Heating apparatus, and steam generator and home appliance using the same

• US 8,351,769 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Kyeong-hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Allan R
• Application Number:
  US12/085,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20100288743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,163 Days
• Field of Search: 219/523, 219/530, 392/322, 392/324, 392/386, 392/394
• US Class Current: 392/324
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F22B 1/284 with water in reservoirs

Abstract

A heating apparatus and a steam generator that is capable of heating water to produce hot water or steam and an electric home appliance that is capable of washing, rinsing, drying, or sterilizing an object using the same are disclosed. The heating apparatus and steam generator include a heating member, a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to a predetermined support structure, a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating, and a heat transfer member connected between the heating member and the thermostat for transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat. The electric home appliance includes the heating apparatus and steam generator.

Claims

1. A heating apparatus comprising:

a heating member;

a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to a predetermined support structure;

a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating; and

a heat transfer member connected between the heating member and the thermostat for transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat,

wherein the heat transfer member includes a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member, a portion of the metal layer extending toward the thermostat, and

wherein the heat transfer member further includes an auxiliary member interposed between the metal layer and the thermostat for indirectly transferring heat from the heat emission part to the thermostat.

2. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heating member, the fixing unit assembly, the thermostat, and the heat transfer member are detachably mounted to the support structure at the same time.

3. The heating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the metal layer is formed by die casting, and the metal layer securely fixes the heating member to the fixing unit assembly.

4. A steam generator comprising:

a case having an opening, through which an internal space of the case communicates with the outside, formed in one side thereof;

a heating member extending through the opening for generating steam;

a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to the case while sealing the opening;

a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating; and

a heat transfer member for increasing a heat emission area of the heating member and transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat,

wherein the heat transfer member includes a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member, a portion of the metal layer extending toward the thermostat, and

wherein the heat transfer member further includes an auxiliary member interposed between the metal layer and the thermostat for indirectly transferring heat from the heat emission part to the thermostat.

5. The steam generator according to claim 4, wherein the heating member, the fixing unit assembly, the thermostat, and the heat transfer member are detachably mounted to the case at the same time.

6. The steam generator according to claim 4, wherein the fixing unit assembly includes

a packing fitted in the opening such that the heating member extends through the packing, and

a pressurizing unit for pressurizing the packing to expand the side of the packing such that the heating member is fixed to the case while the opening is sealed.

7. The steam generator according to claim 4, wherein the fixing unit assembly includes

an inner bracket and an outer bracket disposed at the inside and the outside of the case, respectively,

a packing fitted in the opening, the packing being interposed between the inner bracket and the outer bracket, and

fasteners coupled to the inner bracket and the outer bracket such that the fasteners can be tightened or loosened from the outside of the case for changing the distance between the inner bracket and the outer bracket.

8. The steam generator according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the heating member and the fixing unit assembly have a size sufficient to be withdrawn out of the case through the opening while the packing is not deformed.

9. The steam generator according to claim 4, wherein the metal layer is formed by die casting, and the metal layer securely fixes the heating member to the fixing unit assembly.

10. The steam generator according to claim 7, wherein the auxiliary member extending through the inner bracket and the packing for transferring heat from the metal layer to the thermostat.

11. An electric home appliance comprising:

a tub for storing water; and

a heating apparatus connected to the tub for heating the water, wherein the heating apparatus includes

a heating member extending through the tub,

a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to the tub while sealing the connection between the heating member and the tub,

a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating, and

a heat transfer member for increasing a heat emission area of the heating member and transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat,

wherein the heat transfer member includes a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member, a portion of the metal layer extending toward the thermostat, and

wherein the heat transfer member further includes an auxiliary member interposed between the metal layer and the thermostat for indirectly transferring heat from the heat emission part to the thermostat.

12. The electric home appliance according to claim 11, wherein the heating member, the fixing unit assembly, the thermostat, and the heat transfer member are detachably mounted to the tub at the same time.

15. The electric home appliance according to claim 11 or 13, wherein

the metal layer is formed by die casting, the metal layer securely fixing the heating member to the fixing unit assembly.

13. An electric home appliance comprising:

a tub for receiving an object;

a water supply hose connected between an external water source and the tub; and

a heating apparatus mounted at the middle of the water supply hose for heating the water, wherein the heating apparatus includes

a case mounted at the middle of the water supply hose, the case having an opening formed in one side thereof,

a heating member extending through the opening,

a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to the case while sealing the opening,

a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating, and

a heat transfer member for increasing a heat emission area of the heating member and transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat,

wherein the heat transfer member includes a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member, a portion of the metal layer extending toward the thermostat, and

wherein the heat transfer member further includes an auxiliary member interposed between the metal layer and the thermostat for indirectly transferring heat from the heat emission part to the thermostat.

14. The electric home appliance according to claim 13, wherein the heating member, the fixing unit assembly, the thermostat, and the heat transfer member are detachably mounted to the case at the same time.

16. A heating apparatus comprising:

a heating member bent several times;

a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to a predetermined support structure;

a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating; and

a heat transfer member connected between the heating member and the thermostat for transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat

wherein the heat transfer member includes a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member, and

wherein a portion of the metal layer covering the bent part of the heating member are extended toward the thermostat so that the portion of the metal layer directly connects the thermostat.

17. The heating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the metal layer is formed by die casting, and the metal layer securely fixes the heating member to the fixing unit assembly.

18. The heating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the heating member, the fixing unit assembly, the thermostat, and the heat transfer member are detachably mounted to the support structure at the same time.

19. A heating apparatus comprising:

a heating member;

a fixing unit assembly for fixing the heating member to a predetermined support structure;

a thermostat mounted to the fixing unit assembly for preventing the heating member from overheating; and

a heat transfer member connected between the heating member and the thermostat for transferring heat from the heating member to the thermostat,

wherein the heat transfer member includes

a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member,

wherein the fixing unit assembly includes

an inner bracket and an outer bracket disposed at the inside and the outside of the case respectively, and

a packing fitted in the opening, the packing being interposed between the inner bracket and the outer bracket,

wherein, the heat transfer member includes a metal layer formed to cover the outer circumferential surface of a heat emission part of the heating member, and

wherein, the thermostat extends through the packing and the inner bracket so that thermostat is connected to the metal layer.

20. The heating apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the metal layer is formed by die casting, and the metal layer securely fixes the heating member to the fixing unit assembly.