Steam boiler
The steam kettle design with a blowpipe and annular pipe with varying hole areas and orientations addresses localized overheating by uniformly distributing steam and cooling water, preventing burning and enhancing heating and cooling efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- MIURA CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-12
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-24
AI Technical Summary
Conventional steam kettles risk localized overheating due to steam being ejected towards a single point, leading to potential burning of the inner kettle.
A steam kettle design featuring a blowpipe with multiple blowholes along the steam flow path, varying the total area of discharge holes per unit length to uniformly distribute steam and cooling water, and incorporating an annular pipe with inward- and outward-facing outlets to enhance heating and cooling effects.
Prevents localized overheating by ensuring uniform steam and cooling water distribution, maintaining consistent discharge volumes, and effectively heating and cooling the inner kettle.
Smart Images
Figure 2026103756000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a steam kettle.
Background Art
[0002] Conventionally, there is a steam kettle provided with a jacket (steam chamber) outside an inner kettle that houses an object to be processed such as food. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a steam kettle capable of supplying steam into the jacket via a steam supply pipe.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] However, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, if the steam supplied from the steam supply pipe is ejected toward a single point of the inner kettle, there is a risk that the inner kettle will be locally overheated and burning will occur.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a steam kettle capable of preventing local overheating of the inner kettle.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0006] According to the present invention, the following inventions are provided. [1] A steam boiler comprising an inner kettle, a jacket, and a blowpipe, wherein the inner kettle is capable of accommodating a workpiece, the jacket is provided on the outside of the inner kettle and has an inlet for introducing steam from a steam supply source into the jacket, and the blowpipe is connected to the inlet, arranged along the inner kettle within the jacket, and has a plurality of blowholes along the steam flow path, wherein the total area of the plurality of blowholes per unit length along the steam flow path is different so that steam is blown out into the jacket from each of the plurality of blowholes. A steam boiler as described in [2][1], wherein the position of the discharge hole furthest from the inlet along the flow path of the discharge pipe is defined as the furthest part, and the distance along the flow path from the inlet to the furthest part is defined as L, and the region of the discharge pipe where the distance along the flow path from the inlet side is 0 or more and less than L / 2 is defined as the inlet side region, and the region where the distance along the flow path from the inlet side is L / 2 or more and less than L is defined as the far side region, the steam boiler is configured such that the total area of the discharge holes in the far side region is greater than the total area of the discharge holes in the inlet side region. A steam boiler according to [3][1] or [2], wherein the blow-off pipe comprises a connecting pipe extending from the inlet toward the center of the jacket and an annular pipe connected to the connecting pipe and formed in an annular shape, and at least the annular pipe is provided with the plurality of blow-off holes. A steam kettle as described in [4][3], wherein the inner kettle is bottomed and formed in a cylindrical shape, and the annular tube is annular and has a diameter of 1 / 2 or more of the diameter of the inner kettle. A steam boiler according to [5][4], wherein the plurality of outlets provided in the annular pipe include inward-facing holes that eject steam upward and radially inward, and outward-facing holes that eject steam upward and radially outward. A steam boiler according to any of [6][1] to [5], further comprising a steam supply means and a cooling water supply means, wherein the steam supply means is configured to supply the steam, and the cooling water supply means is configured to supply cooling water from a cooling water supply source, and the steam and the cooling water are introduced into the jacket from the inlet and blown out from the plurality of outlets via the blow-off pipe. A steam boiler according to any of [7][1] to [6], wherein the blow-off pipe is provided with a drain hole for discharging condensate generated inside, in addition to the blow-off hole. [Effects of the Invention]
[0007] According to the present invention, by providing multiple discharge holes along the flow path, localized overheating can be prevented, and by varying the total area of the multiple discharge holes per unit length along the flow path, the amount of steam discharged from the multiple discharge holes can be made uniform. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram showing a steam kettle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the internal structure of the steam boiler 1. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing how the blowdown pipe 7 is arranged inside the jacket 3 of the steam boiler 1 in Figure 1. [Figure 4] Figure 4A is an enlarged view of the X portion of Figure 3, and Figure 4B is an enlarged view of the Y portion of Figure 3. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the blowdown pipe 7 of the steam boiler 1. [Figure 6] Figure 6A is an explanatory diagram showing the blowdown pipe 7 of the steam boiler 1 according to Modification 1 of the present invention, and Figure 6B is an explanatory diagram showing the blowdown pipe 7 of the steam boiler 1 according to Modification 2 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. The various features shown in the embodiments below can be combined with each other. Furthermore, each feature constitutes an independent invention.
[0010] 1. Configuration of Steam Boiler 1 Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a steam kettle 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The steam kettle 1 of this embodiment is a kettle capable of heating and cooling food, which is the object to be processed.
[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the steam boiler 1 according to this embodiment comprises an inner boiler 2, a jacket 3, a steam supply means 4, a cooling water supply means 5, and a drain discharge means 6. The steam boiler 1 also includes a blowdown pipe 7 (see Figure 2) inside the jacket 3. Each component will be described in detail below.
[0012] The inner pot 2 is a bottomed, cylindrical, hollow container with an upward opening, capable of containing food. The inner pot 2 is not particularly limited in shape and may have a stirring device (not shown) inside for stirring the food (the term "steam pot" in this specification includes a kneader equipped with a stirring means). The inner pot 2 may be an open pot or a vacuum pot. In this embodiment, the bottom 20 of the inner pot 2 is formed in a mortar shape (bowl shape).
[0013] The jacket 3 is installed on the outside of the inner kettle 2. For example, in the illustrated example, the jacket 3 is installed so as to cover the lower area of the inner kettle 2. The jacket 3 has an inlet 30 on its outer wall for introducing steam and cooling water into the interior, and steam or cooling water is supplied to the internal space S of the jacket 3 (see Figure 2) via a discharge pipe 7. Also, as shown in Figure 2, a drain pod 31 is provided at the bottom of the jacket 3 into which condensate and cooling water generated in the internal space S flow and are stored. A manual drain outlet 31a is connected to the lower part of the drain pod 31. The configuration of the discharge pipe 7 will be described later.
[0014] The steam supply means 4 supplies steam from a boiler (not shown), which is a steam supply source, into the jacket 3 through the blowing pipe 7 to heat the food in the inner pot 2. Specifically, the steam supply means 4 includes a steam supply line 40 having one end connected to the boiler and the other end connected to the inlet 30 of the jacket 3. A steam supply valve 41 is provided in the steam supply line 40.
[0015] The cooling water supply means 5 supplies cooling water from a chiller (not shown), which is a cooling water supply source, into the jacket 3 through the blowing pipe 7 to cool the food in the inner pot 2. Specifically, the cooling water supply means 5 includes a cooling water supply line 50 having one end connected to the chiller and the other end connected to the inlet 30 of the jacket 3. A cooling water supply valve 51 is provided in the cooling water supply line 50. In this embodiment, the steam supply line 40 and the cooling water supply line 50 share a part of the pipeline on the inlet 30 side. The cooling water supplied into the jacket 3 by the cooling water supply means 5 is discharged through the cooling water discharge line 52. A cooling water discharge valve 53 is provided in the cooling water discharge line 52. It is also preferable to connect a circulation line (not shown) for circulating the cooling water that has cooled the food in the inner pot 2 to the chiller in the cooling water discharge line 52 to circulate the cooling water (reclaimed water).
[0016] The drain discharge means 6 is configured to discharge the condensed water (drain) of the steam supplied into the jacket 3 to the outside. Specifically, the drain discharge means 6 includes a drain discharge line 60 and an internal discharge pipe 61 (see FIG. 2). A steam trap 62 is provided in the drain discharge line 60. The internal discharge pipe 61 is disposed in the jacket 3, with one end disposed at the drain pod 31 of the jacket 3 and the other end connected to the drain discharge line 60.
[0017] 2. Structure of the blowing pipe 7 As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the blowing pipe 7 includes a connecting pipe 8 and an annular pipe 9, and is arranged along the inner pot 2 in the jacket 3 to blow steam and cooling water toward the inner pot 2.
[0018] More specifically, one end of the connecting pipe 8 is connected to the inlet 30 of the jacket 3. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the connecting pipe 8 extends from the inlet 30 toward the center of the jacket 3, and as shown in FIG. 2, it extends obliquely downward along the mortar-shaped bottom 20 from the inlet 30. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 4A, a plurality of circular ejection holes 80 are provided in the connecting pipe 8 along the flow paths of the steam and the cooling water.
[0019] In the present embodiment, the plurality of ejection holes 80 are provided at equal intervals along the flow paths of the steam and the cooling water, and two ejection holes 80 are provided for each position where the distance along the flow path is the same. Each of the plurality of ejection holes 80 is configured to open upward and eject the steam and the cooling water toward the inner pot 2.
[0020] The annular pipe 9 is connected to the other end of the connecting pipe 8 and is formed in an annular shape. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the diameter D1 of the annular pipe 9 is 1 / 2 or more (about 2 / 3 in the illustrated example) of the diameter D2 of the inner pot 2. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a plurality of circular ejection holes 90 are provided in the annular pipe 9 along the flow paths of the steam and the cooling water.
[0021] Also, in the present embodiment, the plurality of ejection holes 90 are provided at equal intervals along the flow paths of the steam and the cooling water, and two ejection holes 90 are provided for each position where the distance along the flow path is the same. The two ejection holes 90 provided for each position where the distance along the flow path is the same include an inward hole 90a provided on the radially inner side and configured to eject the steam and the cooling water upward and toward the radially inner side, and an outward hole 90b provided on the radially outer side and configured to eject the steam and the cooling water upward and toward the radially outer side.
[0022] In this embodiment, the height at which the annular pipe 9 is provided is approximately the same as the lower end of the bottom 20 of the inner kettle 2. In other words, in this embodiment, the annular pipe 9 is arranged to surround the lower end of the inner kettle 2, thereby widening the diameter of the annular pipe 9 while reducing the distance between the annular pipe 9 and the inner kettle 2, making it possible to blow steam and cooling water onto the inner kettle 2 from a very close distance.
[0023] Incidentally, the discharge pipe 7 according to this embodiment is configured such that steam is blown into the jacket 3 from each of the multiple discharge holes 80 and 90 by varying the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 per unit length along the flow path, with the total area per unit length increasing as the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30 increases. Specifically, as shown in Figure 5, when the discharge pipe 7 is divided into two regions, the inlet side region A1 and the far side region A2, the total area of the multiple discharge holes 90 provided in the far side region A2 is larger than the total area of the multiple discharge holes 80 and 90 provided in the inlet side region A1.
[0024] More specifically, the furthest point F is defined as the location of the discharge hole 90 that is furthest from the inlet 30 along the flow path, and the total distance L is defined as the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30 to this furthest point F. Then, if the region where the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30 is 0 or more and less than L / 2 is defined as the inlet-side region A1, and the region where the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30 is L / 2 or more and less than or equal to L is defined as the far-side region A2, then the total area of the discharge holes 90 of the annular pipe 9 provided in the far-side region A2 is larger than the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 of the connecting pipe 8 and annular pipe 9 provided in the inlet-side region A1. Here, when the region is divided into two as described above, the distance L / 2 becomes the "unit length along the flow path".
[0025] A more concrete example of realizing the above configuration is to set the hole area (hole diameter) of the discharge holes 80 and 90 to gradually increase in proportion to the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30. With this configuration, it is possible to keep the discharge amount of steam and cooling water from each discharge hole 80 and 90 approximately constant. However, in order to reduce manufacturing costs, it is also preferable to increase the hole area at regular intervals rather than increasing it one hole at a time. In this way, by varying the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 per unit length (distance L / 2) of the discharge pipe 7, and increasing the total area of the discharge holes 80 in the far-side region A2, which is far from the inlet 30, it becomes possible to discharge steam from the far-side region A2 as well.
[0026] Note that in Figure 5, for convenience, only the upper channel is divided into regions, but the same applies to the lower channel.
[0027] In addition, as shown in Figure 4B, the discharge pipe 7 of this embodiment is also equipped with a drain hole 70 in the far-side region A2 for discharging condensate generated inside. Specifically, the drain hole 70 is located near the furthest point F of the annular pipe 9 and is provided on the lower surface of the annular pipe 9. Here, it is preferable that the area of the drain hole 70 be smaller than the area of the discharge holes 80 and 90. By providing the drain hole 70 near the furthest point F and reducing its area, it is possible to avoid affecting the discharge of steam and cooling water from the discharge holes 80 and 90.
[0028] 3. Effects According to the embodiments described above, the following effects and advantages can be obtained.
[0029] (1) In this embodiment, the steam boiler 1 has a blowpipe 7 equipped with multiple blowholes 80, 90 along the steam flow path, which makes it possible to prevent localized overheating compared to the case where steam is blown out from only one blowhole. Furthermore, if multiple blowholes of the same area are simply provided, the amount of steam blown out from the blowholes further away from the inlet 30 will decrease compared to the amount blown out from the blowholes closer to the inlet 30. However, in this embodiment, the multiple blowholes 80, 90 have different hole areas, which makes it possible to equalize the amount of steam blown out.
[0030] Specifically, in this embodiment, the discharge pipe 7 is configured such that the hole area (hole diameter) of the discharge holes 80 and 90 increases in proportion to the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30. With this configuration, the discharge volume is reduced by decreasing the hole area on the inlet 30 side where the vapor pressure is high, while the discharge volume is secured even at low vapor pressures by increasing the hole area on the furthest point F side.
[0031] (2) The steam boiler 1 according to this embodiment is configured to also blow out cooling water from the blow-off pipe 7, and it is possible to make the amount of cooling water blown out from each of the blow-off holes 80 and 90 uniform.
[0032] (3) In the steam boiler 1 according to this embodiment, the blowdown pipe 7 comprises a connecting pipe 8 extending from the inlet 30 toward the center of the jacket 3, and an annular pipe 9 connected to the connecting pipe 8 and formed in an annular shape. The connecting pipe 8 and the annular pipe 9 are provided with a plurality of blowdown holes 80 and 90 at equal intervals along the steam and cooling water flow paths, respectively. The annular pipe 9 is circular, and its diameter is at least half the diameter of the inner boiler 2. With this configuration, it is possible to blow out the steam and cooling water introduced from the inlet 30 over a wide area within the jacket 3.
[0033] (4) In the steam boiler 1 according to this embodiment, the two outlets 90 provided at positions where the distance along the flow path is the same consist of an inward-facing hole 90a provided on the radially inward side that ejects steam and cooling water upward and radially inward, and an outward-facing hole 90b provided on the radially outward side that ejects steam and cooling water upward and radially outward (see Figures 4A and 4B). With this configuration, it is possible to eject steam and cooling water over a wide area of the bottom 20 of the inner boiler 2, thereby enhancing the heating and cooling effects.
[0034] 4. Variations Furthermore, the present invention can also be implemented in the following embodiments.
[0035] In the above embodiment, the total area of the discharge holes 90 of the annular pipe 9 provided in the far-side region A2 is set to be larger than the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 of the connecting pipe 8 and annular pipe 9 provided in the inlet-side region A1. This configuration is described in which the hole area (hole diameter) of the discharge holes 80 and 90 is set to gradually increase in proportion to the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30. However, it is sufficient that the total area of the discharge holes 90 in the far-side region A2 is larger than the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 in the inlet-side region A1. For example, it is also possible to set the hole area of all the discharge holes 80 and 90 to be the same size and gradually increase the density of the discharge holes 80 and 90 (the number provided per unit length along the flow path) in proportion to the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30. Furthermore, if the total area of the discharge holes 90 in the far-side region A2 is larger than the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 in the inlet-side region A1, then locally, the area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 located closer along the flow path from the inlet 30 may be smaller than the area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 located further away. In addition, extra minute holes that do not release much steam or cooling water may be provided in the far-side region A2.
[0036] In the above embodiment, the "unit length along the flow path," which is the unit used to differentiate the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90, was defined as "the distance L / 2 obtained by dividing the total distance L along the flow path into two parts." However, the "unit length along the flow path" is not limited to this. Generally, the unit length can be defined as "the distance L / N obtained by dividing the total distance L along the flow path into N parts (where N is a natural number of 2 or more)." By differentiating the total area of the discharge holes 80 and 90 for each distance L / N, and increasing the total area towards the furthest point F, it is possible to equalize the amount of steam discharged from multiple discharge holes 80 and 90. When dividing the total distance L along the flow path into N parts, N is preferably between 2 and 20, and specifically, for example, it is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10.
[0037] In the above embodiment, the discharge holes 80 and 90 of the connecting pipe 8 and the annular pipe 9 were circular, but the shape of the discharge holes 80 and 90 does not have to be circular; for example, they can be triangular, rectangular, elliptical, etc.
[0038] In the above embodiment, the annular tube 9 was configured in an annular shape, but the shape of the annular tube 9 is not limited to this. For example, the annular tube 9 may be elliptical or rectangular. Depending on the shape of the inner pot 2 and the jacket 3, it is preferable to have a shape that follows the bottom 20 of the inner pot 2.
[0039] In the above embodiment, the discharge pipe 7 was configured to include a connecting pipe 8 and an annular pipe 9. However, the configuration of the discharge pipe 7 is not limited to this. For example, as shown in Figure 6A, the discharge pipe 7 can be configured to extend straight from the inlet 30 along the bottom 20 of the inner kettle 2 (modification 1). Also, as shown in Figure 6B, the discharge pipe 7 can be branched into a plurality of branch pipes 7a, 7b, 7c, and each branch pipe 7a, 7b, 7c can be configured to extend in multiple directions along the bottom 20 of the inner kettle 2 from the inlet 30 (modification 2). In any of these modifications, as in the above embodiment, for example, by setting the hole area (hole diameter) of the discharge holes 71 provided in the discharge pipe 7 to gradually increase in proportion to the distance along the flow path from the inlet 30, it is possible to equalize the discharge amount of steam and cooling water from each discharge hole 71. In Modification 2, the position of the furthest discharge hole 90 (farthest point F) along the flow path from the inlet 30 is defined for each branch pipe 7a, 7b, and 7c. Furthermore, as shown in the configurations of Modification 1 and Modification 2 in Figures 7A and 7B, the discharge pipe 7 itself may extend even further than the furthest point F from the inlet 30.
[0040] [Contribution to the United Nations-led Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)] This disclosure also includes matters that contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 12, "Responsible Consumption and Production." [Explanation of Symbols]
[0041] 1: Steam boiler 2: Inner pot 3: Jacket 4: Steam supply means 5: Cooling water supply means 6: Drain discharge means 7: Outlet pipe 7a~7c: Branch pipe 8: Connecting pipe 9: Ring tube 20: Bottom 30: Inlet 31: Drain Pod 31a: Drain outlet 40: Steam supply line 41:Steam supply valve 50: Cooling water supply line 51: Cooling water supply valve 52: Coolant discharge line 53: Cooling water discharge valve 60: Drain discharge line 61: Internal discharge pipe 62: Steam trap 70: Drain hole 71: Air outlet 80: Air outlet 90: Air outlet 90a: Inward-facing hole 90b:Outward hole A1: Inlet side area A2: Far side area F: Farthest part S:Internal space
Claims
1. A steam boiler comprising an inner pot, a jacket, and a blowpipe, The inner pot is capable of accommodating the material to be processed. The jacket is provided on the outside of the inner boiler and has an inlet for introducing steam from a steam supply source into the interior. The discharge pipe is connected to the inlet, positioned along the inner boiler within the jacket, and has a plurality of discharge holes along the steam flow path. A steam boiler in which the total area of the plurality of outlets per unit length along the steam flow path is varied so that the steam is blown into the jacket from each of the plurality of outlets.
2. A steam kettle according to claim 1, A steam boiler is configured such that the total area of the discharge holes in the farther side is greater than the total area of the discharge holes in the farther side, when the position of the discharge hole furthest from the inlet along the flow path of the discharge pipe is defined as the furthest point, and the distance along the flow path from the inlet to the furthest point is defined as the inlet side region, and the region of the discharge pipe where the distance along the flow path from the inlet side is 0 or more and less than L / 2 is defined as the farther side region.
3. A steam boiler according to claim 1 or claim 2, The discharge pipe comprises a connecting pipe extending from the inlet toward the center of the jacket, and an annular pipe connected to the connecting pipe and formed in an annular shape. A steam boiler having at least the annular pipe provided with the plurality of blowing holes.
4. A steam boiler according to claim 3, The inner pot is formed with a bottom and in a cylindrical shape. The annular tube is circular and its diameter is at least half the diameter of the inner kettle, in a steam kettle.
5. A steam boiler according to claim 4, A steam kettle comprising a plurality of outlets in the annular pipe, each outlet being an inward-facing hole that ejects steam upward and radially inward, and an outward-facing hole that ejects steam upward and radially outward.
6. A steam boiler according to claim 1 or claim 2, The system further comprises a steam supply means and a cooling water supply means, The steam supply means is configured to supply the steam, The cooling water supply means is configured to supply cooling water from a cooling water supply source. A steam kettle in which the steam and cooling water are introduced into the jacket from the inlet and blown out from the plurality of outlets via the blow-off pipe.
7. A steam boiler according to claim 1 or claim 2, The aforementioned blowdown pipe is equipped with a drain hole for discharging condensate generated inside, in addition to the blowdown hole, in a steam boiler.