Electrical water heating appliances

Abstract

An electrical water heating appliance includes pump means connected to a water heating means via a water flow path. One or more flow-regulating valve means are arranged in the flow path to regulate the flow of water to the heating means so as to achieve a substantially uniform flow rate. The flow-regulating valve means may include a pressure-compensating valve means arranged to achieve a substantially uniform flow rate regardless of the water pressure. A suitable pressure-compensating valve means may include an elastic diaphragm arranged to regulate the flow by distorting in response to the pressure of water entering the valve means. The water heating means may be a water boiler for steam generation.

Description

[0001]This application is entitled to the benefit of, and incorporates by reference essential subject matter disclosed in PCT Application No. PCT / GB2012 / 0050378 filed on Feb. 21, 2012, which claims priority to GB1102971.7 filed Feb. 21, 2011.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Technical Field[0003]The present invention relates to electrical appliances that heat water, and potentially produce steam, for domestic uses. Such appliances include kettles, beverage makers such as coffee makers and tea and other infusion beverage makers, baby milk makers, steam nozzles such as milk frothing wands, steam cookers, steam irons, steam cleaners, wallpaper strippers and other hand-held steam generating appliances. In particular the invention relates to water heating and steam generating appliances that comprise a water pump.[0004]2. Background Information[0005]In any appliance where water is pumped between components it may be desirable to control the water flow rate at least at some points in th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a flow regulating valve that can ensure a uniform flow rate of water to a heating means, such as a boiler, without necessarily controlling the operation of the pump means. This valve means provides an output flow rate different from the input flow rate, resulting in a constant output flow rate regardless of any changes in the input flow rate. The pump means can be delayed until the boiler reaches a predetermined operating temperature, and the electric heating means and pump means can be connected in parallel for one-button operation of the appliance. The start-up time of the appliance is reduced.

Problems solved by technology

Such a valve means may be able to regulate the flow at lower pressures but may not function well over a wider pressure range.

A potential drawback of the valve means comprising a throttling flow path is that the flow path, for example narrowed or baffled portions, may become clogged, for instance by mineral deposits caused by hard water.

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