The invention relates to a steam generator in convection ovens.
As is well known, in convection ovens for cooking bread or other food products, when the optimal temperature has been reached inside the cooking chamber, steam is used to give particular characteristics to the product which one wishes to obtain.
The steam created inside convection ovens for a few seconds in the initial step or at intervals during the cooking cycle is produced through a steam device, commonly known as a "steam generator", arranged in a space arranged in communication with the cooking chamber or directly in it.
The types of steam generator suitable for such a purpose substantially consist of a structure equipped with metal bodies, i.e. a thermal mass, which are heated by the hot air flow which circulates inside the oven for which reason, when they come into contact with a flow of water, a heat exchange takes place, with the metal bodies themselves giving up the absorbed heat which transforms almost all of the water into steam, which mixes with the hot air that circulates in the cooking chamber.
In the current state of the art there are different types of steam generators. As an example we quote
These two types of steam generator, as well as others known in the prior art, do not fully satisfy the requirements needed of said devices which are: high steam production in a short time (a few tens of seconds) and fast temperature recovery of the exchanger bodies after the heat exchange, which lowers its value even by 100/150°C.
Moreover, considering that in this type of ovens the heating of the steam generator takes place by convection through the same air which takes care of cooking the product, it is clear that it is not possible to go beyond certain temperature values of the air, for which reason the positioning and shape of the steam generator, as well as the size of the surface of the mass involved in the heat exchange are of primary importance, in order to allow the maximum accumulation of heat and the maximum transfer of said heat to the water, for the production of a large amount of steam.
In the document
The purpose of the present invention is that of foreseeing a steam device, hereafter referred to with the generic term steam generator, which does not have the drawbacks described above.
A further purpose of the invention is that of foreseeing a steam generator which is simple to construct and easy to assemble, in all types of known convection ovens.
A further purpose of the invention is that of foreseeing a steam generator in which all of its components are removable for cleaning or possibly replaceable in a fast and easy manner.
A further purpose of the present invention is that of foreseeing a steam generator in which the heat exchange mass is licked by hot air in a uniform manner and for the entire exchange surface, so as to operate with the maximum thermal yield.
Such purposes and others, which are clear in the description, are obtained with a steam generator advantageously positioned at the start of the passage section of the hot air, immediately downstream of the heat exchanger and of the recirculation fan, for which reason the air licks first of all the steam generator, so as to be able to exploit to the maximum the heat energy for the temperature recovery.
The object of invention is met by the arrangement as set fourth in the characterising clause of claim 1.
Both the rods and the spacers consist of single elements, not bound together and able to be removed from each other, which are low in weight and bulk, all able to be dismounted quickly and without the help of tools, because they are simply rested, the rods on the comb and these on the base of the tray.
Such a constructive solution thus allows, as well as a substantial simplification of the normal cleaning operations, also a variation in the number of rods or replacement with others of a different size or a different material, according to the type of thermal mass required by particular types of cooking, without the need for interventions of modification or replacement of the entire steam generator, which can also be carried out by unspecialised personnel.
The entire structure of the steam generator is configured like a rack with removable trays, arranged horizontally, consisting of two uprights, equipped with beams for supporting the trays, connected at the top through the tray for falling water to be vaporised and at the bottom through the collection well for the water which has not been vaporised upon contact with the surface of the hot rods.
These and other characteristics of the finding shall become clearer through the description of a possible embodiment thereof, given only as an illustrative and not limiting example, with the help of the attached tables of drawings, where:
As can be seen in fig. 1, the steam generator or steam generator according to the invention wholly indicated with reference numeral 1, is positioned next to the cooking chamber 2 and is licked by the hot air flow "K", made to circulate with convective motion in the aforementioned chamber by the exchanger/fan group 3.
As can be seen in figs. 2, 3 and 4, the steam generator 1 comprises a plurality of trays 4, arranged horizontally and on top of each other, removably mounted on a rack-shaped structure 5 on which the upper tank 6, for the water to be vaporised, and the lower bowl 7, for collecting the unvaporised water, are applied.
The main novelty characteristic of the invention foresees that the thermal mass, wholly indicated with reference numeral 8, which is firstly heated by the hot air flow "K" and then licked by the water, falling by gravity from the tank 6, to produce the steam to be sent, with the flow "K/V" in the cooking chamber, is made up of a plurality of rods 9, with a circular or polyhedral section with longitudinal extension which constitute batteries, contained inside the body 11 of each tray 4.
As can be seen in figs. 5 to 9, each tray 4 comprises a battery 10 of rods 9 contained inside the shaped body 11, equipped on the base with holes 13 to allow the passage of water falling by gravity from one tray to the one below.
In particular, the rods 9 rest upon comb elements 14 which take care of keeping said rods 9 spaced from each other and from the base 12.
As can be seen in figs. 6 to 9, all of the components of the tray 4 are individually removable and separate from each other.
The operating advantage of the constructive solution according to the invention is made clear through figs. 10 and 11 where it is highlighted how the two flows, of hot air "K" and of water "W", lick the whole of he surface of the rods 9, to obtain the optimal relationship between the air/steam flows "K/V" to be produced in the cooking chamber of the oven.
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.