Hand-held steaming device

Abstract

This utility model relates to a hand-held steam device, including a housing with a handle, a steam boiler placed inside the housing and capable of heating water into steam, a steam nozzle disposed on the housing, a steam output path formed between the steam boiler and the steam nozzle, and operable one-way valves distributed along the steam output path. The handle and the steam nozzle are disposed on opposite sides of the housing in the lateral direction. The steam boiler includes a boiler body with a vaporization chamber inside, and an opening is formed on the side wall of the boiler body. A sleeve is installed at the opening, and the sleeve has a first end and a second end that are laterally separated from each other. The first end is engaged with the opening and defines a steam outlet, and the second end extends into the vaporization chamber and defines a steam inlet. A steam outlet channel is formed inside the sleeve that fluidly connects the steam outlet and the steam inlet, and the steam outlet channel constitutes part of the steam output path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of cleaning equipment technology, and in particular to a handheld steam purifier capable of expelling steam. Background Technology

[0002] Handheld steam cleaners, such as steam guns, typically have an internal vertical boiler structure. They convert water into steam via a built-in heating element, which is then sprayed directionally through nozzles to complete the cleaning task. While these devices perform reasonably well in flat cleaning scenarios, they have significant technical limitations when dealing with complex surfaces (such as vehicle chassis, ceilings, and furniture gaps requiring multi-angle operation), especially when used at an angle. This is because the steam ejected from the nozzle can carry water with it. For example, if the spray gun is tilted beyond a certain angle, unconverted liquid water in the boiler will escape from the nozzle along with the steam. This unintended escape of liquid water not only affects the cleaning effect but also leaves residual water stains on the cleaned surface, causing secondary contamination. Utility Model Content

[0003] In order to solve the problems mentioned above, the purpose of this application is to provide a hand-held steam device that can effectively prevent water from escaping along with steam.

[0004] Therefore, this application provides a portable steam device, including a housing with a handle, a steam boiler disposed within the housing and capable of heating water into steam, a steam nozzle disposed on the housing, a steam output path formed between the steam boiler and the steam nozzle, and operable one-way valves distributed along the steam output path. The handle and the steam nozzle are disposed on opposite sides of the housing in a lateral direction. The steam boiler includes a boiler body having a vaporization chamber inside, and an opening is formed on the side wall of the boiler body. A sleeve is installed at the opening, and the sleeve has a first end and a second end that are laterally separated from each other. The first end engages with the opening and defines a steam outlet, and the second end extends into the vaporization chamber and defines a steam inlet. A steam outlet channel is formed inside the sleeve that fluidly communicates the steam outlet and the steam inlet, and the steam outlet channel constitutes part of the steam output path.

[0005] In some embodiments, the sleeve extends laterally.

[0006] In some embodiments, the handheld steam device has a first usage state in which the nozzle is located to the left or right of the handle and a second usage state in which the nozzle is located above the handle. The vaporization chamber has a first maximum water injection line adapted to the first usage state, and the steam outlet and the steam inlet are both located above the first maximum water injection line. The vaporization chamber has a second maximum water injection line adapted to the second usage state, and the second maximum water injection line is consistent with the maximum water injection volume corresponding to the first maximum water injection line in the corresponding usage state. The steam outlet and the steam inlet are respectively located on opposite sides of the second maximum water injection line.

[0007] In some embodiments, the opening is a countersunk hole, and the first end is adapted to the countersunk hole.

[0008] In some embodiments, the operable one-way valve includes a valve body and a valve stem inserted into the valve body, the valve stem being movable between a first position for releasing steam and a second position for shutting off steam, the inner end of the valve stem being inserted into the steam outlet from the steam outlet.

[0009] In some embodiments, a steam release switch is provided near the handle to cause the valve stem to move toward a first position.

[0010] In some embodiments, the inner end of the valve stem is adjacent to the second end.

[0011] In some embodiments, when the valve stem is in the second position, the inner end of the valve stem passes through the steam inlet.

[0012] In some embodiments, the vaporization chamber has a water inlet located at the top of the boiler body, and a removable cover is installed at the water inlet, the cover having an integrated pressure relief valve.

[0013] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows: By adding a sleeve to the side wall of the boiler body and defining a steam escape channel inside the sleeve, the sleeve can "raise" the height of the steam inlet when the hand-held steam device is tilted, so that the liquid water in the boiler cannot enter the steam escape channel from the steam inlet along with the steam because it is blocked by the sleeve. This can effectively prevent liquid water from entering the steam output path and being output along with the steam, thereby ensuring the steam output effect at the steam nozzle. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a schematic front cross-sectional view of a hand-held steam device according to an embodiment of this application in its first usage state;

[0015] Figure 2 for Figure 1 An enlarged view of point A in the diagram;

[0016] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A schematic diagram showing the valve stem moving to the second position;

[0017] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic front cross-sectional view of the hand-held steam equipment shown in the second usage state;

[0018] Figure 5 for Figure 4 An enlarged schematic diagram at point B. Detailed Implementation

[0019] This application relates to a hand-held steam generator. When using the hand-held steam generator, the operator carries the device with one hand and applies steam to a target surface. The steam can be used to disinfect or soften dirt or other contaminants on the target surface.

[0020] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 The portable steam device 100 shown includes a housing 1. The housing 1 is typically assembled from multiple components, which can be screwed together or ultrasonically welded together, and sealing components may be provided in some connection areas. An installation space 10 is formed inside the housing 1, in which components such as a steam boiler will be installed.

[0021] The portable steam appliance 100 has a handle 2. The handle 2 is integrally formed on the housing 1. The operator can grip the handle 2 to carry the portable steam appliance 100.

[0022] The "horizontal" direction mentioned below refers to Figure 1 The left and right directions shown in the figure are, and the "vertical" direction is. Figure 1 The up and down directions are shown in the image.

[0023] The portable steam generator 100 has a steam nozzle 3. The steam nozzle 3 is mounted on the housing 1. The steam nozzle 3 and the handle 2 are positioned laterally on opposite sides of the housing 1. The plane of the steam nozzle 3 is higher than the handle 2, which allows the operator to tilt the device for easy use, such as when switching the device to a different position. Figure 4 The position shown is such that steam nozzle 3 sprays steam upwards. In this example, the housing 1 has an opening 11. Steam nozzle 3 will be fixedly mounted on this opening 11.

[0024] The portable steam device 100 includes a steam boiler 4 capable of heating water into steam. The steam boiler 4 is housed in an installation space 10 inside the casing 1. A steam output path 5 is arranged between the steam boiler 4 and the steam nozzle 3.

[0025] The steam boiler 4 includes a boiler body 41 with an internal vaporization chamber 40. An opening 42 is formed in the upper side wall of the boiler body 41. A sleeve 43 is installed at the opening 42. Steam in the vaporization chamber 40 can flow to the outside of the boiler body 41 through the sleeve 43. The vaporization chamber 40 also has a water inlet 44 located at the top of the boiler body 41. A removable cover 45 is installed at the water inlet 44. A pressure relief valve 46 is integrated on the cover 45, which ensures that the steam pressure in the vaporization chamber 40 remains below a set safe pressure.

[0026] The sleeve 43 extends laterally and has a first end 431 and a second end 432 that are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction. The first end 431 engages with an opening 42 and defines a steam outlet 433. A sealing member 47 is also provided between the first end 431 and the opening 42. The second end 432 extends into the vaporization chamber 40 and defines a steam inlet 434. A steam escaping passage 435 is formed inside the sleeve 434, which fluidly communicates the steam outlet 433 and the steam inlet 434. The steam escaping passage 435 forms part of the steam output path 5.

[0027] The opening 42 on the side wall of the boiler body 41 is a countersunk hole, and the first end of the sleeve 43 is T-shaped and adapted to the countersunk hole.

[0028] like Figure 1 As shown, the vaporization chamber 40 is provided with a maximum liquid level line L1 extending in the lateral direction. This maximum liquid level line L1 is the maximum water level line, that is, the highest water level line when the operator injects liquid water into the vaporization chamber 40 through the water inlet 44. This maximum liquid level line L1 is defined when the portable steam device 100 is in the horizontal operating position.

[0029] The hand-held steam device 100 has a first use state where the nozzle 3 is located to the left or right of the handle 2 (e.g.) Figure 1 ) and the nozzle 3 is located on the upper side of the handle 2 in the second use state (such as ) Figure 4 In the first operating state, nozzle 3 remains essentially horizontal, and the steam ejected through nozzle 3 is directed laterally outward. In the second operating state, nozzle 3 is located at the top of the entire device, and the steam ejected through nozzle 3 is directed upward.

[0030] The vaporization chamber 40 has a first maximum water injection line L1 adapted to the first use state. The steam outlet 433 and the steam inlet 44 are both located above the first maximum water injection line L1, which ensures that water will not escape from the steam inlet 44 in the first use state.

[0031] The vaporization chamber 40 has a second maximum water injection line L2 adapted to the second operating state. The maximum water injection volume corresponding to the first maximum water injection line L1 in the corresponding operating state is the same. The steam outlet 433 and the steam inlet 434 are located on opposite sides of the second maximum water injection line L2, respectively. This arrangement ensures that water will not escape from the steam inlet 44 in the second operating state, so that only steam escapes from the steam outlet 433.

[0032] The portable steam equipment 100 has an operable check valve 6. The operable check valve 6 is arranged on the steam output path 5. The operator can selectively release steam from the steam boiler 4 by means of the operable check valve 6.

[0033] The operable one-way valve 6 includes a tubular valve body 61 and a valve stem 62 inserted within the valve body 61. A spring 63 is also provided between the valve stem 62 and the valve body 61. The valve stem 62 can be in the first position of shutting off steam (e.g., Figure 2 , Figure 5 The location of the vapor release (e.g., the second location where the vapor is released) and the second location where the vapor is released (e.g., the location where the vapor is released) Figure 3 The valve stem 62 moves between its current position and its location. In this example, the inner end 621 of the valve stem 62 is inserted into the steam escaping passage 435 from the steam escaping outlet 433. Preferably, the inner end 621 of the valve stem 62 is adjacent to the second end 432 of the sleeve 43. Figure 3 As shown, when the valve stem 62 is in the second position, the inner end 621 of the valve stem 62 passes through the steam inlet 434 and is located outside the sleeve 4. This arrangement of the inner end 621 of the valve stem 62 allows for the clearing of blockages at the steam outlet 433 and / or the steam inlet 434 each time the valve stem 62 moves between the first and second positions, thereby preventing scale and other blockages from clogging these openings.

[0034] The portable steam device 100 also includes a steam release switch 7. This steam release switch 7 is located near the handle 2, and preferably positioned where the operator's thumb can operate it when holding the handle 2. The operator applies force to the steam release switch 7, overcoming the spring force of the spring 63 and causing the valve stem 62 to move towards a first position. The steam release switch 7 is supported on the housing 1 by a spring 8. The spring 8 is configured to release its elastic restoring force, allowing the steam release switch 7 to disengage from the valve stem 6, thereby enabling the spring 63 to release its elastic restoring force and move the valve stem 62 towards a second position. The steam release switch 7 can be a push-button switch, a trigger switch, or a slide switch. The operator can release steam by operating this steam release switch.

[0035] When the portable steam equipment 100 is running, water is first filled into the vaporization chamber 40 inside the steam boiler 4. Water is introduced into the vaporization chamber 40 through the water inlet 44. When the steam is running, the cover 45 is fixed on the water inlet 44, and the boiler body 41 heats the liquid into steam through the operation of the heating element (not shown in the figure) inside the boiler.

[0036] Combination Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, when the portable steam device 100 is in its first operating state, water is concentrated in the lower space of the vaporization chamber 40, while steam is located in the upper space. The relative sizes of these upper and lower spaces within the vaporization chamber are variable and depend particularly on the process of water conversion into steam. Ideally, the upper space is a pure steam space, and the steam inlet 434 is located within this pure steam space, where only steam awaits output. When the operator operates the steam release switch 7, the operable one-way valve 6 is opened, allowing steam flowing from the steam inlet 434 into the steam output path 5 to be delivered to the steam nozzle 3 for output.

[0037] Combination Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, when the portable steam device 100 is in its second operating state, water is concentrated in the space on one side of the vaporization chamber 40 closest to the handle 2, while steam is in the space on the other side. Ideally, the space on the side where the steam is located is a pure steam space, and the steam inlet 434 is located in this pure steam space, where only steam awaits output. When the operator operates the steam release switch 7, the operable one-way valve 6 is opened, and the steam flowing from the steam inlet 434 into the steam output path 5 can be delivered to the steam nozzle 3 for output, for example, for cleaning purposes.

[0038] In this example, whether the portable steam device 100 is in the first use state, the second use state, or moving between the two use states, the steam inlet 434 is extended into the "pure steam space" through the sleeve 43, that is, water is blocked by the sleeve to reduce the risk of water entering the check valve, thereby largely preventing liquid entrainment in the steam flow.

[0039] The above embodiments are merely illustrative examples, and those skilled in the art can make equivalent substitutions or improvements within the scope of the claims. Other embodiments, in addition to the exemplary embodiments shown and described herein, are also covered within the scope of this information.

Claims

1. A hand-held steam device, comprising a housing with a handle, a steam boiler disposed within the housing and capable of heating water into steam, a steam nozzle disposed on the housing, a steam output path formed between the steam boiler and the steam nozzle, and operable one-way valves distributed along the steam output path, wherein the handle and the steam nozzle are disposed laterally on opposite sides of the housing; the steam boiler includes a boiler body having an internal vaporization chamber, and an opening is formed in the side wall of the boiler body; characterized in that, A sleeve is installed at the opening, the sleeve having a first end and a second end that are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction, the first end engaging with the opening and defining a steam outlet, the second end extending into the vaporization chamber and defining a steam inlet, and a steam escaping channel forming inside the sleeve that fluidly connects the steam outlet and the steam inlet, the steam escaping channel constituting part of the steam output path.

2. The hand-held steam device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sleeve extends laterally.

3. The hand-held steam generator according to claim 2, characterized in that, The handheld steam device has a first usage state in which the nozzle is located to the left or right of the handle, and a second usage state in which the nozzle is located above the handle. The vaporization chamber has a first maximum water injection line adapted to the first usage state, and the steam outlet and the steam inlet are both located above the first maximum water injection line. The vaporization chamber also has a second maximum water injection line adapted to the second usage state. The second maximum water injection line is consistent with the maximum water injection volume corresponding to the first maximum water injection line in the corresponding usage state. The steam outlet and the steam inlet are located on opposite sides of the second maximum water injection line.

4. The hand-held steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The opening is a countersunk hole, and the first end is adapted to the countersunk hole.

5. The hand-held steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operable one-way valve includes a valve body and a valve stem inserted into the valve body. The valve stem is movable between a first position for releasing steam and a second position for shutting off steam. The inner end of the valve stem is inserted into the steam outlet from the steam outlet.

6. The hand-held steam generator according to claim 5, characterized in that, A steam release switch is provided near the handle to cause the valve stem to move toward the first position.

7. The hand-held steam generator according to claim 5, characterized in that, The inner end of the valve stem is adjacent to the second end.

8. The hand-held steam device according to claim 7, characterized in that, When the valve stem is in the second position, the inner end of the valve stem passes through the steam inlet.

9. The hand-held steam generator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The vaporization chamber has a water inlet located at the top of the boiler body, and a removable cover is installed at the water inlet, with a pressure relief valve integrated on the cover.

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