Multi-layer heating apparatus
A multi-layer heating apparatus having a heating unit (1) provided on the bottom of a cooking device (5), and an accumulator (2) attached to the heating unit (1). The heating unit (1) is filled with a liquid that needed to be heated and set above of a heat source (7). The heating apparatus is characterized in that at least one air conduit tube (3) is provided on the top of the heating unit (1) for leading the exhaust gas out. The air conduit tube (3) and multi layers hot water pipes (121) provided in the heating unit (1) served as a heating means, which can heat up the liquid efficiently.
The present invention relates to a multi-layer heating apparatus, more specifically to be mounted on a steam cooker or a deep fryer.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ARTSteaming is a cooking method that utilizing extreme hot steam, generated by heating water with a burner provided under, to heat the food. Steaming is considered as a healthy way to cook the food as it preserves the nutrition within the food and keeps the meal in low fat. However, steaming consumes more energy comparing to other method because most of hot steam is expelled outside the cooker after passing the food with huge amount of heat remains therein. Through the years, inventions have been disclosed for improving the efficiency of the steam cooker, such as the cited document 1, U.S. Pat. No. 6,098,527, entitled “Structure of a steaming apparatus”, invented by the very same inventor of the present invention. The cited document 1 teaches a steam cooker having a water boiler and a burner placed under. The water boiler composed of an inner and outer channel with multiple pipes provided therein. The lateral walls of the inner channel and pipes can transfer the heat, reducing the boiling time of the water. Further, the boiler is sealed by a pressure-tight cover having tubes to eject steam. The temperature inside the cooker is increased as the pressure rises, with tubes eject steam toward the food, thus, the cooking time is reduced evidently.
Even though the device disclosed above increases the efficiency, the gas produced by the burner, however, is led toward the outside directly through a vent line provided between the inner and outer channel. The gas contains huge amount of heat and is completely wasted. Therefore, to use the heat from the gas combining the structure disclosed previously to improve further the efficiency of the steam cooker has become the main objective of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo achieve above-identified object, a multi-layer heating apparatus can be realized by comprising a heating unit, an accumulator provided outside of the heating apparatus and linked to the heating unit for reserving and refilling liquid. The liquid is provided on a top of the heating unit, and a heating source is provided on a bottom thereof, wherein at least one air conduit tube is attached to an end of the top of the heating unit; said air conduit tube extends to an outside of the heating unit and attaches to a fume vent; the fume vent extends upwardly along a side wall of the apparatus and having its terminal set on the top of the apparatus.
At least one through hole is provided throughout said air conduit tube for transferring liquid, and a plurality of concavities are provided on a surface of said air conduit tube. The concavities are spaced with each other by a predetermined distance and arranged in pluralities of rows; said rows are arranged in a staggered formation.
An orifice is provided on a bottom of said fume vent for increasing the convection. The heating unit consists of a casing, an inner casing, which is disposed in the casing, having a plurality of hot water tubes provided horizontally therein, an inlet tube provided between said casing and the accumulator, and at least one outlet tube connected to the casing.
Said casing comprises a square hollow portion and a tapered opening attached to a top of said square portion. The bottom portion of said square portion is coupled to a bottom of the inner casing and a top of said tapered opening is coupled to an inner wall of the heating apparatus.
The inlet tube and said tapered opening are joined by a first relief pipe. A second relief pipe penetrates a side wall of an upper portion of the heating unit and links to the accumulator.
The hot water tubes are arranged in pluralities layers; each layer including a plurality of tube spaced by a predetermined distance, and the tubes of one layer are perpendicular with tubes of a lower layer.
COMPARISON WITH PRIOR ARTThe advantages of the present invention are listed as following:
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- 1. The employment of the air conduit tube not only the tube body can be an additional source to heat the water, but also the hot gas running through, that used to be wasted can be recycled to heat the water, reducing the boiling time by half and consumption of the fuel.
- 2. The apparatus can function efficiently under normal condition and can be applied to variable cooking means; i.e. steam cooker or deep fryer etc, with wild range of applications.
The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail hereinafter according to the appended drawings.
As shown in
At least one air conduit tube (3) is provided on an upper portion of the heating unit (1) for leading the gas produced during the heating process. Said tube (3) is extending toward the outside of the heating unit (1) by passing through the outer wall thereof and connects to a fume vent (4). The fume vent (4), as illustrated in
Referring to
Pluralities concavities (32) are provided on a surface of said air conduit tube (3). The concavities (32) are spaced with each other by a predetermined distance and arranged in pluralities of rows, and said rows are arranged in a staggered formation. The concavities (32) create additional heating surfaces, and with the shape to slow the flow rate, the temperature of the tube body is raised for heating the liquid above more efficiently.
Referring to
The inlet tube (13) and said tapered opening (112) are joined by a first relief pipe (15) to balance the pressure of the accumulator (2). An upper opening of the first relief pipe (15) should be higher than a liquid surface (6). Functioning as communication tube, the liquid inside first relief pipe (15) is automatically delivered to the heating unit (1) as the liquid surface (6) drops.
A second relief pipe (16), for relieving the internal pressure of the cooking device (5), is penetrating a side wall of an upper portion of the heating unit (1) and joins to the accumulator (2).
Said hot water tubes (121) are arranged in pluralities layers, and each layer consists of a plurality of tubes (121) spaced by a predetermined distance. As shown in
The claimed heating apparatus can be applied to variable cooking means.
The embodiments shown and described herein are to be considered only as illustrative. As the heating apparatus can also be used in a pasta cooker, a water heater or even steam generator, it will be apparent that various applications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A multi-layer heating apparatus comprising a heating unit (1), an accumulator (2) provided outside of the heating apparatus and linked to the heating unit for reserving and refilling liquid; a liquid to be heated is provided on a top of the heating unit, and a heating source is provided on a bottom thereof, wherein
- At least one air conduit tube (3) is provided on an upper portion of the heating unit (1); an end thereof joins a side of the heating unit (1) and another end extends to an opposite side throughout the heating unit (1) and attaches to a fume vent (4); the fume vent is set extending upwardly along a side wall of the apparatus and having its terminal set on the top of the apparatus.
2. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one through hole (31) is provided throughout said air conduit tube (3) for transferring liquid.
3. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of concavities (32) are provided on a surface of said air conduit tube.
4. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 3, wherein said concavities (32) are spaced with each other by a predetermined distance and arranged in pluralities of rows; said rows are arranged in a staggered formation.
5. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein an orifice (41) is provided on a lower section of said fume vent (4) for increasing air convection.
6. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein said heating unit (1) including an outer casing (11), an inner casing (12), which is disposed in the outer casing (11), having a plurality of hot water tubes (121) provided horizontally therein, an inlet tube (13) provided between said outer casing (11) and the accumulator (2), and at least one outlet tube (14) connected to the outer casing (11).
7. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 6, wherein said outer casing (11) comprising a square hollow portion (111) and a tapered opening (112) attached to a top of said square portion (111); a bottom of said square portion (111) is coupled to a bottom of the inner casing (12) and a top of said tapered opening (112) is coupled to an inner wall of the heating apparatus.
8. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 7, wherein said inlet tube (13) and said tapered opening (112) are joined by a first relief pipe (15).
9. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 1, wherein a second relief pipe (16) penetrates a side wall of an upper portion of the heating unit (1) and links to the accumulator (2).
10. The multi-layer heating apparatus of claim 6, wherein said hot water tubes (121) are arranged in pluralities layers; each layer including a plurality of tube spaced by a predetermined distance, and the tubes of one layer are perpendicular with tubes of a lower layer.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 28, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 18, 2011
Inventor: Rong-Kuan Chang
Application Number: 12/929,507