Steam device and method for operating a steam device

Abstract

A steam device is provided, including a clean water supplying arrangement, a steam generator which is fluidically connected to the clean water supplying arrangement, a cleaning agent supplying arrangement, a mixing arrangement for clean water and cleaning agent that is fluidically connected to the clean water supplying arrangement and the cleaning agent supplying arrangement, a discharge arrangement for fluid and a control arrangement by which operating modes of the steam device are settable, wherein, by means of the discharge arrangement, steam is dischargeable in a steam mode and a mixture of clean water and cleaning agent is dischargeable in a cleaning agent mode, and wherein the control arrangement has a rinsing unit which, once the cleaning agent mode is at an end, operates a rinsing mode in which the discharge arrangement is rinsed with clean water.

1 . A steam device, comprising:
 a clean water supplying arrangement;   a steam generator which is fluidically connected to the clean water supplying arrangement;   a cleaning agent supplying arrangement;   a mixing arrangement for clean water and cleaning agent that is fluidically connected to the clean water supplying arrangement and the cleaning agent supplying arrangement;   a discharge arrangement for fluid; and   a control arrangement by which operating modes of the steam device are settable;   wherein, by means of the discharge arrangement, steam is dischargeable in a steam mode and a mixture of clean water and cleaning agent is dischargeable in a cleaning agent mode; and   wherein the control arrangement has a rinsing unit which, once the cleaning agent mode is at an end, operates a rinsing mode in which the discharge arrangement is rinsed with clean water.   
     
     
         2 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge arrangement includes a first point of introduction for steam, which is fluidically connected to the steam generator, a second point of introduction for clean water, which is fluidically connected to the clean water supplying arrangement, and a third point of introduction for a mixture of clean water and cleaning agent, which is fluidically connected to the mixing arrangement. 
     
     
         3 . The steam device according to  claim 2 , wherein, in relation to a fluid main flow direction in the discharge arrangement, the second introduction point is arranged upstream of the third introduction point, or the second introduction point coincides with the third introduction point. 
     
     
         4 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein the clean water supplying arrangement is or includes a clean water tank. 
     
     
         5 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning agent supplying arrangement is or includes a cleaning agent tank. 
     
     
         6 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein in the rinsing mode the control arrangement sets a particular duration of the rinsing procedure. 
     
     
         7 . The steam device according to  claim 6 , wherein the particular duration is in the range between 10 s and 30 s. 
     
     
         8 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control arrangement implements a setting, or is set, such that the steam mode is only performable if, after a cleaning agent mode, a rinsing mode has been performed. 
     
     
         9 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein the steam mode is only operable without the discharge of cleaning agent. 
     
     
         10 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , having a vapo-hydro mode in which clean water is admixable with steam. 
     
     
         11 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge arrangement includes at least one of at least one tube and at least one hose. 
     
     
         12 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , comprising a controllable first valve that is connected downstream of the steam generator and is controlled by the control arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , comprising a controllable second valve, which is arranged between the clean water supplying arrangement and the discharge arrangement, and which is controlled by the control arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , comprising a controllable third valve, which is arranged between the cleaning agent supplying arrangement and the discharge arrangement, and which is controlled by the control arrangement. 
     
     
         15 . The steam device according to  claim 14 , wherein the control arrangement implements a setting such that when the third valve is open a first valve, which is downstream of the steam generator, is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The steam device according to  claim 14 , wherein the mixing arrangement is downstream of the third valve and of a second valve that is connected to the clean water supplying arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , comprising a first pump for conveying at least one of clean water and a mixture of clean water and cleaning agent in the discharge arrangement, wherein the first pump is controlled by the control arrangement. 
     
     
         18 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , comprising a second pump for conveying clean water from the clean water supplying arrangement to the steam generator. 
     
     
         19 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , said steam device being configured as a suction device having a suction unit and a suction attachment. 
     
     
         20 . The steam device according to  claim 19 , comprising at least one dirty water tank. 
     
     
         21 . The steam device according to  claim 19 , wherein a suction line arrangement is at least partially mechanically connected to the discharge arrangement. 
     
     
         22 . The steam device according to  claim 1 , comprising a selector switch for setting a respective operating mode. 
     
     
         23 . The steam device according to  claim 22 , comprising a starter switch for starting the rinsing mode. 
     
     
         24 . The steam device according to  claim 23 , wherein, once the rinsing mode has started, the control arrangement performs it automatically. 
     
     
         25 . The steam device, said steam device being configured as a mobile device which is in particular movable on wheels. 
     
     
         26 . A method for operating a steam device, comprising:
 discharging steam in a steam mode and discharging a mixture of cleaning agent and clean water in a cleaning agent mode; and   after a cleaning agent mode, rinsing a discharge arrangement for fluid with clean water in a rinsing mode.   
     
     
         27 . The method for operating a steam device according to  claim 26 , wherein, after an operation in cleaning agent mode, the steam device is only operable in steam mode if a rinsing mode is performed before the steam mode. 
     
     
         28 . The method for operating a steam device according to  claim 26 , wherein the rinsing mode is performed with automatic control by a control arrangement, wherein in particular a user command is required to start the rinsing mode. 
     
     
         29 . The method for operating a steam device according to  claim 26 , wherein the rinsing mode is performed for a particular duration.