US4281636A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam processor
Assignee: Welbilt Corp
•
Filing: 1979-06-07
•
Granted: 1981-08-04
•
Expires: 1999-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A steam processor for preparing or warming food items. The processor includes a cooking chamber having a steam inlet and outlet, and an adjacent steam generator for supplying steam to the chamber. The steam generator includes a water level control system for maintaining a water level within the generator within predetermined limits and an immersion heater for vaporizing the water. A steam control is provided that regulates the heater to control the rate at which steam is produced and flows into the cooking chamber. The processor includes an automatic drain feature which discharges any water within the steam generator whenever power to the processor is terminated. A steam condenser that condenses steam exhausted by the chamber is disposed near the outlet of the cooking chamber. The condenser precipitates a sub-atmospheric pressure at the outlet which serves to purge air from the chamber and enhance the flow of steam into the chamber. The water supply for the steam generator flows through a preconditioner which pretreats the water to minimize the formation of deposits in the steam generator and associated plumbing.
Inventors
- 👤 Elmer S. Vegh
- 👤 Donald F. Klier
- 👤 Davis S. Schwerzler
- 👤 William F. Castle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:21
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J27/00; A47J27/14; A47J27/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A steam processor for use in the preparation of food or the like, comprising: (a) an enclosed, insulated cooking chamber for heating food items placed in said chamber by contact with steam, having a steam inlet and an outlet for discharging excess steam and condensate; (b) means for providing access to the interior of said cooking chamber; (c) a source of steam including: (i) a steam generator including a fluid reservoir; (ii) conduit means communicating with the steam generator for supplying and draining fluid to and from the reservoir; (iii) control means including level sensing means and valve means for controlling the fluid communication between the reservoir and a source of fluid, said valve means further comprising means responsive to deactivation of said steam processor, for draining the contents of said steam generator; (iv) heating means for vaporizing the fluid in said steam generator; (v) a steam supply conduit for conveying steam produced in the steam generator to the steam inlet in the cooking chamber; (d) a steam control means for regulating the rate at which steam is produced in the steam generator comprising an operator variable cycling device for intermittently energizing the heating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A steam processor for use in the preparation of food or the like, comprising: (a) an enclosed, insulated cooking chamber for heating food items placed in said chamber by contact with steam, having a steam inlet and an outlet for discharging excess steam and condensate; (b) means for providing access to the interior of said cooking chamber; (c) a source of steam including: (i) a steam generator including a fluid reservoir; (ii) conduit means communicating with the steam generator for supplying and draining fluid to and from the reservoir; (iii) control means including level sensing means and valve means for controlling the fluid communication between the reservoir and a source of fluid, said valve means further comprising means responsive to deactivation of said steam processor, for draining the contents of said steam generator; (iv) heating means for vaporizing the fluid in said steam generator; (v) a steam supply conduit for conveying steam produced in the steam generator to the steam inlet in the cooking chamber; (d) a steam control means for regulating the rate at which steam is produced in the steam generator comprising an operator variable cycling device for intermittently energizing the heating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said steam control means controls the frequency and duration at which the heating means is energized.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said steam control means is operative to vary the flow of steam into the cooking chamber from a predetermined minimum to 100% of a predetermined maximum flow rate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further including steam condensing means located near the outlet of said cooking chamber and operative to condense steam discharged into said outlet thereby producing a condition of lower pressure at said outlet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes a single conduit communicating with the reservoir of said steam generator that serves as both a supply and drain conduit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
220 words
A steam processor for use in the preparation of food or the like, comprising: (a) an enclosed, insulated cooking chamber for heating food items placed in said chamber by contact with steam, having a steam inlet and an outlet for discharging excess steam and condensate; (b) means for providing access to the interior of said cooking chamber; (c) a source of steam including: (i) a steam generator including a water reservoir; (ii) conduit means communicating with the steam generator for supplying and draining water to and from the reservoir; (iii) water control means including water level sensing means and valve means responsive to water level sensing signals from said level sensing means for controlling the fluid communication between the reservoir and a source of water; (iv) heating means for vaporizing the water in said steam generator; (v) a steam supply conduit for conveying steam produced in the steam generator to the steam inlet in the cooking chamber; (d) a steam control means for regulating the rate at which steam is produced in the steam generating chamber comprising a device for varying the heat output of the heating means; and (e) steam condensing means located near the outlet of said cooking chamber and operative to condense steam discharge into said outlet thereby producing a condition of lower pressure at said outlet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
220 words
A steam processor for use in the preparation of food or the like, comprising: (a) an enclosed, insulated cooking chamber for heating food items placed in said chamber by contact with steam, having a steam inlet and an outlet for discharging excess steam and condensate; (b) means for providing access to the interior of said cooking chamber; (c) a source of steam including: (i) a steam generator including a water reservoir; (ii) conduit means communicating with the steam generator for supplying and draining water to and from the reservoir; (iii) water control means including water level sensing means and valve means responsive to water level sensing signals from said level sensing means for controlling the fluid communication between the reservoir and a source of water; (iv) heating means for vaporizing the water in said steam generator; (v) a steam supply conduit for conveying steam produced in the steam generator to the steam inlet in the cooking chamber; (d) a steam control means for regulating the rate at which steam is produced in the steam generating chamber comprising a device for varying the heat output of the heating means; and (e) steam condensing means located near the outlet of said cooking chamber and operative to condense steam discharge into said outlet thereby producing a condition of lower pressure at said outlet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said valve means further comprises a means responsive to deactivation of said steam processor, for draining the contents of said steam generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said steam control means comprises an operator variable cycling device that controls the on-time and the off-time of the heating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1621736A
Cited
US1976423A
Cited
US3291030A
Cited
US3327690A
Cited
US3604895A
Cited
US3680531A
Cited
US3823661A
Cited
US3872920A
Cited
US4011805A
Cited
US4187325A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-03 | 1985-02-02 | 1985-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-03 | 1989-02-02 | 1989-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-03 | 1993-02-02 | 1993-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |