Steam Oven Float Valve Layout for Continuous Water Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking oven steam generation systems face issues with reliability due to non-continuous water flow and limestone aggregation, which can lead to valve degradation and inefficient steam distribution, particularly when the oven is inclined.
Innovation Solution
A steam generation system with a valve that maintains a consistent fluid level between the fluid supply and steam generator using communicating vessels, eliminating the need for pumps and minimizing energy consumption, featuring a buoyancy-driven closing device that self-regulates fluid flow and prevents calcification, ensuring uninterrupted and continuous steam flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a float valve is used to control water flow, then water level control is achieved, but non-continuous water flow causes limestone aggregation and valve degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous water flow through the valve by designing the float valve to maintain constant contact between the float and water surface, ensuring uninterrupted water supply to the steam generator. This eliminates water flow intermittency that causes limestone aggregation and valve degradation, directly resolving the reliability issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The float valve operates automatically based on water level changes without external control. When water level drops, the float descends and opens the valve; when water level rises, the float ascends and closes the valve. This self-regulating mechanism ensures continuous operation and prevents limestone buildup by maintaining steady flow conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the oven is inclined, then installation flexibility is improved, but water flow control and steam distribution become unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the steam generator and water supply system such that the water level in the steam generator remains at a consistent height relative to the heating element, regardless of oven inclination. The float valve is designed to maintain water level equilibrium, ensuring reliable steam generation and distribution in any orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The float mechanism counteracts the effects of gravity in inclined positions by using buoyancy forces to maintain proper water level control. The float's buoyant force compensates for gravitational variations, ensuring the valve operates correctly and maintains continuous water flow even when the oven is tilted.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a rotating member is added to enable float movement in inclined positions, then adaptability to oven orientation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a rotating member that allows the float to dynamically adjust its position and orientation based on oven inclination. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables the float to maintain proper alignment with the water surface in any orientation, improving adaptability while the rotation is constrained to necessary movements only.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve structure is segmented into modular components: the float, rotating member, closing portion, and housing. This segmentation allows the rotating member to independently adjust the float's orientation without affecting other components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability to various oven orientations.
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 solution ensures uninterrupted, laminar steam flow and reduces the risk of calcification, maintaining system reliability and efficiency across various oven orientations without the need for energy-consuming components, thus enhancing the overall performance of the steam generation system.
Implementation Method 1
A buoyancy of the float is greater than gravity caused by a weight of the water supplied by the water supply device and flowing to the water supply control valve
Implementation Method 2
at least one steam generator (42) arranged at a rear side (108) of the cooking cavity (102) and configured to generate steam by evaporating water
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 7~12
AI summary
A Cooking oven (100) comprising a) at least one cooking cavity (102) and b) at least one steam generation system (40) for introducing steam into the cooking cavity (102) during a steam operating mode, in particular steam cooking mode or steam cleaning mode, c) wherein the steam generation system (40) comprises c1) at least one steam generator (42), c2) at least one fluid supply (44), the fluid preferably being water with impurities, in particular calcium, and optionally additives and c3) at least one valve (2), d) wherein the valve (2) is interconnected between the fluid supply (44) and the steam generator (42) in order to control the flow of fluid from the fluid supply (44) to the steam generator (42) during the steam operating mode, e) wherein the valve (2) comprises at least one inlet (12) for the fluid being in fluid connection with the fluid supply (44) f) wherein the valve is in fluid connection with the steam generator (42) by means of at least one connecting line (50), g) wherein the valve (2) is provided with at least one closing device (19) for closing and opening the inlet (12) of the valve at least partially during the steam operating mode in order to keep the fluid level within the valve at an operating level within an operating level range during the steam operating mode, h) the cooking oven further comprising one or more of the following features: h1) the valve (2) and the steam generator (42) and the connecting line (50) are arranged in such a way that the level of the fluid within the steam generator (42) and within the valve (2) is kept the same during the steam operating mode and/or wherein the valve (2) and the steam generator (42) and the connecting line (50) are arranged according to the principle of communicating vessels, h2) the operating level (N) or the operating level range during the steam operating mode is, in the direction of gravity, higher than or at the same level as the inlet (12) of the valve (2).