Water Heater or Steam Generator

Abstract

The water heater ( 2 ) or steam generator comprises a chamber ( 4 ) in two sections ( 5, 6 ) formed in particular by stamping. Inside this chamber a heating element ( 8 ) is arranged, which has a spiral-shaped main section ( 10 ) and two end sections ( 11, 12 ) passing through two circular openings of the chamber. The two end sections are welded to the chamber by a laser beam such that the weld obtained is continuous and ensures a good mechanical fixture of the heating element and an adequate tightness for the water heater or steam generator. For this purpose, a flange ( 18 ) is arranged at the periphery of each opening. Moreover, the two sections of the chamber have a widened edge ( 28 ) to allow them to be welded effectively.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A water heater or steam generator comprising a chamber and a heating element with a main section located inside said chamber and at least one end section exiting from this chamber, said end section passing through said chamber through an opening provided in a wall of this chamber, said chamber comprising a flange, which is arranged at the periphery of said opening and which protrudes out of the main surface of said wall of the chamber in the axial direction of said end section at the level of this opening, wherein said heating element is tightly secured to said chamber by laser welding performed at the level of the top of said flange by a laser beam oriented obliquely in relation to said axial direction. 
   
   
       14 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 13 , wherein said laser beam is directed essentially onto the upper annular surface of said flange in order to weld said end section to this flange essentially in the corner defined by said upper annular surface and this end section. 
   
   
       15 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 14 , wherein said laser beam and said axial direction define an angle of incidence between them with a value lying between 10 and 45 degrees. 
   
   
       16 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 14 , wherein said flange has a shape widening towards the interior of said chamber. 
   
   
       17 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 13 , wherein said flange has a section having a wall parallel to said axial direction of said end section and defining a guide for this end section. 
   
   
       18 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 13 , wherein said flange is formed in such a way that it has a certain degree of elasticity and/or deformability to allow some variation in the axial direction of said end section at the level of this flange. 
   
   
       19 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 13 , wherein said chamber is made of stainless steel. 
   
   
       20 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 13 , wherein said laser welding is performed with a series of pulses which generates a series of weld points, which are partially superposed one on top of the other. 
   
   
       21 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 20 , wherein each laser pulse has a power profile having a power over a first period, which is essentially higher than the power over a second period following said first period, and that the power during said second period is decreasing overall. 
   
   
       22 . The water heater or steam generator comprising a chamber formed by at least two sections assembled by laser welding, wherein these two sections each have a projecting edge, which projects out of the main surface of said chamber and which is applied against the projecting edge of the other section, the two respective projecting edges of these two sections being welded by a laser beam at the level of the apex of these two projecting edges that join. 
   
   
       23 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one of said projecting edges forms a widened end section. 
   
   
       24 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 22 , wherein said laser welding is performed with a series of pulses which generates a series of weld points, which are partially superposed one on top of the other. 
   
   
       25 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 24 , wherein each laser pulse of said series of laser pulses has a power profile with a power over a first period which is essentially higher than the power over a second period following said first period. 
   
   
       26 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 25 , wherein the power during said second period is descending overall. 
   
   
       27 . The water heater or steam generator according to  claim 22 , wherein said chamber has a relatively thin wall, and that the two sections forming it are made of metal and are stamped.