Steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner

Abstract

A steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner, having a vacuum cleaner body 30, a suction hose 31 connected to the vacuum cleaner body 30, and a suction unit provided at an end of the suction hose 31, includes a steam-generating unit for generating steam by a chemical reaction between two electrode plates 21 and 21 ′ and an electrolytic solution. The steam-generating unit includes a water tank 20 disposed inside the vacuum cleaner body 30; a water inlet 23 extended from one side of an upper part of the water tank 20 to outside the vacuum cleaner body 30; a steam outlet 24 extended from the other side of the upper part of the water tank 20 to outside the vacuum cleaner body 30; positive and negative electrode plates 21 and 21 ′ disposed in the water tank 20 to which electric current is applied; a partition 22 disposed between the electrode plates 21 and 21 ′; and an electrolytic solution provided in the water tank 20 through which the applied electric current is conductible between the electrode plates 21 and 21′.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner, having a vacuum cleaner body, a suction hose connected to one side of the vacuum cleaner body, and a suction unit provided at an end of the suction hose, comprising: 
 a steam-generating means provided at one side of the vacuum cleaner, for generating steam by a chemical reaction between at least two electrode plates to which electric current is applied and an electrolytic solution provided between the electrode plates, and for spraying the steam toward an object to be cleaned.    
     
     
         2 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the steam-generating means comprises: 
 a water tank disposed inside the vacuum cleaner body;    a water inlet extended from one side of an upper part of the water tank to outside the vacuum cleaner body;    a steam outlet extended from the other side of the upper part of the water tank to outside the vacuum cleaner body;    a positive electrode plate disposed in the water tank, to which electric current is applied;    a negative electrode plate spaced apart from the positive electrode plate in the water tank, to which electric current is applied;    a partition disposed between the positive and negative electrode plates; and    an electrolytic solution provided in the water tank through which the applied electric current is conductible between the positive and negative electrode plates.    
     
     
         3 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 2   , wherein the positive and negative electrode plates are carbon plates.  
     
     
         4 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 2   , wherein the electrolytic solution is sodium chloride.  
     
     
         5 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 2   , wherein the steam-generating means further comprises: 
 a steam discharge hose connected to one side of the steam outlet, and a steam spray plate provided at an end of the steam discharge hose,    the steam spray plate detachable from and attachable to a steam spray plate holder provided at both sides of a suction unit of the vacuum cleaner.    
     
     
         6 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 1   , wherein the steam-generating means comprises: 
 a water tank disposed closably inside the suction unit of the vacuum cleaner;    a water inlet extended from an upper part of the water tank to outside the suction unit;    a steam vessel disposed at a lower part of the water tank;    a water supply tube extended from one side of the water tank to a bottom of the steam vessel;    an air tube extended from one side of the water tank to a predetermined level of the water in the steam vessel;    a plurality of positive electrode plates, disposed in the steam vessel, to which electric current is applied;    a plurality of negative electrode plates, spaced apart from the positive electrode plates in the steam vessel, to which electric current is applied;    partitions disposed between the positive and negative electrode plates;    an electrolytic solution provided in the steam vessel through which the applied electric current is conductible between the positive and negative electrode plates; and    a steam spray nozzle connected from one side of an upper part of the steam vessel to a lower part of the suction unit.    
     
     
         7 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein the positive and negative electrode plates are carbon plates.  
     
     
         8 . The steam-sterilizing vacuum cleaner as claimed in    claim 6   , wherein the electrolytic solution is sodium chloride.