Steam cooker

Abstract

Steam cooking appliance (100), in particular steam cooking drawer (102), with - a device body (110) that surrounds an interior (112) of the steam cooker (100), - a steam cooking area (120) which is designed to be closable in the interior (112), and - a water tank (130) with a tank volume (132) for receiving water (134), which is arranged and designed to be connectable to the steam cooking area (120) via a water supply system of the steam cooking appliance (100) and to be removable within a tank receptacle (114) of the appliance body (110), wherein a number of transverse ribs (150) divide the tank volume (132) into a plurality of subvolumes (133), wherein adjacent subvolumes (133) are connected to each other via a respective rib opening (155) of the corresponding transverse rib (150).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a steam cooking appliance, in particular a steam cooking drawer.

[0002] Steam cookers with various designs are generally known. In particular, it is known that steam is introduced into a steam cooking chamber via a water tank within the steam cooker. The water tank is connected to a water supply system within the steam cooker, which, via a heating element, enables steam cooking in the supplied steam.

[0003] Document DE 10 2007 048 200 A1 describes, by way of example, a steam cooking appliance in which access to the water tank is possible via a control panel.

[0004] It is also generally known to provide a steam cooking appliance as a steam cooking drawer, which can be inserted into a furniture body in the manner of a drawer.

[0005] For example, EP 4293285 A1 describes a cooking device whose water supply system enables a particularly compact design of the cooking device, so that the cooking device can be provided, for example, as a steam cooking drawer.

[0006] Against this background, the invention aims to provide an improved steam cooking appliance, in particular a particularly user-friendly steam cooking appliance.

[0007] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a steam cooking appliance with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0008] In particular, a steam cooking appliance, especially a steam cooking drawer, is proposed to solve this problem, with - a device body that surrounds an interior space of the steam cooker, - a steam cooking area that can be closed off in the interior, and - a water tank with a tank volume for receiving water, which is arranged and designed to be connectable to the steam cooking area via a water supply system of the steam cooking appliance and to be removable within a tank recess of the appliance body, wherein a number of transverse ribs divide the tank volume into a plurality of subvolumes, with adjacent subvolumes being connected to each other via a respective rib opening of the corresponding transverse rib.

[0009] Within the scope of the invention, it was recognized that when carrying the water tank, for example for emptying, filling, and / or cleaning, the sloshing water inside the tank can cause lateral forces that reduce carrying comfort. Furthermore, water can escape from openings, for example between a removable lid and the rest of the tank, leading to undesirable water leakage during carrying. To solve this problem, the invention provides transverse ribs within the tank volume. These ribs reduce water movement within the tank. As a result, wave formation is only possible within a subvolume thus defined.

[0010] In addition to this reduced wave formation, the advantages achievable with the invention include the fact that the water cannot slosh through the entire water tank, since such water movement is strongly slowed down by the transverse ribs.

[0011] Furthermore, the transverse ribs according to the invention can be integrated particularly easily into a commercially available water tank by appropriately adapting the manufacturing process of the water tank. This integration into the water tank can be achieved, for example, by attaching the transverse ribs to designated areas of a tank side wall or by manufacturing them in one piece, for example, using injection molding. Preferably, the transverse ribs and / or the water tank are made of a plastic.

[0012] The transverse ribs can be identical or at least partially different in design. Furthermore, the transverse ribs can be parallel to each other or at least partially oblique to each other. The rib openings within the transverse ribs serve to fluidically connect adjacent subvolumes. These rib openings can have various configurations, particularly different shapes. Each transverse rib can have one or more rib openings, and the rib openings of one or more transverse ribs can be different or at least partially identical. It is particularly preferred that all transverse ribs are essentially identical. The transverse ribs can be flat, curved, bent, angular, and / or the like. It is particularly preferred that at least one transverse rib is flat.Such a flat design of the transverse rib advantageously allows for easy cleaning of this transverse rib.

[0013] The steam cooking area is preferably sealable in the sense that an area for cooking is essentially sealed watertight, for example by means of a suitable wall, to ensure that moisture does not escape from the steam cooking appliance during the cooking process and thereby damage, for example, a furniture body or the like.

[0014] The water tank is a water tank in the sense that it provides the tank volume into which water can be added for the cooking process. Alternatively or additionally, other liquids or water additives can obviously also be added to the water tank according to the invention. In particular, a descaling agent can be added to the water tank.

[0015] The tank mount preferably forms a direct connection between the tank volume of the water tank to be used and the water supply system of the steam cooker. For example, a plug connection on the underside of the water tank can enable particularly reliable insertion of the water tank into the tank mount.

[0016] The water tank described below preferably has a cuboid structure. It follows from the above that the transverse ribs according to the invention can also be provided in other shapes and configurations of the water tank in order to achieve the steam cooking device according to the invention.

[0017] The steam cooking appliance according to the invention is particularly preferably provided as a steam cooking drawer. Such a steam cooking drawer can be cleaned particularly easily thanks to the water tank according to the invention. It follows from the above that the steam cooking appliance according to the invention can also be a different type of kitchen appliance than a steam cooking drawer. In particular, the steam cooking appliance can also be a classic steam cooker and / or a Dialog oven.

[0018] Preferred embodiments of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention are described below.

[0019] In a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one transverse rib extends between two opposing side walls of the water tank. In this embodiment, the transverse rib can advantageously have a particularly short length, so that little material is required to provide the transverse rib. In particular, the transverse rib can form the shortest possible connection between the two opposing side walls of the tank.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one rib opening is shaped as a rib slot. In this embodiment, the rib opening is narrow and elongated in a slot direction, thus forming the shape of a slot. Such a shape ensures that only small quantities of water pass from one subvolume to an adjacent subvolume within a few seconds, such as one second. This effectively prevents water from sloshing through the water tank and thus through the rib opening. The slot shape advantageously retains contaminants within a subvolume, preventing these contaminants from spreading throughout the entire water tank.

[0021] In a further embodiment, at least one rib opening extends over less than 30%, and in particular less than 20%, of the total rib area. In this embodiment, water flow through the entire water tank across different subvolumes of the water tank is particularly reliably prevented. The rib area in this embodiment is the total area of ​​the transverse rib that would be present without the rib opening within the transverse rib.

[0022] In another embodiment, the rib openings of two adjacent transverse ribs are spatially offset from one another. In this embodiment, water flow through the rib openings of the transverse ribs is particularly effectively prevented.

[0023] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the tank volume is divided into at least three subvolumes by at least two transverse ribs. In this embodiment, a plurality of subvolumes is advantageously provided to reduce water sloshing within the water tank and thereby increase user comfort when carrying the water tank. Preferably, the water tank is moved by the user to empty or refill it.

[0024] In a further advantageous embodiment, the water tank has at least one handle, wherein the at least one handle is arranged on a transverse rib, in particular on two transverse ribs, of the water tank. The handle advantageously facilitates comfortable carrying of the water tank by the user. Furthermore, the at least partial arrangement of the handle on the transverse rib according to the invention can enhance the functionality of this transverse rib and thereby help to avoid the need for an additional device for attaching the handle. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one handle can be arranged on a side wall of the tank and / or on a lid of the water tank, such as a removable lid. Arranging the handle on the at least one transverse rib can involve an adaptation of the transverse rib due to its spatial proximity to the at least one handle, without the handle actually being attached to this transverse rib.Alternatively or additionally, the handle can be attached to at least one transverse rib.

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment, the water tank has a level indicator on a tank side wall, wherein the tank side wall is transparent in the area of ​​the level indicator, and wherein the level indicator is arranged between two transverse ribs connected to the corresponding tank side wall. In this embodiment, the at least two transverse ribs advantageously reduce water sloshing in the area of ​​the level indicator. This particularly facilitates precise reading of the level indicator. Furthermore, it is advantageously ensured that the transverse ribs of the water tank do not impair the function of the level indicator.

[0026] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the number of transverse ribs divides the tank volume into substantially equal subvolumes. In this embodiment, the position of the transverse ribs ensures a uniform, reduced sloshing within each subvolume. This contributes to a particularly comfortable carrying experience when transporting the water tank. Preferably, the substantially equal subvolumes are substantially similar in shape. For example, the substantially equal subvolumes can be substantially cuboid in shape.

[0027] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one transverse rib is arranged perpendicular to the two tank side walls connected by the transverse rib. Such a perpendicular arrangement allows for particularly short transverse ribs between the two tank side walls. Furthermore, the perpendicular transverse ribs can increase the robustness of the water tank against lateral forces from the environment.

[0028] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the at least one transverse rib is manufactured integrally with the tank side walls and tank bottom. In this embodiment, the production of the transverse ribs is particularly simple and robust. For example, a casting or printing process can be used to manufacture the water tank. This advantageously eliminates the need for additional fasteners to attach each transverse rib. Preferably, the water tank in this embodiment is made of a plastic.

[0029] In a further advantageous embodiment, the water tank also has a removable lid for accessing the tank volume, wherein the removable lid has at least one opening for filling the tank volume with water. In this embodiment, the transverse ribs according to the invention are particularly advantageous because they reliably reduce the risk of water splashing out of the at least one opening. The design of the removable lid can be independent of the arrangement of the transverse ribs within the water tank. Preferably, however, two transverse ribs surround the area of ​​the at least one opening in order to particularly reliably reduce ripple formation in the area of ​​the opening.

[0030] In an advantageous embodiment of the preceding design, the removable lid has a plurality of wave-prevention lamellae on its underside facing the tank volume to reduce wave formation within the tank volume. These wave-prevention lamellae can further support the inventive function of the at least one transverse rib within the tank volume. In particular, wave formation within the tank volume can be reliably prevented because the water movement necessary for wave formation is already reduced by the at least one transverse rib, and any incipient wave formation is further slowed by the wave-prevention lamellae. Preferably, the removable lid has at least two, and in particular at least four, wave-prevention lamellae.

[0031] In a further advantageous embodiment of the preceding design, the transverse ribs are arranged outside the area of ​​the at least one opening of the releasable lid. This reliably prevents water from sloshing around the at least one opening. Such sloshing only occurs at an obstacle, such as one of the transverse ribs, so that in this embodiment, water sloshing out of the at least one opening is reliably prevented. Furthermore, the water tank according to the invention can be filled in a designated subvolume of the water tank, and splashing of water onto the upper surface of the at least one transverse rib is prevented.

[0032] In another embodiment, the transverse ribs each have a smaller wall thickness than the side wall of the water tank. This embodiment avoids unnecessary material consumption. In particular, it takes into account that the tank side walls are subject to significantly more external forces than the transverse ribs. Therefore, it is advantageous for these more heavily stressed tank side walls to have a greater wall thickness than the transverse ribs, which are only exposed to a small amount of water force.

[0033] In an advantageous embodiment, the installation height of the appliance area is less than 45 cm, and in particular less than 30 cm. Such dimensions allow for particularly easy integration of the steam cooker into commercially available designs of external kitchen cabinetry. Furthermore, such dimensions illustrate that the water tank according to the invention can be provided in a particularly compact manner within the steam cooker, thus enabling even low installation heights for such steam cookers.

[0034] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a water tank in a tank view of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 3 a frontal sectional view of the water tank of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention; Fig. 4 a lateral sectional view of the water tank of the exemplary embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention; and Fig. 5 a perspective view of a view into the tank volume of the water tank of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance according to the invention.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0036] The steam cooker 100 is in this case a steam cooker drawer 102, with a unit body 110, a steam cooker area 120 and a water tank 130.

[0037] The appliance body 110 surrounds an interior 112 of the steam cooker 100. The steam cooker drawer 102 can be moved like a drawer via a rail system 104 in a retracted position or in the position shown in the original text. Fig. The extended state shown in section 1 is present.

[0038] The steam cooking compartment 120 is designed to be closable within the interior 112. The steam cooking compartment 120 is surrounded by walls 122 of the steam cooking appliance 100, which are intended to prevent steam from escaping. The walls 122 are made, for example, of glass or plastic.

[0039] The water tank 130 is located laterally to the steam cooking area 120 and is housed in a tank receptacle 114 of the appliance body 110. The tank receptacle 114 at least partially surrounds the water tank 130, ensuring its stability when in use. The water tank 130 forms a tank volume 132, which is filled with water 134. The water tank 130 is connected to the steam cooking area 120 via a water supply system (not shown) of the steam cooking appliance 100. The water tank 130 includes a removable lid 140 for access to the tank volume 132.

[0040] Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a water tank 130 in a tank mount 114 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0041] Out of Fig. 2. The detailed structure of the water tank 130 results from Fig. 1. Thus, in Fig. 2. It can be seen that the water tank 130 has a removable lid 140 with at least one opening 142, in this case with two openings 142, 144, for emptying and / or filling the water tank 130. A central opening 142 is essentially rectangular for filling the water tank 130, while a second lateral opening 144 is provided for emptying the water tank 130 when the lid 140 is closed.

[0042] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 2 shows that the removable lid 140 comprises two opposing handles 146, 146' for removing the water tank 130 from the device body 110.

[0043] Finally, the water tank 130 also has a level indicator 136, which is made of a transparent material, such as a transparent plastic, and through which it is possible to see how full the water tank 130 is while the water tank 130 is arranged in the tank holder 114.

[0044] Fig. Figure 3 shows a frontal sectional view of the water tank 130 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0045] Due to the selected cutting plane from Fig. 3 It becomes clear that a number of transverse ribs 150 divide the tank volume 132 into a plurality of subvolumes 133, with adjacent subvolumes 133 being interconnected by a connection in the Fig. 4 and Fig. The rib opening 155 shown in Figure 5 is connected to the corresponding transverse rib 150. The transverse ribs 150 thus ensure a controlled flow of water through the various subvolumes 133. This prevents an inhomogeneous distribution of water and the generation of disruptive lateral forces caused by sloshing water when carrying the water tank 130.

[0046] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 3 shows that a total of two transverse ribs 150 divide the tank volume 132 into three subvolumes 133, which are essentially the same size and shape. The two transverse ribs 150 are perpendicular to the tank bottom 160 of the water tank 130 and perpendicular to the tank side walls 165 of the water tank 130. The advantageous effect of the transverse ribs 150 according to the invention is also achieved in the embodiment not shown, with only one transverse rib or with more than two transverse ribs. The number of transverse ribs determines the number of subvolumes within the tank volume.

[0047] The transverse ribs 150 from the illustrated embodiment extend between two opposing tank side walls 165 of the water tank 130 and are essentially designed as flat walls. In alternative or supplementary embodiments, the transverse ribs are designed differently, such as curved, bent, and / or angular.

[0048] By comparing the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 it is evident that the in Fig. 3. A level indicator (not shown) is arranged between two transverse ribs 150 connected to the corresponding tank side wall. This ensures that neither of the transverse ribs 150 obstructs the view through the level indicator.

[0049] The transverse ribs 150 are manufactured as a single unit with the tank side walls 165 and the tank bottom 160. The wall thickness SR of both transverse ribs 150 is identical and less than the wall thickness SW of the side wall 165 of the water tank 130. In this case, the wall thickness SR of the transverse ribs 150 is between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, particularly between 0.7 mm and 1.2 mm. The wall thickness SW of the side wall 165 and the tank bottom 160 of the water tank is between 1 mm and 2.4 mm, particularly between 1.3 mm and 2 mm.

[0050] The water tank 130 of the illustrated embodiment is manufactured from a plastic using a casting process. Alternatively or additionally, other processes such as a pressure or compression molding process can also be used.

[0051] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 3 shows the underside of the removable lid 140, on which wave-protection lamellae 170 facing the tank volume are arranged. Six such wave-protection lamellae 170 are arranged on the removable lid 140. In a rest position, these wave-protection lamellae 170 do not touch the water surface 180. However, if a wave forms, it would lift the water surface 180 and, at a certain height, come into contact with the wave-protection lamellae 170. In this way, the wave-protection lamellae 170 can help to reduce wave formation within the tank volume 132. The wave-protection lamellae 170 extend perpendicularly from the underside of the removable lid 140 and are formed integrally with it. In combination with the transverse ribs 150 according to the invention, the formation of waves within the tank volume 132 can thus be prevented particularly reliably.The transverse ribs 150 are formed outside an area of ​​the at least one opening 142 of the removable cover 140 and surround this area.

[0052] Furthermore, in Fig. 3 Two valves 190, 190' are provided for connection to the water supply system of the steam cooker 100. One valve provides an inflow of water from the water tank 130 into the water supply system and the other valve 180 provides an outflow of water from the water supply system back into the water tank 130.

[0053] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 3 shows that the removable lid 140 is attached to the rest of the water tank 130 via a snap-fit ​​connection. In alternative embodiments, the connection between the removable lid and the tank side walls can be made via a clamping connection, a screw connection and / or the like.

[0054] Fig. Figure 4 shows a side sectional view of the water tank 130 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0055] This lateral sectional view reveals the rib openings 155 within the corresponding transverse rib 150. The in Fig. The rib opening 155 shown in Figure 4 is elongated and stretched, thus forming a rib slot. The further opening shown in Fig. Four transverse ribs of the water tank (not shown) form an identical rib opening. In an embodiment not shown, the transverse ribs according to the invention have different rib openings and / or rib openings offset from one another.

[0056] The illustrated rib opening 155 has a size that is less than 30%, in particular less than 20%, of the total rib area of ​​the transverse rib 150. The rib opening can also be smaller, as long as it allows fluid exchange between the subvolumes 133 of the water tank 130.

[0057] Finally, it shows Fig. Figure 4 also shows a detailed illustration of one of the valves 190, which is designed as a check valve via a spring-loaded bearing. This valve 190 can be opened or closed, for example, by controlling the hydrodynamic pressure applied to the valve 190 via a control unit of the water supply system.

[0058] Furthermore, in Fig. Figure 4 shows the arrangement of the handles 146, 146' via a recess in the corresponding transverse rib 150. This allows the handles 146, 146' to be supported, at least partially, in the fixed state of the removable cover 140 via the two recesses in the corresponding transverse rib 150.

[0059] Fig. Figure 5 shows a perspective view into the tank volume 132 of the water tank 130 of the embodiment of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention.

[0060] This illustration clarifies the identical design of the two rib openings 155 in the two transverse ribs 150. It also shows how the cuboid structure of the water tank 130 is divided into three essentially equal subvolumes 133 by the two transverse ribs 150. The transverse ribs 150 are perpendicular to both opposite tank side walls 165 and to the tank bottom 160. Preferably, the water tank 130 is made of a transparent plastic, so that the level indicator 136 is not made of a different material than the rest of the water tank 130. The rest of the water tank 130 can, for example, have a matte surface structure to allow visual differentiation between the level indicator 136 and the rest of the water tank 130.

[0061] Finally, in Fig.Figure 5 also shows that both transverse ribs 150 have respective recesses for receiving the handles of the water tank 130. This at least stabilizes the mounting of the two handles.

[0062] The embodiment shown in the preceding figures represents an exemplary configuration of the steam cooking appliance 100 according to the invention, including the water tank 130 according to the invention. In principle, the water tank can have a different shape, a different lid, or no lid at all, in particular a permanently installed top, a different connection to the water supply system, or the like. Furthermore, the transverse ribs 150 according to the invention can also be shaped differently, oriented differently, and / or arranged differently in the water tank 130 than shown in the preceding figures. In particular, the transverse ribs can be inserted into the water tank as a separate component and / or permanently attached to the rest of the water tank, in particular by gluing. Such modifications to the design of the water tank would all exhibit the advantages of the transverse ribs according to the invention and thus result in a particularly user-friendly water tank. Reference symbol list 100 steam cooker 102 Steam cooking drawer 104 rail system 110 device bodies 112 Interior 114 Tank mounting 120 steam cooking area 122 wall 130 water tank 132 tank volume 133 subvolumes 134 Water 136 Level indicator 140 removable lids 142 central opening 144 side opening 146, 146' handle 150 transverse ribs 155 rib opening 160 Tank bottom 165 Tank side wall 170 wave protection slats 180 water surface 190, 190' Valve TS wall thickness of the tank side wall RS wall thickness of the transverse rib QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2007 048 200 A1

[0003] EP 4293285 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Steam cooking appliance (100), in particular steam cooking drawer (102), with - a device body (110) that surrounds an interior (112) of the steam cooker (100), - a steam cooking area (120) which is designed to be closable in the interior (112), and - a water tank (130) with a tank volume (132) for receiving water (134), which is arranged and designed to be connectable to the steam cooking area (120) via a water supply system of the steam cooking appliance (100) and to be removable within a tank receptacle (114) of the appliance body (110), wherein a number of transverse ribs (150) divide the tank volume (132) into a plurality of subvolumes (133), wherein adjacent subvolumes (133) are connected to each other via a respective rib opening (155) of the corresponding transverse rib (150). [2] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one transverse rib (155) extends between two opposing tank side walls (165) of the water tank (130). [3] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one rib opening (155) is shaped as a rib slot. [4] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one rib opening (155) extends over less than 30%, in particular over less than 20%, of a total rib area. [5] Steam cooker (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the tank volume (132) is divided into at least three subvolumes (133) by at least two transverse ribs (150). [6] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the water tank (130) has at least one handle (146), and wherein the at least one handle (146) is arranged on a transverse rib (150), in particular on two transverse ribs (150), of the water tank (130). [7] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the water tank (130) has a level indicator (136) on a tank side wall (165), wherein the tank side wall (165) is transparent in the area of ​​the level indicator (136), and wherein the level indicator (136) is arranged between two transverse ribs (150) connected to the corresponding tank side wall (165). [8] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of transverse ribs (150) divides the tank volume (132) into substantially equal subvolumes (133). [9] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one transverse rib (150) is arranged perpendicular to the two tank side walls (165) connected via the transverse rib (150). [10] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse rib (150) is manufactured in one piece with the tank side walls (165) and a tank bottom (160). [11] Steam cooker (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the water tank (130) further comprises a removable lid (140) for access to the tank volume (132), and wherein the removable lid (140) comprises at least one opening (142, 144) for filling the tank volume (132) with water (134). [12] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 11, wherein the removable lid (140) has a plurality of wave protection lamellae (170) on an underside facing the tank volume (132) to reduce wave formation within the tank volume (132). [13] Steam cooker (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the number of transverse ribs (150) is formed outside a region of the at least one opening (142, 144) of the removable lid (140). [14] Steam cooking appliance (100) according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of transverse ribs (150) each has a smaller wall thickness (RS) than the tank side wall (165) of the water tank (130).

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