Patent Publication Number: US-5023926-A

Title: Steam generator for steam baths

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 250,704, filed Sept. 28, 1988 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,343. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a steam generator for steam baths, in particular steam cubicles. 
     A known steam generator for steam cubicles, as described in the literature in CH-636,263, 636,264 and 630,522, heats the evaporation liquid over an evaporation surface in the region of the cubicle floor. Here, the evaporation liquid is recirculated by means of a circulation pump between the collection container and the evaporation surface, and, if required, an additive container is also included in the circuit. The disadvantage of this system is that it requires a system-specific cubicle construction. Thus, this apparatus cannot be used either to combine simple, commercially available shower cubicles or to add to existing cubicles. For this reason, the system has too complicated a construction. Furthermore, it takes too long for the evaporation liquid to be brought to the boil, since after all the entire contents of the tank must be heated up. The system can thus be described as slow. The additive container intended for mixing in is susceptible to deposits and must be cleaned from time to time. A further disadvantage of this additive container is that it cannot be emptied with the means available. Thus, the problem is that the residues are used as a nutrient medium by bacteria, especially when the steam cubicle is not operated for a few days or the additive container is not included in operation. It remains unanswered whether this disadvantage is really avoided in operation by the action of high temperatures and the destruction of the bacteria, since the danger of disadvantageous effects is only reliably eliminated when there are no grounds at all for it. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages. According to the invention, this object is achieved in accordance with the features of the claims. The advantages of the invention are the compact and thus inexpensive construction, the universal applicability for cubicles of all types, the promptness with which it is ready for operation and the complete hygiene without action by the user, and, last but not least, the compulsory circulation of the entire content of the steam cubicle, that is to say of the air-steam mixture. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which: 
     FIG. 1 shows a section through the steam generator, for the use of the steam generator in a cubicle, 
     FIG. 2 shows the use of the steam generator in a shower cubicle, and 
     FIG. 3 shows the use of the steam generator in a bath cubicle, 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The steam generator 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a column-shaped housing 2 of triangular cross section having two side walls 2 I  and 2 II  standing perpendicular to one another. Here, a roof 2III closes the housing 2 to the top, so that the housing 2 has at its top end only two openings, the inlet opening 21 for the surrounding air and a filling nozzle 8 I  for filling up the water tank 8, which is arranged between the roof 2 III  and an intermediate partition 2 IV . In this intermediate space there is also located the ventilator 4 and the electrical apparatus (not shown), such as fuses, main switch, distribution terminals and, where appropriate, a time switch and temperature measurement device. Below the intermediate partition 2 IV , the water bath 3 is accommodated in a pipe-shaped tube 3 II . This tube 3 II  here enables the additive container 6 to be received through its opening ending in the housing 2. This opening is closed in operation by the cover 23, whereby the additive container 6 is attached to it by a chain 24 such that the additive container 6 dips into the water bath 3. In order that the tube 3 II  can contain the water bath 3, it is provided with a floor 3 III . Emptying of the water bath 3 is provided for by a drain cock 10 which can be operated from outside. This procedure can also be automated, for example if the drain cock 10 is constructed as a solenoid valve which is opened by a time clock or the main switch when the device is switched off. 
     The heating 3 IV , which is arranged in the water bath 3 in the form of a wound resistance heater, is part of the function of the steam generator. The size of the water bath 3 is kept small in order that the quantity of the water bath 3 is brought close to the boiling point by the heating 3 IV  as quickly as possible. The air supplied through the ventilator 4 is advantageously introduced through an annular channel at the periphery of the water bath 3 or the surrounding tube 3 II  respectively. The aeration of the water bath 3 by the air supply increases the contact surfaces and intensifies the saturation of the air. The circulation of the air improves the temperature distribution of the steam cubicle, as opposed to the flow of simple convection. Moreover, the circulation returns the water which has become steam into the water bath 3. Thus, the present steam generator 1 operates as a closed circuit, as opposed to the open system of the state of the art. Since the use of additives 5 is an optional measure, the water bath 3 has deliberately been called a water bath and not a liquid bath. The atmosphere of the cubicle is referred to as air, whereby the saturation and supersaturation of the air can naturally also be called steam or steam-air mixtures. 
     The possibilities of arranging the steam generator are shown by FIGS. 2 and 3. Here, the steam generator 1 shown in FIG. 1 is shown inside a shower cubicle 30. If for any reason the installation of the steam generator 1 is desired to be outside the cubicle, then the air inlet 21 and the outlet opening 22 each have added to them an angled channel piece such that a direct connection is formed between the cubicle wall and the steam generator 1. An advantage of this arrangement is that all the electrical installations are located outside the cubicle, and thus the risks of the electric current are additionally reduced for the bath user. It is understood that steam generators of uniform size in accordance with the invention are suitable as modular units for the equipping of steam cubicles or steam baths of any size. Thus, thanks to the invention, a sauna of Finnish design can be converted or added to to give a &#34;Turkish bath&#34;, for example, without difficulty.