Steam generator

Abstract

The invention refers to a steam generator for household appliances. The steam generator comprises a container having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, and an electrical heating element fixed to the container. The container comprises a first part and a second part which are connected along a joint such that a critical pressure inside the container causes a slit to appear in a predefined section of the joint, said slit providing a security vent for releasing pressure.

1 . Steam generator comprising
 a sheet metal container having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, and an electrical heating element fixed to the container,   the container comprising a first container part and a second container part which are clamped together,   the first part having a flange against which the second part is clamped covering the first part, and   a seal arranged on the flange, said seal being compressed between the first container part and the second container part,   wherein the first container part and the second container part are clamped together by clamping forces acting on at least one first section of the flange but not on at least one second section of the flange adjacent in circumferential direction to the at least one first section,   the clamping forces being applied such that a critical pressure inside the container causes a slit to appear between the at least one second section of the flange and the second container part, said slit providing a security vent for releasing pressure.   
   
   
       2 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping is effected by sections of the first container part folded over a rim of the second container part. 
   
   
       3 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the clamping is effected by sections of the second container part folded over a rim of the flange of the first container part. 
   
   
       4 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the seal is a gasket. 
   
   
       5 . Steam generator according to  claim 4 , wherein the gasket is arranged in a groove of the flange. 
   
   
       6 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the second container part comprises a flange which rests against the flange of the first container part. 
   
   
       7 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a circular disc. 
   
   
       8 . Steam generator according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second section has a length of one eighth to one quarter of the circumference of said circular disc. 
   
   
       9 . Steam generator according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one second section has a length of one seventh to one fifth of the circumference of said circular disc. 
   
   
       10 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the container parts is made of a sheet metal. 
   
   
       11 . Steam generator according to  claim 7 , wherein the container has an overall diameter of 10 cm to 20 cm. 
   
   
       12 . Steam generator according to  claim 7 , wherein the container has an overall diameter 13 cm to 15 cm. 
   
   
       13 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the heating element is fixed to the outside of the container. 
   
   
       14 . Steam generator according to  claim 17  wherein the at least one second section of the flange has a length of at least one twelfth of the circumference the flange. 
   
   
       15 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second section of the flange has a length of at most one quarter of the circumference the flange. 
   
   
       16 . Steam generator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first container part and the second container part are of equal shape. 
   
   
       17 . Steam generator comprising
 a container having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, and   an electrical heating element fixed to the container,   the container comprising a bottom part as a first container part and a lid part as a second container part which rests against a flange of the bottom part,   wherein these two container parts are fixed to each other along part of their circumference by at least one rim section of one of the two container parts that is folded over a rim section of the other container part, such that along a first part of their circumference the rim of one of the container parts is covered by the other container part and along a second part of their circumference the rim of both container parts is uncovered,   wherein the second part of their circumference comprises a venting section having a length of at least one tenth of the circumference and at most one third of the circumference, said section providing a vent which opens in the case of the pressure exceeding a critical threshold.   
   
   
       18 . Steam generator according to  claim 17  wherein the venting section has a length of one eighth to one quarter of said circumference. 
   
   
       19 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the venting section has a length of one seventh to one fifth of said circumference. 
   
   
       20 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container part comprising the folded rim section or sections is made of a sheet metal. 
   
   
       21 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein both the lid part and the bottom part are made of a sheet metal. 
   
   
       22 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container has an overall diameter of 10 cm to 20 cm. 
   
   
       23 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container has an overall diameter of 13 cm to 15 cm. 
   
   
       24 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container has a wall thickness of less than 0.7 millimeters. 
   
   
       25 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container has an wall thickness of 0.4 mm to 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       26 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container has a volume of 50 to 400 milliliters. 
   
   
       27 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the container includes a volume of 150 to 300 ml. 
   
   
       28 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein the bottom part and the lid part are of equal shape. 
   
   
       29 . Steam generator according to  claim 17 , wherein a gasket is placed between the flange of the bottom part and the lid part. 
   
   
       30 . Steam generator comprising
 a container having an inlet for water and an outlet for steam, and   an electrical heating element fixed to the container,   the container comprising a first container part and a second container part which are connected along a joint,   the first container part having a flange against which the second container part rests covering the first container part, and   a seal compressed between the first container part and the second container part, wherein the first container part and the second container part are connected such that a critical pressure inside the container causes a slit to appear in a predefined section of the joint, said slit providing a security vent for releasing pressure.   
   
   
       31 . Steam generator according to  claim 30 , wherein said slit in the joint occurring between the first container part and the second container part responsive to a critical pressure inside the container opens as a result of an elastic deformation of at least one of said first container part and said second container part and will close again by the container parts reducing their elastic deformation as the pressure in the container decreases to an uncritical value.