Anti-overflow valve and electric rice cooker with same

Abstract

The utility model discloses a kind of anti-overflow valve and electric rice cooker facilitating steam condensation backflow, it is related to household appliance technical field, applied to the upside of container, inner chamber in container;Anti-overflow valve has condensing cavity, condensing cavity has partition, and condensing cavity is divided into two separate cavities;Partition and the lower surface of condensing cavity are not closed connection, form open communication part;Two separate cavities are communicated by communication part;Condensing cavity has steam guide duct, so that inner chamber and condensing cavity are communicated;The position height of the upper end opening of steam guide duct exceeds communication part, and close to the upper surface of condensing cavity;The upper surface of condensing cavity has steam outlet;Steam guide duct and steam outlet are located in two separate cavities respectively;The bottom of anti-overflow valve is equipped with backflow hole, and backflow hole is communicated with condensing cavity. By setting partition and other structures, spiral backwater vapor flow channel is formed in condensing cavity, water vapor in high-temperature steam is condensed, and the phenomenon of steam discharge, such as overflow, spatter and water bubble, is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of household appliance technology, specifically to an anti-overflow valve that facilitates steam condensation and reflux, and its rice cooker. Background Technology

[0002] A rice cooker is a common kitchen appliance that uses an electric heating element to heat the inner pot to cook food. Its basic working principle is that the heater at the bottom or around the pot heats the water, causing it to boil and generate high-temperature steam, thus cooking the rice. During this process, the continuously generated steam inside the pot causes pressure to rise, so the lid usually has a vent to release excess steam, maintaining pressure balance and preventing the pot from bursting. However, as the steam escapes through the vent, it carries water bubbles generated by boiling inside the pot. When these bubbles burst, they cause starchy and sugary rice water particles to splatter everywhere. This not only easily clogs the vent, affecting normal venting, but also contaminates the outer wall of the rice cooker and the surrounding countertop, creating hard-to-clean cleaning nooks.

[0003] To collect the discharged steam and accompanying condensate, existing technology typically uses a separate drain box on the outside of the rice cooker. Users need to manually remove and clean this drain box periodically; otherwise, the accumulated liquid easily breeds bacteria and produces odors, creating an additional maintenance burden. More importantly, this external collection method is a reactive solution and does not address the root cause of rice water overflow and splashing during the venting process. Its design inherently suffers from inconvenience, frequent hygiene maintenance, and is a superficial solution.

[0004] For example, patent document CN111685583B discloses an anti-overflow steam valve device and a rice cooker. This device uses a valve nozzle at the lower end of the steam valve, with a steam guide section inside the nozzle and a return water hole located outside the steam guide section. A fan is used to blow airflow through the bubble outlet of the steam guide section, causing the bubbles to burst rapidly within the steam valve. The resulting liquid from the bursting bubbles flows back through the return water hole, preventing the bubbles and liquid from overflowing due to the steam flowing towards the steam outlet. However, this solution requires a fan and duct structure, resulting in a complex overall structure, high requirements for circuit control, and a significant amount of space inside the top cover.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need to provide an anti-overflow valve and a rice cooker that facilitates steam condensation and reflux in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the problems in related technologies, this utility model proposes an anti-overflow valve and its rice cooker that facilitates steam condensation and reflux. By optimizing the structure of the anti-overflow valve, problems such as steam overflow, water spraying, and water bubbles during the cooking process are solved.

[0007] This utility model is implemented as follows:

[0008] An overflow prevention valve that facilitates steam condensation and reflux is applied to the upper side of a container, the container having an inner cavity; the overflow prevention valve has a condensation cavity, the upper surface of which has a downwardly protruding partition that divides the condensation cavity into two compartments; the partition and the lower surface of the condensation cavity are not closedly connected, forming an open connecting portion; the two compartments are connected through the connecting portion;

[0009] A vertical pipe, referred to as a steam guide pipe, is connected to the lower surface of the condensing chamber. The upper and lower ends of the steam guide pipe are open, allowing the inner cavity and the condensing chamber to communicate. The upper opening of the steam guide pipe is positioned above the connecting portion and close to the upper surface of the condensing chamber.

[0010] The upper surface of the condensing chamber is provided with a steam outlet that connects to the external environment; the steam guide pipe is located in one of the partitions, and the steam outlet is located in the other partition; the bottom of the anti-overflow valve is provided with a reflux hole, which is connected to the condensing chamber.

[0011] By incorporating partitions, connecting sections, cavities, and steam guide pipes, a vertically spiraling steam flow channel is formed within the condensation chamber. Steam containing a large amount of high-temperature water vapor generated inside the container enters the condensation chamber through the steam guide pipes and passes through two cavities sequentially. The high-temperature steam's path is significantly prolonged within the spiraling flow channel, preventing rapid discharge. This allows it to fully contact the low-temperature wall surface within the condensation chamber and partially liquefy into condensate, which ultimately flows back into the container through the return orifice. This structure achieves condensate self-recovery and, through the separated steam guide pipes and steam outlet, effectively isolates the boiling zone from the steam outlet channel, fundamentally preventing overflow, splashing, and bubbles.

[0012] In this invention, the radial dimension of the "hole" is smaller than that of the "mouth," meaning the opening size of the return hole is smaller than the opening size of the steam guide pipe. A larger opening in the steam guide pipe allows rising steam to converge into the steam guide pipe, rather than flowing into the narrow opening of the return hole.

[0013] As a further optimization of the above scheme, the lower surface of the condensation chamber is a flow guiding slope; the flow guiding slope is located outside the bottom of the steam guiding pipe and gradually slopes downward from the steam guiding pipe; the return hole is located at the lowest point of the flow guiding slope, or below the lowest point of the flow guiding slope.

[0014] Furthermore, the guide slope is located on the outer periphery of the bottom of the steam guide pipe. By setting the guide slope, the condensate gradually flows towards the return hole.

[0015] As a further optimization of the above solution, the container is connected to a top cover, the top cover including an outer cover and an inner cover fixed inside the outer cover;

[0016] The inner cover has an upwardly recessed cavity, and the top of the cavity has the steam outlet that passes through the outer cover; the cavity also has the partition portion;

[0017] The top cover also includes a detachably connected closure; the closure has the steam guide pipe and the return hole;

[0018] The closure and the cavity are connected to form the condensation cavity between the cavity and the closure.

[0019] By incorporating recesses and sealing elements, the ease of cleaning the condensation chamber and the overall maintainability of the equipment are improved.

[0020] As a further optimization of the above solution, the sealing member has a circumferentially extended shielding portion on the bottom outer periphery of the steam guide pipe; the shielding portion covers the downward-facing opening of the cavity, and the upper surface of the shielding portion is the lower surface of the condensation cavity;

[0021] The outer periphery of the shield has a recessed flow-gathering groove, and the return hole is provided on the bottom surface of the flow-gathering groove; the opening edge of the cavity has a downwardly protruding annular protrusion; the annular protrusion and the flow-gathering groove are inserted into each other; there is a gap between the surface of the annular protrusion and the surface of the flow-gathering groove; the gap allows the flow-gathering groove and the condensation cavity to communicate.

[0022] By setting up a flow-gathering groove, the steam guide pipe and the return hole are divided into two areas, allowing steam guidance and condensate return to occur in different areas. The compact gap structure between the flow-gathering groove and the annular protrusion is suitable for the smooth flow of condensate into the return hole, and also prevents rising steam from entering the condensation chamber through the return hole, ensuring that steam is released only through the unobstructed path of the steam guide pipe.

[0023] As a further optimization of the above solution, the lower surface of the inner cover is provided with a detachable metal cover plate for sealing the upper opening of the container.

[0024] The surface of the metal cover plate is provided with a connection port; the peripheral surface of the shielding part has a raised structure; the radial dimension of the shielding part matches the size of the connection port, and the raised structure is snapped into the connection port.

[0025] Furthermore, the metal lid is made of 304 stainless steel, and a silicone ring is fitted around its outer edge. The silicone ring improves the sealing connection between the container and the metal lid.

[0026] As a further optimization of the above solution, the shielding part forms the protruding structure from the outer peripheral surface of the flow-gathering groove; a connecting groove is formed around the outer surface of the protruding structure; the connecting groove is fitted and connected to the connecting port, that is, the two sides of the metal cover plate at the connecting port are wrapped by the connecting groove.

[0027] As a further optimization of the above solution, the closure is made of an elastic material.

[0028] Specifically, the closure is made of elastic materials such as silicone, which facilitates the fitting and connection of the closure with the inner cover and allows for easy disassembly and cleaning.

[0029] As a further optimization of the above scheme, the steam guide pipe is vertically located in the center of the condensation chamber; the partition is located to one side of the steam guide pipe.

[0030] Specifically, the partition can be an arc-shaped thin sheet, curved towards the side of the cavity with the steam outlet. Through the partition's avoidance design and the centered placement of the steam guide pipe, the closure and inner cover can be quickly assembled without the need for positioning.

[0031] As a further optimization of the above solution, the inner cover protrudes from the outer periphery of the steam outlet and passes through the outer cover to prevent steam from entering the interlayer between the inner cover and the outer cover.

[0032] This utility model also provides a rice cooker that uses an anti-overflow valve that facilitates steam condensation and reflux, as described above. The rice cooker includes a pot body and an upper cover that is adapted and connected to the pot body. The pot body has an inner pot, and a heating unit is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the inner pot. The inner pot is the container, and the anti-overflow valve is located inside the upper cover.

[0033] The beneficial effects are as follows:

[0034] This invention provides an anti-overflow valve and its application in a rice cooker that facilitates steam condensation and reflux. By incorporating a partition, a connecting section, a baffle, and a steam guide pipe, a vertically spiraling steam flow channel is formed within the condensation chamber. Steam containing a large amount of high-temperature water vapor generated inside the container enters the condensation chamber through the steam guide pipe and passes through two baffles in sequence. The high-temperature steam's path is significantly prolonged within the spiraling flow channel, preventing rapid discharge. This allows it to fully contact the low-temperature wall surface within the condensation chamber and partially liquefy into condensate, which ultimately flows back into the container through the reflux hole. This structure achieves self-recovery of condensate and, through the separated steam guide pipe and steam outlet, effectively isolates the boiling area from the steam outlet channel, fundamentally preventing overflow, splashing, and water bubbles. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rice cooker provided in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0036] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A sectional view;

[0037] Figure 3 A lower view of the inner cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0038] Figure 4 for Figure 3 A sectional view;

[0039] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure of the closure component provided in the embodiment of this utility model;

[0040] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A sectional view;

[0041] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the metal cover plate provided in an embodiment of the present utility model;

[0042] Figure 8 A bottom view of the inner cover and some of its mating parts after assembly, as provided in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0043] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Sectional view in the AA direction;

[0044] Figure 10 for Figure 8 Sectional view in the BB direction;

[0045] Figure label:

[0046] 1. Pot body;

[0047] 2. Top cover; 21. Inner cover; 211. Cavity; 212. Steam outlet; 213. Divider; 2131. Connecting part; 214. Condensation chamber; 215. Partition; 216. Annular protrusion; 22. Outer cover; 23. Overflow valve; 24. Metal cover plate; 241. Connection port; 25. Sealing component; 251. Steam guide pipe; 252. Shielding part; 2521. Flow guide slope; 253. Converging groove; 254. Return hole; 255. Gap; 256. Connecting groove;

[0048] 3. Inner liner;

[0049] 4. Heating unit;

[0050] 5. Water vapor flow channel;

[0051] 6. Condensate flow channel. Detailed Implementation

[0052] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0053] like Figures 1 to 10 As shown, this embodiment provides a rice cooker, including a pot body 1 and an upper cover 2 adapted and connected to the pot body 1; the pot body 1 has an inner pot 3, and a heating unit 4 is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the inner pot 3. The inner pot 3 is the container for cooking.

[0054] In this embodiment, the top lid 2 of the rice cooker is equipped with an anti-overflow valve 23 that facilitates steam condensation and reflux.

[0055] Specifically, the upper cover 2 includes an outer cover 22 and an inner cover 21 fixed inside the outer cover 22.

[0056] The inner cover 21 has an upwardly concave cavity 211, the top of which has a steam outlet 212, and the inner cover 21 protrudes from the outer periphery of the steam outlet 212 and passes through the outer cover 22. The upper surface of the cavity 211 has a downwardly protruding partition 213, which is in the shape of a curved sheet. The lower opening edge of the cavity 211 has a downwardly protruding annular protrusion 216.

[0057] The upper cover 2 also includes a detachably connected closure 25 for engaging with the cavity 211. Specifically, the closure 25 includes a steam guide pipe 251, and a circumferentially expanding shield 252 extending from the bottom outer periphery of the steam guide pipe 251, the radial dimension of which is adapted to the size of the lower opening of the cavity 211.

[0058] The outer periphery of the shielding part 252 has a recessed flow-gathering groove 253, and the bottom surface of the flow-gathering groove 253 is provided with a return hole 254; the shielding part 252 forms a protruding structure from the outer periphery of the flow-gathering groove 253; a connecting groove 256 is formed around the outer surface of the protruding structure.

[0059] The upper surface of the shield 252 is a guide slope 2521. Specifically, the guide slope 2521 is located outside the bottom of the steam pipe 251 and gradually slopes downward from the steam pipe 251 outward; the return hole 254 is lower than the lowest point of the guide slope 2521.

[0060] The lower surface of the inner lid 21 is provided with a removable metal cover plate 24. When the upper lid 2 and the pot body 1 are closed, the metal cover plate 24 seals the upper opening of the container. The metal cover plate 24 is made of 304 stainless steel, and a silicone ring is fitted around its outer periphery. The silicone ring improves the sealing connection between the container and the metal cover plate 24. The surface of the metal cover plate 24 is provided with a connection port 241.

[0061] During assembly, the steam pipe 251 is oriented towards the cavity 211, the shield 252 is fitted with the lower opening of the cavity 211, and the sealing member 25, inner cover 21, and metal cover plate 24 are fixedly connected by fitting the connecting groove 256 and the connecting port 241 together.

[0062] The closure 25 is made of silicone material, which facilitates the fitting and connection of the closure 25 with the inner cover 21 and allows for easy disassembly and cleaning.

[0063] After assembly, the closure 25 and the recess 211 form an overflow valve 23, and the cavity between them forms a condensation chamber 214. The upper surface of the shield 252 is the lower surface of the condensation chamber 214, and the top surface of the recess 211 is the upper surface of the condensation chamber 214. By setting the recess 211 and the closure 25, the ease of cleaning the condensation chamber 214 and the overall maintainability of the equipment are improved.

[0064] The partition 213 divides the condensing chamber 214 into two chambers 215; the partition 213 and the lower surface of the condensing chamber 214 are not sealed together, forming an open connecting portion 2131; the two chambers 215 are connected through the connecting portion 2131. The steam guide pipe 251 is vertically located in the center of the condensing chamber 214; the partition 213 is positioned to one side of the steam guide pipe 251, allowing for quick assembly of the sealing member 25 and the inner cover 21 without positioning. The upper and lower ends of the steam guide pipe 251 are open, connecting the inner chamber and the condensing chamber 214; the upper opening of the steam guide pipe 251 is positioned above the connecting portion 2131 and close to the upper surface of the condensing chamber 214. The steam guide pipe 251 is located within one of the chambers 215, and the steam outlet 212 is located within the other chamber 215.

[0065] In this embodiment, the shielding portion 252 covers the downward-facing opening of the cavity 211, and the annular protrusion 216 and the flow-gathering groove 253 are inserted into each other; there is a gap 255 between the surface of the annular protrusion 216 and the surface of the flow-gathering groove 253; the gap 255 and the return hole 254 connect the flow-gathering groove 253 and the condensation cavity 214. By setting the guide slope 2521, the condensate gradually flows to the return hole 254 (i.e., forming the condensate flow channel 6).

[0066] By configuring the partition 213, connecting part 2131, partition 215, and steam guide pipe 251, a vertically spiraling water vapor flow channel 5 is formed within the condensation chamber 214. Steam with a large amount of high-temperature water vapor generated inside the container enters the condensation chamber 214 through the steam guide pipe 251 and passes through the two partitions 215 in sequence. The high-temperature steam's path is significantly extended in the spiraling flow channel, preventing rapid discharge. This allows it to fully contact the low-temperature wall surface within the condensation chamber 214 and partially liquefy into condensate, which ultimately flows back into the container through the return hole 254. This structure achieves condensate self-recovery and, through the separated steam guide pipe 251 and steam outlet 212, effectively isolates the boiling area from the steam outlet channel, fundamentally preventing overflow, splashing, and bubbles.

[0067] Based on the disclosure and teachings of the above specification, those skilled in the art can make changes and modifications to the above embodiments. Therefore, this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and described above, and some modifications and changes to the utility model should also fall within the protection scope of the claims of this utility model. Furthermore, although some specific terms are used in this specification, these terms are only for convenience of explanation and do not constitute any limitation on this utility model.

Claims

1. An anti-overflow valve that facilitates steam condensation and reflux, applied to the upper side of a container, the container having an inner cavity; characterized in that: The anti-overflow valve has a condensation chamber, the upper surface of which has a downwardly protruding partition that divides the condensation chamber into two compartments; the partition and the lower surface of the condensation chamber are not closedly connected, forming an open connecting portion; the two compartments are connected through the connecting portion. A vertical pipe, referred to as a steam guide pipe, is connected to the lower surface of the condensing chamber. The upper and lower ends of the steam guide pipe are open, allowing the inner cavity and the condensing chamber to communicate. The upper opening of the steam guide pipe is positioned above the connecting portion and close to the upper surface of the condensing chamber. The upper surface of the condensing chamber is provided with a steam outlet that connects to the external environment; the steam guide pipe is located in one of the partitions, and the steam outlet is located in the other partition; the bottom of the anti-overflow valve is provided with a reflux hole, which is connected to the condensing chamber.

2. The anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lower surface of the condensation chamber is a flow guide slope; the flow guide slope is located outside the bottom of the steam guide pipe and gradually slopes downward from the steam guide pipe; the return hole is located at the lowest point of the flow guide slope, or below the lowest point of the flow guide slope.

3. The anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 1, characterized in that: The container is connected to a top cover, which includes an outer cover and an inner cover fixed inside the outer cover; The inner cover has an upwardly recessed cavity, the top of which has a steam outlet that passes through the outer cover; the cavity also has the partition portion; The top cover also includes a detachably connected closure; the closure has the steam guide pipe and the return hole; The closure and the cavity are connected to form the condensation cavity between the cavity and the closure.

4. The anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 3, characterized in that: The closure has a circumferentially extended shielding portion on the bottom outer periphery of the steam guide pipe; the shielding portion covers the downward-facing opening of the cavity, and the upper surface of the shielding portion is the lower surface of the condensation cavity; The outer periphery of the shield has a recessed flow-gathering groove, and the return hole is provided on the bottom surface of the flow-gathering groove; the opening edge of the cavity has a downwardly protruding annular protrusion; the annular protrusion and the flow-gathering groove are inserted into each other; there is a gap between the surface of the annular protrusion and the surface of the flow-gathering groove; the gap allows the flow-gathering groove and the condensation cavity to communicate.

5. An anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 4, characterized in that: The lower surface of the inner cover is provided with a removable metal cover plate for sealing the upper opening of the container; The surface of the metal cover plate is provided with a connection port; the peripheral surface of the shielding part has a raised structure; the radial dimension of the shielding part matches the size of the connection port, and the raised structure is snapped into the connection port.

6. The anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 5, characterized in that: The shielding portion forms the protruding structure outward from the outer peripheral surface of the flow-gathering groove; a connecting groove is formed around the outer surface of the protruding structure; the connecting groove is fitted and connected to the connecting port.

7. The anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 4, characterized in that: The closure is made of an elastic material.

8. An anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 1, characterized in that: The steam guide pipe is located vertically in the center of the condensation chamber; the partition is located to one side of the steam guide pipe.

9. An anti-overflow valve facilitating steam condensation and reflux according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner cover protrudes from the outer periphery of the steam outlet and passes through the outer cover.

10. A rice cooker, employing an anti-overflow valve as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The rice cooker includes a pot body and an upper cover that is adapted and connected to the pot body; the pot body has an inner pot, and a heating unit is provided at the bottom of the outer side of the inner pot; the inner pot is the container, and the anti-overflow valve is located inside the upper cover.

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