Scale removal member
The scale removal member with a flexible sheet-like covering and porous shape-retaining structure addresses scale buildup issues in steam kettles, ensuring efficient operation and easy maintenance.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- OSHIDARI KENKYUSHO
- Filing Date
- 2022-05-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
Scale buildup in heating kettles used for steam generation causes malfunctions, energy loss, and maintenance complications due to its adherence and difficulty in removal.
A scale removal member comprising a covering member made of a flexible sheet-like material and a shape-retaining member with continuous pores, which suppresses scale adhesion and facilitates easy removal by contact and deformation with steam-generated surfaces.
Effectively prevents scale adhesion and easy removal, preventing malfunctions and energy loss while maintaining efficient steam generation.
Smart Images

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Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to a scale removal member.
Background Art
[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a high-efficiency steam generation container for a microwave oven used when performing microwave steaming. This publication discloses that when performing microwave steaming, a honeycomb-shaped heating element is placed in the water in the container to promote steam generation.
[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a rice cooker. This rice cooker includes steam generation means surrounded by a magnetic body or metal below the rice cooking container. A coil for heating the steam generation means is provided around the steam generation means. The water injected from the tank into the steam generation means is heated by the steam generation means to become steam. This publication discloses that by providing a metal having honeycomb-shaped or foamed holes with continuous bubbles in the steam generation means, the contact area with water is increased, and the heating efficiency of water is increased to generate steam.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0004]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] By the way, a heating kettle is installed beneath steamers used for steam cooking (for example, steamers for steamed buns in convenience stores) to heat water and generate steam. The heating kettle is heated by heaters or the like around it, heating the water in the kettle and generating steam. When the heating kettle is heated and steam is generated over a long period of time, lime, calcium, magnesium, etc. contained in the water precipitate and adhere to the inner surface of the heating kettle as scale. If the heating kettle is used for a long period of time, the scale attached to the surface of the heating kettle will gradually spread, and the thickness of the precipitated scale may increase, which may cause various problems such as malfunction of the heat sensor that controls the steamer, clogging of the drain of the heating kettle due to peeling scale, and energy loss due to reduced heating efficiency. In order to prevent such problems from occurring, it is advisable to perform maintenance such as removing the scale attached to the heating kettle using chemicals such as citric acid or by physically scraping it off. However, if scale adheres firmly to the heating vessel, it becomes difficult to remove, requiring the above maintenance to be performed frequently in a short period of time, making the maintenance work complicated.
[0006] Therefore, the present disclosure aims to provide a scale removal member that can suppress the adhesion of scale to the surface of a heating kettle that generates steam and can easily remove scale from the heating kettle. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] To solve the above problems, a first aspect of the present invention is a scale removal member used in an attached state to a heating kettle that generates steam by heating water inside, comprising: a covering member formed of a sheet-like member that, in the attached state, contacts and covers the surface of the water-filled kettle inside the heating kettle; and a shape-retaining member formed of a porous member having continuous pores that maintains the shape of the covering member and holds the covering member in contact with the kettle surface in the attached state.
[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is a scale removal member according to the first aspect, wherein the shape of the covering member is a vessel shape that contacts the bottom and side surfaces of the heating kettle when installed, and the shape-holding member is arranged inside the covering member to hold the covering member in a vessel shape.
[0009] A third aspect of the present invention is a scale removal member according to the first or second aspect, wherein the sheet-like member constituting the covering member is a woven fabric, and the porous member constituting the shape-retaining member is a nonwoven fabric with a coarser weave than the sheet-like member.
[0010] A fourth aspect of the present invention is a scale removal member used in an attached state to a heating kettle that has a drain port at the bottom of the kettle and generates steam by heating water filled inside, comprising: a covering member formed in the shape of a vessel from a sheet-like material and in contact with the bottom and side surfaces of the heating kettle inside the heating kettle in the attached state, covering the surface of the kettle; and a shape-retaining member formed from a porous material having continuous pores, disposed inside the covering member to maintain the shape of the covering member in a vessel shape, and holding the covering member in contact with the surface of the kettle in the attached state, wherein the covering member has an opening at a location facing the drain port in the attached state, and the shape-retaining member covers the opening of the covering member from above. [Effects of the Invention]
[0011] According to this disclosure, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of scale to the surface of a heating vessel that generates steam, and to easily remove the scale from the heating vessel. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a steamer using a scale removal member according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram showing the scale removal component installed in the heating pot of a steamer. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the scale removal component. [Figure 4]This is a diagram of a scale removal member, where (a) is a plan view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IIIc-IIIc in (a). [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing how scale is discharged. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0013] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[0014] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a steamer 1 using a scale removal member 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that Figure 1 shows the steamer 1 without the scale removal member 10 installed.
[0015] The scale removal member 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention is mainly used by being attached to a commercial steamer 1 or the like that is used over a long period of time. As shown in Figure 1, the steamer 1 that uses the scale removal member 10 according to this embodiment is, for example, a steamer 1 installed in a convenience store or the like that is capable of steaming and displaying food 2 (e.g., steamed buns).
[0016] Steamer 1 has multiple trays 4 that function as food display shelves in the upper part of the interior of case 3. Food 2 is placed and displayed on top of the trays 4. A heating kettle 5 is positioned in the lower part of the interior of case 3 to supply steam towards the food 2 above. Heaters 6 for heating the heating kettle 5 and sensors 7 such as a temperature control sensor and an overheat prevention sensor for the heating kettle 5 are positioned around the heating kettle 5. In Figure 1, the heaters 6 are positioned to the side of the heating kettle 5 (in a direction intersecting the vertical direction) and the sensors 7 are positioned below the heating kettle 5, but the positions of the heaters 6 and sensors 7 are not limited to these.
[0017] The heating kettle 5 is a kettle made of metal (such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, etc.) for generating steam by heating water (hereinafter simply referred to as "water") such as tap water stretched inside. It is formed in a vessel shape that opens upward. The heating kettle 5 has a plate-shaped kettle bottom 5a that intersects the vertical direction and a cylindrical wall portion 5b that stands upward from the outer edge portion of the kettle bottom 5a. The kettle bottom 5a and the wall portion 5b partition an internal space 8 capable of storing water. The upper surface (kettle surface) 51 of the kettle bottom 5a partitions the lower part of the internal space 8, and the inner surface (kettle surface) 52 of the wall portion 5b partitions the side of the internal space 8. A drain port 9 for discharging the water stretched in the internal space 8 is provided in the kettle bottom 5a.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state where the scale removal member 10 is attached to the heating kettle 5 of the steamer 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the scale removal member 10. FIG. 4 is a view of the scale removal member 10, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a bottom view, and (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow IIIc-IIIc of (a).
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the scale removal member 10 according to the present embodiment is used in a state where it is attached to the heating kettle 5 of the steamer 1 (hereinafter referred to as the "attached state"). That is, the scale removal member 10 is used in an attached state with respect to the heating kettle 5 that generates steam by heating the water stretched inside.
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the scale removal member 10 is a member for removing scale (deposits of lime, calcium, magnesium, etc. contained in water) generated inside the heating kettle 5 when the heating kettle 5 is used over a long period of time from the heating kettle 5, and includes a covering member 11 and a shape holding member 12.
[0021] The covering member 11 is a member that constitutes the lower, lateral, and upper surfaces of the scale removal member 10, and is formed from a sheet-like member A. The covering member 11 is formed in a shape that allows it to contact and cover the surface of the water-filled kettle inside the heating kettle 5 (in this embodiment, the upper surface 51 of the kettle bottom 5a and the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b) when installed. When installed, the covering member 11 covers the surface of the water-filled kettle inside the heating kettle 5 while in contact with it, thereby suppressing the adhesion of scale to the kettle surface. Note that the covering member 11 is not limited to covering the entire surface of the water-filled kettle inside the heating kettle 5, but only needs to cover at least a portion of the surface of the water-filled kettle.
[0022] The covering member 11 of this embodiment is formed in a container shape that allows it to face and contact the upper surface (kettle surface) 51 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5 and the inner surface (kettle surface) 52 of the wall portion 5b when installed. The covering member 11 integrally has a bottom portion 11a that faces and contacts the upper surface 51 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5 when installed, a cylindrical wall portion 11b that faces and contacts the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b of the heating kettle 5 when installed, and an annular upper portion 11c that extends from the upper end of the wall portion 11b toward the inside of the heating kettle 5 (in the direction away from the wall portion 5b).
[0023] The bottom surface 11a of the covering member 11 is formed in a planar shape by a sheet-like member A that intersects in the vertical direction, and has approximately the same size as the upper surface 51 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5. In this embodiment, the bottom surface 11a has an opening 13 at a location facing the drain port 9 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5 when installed (see Figures 2 and 4(b)(c)). When installed, the bottom surface 11a is in contact with the upper surface 51 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5 and covers the upper surface 51 of the bottom 5a from above. The wall surface 11b is formed in a cylindrical shape by a sheet-like member A and rises upward from the entire outer edge of the bottom surface 11a. The height (length in the vertical direction) of the wall surface 11b is preferably set so that when water is filled into the internal space 8 of the heating kettle 5 and the scale removal member 10 is installed, the upper end of the wall surface 11b is located above the water surface. The wall portion 11b, when installed, contacts the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b of the heating pot 5 and covers the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b from the inside. The upper portion 11c is formed in an annular shape by a sheet-like member A that intersects in the vertical direction and has an upper end opening 14 on the central side. The upper portion 11c contacts the upper surface of the wall portion 12b of the shape-retaining member 12, which will be described later, and covers the upper surface of the wall portion 12b from above.
[0024] The sheet-like member A constituting the covering member 11 may be any sheet-like member A that has at least enough flexibility to be deformable by pressure from the inner shape-retaining member 12, and heat resistance to heat from the heating kettle 5. Examples of sheet-like member A include cloth and paper that are flexible and heat-resistant. Preferably, the sheet-like member A has enough flexibility to be deformable by bubbles and water convection generated when the water in the heating kettle 5 boils. In this embodiment, the sheet-like member A is cotton cloth (woven fabric), and its flexibility is such that it is difficult for the sheet-like member A alone to maintain its shape against bubbles and water convection generated when the water in the heating kettle 5 boils, and its shape is maintained by the shape-retaining member 12. Examples of cotton cloth include a yarn count of 20 to 40 and a weight of 120 to 190 g / m². 2 Cotton cloth is one example. However, the sheet-like member A is not limited to cotton cloth, but may be made of other natural fibers or organic resins.
[0025] The shape-retaining member 12 is formed of a porous member B having continuous pores, and maintains the shape of the covering member 11, keeping the covering member 11 in contact with the surface of the heating kettle 5 when installed. In this embodiment, the shape-retaining member 12 is formed in the shape of a vessel, is placed inside the covering member 11, and maintains the shape of the covering member 11 in that vessel shape from the inside of the covering member 11. The shape-retaining member 12 has a plate-shaped bottom portion 12a that intersects the vertical direction, and a cylindrical wall portion 12b that extends upward from the outer edge of the bottom portion 12a. The bottom portion 12a is placed above the bottom surface portion 11a of the covering member 11 and maintains the shape of the bottom surface portion 11a. The bottom portion 12a covers the opening 13 of the covering member 11 from above. That is, the shape-retaining member 12 covers the opening 13 of the covering member 11 from above. The upper surface of the bottom portion 12a is exposed upward without being covered by the covering member 11. The cylindrical wall portion 12b is positioned inside the cylindrical wall portion 11b of the covering member 11, maintaining the cylindrical shape of the wall portion 11b. The inner surface of the cylindrical wall portion 12b is exposed to the inside without being covered by the covering member 11. Above the wall portion 12b of the shape-retaining member 12, the annular upper surface portion 11c of the covering member 11 is positioned and in contact with the upper surface of the wall portion 12b. As a result, the upward movement of the shape-retaining member 12 relative to the covering member 11 is restricted by the annular upper surface portion 11c of the covering member 11. Note that continuous pores refer to continuous holes through which air can flow, and include continuous bubbles where the holes are composed of bubbles.
[0026] The shape-retaining member 12 of this embodiment is elastic and can press the covering member 11 against the surface of the heating kettle 5 when installed. Preferably, the size of the scale removal member 10 in the direction intersecting the vertical direction is formed to be slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the internal space 8 of the heating kettle 5 in the direction intersecting the vertical direction. This allows the cylindrical wall portion 12b of the shape-retaining member 12 to press the cylindrical wall portion 11b of the covering member 11 against the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b of the heating kettle 5 from the inside when installed. Although it is preferable for the shape-retaining member 12 to be elastic, the effect can be expected even if it is not elastic, as long as the shape of the covering member 11 can be maintained.
[0027] The dimensions of the shape-retaining member 12 can be set according to the size of the heating pot 5, etc. For example, if the inner diameter of the heating pot 5 of the steamer 1 is 100 mm to 200 mm, the outer diameter of the shape-retaining member 12 (outer diameter of the cylindrical wall portion 12b) may be set to approximately the same size as the inner diameter of the heating pot 5 (100 mm to 200 mm), or slightly larger than the inner diameter of the heating pot 5. The height of the shape-retaining member 12 can also be set to a desired height (for example, a height of 50 mm to 200 mm) according to the height of the heating pot 5, the amount of water inside the heating pot 5 (water level), etc. The thickness of the bottom portion 12a and the wall portion 12b of the shape-retaining member 12 can also be set to a desired thickness (for example, a thickness of 25 mm to 50 mm).
[0028] The porous member B having continuous pores that constitutes the shape-retaining member 12 only needs to have heat resistance to the heat from the heating kettle 5. Furthermore, if bubbles (hereinafter simply referred to as "bubbles") generated when the water in the heating kettle 5 boils remain in the pores of the shape-retaining member 12 for a long time, an air layer will be formed inside the shape-retaining member 12, which may prevent the sensor 7 from accurately measuring the temperature and lead to malfunction of the sensor 7. For this reason, the porous member B has continuous pores of a size that allows bubbles to rise and prevents the formation of an air layer. As the porous member B having continuous pores, a nonwoven fabric in which spaces (pores) are unevenly distributed is preferred. As the nonwoven fabric, a nonwoven fabric formed from synthetic fibers made of organic resin (for example, polypropylene, etc.) is preferred. Furthermore, it is preferable that the porous member B is a nonwoven fabric with a coarser weave (larger pores) than the sheet-like member A that constitutes the covering member 11. Furthermore, it is preferable that the pores of the porous member B constituting the shape-retaining member 12 are smaller than the drain port 9 at the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5. Also, since the porous member B constituting the shape-retaining member 12 is expected to have the effect of increasing the heating rate, it is preferable that it be made of a material with a lower specific heat than water (for example, polypropylene). The porous member B in this embodiment is a polypropylene nonwoven fabric with a coarser weave than the sheet-like member A constituting the covering member 11, a fineness of 50 to 5000 dtex, a highly porous structure, and a void ratio of 70 to 95%. Note that the porous member B is not limited to the above-mentioned polypropylene nonwoven fabric, but may also be made of natural fibers or other organic resins.
[0029] Next, the case in which the scale removal member 10 according to this disclosure is attached to the heating pot 5 of the steamer 1 and used will be explained with reference to the drawings.
[0030] As shown in Figure 2, when using the scale removal member 10, first, before filling the heating kettle 5 with water, or after filling the heating kettle 5 with water, the scale removal member 10 is inserted into the internal space 8 of the heating kettle 5 and positioned (attached) at the bottom of the internal space 8. When the scale removal member 10 is attached and the heating kettle 5 is filled with water (hereinafter simply referred to as the "attached state"), the covering member 11 of the scale removal member 10 is in contact with the water-filled surface of the heating kettle 5 (the surface of the kettle in water). In this embodiment, the bottom surface portion 11a of the covering member 11 of the scale removal member 10 is in contact with the upper surface 51 of the submerged bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5, covering the upper surface 51 of the bottom 5a from above, and the cylindrical wall portion 11b of the covering member 11 is in contact with the inner surface 52 of the submerged wall portion 5b of the heating kettle 5, covering the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b from the inside. Furthermore, when installed, the shape-retaining member 12 of the scale removal member 10 maintains the shape of the covering member 11 (in this embodiment, it is maintained in a cylindrical shape), and holds the covering member 11 in contact with the surface of the heating kettle 5.
[0031] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram showing how scale S is discharged.
[0032] When the scale removal component 10 is installed and the steamer 1 is used for a long period of time, lime, calcium, magnesium, etc. contained in the water precipitate, and scale S is generated inside the heating pot 5.
[0033] As shown in Figure 5, in the scale removal member 10 configured as described above, the covering member 11 of the scale removal member 10 in its installed state comes into contact with and covers the surface of the water-filled kettle inside the heating kettle 5, making it difficult for scale S to adhere to the kettle surface. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the adhesion of scale to the surface of the heating kettle 5 that generates steam.
[0034] Furthermore, since the covering member 11 of the scale removal member 10 in its installed state covers the surface of the water-filled kettle inside the heating kettle 5, scale S can be deposited on the inner surface of the covering member 11. Because the covering member 11 is flexible, when bubbles in the heating kettle 5 rise along the inner surface of the covering member 11, the covering member 11 is easily deformed by the force of the bubbles. As a result, the scale S deposited on the inner surface of the covering member 11 can be easily peeled off the covering member 11 by the deformation of the covering member 11 and the force of the bubbles, so that the scale S can be peeled off the inner surface of the covering member 11 before it grows large and adheres firmly to the inner surface of the covering member 11.
[0035] Furthermore, since the covering member 11 is a woven fabric, it has fine irregularities on its surface and is also elastic. As a result, the adhesion force of the scale S to the inner surface of the covering member 11 is weakened, and the scale S can be peeled off from the inner surface of the covering member 11 by a slight external force from bubbles or the like.
[0036] Furthermore, the shape-retaining member 12 maintains the shape of the covering member 11 and holds the covering member 11 in contact with the surface of the heating kettle 5 when installed, so that the covering member 11 can be tightly attached to the surface of the heating kettle 5. As a result, the adhesion of scale S to the surface of the heating kettle 5 can be suppressed, and the scale S can be deposited on the inner surface of the covering member 11 (including within the pores of the shape-retaining member 12).
[0037] Furthermore, the shape-retaining member 12 is formed from a porous member B having continuous pores, allowing bubbles to rise. Also, the upper surface of the bottom portion 12a of the shape-retaining member 12 is exposed upward without being covered by the covering member 11, and the inner surface of the cylindrical wall portion 12b is exposed inward without being covered by the covering member 11. For this reason, steam can be generated even when the scale removal member 10 is attached to the heating kettle 5.
[0038] Furthermore, the scale S that peels off from the inner surface of the coating member 11 before it grows large is relatively brittle and is crushed into smaller pieces by the bubbles. When the scale S becomes smaller than the pores of the shape-retaining member 12, the scale S enters the pores of the shape-retaining member 12 and moves downward when the water is drained. In this way, the scale S generated in the heating vessel 5 can be crushed into smaller pieces and moved downward.
[0039] Furthermore, since the shape-retaining member 12 is a nonwoven fabric, its pores are unevenly distributed. As a result, the convection and bubbles of heated water move randomly within the nonwoven fabric, causing forces from multiple directions to act on the scale S precipitated within the pores of the shape-retaining member 12, allowing the scale S to be efficiently peeled off and pulverized from the nonwoven fabric.
[0040] Furthermore, since the bottom portion 11a of the covering member 11 has an opening 13 facing the drain port 9 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5, the scale S that has moved downward through the pores of the shape-retaining member 12 can be discharged from the opening 13 of the bottom portion 11a of the covering member 11 to the drain port 9 of the heating kettle 5.
[0041] Furthermore, by making the pores of the shape-retaining member 12 smaller than the drain port 9 at the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5, scale S smaller than the drain port 9 of the heating kettle 5 can be reliably moved downwards. As a result, scale S smaller than the drain port 9 of the heating kettle 5 can be guided to the drain port 9 of the heating kettle 5, so that the scale S can be discharged from the drain port 9 and clogging of the drain port 9 can be prevented.
[0042] Thus, according to this embodiment, by attaching the scale removal member 10 to the heating pot 5 and using the steamer 1 as usual, the adhesion of scale S to the surface of the heating pot 5 is suppressed by bubbles and water convection, and the scale S can be discharged from the drain port 9 of the heating pot 5.
[0043] Furthermore, even if scale S remains inside the heating kettle 5 without being discharged from the drain port 9, the scale S inside the heating kettle 5 can be easily removed by removing the scale removal member 10 from the heating kettle 5 after use.
[0044] Furthermore, even if scale S were to precipitate between the covering member 11 and the surface of the heating kettle 5, and the covering member 11 and the surface of the heating kettle 5 were to adhere to each other due to the scale S, since the covering member 11 is a woven fabric and is both strong and flexible, the covering member 11 can be easily peeled off from the surface of the heating kettle 5 without damaging the scale removal member 10. In addition, the scale S adhering to the surface of the heating kettle 5 can also be peeled off and removed.
[0045] Therefore, according to this embodiment, the adhesion of scale S to the surface of the heating kettle 5 that generates steam can be suppressed, and the scale S can be easily removed from the heating kettle 5. This prevents malfunction of the sensor 7 and clogging of the drain port 9 of the heating kettle 5, and suppresses the occurrence of various problems caused by scale S, such as energy loss due to reduced heating efficiency.
[0046] Furthermore, by making the porous member B that constitutes the shape-retaining member 12 a material with a lower specific heat than water (for example, polypropylene), the shape-retaining member 12 can function as a heat transfer medium from the heating vessel 5 to the water. Since the shape-retaining member 12 is a porous member B, it can secure a large contact area with water and efficiently transfer heat to the water, thereby reducing power consumption.
[0047] In this embodiment, an opening 13 is provided on the bottom surface 11a of the covering member 11 in the location facing the drain port 9 of the bottom 5a of the heating kettle 5 when installed. However, it is not necessary to provide the opening 13. For example, in the case of a heating kettle 5 that does not have a drain port 9, it is not necessary to provide the opening 13 on the bottom surface 11a of the covering member 11.
[0048] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the covering member 11 is pressed against the surface of the heating kettle 5 by the shape-retaining member 12 while installed. However, this is not the only option. For example, the scale removal member 10 may be formed to be approximately the same size as the internal space 8 of the heating kettle 5, so that the covering member 11 is not pressed against the surface of the heating kettle 5 while installed, and is instead held in contact with the surface of the heating kettle 5 by the shape-retaining member 12.
[0049] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sheet-like member A constituting the covering member 11 is made of woven fabric (cotton fabric in this embodiment), but it is not limited to woven fabric; any sheet-like member A having flexibility and heat resistance is acceptable. For example, the sheet-like member A may be made of cloth, paper, a resin sheet, or a composite sheet made by laminating these materials.
[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the porous member B having continuous pores that constitutes the shape-retaining member 12 is a nonwoven fabric, but it is not limited to this, and for example, it may be a foam having continuous cells.
[0051] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the sheet-like member A constituting the covering member 11 is made of yarn with a count of 20 to 40 and a weight of 120 to 190 g / m². 2 The cotton fabric used is used, and the porous member B constituting the shape-retaining member 12 is a nonwoven fabric with a fineness of 50 to 5000 dtex, a highly porous structure, and a void ratio of 70 to 95%. However, the sheet-like member A and the porous member B are not limited to these. Even if the yarn count and basis weight values of the sheet-like member A, or the void ratio value of the porous member B, fall outside the above numerical range, the adhesion of scale to the surface of the heating kettle 5 can be suppressed, and the scale can be easily removed from the heating kettle 5.
[0052] Furthermore, although the covering member 11 is shaped like a vessel in this embodiment, the shape of the covering member 11 is not limited to this, and various shapes can be applied depending on the area where scale adhesion is to be suppressed. For example, since scale tends to precipitate on the side surface of the heating kettle 5 where the heater 6 is provided (the inner surface 52 of the wall portion 5b), the covering member 11 may be cylindrical and composed only of the wall portion 11b without the bottom portion 11a in this embodiment.
[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the shape-retaining member 12 is formed in the shape of a vessel having a bottom portion 12a and a cylindrical wall portion 12b. However, the shape of the shape-retaining member 12 is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if it can maintain the shape of the covering member 11 and keep the covering member 11 in contact with the surface of the heating vessel 5 when installed. In other words, the shape of the shape-retaining member 12 can be any shape that can be applied depending on the shape of the covering member 11 and the heating vessel 5. For example, the shape of the shape-retaining member 12 may be a columnar shape (for example, a cylindrical shape) that fills the entire interior of the vessel-shaped covering member 11.
[0054] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the scale removal member 10 according to the disclosure is attached to the heating pot 5 of the steamer 1, but it is not limited to this, and can be attached to and used in various heating pots that generate steam by heating the water inside.
[0055] Although the present invention has been described above based on the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and can naturally be modified as appropriate without departing from the present invention. In other words, all other embodiments, examples, and operational techniques made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]
[0056] 1: Steamer 5: Heating pot 5a: Bottom of pot 9: Drain port 10: Scale removal member 11: Covering material 12: Shape-retaining member 13:Aperture 51: Top surface of the pot bottom (pot surface) 52: Inner surface of the wall (boiler surface) A: Sheet-like material B: Porous material
Claims
1. A scale removal member used in an attached state to a heating vessel that generates steam by heating water inside, A covering member formed from a sheet-like material, which, when installed, comes into contact with the surface of the water-filled heating kettle inside the kettle and covers the surface of the kettle, The structure comprises a shape-retaining member formed from a porous material having continuous pores, which maintains the shape of the covering member and holds the covering member in contact with the surface of the kettle in the installed state. A scale removal member characterized by the following features.
2. The shape of the covering member is such that, in the installed state, it is in the shape of a vessel that contacts the bottom and side surfaces of the heating pot. The shape-retaining member is positioned inside the covering member to hold the covering member in a container shape. The scale removal member according to claim 1.
3. The sheet-like member constituting the covering member is a woven fabric. The porous member constituting the shape-retaining member is a nonwoven fabric with a coarser weave than the sheet-like member. A scale removal member according to claim 1 or 2.
4. A scale removal member used in a mounted state with a heating kettle that has a drain outlet at the bottom and generates steam by heating the water inside, A covering member formed in the shape of a vessel from a sheet-like material, which, when installed, is in contact with the bottom and side surfaces of the heating kettle inside the kettle and covers the surface of the kettle, The structure comprises a shape-retaining member formed from a porous material having continuous pores, which is placed inside the covering member to maintain the shape of the covering member in the shape of a vessel, and which holds the covering member in contact with the surface of the kettle in the installed state, The covering member has an opening in the position facing the drain port when installed. The shape-retaining member covers the opening of the covering member from above. A scale removal member characterized by the following features.