STEAM TREATMENT APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR CLEANING A STEAM TREATMENT APPLIANCE

Abstract

A steam treatment appliance includes a steam treatment space, a fixed water connection, and a receiving container fillable with fresh water via the fixed water connection and having a discharge opening. Arranged outside the steam treatment space is a steam generator having a water inlet for fluidic connection to the discharge opening of the receiving container and a water outlet for fluidic connection to the receiving container. A cleaning product inlet is fluidically connected to the receiving container. A valve system is switchable between a first switch position in which a closed liquid circuit is formed with at least the receiving container, the steam generator, and a pump while bypassing the steam treatment space, and a second switch position in which the liquid circuit is opened to connect the water outlet of the steam generator to a temporary waste water connection.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A steam treatment appliance, comprising: a steam treatment space; a fixed water connection; a receiving container fillable with fresh water via the fixed water connection and having a discharge opening; a steam generator arranged outside the steam treatment space and having a water inlet for fluidic connection to the discharge opening of the receiving container and a water outlet for fluidic connection to the receiving container; a pump; a cleaning product inlet for fluidic connection to the receiving container; a temporary waste water outlet; and a valve system switchable between a first switch position in which a closed liquid circuit is formed with at least the receiving container, the steam generator, and the pump while bypassing the steam treatment space, and a second switch position in which the liquid circuit is opened to connect the water outlet of the steam generator to the temporary waste water connection.

12. The steam treatment appliance of claim 11, wherein the cleaning product inlet and the temporary waste water outlet are integrated into a combiport.

13. The steam treatment appliance of claim 11, wherein the valve system includes a directional control valve configured to fluidically connect in the first switch position the water outlet of the steam generator to the receiving container and in the second switch position to connect the water outlet of the steam generator to the temporary waste water outlet and to cut off the fluidic connection to the receiving container.

14. The steam treatment appliance of claim 13, wherein the directional control valve is realized in the form of a drawer unit including a casing and a drawer with a filling tray, which can be pulled out of the casing and includes an outlet opening on a bottom side thereof, said casing including a stationary filling neck for fluidic connection to the water outlet of the steam generator, and a stationary outlet pipe that leads to the receiving container, wherein when the drawer is closed the filling tray is fillable via the filling neck with liquid discharged from the steam generator, and the outlet pipe is fluidically connected to the outlet opening of the filling tray, and when the drawer is open the filling tray is fillable via the filling neck with liquid discharged from the steam generator, and the outlet opening of the filling tray is arranged outside the casing of the drawer unit, said drawer being closed in the first switch position of the valve system and being open in the second switch position of the valve system.

15. The steam treatment appliance of claim 14, wherein the drawer unit is arranged above a steam treatment space, wherein the receiving container and the steam generator are arranged to a side of the steam treatment space, and wherein the receiving container is arranged above the steam generator.

16. The steam treatment appliance of claim 11, further comprising three of said pump and a T-piece, with a first one of the pumps being a self-locking pump which is connected to the discharge opening of the receiving container on a suction side and to the water inlet of the steam generator on a delivery side, a second one of the pumps being a self-locking pump which is connected directly to the water outlet of the steam generator on the suction side and to a first connection of the T-piece on the delivery side, and a third one of the pumps being a self-locking pump, said T- piece having a second connection connected to a lockable combiport, said third self-locking pump being connected to a third connection of the T-piece on the suction side and to a pipe leading to the receiving container on the delivery side.

17. The steam treatment appliance of claim 11, further comprising: a siphon via which the discharge opening of the receiving container is connected to the water inlet of the steam generator; and a venturi tube which is disposed in a pipe between the water outlet of the steam generator and the waste water outlet and which includes a take-off pipe connected to the siphon.

18. The steam treatment appliance of claim 11, wherein the receiving container includes a main chamber having a bottom side on which the discharge opening is present, and an overflow chamber which is separated from the main chamber by a dividing wall with a freestanding upper edge and which is connected to an overflow pipe, said steam treatment appliance being set up to detect an overflow of liquid from the main chamber into the overflow chamber and to initiate at least one action when the overflow of the liquid has been detected.

19. The steam treatment appliance of claim 11, wherein the receiving container includes a level sensor, which detects at least a lower level and an upper level in the receiving container, said steam treatment appliance being set up such that depending on a level in the receiving container the steam treatment appliance closes the fresh water connection and opens a connection to the steam generator, or opens the fresh water connection and closes the connection to the steam generator.

20. A method for cleaning a steam treatment appliance, said method comprising: introducing a cleaning product via a cleaning product inlet of the steam treatment appliance; switching a valve system of the steam treatment appliance into a first switch position to enable the cleaning product to circulate in a closed liquid circuit with the aid of a pump being switched on; and switching the valve system into a second switch position to discharge the cleaning product via a temporary waste water outlet.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising integrating the cleaning product inlet and the temporary waste water outlet into a combiport.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising: in the first switch position of the valve system, fluidically connecting a water outlet of a steam generator of the steam treatment appliance to a receiving container; and in the second switch position of the valve system, fluidically connecting the water outlet of the steam generator to the temporary waste water outlet and cutting off the fluidic connection to the receiving container.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the valve system is configured as a drawer unit including a casing and a drawer with a filling tray, said method further comprising: fluidly connecting a stationary filling neck of the casing to the water outlet of the steam generator; in the first switch position of the valve system when the drawer is closed, filling the filling tray via the filling neck with liquid discharged from the steam generator and fluidly connecting an outlet pipe of the casing to an outlet opening of the filling tray; and in the second switch position of the valve system when the drawer is open, filling the filling tray via the filling neck with liquid discharged from the steam generator, with the outlet opening of the filling tray being arranged outside the casing of the drawer unit.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: connecting a first self-locking pump to a discharge opening of the receiving container on a suction side and to a water inlet of the steam generator on a delivery side; connecting a second self-locking pump directly to the water outlet of the steam generator on the suction side and to a first connection of a T-piece on the delivery side; connecting a second connection of the T-piece to a lockable combiport; and connecting a third self-locking pump to a third connection of the T-piece on the suction side and to a pipe leading to the receiving container on the delivery side.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: connecting the discharge opening of the receiving container to the water inlet of the steam generator via a siphon; and connecting a take-off pipe of a venturi tube between the water outlet of the steam generator and the waste water outlet to the siphon.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising: detecting an overflow of liquid from a main chamber of the receiving container into the overflow chamber, and initiating at least one action when the overflow of the liquid has been detected.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising: detecting a level in the receiving container; and depending on the level in the receiving container, closing a fresh water connection and opening a connection to the steam generator, or opening the fresh water connection and closing the connection to the steam generator.

Description

[0098] The properties, features, and advantages of this invention as described above, and also the way that same are achieved will be more clearly and more distinctly understood in conjunction with the following schematic description of an exemplary embodiment, which is explained in detail in conjunction with the drawings.

[0099] FIG. 1 shows a drawing of a steam treatment appliance according to a first exemplary embodiment;

[0100] FIG. 2A shows a drawing of a drawer unit with closed drawer, in the form of a cross-section in a side view;

[0101] FIG. 2B shows a drawing of the drawer unit with open drawer and liquid being added, in the form of a cross-section in a side view;

[0102] FIG. 2C shows a drawing of the drawer unit with open drawer and inserted cleaning product tablet, in the form of a cross-section in a side view;

[0103] FIG. 2D shows a drawing of the drawer unit with closed drawer with inserted cleaning product tablet and liquid being added, in the form of a cross-section in a side view;

[0104] FIG. 3 shows a greatly simplified drawing of a steam treatment appliance according to a second exemplary embodiment; and

[0105] FIG. 4 shows a drawing of a receiving container, in the form of a cross-section in a side view.

[0106] FIG. 1 shows a drawing of a steam treatment appliance 1, which is permanently connected to a fresh water network FWN by way of a fixed water connection 2. The fixed water connection 2 has an electrically switchable inlet valve or shutoff valve 3. When the fresh water connection 2 is open fresh water FW flowing in under pressure falls via an air gap 4 into a main chamber 5a of a receiving container 5. The air gap 4 meets the requirements of IEC 61770.

[0107] The main chamber 5a being open at the top side can therefore be filled with fresh water FW by way of the fixed water connection 2. It has a discharge opening 6 on the bottom side, which is connected via a siphon 7 to a water inlet 8 on the cover side of a steam generator 9. Purely by way of example a steam discharge neck 10 is also present in the cover of the steam generator 9, via which steam D can be introduced into a steam treatment space 29 drawn in only as a directional indicator.

[0108] The steam generator 9 is fitted with a level sensor 11, by means of which a maximum level and a minimum level (e.g. empty status) of liquid in the steam generator 9 can be detected in this case. The steam treatment appliance 1 is equipped such that it can effect switching of the shutoff valve 3 depending on a level detected by the level sensor 11. In a possible development the steam treatment appliance 1 has a control facility 12 for this.

[0109] Furthermore the steam generator 9 has a water outlet 13 in its bottom side, which is fluidically connected to a suction side of a self-locking pump 14. A pressure side of the pump 14 is fluidically connected via a non-return valve 15 to one side of a venturi tube 16. The other side of the venturi tube 16 is fluidically connected to a drawer unit 17. A take-off pipe of the venturi tube 16 is connected via a further non-return valve 18 to the water-carrying zone of the siphon 7.

[0110] The drawer unit 17 has a drawer 19 that can be moved manually and/or by motor, with a filling tray 20. The filling tray 20 serves both as a cleaning product inlet and also as a temporary waste water outlet, i.e. as a combiport. The drawer unit 17 functions in similar fashion to a 3/2 directional control valve. In the valve setting shown a first liquid connection is connected to a second liquid connection in the form of the waste water outlet. A blocked-off third liquid connection is connected to a pipe 21 leading directly to the main chamber 5a. In the other valve setting the first liquid connection and the third liquid connection are connected directly to each other via the filling tray, while the waste water outlet is not available.

[0111] Furthermore the receiving container 5 has an overflow chamber 5b separated by a dividing wall 22 with a freestanding upper side. The overflow chamber 5b has an overflow pipe 23 on its bottom side that leads to a moisture or liquid detector 24.

[0112] The above arrangement can be implemented in a modular construction system as indicated by the dashed-line boxes with an evaporator module VM, a port module PM, an SPV module SM, and an overflow module UM.

[0113] FIG. 2A shows a drawing of the drawer unit 17 with closed drawer 19, in the form of a cross-section in a side view. The drawer unit 17 can be arranged above the steam treatment space 29 for example, and in fact such that the drawer 19 closes flush with a front panel 28 in the closed state.

[0114] The drawer 19 can be pulled out of a casing (top illustration) of the drawer unit 17, and is fitted with the filing tray 20. The drawer unit 17 furthermore has a stationary filling neck 25 connected via the pump 14 to the water outlet 13 of the steam generator 9, and also a stationary outlet pipe 26 that leads via the pipe 21 to the main chamber 5a or corresponds to the pipe 21. With the drawer 19 in the closed state the outlet pipe 26 is connected to a bottom-side outlet opening 27 of the filling tray 20.

[0115] With the drawer 19 in the closed state liquid is let into the filling tray 20 via the filling neck 25, it flows away via the outlet opening 27 into the outlet pipe 26, and in fact under the influence of gravity into the main chamber 5a.

[0116] FIG. 2B shows a drawing of the drawer unit 17 with open drawer 19 and with liquid being added out of the filling neck 25, in the form of a cross-section in a side view. In this case the filling tray 20 can be filled furthermore, via the filling neck 25, with liquid discharged from the steam generator 9. Since the outlet opening 27 of the filling tray 20 is arranged outside the casing of the drawer unit 17 it is then no longer covered by the outlet pipe 26 but instead stands open. If liquid is put into the filling tray 20 through the filling neck 25 therefore it flows away freely through the outlet opening 27. It can then be caught by a collecting container such as a bucket E and disposed of for example.

[0117] FIG. 2C shows a drawing of the drawer unit 17 with open drawer and inserted cleaning product tablet T, now no liquid is being added via the filling neck 25, in the form of a cross-section in a side view. The cleaning product tablet T can simply be inserted by a user for example.

[0118] FIG. 2D shows a drawing of the drawer unit 17 with closed drawer 19 and with inserted cleaning product tablet T and liquid being added via the filling neck 25, in the form of a cross-section in side view. The added liquid dissolves the cleaning product tablet T and thereby brings the associated cleaning product into the main chamber 5a.

[0119] To carry out a steam treatment operation or sequence, in which items to be cooked is exposed to steam, the pump 14 is switched off and therefore set to be fluidically closed. At the start of a steam treatment operation the steam generator 9 is emptied, which is detected by the level sensor 11. Detection of the empty status triggers the shutoff valve 3 to open so that fresh water FW moves into the main chamber 5a and from there flows via the discharge opening 6 and through the siphon 7 into the steam generator 9. This takes place until the level sensor 11 detects a sufficiently high level for operating the steam generator 9. The shutoff valve 3 is then closed and the steam generator 9 or its heating element activated. The steam treatment operation can be carried out with the drawer 19 open or closed.

[0120] To remove residual water from the steam treatment appliance 1 after a steam treatment operation a user can open the drawer 19 and start up the pump 14 with the shutoff valve 3 closed. The pump 14 then pumps residual water located in the steam generator 9 out of the steam treatment appliance 1 via the temporary waste water outlet 20. A user can catch this residual water in a bucket E or similar and dispose of it for example. As the residual water is pumped out of the steam generator 9 a partial vacuum is simultaneously generated at the take-off pipe of the venturi tube 16, due to which residual water standing in the siphon 7 is also sucked out. The non-return valve 15 and the non-return valve 18 prevent the residual water flowing back. When discharge of the residual water is completed the pump 14 can be switched off again and the drawer 19 closed again.

[0121] A cleaning sequence for cleaning water-carrying parts and components of the steam treatment appliance 1 can be broken down, in a variant, into three phases, specifically a phase for introducing the cleaning product, a circulation phase or actual cleaning phase in which the cleaning product is circulated in the steam treatment appliance 1 to clean it, and a subsequent rinsing phase for removing cleaning product residues.

[0122] To introduce the cleaning product a cleaning product tablet T is first inserted in the filling tray 20 and then the drawer 19 closed, as shown in FIG. 2C. Closing the drawer 19 results in a liquid circuit being configured in the steam treatment appliance 1.

[0123] In the circulation phase freshwater FW can first be let into the main chamber 5a by opening the shutoff valve 3, which said fresh water then moves through the siphon 7 and the steam generator 9 to the pump 14. When the pump 14 is switched on the water is pumped further to the filling neck 25 and as a result into the filling tray 20. There the water dissolves the cleaning product tablet T so that liquid cleaning product then moves further into the main chamber 5a. From there the cleaning product is again routed through the siphon 7 and the steam generator 9 to the pump 14, etc. By operating the pump 14 cleaning product is therefore circulated or respectively recirculated in a circuit in the steam treatment appliance 1 and thereby cleans the surfaces coming into contact with it. In particular the cleaning product can have a descaling effect. Once an adequate amount of fresh water FW has flowed in the shutoff valve 3 can be closed again. Activation or triggering of the shutoff valve 3 by the level sensor 11 of the steam generator 9 is not needed in the circulation phase, but can be used in a similar manner in a variant.

[0124] In the rinsing phase the drawer 19 is opened similar to FIG. 2B and the pump 14 activated while fresh water FW is fed in through the open shutoff valve 3. Additionally the fresh water FW can be circulated similar to the circulation phase, only then being discharged via the open drawer 19. This produces the advantage that the pipe 21 is also rinsed through.

[0125] The steam treatment appliance 1 has a valve system with two specifically settable valves, namely the drawer unit 17 in the form of a directional control valve and the pump 14 in the form of a shutoff valve.

[0126] In a first switch position the drawer 19 of the drawer unit 17 is closed and the pump 14 switched on so that a closed liquid circuit is formed bypassing the steam treatment space 29, with at least the receiving container or its main chamber 5a respectively, the steam generator 9, and the pump 14 as components.

[0127] In a second switch position the drawer 19 of the drawer unit 17 is open and the pump 14 switched on so that the circuit is open and a connection is established between the water outlet of the steam generator and the temporary waste water connection.

[0128] In a third switch position provided for steam treatment the pump 14 is switched off.

[0129] FIG. 3 shows a greatly simplified drawing of a steam treatment appliance 31. The steam treatment appliance 31 now has a first pump 32, a second pump 33, and a third pump 34. One or more of the pumps 32, 33, 34 can be realized in the form of self-locking pumps, or a corresponding valve can be assigned to them, for example an electrically switching valve or a non-return valve.

[0130] The first pump 32 is connected to the discharge opening of the main chamber 5a of the receiving container 5 on the suction side, and to the water inlet 8 of the steam generator 9 on the delivery side. A siphon 7 can be provided between the receiving container 5 and the steam generator 9, but is not necessary.

[0131] The second pump 33 is connected directly (i.e. not via a further pump) to the water outlet 13 of the steam generator 9 on the suction side, and to a first connection of a branching piece or T-piece respectively 35 on the delivery side.

[0132] A second connection of the T-piece 35 is connected to a lockable combiport 36. This combiport 36 can be a neck or pipe end that can be optionally closed or opened by a user manually by means of a stopper or some other sealing element for example.

[0133] The third pump 34 is connected to a third connection of the T-piece 35 on the suction side and to a pipe 21 leading to the receiving container 5 on the delivery side.

[0134] In the present case the valve system comprises the three self-locking pumps 32, 33, 34, or otherwise corresponding valves.

[0135] To add or introduce cleaning product in a second switch position of the valve system for example the first pump 32 and the second pump can be switched off and therefore have a blocking effect, and the combiport 36 immersed in a container filled with liquid cleaning product. Switching on the third pump 34 results in the liquid cleaning product being sucked in and pumped into the main chamber 5a. Then the combiport 36 can be closed again. The cleaning product can be diluted if necessary by opening the shutoff valve 3.

[0136] To cause the cleaning liquid to circulate a first switch position of the valve system is engaged, in which all pumps 32 to 34 are switched on and therefore switched to allow passage in the direction of flow.

[0137] To discharge liquid the combiport 36 is opened and the first pump 32 and the second pump 33 switched on while the third pump 34 remains switched off.

[0138] The switch position of the valve system engaged for flushing out residual cleaning product can be similar to discharging liquid, but in this case the shutoff valve 3 is opened at least temporarily to feed in fresh water FW. Previously introduced fresh water FW can also be circulated.

[0139] A steam treatment operation can be implemented for example by the second pump 33 and the third pump 34 being switched off and therefore having a blocking effect, and the first pump 32 only being switched on if the steam generator 9 is to be refilled.

[0140] This construction has the advantage that the receiving container 5, the steam generator 9, and the combiport 36 However, depending on the relative construction height of the receiving container 5, steam generator 9, and combiport 36, one or two of the pumps can also be omitted or a functionally equivalent blocking valve used in place of same.

[0141] In addition a user can utilize the steam treatment appliance such that a container full of cleaning liquid is first connected to the combiport 36, the steam treatment appliance 31 automatically sucks in the cleaning liquid, causes it to circulate and outputs it again into the container after cleaning—where relevant also liquid from a repeat rinse operation.

[0142] FIG. 4 shows a drawing of a receiving container 41 that can be used in place of the receiving container 5 for example, in particular with the steam treatment appliance 31, in the form of a cross-section in a side view.

[0143] The receiving container 41 has a main chamber 41a and a secondary chamber 41b. The discharge opening 6 of the main chamber 41a can be closed off by a valve 42. This can correspond to the pump 32 in the case of the steam treatment appliance 31 for example.

[0144] A level sensor 43, e.g. using a magnetic float switch 44, is present in the main chamber 41a, by means of which a lower level Fu and an upper level Fo (that lies below the height of the upper edge of the dividing wall 43) can be detected in the main chamber 41a.

[0145] This can be utilized for a steam treatment sequence as follows for example: first fresh water FW is filled into the main chamber 41a with valve 42 closed until the level sensor 43 detects that the upper level Fo has been reached. Then the shutoff valve 3 is closed. The main chamber 41a is therefore filled with fresh water FW. If the level sensor 11 of the steam generator 9 then detects the steam generator 9 running dry, or a low level respectively, the valve 42 is opened (e.g. the pump 32 switched on). This results in the fresh water FW being transported into the steam generator 9, resulting in its level rising. When the empty level or low level respectively in the steam generator 9 no longer applies the valve 42 is closed again. Additionally the shutoff valve 3 is opened again when the lower level Fu is reached in the main chamber 41a, and in fact until the fresh water FW reaches the upper level Fo again. This can be repeated as often as required. An advantage of providing the level sensor 43 in the receiving container 41, or in this case the main chamber 41a respectively, consists in the fact that a running-dry of the steam generator 9 needs to be detected, which can be implemented particularly simply and cost-effectively.

[0146] If liquid F in the main chamber 41a rises above the upper edge of a dividing wall 42 separating the two chambers 41, 41b it overflows into the secondary chamber 41b, as indicated by the dotted arrow. An overflow of this type can point to an undesirable constriction in a water-carrying part upstream of the receiving container 41, a possible malfunctioning of a valve, or similar.

[0147] A level sensor 45 is likewise present in the overflow chamber 41b, which can only detect one level however, and which can likewise use a magnetic float switch 46 for example. The overflow pipe 23 is comparatively narrow so that small quantities of overflowing liquid can move into the overflow pipe 23 without the float switch 46 being moved, which reduces the likelihood of false alarms. If the quantity of overflowing liquid is large however, the level in the overflow chamber 45 rises, the float switch 46 is carried upward, and it operates. As a result of it operating at least one action such as closing the shutoff valve 3 can include outputting an indication (optical and/or acoustic signal, sending of a text message, etc.) etc. This variant has the advantage that a detector at the other end of the overflow pipe 23 can be omitted (but does not need to be).

[0148] The present invention is naturally not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown.

[0149] In general “one” etc. can be understood to mean a singular or a plural, 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.

[0150] A statement of a number can also comprise exactly the stated number as well as a customary tolerance range, unless this is explicitly excluded.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0151] 1 Steam treatment appliance [0152] 2 Fixed water connection [0153] 3 Shutoff valve [0154] 4 Air gap [0155] 5 Receiving container [0156] 5a Main chamber [0157] 5b Overflow chamber [0158] 6 Discharge opening [0159] 7 Siphons [0160] 8 Water inlet [0161] 9 Steam generator [0162] 10 0Steam discharge neck [0163] 11 Level sensor [0164] 12 Control facility [0165] 13 Water outlet [0166] 14 Pump [0167] 15 Non-return valve [0168] 16 Venturi tube [0169] 17 Drawer unit [0170] 18 Non-return valve [0171] 19 Drawer [0172] 20 Filling tray [0173] 21 Pipe [0174] 22 Dividing wall [0175] 23 Overflow pipe [0176] 24 Liquid detector [0177] 25 Filling neck [0178] 26 Outlet pipe [0179] 27 Outlet opening [0180] 28 Front panel [0181] 31 Steam treatment appliance [0182] 32 First pump [0183] 33 Second pump [0184] 34 Third pump [0185] 35 T-piece [0186] 36 Combiport [0187] 41 Receiving container [0188] 41a Main chamber [0189] 41b Overflow chamber [0190] 42 Valve [0191] 43 Level sensor [0192] 44 Float switch [0193] 45 Level sensor [0194] 46 Float switch [0195] D Steam [0196] E Bucket [0197] Fo Upper level [0198] Fu Lower level [0199] FW Fresh water [0200] FWN Fresh water network [0201] PM Port module [0202] SM SPV module [0203] T Cleaning product tablet [0204] UM Overflow module [0205] VM Evaporator module