US 11,940,157 B2
Water drip collector for steam generation
Frank Hoogland, Leusden (NL)
Assigned to Koninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V., Nieuwegein (NL)
Filed by Koninklijke Fabriek Inventum B.V., Nieuwegein (NL)
Filed on Mar. 10, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/814,272.
Prior Publication US 2022/0003426 A1, Jan. 6, 2022
Int. Cl. F24C 15/32 (2006.01); A47J 27/04 (2006.01); B64D 11/04 (2006.01)
CPC F24C 15/327 (2013.01) [A47J 27/04 (2013.01); B64D 11/04 (2013.01); A47J 2027/043 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An oven comprising:
a fan;
a heating element disposed about a perimeter of the fan such that the fan circulates air through the heating element;
a water injector; and
a chevron shaped drip plate configured to retain water drops from the water injector on the drip plate,
wherein:
the drip plate is disposed between the water injector and the heating element, proximal to the heating element, to receive water drops due to gravity from the water injector and directly above contacts of the heating element to shield the contacts from direct exposure to water, and retain the water drops on the drip plate along an axis parallel to an axis of rotation of the fan and pointing away from the fan such that gravity acting on water drops from the water injector draws the water drops away from the fan and toward the heating element; and
the drip plate is disposed between the water injector and the heating element, proximal to the heating element, to receive water drops due to gravity from the water injector, and retain the water drops on the drip plate while the heating element heats the drip plate to at least the boiling point of water to generate steam without a separate steam generating heating element.