Steam generator
AssigneeBlack & Decker Inc.
InventorPeter R. Wilkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steam generator having a block of heat conductive material in one face of which is formed a water chamber for the reception of water to be turned into steam by heat from an electric heater located in the block. The one face has also formed in it, first and second elongate passages each leading from the water chamber to an intermediate transfer area. From each intermediate transfer area extends a transfer path that connects the area to a different one of the steam exits. The steam generator may be used in a hand-held wallpaper steamer used for stripping wallpaper or in a hand-held steamer for removing creases from fabrics.
Claims29
A steam generator comprising:
- a heat conducting member having an inlet for receiving water to be vaporized and first and second groups of spaced steam exits;
- electrical heating means for heating said electrical member;
- and
- passage means formed in said heat conducting member for interconnecting said inlet and said first and second groups of steam exits, said passage means including
- a water chamber, said inlet opening into said water chamber,
- a first pair of elongated passages each having one end opening into said water chamber and extending outwardly away from said water chamber,
- a second pair of elongated passages each having one end in fluid communication with said first pair of elongated passages, said second pair of elongated passages extending to one of said first and second groups of steam exits, the other ends of said second pair of elongated passages being joined together, and
- additional passages also having one end in fluid communication with said first pair of elongated passages and extending to said second group of spaced steam exits.
A hand-held, wallpaper steam for use in stripping wallpaper comprising a housing with a base portion open at one face thereof to form a steam chamber with a peripheral wall, the housing accommodating an electrically heated steam generator having a water chamber to receive water to be vaporized, elongate passage means leading from the water chamber respectively to first and second intermediate areas from each of which extends a further passage leading to a stream exit, the distances along each further passage from the respective intermediate area to the respective steam exit to which the further passage leads being substantially equal, and each steam exit communicating with the steam chamber.
A steam generator for use in apparatus for applying steam to a working surface comprising:
- a body formed of a heat conducting material, said body being generally rectangular in shape and having an upper surface and a lower surface;
- an electrical heating means embedded within said body and operative to heat said body to a temperature sufficient to vaporize water;
- a water receiving chamber formed within said upper surface;
- a first group of steam exits formed adjacent one end of said body and opening outwardly through said lower surface;
- a second group of steam exists formed at the opposite end of said body and opening outwardly through said lower surface;
- first passage means formed in said upper surface of said body for conducting fluid to said first group of steam exits;
- second passage means formed in said upper surface of said body for conducting fluid to said second group of steam exits;
- connecting passage means for conducting fluid from said water chamber to said first and second passage means, said first and second passage means being independent of each other except for interconnections with said connecting passage means, one of said first and second passage means forming a closed loop with opposite ends thereof being connected to said connecting passage means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.