Device for heating and/or vaporizing a fluid such as water

Abstract

A device for heating and/or vaporizing a fluid is provided. The device comprises a heat conductive inner conduit defining a fluid flow pathway. An electrically powered heating element is arranged to surround said inner conduit whereby heat energy from the heating element heats fluid passing through the fluid flow pathway. A casing is provided to sealedly surround the heating element. An exterior surface of the casing is in communication with a space into which heated fluid or vapour is emitted from the outlet of the inner conduit. The casing is heat conductive such that heat energy is received from the heating element heats fluid within said space. Fluid such as water can be efficiently heated by passing it through the fluid flow pathway and having it contact the exterior surface of the casing for double heating. Also, by restricting water flow through the fluid flow pathway can result in easy generation of steam. By having a fluid flow pathway through the heating element, this results in more efficient heating of water and saving in energy. Furthermore, it maintains the operating temperature of the heating element at a lower range thereby the life of the heating element is extended.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A device for heating and/or vaporizing a fluid comprising:
 a heat conductive inner conduit having an interior surface defining a fluid flow pathway therethrough and an outlet for emitting heated fluid or vapour from the fluid flow pathway;   an electrically powered heating element arranged near to an exterior surface of said inner conduit whereby heat energy from the heating element is received at the exterior surface of the inner conduit and conducted by the inner conduit to its interior surface to heat fluid passing through the fluid flow pathway;   a casing sealably surrounding the heating element, said casing having an exterior surface in communication with a space into which heated fluid or vapour is emitted from the outlet of the inner conduit, said casing being heat conductive such that heat energy received from the heating element is conducted by the casing to its exterior surface to heat fluid within said space.   
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the heating element comprises a coiled wire electrically powered heating element which surrounds the exterior surface of the heat conductive inner conduit. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the casing comprises an outer conduit of greater diameter than the inner conduit and arranged coaxially with the inner conduit to sealably surround the heating element arranged around the exterior surface of the inner conduit. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the inner conduit has an inlet for admitting fluid to the fluid flow pathway. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 41 , wherein said inlet of the inner conduit is in communication with the space into which heated fluid or vapour is emitted from the outlet of the inner conduit whereby fluid from said space can be readmitted to the fluid flow pathway for further heating or vaporization. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 42 , wherein a fluid flow controller is provided to restrict fluid flow through the inlet to the fluid flow pathway such that said fluid is vaporized as it passes through the fluid flow pathway and is emitted as a vapour at the outlet of the inner conduit. 
     
     
         44 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein said space into which heated fluid or vapour is emitted from the outlet of the inner conduit comprises a space defined by the exterior surface of the outer conduit and an interior surface of a housing sealably surrounding said outer conduit, said housing have an outlet for emitting heated fluid or vapour from said space. 
     
     
         45 . The device of  claim 44 , wherein said housing comprises a third conduit of greater diameter than the cater conduit and arranged coaxially with the inner and outer conduits to sealably surround the outer conduit. 
     
     
         46 . The device of  claim 45 , wherein a distance from the exterior surface of the outer conduit to the interior surface of the housing is less than the diameter of the outer conduit. 
     
     
         47 . A device for heating and/or vaporizing a fluid comprising:
 an electrically powered heating element arranged around an inner conduit defining a first fluid flew pathway to heat fluid flowing through said first fluid flow pathway;   a housing surrounding the heating element and inner conduit and defining a second fluid flow pathway arranged to foe heated by the heating element, an inlet of the second fluid flow pathway being connected to an cutlet of the first fluid flow pathway whereby heated fluid or vapour emitted from the first fluid flow pathway is further heated in the second fluid flow pathway, wherein the second fluid flow pathway is oppositely directed to the first fluid flow pathway.   
     
     
         48 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the heating element comprises a coiled wire electrically powered heating element which is coiled around the inner conduit to surround the exterior surface of the inner conduit. 
     
     
         49 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein a casing comprising an outer conduit of greater diameter than the inner conduit is arranged coaxially with the inner conduit to sealably surround the heating element arranged around the exterior surface of the inner conduit. 
     
     
         50 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein the inner conduit has an inlet for admitting fluid to the first fluid flow pathway. 
     
     
         51 . The device of  claim 50 , wherein a fluid flow controller is provided to restrict fluid flow through the first and second fluid flow pathways such that said fluid is vaporized as it passes through said pathways is emitted as a vapour at an outlet of the second fluid flow pathway. 
     
     
         52 . The device of  claim 47 , wherein a space into which heated fluid or vapour is emitted frost the outlet of second fluid flow pathway comprises a chamber, vessel or receptacle defined by a household electrical appliance. 
     
     
         53 . The device of  claim 52 , wherein said housing comprises a third conduit of greater diameter than the outer conduit and arranged coaxially with the inner and outer conduits to surround the outer conduit. 
     
     
         54 . The device of  claim 53 , wherein the outlet of the first fluid flow pathway extends exteriorly of both the inner conduit and the housing and is connected to the inlet of the second fluid flow pathway by an external connection pipe. 
     
     
         55 . The device of  claim 53 , wherein said space comprises an annular cylindrical chamber surrounding the outer conduit. 
     
     
         56 . The device of  claim 55 , wherein a distance from the exterior surface of the outer conduit to the interior surface of the housing is less than the diameter of the outer conduit. 
     
     
         57 . A household electrical appliance having a device according to  claim 38 .