Steam generator and clothes care apparatus including same

Abstract

A steam generator is disclosed. The steam generator includes: a recovery chamber which includes a first inlet, a second inlet, a steam outlet, and a drain outlet; a first pipe configured to receive water through a first end of the first pipe and which is connected at a second end of the first pipe to the first inlet; a second pipe which is connected at a first end of the second pipe to the drain outlet and is connected at a second end of the second pipe to the second inlet; and a heater device configured to heat water moving through at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steam generator comprising:
 a recovery chamber comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, a steam outlet, and a drain outlet;   a first pipe configured to receive water through a first end of the first pipe and which is connected at a second end of the first pipe to the first inlet;   a second pipe which is connected at a first end of the second pipe to the drain outlet and is connected at a second end of the second pipe to the second inlet; and   a heater device configured to heat water moving through at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , wherein the heater device comprises:
 a heat wire member configured to dissipate heat; and   a molding member configured to integrate the first pipe and the heat wire member.   
     
     
         3 . The steam generator of  claim 2 , wherein the first pipe and the heat wire member pass through the molding member, and
 wherein the heat wire member is disposed further inside of the molding member than the first pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The steam generator of  claim 2 , wherein the first pipe comprises a heating area covered by the molding member and is formed to be spiral to surround the heat wire member. 
     
     
         5 . The steam generator of  claim 2 , wherein the molding member is formed of at least one of aluminum, copper, gold, or silver. 
     
     
         6 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , wherein the second pipe comprises a re-heating area to surround a side surface of the heater device. 
     
     
         7 . The steam generator of  claim 6 , wherein the re-heating area comprises a front end connected to the first end of the second pipe adjacently disposed with a lower surface of the heater device, and a rear end connected to the second end of the second pipe adjacently disposed with an upper surface of the heater device. 
     
     
         8 . The steam generator of  claim 6 , wherein the re-heating area is formed to be upwardly spiral with an angle of greater than or equal to three degrees and less than or equal to ten degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , wherein the recovery chamber is disposed at a side further up than the heater device. 
     
     
         10 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , wherein the drain outlet is disposed at a lower surface of the recovery chamber, and the lower surface of the recovery chamber is formed to be downwardly inclined toward the drain outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The steam generator of  claim 10 , wherein the lower surface of the recovery chamber is formed to be downwardly inclined with an angle of greater than or equal to two degrees and less than or equal to ten degrees. 
     
     
         12 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a water supply pump device configured to supply water to the first end of the first pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , further comprising a recovery pump device configured to recover water from the first end of the first pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The steam generator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulation member configured to cover at least one outer surface between the recovery chamber and the heater device.   
     
     
         15 . A clothes care apparatus comprising:
 a main body comprising a clothes care room and a machine room; and   a steam generator disposed in the machine room and provided to supply steam to inside of the clothes care room,   wherein the steam generator comprises:
 a recovery chamber comprising a first inlet, a second inlet, a steam outlet, and a drain outlet, 
 a first pipe configured to receive water through a first end of the first pipe and which is connected at a second end of the first pipe to the first inlet; 
 a second pipe which is connected at a first end of the second pipe to the drain outlet and is connected at a second end of the second pipe to the second inlet; and 
 a heater device configured to heat water moving through at least one of the first pipe and the second pipe.