Steam Exit Structure With Fluid Barrier to Block Water Spitting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steam generators for garment steaming devices face challenges in preventing non-vaporized water from being released, which can cause undesirable marking or staining on fabrics due to their compact design and high steam rates.
Innovation Solution
The steam generator incorporates a heated steaming surface, a fluid barrier portion at the end of the steam channel, and strategically positioned openings along the steam exit structure to force non-vaporized water to move around the fluid barrier, increasing the likelihood of vaporization before entering the steam channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the steam generator is made compact for use in a hand unit, then the device becomes portable and easy to operate, but the risk of non-vaporized water being released increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steam generator is divided into distinct functional zones: a heated steaming surface for vaporization, a steam chamber for steam accumulation, and a steam exit structure with controlled openings. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function efficiently, maintaining reliability in a compact form.
Solution Approach 2:
The steam exit structure acts as an intermediary element between the steam chamber and the external environment. It includes a fluid barrier portion and strategically positioned openings that mediate the steam flow, allowing controlled release while preventing non-vaporized water from exiting directly.
2Productivity
If high steam rates are used to finish treatment quickly, then productivity increases, but the risk of spitting non-vaporized water increases
Solution Approach 1:
Water is dosed onto the heated steaming surface in advance, where it undergoes vaporization before entering the steam chamber. This preliminary vaporization action ensures that water is converted to steam before reaching the exit structure, preventing spitting even at high steam rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the phase transition of water from liquid to vapor on the heated steaming surface. This phase change occurs before the water reaches the steam exit structure, ensuring that only vaporized steam is released, not liquid water droplets.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a labyrinth-type design is used to create a defined fluid path, then robustness to orientation changes improves, but non-vaporized water can still exit if not fully vaporized
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the vaporization function from the flow path definition. Instead of relying on a labyrinthine path to both direct flow and ensure vaporization, the design separates these functions: the heated steaming surface handles vaporization, while the steam exit structure with its openings and fluid barrier handles controlled steam release.
4Ease of manufacture
If water is allowed to move freely on an open steaming surface, then ease of vaporization improves, but water droplets can jump onto the steam channel and exit as non-vaporized water
Solution Approach 1:
The steam exit structure with its fluid barrier portion and strategically positioned openings serves as an intermediary that separates the open steam chamber from the steam channel. This intermediary structure allows steam to pass through while blocking water droplets from entering the channel.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively minimizes the risk of non-vaporized water exiting the steam chamber, reducing the likelihood of fabric staining and enhancing the overall performance of the steam generator.
Implementation Method 1
a heated steaming surface for vaporizing water to generate steam
Implementation Method 2
the fluid barrier portion can force non-vaporized water to move around the fluid barrier in order to enter the steam channel via the opening(s)
Implementation Method 3
water dosed into the steam generator is spread on the heated steaming surface, steam is thus generated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to a steam generator (100) comprising a heated steaming surface (102) for vaporizing water to generate steam, a front wall portion (104), a rear wall portion (106) facing the front wall portion, with the heated steaming surface extending between the front wall portion and the rear wall portion. The steam generator also comprises a pair of side wall portions (108, 110) facing each other, with the heated steaming surface laterally extending between the pair of side wall portions. A cover is spaced apart from the heated steaming surface. The cover, the front wall portion, the rear wall portion, and the pair of side wall portions define an enclosed steam chamber. A steam exit structure (116) comprises a steam channel protruding into the steam chamber from the front wall portion and being arranged for allowing steam to exit the steam chamber. The steam exit structure comprises a fluid barrier portion (120) arranged at an end of the steam channel. At least one opening (122A, 122B, 122C) is provided for allowing steam in the steam chamber to pass into the steam channel. The at least one opening is arranged along the steam exit structure in-between the fluid barrier portion and the front wall portion.