EP2896894A1 - Steam treatment device with fixed water connection - Google Patents

Abstract

The steam treatment apparatus (1) has a fixed water connection (23), a used water tank (17, 18) and a lifting device for removing the used water (G) from the service water tank (17, 18), the lifting device comprising a water jet pump (21) having a pressurized water inlet (24), a suction water inlet (22) and an outlet (25) and wherein the pressurized water inlet (24) is connected to the fixed water connection (23) and the suction water inlet (22) to the service water tank (17, 18) is connected.

Description

The invention relates to a steam treatment apparatus having a fixed water connection, a service water tank and a lifting device for removing water from the lifting device.

There are known steam treatment apparatuses of the type in question, which use motorized pumps as lifting means, e.g. Piston or centrifugal pumps. Disadvantage here is their high price and their recognizable working noise.

It is the object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art at least partially and in particular to provide a particularly inexpensive and quiet way to empty a used water tank.

This object is achieved according to the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are in particular the dependent claims.

The object is achieved by a steam treatment apparatus having a fixed water connection, a service water tank and a device (hereinafter referred to as "lifting device") for removing used water from the service water tank, wherein the lifting device comprises a water jet pump with a pressure water inlet, a suction water inlet and an outlet and wherein the pressurized water inlet is connected to the fixed water connection and the suction water inlet is connected to the second-hand water container.

By means of the water jet pump can be sucked in the second-hand water tank largely noiseless water through the suction water inlet and discharged through the outlet again. A mixture of water flowing in through the pressure water inlet then flows through the outlet and used water drawn in from the suction water inlet. A water jet pump is also much cheaper than a pump and also virtually maintenance-free.

The water flowing in through the pressurized water inlet is preferably fresh water. The water flowing in through the pressurized water inlet is pressurized, preferably at a pressure P of two bar or more, ie P> = 2 bar.

The steam treatment device has, for example, a steam treatment space, which can be acted upon or filled with steam for the steam treatment of food therein. The steam may be generated directly in the steam treatment room or may be generated outside the steam treatment room by means of a steam generator or steam generator and then passed into the steam treatment room. By means of the steam generator, water located in particular in an associated storage tank may be converted into steam. The steam generator may be designed, for example, as a boiler or as a water heater.

The service water tank is used for receiving used water. Under use water may be understood in particular water, which has already been used or used at least once. Under-use water may be understood in particular condensed condensation condensate or steam, in particular if it has condensed in the steam treatment room.

The lifting device is basically a general device for removing water from the service water tank. The lifting device may comprise or be a water jet pump.

It is a development that at least the suction water inlet of the water jet pump is higher or is positioned as a maximum use water level or filling level of the service water tank. In particular, the water jet pump may be higher or positioned than the service water tank. As a result, an inflow of used water into the suction water inlet is prevented even after completion of an operation of the water jet pump in a simple manner.

It is an embodiment that the outlet of the water jet pump is connected to a waste tank of the steam treatment apparatus. The waste tank may in particular be connected to a sewer leading to the outside. This causes any dirty used water to be safely removed from the steam generator.

It is a further embodiment that the outlet of the water jet pump is connected to a sewer line of the steam treatment device. The used water can then be transported directly from the steam treatment device.

It is still an embodiment that the outlet of the water jet pump is connected to a storage tank of a steam generator or promotes water in the storage tank. The used water extracted from the service water tank is thus returned (together with the fresh water from the pressure water inlet) to the storage tank of the steam generator. As a result, water can be saved because it may be evaporated several times, then condensed and returned to the evaporation tank in the storage tank of the steam generator again. It is a development that the used water is sucked out of a medium range of the service water tank to avoid contamination of the storage tank, by oily on a surface floating oil or by settling on the ground food particles.

The outlet of the water jet pump may be followed by a reversible water diverter to selectively direct the water discharged from the water jet pump to different destinations, e.g. in a waste water tank, a storage tank or a sewer pipe.

It is yet another embodiment that the water tank for use water is a siphon or siphon-like container, which can be filled by collecting water in the bottom of a steam treatment room. Thereby, the water condensed during and after a steam treatment process in the steam treatment room can be discharged. The steam condenses, for example, on the walls of the steam treatment room and accumulates on the bottom side.

In particular, the steam treatment apparatus may have a drain for the condensed (used) water introduced into the bottom, in particular in a deepest part of the floor, which leads into the siphon. The process may be formed, for example, as a nozzle. The siphon may be below the drain.

The siphon may have, especially at its upper portion, a drainpipe, e.g. is connected to the sewer or a waste tank of the steam treatment apparatus and which prevents overflow of the siphon in the steam treatment room. A height position of the drain pipe determines a maximum fill level of the used water held therein.

A suction pipe connected to the suction water inlet of the water jet pump may in particular open into the siphon near the ground or into the bottom of the siphon in order to empty it to its height. The suction line may have a hose-like section for easy installation and assembly. It is particularly preferred if a hose is connected on the one hand to the suction water inlet of the water jet pump and on the other hand to a connecting piece of the siphon.

It is also an embodiment that the steam treatment device is adapted to set a vent of the steam treatment room by means of an optionally filled and emptied siphon. In this case, the siphon is used as a functionally similar to a flap venting element. Depending on whether the siphon is filled or emptied, the siphon prevents or allows venting of the cooking chamber by the water jet pump, e.g. for drying it. In the process, use is made of the fact that, when the cooking space is filled, a gas-technical connection between the cooking space and the areas of the steam treatment device (for example a waste water tank) adjoining the water jet pump is interrupted by the water contained therein. By contrast, when the siphon is empty, such a connection is made and air, moisture, etc. can be withdrawn from the cooking chamber through the siphon, through the suction line and through the water jet pump, e.g. into a waste tank and e.g. continue through a connected to the waste water tank vent line to the outside.

It is also an embodiment that the pressure water inlet of the water jet pump is preceded by a valve and the steam treatment device is adapted to set an activation of the water jet pump (in which water is sucked from the service water tank in the Saugwassereinlass) by means of an actuation period of the valve. If an operating time of the valve is low, no vacuum is built in the water jet pump sufficient and / or maintained long enough to be used water from the service water tank in the Suction water inlet to be sucked in (the water jet pump is "deactivated"). If an actuation period is long enough, a vacuum is built up in the aspirator that is sufficient and / or maintained long enough to draw used water from the service water tank into the suction water inlet (the aspirator is "activated"). The necessary for activation of the water jet pump minimum actuation duration of the valve depends on the specific structure of the steam treatment device. For example, to allow any amount of fresh water to be taken in from the service water tank without adding used water, the valve may be repeatedly actuated (and thus interrupted by pauses) for a period of time less than the minimum duration of operation.

It is also an embodiment that the water jet pump is integrated into a fresh water supply pipe. For this purpose, the water jet pump may be connected to a particular rigid pipe, in particular at the pressure water inlet and at the outlet. To the suction water inlet may e.g. connect a rigid pipe or a flexible hose.

It is also an embodiment that the water jet pump is integrated in a tank lid. This results in a particularly stable and compact arrangement. The tank lid may be a lid of a storage tank of a steam generator or a lid of a waste tank of the steam treatment apparatus.

It is also an embodiment that the steam treatment device is a household appliance.

The steam treatment device may additionally have at least one heating element for heating the steam treatment space, eg electrically operable resistance heating elements, and / or at least one microwave generating device. The steam treatment apparatus may be adapted, for example, for steaming without activation of a radiator and / or the microwave, for cooking without steam treatment or for a combined operation with heating / microwave introduction and steam treatment.

The above-described characteristics, features and advantages of this invention, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more clearly understood in connection with the following schematic description of an embodiment which will be described in detail in conjunction with the drawings. In this case, the same or equivalent elements may be provided with the same reference numerals for clarity.

The single figure shows this as a sectional side view of a sketch of a steam treatment device in the form of a household Dampfgargeräts 1. The household Dampfgargerät 1 has a steam treatment room 2, the front-side charging opening 3 is closed by a door 4. On a rear wall 7 of the steam treatment room 2 there is a partition 5 (for example a baffle or an air-permeable partition), behind which there is an impeller 6 of a blower or fan. Steam can be introduced into the steam treatment room 2, for example by providing a steam generator (not shown) arranged outside the steam treatment room 2, which generates steam and conducts it into the steam treatment room 2. Alternatively, the steam may be generated in the steam treatment room 2, e.g. by heating in an evaporator dish which is mounted on the bottom side in the steam treatment space 2 (not shown).

By turning an impeller 6 arranged on the rear wall 7, the steam is distributed in the steam treatment room 2. The impeller 6 can also be used for generating a circulating air in the steam treatment room 2, e.g. for implementing a circulating air heating function. Generally, one or more radiators may be present for heating the steam treatment room 2 (not shown), e.g. a ring radiator laterally surrounding the impeller 6, a top heat radiator in the region of a ceiling 9 of the steam treatment room 2 and / or a bottom heat radiator in the region of a bottom 10 of the steam treatment room. 2

For example, as shown here in the rear wall 7 opens behind or near the impeller 6, an overflow hole 8 for discharging rising in the steam treatment room 2 water, for example, in clogged outflow from the steam treatment room second The overflow hole 8 is connected via an overflow pipe 11 with a siphon-like sump 12 or Siphonkammer housed in a waste water tank 14. The waste water tank 14 is connected to the ground with an outwardly leading sewer pipe 15. From the drip pan 12 overflowing water W may thus reach the sewer line 15. On the upper side of the waste water tank 14, a vent line 13 is present, By the filled with water W siphon-like sump 12 an open connection of the steam treatment room 2 prevents its environment, from which otherwise unhindered steam could escape.

In the steam treatment room 2 condensing steam runs to the lowest point of the bottom 10, in which an outwardly adjoining drain pipe 16 opens. The drain pipe 16 leads to a siphon 17 and may constitute a part of the siphon 17. The siphon 17 has a container 18 for receiving the effluent 16 flowing through the used water G on. The outlet pipe 16 opens more deeply in the container 18 than a wall side subsequent drain pipe 19. The drain pipe 19 is connected to the sewer line 15 and determines a maximum filling height of the container 18th

At a near-bottom location of the side wall of the container 18 also opens a suction 20 into the container 18. The preferably designed as a hose suction line 20 is connected at its other end to a lifting device in the form of a water jet pump 21, more precisely at the Saugwassereinlass 22. Die Water jet pump 21 is shown enlarged in the section A. If the container is filled with the used water G through the suction line 20, a gas-technical connection between the steam treatment room 2 and the water jet pump 21 is interrupted, otherwise it is opened.

The water jet pump 21 also has both a pressure water inlet 24 connected to a fixed water connection 23 of the household steam cooking appliance 1 and an outlet 25 leading to the collecting trough 12. At the fixed water connection 23 is provided with preferably a pressure P of two bar or more pressurized fresh water F. Between the fixed water connection 23 and the pressurized water inlet 24, a valve 26 is interposed. Specifically, the water jet pump 21 may be integrated into a fresh water supply pipe 27a, 27b by connecting the pressurized water inlet 24 and the outlet 25 to a respective rigid pipe 27a, 27b, respectively are. The rigid tubes 27a, 27b can hold the water jet pump 21. The water jet pump 21 is higher than the siphon 17th

By means of the water jet pump 21 can be largely sucked into the siphon 17 or in its container 18 used useable water G through the suction water inlet 22 and discharged through the outlet 25 into the drip pan 12 largely silently. Through the outlet 25 thus flows a mixture of fresh water F which has flowed through the pressurized water inlet 24 and used water G which has been sucked in from the suction water inlet 22.

The household steam cooking appliance 1 is set up to set an activation of the water jet pump 21 (in which water from the siphon 17 is sucked into the suction water inlet 22) by means of an actuation duration of the valve 26. If an actuation period of the valve 26 is low, no used water G is sucked out of the siphon 17 by means of the water jet pump 21, because either the negative pressure in the water jet pump 21 is sufficient to suck up the used water G and / or because the time for the used water G is not sufficient, to reach the water jet pump 21. This condition is also referred to as a "deactivated" water jet pump 21. On the other hand, when an operation duration of the valve 26 is sufficiently long, a negative pressure is established in the water jet pump 21 sufficient and / or maintained long enough to draw the used water G from the siphon 17, which is also referred to as "activated" water jet pump 21 ,

The household Dampfgargerät 1 can also selectively set a filling state of the siphon 17 and the container 18 between "filled" and "emptied" to allow venting of the steam treatment room 2. In the filled state, the container 18 is filled to over the lower opening of the downcomer 16 and emptied in the deflated condition to below the lower opening of the downcomer 16. In the deflated state, a gas-technical connection between the steam treatment room 2 and the vent line 13 of the waste water tank 14 is produced, via which then the steam treatment room 2 is vented. In the filled state, this connection is interrupted by the used water G in the container 18. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.

Generally, "on", "an", etc. may be taken to mean a singular or a plurality, in particular in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more" etc., unless this is explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression "exactly one", etc.

Also, a number may include exactly the specified number as well as a usual tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Haushaltsgargerät

2

Steam treatment room

3

loading port

4

door

5

separation

6

blower

7

Rear wall of the steam treatment room

8th

Overflow hole

9

Ceiling of steam room

10

Floor of steam treatment room

11

Overflow pipe

12

siphon-like collection tray

13

vent line

14

Waste water tank

15

sewer

16

drain connection

17

siphon

18

container

19

drain pipe

20

suction

21

Water jet pump

22

Saugwassereinlass

23

Fresh water supply

24

Pressure water inlet

25

outlet

26

Valve

27a

Part of a fresh water supply pipe

27b

Part of a fresh water supply pipe

A

neckline

F

fresh water

G

Used water

P

print

W

water

Claims (10)

A steam treatment apparatus (1) comprising a fixed water connection (23), a service water tank (17, 18) and a lifting device for removing the used water (G) from the service water tank (17, 18),
characterized in that the lifting device has a water jet pump (21) with a pressurized water inlet (24), a suction water inlet (22) and an outlet (25), - Wherein the pressurized water inlet (24) is connected to the fixed water connection (23) and the suction water inlet (22) to the service water tank (17, 18) is connected. Steam treatment device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (25) of the water jet pump (21) is connected to a waste water tank (14) of the steam treatment device (1). Steam treatment apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (25) of the water jet pump (21) with a sewer line (15) of the steam treatment device (1) is connected. Steam treatment device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet (25) of the water jet pump (21) is connected to a storage tank of a steam generator (12). Steam treatment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the service water tank is a siphon (17, 18), which can be filled by collecting water (G) in the bottom of a steam treatment room (2). Steam treatment device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the steam treatment device (1) is adapted to a venting of the steam treatment room (2) by means of the optionally filled and emptied siphon (17, 18) adjust. Steam treatment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure water inlet (24) of the water jet pump (21) is preceded by a valve (26) and the steam treatment device (1) is arranged to activate the water jet pump (21) by means of a Set the actuation time of the valve (26). Steam treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water jet pump (21) in a fresh water supply pipe (27a, 27 b) is integrated. Steam treatment device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water jet pump (21) is integrated in a tank lid. Steam treatment device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steam treatment device (1) is a household appliance.

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