from the wet steam is recycled to the steam source for generating steam. This is an alternative arrangement wherein water is fed to the steam source instead of the main tank.

According to a further embodiment, the steaming device further comprises a main tank to hold water and to supply water to the steam source via a pump. The water handling system directs the water from the separator to an auxiliary tank. The water is further directed from the auxiliary tank to a device selected from a group consisting of the main tank, the steam source, the at least one dry steam outlet and the garment to be ironed. The water directed to the main tank and to the steam source is re-used to generate steam. The velocity of the dry steam can suck the water from the auxiliary tank and will atomize the water with an aid of a venturi nozzle. The mixture of dry steam and atomized water can be used in steamers. The water collected in the auxiliary tank can also be sprayed on a garment to be ironed for moistening the garment to facilitate ironing.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described herein after with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

Figures Ia - Ig show a separator with at least one dry steam outlet and at least one water outlet;

Figure 2 shows a steaming device wherein a separator is located on an iron side according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figures 3a-3b show a steaming device including a water buffer and wherein a separator is located on an iron side according to another embodiment of the invention;

Figures 4a-4b show a steaming device wherein a separator is located on a boiler side according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figures 5a-5d show a steaming device including an auxiliary tank wherein a separator is located on a boiler side according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION:

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn on scale for illustrative purposes. Where the term "comprising" is used in the present description and claims, it does not exclude other elements or steps. Where an indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singular noun e.g. "a" or "an", "the", this includes a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically stated.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other sequences than described or illustrated herein. Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are capable of operation in other orientations than described or illustrated herein. In Figure Ia, a separator 100 has at least one inlet 101 to receive the wet steam produced by a steam source (not shown). The separator has at least one dedicated outlet 103 for directing the dry steam to a receiving unit (not shown) and has at least one dedicated outlet 102 for directing the separated water to a water handling system (not shown). The separator is usually made of a heat conducting or a heat insulating material. Heat insulating material is however preferred for the construction. The separator separates the wet steam originating from the steam source into dry steam and water wherein dry steam means steam with absolutely no water and water means mostly water with some steam. The phenomenon of the separation is deployed by utilizing the significant difference in the density of dry steam and water. The internal structure of the separator can be based on various principles.

According to a 'VOID' chamber principle, the separator is mainly constructed out of closed wall structure with a void or an open space in between as shown in Figure Ib. This void or open space is connected to the outside with a wet steam inlet 101 and the dry steam outlet 103. The void or the space is always larger in terms of cross-section area as compared to the dry steam outlet 103 or the wet steam inlet 101. The steam generated from the steam source i.e., a boiler is let through into the void or open space via the inlet 101 and is allowed to fill up the volume before the dry steam escapes through the dry steam outlet 103 to reach the soleplate. During this filling period, heavy particles mainly of water will drop to the bottom of the void or the space because of the density difference. To enhance this separation, further obstruction can be incorporated within the void or open space. The obstruction is a vertical wall perpendicular to the steam path as shown in Figure Ic. These walls can have simple plane surface or some positive extrusions such as dimples, slots or baffles. These extrusions create a torturous path for the dry steam before it could escape to the dry steam outlet 103. Another possible configuration of the separator is described in Figure Id. It consists of baffles, plates or vanes 104, which cause the flow of wet steam entering through

101 to change the direction a number of times as the wet steam pass through the separator 100. The suspended water droplets have greater mass and a greater inertia than the steam. When there is a change in flow direction, the dry steam flows around the baffles and the water droplets drop down to the base of the separator 100.

Yet another configuration of the separator is described in Figure Ie. According to this configuration, the separator 100 has an internal structure with a curved surface. The curved surface could be a simple curved bend, a cylindrical, a coiled (helical), a winding, or a spiral in nature. The separator 100 has a wet steam inlet 101, a dedicated dry steam outlet 103 and a dedicated water outlet 102. As the wet steam enters the curved region of the separator 100, the water in the wet steam experiences a higher centrifugal force compared to the steam. This phenomenon causes the water particles, which are heavier than steam, to be thrown radially away from the center of rotation towards the walls and drops down along the walls due to gravity. By means of having a tangentially placed water outlet

102 along the curved surface, the water can be tapped out from the dry steam. The configuration can also include a series of fins 105 to generate high-speed centrifugal flow as shown in Figure If. The steam swirls around the separator 100, throwing the heavier water particles to the outer walls of the separator 100. Figure Ig shows yet another possible configuration of the separator 100 in which the wet steam enters a cylindrical region 106 of the separator 100 and rotates. The water particles experience a centrifugal force and remains in the periphery of the cylindrical region 105. The water is collected from the outlet 102 which is tangential to the cylindrical region 105 of the separator 100. The water outlet 102 has a smaller cross-sectional area compared to the wet steam inlet 101. The dry steam exits from the outlet 103 which has a similar cross-sectional area as the wet steam inlet 101.

Figure 2 shows a steaming device 200 including a steam source 210, a separator 220, a water handling system 225 and a receiving unit which in this embodiment, is a soleplate 230 of an iron. The steam source 210 is coupled to the separator 220 via a hose 212. The separator 220 is provided with at least one dedicated dry steam outlet 222 and at least one dedicated water outlet 221. The water handling system 225 includes a flow regulator 226. The soleplate 230 has two chambers 231 and 232.

The separator 220 receives the wet steam produced in the steam source 210 via the hose 212. Then the separator 220 is said to be on the iron side. The hose 212 is usually a long rubber hose. It contains condensed water from previous ironing process. Besides this, at the beginning of the ironing process the hose 212 is at a low temperature and causes further condensation of the steam originating from the steam source 210. This will increase the amount of water in the hose 212. This water along with steam enters the separator as the wet steam. The separator has one of the configurations as explained in Figures Ia-Ig to separate the wet steam into dry steam and water. The dry steam exits the separator 220 through the dry steam outlet 222 and enters the second chamber 232 of the soleplate 230 which is a dry steam receiving unit. The water separated from the wet steam exits through the water outlet 221 and is directed to the water handling system 225. The flow regulator 226 regulates the flow of the separated water that enters the second chamber 231 of the soleplate 230. As the water and dry steam are separated, the water will not be pushed forward with extreme high velocity through the soleplate 230. Water goes to the second chamber 231 of the soleplate 230 where there is almost no steam flow is present. As all the water is not gushed into the soleplate 230 in a short time, there will be no thermal shock. This will lead to a simple steam cover (not shown) design. As the velocity of water flowing into the second chamber 231 is controlled by the flow regulator 226, there will be more time available for evaporation of water in the soleplate 230. This results in more efficient evaporation of water.

Figures 3a - 3c show a steaming device 300 including a steam source 310, a separator 320, a water handling system 325 and a receiving unit which is a soleplate 330 of an iron. The steam source 310 is coupled to the separator 320 via a hose 312. The separator 320 is provided with at least one dedicated dry steam outlet 322 and at least one dedicated water outlet 321. The water handling system 325 includes a water buffer 326 and a delivery system 327. The soleplate 330 has two chambers 331 and 332. The separator 320 receives the wet steam produced in the steam source 310 via the hose 312. Then the separator 320 is said to be on the iron side. The hose 312 is usually a long rubber hose. At the beginning of the ironing process the hose 312 is at a low temperature and hence further condensation of steam occurs in the hose. The separator has one of the configurations as explained in Figures Ia-Ig to separate the wet steam into dry steam and water. The dry steam exits the separator 320 through the dry steam outlet 222 and enters the second chamber 332 of the soleplate 330. The water separated from the wet steam exits through the water outlet 321 and is directed to the water handling system 325. Unlike the previous embodiment, the water separated from the separator 320 is stored in the water buffer 326. The amount of water in the wet steam originating from the steam source 310 can be huge sometimes. This is due to foaming of water inside the steam source 310. The excess water separated from the wet steam can be stored in the water buffer 326. The water buffer 326 can be emptied slowly with the help of the delivery system 327. The delivery system 327 is configured to drip dose the water into the second chamber of the soleplate 331 using gravity, a pump, a piezo, or via a capillary (not shown). The water that is delivered to the second chamber 331 of the soleplate 330 will be vaporized and converted to dry steam for ironing as shown in Figurer 3a. The delivery system 327 is also configured to spray the water onto the garment to be ironed. This helps in moistening the garment during ironing. This is illustrated in Figure 3b. The water in the water buffer 326 can also be evaporated to the atmosphere as shown in Figurer 3c. If the water in the water buffer 326 is very little, then the water in the water buffer is evaporated and let out to the atmosphere.

The steaming device 400 as shown in Figures 4a and 4b includes a main tank 410, a steam source 430, a separator 440 and a water handling system 445. The main tank 410 is coupled to the steam source 430 via a pump 420. The separator 440 is provided with at least one dedicated dry steam outlet 441 and at least one dedicated water outlet 442. The dry steam is directed to a receiving unit (not shown) and the water is directed to the water handling system 445.

In these embodiments, the separator 440 receives water from the steam source 430 directly without a long rubber hose i.e., the separator 440 is closer to the steam source 430. Then the separator 440 is said to be on the boiler side. The main tank 410 stores the water to be converted to steam by the steam source 410. The pump 420 is needed to pump the water to the steam source 430 as it is always above atmospheric pressure. The steam source 430 receives water from the main tank 410 and produces wet steam which is then directed to the separator 440 where it gets separated into dry steam and water. Dry steam here means steam with essentially no water. The dry steam thus separated is directed to a receiving unit (not shown) and is used for various applications. The water separated from the separator 440 is handled by the water handling system 445 and is recycled back to the main tank. Thus the water separated is re-used to produce wet steam. The water can also be directed to the outlet of the main tank 410. As another alternative, water can be directed to the steam source directly via another pump 425 as shown in Figure 4b. Water from the separator can also be directed to outlet of the pump 420 which can eliminate the pump 425. It is to be understood that although specific constructions and configurations have been discussed herein, various changes or modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. In the application as shown in Figures 5a to 5d, the steaming device 500 includes a main tank 510, a steam source 530, a separator 540 and a water handling system 545. The steam source 530 receives water from the main tank 510 via a pump 52O.The water handling system 545 includes an auxiliary tank 550. The separator 540 is provided with at least one dedicated dry steam outlet 541 and at least one dedicated water outlet 542.

The separated water from the separator 540 is collected in an auxiliary water tank 550 which has an outlet connected to the main water tank 510. When the pump 520 is activated, the water will be sourced from both tanks 510 and 550 as the source for the steam source 530. A differential outlet diameter can be incorporated in this system, to give a better mixture of water from both the water tanks. This application can be executed when the separator 540 is placed on the boiler side. The illustration for this application is shown in Figure 5a. Figure 5b is another option of directing the water from the auxiliary tank 550 to the steam source 530. A pump 525 is needed to pump the water to the steam source 530 as the steam source is at a higher pressure. Figure 5c shows another embodiment wherein the velocity of the dry steam from the dry steam outlet 541 can suck the water from the auxiliary tank 550 and will atomize the water with an aid of a venturi nozzle (not shown). The water collected in the auxiliary tank can also be sprayed on the garment for moistening the garment to ensure smooth ironing as shown in Figure 5d.

It is to be understood that although preferred embodiments, specific constructions and configurations, as well as materials, have been discussed herein for devices according to the present invention, various changes or modifications in form and detail may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A steaming device comprising: a separator to separate wet steam originating from a steam source into dry steam and water, wherein the separator has at least one dedicated dry steam outlet and at least one dedicated water outlet; a water handling system to receive the water from the water outlet for recycling or for re-using the separated water; and a receiving unit to receive the dry steam from the dry steam outlet.

2. The steaming device of claim 1 further comprising a hose wherein the hose is coupled between the steam source and the separator, wherein the separator receives the wet steam originating from the steam source via the hose.

3. The steaming device of claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is a soleplate of an iron, a steamer, a garment and/or the like.

4. The steaming device of claim 3, wherein the receiving unit is a soleplate of an iron, and wherein the soleplate comprises a first chamber for receiving the dry steam from the separator and a second chamber for receiving the water from the water handling system.

5. The steaming device of claim 4, wherein the water handling system further comprises a flow regulator and wherein the water from the separator is directed to the second chamber via the flow regulator.

6. The steaming device of claim 4, wherein the water handling system comprises: a water buffer to receive the water from the separator; and a delivery system coupled to the water buffer to deliver the water to the second chamber or to a garment to be ironed.

7. The steaming device of claim 6, wherein the delivery system delivers the water to the second chamber and wherein the delivery system is configured to drip dose the water into the second chamber using gravity, a pump, a piezo, or via a capillary.

8. The steaming device of claim 6, wherein the delivery system delivers the water to the garment and wherein the delivery system is configured to spray the water onto the garment to be ironed.

9. The steaming device of claim 6, wherein the water in the water buffer is evaporated to the atmosphere.

10. The steaming device of claim 1, further comprising a main tank to hold water and to supply water to the steam source via a pump, wherein the water handling system directs the water from the separator to said main tank.

11. The steaming device of claim 1 further comprising a main tank to hold water and to supply water to the steam source via a pump, wherein the water handling system directs the water from the separator to said steam source via another pump.

12. The steaming device of claim 1 further comprising a main tank to hold water and to supply water to the steam source via a pump, wherein the water handling system directs the water from the separator to an auxiliary tank, wherein the water is further directed from the auxiliary tank to a device selected from a group consisting of the main tank, the steam source, the at least one dry steam outlet and a garment to be ironed..