Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a steam boiler having a steam recovery function, and in particular to a steam boiler having a steam recovery function which generates steam, collects condensed water from the used steam, and generates steam using the collected condensed water. Background Art

[2] A steam generation device is generally used at a beauty related device, an iron device or a room heating device with its function of generating steam by heating water and to use the generated steam. The condensed water collected from the used steam is collected by a water tank and is recycled.

[3] The steam boiler having a steam recovery function filed invented by the same applicant as the present invention and registered on January 5, 2006 (Korean patent registration No. 10-0542915) discloses a steam boiler capable of accurately measuring the level of water using a water level detection unit installed at a water tank.

[4] However, since the conventional steam generation device is designed to collect the condensed water together with water after the steam is used, the water tank may be dis- advantageously destroyed by the pressure of the steam in the water tank.

[5] In addition, the steam is not efficiently collected in the form of condensed water due to the pressure of the steam in the water tank, namely, more steam is directly discharged to the outside. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a steam boiler having a steam recovery function which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional art.

[7] It is another object of the present invention to provide a steam boiler having a steam recovery function which has a high heat efficiency function implemented in such a manner that condensed water generated after steam is used is collected and reused.

[8] It is further another object of the present invention to provide a steam boiler having a steam recovery function which is capable of detecting a lack of water and frequently refilling water when the water level is low for thereby efficiently generating steam.

[9] It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a steam boiler having a steam recovery function in which used steam is fast converted into condensed water, and the condensed water is reused.

[10] It is still further another object of the present invention to provide a steam boiler having a steam recovery function in which heat generated when used steam is converted into condensed water is used for the purpose of a room heating function.

[11] To achieve the above objects, in a steam boiler having a steam generation unit for generating steam, there is provided a steam boiler having a steam recovery function which comprises an improved steam generation unit, including a water tank which is filled with water; a pump which pumps water filled in the water tank; a boiler which heats the water supplied by the pump to a certain temperature for thereby generating steam; a supply tube which supplies steam generated by the boiler; at least one heat radiating unit which uses steam supplied through the supply tube; a collection tube which guides the steam so that the steam used by the heat radiating unit is collected into the water tank; and a condensing unit which condenses the steam collected by the collection tube.

[12] The water tank includes a receptacle for storing water therein; a partition wall which divides the interior of the receptacle into a collection space and a filling space, with the partition wall being installed at an upper side of the same in the interior of the receptacle at certain intervals at a lower side of the same; a water supply tube which is installed at a lower side of the receptacle in the filling space and is connected with the supply tube for supplying water from the receptacle to the supply tube; a water collection tube which is installed at an upper side of the receptacle in the collection space and is connected with the collection tube for collecting the water from the collection tube; a discharge tube which is provided at one side of the water collection tube for discharging over steam generated from the collected water; an auxiliary tube which is provided at an upper side of the receptacle for filling shot water; and a water level detection unit which is installed in the filling space for measuring a level of water filled in the interior of the receptacle.

[13] The water level detection unit includes a vertical rod which is vertically installed from the receptacle; lower, intermediate and higher level sensors which are installed at the upper, intermediate and lower portions of the vertical rod for measuring the levels of filled water based on three levels; a lower buoy which is installed between the lower, intermediate and upper level sensors and directly contacts with the lower and intermediate level sensors, respectively; and an upper body which directly contacts with the intermediate and upper level sensors, respectively.

[14] The condensing unit includes a condensing tube for flowing steam therein; a plurality of condensing plates which are installed at the condensing tube at regular intervals for discharging heat of the condensing tube to the outside; and a fan which is provided at one side of the condensing plate for circulating air by force to the condensing plate.

[15] There is further provided a funnel between the condensing plates and the fan for collecting the air, which is circulated from the condensing plate, in the direction of the fan.

[16] There is further provided an induction tube which is provided at the fan for inducing the air, circulated from the condensing plate, to the outside.

[17] There is further provided a supply valve provided at the supply tube installed for supplying water to the water tank for thereby controlling the supply of water so that water is filled into the water tank by the amount of short water.

[18] With the above construction, the present invention may be connected with a hair drier which uses a steam curling device or steam and may be connected with an iron used in a laundry. A room heating effect may be obtained by connecting a supply tube with the condensing unit for thereby supplying hot air heated by the condensing unit to the indoor.

Advantageous Effects

[19] According to the present invention, a heat efficiency is very high since a steam generation unit generates steam, and a heating unit uses the generated steam, and the used steam is converted into condensed water, and the collected condensed water is reused. [20] In addition, the lack of water is accurately detected using a water level detection unit installed at a water tank, and when a water lack state is detected, water is frequently supplied by a supply valve, so that a water lack problem does not occur in the present invention. [21] Used steam is fast converted into condensed water by a condensing unit, so that the reuse of steam is very fast. [22] In the present invention, it is possible to use heat generated when steam is converted into condensed water for the purpose of a room heating function using a fan and an induction tube.

Brief Description of the Drawings [23] Figure 1 is a view illustrating a construction of a steam generation unit according to the present invention; [24] Figure 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a water tank adapted to a steam generation unit according to the present invention; [25] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing unit adapted to a water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention; [26] Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing unit adapted to a water tank according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [27] Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing unit adapted to a water tank

according to further another embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[28] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[29] Figure 1 is a view illustrating a construction of a steam generation unit according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross sectional view illustrating a water tanl adapted to a steam generation unit according to the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing unit adapted to a water tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing unit adapted to a water tank according to another embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating a condensing unit adapted to a water tank according to further another embodiment of the present invention.

[30] As shown in Figure 1, a steam boiler 10 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of heat radiating parts 30, 30' and 30", which use steam. A plurality of supply tubes 25, 25' and 25" for supplying steam and a plurality of collection tubes 26, 26' and 26" for collecting the steam used in the heat radiating parts 30, 30' and 30" are connected with the heat radiating parts 30, 30' and 30", respectively. Here, a plurality of supply tubes 25, 25' and 25" are controlled by a plurality of switches 27, 27' and 27", respectively.

[31] In the steam boiler 10 according to the present invention, a steam generation unit 20 adapted to supply steam is provided with a water tank 40, with a pump 22 being installed at one side of the water tank 40 for pumping water filled in the interior of the water tank 20. A boiler 23 is installed at one side of the pump 22 for heating water pumped by the pump 22 for thereby generating steam having a certain temperature. A plurality of solenoid valves 24, 24' and 24" are installed at one side of the boiler 23 for supplying steam generated in the boiler 23. Supply tubes 25, 25' and 25" are connected with the solenoid valves 24, 24' and 24" for supplying the steam, which is supplied in accordance with controls of the solenoid valves 24, 24' and 24", to the heat radiating unit 30. The collection tubes 26, 26' and 26" are connected with the condensing unit 60, respectively, for collecting the steam supplied through the supply tube 25 and used in the heat radiating unit 30. A trap 29 is connected with the condensing unit 60 for collecting the condensed water into the water tank 40, and the trap 29 is connected with the water tank 40.

[32] The boiler 23 comprises a gauge 23a and an adjusting valve 23b provided at one side of the same for thereby measuring the pressure of the generating steam and adjusting the temperature by adjusting the pressure of the same. Here, the temperature

of the generating steam is about 15O ⁰ C, and the temperature of the condensed water collected after the steam is used is about 100 ⁰ C, so that it is efficient to generate steam by using the collected condensed water.

[33] As shown in Figure 2, a receptacle 41 is provided in the water tank 40 for storing water therein. The interior of the receptacle 41 is divided into a collection space 48, which is installed at an upper side for thereby collecting the condensed water, and a filling space 49 for detecting a water level as the collected condensed water is filled therein, with a partition wall 42 being provided at a lower portion of the collection space 48.

[34] In addition, in the filling space 49 of the interior of the receptacle 41, a water supply tube 43 is connected with the supply tube 25 for supplying water. At the upper side of the collection space 48, a water collection tube 44 is connected with the collection tube 26 for collecting water from the collection tube 26. A discharge tube 45 is installed at the upper side of the receptacle 41 in the collection space 48 for discharging over steam generated from the collected condensed water. A supply tube 46 is installed at the upper side of the receptacle 41 in the filling space 49 for filling short water. A supply valve 50 is installed at the support tube 46. In the filling space 49, a water level detection unit 47 is installed at the upper side of the receptacle 41 for measuring a level of water filled in the receptacle 41.

[35] A vertical rod 47f is installed at the upper side of the receptacle 41 in the filling space 49, and in the water level detection unit 47, lower, intermediate and higher level sensors 47a, 47b and 47c are installed at the upper, intermediate and lower portions of the vertical rod 47f for measuring the filled water based on three levels. A lower buoy 47d directly contacting with the lower and intermediate level sensors 47a and 47b is installed between the lower and intermediate sensors 47a and 47b, and an upper buoy 47e directly contacting with the intermediate and high level sensors 47b and 47c is installed between the intermediate and high level sensors 47b and 47c.

[36] Here, when the water level detection unit 47 detects a state that the water is short, the supply valve 50 operates for thereby supplying water. When the water level increases as the water is filled, the pump 22 operates based on the detections by the intermediate and high level sensors 47b and 47c, and the filled water is supplied to the boiler 23.

[37] As shown in Figure 3, the condensing unit 60 is provided with a condensing tube 61 through which used steam passes, and a plurality of condensing plates 67 are installed at the condensing tube 61 at certain intervals for thereby discharging the heat of the condensing tube 61 to the outside. A fan 70 is installed at one side of the condensing tube 67 for circulating the air by force to the condensing plate 67. Here, it is preferred that a plurality of fans 70 are installed at both sides of the condensing plate 67 for

blowing air in the same direction.

[38] Here, the condensing tube 61 includes a supply terminal 63 of which one end is provided with the used steam, and a discharge terminal 65 provided at the other end of the supply terminal 63 for discharging the condensed water to the water tank 40, with the condensed water being generated from the supplied steam. The shape of the condensing tube 61 is formed in a zig-zag shape, while passing through all of the portions of the condensing plate 67.

[39] As shown in Figure 4, a funnel 80 is further installed between the condensing unit

60 and the fan 70 so that the heated air is flown toward the fan 70, with the heated air being generated during a process that the steam is circulated through the condensing plate 67 and is condensed into water. Since the funnel 80 is shaped to effectively collect heated air, it is preferred to use a small capacity fan 70.

[40] As shown in Figure 5, an induction tube 90 is further provided at an outer side of the fan 70 for inducing the air heated while being circulated in the condensing plate 67 to the outside. The room heating operation can be performed by connecting the induction tube 90 installed at the fan 70 to the indoor.

[41] The operation and effects of the present invention will be described as follows.

[42] As shown in Figure 1, when power is applied, the pump 22 pumps the water filled in the water tank 40 and supplies to the boiler 23. As the boiler 23 operates, steam is generated. The generated steam is supplied to the heat radiating units 30, 30' and 30", respectively, as the switches 27, 27' and 27" are turned on. The solenoid valves 24, 24' and 24" are controlled based on the operations of the heat radiating units 30, 30' and 30". The generated steam is supplied to the heat radiating units 30, 30' and 30" through the supply tubes 25, 25' and 25".

[43] The steam used by the heat radiating unit 30 is collected by the collection tube 26, and the steam is condensed by the condensing unit 60 connected with the collection tube 26, and the condensed water is collected by the water tank 40.

[44] As shown in Figure 2, the condensed water collected into the water tank 40 is collected into the collection space through the water collection tube 44 and is filled into the interior of the receptacle 41. Since the condensed water, which passed through the condensing unit 60, contains a small amount of steam, which is not fully condensed, a strong pressure occurs. The generated pressure is discharged through the discharge tube 45, without influencing the filling space 49 by the partition wall 41.

[45] The condensed water is filled into the receptacle 41, and the water level increases.

Here, the lower buoy 47d is vertically guided by the vertical rod 47f and moves up. When the lower buoy 47d contacts with the intermediate sensor 47b, the boiler 23 keeps operating. When the lower buoy 47d does not move up and does not contact with the intermediate sensor 47b, namely, contacts with the lower sensor 47a, the

supply valve 50 opens the supply tube 46 for thereby filling short water.

[46] When water is filled, the upper buoy 47e is vertically guided by the vertical rod 47f and moves up. When the upper buoy 47e contacts with the high level sensor 47c, the supply valve 50 closes the supply tube 46 for thereby stopping the supply of water.

[47] Here, the temperature of the used steam is about 15O ⁰ C, and the heat of the condensed water collected from the heat radiating unit 30 is about 100 ⁰ C, so that the boiler 23 can generate steam for a short time period.

[48] As shown in Figures 3 through 5, the steam becomes condensed water, while flowing through the condensing tube 61 of the condensing unit 60. The air heated while being flown through the condensing plate 67 installed at the condensing tube 61 by the fan 70 installed at the condensing unit 60 is discharged to the outside, so that the steam can be fast converted into condensed water. Industrial Applicability

[49] As described above, in the present invention, the funnel 80 is installed between the condensing unit 60 and the fan 70, so that it is possible to substantially collect heated air. The induction tube 90 is installed at the fan 70, so that the heated air collected by the funnel 80 is supplied to a certain space for thereby using the collected heated air for the purpose of heating room.

[50] The present invention uses hat of the steam generated by the boiler, and the used steam is condensed and collected, so that the heat efficiency increases.