Steam valve and cookware with steam valve
By introducing a cold air cooling chamber into the steam valve and utilizing the Bernoulli effect to draw in cold air and condense steam, the overflow problem during high-temperature steaming of cookware is solved, improving the cookware's anti-overflow capability and cooking efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BEAR ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-07-03
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-19
AI Technical Summary
When cooking at high temperatures, the increased steam volume in existing cookware leads to higher pressure, making it easy for liquid to overflow. Furthermore, the complex structure of existing steam valves or the enlarged exhaust port cause high-temperature steam to carry liquid droplets, affecting safety and ease of operation.
Design a steam valve that introduces cold air to cool the steam by setting a flow guiding structure and a cold air inlet between the steam inlet and outlet, utilizing the Bernoulli effect to form a negative pressure zone to draw in cold air, mix the condensed steam, and reduce the risk of overflow.
It effectively reduces steam overflow, increases the boiling power of the cookware, shortens cooking time, and improves ease of operation and cleaning.
Smart Images
Figure CN224369609U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This utility model relates to electrical structures, specifically to a steam valve and a cookware equipped with a steam valve. Background Technology
[0002] When cooking with rice cookers or other steaming pots, the amount of steam and pressure inside the pot increase as the temperature rises. This makes it easy for liquids (soup, porridge, etc.) to overflow from the steam vent, contaminating the stove and posing a safety hazard. This problem is even more pronounced with high-powered cookware. Enlarging the vent to allow a large amount of steam to escape directly can reduce overflow to some extent, but the emitted high-temperature steam still carries a large number of liquid droplets. Some steam valves rely on increasing the cavity space to prolong the steam condensation time, which makes the lid bulky and heavy, inconvenient to operate and clean.
[0003] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this disclosure, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content
[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this utility model discloses a steam valve and a cookware equipped with a steam valve.
[0005] The technical solution adopted in this embodiment of the utility model is as follows:
[0006] A steam valve is provided for installation at the steam outlet of a cookware, comprising a valve seat and a valve cover fixed to the valve seat; the space enclosed by the valve seat and the valve cover constitutes a cooling chamber; the steam valve further comprises a steam inlet, a steam outlet and a cold air inlet opened on the cooling chamber;
[0007] There is a preset distance between the steam inlet and the steam outlet, or a flow guiding structure is provided between the steam inlet and the steam outlet so that the steam flow passes through the area of the cold air inlet from the steam inlet and then flows to the steam outlet.
[0008] A further technical solution is that a columnar guide channel is fixed on the valve seat; the lower end of the guide channel is connected to the outside of the valve seat; and a steam inlet is opened at the upper part of the guide channel.
[0009] A further technical solution is that the steam inlet is opened on the upper part of the guide channel, near the side of the cold air inlet.
[0010] A further technical solution is that an arc-shaped top surface is provided on the upper part of the guide channel, on the other side opposite to the steam inlet, and the steam inlet is located in the concave area of the arc-shaped top surface.
[0011] A further technical solution is that the cold air inlet includes a long, narrow cold air channel, which is perpendicular to the flow direction of the steam flow.
[0012] A further technical solution is to provide a lower flange that protrudes toward the interior of the cooling chamber on the side edge of the cold air inlet near the steam inlet.
[0013] A further technical solution is to provide an upper flange that protrudes outward toward the outside of the cooling chamber on the edge of the cold air inlet near the steam outlet.
[0014] A further technical solution is to form a long strip of cold air channel between the upper flange and the lower flange; the upper flange is parallel to the lower flange.
[0015] A further technical solution is that the lower flange and the inner wall surface of the valve cover have a gradual and smooth transition.
[0016] A cookware equipped with a steam valve as described in any of the preceding claims, the cookware comprising a pot body and a lid; the steam valve being mounted on the lid of the cookware; the steam inlet communicating with a cooking cavity in the pot body; and the steam outlet and the cold air inlet communicating with a space outside the lid.
[0017] The beneficial effects of this utility model embodiment are as follows:
[0018] The steam valve disclosed in this utility model embodiment allows steam to flow into the cooling chamber from the steam inlet. After the steam flows through the area where the cold air inlet is located, it must flow to the steam outlet. During this process, the steam flow with a certain velocity will form a negative pressure zone, actively drawing the cold air from the outside into the cooling chamber. Then, the steam mixes with the drawn-in cold air, rapidly cooling and condensing, reducing the amount of steam that is finally discharged and preventing the liquid in the pot from overflowing.
[0019] Furthermore, when the steam pressure inside the cookware increases, the steam flow rate accelerates. Due to the Bernoulli effect, the amount of cold air drawn in also increases simultaneously, creating a dynamic adjustment inside the steam valve: the higher the pressure, the higher the cooling efficiency, and the faster the steam condenses, thereby suppressing the continuous rise in pressure and preventing liquid overflow caused by a sudden increase in pressure. This makes it more suitable for high-power cookware. Attached Figure Description
[0020] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the steam valve in an embodiment of this utility model.
[0021] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional cross-sectional view of the steam valve in an embodiment of this utility model.
[0022] Figure 3 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cold air inlet in an embodiment of this utility model.
[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the flow of steam and cold air in the cooling chamber in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0024] In the diagram: 1. Valve cover; 2. Valve seat; 3. Steam inlet; 4. Steam outlet; 5. Cooling chamber; 6. Cold air inlet; 61. Upper flange; 62. Lower flange; 63. Cold air passage; 7. Guide passage; 8. Inner wall surface. Detailed Implementation
[0025] The specific embodiments of this utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the device proposed by this utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The advantages and features of this utility model will become clearer according to the following description. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise proportions, only used to conveniently and clearly assist in illustrating the purpose of the embodiments of this utility model. Please refer to the accompanying drawings to make the objectives, features, and advantages of this utility model more apparent and understandable. It should be understood that the structures, proportions, sizes, etc., depicted in the accompanying drawings are only used to complement the content disclosed in the specification, for those skilled in the art to understand and read, and are not intended to limit the implementation conditions of this utility model. Therefore, they have no substantial technical significance. Any modifications to the structure, changes in the proportional relationships, or adjustments to the size, without affecting the effects and objectives that this utility model can produce, should still fall within the scope of the technical content disclosed in this utility model.
[0027] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of the steam valve in an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional sectional view of the steam valve in an embodiment of this utility model. Figure 1 , Figure 2 As shown, the steam valve disclosed in this embodiment is used to be installed at the steam outlet of a cookware, such as a rice cooker or an electric saucepan. Taking a rice cooker as an example, in order to improve the cooking speed of the rice cooker, the product is required to have high power to achieve rapid boiling, but this can easily lead to overflow. Therefore, a steam valve needs to be installed to give the rice cooker an anti-overflow function.
[0028] like Figure 1 , Figure 2As shown, the steam valve includes a valve seat 2 and a valve cover 1 fixed to the valve seat 2. The space enclosed by the valve seat 2 and the valve cover 1 constitutes a cooling chamber 5. The steam valve also includes a steam inlet 3, a steam outlet 4, and a cold air inlet 6 opened on the cooling chamber 5. The steam valve is installed on the lid of a cookware. When the lid is on the cookware body, the steam inlet 3 communicates with the cooking cavity of the cookware, the steam outlet 4 communicates with the outside of the cookware, and the cold air inlet 6 also communicates with the outside of the cookware. There is a preset distance between the steam inlet 3 and the steam outlet 4, or a flow guiding structure is provided between the steam inlet 3 and the steam outlet 4, so that the steam flow passes through the area of the cold air inlet 6 from the steam inlet 3 and then flows to the steam outlet 4.
[0029] The cold air inlet 6 is located in the airflow channel between the steam inlet 3 and the steam outlet 4, and there is a preset distance between the steam inlet 3 and the steam outlet 4. Alternatively, a flow guide structure is provided between the steam inlet 3 and the steam outlet 4, ensuring that steam inevitably flows through the location of the cold air inlet 6 while preventing steam from flowing directly from the steam inlet 3 to the steam outlet 4. This ensures that the steam has a certain flow velocity when it flows to the area of the cold air inlet 6, thereby creating a low-pressure zone near the cold air inlet 6. The pressure difference between the external atmospheric pressure and this low-pressure zone will push the external cold air from the cold air inlet 6 into the cooling chamber 5. The specific distance of the preset distance varies depending on the size of the cookware and the working power of different cookware, aiming to induce the Bernoulli effect and thus allow cold air to be drawn in from the cold air inlet 6. Those skilled in the art can determine this specific value through basic mathematical calculations or simple experiments. The flow guide structure can be a baffle structure such as a baffle. If the steam inlet 3 and the steam outlet 4 are directly opposite each other or too close, the steam flow will flow directly from the steam inlet 3 to the steam outlet 4, resulting in insufficient airflow velocity near the cold air inlet 6, thus failing to produce the Bernoulli effect.
[0030] This embodiment utilizes the Bernoulli effect of airflow, introducing cold air from outside the cookware into the cooling chamber 5 of the steam valve through the cold air inlet 6. This accelerates the cooling of hot steam and bubbles within the cooling chamber 5, enhancing the steam valve's ability to prevent overflow and thus preventing spillage. Due to the improved overflow prevention capability of the steam valve, the boiling power of the cookware can also be further increased, resulting in more vigorous boiling during cooking processes such as rice or porridge, thereby shortening cooking time and improving cooking results.
[0031] Furthermore, a hollow cylindrical guide channel 7 is fixed to the valve seat 2. The lower end of the guide channel 7 is fixed to the valve seat 2 and connected to the outside of the valve seat 2. The steam inlet 3 is located at the upper part of the guide channel 7. Steam flows from the cooking cavity of the cookware through the guide channel 7 and then into the cooling cavity 5 through the steam inlet 3, and flows through the area where the cold air inlet 6 is located, that is, below or near the cold air inlet 6. The guide channel 7 concentrates and guides the steam as it rises from the cooking cavity and enters the cooling cavity 5 through the steam inlet 3, bringing it close to the specific area near the cold air inlet 6, thus limiting the direction of steam flow to a certain extent and creating the necessary conditions for the subsequent Bernoulli effect. Furthermore, the steam inlet 3 is located at the upper part of the guide channel 7, near the side close to the cold air inlet 6.
[0032] Furthermore, an arc-shaped top surface is provided on the upper part of the guide channel 7, opposite to the steam inlet 3, with the steam inlet 3 located in the concave area of the arc-shaped top surface. When steam rises from the cooking cavity through the guide channel 7, the curved surface of the arc-shaped top surface constrains the steam flow, guiding it towards the direction of the steam inlet 3, forming a more concentrated airflow.
[0033] Figure 3 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the cold air inlet in an embodiment of this utility model. For example... Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, a lower flange 62 protruding towards the interior of the cooling chamber 5 is provided on the edge of the cold air inlet 6 near the steam inlet 3. On the one hand, the lower flange 62 also plays a certain role in blocking the steam flow from the steam inlet 3 into the steam outlet 4. On the other hand, when the steam flow passes near the lower flange 62, the flow channel narrows to a certain extent, the flow velocity of the steam flow increases, and it is easier to trigger the Bernoulli effect, drawing in outside cold air at the cold air inlet 6.
[0034] Furthermore, an upper flange 61 is provided on the edge of the cold air inlet 6 near the steam outlet 4, protruding towards the outside of the cooling chamber 5. The upper flange 61 optimizes the flow direction of the cold air, allowing the cold air to enter the cooling chamber 5 more smoothly.
[0035] The upper flange 61 and lower flange 62 are parallel to each other, and the cold air channel 63 is a long, narrow louver structure formed between the upper flange 61 and the lower flange 62. Preferably, the cold air channel 63 is perpendicular to the steam flow direction, which includes both perpendicular and approximately perpendicular situations. The long, narrow cold air inlet 6, which is perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the steam flow direction, also allows the cold air entering the cooling chamber 5 to evenly cover the entire steam flow channel, increasing the steam cooling efficiency.
[0036] Furthermore, the transition between the lower flange 62 and the inner wall surface 8 of the valve cover 1 is gradually smooth, making the steam flow more uniform near the lower flange 62, allowing the steam to pass through smoothly, and making it less likely to form cleaning dead zones.
[0037] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the flow of steam and cold air in the cooling chamber according to an embodiment of this utility model. (Combined with...) Figures 1-4 Steam inflow A enters the cooking cavity of the cookware through the guide channel 7 and flows into the cooling cavity 5 from the steam inlet 3. Below or near the cold air inlet 6, a high-velocity, low-pressure zone B is generated due to the Bernoulli effect, which generates a cold air inflow C at the cold air inlet 6, accelerating the cooling of hot steam and bubbles. The steam cooled by the cold air forms a steam outflow D, which flows out of the cooling cavity 5 from the steam outlet 4, that is, out of the cookware.
[0038] An embodiment of this utility model also discloses a cookware equipped with the steam valve described above. The cookware includes a pot body and a lid. The steam valve is installed on the lid. The steam inlet 3 connects the cooking cavity and the cooling cavity 5 in the pot body. The steam outlet 4 and the cold air inlet 6 both connect the space outside the lid to the cooling cavity 5. The cookware can be a rice cooker, an electric pressure cooker, or other cooking equipment that heats or cooks by generating steam, requires steam regulation via a steam valve, and must prevent the contents from overflowing.
[0039] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.
[0040] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of several implementations of this utility model, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the utility model patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this utility model, and these all fall within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model patent should be determined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A steam valve characterized by, The steam valve is used to install a steam outlet on a cookware and includes a valve seat and a valve cover fixed to the valve seat; the space enclosed by the valve seat and the valve cover constitutes a cooling chamber; the steam valve also includes a steam inlet, a steam outlet and a cold air inlet opened on the cooling chamber; There is a preset distance between the steam inlet and the steam outlet, or a flow guiding structure is provided between the steam inlet and the steam outlet so that the steam flow passes through the area of the cold air inlet from the steam inlet and then flows to the steam outlet.
2. The steam valve of claim 1, wherein A columnar guide channel is also fixed on the valve seat; the lower end of the guide channel is connected to the outside of the valve seat; the steam inlet is opened at the upper part of the guide channel.
3. The steam valve of claim 2, wherein, The steam inlet is located on the upper part of the guide channel, near the side of the cold air inlet.
4. The steam valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, An arc-shaped top surface is provided on the upper part of the guide channel, opposite to the steam inlet, and the steam inlet is located in the concave area of the arc-shaped top surface.
5. The steam valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cold air inlet includes a long, narrow cold air channel, which is perpendicular to the flow direction of the steam flow.
6. The steam valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, A lower flange protruding towards the interior of the cooling chamber is provided on the side edge of the cold air inlet near the steam inlet.
7. The steam valve according to claim 6, characterized in that, An upper flange protruding outward toward the outside of the cooling chamber is provided on the edge of the cold air inlet near the steam outlet.
8. The steam valve according to claim 7, characterized in that, A long, narrow cold air channel is formed between the upper flange and the lower flange; the upper flange is parallel to the lower flange.
9. The steam valve according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower flange and the inner wall surface of the valve cover have a smooth, gradual transition.
10. A cookware equipped with a steam valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The cookware includes a pot body and a lid; the steam valve is installed on the lid of the cookware; the steam inlet is connected to the cooking cavity in the pot body; the steam outlet and the cold air inlet are connected to the space outside the lid.