Steam generator or like apparatus including self-cleaning heating element support arrangement

摘要

A steam generating apparatus including a housing defining an inner chamber adapted to receive a continuous supply of water and containing a plurality of elongated heating elements within the chamber for converting the water to steam is disclosed herein. The housing also contains within its chamber a number of spaced plates for supporting the heating elements which extend through cooperating openings in the plates. In order to minimize the accumulation of corrosion material in the crevices around the junctures between the tubes and support plates, a helical groove is provided along the length of each opening around an associated heating element so that water and/or converted steam passing through these openings do so within the grooves whereby to cleanse their crevices of corrosion material.