Evaporator for a domestic steam cooking appliance and domestic steam cooking appliance with steam treatment drawer

Abstract

Evaporator (12, 13) for a domestic steam cooking appliance (1) having a steam generation unit (12) and a water tank (13), wherein the steam generation unit (12) has a heatable evaporator plate (41) with an open upper side and an adapter plate (42) which can be placed onto the open upper side of the evaporator plate (41) on the user side, the adapter plate (42) having a steam escape opening (12a) for the escape of steam (D) and a receiving recess (45) with a water passage (46) for the placement of the water tank (13) on the user side, and the water tank (13) having a water discharge opening (40) for the discharge of water into the evaporator plate (41). The invention can be applied particularly advantageously in a domestic cooking appliance having an upper located hob and a steam treatment drawer arranged below the hob.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an evaporator for a household steam cooking appliance. Furthermore, this invention relates to a household steam cooking appliance having at least one such evaporator. The invention is particularly advantageously applicable to household cooking appliances having an upper stove and a steam handling drawer arranged below the stove, the steam handling drawer having the evaporator. Background Technology

[0002] In order to generate steam in the case of household steam cooking appliances, either a closed steam generating unit arranged inside or outside the steam processing chamber is used, or an open steam generating unit (e.g., in the form of a water pan capable of being heated) is used inside the steam processing chamber.

[0003] The closed steam generation unit is typically fixedly installed in the appliance and is cleaned or decalcified by pumping out residual water and performing a cleaning or decalcification process, which requires adding a decalcifying agent to the internal water circulation. The disadvantages of this approach are high structural costs and the workload for the user in performing the cleaning process.

[0004] The open steam generating unit is also typically fixed in the appliance, but it is accessible to the user and is manually cleaned and decalcified by the user, for example, by wiping or wetting with a decalcifying agent. The disadvantage of this approach is the high amount of work required for cleaning, especially decalcification, for the user. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and, in particular, to provide a possibility for cleaning, especially calcium removal, in an improved manner with a structure that can be easily implemented and is cost-effective.

[0006] This task is accomplished through the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments can be derived, in particular, from the dependent claims.

[0007] This task is solved by an evaporator used in household steam cooking appliances, which has a steam generating unit and a water tank, wherein,

[0008] The steam generating unit has a heatable plate (“evaporator plate”) that can be removed from the user side, and the plate has an open upper side.

[0009] The steam generating unit has a plate or cover (“adapter plate”) that can be mounted on the open upper side of the evaporator plate at the user's side.

[0010] The adapter plate has a steam vent opening and a recess (“receiving recess”), the steam vent opening for steam to escape, and the recess having a water inlet for inserting the water tank into the user's side.

[0011] The water tank has a drain outlet for discharging water into the evaporator plate.

[0012] This design offers the following advantages: all water and steam guiding components of the evaporator can be removed from the user's side, for example, for emptying the water or for cleaning (including decalcification). Furthermore, this structure can be implemented particularly easily and cost-effectively because it eliminates the need for hoses, pumps, etc., which pose a risk of calcification. The decalcification process, in which a decalcifying agent is supplied to the calcified components of the evaporator via a water system, can also be eliminated. More specifically, the evaporator tray, adapter plate, and water tank can be removed by the user and subsequently cleaned in a simplified manner. Residual water can also be easily poured out into the kitchen sink via the evaporator tray after the steam treatment process. In particular, one or more of these components can be dishwasher-safe and therefore can be cleaned particularly easily in a dishwashing machine. In addition, the reduced number of water and steam guiding components lowers the risk of leaks.

[0013] The adapter plate offers the following advantages: it provides a steam-proof seal for the evaporator pan in a structurally simple manner, preventing uncontrolled steam escape from the steam generation unit. To this end, the evaporator pan and the cover-like adapter plate form, or confined, steam chambers where steam generated by boiling water in the evaporator pans is held before it escapes selectively from the steam vent openings. Another advantage of the adapter plate is that its design allows for defined steam guidance from the evaporator pans to the steam vent openings, depending on the type of integrated steam supply channel. Water condensed on the walls of the adapter plate can easily flow back into the evaporator pans. Yet another advantage is that the adapter plate thermally insulates the water tank from the evaporator pans, thereby reducing heat loss during steam generation.

[0014] An evaporator for a household steam cooking appliance should be understood as an evaporator designed for placement in and operation within a household steam cooking appliance.

[0015] The "user-insertable" or "user-placeable" components of the evaporator should be understood in particular as components designed for insertion or placement and removal by the user (and not only by service technicians or similar personnel), especially from above or upwards. That is, the evaporator is modularly constructed such that, for example, the water tank can be removed separately from the adapter plate. This has the advantage that the user can easily replenish water even during ongoing steam processing or while the steam generating unit is running. For example, the adapter plate can also be removed from the evaporator plate along with the still-placed water tank. Furthermore, the evaporator plate, for example, can be removed from the household steam cooking appliance along with the adapter plate and possibly also along with the water tank (and thus, in practice, the entire evaporator), which significantly simplifies operation for the user.

[0016] One extension is that the water tank can be removed by means of at least one retaining handle disposed on the water tank and / or by means of an automatic lifting device. The automatic lifting device can, for example, lift the water tank slightly upward from the receiving recess after a manual user action (e.g., pressing down on the water tank, pressing a button, etc.) to make the water tank easier to grip.

[0017] One extension is that the receiving recess of the adapter plate and the water tank can be precisely shaped to fit together, so that the water tank, inserted into the receiving recess, is shape-locked or fits securely within the receiving recess. This results in the advantage of a particularly compact and stable structure.

[0018] The heatable evaporator plate is in particular a plate made of a material that is at least partially thermally conductive, has an open upper side, and is equipped with at least one heating element specifically designed (i.e., set up and arranged) for heating water in the internal volume of the evaporator plate.

[0019] The evaporator plate can be made entirely of a thermally conductive material, or it can be made of plastic having at least one insert (e.g., a plate) made of a thermally conductive material, for example, in the form of a plastic plate with an embedded bottom made of a thermally conductive material. The thermally conductive material can be, for example, metal, ceramic, etc. Dishwasher-resistant materials, such as stainless steel or ceramic, are particularly advantageous.

[0020] One extension is that the heating element is electrically operated. The heating element can be fixedly mounted at the evaporator plate (and thus "directly" heated), or it can be arranged near the evaporator plate, especially in contact with the evaporator plate (and thus "indirectly" heated), when the evaporator plate is in place.

[0021] An extension for the first type of direct heating involves at least one heating element being a resistance heating element disposed at the bottom of the evaporator plate. Such a resistance heating element can be manufactured separately, for example, and subsequently fixedly mounted on the evaporator plate, and can be sprayed or printed onto the evaporator plate as a thick or thin heating element. At least one resistance heating element can be connected to a voltage source of a household steam cooking appliance via an electrical connector, such as a plug-in connector, disposed on the evaporator plate. In particular, at least one resistance heating element and the electrical connector can be sealed waterproofly by a protective housing, which facilitates cleaning of the evaporator plate and extends its service life.

[0022] In the latter case of indirect heating, heat can be transferred from the heating element to the evaporator plate via contact heat and / or thermal radiation. That is, in one extension, at least one heating element is a resistance heating element (also referred to as a "contact heating body") that contacts the evaporator plate and remains in the household steam cooking appliance when the evaporator plate is removed. For efficient heating of the evaporator plate, it is advantageous in this extension that the bottom, or at least a portion thereof, is made of a thermally conductive material, particularly having a corresponding plate. The electrically operated heating element can, for example, be placed in the bottom side of the evaporator recess of a drawer, particularly the support frame of that drawer.

[0023] One extension is that the evaporator plate is made of metal (e.g., stainless steel) or has a metal insert, which can be inductively heated by at least one induction coil in a household steam cooking appliance. In this case, for efficient heating of the evaporator plate, it is particularly advantageous that the bottom or at least a portion of the bottom is made of metal, especially having a corresponding plate. At least one induction coil can be placed, for example, in the bottom side of the evaporator recess of a drawer, especially the support frame of the drawer.

[0024] The above-described expansion scheme for the evaporator tray has the following advantages: the evaporator tray can be implemented simply and robustly, can be easily removed, and can be easily configured in a way that is suitable for dishwashers.

[0025] One extension is that the adapter plate is made of plastic, which offers the advantage that complex geometries, especially those with molded sealing elements, can be easily and cost-effectively achieved. Such sealing elements can be present, particularly at the contact or support surfaces of the evaporator plate, which serves as a support for the adapter plate, thereby enabling particularly effective vapor sealing there.

[0026] The "adapter plate covering the open upper side of the evaporator plate" can be achieved in such a way that the adapter plate can be placed on the upper edge of the evaporator plate, in particular, by means of at least one sealing element.

[0027] The adapter plate has at least one steam vent opening for steam to escape, which is arranged next to the receiving recess. Thus, steam generated in the evaporator plate by boiling the water present in the evaporator plate can escape from the at least one steam vent opening and can be further guided into the steam processing chamber of a household steam cooking appliance.

[0028] The drain outlet of the water tank can be mounted on or inserted into the water inlet of the adapter plate. One extension is that the drain outlet is constructed as a downward-protruding pipe or connector on the bottom side, which can be inserted into the tubular water inlet. For a compact water tank structure, a particularly advantageous extension is that the drain outlet is constructed as a pipe or connector protruding upwards into the water tank from the bottom side, into which the upward-protruding tubular water inlet of the adapter plate can be inserted. In general, water can flow from the water tank, with or without a water guiding structure, through the adapter plate into the water tray.

[0029] One configuration has a closure mechanism at the drain outlet that blocks the drain outlet when the tank is removed and releases it when the tank is inserted. This achieves the advantage that water does not leak when the tank is full. It also advantageously eliminates the need for additional water guiding components, such as connecting hoses. The closure mechanism opens when the tank is inserted into the receiving recess of the adapter plate and closes again when the tank is removed. This can be achieved, for example, by having a spring-supported check valve in or at the drain outlet of the tank, the check valve having a sheet-like sealing element that, in the unoperated state, seals flat over the tank-side opening of the drain outlet. When the tank is inserted, the check valve encounters a push rod, which causes the check valve to open with further insertion, wherein the sealing element is lifted from the tank-side opening and thus allows water to flow through the outlet. The push rod can, for example, be located in a water inlet of the adapter plate.

[0030] One configuration features an evaporator with a shut-off valve that can be selectively opened or closed based on the fill level or water level in the evaporator pan. If the water level in the evaporator pan is above a predetermined value (i.e., there is sufficient water in the evaporator pan), the shut-off valve remains closed. If the water level in the evaporator pan is below the predetermined value, the shut-off valve opens, allowing water to be added to the evaporator pan until the predetermined value is reached or exceeded again. This provides the advantage of supplying water to the evaporator pan in a regulated manner. Particularly advantageous for cases where the amount of water added to the evaporator pan is small, along with the relatively large evaporator pan, is the ability to achieve very short heating times during interruptions in steam generation and very short reaction times in the event of changes in system conditions.

[0031] The shut-off valve may have, for example, a float located in the evaporator plate or be connected to such a float (so-called a "float valve").

[0032] One configuration is that the evaporator plate has an internal volume with a basic rectangular shape, which advantageously enables the use of particularly large evaporator plates with high steam generation rates.

[0033] One configuration is that the internal volume of the evaporator plate corresponds at least to the filling volume of the water tank. That is, the size of the evaporator plate is determined such that, in the event of possible leaks in the water tank or valves, the entire volume of the tank filling can be accommodated in the evaporator plate, thus preventing water ingress into appliances and furniture from causing damage.

[0034] One configuration involves a steam generating unit with a screen support that is positioned within a steam chamber above the rated liquid level, or horizontal plane, of the evaporator plate, the steam chamber being bounded by the evaporator plate and an adapter plate. The screen support can hold bundles of spices or herbs, thereby advantageously imparting flavor to the steam generated from the steam generating unit.

[0035] This task can also be addressed using household steam cooking appliances that have an evaporator as described above. Household steam cooking appliances can be constructed similarly to evaporators and offer the same advantages.

[0036] One extension is that the household steam cooking appliance has at least one steam handling drawer with an evaporator and a steaming pan as described above, capable of loading items into the steaming pan, wherein steam generated by the steam generating unit, or evaporator plate, can be directed into the steaming pan through a steam vent opening. The steam handling drawer can be horizontally retracted into or extended from the household steam cooking appliance.

[0037] One configuration involves a steam pot that can be inserted into a steam handling drawer from above on the user side. A steam inlet channel with a downward-facing opening ("connection opening") is located at the steam pot, and this steam inlet channel, when the steam pot is inserted, rests on a steam vent opening of an adapter plate via the connection opening. This provides a particularly simple and robust steam connection between the steam generating unit and the steam pot, which also allows for a particularly short path, which is energy-efficient.

[0038] One configuration involves a household steam cooking appliance, particularly its steam handling drawer, having a temperature measuring device that measures the external temperature of the inserted evaporator plate. This achieves the advantage that the surface temperature of the evaporator plate can be sensed for steam regulation and for identifying insufficient water (e.g., idling). The temperature measuring device can, for example, have a temperature sensor, particularly a thermocouple (“contact thermocouple”), that contacts the evaporator plate on the outside. An extension is that the temperature sensor, when the evaporator plate is inserted, contacts the underside of an insert embedded in the evaporator plate on the bottom side, which is particularly a plate, such as a metal plate.

[0039] One extension is that the household cooking appliance, in addition to having at least one steam drawer, has at least one other type of additional functional unit for handling cooked items, which has its own cooking chamber separate from the steam drawer. This additional functional unit is, for example, a stove. The stove can be, for example, an oven, a microwave appliance, or a combination thereof. This can also be referred to as a "multi-chamber" cooking appliance.

[0040] In particular, steam that escapes specifically from the steam vent of the steam pot can be directed to the ventilation chimney of the stove. Alternatively, even if there is no other functional unit for handling cooked items, excess wet steam returned from the steam pot can be directed over the outer wall of the (typically cold) water tank to condense there and flow back into the evaporator plate.

[0041] One configuration is to place the steam handling drawer below another functional unit for handling cooking items, especially the stove, as this advantageously allows for particularly good accessibility and easy operation of the steam handling drawer. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the above-mentioned performance, features and advantages of the invention, as well as the ways of achieving these performance, features and advantages, will be more clearly and explicitly understood in conjunction with the following illustrative description of the embodiments.

[0043] Figure 1 A sketch of a household cooking appliance with a steam handling drawer is shown in the side view as a sectional view.

[0044] Figure 2 Shown in the view diagonally above Figure 1 A fragment of a possible variant of a household cooking appliance, which has a pull-out steam handling drawer, shown in detail in the exploded schematic diagram;

[0045] Figure 3 Shown in the view diagonally above Figure 2 The steaming basin in the steam treatment drawer;

[0046] Figure 4 Shown as a sectional view in the side view Figure 2 The steam treatment drawer in the middle has a removed steaming pot;

[0047] Figure 5 An exploded view of the evaporator is shown in the top-down view; and

[0048] Figure 6 A section of a steam processing drawer with a removed steam generating unit from the evaporator is shown in an oblique, top-down view. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Figure 1 A sketch of a multi-chamber household cooking appliance 1 is shown in a side view as a sectional view. This appliance has a fixed oven chamber 2, the front loading opening of which can be closed by means of a pivotable oven door 3, as indicated by the curved double arrows. Within the housing 4 of the appliance 1, below the oven chamber 2, is a steam handling drawer 5, arranged separately from the oven chamber 2. This steam handling drawer can be manually and / or mechanically retracted and extended horizontally, as indicated by the straight double arrows. The height of the steam handling drawer 5 is less than the height of the oven chamber 2, and the steam handling drawer 5 is located below the oven chamber 2.

[0050] A common appliance control device 6, including an operation panel, is located in the furnace door 3. This operation panel is used for the furnace chamber 2, or more specifically, for the stove with the furnace chamber 2 and the steam handling drawer 5. With the help of the appliance control device 6, the furnace chamber 2 and the steam handling drawer 5 can be individually operated, allowing for the independent cooking of the processed items located therein, such as food, dishes, etc. The furnace chamber 2 can be heated by means of energy introduction equipment, particularly by clock control of the corresponding current supply, which is exemplarily shown in the form of a top-heating heating element 7 and a bottom-heating heating element 8. The heating elements 7 and 8 are operated via the appliance control device 6. The appliance control device 6 is also specifically designed to coordinate the processing (especially the end time of the processing) operating in the furnace chamber 2 and the steam handling drawer 5, as well as the energy input and / or exhaust control.

[0051] In particular, the household cooking appliance 1 is so compact that it fits into a mounting niche measuring 60cm x 60cm (mounting height x mounting width).

[0052] Now also refer to Figure 2 The steam handling drawer 5 has an evaporator receiving area 11 located behind the front cover 10. In this area are modularly constructed evaporators 12 to 13, each including a steam generating unit 12 and a water tank 13 connected to the steam generating unit. The steam generating unit 12 and the water tank 13 can be removed individually or together from the evaporator receiving area 11 on the user side, or alternatively, fixedly installed in the evaporator receiving area. The water tank 13 can be covered on top by a removable cover 14.

[0053] In the front view, there is a steamer tray placement area 15 behind the evaporator receiving area 11. The evaporator receiving area 11 and the steamer tray placement area 15 are successively arranged areas of a horizontally removable support frame 30.

[0054] The steamer basin placement area 15 has a frame shape, which includes side cheeks 16, a front wall 17, and a rear wall 18. At least the cheeks 16 are constructed as hollow profiles—here, the hollow profile has a rectangular cross-section, thus making the cheeks particularly lightweight and allowing for the protected passage of electrical wires (not shown), such as wires supplying current to the heating element of the steam generating device 12, and possibly for supplying current to the pump and signal lines. Furthermore, a slide rail (not shown) for, for example, a telescopic pull-out system of the steam handling drawer 5 is placed within the hollow cheeks 16. Another advantage of using hollow profiles is that they allow for the construction of a wide upper support surface 19 for supporting the steamer basin 20 in a simple manner. At least the cheeks 16 and the rear wall 18 here have flat surfaces, which support easy cleaning. The front wall 17 and the rear wall 18 can also be constructed as hollow profiles, or can be constructed as simple walls without hollow profiles. The upper sides of the front and rear walls can also be used as support surfaces 19, but it is not necessary.

[0055] The steaming pot 20 is constructed in a pot-shaped or dish-shaped manner, more precisely, it has a basic rectangular, open-top shape. The steaming pot 20 has a laterally outwardly curved, surrounding, closed flange or edge region 21 on its upper side, through which the steaming pot can be placed from above onto the support surface 19. That is, the steaming pot 20 can be inserted from above into the steaming pot insertion area 15. The upper opening of the steaming pot 20 forms a loading opening 20a for placing items to be steamed, such as cooking items. For this purpose, a insert E can be used, which fits into the steaming pot 20, and the items can be placed on the insert. Using such an insert E facilitates the loading and unloading of cooking items, especially when the steaming pot 20 is in place.

[0056] In the area laterally surrounded by cheek 16 and walls 17, 18, the steamer basin placement area 15 is bottomless. When the steamer basin 20 is placed, its bottom 22 forms a flush-surface sub-area within the frame 16 to 18, which is the bottom of the steam treatment drawer 5. Thus, the steamer basin 20 can be constructed particularly deep and therefore with a large capacity. Furthermore, the absence of the bottom of the support frame 30 there advantageously results in material savings.

[0057] In addition, for ease of operation, the steaming basin 20 has a side-protruding handle 23, which, when the steaming basin 20 is in the inserted state, can engage with a corresponding upper-opening recess in the side cheek 16, the recess being in the form of a concave portion 24.

[0058] Furthermore, the steaming pot 20 has a steam inlet channel 25 that extends laterally and longitudinally in a horizontal orientation. This steam inlet channel is made of plastic and is located at the front wall 17, forming a section in the steam-generating unit 12 for technical connection when the steaming pot 20 is in the inserted state. Additionally, the steaming pot 20 has a steam exhaust channel 26 (see...). Figure 4 The steam exhaust channel is adjacent to the rear wall 18, and the steam exhaust channel is established with the steam removal unit 27 (see) when the steaming pot 20 is in the inserted state. Figure 4 The steam removal unit is located behind the steam pot placement area 15 in the front view. The steam removal unit 27 is used at least to remove steam drawn from the steam pot 20 during the steam treatment process from the steam treatment drawer 5, for example, to the ventilation chimney.

[0059] also, Figure 1 A cover 28 is shown, which can preferably be placed on the upper side of the edge region 21 by means of a seal (not shown) to prevent or at least impede steam from escaping through the gap between the steamer basin 20 and the cover 28. The steamer basin 20 and the cover 28 form or define a steam treatment chamber 29 in which processed articles present therein can be loaded with steam. The cover 26 is advantageously a transparent glass cover or has at least one glass plate. The cover can be a freestanding component that can be arranged in a displaceable manner on the support frame 30 as shown, or can be pivotally connected to the support frame 30, for example, by a rotating hinge.

[0060] Figure 3 The steaming basin 20 is shown in an obliquely upward view. An adapter-shaped steam inlet channel 25 is arranged at the front side 31 below the edge region 21, which faces the front wall 17. This steam inlet channel is constructed open on its lower side, forming a connecting opening 25b therein. Furthermore, the steam inlet channel has a rear steam inlet opening 25a that merges into the steaming basin 20, or steam treatment chamber 29. This steam inlet opening is slit-shaped, through which steam D is introduced into the steaming basin 20 during the steam treatment process.

[0061] Adapter-shaped steam exhaust passage 26 (see) Figure 4 The steam exhaust passage 26 is arranged below the edge region 21 at the back side 32. This steam exhaust passage 26 also has a basic shape of horizontal extension and is open on the lower side to connect to the opening 26b (see...). Figure 4The steam exhaust passage 26 is constructed in the form of a steam inlet passage 25. Furthermore, the steam exhaust passage has a front steam exhaust opening 26a (not shown), which merges into the steam pot 20, or steam treatment chamber 29. This steam exhaust opening is slit-shaped, through which steam D is drawn from the steam pot 20 during the steam treatment process and supplied to the steam removal unit 27.

[0062] Figure 4 A steam treatment drawer 5 with the removed steaming pot 20 is shown in the side view as a cross-sectional view of the evaporators 12 to 13. The cover 28 is moved back here, thus releasing the steaming pot placement area 15.

[0063] When the steamer 20 is placed into the steamer placement area 15 from above, as indicated by the wide arrow, the downward-pointing connecting opening 25b of the steam inlet passage 25 is placed on the steam outlet opening 12a of the steam generating device 12, or, as shown, inserted into the steam outlet opening at the edge side via a seal, the steam outlet opening is correspondingly shaped and points upward; the steam outlet opening is, for example, slit-shaped. Thus, with the steamer 20 in place, a steam passage is established from the steam outlet opening 12a through the steam inlet passage 25 into the steamer 20. The steam D generated by the steam generating unit 12 is guided into the steamer 20 through this steam passage, as indicated by the left arrow. That is, in the inserted state, the steam outlet opening 12a and the connecting opening 25b form a steam connection structure through which steam can pass.

[0064] Furthermore, when the steamer pot 20 is placed, the downward-opening connection opening 26b of the steam exhaust passage 26a is placed on the open upper side of the receiving portion 27a of the steam removal unit 27, or, as shown, may be inserted into the open upper side at the edge by a seal, which is correspondingly shaped. The open upper side of the receiving portion 27a is constructed as a steam inlet opening 27b formed to mate with the connection opening 26b. Thus, when the steamer pot 20 is placed, a steam passage is established from the steamer pot 20 through the steam exhaust passage 26 to the steam removal unit 27. The steam D flowing through the steamer pot 20 is guided into the steam removal unit 27 through this steam passage. As indicated by the right arrow, this steam may contain wisps of smoke. That is, when the steamer pot 20 is inserted, the connection opening 26b and the steam inlet opening 27b form a steam connection structure through which steam can pass.

[0065] Figure 5An exploded view of evaporators 12 to 13 is shown in an obliquely upward view. The evaporator has a steam generating unit 12 and a water tank 13 that can be placed into the steam generating unit on the upper side.

[0066] The water tank 13 can be made of transparent plastic, and is therefore shown translucently here. A lid 14 can be placed on the upward-opening water tank 13. The water tank here exemplarily has a drain outlet 40 on its bottom side, which protrudes inward in a tubular or pipe-like shape for discharging water into the steam generating unit 12. The drain outlet 40 has a closing mechanism (not shown) that blocks the drain outlet 40 when the water tank 13 is removed and releases the drain outlet when the water tank 13 is inserted.

[0067] The steam generating unit 12 here exists in the form of a heatable evaporator plate 41, which has a rectangular, upwardly open basic shape and an adapter plate 42 that can be placed on the open upper side of the evaporator plate 41 from the user's side. Therefore, the adapter plate 42 serves as a cover for the evaporator plate 41. For this purpose, the adapter plate 42 has a laterally protruding edge region 43 or flange that can be placed on the exposed upper edge 44 of the evaporator plate 41. The internal volume of the evaporator plate 41 corresponds at least to the filling volume of the water tank 13.

[0068] The adapter plate 42 has a receiving recess 45 and a steam vent opening 12a. The receiving recess has a water inlet (not shown) and is used to form-fit a water tank 13 on the user side. The steam vent opening (in the front view) is located behind the receiving recess 45 and is, for example, slit-shaped. An upwardly projecting connecting pipe 46 or tube (see figure) may be present at the bottom of the receiving recess 45. Figure 5 The connecting pipe or tube can be inserted into the drain port 40. With the water tank 13 inserted into the receiving recess 45, the connecting pipe or tube is introduced into the drain port 40 and opens the closing mechanism (e.g., a spring-supported check valve) located in the drain port. With the closing mechanism open, if the shut-off valves (not shown) of evaporators 12 and 13 are simultaneously open, water can flow from the water tank through the drain port 40 and the connecting pipe 46 inserted into the drain port into the evaporator plate 41. The shut-off valve is configured to selectively open or close according to the water level in the evaporator plate 41. This shut-off valve is, for example, a valve operated by a float floating in the water in the evaporator plate 41 (“float valve”). This allows even small amounts of water to be added to the evaporator plate 41 in a regulated manner, distributing the water at a relatively low filling height across the large, heatable bottom surface of the evaporator plate 41, thereby enabling particularly short reaction times and / or high steam volumes during steam generation.

[0069] In one variation, the water tank 13 can be removed from the receiving recess 45 by means of at least one retaining handle (not shown) arranged on the water tank and / or by means of an automatic lifting device (not shown).

[0070] In addition, the evaporator plate 41 is directly or indirectly associated with at least one heating element (not shown). The evaporator plate 41 is advantageously made at least in part of metal or ceramic, while the adapter plate 42 is advantageously made of plastic.

[0071] The steam generating unit 12 may have a screen support (not shown) that is positioned above the rated liquid level of the evaporator pan. Therefore, the screen support can be wetted by the steam in the steam chamber without being immersed in the water throughout the evaporator pan 41. Thus, when a corresponding flavoring agent is present in the screen support, the steam escaping from the steam escaping opening 12a can be flavored; the flavoring agent may be, for example, a bundle containing spices, herbs, or similar substances.

[0072] Figure 6 A section of the steam processing drawer 5, with the removed steam generating unit 12 containing evaporators 12 to 13, is shown in an obliquely upward view. The water tank 13 is not shown and, for example, has been removed.

[0073] As indicated by the wide arrow, the steam generating unit 12 can be removed from the user side, for example, backward from the corresponding evaporator recess 47 of the support frame 30, after the steamer pan 20 has been removed. Then, after removing the adapter plate, the evaporator pan 41 can be emptied by the user, possibly along with the adapter plate 42 and / or the water tank 13, especially for descaling, for example, in a dishwasher.

[0074] A contact thermocouple (not shown) is located at the bottom of the evaporator recess 47. This contact thermocouple contacts the bottom of the evaporator plate 41 when it is in place, thereby measuring the external temperature of that bottom. The sensor measurements can be supplied to a control device for controlling the evaporators 12 and 13, for example, for sensing steam regulation (activating and deactivating at least one heating element) and for identifying insufficient water (e.g., idling). This control device can be a component of the steam handling drawer 5, or more generally, a component of the household cooking appliance 1. This control device can specifically correspond to the appliance control device 6.

[0075] Furthermore, at least one induction coil or at least one electrically operated resistance heating element (not shown) may be provided at the bottom of the evaporator void 47 to indirectly heat the evaporator plate 41, if at least one electrically operated resistance heating element is not integrated into the evaporator plate. In the latter case, particularly at the bottom of the evaporator void 47, but also possibly in the side wall of the evaporator void, at least one electrical contact may be provided for contacting the integrated resistance heating element to supply current to it.

[0076] Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown.

[0077] Generally speaking, "one" can be understood as singular or plural, especially in the sense of "at least one" or "one or more", as long as this is not explicitly excluded, for example, by expressing "exactly one".

[0078] The numerical specification may also include exactly the specified number and the common tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

[0079] List of reference numerals

[0080] 1. Household cooking utensils

[0081] 2 Furnace Chamber

[0082] 3 Furnace door

[0083] 4. Shell

[0084] 5 Steam treatment drawers

[0085] 6. Appliance control device

[0086] 7. Top-heated heating element

[0087] 8. Bottom-heated heating element

[0088] 10 Cover plate

[0089] 11 Evaporator receiving area

[0090] 12 Steam generation units

[0091] 12a Steam escaping opening

[0092] 13 Water Tanks

[0093] 14 Box lid

[0094] 15. Steamer / Pot Placement Area

[0095] 16. Side cheeks

[0096] 17 Anterior wall

[0097] 18. Rear wall

[0098] 19 Support surface

[0099] 20 Steaming Pots

[0100] 20a Loading opening

[0101] 21. Edge Area

[0102] 22 Bottom

[0103] 23 handles

[0104] 24 recess

[0105] 25 Steam Inlet Channel

[0106] 25a Steam inlet opening

[0107] 25b Connection opening

[0108] 26 Steam exhaust passage

[0109] 26a Steam exhaust opening

[0110] 26b Connection opening

[0111] 27 Steam Removal Unit

[0112] 27a Reception Department

[0113] 27b Steam enters the opening

[0114] 28 Cover pieces

[0115] 29 Steam Treatment Room

[0116] 30 support frame

[0117] 31. Front side of the steaming pot

[0118] 32. Back side of the steaming pot

[0119] 40 Drain outlet

[0120] 41 Evaporator tray

[0121] 42 Adapter Board

[0122] 43 Edge area of ​​the adapter board

[0123] 44. Upper edge of the evaporator tray

[0124] 45 Receiving recess

[0125] 46 Takeover

[0126] 47. Evaporator empty section

[0127] E. Placement

[0128] D Steam

Claims

1. An evaporator (12, 13) for a household steam cooking appliance (1), said evaporator having a steam generating unit (12) and a water tank (13), wherein, The steam generating unit (12) has a heatable evaporator plate (41) with an open upper side, and The steam generating unit has an adapter plate (42) that can be mounted on the open upper side of the evaporator plate (41) on the user side. The adapter plate (42) has a steam vent opening (12a) and a receiving recess (45), the steam vent opening being for the venting of steam (D), and the receiving recess having a water inlet (46) for inserting the water tank (13) into the user's side. The water tank (13) has a drain outlet (40) for discharging water into the evaporator plate (41).

2. The evaporator (12, 13) according to claim 1, wherein, The drain outlet (40) has a closing mechanism that blocks the drain outlet (40) when the water tank (13) is removed and releases the drain outlet when the water tank (13) is placed in.

3. The evaporator (12, 13) according to claim 1, wherein, The evaporators (12, 13) have shut-off valves configured to selectively open or close depending on the water level in the evaporator pan (41).

4. The evaporator (12, 13) according to claim 1, wherein, The evaporator plate (41) has an internal volume with a basic rectangular shape, and the adapter plate (42) can be placed on the upper edge (44) of the evaporator plate (41) by means of the edge area (43) of the adapter plate. Furthermore, the steam venting opening (12a) of the adapter plate (42) is arranged next to the receiving recess (45) of the adapter plate.

5. The evaporator (12, 13) according to claim 1, wherein, The internal volume of the evaporator plate (41) corresponds at least to the filling volume of the water tank (13).

6. The evaporator (12, 13) according to claim 1, wherein, The steam generating unit (12) has a screen support that can be arranged in the steam chamber above the rated liquid level of the evaporator plate (41), the steam chamber being bounded by the evaporator plate (41) and the adapter plate (42).

7. A household steam cooking appliance (1), the household steam cooking appliance having at least one steam processing drawer (5), the steam processing drawer having an evaporator (12, 13) and a steaming pot (20) according to any one of claims 1-6, capable of loading articles into the steaming pot, wherein, The steam (D) generated by the steam generating unit (12) can be guided into the steaming basin (20) through the steam escaping opening (12a).

8. The household steam cooking appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The evaporator tray (41) can be removed from the steam handling drawer (5) at the user's side.

9. The household steam cooking appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The steaming basin (20) can be inserted into the steam treatment drawer (5) from above on the user side. A steam inlet channel (25) is provided at the steaming basin (20). The steam inlet channel has a downward-pointing connection opening (25b). When the steaming basin is inserted, the steam inlet channel (25) is placed on the steam escaping opening (12a) of the adapter plate (42) by means of the connection opening (25b) of the steam inlet channel.

10. The household steam cooking appliance (1) according to claim 7, wherein, The household cooking appliance (1) has a fixed oven chamber (2) and a steam treatment drawer (5) arranged separately from the fixed oven chamber, the oven chamber being able to be closed by means of an oven door (3).

Images