US3025381A - Steam generator - Google Patents

Description

March 13, 1962 w. E. PICKERING STEAM GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Smet 1 Filed Feb. 9, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

WALTER E. PICKERING BY ATTORNEY March 13, 1962 w. E. PICKERING STEAM GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9. 1959 WCM @v @AW oh w muy vmim, DNI' w QW @w Nm mh FMICDO m q .ml'w BMI mm m 0E mw vm.. O

@om uw y wm m. .GC mv) @OQ @v uw my@ ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 13, 1952 thee of trays.

would heat `a tray or or reservoir which sulation. A bare the form of a coil wire submerged in the water. electrical heating element ly.

new and improved steam of FIGURE 2.

along line '3 3 of FIGURE along line `4-4 of FIGURE 5 of the steam generating reservoir.

FIGURE is a horizontal cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIGURE 4 of the steam generating reservoir.

for the new and improved steam generator.

This invention relates to steam generators and more particu arly to an instantaneous electric stem generator One of the objects of the present invention is to convert a continuous quantity of water at reservoir temperature to a continuous supply of steam in a very few minu es.

Another object of the present invention is to convert fifty gallons of cold water pounds of steam pressure in less than three tlme.

Another object of the portable instantaneous can be pluged into a source of electric current and Water supply for producing commercial quantities of steam for hospital ment and for industrial use plastic tilm or the cleaning etc.

into one hundred twenty five minutes of present invention is to provide a electric steam generator which emergency operating use such as sterilizing equipsuch as stripping paint, grease,

of floors, spare parts motors,

Other objects of the present invention will be pointed out in part and become apparent in part in the following specification and claims.

In the past instant steam generators comprised a series had a heating element which was the liquid. The heating elements pan to produce vapor.

The present structure provides a metal water container is porcelainized to create complete inelectrical heating element may take spring. The coil wire spring is Upon energization the hot open generates steam, instantaneous- Like reference numerals refer to like parts in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is a transverse cross sectional view of the generator taken along line 1 1 45 FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view or" FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross sectional View taken 50 FIGURE 6 is a vertical cross sectional View through 55 the heating element connection, taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a wiring diagram of the control circuit FIGURE 8 is a pipe diagram of the water circuit for 60 e new and improved steam generator.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURES 1 and 2 disclose an open face portable cabinet generally indicated by reference character 10, consisting of a lloor 11, a left side 12, a right side 13, a back 14 and 17, r18 are rotatively secured to door 11.

a top 15. Casters 16, 65

The nub of the invention is a steam generating res- .are xed to metal rods 30, 30A,

URES 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, metal container 21 provided with a flange 22 is fabricated with a porcelain coating on both the inside 23 and outside 24. A water inlet 25 is provided in the base of metal container 21. A metal cover 26 is fabricated with a porcelain coating on both the top surface 27 and bottom surface 28. Thus it will be noted that steam generating reservoir 20 is porcelainized throughout in order to electrically insulate it.

Two brackets 30, 31, secured to floor 11 support and secure steam generating reservoir 20 within open face portable cabinet 10.

A plurality of metal rods 30, 30A, 30B, etc., fabricated from brass, stainless steel or other metal are xed in spaced relation to metal cover 26 and project downward into steam generating reservoir 20, just short of the bottom. A plurality of porcelain insulators 31, 31A, etc.,

etc., in numbers presently to be explained.

An electrical heating element 32 fabricated from eighty percent nickel and twenty percent chromium alloy or any other electrically conductive wire, comprises a wire wound in loops in coil spring fashion. Electrical heating element 32 is wound from one porcelain insulator 31 to the next adjacent porcelain insulator. The process is repeated until the desired length of electrical heating element 32 is provided in steam generating reservoir 20. The opposite ends of electrical heating element 32 are secured to terminals generally indicated at 33, 34 secured and insulated in cover 26. It will be noted that heating element 32 is non-insulated electrically.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 6, terminal 33, consists of a stud 46 which extends through cover 26 and includes a ceramic insulator bushing 41, and a metallic nut 42. An electrical conductor 43 and one end of electrical heating element 32 are secured to stud 40 on opposite sides of cover 26 by means of nut 42. Terminal 34 is similarly constructed and provided with electrical conductor 44 which is the counterpart of conductor 43 and extends to the other end of electrical heating element 32 through the cover 26.

A conduit 36 constitutes the Water inlet. Conduit 36 is provided with a manually operated shut oit valve 46, a lter 47, a solenoid valve 48 and a check valve 58. Conduit 36 divides into two branches 50, 51 at T connection 49. Branch conduit 50 attaches to Water inlet 2S of steam generating reservoir 20. Water inlet 25 is provided with porcelain insulation to electrically insulate the connection of branch conduit 50.

A ball float reservoir 52 is located adjacent to steam generating reservoir 20 with the base of each in a horizontal plane so that the water level of the steam generating reservoir 20 is exactly the same as the water level in ball float reservoir 52. A glass water gauge 53 is attached to ball float reservoir 52 to permit a visual reading of the water level in both the ball float reservoir 52 and the steam generating reservoir 20. Branch conduit 51 of water inlet conduit 36 is attached to the base of ball float reservoir 52 `and is provided with a drain valve 54.

Steam generating reservoir 2t) is provided with a steam outlet which is porcelainized to electrically insulate conduit 61 having a T tting 62. A safety valve 38, provided with a safety valve steam outlet conduit 37, is connected to conduit 61. A conduit 63 attached to a T fitting 59 located in conduit 61 is connected to an extension of glass water gauge 53 and to the top of ball float reservoir 52 through a T fitting `65. A water pressure gauge 66 is attached to the extension of glass water gauge 53. Steam outlet conduit 61 is provided with a manually operated hand valve 67. A steam pressure gauge 68 is connected to steam outlet conduit 61.

spear-asi A ball tloat 7) (see FIGURE '7) located in ball float reservoir y52, lactuates a Water switch 7l which controls solenoid valve 4S.

A panel control box '72 secured to left side 12 and floor lll is provided with a manually operated on-o switch 73, a magnetic relay 74 and a source of electric supply L1, L2, L3.

A pressure control switch 76 and temperature thermostat control 77 mercury switches are housed in a casing 73 attached to ball iioat reservoir 52. These controls are used to set the pressure and temperature of the steam generated.

in operation the new and improved steam generator functions as follows. Let it be assumed that water at a proper level is in steam generating reservoir Ztl. On-oif switch 73 located in panel control box 72, is manually moved from ofi to on position. Electrical current (110 v.) (FiGURE 7) will flow from Ll to and through pressure control switch 76 which is normally closed, to and through temperature thermostat control 77, to magnetic relay 73, which will close switch 90 and initiate the energization of circuit Ll, L3 which is 220 V. and thereby energize heating element 32. Heating element 32 being of open electrically conductive wire will become hot. The water surrounding the heating element will absorb the heat and thereby produce steam. Steam pressure 'gauge ed will register the steam pressure.

Should an operative fail to turn valve 67 to release the steam to conduit 6l, safety valve 38 will automatically blow ofi at a predetermined setting.

As the water level in steam generating reservoir drops through steam conversion, ball oat 70 will also drop. At a predetermined setting ball oat 70 will close water switch 71 and thereby energize solenoid valve 4S, whereby water from water inlet 35 will automatically 'l'ow into steam generating reservoir Z0 and into ball float reservoir S2. Thereby actuating ball float 70 to open water switch 71 to deenergize solenoid valve 4S and thereby shut off the water supply from water inlet 36.

Drain valve 54- and strainer 47 are provided to insure the removal of foreign matter from steam generating reservoir 20. Such foreign matter could cause a short circuit in steam Igenerating reservoir 20 and burn up heating element 32.

Temperature thermostat control 77 is provided to prevent heating eleinent 32 from burning up should the water level in steam generating reservoir 2G be too low or should water be absent. Temperature thermostat control 77 normally closed will open at a predetermined (cverheated) temperature and thereby break the electrical circuit between L'l and L2, thereby deenergizing magnetic relay 74 which will cause switch 90 to open. Thereby breaking the 220 v. circuit to the heating element 32.

Pressure control switch 76 set at a predetermined (high) temperature will likewise open and cause the electrical functions just described for the temperature thermostat control 77. The high temperature may indicate a lack of water in steam generating reservoir Ztl or excessive steam pressure.

The check valve 58 prevents water in steam generating reservoir Ztl and ball float reservoir 52 from flowing backward through water inlet 36 especially when drain valve 54 is opened to drain said reservoirs of sediment and dirt.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What l claim is:

l. A steam generator comprising in combination: a metal steam generating reservoir electrically insulated by means of a coating of porcelain on the inner and outer surfaces, a water inlet opening electrically insulated by means of porcelainizing located in the bottom of said steam generating reservoir, a steam outlet opening electrically insulated by means of porcelainizing located in the top section of said steam generating reservoir, a water inlet conduit connected to said steam generating reservoir at said water inlet opening, electrically operated actuating means in said water inlet conduit controlling the water level in said steam generating reservoir, an uninsulated electrical heating element located in said steam generating reservoir, said uninsulated electrical heating element being insulated from said steam generating reservoir, the opposite ends of said heating element passing through said steam generating reservoir and to a source of electrical current, water in said steam generating reservoir serving to absorb the heat in the uninsulated electrical heating element to convert the water into steam.

2. A steam generator comprising in combination: an electrically insulated steam generating reservoir provided with an electrically insulated water inlet opening and an electrically insulated steam outlet opening, a ball iloat reservoir provided with a ball float, a water inlet conduit connected to both said electrically insulated water inlet and to said ball tloat reservoir, a solenoid valve, operatively connected to said ball float, located in said water iniet conduit to control the water level in said electrically insulated steam generating reservoir, a steam outlet conduit connected to said electrically insulated steam outlet opening, a valve in said steam outlet conduit controlling the opening in said steam outlet conduit, a noninsulated electrical heating element secured in and electrically insulated from said electrically insulated steam generating reservoir, an electrical circuit provided with an on-otl switch, said noninsulated electrical heating element and said solenoid valve under control of said ball tloat, whereby when said switch is in on position and said ball iloat is in selected position said heating element submerged in water whereby said water will be converted into steam.

3. A steam generator comprising in combination: an electrically insulated steam -generating reservoir having water inlet and steam outlet openings, a solenoid valve connecting said electrically insulated water inlet to a water source, and including ball float operated actuating means therefor, an electrically operated water heating element consisting of a spirally wound exposed electric wire located and insulated in said electrically insulated steam generating reservoir, a temperature control switch, and an electric circuit including in series said heating element, said temperature control switch and said solenoid valve, to control the application of power to said heating element and to control the ow of water to said electrically insulated steam generating reservoir in accordance with a predetermined temperature setting and a predetermined water level in said electrically insulated steam Igenerating reservoir.

4. A steam generator comprising in combination: a steam generating reservoir electrically insulated and having water inlet and steam outlet openings, a valve connecting said electrically insulated water inlet to a water source, and including electrically operated actuating means therefor, a ball float reservoir having a ball ioat, said ball float operatively connected to said electrically operated actuating means, an electrically operated steam generating heating element, means to electrically insulate said heating element within said steam generating reservoir, an on-off switch, a pressure control switch, a temperature thermostatic switch, a magnetic relay, a iirst electric circuit including in series said electrically operated actuating rneans for said valve, said on-off switch, said pressure control switch, said temperature thermostatic switch and said magnetic relay, and a second electric circuit including in series a second switch and said eating element, whereby at a predetermined water level in said steam generating reservoir said on-o switch in on position will control the application of electric power to said second switch and to said heating element to generate steam, said ball oat through said electrically operated actuating means controlling the ow of water through said valve from said water source to said water inlet and said pressure control switch and temperature thermostatic switch at predetermined settings breaking said first electric circuit and through said second switch stopping the flow of electric power to said heating element.

5. A steam generator comprising in combination: a metal steam generating reservoir having water inlet and steam outlet openings, electrically insulated by means of a porcelain coating, a solenoid valve connecting said water inlet to a water source, a ball float reservoir, positioned in a horizontal water plane level with said steam generating reservoir, a water switch attached to said ball oat reservoir, a ball oat pivotally mounted in said ball oat reservoir and operatively engaged with said water switch, an electrical heating element, means to electrically insulate and secure said electrically positive heating element in said steam generating reservoir, a first electric circuit provided with an on-oft switch, a pressure control switch, a temperature control switch, a magnetic relay, said solenoid valve and said water switch, a second electric circuit having a second switch and said electrical heating element, whereby at a predetermined water level in said ball float reservoir and said steam generating reservoir, the on position of said on-off switch will control the flow of electric power to said second switch and to said electrical heating element and thereby generate steam, said ball lioat controlling the water level in said steam generating reservoir through said water switch and said solenoid valve, said pressure control switch controlling said rst electric circuit in response to the steam pressure generated in said steam generating reservoir, Said temperature control switch controlling said first electric circuit in response to temperature in said steam generating reservoir, whereby interruption of said first electric circuit by said on-oif switch, said pressure control switch, said temperature control switch deenergizes said second switch through said magnetic relay, to deenergize said electrical heating element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 782,525 Shoenberg Feb. 14, 1905 1,468,722 Macy Sept. 25, 1923 1,480,l74 Matthews Jan. 8, 1924 2,623,153 McGinnis Dec. 23, 1952 2,886,689 Garth May l2, 1959

Images