AU2018101255A4

AU2018101255A4 - A steam table

Info

Publication number: AU2018101255A4
Application number: AU2018101255A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Huaxiang Chen
Original assignee: Hangzhou Maishou Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hangzhou Maishou Technology Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-08-28
Filing date: 2018-08-28
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-28

Abstract

A steam table is provided according to the present invention for solving the existing technical problem of inconvenience for food warming, the steam table comprising: a main body having a 5 tabletop, and an insulation cover arranged on the tabletop. A circumferentially closed groove is provided on the tabletop with a partition plate dividing the groove into an outer groove and an inner groove. The insulation cover has an edge inserted into the outer groove and fitted therewith. A heating element is provided on the bottom of the inner groove, at an upper part of the heating element a heat conducting plate which seals the heating element is provided. A 10 water-injection system is arranged under the tabletop, the water-injection comprising a tank, an electromagnetic pump with an inlet connected with the tank, and a discharge pipe connected with an outlet of the electromagnetic pump. The discharge pipe has an outlet extending into the inner groove and discharging water to the heat conducting plate, such that steam is generated for keeping the food warm. lla

Description

A STEAM TABLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to cooking appliances, especially to steam tables. BACKGROUND

[0002] Food usually gets cold soon after having been cooked, and the taste thereof will be affected if the dining time is delayed. Rewarming of the cooked food, e.g. by means of a microwave oven, is needed before dining, which is very inconvenient. Insulation boxes or steamers can also be used to keep the cooked food warm, which, however, is inconvenient as well. The above background of the invention is intended to place the present invention in an appropriate technical context and to allow is significance to be properly appreciated. Any references to prior art should not be construed as admissions that such prior art is widely known or fonns part of common general knowledge in the relevant technical field.

SUMMARY

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. Embodiments of the present invention provide a steam table whereby the existing technical problem of inconvenience for food warming is solved or ameliorated.

[0004] The following is an embodiment of the present invention used for solving or ameliorating the above-mentioned problem: a steam table, comprising: a main body having a tabletop, and an insulation cover arranged on the tabletop; a circumferentially closed groove is provided on the tabletop with a partition plate dividing the groove into an outer groove and an inner groove; the insulation cover has an edge inserted into the outer groove and fitted therewith; a heating element is provided on the bottom of the inner groove, at an upper part the heating element of a heat conducting plate which seals the heating element is provided; a water-injection system is arranged under the tabletop, the water-injection comprising a tank, an electromagnetic pump with an inlet connected with the tank, and a discharge pipe connected with an outlet of the electromagnetic pump; the discharge pipe has an outlet extending into the inner groove and discharging water to the heat conducting plate, such that steam is generated for keeping the food warm.

[0005] In one embodiment, a sealing gasket is provided on the bottom of the outer groove, the sealing gasket having a latching flute for receiving the edge of the insulation cover; an upper part of the insulation cover is provided with at least one air hole.

[0006] In one embodiment, the insulation cover is made of thermal insulation materials.

[0007] In one embodiment, a pipe passageway communicated with the inner groove is provided on the tabletop, and the discharge pipe is arranged in the pipe passageway.

[0008] In one embodiment, the tabletop is provided with a controller coupling to the heating element and the electromagnetic pump, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a space defined by the insulation cover and the tabletop, wherein the controller is configured to power off the heating element and the electromagnetic pump when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches to a preset value.

[0009] In one embodiment, the groove is configured as annular, and the insulation cover is shaped as hemispherical.

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention have the following advantages: [0011] 1. A heating element, a heat conducting plate and a water-injection system are provided on the table according to an embodiment of the present invention, the water injected into the groove by the water injection system is vaporized into steam by the heat conducting plate which is heated by the heating element. The steam filling the space defined by the insulation cover and the tabletop heats the food placed therein, which is more convenient and does not require the user to use other heating appliances and move the food between the table and the heating appliance such as microwave oven. In addition, as the heating element and the heat conducting plate are arranged in the groove of the table, which do not affect normal use of the table when the heating function is not enabled.

[0012] 2. A sealing gasket is provided on the bottom of the outer groove, the sealing gasket having a latching flute for receiving the edge of the insulation cover, which improves the sealing performance of the insulation cover and thereby improving the thermal insulation performance for the food. An upper part of the insulation cover is provided with at least one air hole for balancing the pressure inside the insulation cover to prevent the insulation cover from being lifted by the steam.

[0013] 3. The insulation cover is made of thermal insulation material for further improving its thermal insulation performance.

[0014] 4. The discharge pipe is arranged in the pipe passageway, such that the track of the discharge pipe does not interfere with the normal use of the table.

[0015] 5. Since the insulation time of the food usually does not need to be very long, after the temperature in the space defined by the insulation cover and the tabletop reaching to a preset value by means of the steam, the heating element and the electromagnetic pump are powered off under the control of the controller in combination of the temperature sensor, such that the food are kept warm for a period of time for fully satisfying the user's requirements, and meanwhile a more energy-saving and water-saving effect is achieved.

[0016] 6. The groove is configured as annular and the insulation cover is shaped as hemispherical. An area of the tabletop encircled by the groove has a highest area utilization for placing food.

[0017] More specific technical effects according to embodiments of the present invention are further presented in the description of the embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention are described below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which the same reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the figures unless otherwise specified, and in which: [0019] Figure 1 shows a top view of a steam table according to an embodiment of the present invention with the insulation cover placed on the tabletop; [0020] Figure 2 shows a top view of the tabletop of a steam table according to an embodiment of the present invention; [0021 ] Figure 3 shows a section view taken along line A-A in Fig. 1; and [0022] Figure 4 shows a detailed view of section B in Figure 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0024] As shown in figures 1 to 4, a steam table according to the invention is provided, which comprises a main body having a tabletop 1, and an insulation cover 2 arranged on the tabletop 1. A circumferentially closed groove 11 is defined on the tabletop 1 with a partition plate lie dividing the groove 11 into an outer groove 11a and an inner groove lib. The insulation cover 2 has an edge inserted into the outer groove 11a and fitted therewith. A heating element 3 is arranged on the bottom of the inner groove lib, at a top of the heating element 3, a heat conducting plate 4 is provided which seals the heating element 3. A water-injection system 5 is arranged under the tabletop 1. The water-injection system 5 includes a tank 51, an electromagnetic pump 52 with an inlet connected with the tank 51, and a discharge pipe 53 connected with an outlet of the electromagnetic pump 52. The discharge pipe 53 has an outlet extending into the inner groove lib and discharging water to the heat conducting plate 4, such that steam is generated for keeping the food warm. The electromagnetic pump 52 is configured to inject water with relatively low flow from the tank 51 into the inner groove lib through the discharge pipe 53, so that overflow of the water from the inner groove lib resulted from insufficient steaming due to high injection speed is avoided. With increase of the steam, temperature of a space defined by the insulation cover 2 and the tabletop 1 gradually rise, and the cooked food placed in the space on the tabletop can be kept warm, which satisfy the user's need for delay of dining.

[0025] In the present embodiment, a sealing gasket 6 is provided on the bottom of the outer groove 11a for improving the sealing performance of the insulation cover 2 and thereby improving the thermal insulation performance for the food. The sealing gasket 6 has a latching flute 61 for receiving the edge of the insulation cover 2. An upper part of the insulation cover 2 is provided with at least one air hole 21 through which a small amount of the steam can flow out with little influence to the thermal insulation performance of the insulation cover 2 to balancing the pressure inside the insulation cover 2 to prevent the insulation cover 2 from being lifted by the steam in the case of a good sealing presenting between the insulation cover 2 and the tabletop 1. In addition, the insulation cover 2 is made of thermal insulation material for further improving the insulation performance thereof.

[0026] In the present embodiment, a pipe passageway 12 communicated with the inner groove lib is provided on the tabletop 1. The discharge pipe 53 is arranged in the pipe passageway 12, such that the track of the discharge pipe 53 does not interfere with the normal use of the table.

[0027] In the present embodiment, the tabletop 1 is provided with a controller 7 coupling to the heating element 3 and the electromagnetic pump 52, and a temperature sensor 8 for detecting the temperature in the space defined by the insulation cover 2 and the tabletop 1. The controller 7 is configured to power off the heating element 3 and the electromagnetic pump 52 when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 8 reaches to a preset value. Since the insulation time of the food usually does not need to be very long, after the temperature in the space defined by the insulation cover 2 and the tabletop 1 reaching to the preset value by means of the steam, the heating element 3 and the electromagnetic pump 52 are powered off under the control of the controller 7 in combination of the temperature sensor 8, which is power-saving and water-saving while keeping the food in the space warm for a period of time and meeting the demands of the user.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the groove 11 is configured as annular. The insulation cover 2 is shaped as hemispherical, obtaining a highest utilization for an area of the tabletop 1 encircled by the groove 11 for placing food.

[0029] It is appreciated that the aforesaid embodiments are only exemplary embodiments adopted to describe the principles of the present invention, and the present invention is not merely limited thereto. Various variants and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and essence of the present invention, and these variants and modifications are also covered within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it is appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be embodied in many other forms. It is also appreciated by those of ordinary skill the art that the features of the various examples described can be combined in other combinations. Throughout this specification, including the claims, the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and other like terms are to be construed in an inclusive sense, that is, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”, and not in an exclusive or exhaustive sense, unless explicitly stated otherwise or the context clearly requires otherwise.

Claims

Claims WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A steam table, comprising: a main body having a tabletop, and an insulation cover arranged on the tabletop, wherein a circumferentially closed groove is provided on the tabletop with a partition plate dividing the groove into an outer groove and an inner groove; the insulation cover has an edge inserted into the outer groove and fitted therewith; a heating element is provided on the bottom of the inner groove, at an upper part of the heating element a heat conducting plate which seals the heating element is provided; a water-injection system is arranged under the tabletop, the water-injection comprising a tank, an electromagnetic pump with an inlet connected with the tank, and a discharge pipe connected with an outlet of the electromagnetic pump; the discharge pipe has an outlet extending into the inner groove and discharging water to the heat conducting plate, such that steam is generated for keeping the food warm.
2. The steam table according to claim 1, characterized in that, a sealing gasket is provided on the bottom of the outer groove, the sealing gasket having a latching flute for receiving the edge of the insulation cover, and an upper part of the insulation cover is provided with at least one air hole.
3. The steam table according to claim 2, characterized in that, the groove is configured as annular, and the insulation cover is shaped as hemispherical.
4. The steam table according to claim 1, characterized in that, a pipe passageway communicated with the inner groove is provided on the tabletop, and the discharge pipe is arranged in the pipe passageway.
5. The steam table according to claim 1, characterized in that, the tabletop is provided with a controller coupling to the heating element and the electromagnetic pump, and a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature in the space defined by the insulation cover and the tabletop, wherein the controller is configured to power off the heating element and the electromagnetic pump when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor reaches to a preset value.