Wallpaper steamer

Abstract: The steamer for use in stripping wallpaper comprises a housing (1) with a handle (13) by which a user manipulates the steamer. The housing (1) accommodates a water tank (2) from which water is pumped by an electrically powered pump (7) in the housing (1) to a water chamber in a steam generator (3) heated electrically. The steam generator (3) has elongate passages joining the water chamber to steam exits in the generator. From the steam exits steam emerges to pass into a steam chamber (6) with a peripheral wall (5) forming part of the housing (1) and having an open face which is held against wallpaper to be stripped.

Description: This invention relates to hand-held, wallpaper steamers for use in stripping wallpaper or other covering secured to a surface by a heat and/or moisture softenable adhesive. US Patent No. 1,518,454 describes and claims a wall paper removing machine comprising a steam generator, a frame supported by the steam generator provided with a back wall having an opening through which steam from the generator may pass, radial perforate pipes in the frame secured to the back wall and communicating with the opening therein so that steam from the generator will be distributed to the radial pipes and be discharged into all parts of the frame at the same pressure, and a packing around the edge of the frame to contact with the wallpaper so that the steam issuing from the pipes will be confined within the area bounded by the packing. Such steamers have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects, particularly when intended for the home user market. For such a market, the steamer must be easy to handle and be effective in use. According to the present invention, a hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in wallpaper stripping comprises a housing accommodating a water tank and a steam generator with an inlet connected to the water tank via an electrically powered pump for pumping water from the tank to the steam generator, the steam generator having a water chamber for receiving water to be vaporised, elongate passages leading from the water chamber to steam exits in the generator and an electrically powered heating element so disposed as to heat the water chamber and the passages characterised in that the housing is contoured to accommodate a base portion having a peripheral wall and a floor about which the wall is located which wall forms an open steam chamber and in which steam from the steam exits enters the steam chambers and in which the steam generator is spaced from the floor to limit heat transfer from the steam generator to the floor. In an alternative embodiment, a hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper comprises a housing with a detachable base portion open at one face to form a steam chamber with a peripheral wall, a steam generator mounted upon the detachable base portion and located internally of the housing when the base portion is attached to the housing, the steam generator having a water chamber for receiving water to be vaporised, elongate passages leading from the water chamber to spaced, steam exits in the generator and an integral electric heating element for heating both the water chamber and the passages and in which steam from the steam exits flows to the steam chamber. In another form, a hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper comprises a housing with a base portion open at one face to form a steam chamber with a peripheral wall, a steam generator accommodated within the housing adjacent the base portion, the steam generator having a water chamber for receiving water to be vaporised, elongate passages leading from the water chamber to spaced steam exits in the orifices, and an integral electric heater disposed so as to heat both the water chamber and the passages, connections from the steam exits to the steam chamber and in which the steam generator occupies an area less than that of the open face of the steam chamber. An embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front, one side and above of the embodiment, Figure 2 is a perspective view similar to that of Figure 1 but with one part shown separated from the remainder of the embodiment, Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view from one side with a part removed to reveal the position of certain internal components, Figure 4 is a general assembly sectional view of the embodiment, Figures 5 and 6 are, respectively, a view from above and a view from below of a further part of the housing of the embodiment, Figures 7 and 8 are, respectively, a section on the lines XV and XVI of Figure 5, Figure 9 is an underneath view of another component of the embodiment, Figure 10 is a plan view of the component of Figure 9 with part removed, Figures 11, 12 and 13 are, respectively, sections along the lines XI, XII and XIII of Figure 10 Figure 14 is a side view of a part of the component of Figure 9, Figure 15 is a plan view of the component of Figure 9, Figure 16 is a section on the line XVI of Figure 15, Figures 17 and 18 are, respectively, a section on line XVIII of Figure 17 and an end view of a component of the embodiment, and Figures 19, 20 and 21 are, respectively, a view from one end, a section on line XX of Figure 19, and a view from the other end of another component of the embodiment. The embodiment now to be described is suitable for steaming wallpaper prior to stripping the paper with a conventional stripping knife. However, the embodiment may also be used when stripping other surface coverings secured to the surface by heat and/or moisture softenable adhesives. The embodiment comprises a hand-held steamer with an "on-board" water supply that is replenishable by a user as necessary. As can be seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the embodiment includes a housing 1 contoured to accommodate a detachable water tank 2, a steam generator 3 and a base portion 4 with a peripheral wall 5, thereby forming a downwardly-open (as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3) chamber 6, hereinafter referred to as a steam chamber. Water from water tank 2 is pumped into a water chamber in the steam generator by an electrically powered pump shown diagrammatically at 7. Energisation of pump 7 is controlled by an electric switch 8 operated by a rocker arm 9. Steam from the steam generator 3 leaves the latter via exit holes in its lower face and emerges into the steam chamber via connectors described below. The housing 1 includes a central portion 10 which extends away from the base portion 4 and has a forward projection 11 beneath which the water tank 2 is located on a flat part 12 of the housing 1. Extending rearwardly from the uppermost part of portion 10 is a handle 13 of generally cylindrical shape and which terminates in a flat end 14 of triangular shape and which is part of the housing 1 thereby forming a handle of a closed loop configuration. The cross-sectional size of the handle 13 in a plane transverse to its length is much smaller than that rear face of portion 10 from which the handle 13 extends. As can be seen, the upper surface (as seen in Figs. 1, 2 and 3) of projection 11 is contoured as at 15 to accommodate the rocker arm 9 that operates the switch 8. Located in the forward projection 11 of the housing 1 is a catch 16 for retaining the water tank 2 in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. As will be explained in more detail below, catch 16 can be actuated by a user to release the water tank 2 prior to detaching the tank from the housing. The catch 16 is so contoured that it is displaced by the tank 2 on initial movement of the latter into the position shown in Fig. 1. On final movement of the tank 2, the catch 16 automatically returns to a tank retaining position. The housing 1 has, on both sides, air holes 17 which allow air to circulate within it so limiting heat transfer from the steam generator 3 to the housing 1. The water tank 2 is of generally cubic form but is contoured to blend in with the contours of the housing 1 when in position thereon. The upper wall 21 of the water tank 2 has a filler hole 22 normally closed by a removable stopper 23. The upper wall 21 also has a rectangular recess 24 which cooperates with catch 16 to retain the water tank in position on the housing 1. The rear wall 25 is recessed as at 26 to accommodate a connector 27 forming part of a water inlet tube 28 inside the water tank 2 and described in more detail below. The connector 27 automatically engages with a short nozzle 29 of pump 7 in the portion 10 of the housing 1 as the water tank 2 reaches its fully home position on the housing. The nozzle 29 is the output nozzle of pump 7 as will be described in more detail. The output of pump 7 is joined by a connector tube 30 to an inlet 31 of the steam generator 3. The housing 1 is of clam shell construction and is formed by two clam shells 18 and 19 which abut along a vertical fore and aft plane through the middle of the steamer. The line is indicated at 20 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The clam shells 18, 19 are moulded from a suitable plastics material for example talc filled polypropylene and are contoured on one face - the inner face - to support the components mounted inside the housing formed when the clam shells are placed together. The clam shells 18, 19 are generally similar as regards their external faces, each providing one half of the following parts of the housing 1 - central portion 10, the forward projection 11, the flat part 12, the handle 13 and the flat end 14. The base portion 4 of the embodiment is shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 and is of generally rectangular form when seen in plan as in Figures 5 and 6. The base portion 4 which is of a plastics material, for example a glass fibre reinforced thermosetting polyester, or a thermoplastic polyester which is preferably glass fibre reinforced, has the peripheral wall 5 whose external shape is contoured as at 63 to merge smoothly with the lower surface of the clam shells 18 and 19 when those parts are assembled together. The gutter 66 is of somewhat greater width at its open or lower face, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8 , across the left-hand edge of the base portion 4 as viewed in Fig. 13, than it is along the side and rear edges of the base portion. This can be observed by comparing the width of the gutter 66 at the left-hand end of Fig. 15 with the width at the right-hand end and with the equal widths at both ends of the base portion as shown in Fig. 16, and this is for aesthetic reasons. The interior contour of the gutter follows that of the wall 5 and the stepped portion 65 of the upturned edge of the floor 64. As can be seen from Figs. 7 and 8 , the wall 5 extends downwardly beyond the lower face of the floor for a short distance to form side walls for the steam chamber 6, the lower ends of the walls being bevelled as shown. The extent of the extension is determined by the need to create a sufficient volume beneath the floor 64 to allow the steam emerging into the steam chamber to disperse evenly throughout the chamber whilst ensuring, at the same time, a concentration of steam that is effective to soften the wallpaper adhesive. In the steamer shown in the drawing, the extension is about 5mm. The base portion has a floor 64 whose periphery is upturned and stepped as at 65 to mate with the step 46 on the clam shells. The upturn is spaced from the wall 5 to form a recess or gutter 66 round the inside of the wall 5. The formation of the recess or gutter 66 strengthens the base portion at its periphery and also serves to collect water as will be described below. The capacity of the gutter 66 is sufficient to retain the condensation that normally occurs during a period of use equal to one filling of the water tank 2. The volume of the condensation is not large because a substantial proportion of the total condensation produced is absorbed by the wallpaper. Another factor bearing on the capacity of the gutter is the extent to which the gutter deleteriously affects the dispersal of steam within the steam chamber and clearly this extent must be small. In the steamer shown in the drawings, the maximum depth of the gutter through its length is about 26mm measured from the lower edge of the wall 5. The maximum width at the lower open end of the gutter is about 14 mm. That maximum occurs along the left-hand edge of the base portion as viewed in Fig. 7 . Elsewhere the gutter width at its open end is about 10mm. The face of floor 64, seen in Fig. 5 and referred to as the upper face, has a series of upstanding strengthening ribs of which rib 67 lies on the longitudinal centre line of the floor and extends almost the full length of the floor. The rib 67 bridges upstanding bosses 68 with stepped bores 69 and nozzles 70 with bores 71 that are of decreasing diameter in a downwward direction towards floor 64. Short transverse ribs 72 extending from rib 67 strengthen the floor 64 as do further transverse ribs 73 interspersed with ribs 72 and extending towards rib 67 from the sides of the floor. Further apertured bosses 74 extend upwardly from the floor 64 in positions that correspond with the bosses 49 on the clam shells 18, 19. The bores of the bosses 74 are also stepped internally but this is not shown in the drawings. The bosses 74 are strengthened by short radially extending ribs 75. In addition to the nozzles 70, the floor 64 has further nozzles 76 located in the positions shown in Fig. 5 and which are identical with the nozzles 70. Areas 77 in the sides of the base portion 4 are bearing areas on which the edges of the clam shells locate when they are assembled to the base portion. The right-hand (as seen in Figs. 5 and 7 ) end has an upstand 78 strengthened on its inside face with short ribs 79. At the end of the upstand 78 are slightly raised portions 80. Upstand 78 locates in the extension 46A in the clam shells and provides an area for the reception of a rating plate as can be seen in Fig. 4. Air holes 81 in the front part of the wall 62 assist in ventilating the interior of the housing. The lower face of the base portion 4 is shown in Fig. 6 , the lower end openings of the bosses 68, nozzles 70 and bosses 74 being correspondingly referenced. Areas in the lower face bounded by lines 82 are recessed slightly with respect to the remainder of the face, the nozzles 70 being located adjacent the inner ends of those areas in regions 83 which are recessed with respect to recesses 82. Raised areas 84 in the contour 63 provide weirs between adjacent sections of the gutter 66 that tend to restrain movement of condensate along the gutter. Located within the housing 1 above the floor 64 is the steam generator 7 and this is shown in more detail in Figs. 9 to 16. As can be seen from Fig. 9 , the steam generator 3 is of generally rectangular form when viewed from above. The generator has a body 85 of a heat conductive metallic light alloy. Projecting from the ends of the body 85 are mounting ears 86 apertured to receive mounting screws (not shown). Cast integrally with the body 85 is an electric heating element 87 of the sheathed, resistance kind and shown in Fig. 14. The ends of the element are indicated at 88 and the path followed by the element is indicated in dotted lines 89 in Fig. 9. As can be seen, the element is looped at one end, the body 85 being locally increased in thickness at 90 to accommodate the loop and other parts of the length of the element. The upper (as seen in Fig. 10 ) face of the body 85 is channelled as will be described below and has a central recess 91 that accommodates a thermally responsive element 92 in good thermal contact with the body 85. The upper face of the body 85 is covered by a cover plate 92 apertured at 93 to give access to the element 92 and at 94. The plate 92 is slightly recessed round the aperture 94. The cover plate 92 is secured to the body 85 in a manner described below. The channelling in the upper face of the body 85 is seen in Fig. 10. The face has a water receiving chamber 95 of circular form when seen in plan as in Fig. 18. The water chamber 95 is located beneath aperture 94 of plate 92. From diametrically opposed positions on the chamber 95 extend passages 96, 97 of serpentine elongate form which are mirror images of each other. The passages 96, 97 terminate in common areas 98, 99 respectively. From the common areas 98, 99 extend further serpentine elongate passages of which two 100, 101 lie along the sides of the body 85 and pass to the right hand (as viewed in Fig. 10) side of the water chamber 95 where they join a common transverse passage 102. In the centre of the transverse passage 102 is a steam exit 103 and while other steam exits 104 are located in the vicinity of the junctions with the transverse passage 102 of the passages 100, 101. Also extending from the common areas 98, 99 are further passages 105, 106 which after merging at 107 diverge in opposite directions to join a common transverse passage 108. In the centre of transverse passage 108 is a further steam exit 109 whilst other steam exits 110 are located in the vicinity of the junctions with the transverse passage 108 of the passages 105, 106. The distances from the common areas 98, 99 along the passages 100 and 101 to the steam exits 104 and along the passages 105, 106 to the steam exits 110 are substantially equal. As can be seen from Fig. 16 , the steam exits 103, 104, 109 and 110 are at the upper ends of respective nozzles 111 formed in the body 85 and that project downwardly from the lower face of the body 85. The locations of the nozzles 111 correspond with those of the nozzles 70 and 76 of the floor 64 of the base portion 4. The looped end of the heating element 87 is located in the general area beneath water chamber 95 thereby ensuring a high heat input to this area sufficient to "flash" water entering the chamber into steam. The lengths and depths of the passages 96, 97, 100, 101, 102, 105, 106 and 108 are such as to provide surface area sufficient to ensure further heating, and therefore drying, of the steam exitting from water chamber 95. The physical mass of the body 85 is related to the electrical rating of the heating element 87 and is such that the latter is able quickly to bring the body 85 to a working temperature. The nozzles 111 provide a slight restriction on the flow of steam from the generator so that steam at the steam exits 103, 104, 109, 110 are at a pressure slightly above atmosphere. Forming the passages and chambers in the same face of the body 85 facilitates manufacture as does the configuration shown of the passages. Fig. 15 also shows that the thermally responsive device is held in the recess 91 by a metal strap 112 secured in place in a manner described below. The device responds to the temperature of the steam generator and operates to keep the latter at a controlled temperature. Joined to the terminals of the device 92 are electrical conductors 113, 114 of which conductor 114 includes a thermal cut-out 115 to protect the steamer generator against over-heating. Conductor 113 is connected to an electrical terminal 116 mounted upon an extension 117 of the base 85 and insulated therefrom. Figures 17 and 18 show in more detail the connector 27 and inlet tube 28 referred to above. The connector 27 is integral with the tube 28 and has a cylindrical portion 139 that fits into a hole in a wall of the water tank 2, inward movement being limited by a flange 140 round portion 139. An annular recess 141 in the outer face of portion 139 imparts a degree of flexibility to the portion. An inwardly extending lip 142 round one end of a central passage 143 through the connector ensures a watertight connection with the short nozzle 29 in the portion 10 of the housing. The inlet tube 28 terminates in an end fitment 144 shown in Figures 19, 20 and 21 of a material denser than water. The fitment 144 is cylindrical with an extension 145 at one end contoured to be entered into and be retained in that end of tube 28 remote from connector 27. The other end of the fitment 144 has a cylindrical recess 146 into which is inserted a porous plug 147 which acts as a filter and prevents small particles entering the tube 27. The plug 147 has a peripheral lip 148 which limits the extent of penetration of the plug 147 into the recess 146 and which also enables the plug 147 to be removed when necessary for cleaning or replacement. During manufacture and prior to placing the components in the housing, it is necessary first to assemble the steam generator. The thermally responsive device 92 is placed in the recess 91. Cover plate 92 is placed in position on the body 85 so that studs 192 extending from the upper face of the body pass through corresponding holes in the cover plate and hole 93 register with device 91. The tops of the studs 192 are then peened over to secure the cover plate 92 to the body 85. Two of the studs 192 are so located that they pass through holes in the metal strap 112 so securing the latter and thus the thermally responsive device 92 in position. The conductors 113 and 114 are then electrically secured to the terminals of the device 92 and positioned as shown in Fig. 15. Conductor 113 is electrically joined to terminal 116 by a suitable jointing tag. Finally, the flexible connector 30 (Fig. 4) is attached to the cover plate 92 by locating the edge surrounding the hole 94 in a channel 194 in the head 195 of the connector. The connector 30 is joined to the pump outlet 191 as will be described below. To assemble the components described above in the housing 1, the rocker arm 9 is located in the cut away 35 in clam shell 18, the bosses 134 being positioned in the semi-circular recess 34. The inclined surfaces 130 of the rocker arm 9 are accessible to a user through the cut away 35, and pivotal movement is limited by the flanges 132 which locate within the clam shells. The switch 8 is then seated in the recessed portion 33A of the rib 33 with the switch terminals painting towards the cable outlet 42 and the rocker 127 lying in the path of the extension 135 of the rocker arm 9. The pump 7 is located in the compartment above the rib 37 with the nozzle 191 pointing downward (as viewed in Fig. 4) and the outlet 29 extending through the adjacent wall of the clam shell 18 via recess 47. In this orientation, the electrical connectors 173 are positioned just below the horizontal part of rib 33. Tank catch 16 is secured in place by inserting the tubular support 153 over the bearing stub 39 so that the serrated surface 164 is accessible through cut away 41 and the hooked end 163 engages the nose of the clam shell 18 adjacent the cut away, i.e. the catch 16 is in the position shown in Fig. 4. The assembled steam generator 3 is then mounted upon the base portion 4. With the base portion in the position shown in Fig. 5 , a gasket seal/connector 118 is placed over each of nozzles 70 and 76, the interconnections 120 being pressed over the nozzles 70 and 76, and the gasket portion 121 seating on the boss 68. The steam generator 7 is then placed in position with the ears 86 seated upon the bosses 68. In so doing, the nozzles 111 of the steam generator engage into the interconnections 120. Screws are then entered through the ears 86 and screwed into the bores in the bosses 68 to secure the steam generator to the base portion 4. The base portion is then engaged with clam shel 18, the stepped edge 65 engaging with the correspondingly stepped edge 46 of the clam shell. These parts are secured together by screws passed upwardly through the bores of two of the bosses 24 and screwed into the bores of bosses 49 in the clam shell. After the base portion 4 has been secured to clam shell 18, the connector 30 (Fig. 4) is pushed on to the outlet nozzle 191 of the pump 7. A neon indicator lamp 197 is located in the recesses 57 in the clam shells 18, 19 and electrical connections are completed between the terminals of the switch 8, terminals of the neon lamp 197, the terminals 88 of the heating element 87 and the conductors of the power lead 198 (Figs. 3 and 4) so that when the latter is connected to a power source, element 87 is energised and the neon lamp lights to indicate energisation, and so that movement to its 'ON' position of the rocker 9 operates switch 8 to its 'ON' position and the coil of the pump is energised. Connected in series with the power supply to the pump is a half wave rectifier, for example a diode (not shown). The second clam shell 19 is then placed in position on clam shell 18 and the base portion 4 and secured in place by screws passed upwardly through the bores in the remaining two bosses 74 in the base portion, and other screws passed through apertures 59A in clam shell 19 and into bores in bosses 59 in the other clam shell 18. The water tank 2 is now assembled by securing the filter 147 in the recess 146 of fitment 144 and the latter is attached to the water outlet tube 28. The fitment 144 and the tube 28 are inserted through hole 150 in the rear wall 25 of the water tank 2 and connector 27 is pressed firmly into the hole. The inset top and rear wall 21, 25 of the water tank 2 allow the edges of the front wall 148 and side walls 149 to locate closely adjacent to the flanges 32B and those edges to blend with the bevels 32A can be seen, for example, in Figure 1. To use the appliance, tank 2 is filled with water via the hole 22 in the upper wall 21 of the tank 2 and the hole closed by the removable stopper 23. The tank 2 is next placed in position on the housing, care being taken to ensure that the projecting extension 29 of the pump 7 passes through the lip 142 and into the connector. As the tank 2 is placed in position, the upper wall 21 of the tank comes into contact with the bevelled face 160 of the projection 159 and displaces it by flexing the lower part of the wall 157. As the tank reaches its final position, projection 159 snaps into recess 24 to hold the tank 2 in position in the housing 1. The power lead is then connected to a source of power and the neon lamp glows indicating that element 87 is energised. The user allows a short time for the steam generator to reach a working temperature and then rocker arm 9 is actuated to its 'ON' position so operating switch 8 and energising the pump. Energisation and de-energisation of the pump occur at about 25 cycles per second and this gives a continuous floor of water whilst the pump is operating. Water is pumped via connector 30 into chamber 95 where it is flashed into steam by the heat of the body 85. The generated steam flows along passages 96 and 97 to intermediate areas 98, 99 and thence to the outlet nozzles 70 where it emerges into the steam chamber 6 and rapidly fills the latter. The serpentine passages between the water chamber 95 and the nozzles 70 allow the steam to be dried so that by the time it exits from the nozzles, the moisture content is very low. At this stage, the base portion is placed against an area of wallpaper to be stripped, the edge of the peripheral wall 62 being pressed against the wallpaper. Steam confined in the chamber permeates through the wallpaper and rapidly softens the adhesive holding the wallpaper in position. The steamer is then moved to an adjoining area of wallpaper while the user scrapes off the wallpaper covering the area. It is not necessary to maintain the pump energised continuously, the user may return the rocker arm to its 'OFF' position during movement of the steamer from one area of wallpaper to another. The water capacity of the tank 2 in conjunction with the rating of the heating element 85 and the pumping rate of pump 7 is such that the steamer can be used for about 20 minutes before the tank 2 needs refilling. The pumping rate is about 25ccm/min. A water tank capacity of about 400 ccm in conjunction with a heating element rated at 1.2 kilowatts provides the time just referred to. The mass of the steam generated in conjunction with a heater of the rating mentioned vaporises water feed into chamber 95 and heats the vapour to a temperature of 120°C nominal measured in the chamber 6. Steam from the nozzles 70 enters the chamber at a pressure sufficiently high to ensure that the chamber 6 is quickly filled with steam and kept filled. This action is assisted by the recessed areas 82 and 83. The parameters just referred to allow the steamer to be of a size and weight that can be conveniently hand-held and used without excessive strain on the user. In addition, for an average wallpaper, the time that the user takes to strip an area that has just been steam treated is about equal to the time that the steamer takes to soften the adhesive in that area. The rating of the heater also means that the steamer is suitable for use in domestic premises. It will be appreciated that the bulk of the steam generator 3 is spaced from the floor 64 of the base portion 4. The ears 86 by which the generator is mounted upon the bosses 68 are thermally insulated by the parts 121 of the gasket seal/connector while the connectors 120 are interposed between the nozzles 111 of the steam generator and nozzles 70 and 76 in the floor 64 of the base portion. This ensures that the base portion which is accessible to a user always remains at a relatively low and safe temperature whilst it is in use. The steamer is normally used with the water tank 2 uppermost and in that position, it will be observed, for example from Fig. 4, that the steam generator 3 is located towards the lower end of the steam chamber 6 and that is a greater distance between the upper side of the steam chamber and the upper of the nozzles 70 and 76 than between the lower edge of the steam chamber and the lower of the nozzles 70 and 76. This siting of the generator relative to the steam chamber improves the distribution of steam in the chamber. The steamer can also be used in the removal of paper from ceilings. In that case, the chamber 6 is uppermost. Any condensation that forms on wallpaper during the steaming of an area of wallpaper on a ceiling tends to fall into the steam chamber where it collects in the gutter 66. The condensation may be discharged from the gutter 66 by simply returning the steamer to an upright position and allowing the condensation to run away.

Claims: A hand-held wallpaper steamer for use in stripping wallpaper comprising a housing (1) accommodating a water tank (2) and a steam generator (3) with an inlet (31) connected to the water tank (2) via an electrically powered pump (7) for pumping water from the tank (2) to the steam generator (3), the steam generator (3) having a water chamber (95) for receiving water to be vaporised, elongate passages (96), (97), (100), (101), (102), (105), (106), (108),leading from the water chamber to steam exits (103), (104), (109), (11)0 in the generator and an electrically powered heating element (87) so disposed as to heat the water chamber (95) and the passages, the housing (1) is contoured to accommodate a base portion (4) having peripheral wall (5) and a floor (64) about which the wall (5) is located which wall (5) forms an open steam chamber (6) and in which steam from the steam exits (103), (104), (109), (110) enters the steam chamber (6), and in which the steam generator (3) is spaced from the floor (64) to limit heat transfer from the steam generator (3) to the floor (64). A steamer according to claim 1 characterised in that the water tank (2) is detachable from the housing (1) and means (16) are provided for releasably securing the tank (2) in position on the housing (1). A steamer according to claim 2 characterised in that the housing (1) has a first mating portion (29) of a water connector and the tank (2) a second mating portion (27) of the connector, the portions (27), (29) moving into mating engagement as the tank (2) is moved into its position on the housing (1). A steamer according to any of claims 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that water passes from the tank (2) to the pump (7) via a feed tube (28) located within the tank (2) and having a water inlet (144) at one end which is weighted to an extent sufficient to keep the water inlet below the surface of water in the tank (2) regardless of the orientation of the latter. A steamer according to claim 4 characterised in that the weighted end (144) incorporates a filter (147) for preventing the entry into the feed tube (28) from the tank (2) of deleterious particulate matter. A steamer according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the pump (7), in use, provides a continuous supply of water at a controlled rate to the steam generator (3). A steamer according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the base portion (4) is detachably secured to the housing (1) and the steam generator (3) is mounted upon the base portion (4). A steamer according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the steam generator (3) occupies an area which is less than that of the open face of the chamber (6). A steamer according to any of the preceding claims characterised in that the steam from the steam exits (103), (104), (109), (110) enters the steam chamber (6) via a first series of spaced orifices that are located adjacent one end of the steam chamber (6) and via a second series of spaced orifices at a location that is spaced from the other end of the steam chamber (6) by a distance that is greater than that separating the first series from the adjacent one end. A steamer according to any of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that the floor (64) has connecting means which co-operate with the steam exits from the steam generator to transfer steam from the exits to the steam chamber. A steamer according to any of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that the steam generator is mounted upon the floor, via heat insulating means (121) so arranged as to limit heat transfer from the steam generator to the floor. A steamer according to claim 11 characterised in that the heat insulating means (121) also interconnect the steam exits and the connecting means. A steamer according to any of claims 1 to 13 characterised in that it comprises first and second elongate passages (96), (97) each leading from the water chamber to an intermediate area (98), (99) from each of which extends a further passage (100), (101), (105), (106) leading to the steam exits (103), (104) the distances along each further passage (100), (101), (105), (106) from the intermediate area (98), (99) to the steam exit to which the further passage leads being substantially equal.

Inventors: WILKINS PETER RAVENSCROFT, WILKINS, PETER RAVENSCROFT
Applicants: BLACK & DECKER INC, BLACK & DECKER INC.
Application year: 1987
Main classification: B44C7
IPC codes: B44C7, D06F75, F22B1