Apparatus and method for a steamer

Abstract

A steam apparatus including a first steam apparatus to produce a first steam having a humidity level at or above a first predetermined level and having a temperature at or below a first predetermined temperature and a second steam apparatus to produce a second steam having a humidity level at or below a second predetermined level and having a temperature at or above a second predetermined temperature. An output apparatus is configured to receive the first steam and the second steam and output the first steam, the second steam, or a hybrid steam defined by a mixture of the first steam and the second steam. An atomizer may be included to assist the steam generation.

1 . A steam apparatus, comprising:
 a first steam apparatus to produce a first steam having a humidity level at or above a first predetermined level and having a temperature at or below a first predetermined temperature;   a second steam apparatus to produce a second steam having a humidity level at or below a second predetermined level and having a temperature at or above a second predetermined temperature; and   an output apparatus configured to receive the first steam and the second steam and output the first steam, the second steam, or a hybrid steam defined by a mixture of the first steam and the second steam.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a first steam chamber configured to contain fluid;   a second steam chamber disposed adjacent to the first steam chamber and fluidly coupled to the first steam chamber, wherein the second steam chamber defines a passage configured to receive fluid from the first steam chamber;   at least one heating element disposed within the second steam chamber and substantially adjacent to the passage, wherein the at least one heating element is configured to heat the fluid in the first steam chamber to generate a first steam having a humidity level at or above a first predetermined level and having a temperature at or below a first predetermined temperature, and wherein the at least one heating element is configured to heat the fluid received in the passage to generate a second steam having a humidity level at or below a second predetermined level and having a temperature at or above a second predetermined temperature; and   at least one common output conduit fluidly coupled to an exit of the passage and fluidly coupled to the first steam chamber, wherein the common output conduit is configured to receive the first steam and the second steam and output the first steam, the second steam, or a hybrid steam defined by a mixture of the first steam and the second steam.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a first pipe extending from the first steam chamber to channel the fluid to an inlet of the passage of the second steam chamber;   a pump coupled to the first pipe to pump the fluid from the first steam chamber to the inlet of the passage;   a second pipe extending from an outlet of the passage to the at least one common output conduit; and   a third pipe to channel the first steam evaporated from the fluid in the first steam chamber, wherein the third pipe extends from the first steam chamber to the at least one common output conduit.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a mechanical valve assembly coupled to the second pipe and the third pipe and located before the at least one common output conduit, wherein the mechanical valve assembly releases at least one of the first steam, the second steam, or the hybrid steam into the at least one common output conduit.   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical valve assembly comprises a valve mechanism, a cam coupled to the valve mechanism, and a micro-switch configured to be engaged by the cam, wherein the valve mechanism is positionable in at least a first position, a second position, and a third position, wherein in the first position the cam does not contact the micro-switch and the pump is off, wherein in the second and third positions the cam contacts the micro-switch and the pump is on. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical valve assembly allows passage of the first steam in the first position, the hybrid steam in the second position, and the second steam in the third position. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising an electronic control device to control an operational speed of the pump by sending a control signal to the pump. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one common output conduit comprises a venturi chamber, wherein the second steam enters the at least one common output conduit at a velocity above a predetermined velocity which lowers a pressure in the third pipe and increases a flow of the first steam into the at least one common output conduit. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a fluid control valve assembly coupled to the first pipe and located between the pump and the inlet to the passage, wherein the fluid control valve assembly is configured to control an amount of fluid to enter into the passage. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a fourth pipe with a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to the first pipe before the pump and the second end is coupled to the first pipe after the pump, wherein the fourth pipe comprises a valve to allow the fluid to be diverted away from the passage and to minimize an amount of fluid to enter the passage. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising a thermostat coupled to the first steam chamber to measure the temperature of the fluid in the first steam chamber, an indicator light coupled to the first steam chamber and coupled to the thermostat, wherein the light turns on when the fluid in the first steam chamber reaches a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined temperature is between 70 and 90 degrees C. 
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second heating element disposed within the first steam chamber, wherein the second heating element is configured to heat the fluid in the first steam chamber to generate the first steam.   
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a garment steamer, a food steamer, a steam iron, or a steam cleaner. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising an atomizer disposed to an inlet of the passage, wherein the atomizer converts the fluid into a mist at the inlet of the passage defined by the second steam chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a device coupled to the at least one common output conduit, wherein the device controls the exiting of the first steam, the second steam, or the hybrid steam. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first predetermined level is the same as the second predetermined level. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first predetermined temperature is the same as the second predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       19 . A method for generating steam, the method comprising:
 heating fluid in a first steam chamber with at least one heating element to generate a first steam from evaporation of the fluid;   channeling the first steam to a common output conduit;   pumping the fluid from the first steam chamber to a passage in a second steam chamber;   heating the fluid in the passage with the at least one heating element;   channeling the fluid through the passage to generate a second steam;   channeling the second steam to the at least one common output conduit; and   outputting the first steam, the second steam, or a hybrid steam from the at least one common output conduit.   
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising: controlling an amount of the second steam, an amount of the first stream, or an amount of hybrid steam to exit the at least one common output conduit. 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising heating the fluid in the passage with a second heating element. 
   
   
       22 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising controlling the amount of fluid to enter the passage. 
   
   
       23 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising varying a speed of the pumping of the fluid from the first steam chamber to the passage in the second steam chamber. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , further comprising applying the output to a garment, a surface-to-be-cleaned, or to a food. 
   
   
       25 . An apparatus for generating steam, comprising:
 means for containing fluid;   means for heating fluid in the containing means to generate first steam from evaporation of the fluid, the first steam having a humidity level at or above a first predetermined level and having a temperature at or below a first predetermined temperature;   means for generating second steam having a humidity level at or below a second predetermined level and having a temperature at or above a second predetermined temperature; and   means for outputting the first steam, the second steam, or a hybrid steam defined by a mixture of the first steam and the second steam.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus according to  25 , wherein the apparatus comprises at least one of a garment steamer, a food steamer, a steam iron, or a steam cleaner. 
   
   
       27 . A method for generating steam, the method comprising:
 producing a first steam having a humidity level at or above a first predetermined level and having a temperature at or below a first predetermined temperature in a first steam apparatus;   producing a second steam having a humidity level at or below a second predetermined level and having a temperature at or above a second predetermined temperature in a second steam apparatus;   receiving the first steam and the second steam in an output apparatus; and   outputting the first steam, the second steam, or a hybrid steam defined by a mixture of the first steam and the second steam with the output apparatus.