US 11,815,261 B2 · Steam generator, and system for steam cleaning workpieces

Abstract

A device for cleaning workpieces with a steam jet is proposed, with a special steam generator in which the steam is generated in a hollow cylindrical core, whose outer side is heated and onto whose inner side the water to be vaporized is sprayed by means of a nozzle. The steam generator has a supplementary heating device with a heatable body having a cavity through which steam generated upstream can flow for post-heating it, in order to generate dry steam for dry steam cleaning. An automated cleaning system with this steam generator is also proposed. The device can be adapted flexibly to the requirements of automated synchronized production and requires, in particular, less energy and floor space. The invention can be used, among other things, in industrial cleaning in manufacturing systems engineering, in particular in the production of automotive parts.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A steam generator (1) for generating dry steam for an automated industrial cleaning system (30) for cleaning workpieces by means of a steam jet, comprising

a steam generator container with a water inlet (5) and a steam outlet (9);
a heatable core (2) of thermally conductive material arranged in the steam generator container and having an inner primary cavity and an inner surface (2A);
a primary heating device (8) for heating the core (2);
a spray nozzle (6) connected to the water inlet (5) and arranged to spray water in a dosed manner onto the inner surface (2A) of the core (2);
and
an additional supplementary heating device (10) provided in the steam generator container upstream of the steam outlet (9) and at least partially inside the core (2);
wherein
the supplementary heating device (10) comprises a heatable body (10A) having a secondary cavity (11) through which steam (13) generated upstream in the primary cavity of the core (2) can flow for post-heating it to dry steam (14) and which is connected at an inlet side via a passage opening (12) to the primary cavity of the core (2) and at an outlet side to the steam outlet (9).

5 more elements

An industrial cleaning system (30) for cleaning workpieces by means of a steam jet, comprising:

a cleaning chamber (31) with at least one steam nozzle (32) in the cleaning chamber,
a handling device (48) capable of positioning a workpiece and the at least one steam nozzle relative to one another;
and
at least one steam generator (1), which supplies the steam nozzle with steam, the at least one steam generator (1) comprising:
a steam generator container with a water inlet (5) and a steam outlet (9);
a heatable core (2) of thermally conductive material arranged in the steam generator container and having an inner primary cavity and an inner surface (2A);
a primary heating device (8) for heating the core (2);
a spray nozzle (6) connected to the water inlet (5) and arranged to spray water onto the inner surface (2A) of the core (2);
and
an additional supplementary heating device (10) provided in the steam generator container upstream of the steam outlet (9) and at least partially inside the core (2), the supplementary heating device (10) comprising a heatable body (10A) having a secondary cavity (11) through which steam (13) generated upstream in the primary cavity of the core (2) can flow for being post-heated (14) and which is connected at an inlet side via a passage opening (12) to the primary cavity of the core (2) and at an outlet side to the steam outlet (9).

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Steam generator, and system for steam cleaning workpieces

Life of this patent

Steam generator, and system for steam cleaning workpieces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19