ES2885098T3 - Boiler - Google Patents

Abstract

Boiler to generate steam and/or heat water, comprising a metal container (12) hermetically sealed and provided with at least one supply opening (14) to introduce water inside, said boiler comprising a heating element (18) associated with said container (12), said container (12) comprising a first shell (12a) and a second shell (12b) coupled and hermetically sealed together along respective peripheral edges, wherein said boiler comprises an opening of water discharge (22) and a discharge pipe (26) connected to said discharge opening (22), wherein the discharge opening (22) is arranged in correspondence with the bottom of the container (12), or at its proximity, wherein said discharge pipe (26) is arranged at the bottom of a side wall (13) of the container (12), is inclined downwards with the container (12) positioned horizontally, and protrudes outwards with respect to said side wall (13), the boiler also comprising a collection cover (30), associated during use with said discharge pipe (26), said collection cover (30) being arranged during use completely outside and protruding from said container (12), said collection cover (30) being internally provided with a cavity (38) configured to house and retain the lime inside.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Boiler

field of invention

The present invention relates to a boiler for generating steam and/or heating water, which can be used in household appliances and professional machines such as, for example, ironing or cleaning appliances, coffee machines, steamers for cooking food, steam ovens and the like.

Background of the invention

The boilers used to generate steam and/or selectively heat water in household appliances and professional machines normally comprise a hermetically sealed metal container, provided with at least one inlet opening to introduce the water inside, and an opening for outlet, to discharge the water from the container.

According to some embodiments, at least in the case of boilers associated with ironing or cleaning apparatus, the boiler also comprises an opening for steam to escape.

There is normally a heating element associated with the metal container, usually a resistor or electric plate, selectively turned on to generate the desired amount of steam and/or bring the water to the desired temperature.

Boilers normally comprise one or more detection devices to detect the temperature and/or pressure inside the metal container, in order to control them, both to verify that they reach the desired value and to prevent them from exceeding certain thresholds that can damage the metal container and the boiler itself.

It is known that when the boiler is used and due to the heating of the water, lime formations are generated inside the metal container, consisting of calcium carbonate and/or other minerals such as magnesium, potassium, silicon, etc. , normally dissolved in water.

These limescale formations can settle and form increasingly thick scales on the inner walls of the metal container.

A problem that these lime formations can cause is that, when the lime is deposited in correspondence with the heating element, or on the wall that cooperates with the heating element, it reduces its heating effect.

The incorrect transmission of heat by the heating element to the water inside the container can therefore lead to a waste of energy, requiring a higher consumption to heat the water correctly.

Likewise, since the devices to detect temperature and/or pressure are generally installed outside the metal container, the detection is influenced by the presence of lime deposits inside, in correspondence with the external portion where they are placed.

In fact, the minerals that make up lime scale are heat insulators, so they can delay or distort the detection of temperature and/or pressure inside the metal container.

Incorrect or delayed detection of temperature and/or pressure can lead to safety threshold values being exceeded and therefore can damage the boiler.

Likewise, if the lime remains in suspension, it could come out of the container through the possible steam outlet, blocking the hydraulic circuit through which the steam comes out and/or the devices that regulate it.

Document US 5,345,704 describes an iron comprising a compartment for containing steam, integrated in the iron, connected to a descaling opening. The descaling opening is provided with a removable collector arranged inside the iron. Lime accumulates inside the removable collector when the iron is placed on its heel, that is, in a vertical position.

One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a boiler for generating steam and/or heating water that makes it possible to limit the formation of limescale inside the metal container.

Another purpose is to provide a boiler that allows to remove, simply and quickly, the scale that has formed inside the metal container.

Another purpose is to supply a boiler to generate steam and/or heat water that is simple and economical, but at the same time reliable and durable.

Another purpose is to provide a boiler that avoids wasting energy to heat the water inside it.

The Applicant has devised, tested, and embodied the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

Summary of the invention

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In accordance with the above purposes, a boiler for generating steam and/or heating water comprises a container capable of containing water, provided with a feed opening to introduce water inside and a discharge opening to remove water and possible scale deposits. lime from the container.

According to some embodiments, the boiler also comprises a steam outlet opening, associated with emitting devices to regulate the steam outlet.

A discharge pipe is associated with the metal container, connected and arranged projecting outwards with respect to a side wall of the metal container in correspondence with the discharge opening, to facilitate the outflow of water.

The discharge pipe is arranged in the lower half of the lateral wall of the metal container and is at least slightly inclined downwards, to facilitate the water discharge operations.

A collection cap is associated with the discharge pipe during use, configured to collect the scale present in the water inside the metal container.

Thanks to this configuration, no flow of water or steam passes through the collection cover during operation, when the collection cover is closed and the boiler is working. In addition, thanks to the position and configuration of the discharge pipe, the collection cover is constantly wet by water, thus promoting the accumulation of lime.

The collection lid is arranged, during use, protruding and completely outside with respect to the container and has inside it a cavity suitable for housing and retaining the lime.

According to other embodiments, lime retaining elements may be provided within the cavity, such as pads, metal mesh or the like.

Brief description of the drawings

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given by way of non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings, in which: - fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a boiler for generating steam in accordance with the embodiments described herein;

- fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of fig. 1 according to the embodiments described herein.

For ease of understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to identify common identical elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and features of one embodiment may be conveniently incorporated into other embodiments without further clarification.

Detailed description of some embodiments

The embodiments described herein, with reference to Figs. 1-2, refer to a boiler 10 for generating steam and/or heating water, which can be used in household appliances and professional machines such as, for example, ironing or cleaning appliances, coffee machines, steamers for cooking food, steam ovens and Similar.

The boiler 10 comprises a metal container 12 capable of containing the water that will be transformed into steam, hermetically sealed and provided with a supply opening 14 to introduce the water inside.

The container 12 comprises a first shell 12a and a second shell 12b, coupled and hermetically sealed together along respective peripheral edges, to resist pressure generated inside. of container 12.

The container 12 is also provided with a discharge opening 22 to allow the discharge of the water and/or possible lime, present in the container 12.

The discharge opening 22 is arranged in cooperation with the bottom of the container 12, or in the vicinity thereof, to facilitate the operations of discharging the water and emptying the container 12.

According to some embodiments, the container 12 can also be provided with a steam outlet opening 5 connected to devices for emitting and regulating steam 16.

Boiler 10 also comprises a heating element 18 associated with container 12, selectively activated to heat the water therein. The heating element 18 can be a resistance or an electric plate, placed outside the container 12, in contact with the bottom, or inside it, in direct contact with the water to be heated.

In accordance with some embodiments, the boiler 10 may also comprise one or more sensing devices 20 configured to sense the temperature and/or pressure within the vessel 12, disposed on an external surface 24 of the vessel 12.

A discharge pipe 26 is also provided, connected to the discharge opening 22 and arranged projecting outwardly with respect to a side wall 13 of the container 12.

The discharge pipe 26 is provided at the bottom of the side wall 13 and is inclined downwards, with the container 12 located in a horizontal position, to promote the discharge of water from the container 12.

According to some embodiments, the discharge pipe 26 is connected to the container 12 by screwing, providing a mating thread, suitable for reciprocal coupling, on the respective contact surfaces of the discharge opening 22 and the discharge pipe 26.

According to different embodiments, the discharge pipe 26 is connected to the container 12 by welding, to make the two parts solid with each other.

The boiler comprises a collection cover 30, associated in use with the discharge pipe 26 and configured to close the discharge pipe 26 and collect lime from the water present within the container 12.

Thanks to the low position of the discharge pipe 26 on the side wall 13 of the container 12, and to its slightly downward sloping arrangement, the collection cover 30 is constantly wetted by the water inside the container 12, which promotes the accumulation of lime inside.

According to some embodiments, the collection cap 30 and the discharge pipe 26 are provided with respective threaded portions 34, 28 to allow a reciprocal screw-releasable engagement. The collection lid 30, during use, is arranged completely projecting and external with respect to the container 12, and inside it has a cavity 38, suitable for housing and retaining the lime.

According to possible implementations, the cavity 38 is cylindrical in shape or has a polygonal section, defined by one or more side walls 38a and a bottom wall 38b.

Cavity 38 extends continuously with discharge opening 22 and discharge pipe 26, and can receive liquid present in container 12.

According to possible embodiments, the cavity 38 has an internal volume suitable for containing at least 5 ml of fluid.

According to other different embodiments, the cavity 38 has an internal volume suitable for containing at least 7 ml of fluid.

According to possible embodiments, the cavity 38 has an internal volume suitable for containing at least 10 ml of fluid. In this way, the maintenance operations on the boiler 10, in particular those aimed at descaling, can be carried out less frequently, while still ensuring that the boiler 10 works efficiently.

According to some embodiments, the collection cover 30 comprises a collection body 32, in which the cavity 38 is made.

According to possible solutions, the collection body 32 comprises the threaded portion 34, coinciding with the threaded portion 28 provided on the external surface of the discharge pipe 26.

According to possible solutions, the collection body 32 can be made of a metal material or a heat-resistant plastic material, that is, it does not tend to deform at the temperatures that the container 12 or the water and/or steam can reach. inside.

According to some embodiments, the collection cap 30 also comprises a clip 36, solid with the collection body 32 and shaped to facilitate the user's grip to screw/unscrew the collection cap 30 with respect to the discharge pipe. 26.

According to possible solutions, the clip 36 may have, on an external surface, projections and/or bumps that function as friction elements and thus facilitate gripping by a user.

According to other embodiments, inside the cavity 38 there may be elements to retain the lime 40, such as, for example, pads, metal meshes or the like, with the function of catalyzing and/or improving the accumulation of lime inside. collection cover 30.

When the boiler 10 is operating, especially when water is introduced into the container 12, the level of the water inside it fluctuates. Such fluctuations promote the deposition of lime inside the cavity 38 of the collection cover 30.

According to some embodiments, the user can remove the collection cap 30 simply and quickly to discharge the water from the container 12, simply by unscrewing it from the discharge pipe 26. Its configuration also allows viewing the level of lime present in it. , and remove it easily, emptying cavity 38.

According to other different embodiments, the container 12 and/or the discharge pipe 26 can be shaped so that the collecting lid 30 slopes downwards.

In this way, the deposition of lime inside the cavity 38 can be further promoted, thanks to the force of gravity.

According to some embodiments, a sealing element 42 is provided between the discharge pipe 26 and the collection cover 30, configured to guarantee hydraulic tightness between them, preventing possible water leaks to the outside.

It is apparent that modifications and/or additions to boiler 10, as described hereinabove, can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will undoubtedly be able to carry out many other equivalent forms of the boiler 10, having the characteristics set forth in the claims and that, therefore, fall within the field of protection defined in them.

Claims (7)

1. Boiler to generate steam and/or heat water, comprising a metal container (12) hermetically sealed and provided with at least one supply opening (14) to introduce water inside, said boiler comprising a heating element ( 18) associated with said container (12), said container (12) comprising a first shell (12a) and a second shell (12b) coupled and hermetically sealed together along respective peripheral edges, wherein said boiler comprises a water discharge opening (22) and a discharge pipe (26) connected to said discharge opening (22), wherein the discharge opening (22) is arranged in correspondence with the bottom of the container (12), or in its vicinity, wherein said discharge pipe (26) is arranged in the lower part of a side wall (13) of the container (12), is inclined downwards with the container (12) located in a horizontal position, and protrudes towards the outside ior with respect to said side wall (13), the boiler also comprising a collection cover (30), associated during use with said discharge pipe (26), said collection cover (30) being arranged during use completely outside and protruding from said container (12), said collection cover (30) being internally provided with a cavity (38) configured to house and retain the lime inside. Boiler according to claim 1, characterized in that said cavity (38) extends continuously with said discharge opening (22) and said discharge pipe (26). Boiler according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said cavity (38) has an internal volume suitable for containing at least 7 ml of fluid. Boiler according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said cavity (38) has an internal volume suitable for containing at least 10 ml of fluid. 5. Boiler according to any preceding claim, characterized in that there are lime retention elements (40) inside said cavity (38), such as pads, metal meshes or the like, with the function of catalyzing and/or improving the accumulation of lime inside the collection cover (30). Boiler according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said container (12) and/or said discharge pipe (26) are shaped in such a way that said collection cover (30) is inclined downwards. Boiler according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said collection cover (30) and said discharge pipe (26) are provided with respective threaded portions (28, 34) to allow releasable alternative coupling by threading.