Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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HEATING POT FOR DECOCTING CHINESE HERBS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a Chinese herb decoction heating pot for
s decocting Chinese herbs with light rays, preferably, with infrared rays.
2. Description of the Related Art
When Chinese herbs are decocted, a pot containing Chinese herbs and
water must be heated for a long time. For example, in order to nuke red
ginseng,
ginseng and water are placed together in a container and then must be
continuously
~o boiled for 48 hours or longer.
As described above, apparatuses for decocting Chinese herbs or those for
boiling ginseng to make red ginseng have been disclosed in Korean Patent
Application No. 98-21067 filed by the present applicant. The invention in KPAN
98-
21067 includes a container for containing Chinese herbs and water, a heater
~s installed so as to protect the container, for generating infrared rays and
heating the
container with the infrared rays, and a condenser installed at the opening of
the
container for condensing vapor generated in the container to prevent escape of
essential medicinal elements.
However, KPAN 98-21067 has the following problems.
First, the condenser is heated at a very high temperature when Chinese
herbs or ginseng is decocted, but this condenser is simply inserted into the
upper
portion of the container. Thus, when a user moves the heating pot, the
condenser is
separated from the container or shaken, so the user can get burnt. As
described
above, it is not easy to move the heating pot to another place.
25 Second, since delay of vapor evaporation is accomplished in only a
reflection
lid and a condensing room in a condenser, evaporation suppression is not
efficiently
performed. Consequently, medicinal elements are evaporated during decocting
for
a long time, and medicinal fluid in the container is reduced.
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Third, it is very dif.f_~cult: to securely f_ix a knob
since the container car~.rtot be pie=reed since it i:~ made of
glass. Even if the knob is .fixecz, it moves in the container
with the passing of tine.
Fourth, when heated medicinal fluid within the
container is floured, it. flows a~c.~ng t; he sidewall of the
container due to its surface tension, so :it is difficult to
pour the medicinal. fluid in accu-r_~ate arnount.s. Also, the
user can get burnt: by the flowiric~ medicinal. f luic~..
1.0 SUMMAt2Y OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problem, an objective of the
present invention is to ~~rovide a Chinese herb decoction
heating pot wraith can be easily '_ransferred during
decocting, suppress as much evap«rat:ion of medicinal
elements and medicinal f:iuid as i~oss:ible r=ven when decocting
for a long time, and pour medicinal fluid in accurate
amount: s .
To achieve the above objective, the present
invent:ion pro~tide:~ a heating poi: for decoct:inG Chinese
herbs, including a container on which Chinese herbs are to
be contained; a heater i:on receiving the ccntainE_=r so as not
to contact the comtainE:o.~, the hr=~atE~r having a ray ~~eneration
means for generating high temperature infrared rays toward
the container and a ma::i_ru reflection means for reflecting the
infrared rays to the container; and a ccndenser installed on
the opening of the cont~ai.ner, fog: ~~ondensing important
medicinal elements contained in vapor, the heating pot
characterized in that a retaining member comprises a lateral
retainer extending alon<~ the side of the heater and the
condenser to restrain lateral movement of the side of the
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condenser and an upper zeta:irier coupled t:o the top of the
lateral retainer and the condenser to restrain vertical
movement of the upper portion of t:he condenser.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF' TF3E DRAWINGS
The above objective and advantage of the present
invention will become more apparent by describing in detail
a preferred embodiment t:.he.reof wi.t=h reference to t=he
attached drawings i.n whack:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heating pot
1C~ according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded pf=_rspective view of the
heating pot of FIG. 1;
~a
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FIG. 3 is a partly cut away side elevation view of the heating pot of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the container of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the condenser of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 3.
s DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, a heating pot for decocting Chinese herbs or
making ginseng into red ginseng includes a container 10 for containing Chinese
herbs, a heater 20 for receiving the container 10 and heating the received
container
with light rays, preferably, with infrared rays, and a condenser 30 installed
on the
container 10 for condensing vapor generated within the container 10.
The container 10 is made of thermotempered glass to transmit infrared rays
well. A ring-shaped protrusion 10a protruding in a radial direction is formed
on the
outer circumferential surface of the upper portion of the container 10. A rim
11
consisting of first and second semi-rims 11 a and 11 b having a semicircular
shape is
coupled to the protrusion 10a. Wings are bent at the ends of the first and
second
semi-rims 11 a and 11 b, and two holes 11 c are formed on each of the wings.
The
first and second semi-rims 11 a and 11 b are put on the protrusion 1 Oa so as
to
surround it, with wings facing each other. In this state, the wings are
positioned at
both ends of a knob 12, and bolts 12a pass through the knob 12 and the holes
11 c
of the wings, and are fixed by bolts 12b. In this way, the rim 11 is securely
fixed to
the protrusion 10a. The rim 11 is put on the opening of an annular rim 24 to
be
described later to prevent the bottom surface of the container 10 from
contacting the
bottom of the heater 20 when the container 10 is inserted into the heater 20.
Here,
the rim 11 has a highly reflective inner surface so as to reflect infrared
rays
is generated within the heater back to the inside of the container.
Preferably, the rim
11 is made of a material having a high reflectivity, such as aluminum or
stainless
steel. If the rim 11 can reflect infrared rays into the container 10, it can
provide the
effects of the present invention even if it is made of a nonmetallic material.
A flexible rim 13 is installed around the outer circumference of the opening
of
so the container 10. As shown in FIG. 4, installed on the flexible rim 13 is a
water flow
preventing protrusion 13a protruding in a radial direction. The water flow
preventing
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protrusion 13a prevents medical fluid ~~ontaimed in the
container frcm flowing out alon<~ the wall of the container
due to the surface tensiara c.~f~ the medical fluid when
being poured into the cantainez-.
5 The heater 20 is c~amprised of a body 21 for
protecting the container 10, a ray generation means 22
installed between the body 2:L and the container 10 for
generating rays, preferab_Ly, ir~f:rared rays, a main
reflection means 23 installed an t:he :inner surface of the
10 body 21 for reflecting infrared rays, and an annular rim 24
installed at the apeni:ng of the body 2:L t.o put the rim 1.1 of
the container 10 thereon.
A follower member 26, also known as a retaining
member, for shielding or retaining the condenser 30
installed on the container 10 which is instai.led on the body
21. The follower member 26 con~..i.sts of a lateral follower
or retainer 26a extendi.nr3 upward from t:he body 2:1 for
shielding the lateral face of t:)~.e condenser 30, and an upper
follower or retainer 26b c:ouplec: to t:.he top c>f the lateral
follower 26a for shielding t:he top of t:he condenser 30. The
upper portion of the lateral follower 26a and the upper
follower 26b have locking holes, and t:.he lateral follower
26a and the upper follower 26b can be locked to each other
using a locking member ''>6c. Here, a knob for facilitating
movement is formed on the upper portion of the upper
follower 26b.
The inside of t:he body 21 is provided with an
insertion sparse 20a into which tle container 10 is to be
inserted. Preferably, tlne body 21 is made of an insulating
material, but can be formed of various materials such as
phenol resin, polycarbo:nat.e, PVC, rnet:al, non-rnetal., or
ceramic.
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The main ref l e=ct ion mE:~~~n:> 23 on the inner surface
of the body 21 is desic~r~ed so a:to r_omplet.ely shield the
container 10, and made c:~f a matEe:_-ial which cars reflect
infrared rays without Y.}c~ing absc>;:bed, for example, a metal
such as stainless steel or a metal-coated material.
Howeve=r, the main reflect: ion means can be f:ormed of_ a non-
metallic material only i.f iti call reflect infrared rays.
Preferably, do auxilia~_~y reflection mean:~ 25 for
reflecting infrared rays t.o the <-:ontainer i.s inst=alled
7_0 between the ray generat:i.c3n means 22. and the main reflect=ion
means 23. The auxiliazvy reflects:ion rneans 25 is installed
adjacent to the ray gene:ration mE~ans 22, so that it can
effect:ively reflect inf:t:erred ra«.a which are n~:;t: Yieading for
the container 10. The auxiliar~,~ reflection mean:~ is also
7_5 made of a metal such a:> stainle;:~~ .steel, or a met:al-coate=_d
material, and can be made of a non--metallic material only if
it can reflect: inf:rarer rays .
The ray generation mearns 2:? can be realized in
several ways. In the f:~z-esent ernl>odirnent, t:hree 300 W
20 halogen lamps are adopt:e<~. as thf_ ray generation means 22.
As shown in FI=G. 6, the:e halogen Lamp:~ are bent like a bow so
as to keep a c=onstant distance ~-rom the circumference of the
container 10, and conn~er_~ted to a:acYi c~ther_ in ser=ies. The
constant interval between the halogen lamp and the conta=iner
25 allow:~ infrared rays t<.:> be transmitted to the container 10
at a constant intensitjr, so that uniform heating is possible
and thermal ei=ficiency ~s increased. Also, tl-Ge :serial
connection bet=weep halogen lamp,:~ can reduc=e appl=ied loads,
whereby the durability o.f the halogen lamps crn l_>e
30 incre<~sed. However, tine .ray gen:ration means 22 can be
reali:red with an argon lamp, an infrared lamp, a ceramic
heateY, a seize heater c:>r the like.
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The annular rim. 24, on which the rim :L_L of the
container 10 is put, has a.n extending portion 24a which
protrudes downward from th.e c>pening of the main reflection
means 23, as shown in FIG. 3. The extending portion 24a i.s
used to drop water down the bottom of the heater 20 when
water produced by an external. factor or during decocting
Chinese herbs flows toward the he~.ter v>0. Hence, water is
prevented from flowing directly into the ray generation
means 22, thus preventing electrical shorts.
The condenser 30, as shown in FIG. 5, is made of
glass and installed on the opening of the container 10. The
condenser 30 includes first, and second condensing :rooms 31.
and 32 f_or condensing vapor produced in the container 10, a
third condensing room 33 wh:icvh i~~ formed on the tcp of they
second condensing room 32, acts a~; a knob, and has a small.
air hole 33a formed therethrough, and a connect: ion portion
34 which is formed on the bot.t=om o.f the first condensing
room 31 and inserted into the opecr~ing of the container 10.
As shown in FIc~S. 2 and 5, installed within the
connection portion 34 is a t=urn-around member 36, also knc>wn
as a third vapor flow delay member, which has a hc:le 36b
formed on its center and a sealirct member 36a made of a
flexible material such as silicon installed around. its
periphery. Since the posit~:ion of the hole 36b .is lower than
the periphery of the turn-around member 36, the turn-around
member 36 has a roughly pl<~te or dish shape. The turn-
around member 36 delays the moverrlent of vapor from the
container 10 to the first c~oridensing room 31, ~i.zd turns
medical fluid, which has bec>n condensed and fluidized in the
first condensing room 31, around into the container 10.
Here, since the position of the h:~c>le 3.6b i.s lower than the
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periphery, the condensed medical fluid easily flows into the
container 10. Also, the tm.ix-n-around member 36 reflects
infrared rays generated from the heater 20 back into the
container 10, thus preventing emission of thermal energies
to outside.
Also, as shown in FIG. 5, installed within the
connection portion 34 is a sealing member 35 which prevents
overflow of medical fluid and escape of vapor while the
medical fluid is being decocted. An annular flap 35a is
formed on the periphery ;o:f k:he sealing member 35 to more
securely seal the sealing member to the opening of the
container. The sealing member 35 is made of a flexible
material.
A main vapor efflux or flow delay member 37 having
a funnel shape is installed between the first and second
condensing rooms 31 and 32 to delay the flow of vapor, which
has passed through the t.vrn-around member 36, i_ntc the
second condensing room 32. A small hole 37a is fcrmed at
the center of the main vapor ef.fLux delay member 37. The
main vapor efflux delay member 37 delays evaporation of
vapor into the second condensing room 32 and allows the
vapor to be condensed in. the first. condensing room 31,
thereby delaying evaporat=icn of f-f_ficacious medicinal
elements contained in va.pc>r. The main vapor efflux delay
member 37 is made of a flexible material.
An auxiliary vapor efflux delay member ..8, also
known as a second vapor flow delay member, having a funnel
shape i.s instal.led betwEen the second and third condensing
rooms ..2 and 33 to delay ~,rapor which has passed through the
first condensing room 31 from fl«wing into the third
condensing room 33. A small hole 38a is formed at. the
center of the ~iuxiliary vapor ef Yv l.ux delay member 38 . The
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auxiliary vapor_ efflux delay member 38 delays evaporation of
vapor .into the third condensing e~oom 33 and allows the vapor
to be condensed in the ;~e=_cond condensing room ?~2, thereby
delaying evaporation of efficacious medicinal elements
contained in vapor., The auxilia:~yr vapor efflux delay member
38 is made of a flexible material.
An import: ant i:~ole of tlwe condenser 30 is to
collect efficacious medicinal elements escaping being
contained in vapor and ~:~ut. the ei-f:icacious medicinal
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elements back into the container 10. For example, when ginseng (e.g., fresh
ginseng, white ginseng, or dried ginseng) is decocted, phytoncide, which is
the most
important efficacious element, is evaporated together with vapor, the
condenser 30
condenses vapor and puts it into the container 10. Also, the condenser 30
prevents
s the outflow of thermal energies contained in vapor by preventing as much as
possible discharge of vapor to outside, thus increasing the efficiency of
energies.
The heating pot according to the present invention including the above-
described components decocts Chinese herbs as follows.
Some of the infrared rays generated by the ray generation means 22 proceed
directly to the container 10, while the rest is reflected by the main
reflection means
23 and the auxiliary reflection means 25 and then proceed to the container 10.
The
infrared rays proceeds directly and indirectly to the container, thereby three-
dimensionally heating the Chinese herbs and the medicinal fluid. Thus, the
Chinese
herbs and the medicinal fluid can be decocted without being scorched or burnt.
At
~s this time, some of the infrared rays are reflected back into the container
10 by the
turn-around member 36 to prevent discharge of heat to the outside.
Heated vapor produced during decoction is condensed by the turn-around
member 36, the main vapor efflux delay member 37 and the auxiliary vapor
efflux
delay member 38 of the condenser 30, and collected back into the container 10
via
the hole 36b of the turn-around member 36. In this way, discharge of heat to
the
outside is prevented simultaneously with collection of efficacious medicinal
elements, thus increasing energy efficiency.
When the medicinal fluid is completely decocted, the upper follower 26b is
separated from the lateral follower 26a, and the condenser 30 is separated
from the
2s container 10, and then the container 10 is separated from the heater 20
using the
knob 12.
Thereafter, when the medicinal fluid is poured into another vessel, it flows
directly into the vessel without flowing along the sidewall of the container
10, by
virtue of the water flow prevention protrusion 13a on the flexible rim 13.
The heating pot according to the present invention can be easily transferred
by grabbing a follower member with a human hand, even while medicinal fluid is
being decocted.
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Also, a turn-around member, a main vapor efflux delay member, and an
auxiliary vapor efflux delay member are installed on a condenser, such that
efficacious medicinal elements contained in vapor can be securely collected,
and
discharge of thermal energies to the outside is prevented. Therefore, energy
efficiency can be increased.
A protrusion is formed at the top of a container and surrounded by a semi rim,
and then a knob can be fixed to the container by nuts and bolts. As a result,
the
knob can be easily coupled to a glass container.
Even after a medicinal fluid is completely decocted, the container can be
easily transported, and the medicinal fluid can be prevented from flowing
along the
sidewa4l of the container. Thus, an accurate amount of medicinal fluid can be
poured.
A hot medicinal fluid is prevented from flowing along the sidewall of the
container, so that a user is protected from being burnt.
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