Patent ID: 12253258

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG.1shows an equivalent circuit diagram of a liquid system of a steam treatment appliance1. The steam treatment appliance1may, for example, be an oven with steam treatment function, a microwave appliance with steam treatment function or an oven with microwave and steam treatment function. It has a steam treatment compartment in the form of a cooking compartment2, which can be closed off by means of a door24(seeFIG.5), and a steam generation facility. Here, the steam generation facility is embodied as an evaporator3arranged outside the cooking compartment2. By means of the evaporator3, it is possible for liquid contained therein to be heated, in particular also brought to boiling. During a steam cooking operation, the water vapor that occurs is conducted out of the evaporator3and into the cooking compartment2, in order to steam-cook food that is located there.

The steam treatment appliance1furthermore has a water tank4, which is installed in a fixed manner here, by means of which the evaporator3can be supplied with liquid. The water tank4can be filled with fresh water by means of a fixed water connection5, e.g. by corresponding opening and closing of a locking valve6.

The water tank4is fluidically connected to a suction side or input of a first self-locking pump8via a first connecting piece7. The pressure side or output of the first pump8is fluidically connected to the evaporator3via a second connecting piece9. The second connecting piece9is further connected to an input of a second self-locking pump10. The output of the first pump8and the input of the second pump10are therefore fluidically connected to one another directly via the second connecting piece9.

The output of the second pump10is connected to a port12, e.g. a connection nozzle, via a third connecting piece11. It is possible to connect a liquid line13, such as a hose or the like, to the port12in order to fluidically connect the port to a container14provided on the part of the user, such as a bucket, a decanter or the like. To this end, the liquid line13may be suspended in the container14in a simple manner, for example. The third connecting piece11is furthermore connected to a suction-side input of a third self-locking pump15, which is fluidically connected at its output to the first connecting piece7and moreover to the water tank4. Accordingly, the output of the second pump10and the input of the third pump15are also fluidically connected to one another directly via the second connecting piece9, and the output of the third pump15and the input of the first pump8are fluidically connected to one another directly via the third connecting piece7.

During a steam cooking operation, the second pump10and the third pump15are deactivated and therefore connected in a blocking manner from a fluidic perspective. During operation of the first pump8, water is therefore practically only pumped out of the water tank4and into the evaporator3, in order to supply it with water.

A cleaning operation may be performed as follows, for example:

First, a user connects the port12to the liquid line13and plugs the liquid line13into the container14that is at least partially filled with cleaning liquid. The pumps8,10and15are deactivated in this case.

Subsequently, the third pump15is activated, in order to draw the cleaning liquid out of the container14and to conduct it through the third connecting piece7into the water tank4that may already be partially filled with water. The third pump15is then deactivated. As an alternative or in addition, it is possible for water to be introduced into the water tank4from the fixed water connection5. If the cleaning liquid in the container14is already sufficiently diluted, then no additional water has to be added.

The cleaning liquid can now optionally be left in the water tank4for a certain period of time (“exposure pause”).

In the next step, the first pump8is activated, in order to pump the cleaning liquid out of the water tank4, through the first connecting piece9and into the evaporator3. The first pump8is then deactivated.

The cleaning liquid can now optionally be left in the evaporator3for a certain further period of time (“exposure pause”). Optionally, the evaporator3can heat the cleaning liquid for an increased cleaning effect, but only to a temperature below a boiling temperature (e.g. to 40° C. or 50° C.), in order to prevent cleaning liquid vapor from entering the cooking compartment2.

In a next step, the second pump10is activated, in order to pump the cleaning liquid out of the evaporator3, through the second connecting piece11and through the port12back into the container14. The second pump10is then deactivated.

This procedure can now be repeated multiple times in particular without adding (further) water.

When the cleaning procedure is terminated, this can be followed by a similar rinse cycle. The water used for this purpose can originate from the container14refilled with clear water or from the fixed water connection5.

Alternatively, it is also possible for two or all three pumps8,10,15to be operated simultaneously, e.g. in order to enable an uninterrupted circuit of the cleaning liquid and/or the clear water.

FIG.2shows an oblique view of the steam treatment appliance1in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment without housing and without door. The evaporator3, the water tank4, the pumps8,10,15and the connecting pieces7,9,11are arranged above the cooking compartment2. The fixed water connection5can be connected to an AquaStop valve6, which is able to conduct fresh water into the water tank4via a connection line16which is hose-like, at least in sections. The first connecting piece9is fluidically connected to the evaporator3via a further connection line17. The second connecting piece11is fluidically connected to the port12via another further connection line18. Here, the port12can be accessed on an inner side of the cooking compartment2by a user.

FIG.3shows an oblique view of an enlarged portion of the steam treatment appliance1in the region of the three pumps8,10,15and the connecting pieces7,9,11.

The pumps8,10and15and the connecting pieces7,9,11are arranged and fastened in a water collection dish19, specifically arranged and oriented in parallel adjacent to one another. The pumps8,10and15are in particular of the same kind and have an input nozzle20as input and, above it, an output nozzle21as output, as shown by way of example on the basis of the third pump15.

The connecting pieces7,9and11are embodied as straight-line, tube-shaped connecting pieces, from which two connection nozzles22branch off from the side in the same direction toward the pumps8,10and15in each case. On the end face side, the connecting pieces7,9and11are connected to the water tank4, the evaporator and to the port12, respectively.

The two connecting pieces9and11are arranged in parallel with one another, while the connecting piece7stands obliquely thereto, so that the connecting pieces7,9and11are arranged in an X-shape in relation to one another. In particular, it is possible for two or three of the connecting pieces7,9and11to be connected to one another mechanically, which facilitates the ease of handling thereof e.g. during assembly and results in a particularly reliable arrangement.

FIG.4shows, in a front view of the connection-guiding end faces of the pumps8,10and15, an outline of their fluidic interconnection with the connecting pieces7,9and11.

Returning toFIG.3again, the water collection dish19is used to collect and drain free liquid, such as condensed water, leakage liquid, etc., that is generated at the pumps8,10and15and the connecting pieces7,9and11. In one variant, to this end the water collection dish19opens at a through-hole23in the water tank4, so that the free liquid can drain into the water tank4. In another variant, the water collection dish19is provided (i.e. shaped and arranged) so as to conduct the liquid that it collects into a drain (not shown). In the latter case, it is likewise possible for the through-hole23to be present, specifically in order for liquid that overflows from the water tank4into the water collection dish19to be conducted into the drain. Thus, the water tank4is prevented from overflowing beyond its upper edges.

Here, the water dish19and the water tank4are embodied as a structural part produced in one piece, for example a plastic injection molded part.

FIG.4shows an oblique view of an enlarged portion of one variant of the steam treatment appliance1in the region of the three pumps8,10,15. In this variant, the pumps8,10,15and the connecting pieces7,9and11are not arranged in the water dish19, but rather directly on the upper side of the cooking compartment2. Additionally, a door24which closes off the cooking compartment2on the front side is now drawn.

The present invention is of course not restricted to the exemplary embodiment shown.

In general, “a”, “an”, etc. can be understood as singular or plural, in particular in the sense of “at least one” or “one or more”, etc., provided this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression “precisely one”, etc.

A numerical value can also include the given value as well as a typical tolerance range, provided this is not explicitly excluded.