EP1064422B1 - Steam iron - Google Patents

Steam iron Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1064422B1
EP1064422B1 EP99915794A EP99915794A EP1064422B1 EP 1064422 B1 EP1064422 B1 EP 1064422B1 EP 99915794 A EP99915794 A EP 99915794A EP 99915794 A EP99915794 A EP 99915794A EP 1064422 B1 EP1064422 B1 EP 1064422B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
well
valve
water
vertical
bulge
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
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EP99915794A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1064422A1 (en
Inventor
Guy De Maneville
Jacky Fourny
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SEB SA
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Moulinex SA
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Publication of EP1064422A1 publication Critical patent/EP1064422A1/en
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    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06FLAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F75/00Hand irons
    • D06F75/08Hand irons internally heated by electricity
    • D06F75/10Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed
    • D06F75/14Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron
    • D06F75/18Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron the water being fed slowly, e.g. drop by drop, from the reservoir to a steam generator

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to irons with a communicating water tank with a vaporization chamber via a nozzle joint having a vertical well of communication, and a device for adjusting the intake flow of water in the vaporization chamber including a vertical plug whose lower end has a bulge and whose upper end is integral a manual control button, said bushel being movable in a translational movement axial inside the well of the nozzle joint, under the action of the manual control button, between a position so-called dry in which the plug completely closes the well, and at least one so-called vaporization position in which water can pass into the well.
  • the generally cylindrical plug is mounted tight and going through the nozzle joint well and its bulge opens permanently into the vaporization chamber ; the plug has a longitudinal groove over part of its length and is moved axially to come occupy either its dry position in which the two ends of the groove are located in the same side of the well, preventing any passage of water, either its vaporization position in which the two ends of the groove are located on either side from the well, allowing water to pass through the vaporization chamber via the plug groove.
  • the thru bushel is in contact surface over the entire height of the joint well nozzle, each maneuver of the plug by the user creates significant stress on the nozzle joint which works at relatively high temperature.
  • the object of the invention is in particular to remedy these disadvantages and making a steam iron equipped with a device for adjusting the water flow, of the type discussed above, which is simple, inexpensive, reliable and particularly effective in ensuring, in the steam position, great regularity of continuous water flow regardless of the water level in the tank.
  • the bulge of the bushel is mounted tight in the well of the nozzle joint and comes punctually bridge a vertical groove which is practiced over part of the height of the well and which delimits so with the bulge of the bushel a section of passage of water when the plug is in its position vaporization.
  • the well of the nozzle joint has a lower part which is closed by the bulge of the plug when the latter is in its dry position, while the vertical groove extends above the bottom of the well and presents a section varying continuously in growing towards the upper edge of the well, the bushel thus passing from its dry position to its vaporization position following a directed axial translation movement to the top.
  • in the seal well nozzle is made at least one vertical slot extending over a height between the upper end of the groove and the upper edge of the well, so that the bushel, due to displacement axial upwards along a predetermined stroke, come and occupy a position called self-cleaning in which the bulge of the bushel uncovers the slot in being partially in abutment against the internal face of the vertical wall of the well so as to form a passage allowing an abundant flow of water.
  • the user has his own convenience, different adjustment positions such as the dry position, the variable flow steam position and the self-cleaning position.
  • the iron shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, comprises a sole 10 comprising a heating base 11 in which a vaporization chamber is formed 12 closed by a cover 13, and a thin plate ironing 14 which is fixed on the underside of the heating base 11 by any suitable fixing means and the external face of which forms an ironing surface ; the vaporization chamber 12 communicates, by via steam distribution channels 15 dug into the underside of base 11, with steam outlet holes 16 drilled in the plate 14.
  • a water tank 17 having an upper wall horizontal 18 and a horizontal bottom wall 19 from which a vertical chimney is formed 21, for example of cylindrical shape.
  • the tank 17 communicates with the vaporization chamber 12 via a nozzle joint 23 made of a material flexible plastic, such as an elastomer of the type silicone, and pierced with a vertical well 25, for example of cylindrical shape, which is coaxial with the chimney 21 of the reservoir 17, the upper edge 27 of which is located in the lower outlet of the chimney 21, and which opens in the vaporization chamber 12 through an opening 29 in the cover 13.
  • the seal nozzle 23 is held in sealed abutment against the cover 13, around the opening 29 thereof, by means a spiral compression spring 30 coaxially interposed around the well 25 between the joint 23 and a shoulder annular 31 formed on the internal wall of the chimney 21 of the reservoir 17.
  • the iron, Figures 1 and 3 to 5 has also a device 35 for adjusting the intake flow of water in the vaporization chamber, as well as a anti-drip device 37 associated with reservoir 17 and arranged laterally to the chimney 21 of the tank 17, by example to the right of this fireplace as shown on these Figures 1 and 3 to 5.
  • the device 35 for adjusting the water flow comprises a vertical cylindrical plug 39, of axis XX ', mounted coaxially inside the chimney 21 of the tank 17, the upper end 41 of which is integral a manual control button 43, of the rotary type in this exemplary embodiment, projecting from the region upper iron, and whose lower end 44 is shaped like a warhead, better visible in FIG. 2, with an annular bulge or bead 46.
  • the chimney 21 of the tank 17 rises above the maximum water level of the tank, thus dispensing with any gasket between the chimney and the plug crossing it.
  • the plug 39 is axially movable inside of the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, under the action of the rotary button 43, while being secured, in this example, to means allowing it to impart a helical movement resulting from a rotational movement accompanied of an axial translational movement.
  • these means to print a 39 helical movement with a bushel a cam wing 48 which extends radially on the plug 39, at the upper end 41 thereof, and which is able to move, by rotation of the button 43, on a ramp 50 made on the upper edge of the chimney 21 of the tank 17.
  • the plug 39 with helical movement is capable of coming to occupy either a so-called dry position (without steam) in which it completely closes the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, or at least one position said vaporization, also called steam position, in which water can pass into the well 25 and be injected into the vaporization chamber 12 at a predetermined rate.
  • the means making it possible to impart a helical movement to the plug 39 consist of suitable means for transforming a linear movement into a movement helical.
  • the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 is mounted tight in the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23 and punctually bridges a vertical groove 52 which is practiced over part of the height of well 25 and which thus delimits with the bulge 46 of the bushel 39 a water passage section when the bushel 39 is in its steam position.
  • the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23 comprises, substantially in its lower part, a narrowed annular region 54, best seen in Figure 2, which forms a receiving seat the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 when it occupies its dry position (see Figure 1), sealing thus well 25, and hence preventing injection of water.
  • the vertical groove 52 extends above this narrowed part 54 of the well and has a section continuously varying increasing towards the upper edge 27 from well 25, thereby allowing bushel 39 to come to occupy a steam position with adjustable water flow continuously, therefore with variable vapor flow, for example on the order of 5 to 40 g / min.
  • FIG 3 there is shown bushel 39 in steam position at minimum flow rate in which its annular bulge 46 bridges in a way point the lower end 52a of the groove 52, allowing a dropwise flow of water in the vaporization chamber 12, while in the figure 4, the plug 39 occupies its position steam at flow maximum in which its annular bulge 46 spawns punctually the upper end 52b of the groove 52, in this case allowing rapid flow water in the vaporization chamber 12.
  • the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23 comprises at least one vertical slot 55, of which only one has been shown in FIG. 2, which is made on part of the height h of the well comprised between the upper end 52b of the groove 52 and the upper edge 27 of the well 25, so that the plug 39, by virtue of its helical displacement upwards according to a predetermined stroke, comes to occupy a self-cleaning position ( Figure 5) in which the bulge 46 of the plug 39 uncovers the slot 55 while being partially in abutment against the internal face of the vertical wall 56 of the well 25, so as to form a passage allowing an abundant flow of water in the vaporization chamber 12 in order to completely purge the iron at the end of ironing (see FIG. 5).
  • the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 has an outer diameter which is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the well 25 of the joint nozzle 23 made of flexible plastic, so that during the helical displacement of the plug 39 in the well 25, the bulge 46 of the plug causes a deformation elastic by torsion, visible at 58 in the figure 2, from the wall of the well 25, describing a helical wave accompanying the movement of the plug 39; the bulge 46 of plug 39 thus acts as a scraper allowing to take off the scale likely to be deposited on the inner face of the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, between the narrowed region 54 and the upper outlet from well 25.
  • the anti-drip device 37 includes a elastic membrane 60 shaped like a tulip which, advantageously, is molded in one piece with the seal nozzle 23 made of flexible plastic for the sake of of a great manufacturing economy, and which is maintained in place under the bottom wall 19 of the tank 17.
  • This membrane 60 communicates with the chimney 21 of the tank 17 by a delimited water flow channel 62 by a portion common to the membrane 60 and to the joint 23 and by the external face of the bottom wall 19 of the tank 17.
  • the elastic membrane 60 is constituted by a cup 64 ( Figure 1) whose region central is formed by a vertical cylindrical sleeve forming valve 66, of axis YY 'parallel to axis XX' of plug 39, the lower end 66a of which is applied on a bimetallic element 68 fixed on the chamber vaporization 12, and whose upper end 66b cooperates with an opening 70 made in the wall of bottom 19 of tank 17.
  • the sleeve 66 is axially movable between a position rest in which the bimetallic element 68 is not activated and in which the upper end 66b of the sleeve 66 completely closes the opening 70, preventing any passage of water from reservoir 17 to the vaporization chamber 12 and thus corresponding to the dry position of plug 39 (see FIG.
  • the anti-drip device 37 also includes a vertical cylindrical end piece 72, centered on the axis YY ', and fitted by its lower part in the sleeve 66, thus a spiral return spring 74, also focused on the axis YY ', and interposed between the upper part in head shape 75 of end piece 72 and a boss 77 formed on the internal face of the upper wall 18 of the tank 17.
  • This spring 74 essentially promotes obturation of the opening 70 of the water tank 17 through the end upper 66b of the sleeve 66 when the latter is resiliently recalled from its active position towards its rest position.
  • the temperature of the sole 10 does not reach a sufficient value to excite the bimetallic element 68, so that the sleeve 66 remains in its rest position in which the opening 70 of the reservoir 17 is closed by the upper end of the sleeve 66, preventing the water outlet through the tank ( Figure 1).
  • the user turns the knob 43 so as to move the plug 39 helically downwards, by action of the cam 48 on the ramp 50, to bring it into its dry position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 comes rest on the narrowed portion forming seat 54 of the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, thus completely sealing off the well 25 of the nozzle joint.
  • the user turns the knob 43 so as to move helically the plug 39, still by the action of the cam 48 on the ramp 50, movement during which the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39, by elastic deformation of the wall of well 25, takes off any tartar deposited on the inner face of well 25, to bring the bushel 39 in its steam position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the annular bulge 46 of the bushel 39 spawns the end point lower 52a of the groove 52.
  • the element bimetallic 68 When the temperature of the sole 10 reaches a sufficient value, the element bimetallic 68 is excited and acts on the sleeve 66, which moves axially upwards, against the return spring 74, to come and occupy its active position in which he discovers the opening 70 of the tank 17.
  • the water leaving reservoir 17 arrives in the chimney 21, at the same level as in the tank, after passage through channel 62, then punctually crosses the groove 52 at its lower end 52a and, as a result, flows very regularly drop by drop in the vaporization chamber 12 (see Figure 3). This injection causes the desired vapor emission, through the holes 16 of the ironing plate 14.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Irons (AREA)

Description

La présente invention se rapporte aux fers à repasser à vapeur qui comportent un réservoir d'eau communiquant avec une chambre de vaporisation par l'intermédiaire d'un joint d'ajutage ayant un puits vertical de communication, et un dispositif de réglage du débit d'admission d'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation comprenant un boisseau vertical dont l'extrémité inférieure présente un renflement et dont l'extrémité supérieure est solidaire d'un bouton de commande manuelle, ledit boisseau étant déplaçable suivant un mouvement de translation axiale à l'intérieur du puits du joint d'ajutage, sous l'action du bouton de commande manuelle, entre une position dite à sec dans laquelle le boisseau obture complètement le puits, et au moins une position dite de vaporisation dans laquelle l'eau peut passer dans le puits.The present invention relates to irons with a communicating water tank with a vaporization chamber via a nozzle joint having a vertical well of communication, and a device for adjusting the intake flow of water in the vaporization chamber including a vertical plug whose lower end has a bulge and whose upper end is integral a manual control button, said bushel being movable in a translational movement axial inside the well of the nozzle joint, under the action of the manual control button, between a position so-called dry in which the plug completely closes the well, and at least one so-called vaporization position in which water can pass into the well.

Dans des fers à repasser connus de ce genre (voir, par exemple, EP-A1-0 831 164), le boisseau de forme générale cylindrique est monté serré et traversant dans le puits du joint d'ajutage et son renflement débouche en permanence dans la chambre de vaporisation ; le boisseau comporte une rainure longitudinale sur une partie de sa longueur et est déplacé axialement pour venir occuper soit sa position à sec dans laquelle les deux extrémités de la rainure sont situées d'un même côté du puits, empêchant ainsi tout passage de l'eau, soit sa position de vaporisation dans laquelle les deux extrémités de la rainure sont situées de part et d'autre du puits, permettant ainsi le passage de l'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation via la rainure du boisseau. Toutefois, du fait que le boisseau traversant soit en contact surfacique sur toute la hauteur du puits du joint d'ajutage, chaque manoeuvre du boisseau par l'utilisateur crée une sollicitation importante pour le joint d'ajutage qui travaille à température relativement élevée. En raison de cette sollicitation que subit le joint d'ajutage, les pertes de charge du boisseau sont relativement élevées, de sorte que lorsque le boisseau est dans sa position de vaporisation, également appelée position vapeur, le débit d'eau passant en continu dans la chambre de vaporisation s'avère particulièrement irrégulier, et ce d'autant plus que le niveau d'eau dans le réservoir baisse au cours du repassage ; le débit de vapeur en continu qui en résulte est donc lui-même très irrégulier, nuisant en cela à la qualité du repassage du linge.In known irons of this kind (see, for example, EP-A1-0 831 164), the generally cylindrical plug is mounted tight and going through the nozzle joint well and its bulge opens permanently into the vaporization chamber ; the plug has a longitudinal groove over part of its length and is moved axially to come occupy either its dry position in which the two ends of the groove are located in the same side of the well, preventing any passage of water, either its vaporization position in which the two ends of the groove are located on either side from the well, allowing water to pass through the vaporization chamber via the plug groove. However, the fact that the thru bushel is in contact surface over the entire height of the joint well nozzle, each maneuver of the plug by the user creates significant stress on the nozzle joint which works at relatively high temperature. Due of this stress on the nozzle joint, the pressure drops of the bushel are relatively high, so that when the plug is in its position vaporization, also called vapor position, the water flow passing continuously through the vaporization chamber is particularly irregular, and this especially since the water level in the tank decrease during ironing; continuous steam flow which results is therefore itself very irregular, adversely affecting the quality of the ironing of the laundry.

L'invention a notamment pour but de remédier à ces inconvénients et de réaliser un fer à repasser à vapeur équipé d'un dispositif de réglage du débit d'eau, du type exposé ci-dessus, qui soit simple, peu coûteux, fiable et particulièrement efficace pour assurer, en position vapeur, une grande régularité du débit d'eau en continu quel que soit le niveau d'eau dans le réservoir.The object of the invention is in particular to remedy these disadvantages and making a steam iron equipped with a device for adjusting the water flow, of the type discussed above, which is simple, inexpensive, reliable and particularly effective in ensuring, in the steam position, great regularity of continuous water flow regardless of the water level in the tank.

Selon l'invention, le renflement du boisseau est monté serré dans le puits du joint d'ajutage et vient ponctuellement ponter une rainure verticale qui est pratiquée sur une partie de la hauteur du puits et qui délimite ainsi avec le renflement du boisseau une section de passage de l'eau lorsque le boisseau est dans sa position de vaporisation.According to the invention, the bulge of the bushel is mounted tight in the well of the nozzle joint and comes punctually bridge a vertical groove which is practiced over part of the height of the well and which delimits so with the bulge of the bushel a section of passage of water when the plug is in its position vaporization.

Ainsi, dans la position de vaporisation, le renflement du boisseau définit avec la rainure verticale du joint d'ajutage une section de passage de l'eau qui est désormais très ponctuelle, permettant ainsi d'obtenir un débit d'eau très régulier aussi bien lorsque le niveau d'eau dans le réservoir est maximal que lorsqu'il devient très faible, ce qui conduit donc à un débit de vapeur lui-même très régulier, et partant, à une grande qualité du repassage du linge.So, in the spray position, the bulge of the bushel defined with the vertical groove of the nozzle joint a water passage section which is now very punctual, thus making it possible to obtain a very regular water flow as well when the level of water in the tank is maximum only when it becomes very low, which therefore leads to a vapor flow itself very regular, and therefore of high quality ironing clothes.

Selon une forme de réalisation préférée, le puits du joint d'ajutage comporte une partie inférieure qui est obturée par le renflement du boisseau lorsque ce dernier est dans sa position à sec, tandis que la rainure verticale s'étend au-dessus de la partie inférieure du puits et présente une section variant de façon continue en croissant vers le bord supérieur du puits, le boisseau passant ainsi de sa position à sec à sa position de vaporisation suivant un mouvement de translation axiale dirigé vers le haut.According to a preferred embodiment, the well of the nozzle joint has a lower part which is closed by the bulge of the plug when the latter is in its dry position, while the vertical groove extends above the bottom of the well and presents a section varying continuously in growing towards the upper edge of the well, the bushel thus passing from its dry position to its vaporization position following a directed axial translation movement to the top.

Dans cette forme de réalisation, suivant une autre caractéristique de l'invention, dans le puits du joint d'ajutage est pratiquée au moins une fente verticale s'étendant sur une hauteur comprise entre l'extrémité supérieure de la rainure et le bord supérieur du puits, de telle sorte que le boisseau, par suite d'un déplacement axial vers le haut suivant une course prédéterminée, vienne occuper une position dite d'auto-nettoyage dans laquelle le renflement du boisseau découvre la fente en étant partiellement en appui contre la face interne de la paroi verticale du puits de manière à former un passage permettant un écoulement abondant de l'eau.In this embodiment, according to another characteristic of the invention, in the seal well nozzle is made at least one vertical slot extending over a height between the upper end of the groove and the upper edge of the well, so that the bushel, due to displacement axial upwards along a predetermined stroke, come and occupy a position called self-cleaning in which the bulge of the bushel uncovers the slot in being partially in abutment against the internal face of the vertical wall of the well so as to form a passage allowing an abundant flow of water.

Ainsi, grâce à un simple déplacement axial du boisseau, l'utilisateur dispose à son gré, d'une manière aisée, de différentes positions de réglage telles que la position sec, la position vapeur à débit variable et la position auto-nettoyage.Thus, thanks to a simple axial displacement of the plug, the user has his own convenience, different adjustment positions such as the dry position, the variable flow steam position and the self-cleaning position.

Les caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention ressortiront d'ailleurs de la description qui va suivre, à titre d'exemple non limitatif, en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe partielle avec arrachements d'un fer à repasser équipé d'un dispositif de réglage du débit d'eau selon l'invention, en position à sec (pas de vapeur) ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe partielle, à échelle agrandie, d'une partie du dispositif de réglage du débit d'eau de la figure 1, celui-ci occupant une position vapeur à débit prédéterminé ; et
  • les figures 3 à 5 sont des vues semblables à la figure 1 et montrant respectivement le dispositif de réglage du débit d'eau en position vapeur à débit minimal (figure 3), en position vapeur à débit maximal (figure 4) et en position d'auto-nettoyage (figure 5).
The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is a schematic view in partial section with cutaway of an iron equipped with a device for adjusting the water flow rate according to the invention, in the dry position (no steam);
  • Figure 2 is a partial sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the device for adjusting the water flow rate of Figure 1, the latter occupying a steam position at a predetermined flow rate; and
  • Figures 3 to 5 are views similar to Figure 1 and respectively showing the device for adjusting the water flow in the steam position at minimum flow (Figure 3), in the steam position at maximum flow (Figure 4) and in position d '' self-cleaning (figure 5).

Le fer à repasser représenté aux figures 1 et 3 à 5, comporte une semelle 10 comprenant une base chauffante 11 dans laquelle est pratiquée une chambre de vaporisation 12 fermée par un couvercle 13, et une mince plaque de repassage 14 qui est fixée sur la face inférieure de la base chauffante 11 par tout moyen de fixation approprié et dont la face externe forme une surface de repassage ; la chambre de vaporisation 12 communique, par l'intermédiaire de canaux 15 de distribution de vapeur creusés dans la face inférieure de la base 11, avec des trous de sortie de vapeur 16 percés dans la plaque 14.The iron shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, comprises a sole 10 comprising a heating base 11 in which a vaporization chamber is formed 12 closed by a cover 13, and a thin plate ironing 14 which is fixed on the underside of the heating base 11 by any suitable fixing means and the external face of which forms an ironing surface ; the vaporization chamber 12 communicates, by via steam distribution channels 15 dug into the underside of base 11, with steam outlet holes 16 drilled in the plate 14.

Au-dessus de la chambre de vaporisation 12 est disposé un réservoir d'eau 17 présentant une paroi supérieure horizontale 18 et une paroi de fond horizontale 19 à partir de laquelle est formée une cheminée verticale 21, par exemple de forme cylindrique. Le réservoir 17 communique avec la chambre de vaporisation 12 par l'intermédiaire d'un joint d'ajutage 23 réalisé en une matière plastique souple, telle qu'un élastomère du type silicone, et percé d'un puits vertical 25, par exemple de forme cylindrique, qui est coaxial à la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17, dont le bord supérieur 27 est situé dans le débouché inférieur de la cheminée 21, et qui débouche dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 au travers d'une ouverture 29 pratiquée dans le couvercle 13. Le joint d'ajutage 23 est maintenu en appui étanche contre le couvercle 13, autour de l'ouverture 29 de celui-ci, au moyen d'un ressort spiralé de compression 30 interposé coaxialement autour du puits 25 entre le joint 23 et un épaulement annulaire 31 formé sur la paroi interne de la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17.Above the vaporization chamber 12 is disposed a water tank 17 having an upper wall horizontal 18 and a horizontal bottom wall 19 from which a vertical chimney is formed 21, for example of cylindrical shape. The tank 17 communicates with the vaporization chamber 12 via a nozzle joint 23 made of a material flexible plastic, such as an elastomer of the type silicone, and pierced with a vertical well 25, for example of cylindrical shape, which is coaxial with the chimney 21 of the reservoir 17, the upper edge 27 of which is located in the lower outlet of the chimney 21, and which opens in the vaporization chamber 12 through an opening 29 in the cover 13. The seal nozzle 23 is held in sealed abutment against the cover 13, around the opening 29 thereof, by means a spiral compression spring 30 coaxially interposed around the well 25 between the joint 23 and a shoulder annular 31 formed on the internal wall of the chimney 21 of the reservoir 17.

Le fer à repasser, figures 1 et 3 à 5, comporte également un dispositif 35 de réglage du débit d'admission d'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation, ainsi qu'un dispositif anti-goutte 37 associé au réservoir 17 et agencé latéralement à la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17, par exemple à droite de cette cheminée comme montré sur ces figures 1 et 3 à 5. The iron, Figures 1 and 3 to 5, has also a device 35 for adjusting the intake flow of water in the vaporization chamber, as well as a anti-drip device 37 associated with reservoir 17 and arranged laterally to the chimney 21 of the tank 17, by example to the right of this fireplace as shown on these Figures 1 and 3 to 5.

Le dispositif 35 de réglage du débit d'eau comporte un boisseau cylindrique vertical 39, d'axe XX', monté coaxialement à l'intérieur de la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17, dont l'extrémité supérieure 41 est solidaire d'un bouton de commande manuelle 43, du type rotatif dans cet exemple de réalisation, placé en saillie dans la région supérieure du fer, et dont l'extrémité inférieure 44 est conformée en une ogive, mieux visible à la figure 2, présentant un renflement ou bourrelet annulaire 46.The device 35 for adjusting the water flow comprises a vertical cylindrical plug 39, of axis XX ', mounted coaxially inside the chimney 21 of the tank 17, the upper end 41 of which is integral a manual control button 43, of the rotary type in this exemplary embodiment, projecting from the region upper iron, and whose lower end 44 is shaped like a warhead, better visible in FIG. 2, with an annular bulge or bead 46.

Avantageusement, la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17 s'élève sur une hauteur supérieure au niveau d'eau maximal du réservoir, permettant ainsi de se dispenser de tout joint d'étanchéité entre la cheminée et le boisseau qui la traverse.Advantageously, the chimney 21 of the tank 17 rises above the maximum water level of the tank, thus dispensing with any gasket between the chimney and the plug crossing it.

Le boisseau 39 est déplaçable axialement à l'intérieur du puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23, sous l'action du bouton rotatif 43, en étant assujetti, dans cet exemple, à des moyens permettant de lui imprimer un mouvement hélicoïdal résultant d'un mouvement de rotation accompagné d'un mouvement de translation axiale. Dans l'exemple de réalisation illustré aux figures 1 et 3 à 5, ces moyens pour imprimer au boisseau 39 un mouvement hélicoïdal comportent une aile formant came 48 qui s'étend radialement sur le boisseau 39, à l'extrémité supérieure 41 de celui-ci, et qui est propre à se déplacer, par rotation du bouton 43, sur une rampe 50 réalisée sur le bord supérieur de la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17.The plug 39 is axially movable inside of the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, under the action of the rotary button 43, while being secured, in this example, to means allowing it to impart a helical movement resulting from a rotational movement accompanied of an axial translational movement. In the example of embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, these means to print a 39 helical movement with a bushel a cam wing 48 which extends radially on the plug 39, at the upper end 41 thereof, and which is able to move, by rotation of the button 43, on a ramp 50 made on the upper edge of the chimney 21 of the tank 17.

Sous l'action du bouton rotatif 43, le boisseau 39 à déplacement hélicoïdal est susceptible de venir occuper soit une position dite à sec (sans vapeur) dans laquelle il obture complètement le puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23, soit au moins une position dite de vaporisation, également appelée position vapeur, dans laquelle l'eau peut passer dans le puits 25 et être injectée dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 selon un débit prédéterminé.
   Il convient de noter que dans le cas d'un bouton de commande manuelle 43 du type bouton-poussoir, les moyens permettant d'imprimer au boisseau 39 un mouvement hélicoïdal sont constitués par des moyens appropriés de transformation d'un mouvement linéaire en un mouvement hélicoïdal.
Under the action of the rotary button 43, the plug 39 with helical movement is capable of coming to occupy either a so-called dry position (without steam) in which it completely closes the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, or at least one position said vaporization, also called steam position, in which water can pass into the well 25 and be injected into the vaporization chamber 12 at a predetermined rate.
It should be noted that in the case of a manual control button 43 of the push-button type, the means making it possible to impart a helical movement to the plug 39 consist of suitable means for transforming a linear movement into a movement helical.

Selon l'invention, comme on le voit bien à la figure 2, le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39 est monté serré dans le puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23 et vient ponctuellement ponter une rainure verticale 52 qui est pratiquée sur une partie de la hauteur du puits 25 et qui délimite ainsi avec le renflement 46 du boisseau 39 une section de passage de l'eau lorsque le boisseau 39 est dans sa position vapeur.According to the invention, as can be seen in the figure 2, the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 is mounted tight in the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23 and punctually bridges a vertical groove 52 which is practiced over part of the height of well 25 and which thus delimits with the bulge 46 of the bushel 39 a water passage section when the bushel 39 is in its steam position.

Dans un exemple de réalisation préféré, le puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23 comporte, sensiblement dans sa partie inférieure, une région annulaire rétrécie 54, mieux visible sur la figure 2, qui forme un siège recevant le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39 lorsque celui-ci occupe sa position à sec (voir figure 1), obturant ainsi le puits 25, et partant, empêchant l'injection d'eau. Dans cet exemple, comme on le voit bien à la figure 2, la rainure verticale 52 s'étend au-dessus de cette partie rétrécie 54 du puits et présente une section variant de façon continue en croissant vers le bord supérieur 27 du puits 25, permettant ainsi au boisseau 39 de venir occuper une position vapeur à débit d'eau réglable en continu, donc à débit de vapeur variable, par exemple de l'ordre de 5 à 40 g/mn. Sur la figure 3, on a représenté le boisseau 39 en position vapeur à débit minimal dans laquelle son renflement annulaire 46 ponte d'une manière ponctuelle l'extrémité inférieure 52a de la rainure 52, permettant un écoulement goutte à goutte de l'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation 12, tandis que sur la figure 4, le boisseau 39 occupe sa position vapeur à débit maximal dans laquelle son renflement annulaire 46 ponte d'une façon ponctuelle l'extrémité supérieure 52b de la rainure 52, permettant dans ce cas un écoulement rapide de l'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation 12.In a preferred embodiment, the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23 comprises, substantially in its lower part, a narrowed annular region 54, best seen in Figure 2, which forms a receiving seat the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 when it occupies its dry position (see Figure 1), sealing thus well 25, and hence preventing injection of water. In this example, as can be seen in the figure 2, the vertical groove 52 extends above this narrowed part 54 of the well and has a section continuously varying increasing towards the upper edge 27 from well 25, thereby allowing bushel 39 to come to occupy a steam position with adjustable water flow continuously, therefore with variable vapor flow, for example on the order of 5 to 40 g / min. In Figure 3, there is shown bushel 39 in steam position at minimum flow rate in which its annular bulge 46 bridges in a way point the lower end 52a of the groove 52, allowing a dropwise flow of water in the vaporization chamber 12, while in the figure 4, the plug 39 occupies its position steam at flow maximum in which its annular bulge 46 spawns punctually the upper end 52b of the groove 52, in this case allowing rapid flow water in the vaporization chamber 12.

Grâce au pontage ponctuel de la rainure 52 par le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39 en position vapeur (figures 3 et 4), l'écoulement de l'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 via la section choisie de la rainure 52 s'avère très régulier, et ce quel que soit le niveau d'eau dans le réservoir 17.Thanks to the punctual bridging of the groove 52 by the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 in the steam position (Figures 3 and 4), the flow of water in the chamber vaporization 12 via the selected section of the groove 52 turns out to be very regular, whatever the level of water in the tank 17.

Dans cet exemple, et comme on le voit bien à la figure 2, le puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23 comporte au moins une fente verticale 55, dont une seule a été représentée sur la figure 2, qui est pratiquée sur une partie de la hauteur h du puits comprise entre l'extrémité supérieure 52b de la rainure 52 et le bord supérieur 27 du puits 25, de telle sorte que le boisseau 39, par suite de son déplacement hélicoïdal vers le haut suivant une course prédéterminée, vienne occuper une position d'auto-nettoyage (figure 5) dans laquelle le renflement 46 du boisseau 39 découvre la fente 55 en étant partiellement en appui contre la face interne de la paroi verticale 56 du puits 25, de manière à former un passage permettant un abondant écoulement d'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 en vue de purger complètement le fer à la fin du repassage (voir figure 5).In this example, and as can be seen in FIG. 2, the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23 comprises at least one vertical slot 55, of which only one has been shown in FIG. 2, which is made on part of the height h of the well comprised between the upper end 52b of the groove 52 and the upper edge 27 of the well 25, so that the plug 39, by virtue of its helical displacement upwards according to a predetermined stroke, comes to occupy a self-cleaning position (Figure 5) in which the bulge 46 of the plug 39 uncovers the slot 55 while being partially in abutment against the internal face of the vertical wall 56 of the well 25, so as to form a passage allowing an abundant flow of water in the vaporization chamber 12 in order to completely purge the iron at the end of ironing (see FIG. 5).

De préférence, le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39 présente un diamètre extérieur qui est légèrement supérieur au diamètre intérieur du puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23 en matière plastique souple, de sorte que lors du déplacement hélicoïdal du boisseau 39 dans le puits 25, le renflement 46 du boisseau provoque une déformation élastique par torsion, visible en 58 sur la figure 2, de la paroi du puits 25 en décrivant une onde hélicoïdale accompagnant le déplacement du boisseau 39 ; le renflement 46 du boisseau 39 fait ainsi office de racleur permettant de décoller le tartre susceptible de se déposer sur la face intérieure du puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23, entre la région rétrécie 54 et le débouché supérieur du puits 25.Preferably, the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 has an outer diameter which is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the well 25 of the joint nozzle 23 made of flexible plastic, so that during the helical displacement of the plug 39 in the well 25, the bulge 46 of the plug causes a deformation elastic by torsion, visible at 58 in the figure 2, from the wall of the well 25, describing a helical wave accompanying the movement of the plug 39; the bulge 46 of plug 39 thus acts as a scraper allowing to take off the scale likely to be deposited on the inner face of the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, between the narrowed region 54 and the upper outlet from well 25.

Dans l'exemple de réalisation illustré aux figures 1 et 3 à 5, le dispositif anti-goutte 37 comporte une membrane élastique 60 conformée en une tulipe qui, avantageusement, est moulée d'une seule pièce avec le joint d'ajutage 23 en matière plastique souple dans un souci d'une grande économie de fabrication, et qui est maintenue en place sous la paroi de fond 19 du réservoir 17. Cette membrane 60 communique avec la cheminée 21 du réservoir 17 par un canal d'écoulement d'eau 62 délimité par une portion commune à la membrane 60 et au joint 23 et par la face externe de la paroi de fond 19 du réservoir 17. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures 1 and 3 to 5, the anti-drip device 37 includes a elastic membrane 60 shaped like a tulip which, advantageously, is molded in one piece with the seal nozzle 23 made of flexible plastic for the sake of of a great manufacturing economy, and which is maintained in place under the bottom wall 19 of the tank 17. This membrane 60 communicates with the chimney 21 of the tank 17 by a delimited water flow channel 62 by a portion common to the membrane 60 and to the joint 23 and by the external face of the bottom wall 19 of the tank 17.

Dans cet exemple, la membrane élastique 60 est constituée par une coupelle 64 (figure 1) dont la région centrale est formée par un manchon cylindrique vertical formant clapet 66, d'axe YY' parallèle à l'axe XX' du boisseau 39, dont l'extrémité inférieure 66a est appliquée sur un élément bimétallique 68 fixé sur la chambre de vaporisation 12, et dont l'extrémité supérieure 66b coopère avec une ouverture 70 pratiquée dans la paroi de fond 19 du réservoir 17.In this example, the elastic membrane 60 is constituted by a cup 64 (Figure 1) whose region central is formed by a vertical cylindrical sleeve forming valve 66, of axis YY 'parallel to axis XX' of plug 39, the lower end 66a of which is applied on a bimetallic element 68 fixed on the chamber vaporization 12, and whose upper end 66b cooperates with an opening 70 made in the wall of bottom 19 of tank 17.

Le manchon 66 est mobile axialement entre une position de repos en laquelle l'élément bimétallique 68 n'est pas activé et dans laquelle l'extrémité supérieure 66b du manchon 66 obture complètement l'ouverture 70, empêchant tout passage de l'eau depuis le réservoir 17 vers la chambre de vaporisation 12 et correspondant ainsi à la position à sec du boisseau 39 (voir figure 1), et une position active en laquelle l'élément bimétallique 68 est activé et dans laquelle, sous l'action de cet élément bimétallique 68, l'extrémité supérieure 66b du manchon 66 découvre l'ouverture 70, permettant ainsi le passage de l'eau depuis le réservoir 17 vers la chambre de vaporisation 12 via le canal 62 et le puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23, avec un débit d'eau prévu suivant la position vapeur (figures 3 et 4) ou d'auto-nettoyage (figure 5) du boisseau 39. Le manchon 66 en position active est rappelé vers sa position de repos grâce à l'élasticité de la membrane 60.The sleeve 66 is axially movable between a position rest in which the bimetallic element 68 is not activated and in which the upper end 66b of the sleeve 66 completely closes the opening 70, preventing any passage of water from reservoir 17 to the vaporization chamber 12 and thus corresponding to the dry position of plug 39 (see FIG. 1), and a position active in which the bimetallic element 68 is activated and in which, under the action of this bimetallic element 68, the upper end 66b of the sleeve 66 uncovers the opening 70, thus allowing the passage of water from reservoir 17 to the vaporization chamber 12 via channel 62 and well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, with a water flow expected according to the steam position (Figures 3 and 4) or self-cleaning (Figure 5) of the plug 39. The sleeve 66 in the active position is recalled towards its rest position thanks to the elasticity of the membrane 60.

De façon à rendre plus francs le dégagement et surtout l'obturation de l'ouverture 70 du réservoir d'eau 17, le dispositif anti-goutte 37 comporte également un embout cylindrique vertical 72, axé sur l'axe YY', et emmanché par sa partie inférieure dans le manchon 66, ainsi qu'un ressort spiralé de rappel 74, également axé sur l'axe YY', et interposé entre la partie supérieure en forme de tête 75 de l'embout 72 et un bossage 77 formé sur la face interne de la paroi supérieure 18 du réservoir 17. Ce ressort 74 favorise essentiellement l'obturation de l'ouverture 70 du réservoir d'eau 17 par l'extrémité supérieure 66b du manchon 66 lorsque celui-ci est rappelé élastiquement depuis sa position active vers sa position de repos.In order to make the clearance more frank and especially the closure of the opening 70 of the water tank 17, the anti-drip device 37 also includes a vertical cylindrical end piece 72, centered on the axis YY ', and fitted by its lower part in the sleeve 66, thus a spiral return spring 74, also focused on the axis YY ', and interposed between the upper part in head shape 75 of end piece 72 and a boss 77 formed on the internal face of the upper wall 18 of the tank 17. This spring 74 essentially promotes obturation of the opening 70 of the water tank 17 through the end upper 66b of the sleeve 66 when the latter is resiliently recalled from its active position towards its rest position.

Si le mode de repassage choisi est le repassage à sec, la température de la semelle 10 n'atteint pas une valeur suffisante pour exciter l'élément bimétallique 68, de sorte que le manchon 66 reste dans sa position de repos dans laquelle l'ouverture 70 du réservoir 17 est fermée par l'extrémité supérieure du manchon 66, empêchant la sortie d'eau par le réservoir (figure 1). Pour repasser à sec, l'utilisateur tourne le bouton 43 de manière à déplacer hélicoïdalement vers le bas le boisseau 39, par action de la came 48 sur la rampe 50, pour l'amener dans sa position à sec, telle qu'illustrée à la figure 1, dans laquelle le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39 vient reposer sur la partie rétrécie formant siège 54 du puits 25 du joint d'ajutage 23, obturant ainsi complètement le puits 25 du joint d'ajutage.If the ironing mode chosen is ironing at dry, the temperature of the sole 10 does not reach a sufficient value to excite the bimetallic element 68, so that the sleeve 66 remains in its rest position in which the opening 70 of the reservoir 17 is closed by the upper end of the sleeve 66, preventing the water outlet through the tank (Figure 1). To iron when dry, the user turns the knob 43 so as to move the plug 39 helically downwards, by action of the cam 48 on the ramp 50, to bring it into its dry position, as illustrated in FIG. 1, in which the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39 comes rest on the narrowed portion forming seat 54 of the well 25 of the nozzle joint 23, thus completely sealing off the well 25 of the nozzle joint.

Pour utiliser le fer dans sa position vapeur, par exemple avec un débit de vapeur minimal, l'utilisateur tourne le bouton 43 de manière à déplacer hélicoïdalement le boisseau 39, toujours par action de la came 48 sur la rampe 50, déplacement au cours duquel le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39, par déformation élastique de la paroi du puits 25, décolle le tartre éventuellement déposé sur la face intérieure du puits 25, pour amener le boisseau 39 en sa position vapeur, telle qu'illustrée à la figure 3, dans laquelle le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau 39 ponte d'une manière ponctuelle l'extrémité inférieure 52a de la rainure 52. Lorsque la température de la semelle 10 atteint une valeur suffisante, l'élément bimétallique 68 est excité et agit sur le manchon 66, lequel se déplace axialement vers le haut, à l'encontre du ressort de rappel 74, pour venir occuper sa position active dans laquelle il découvre l'ouverture 70 du réservoir 17. L'eau sortant du réservoir 17 arrive dans la cheminée 21, au même niveau que dans le réservoir, après passage par le canal 62, puis traverse ponctuellement la rainure 52 au niveau de son extrémité inférieure 52a et, par suite, s'écoule très régulièrement goutte à goutte dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 (voir figure 3). Cette injection provoque l'émission de vapeur souhaitée, à travers les trous 16 de la plaque de repassage 14.To use the iron in its steam position, for example example with a minimum vapor flow rate, the user turns the knob 43 so as to move helically the plug 39, still by the action of the cam 48 on the ramp 50, movement during which the annular bulge 46 of the plug 39, by elastic deformation of the wall of well 25, takes off any tartar deposited on the inner face of well 25, to bring the bushel 39 in its steam position, as illustrated in FIG. 3, in which the annular bulge 46 of the bushel 39 spawns the end point lower 52a of the groove 52. When the temperature of the sole 10 reaches a sufficient value, the element bimetallic 68 is excited and acts on the sleeve 66, which moves axially upwards, against the return spring 74, to come and occupy its active position in which he discovers the opening 70 of the tank 17. The water leaving reservoir 17 arrives in the chimney 21, at the same level as in the tank, after passage through channel 62, then punctually crosses the groove 52 at its lower end 52a and, as a result, flows very regularly drop by drop in the vaporization chamber 12 (see Figure 3). This injection causes the desired vapor emission, through the holes 16 of the ironing plate 14.

Lorsque l'utilisateur désire maintenant repasser avec un débit de vapeur maximal à des fins de défroissage des tissus ou de marquage des plis dans les tissus épais, par exemple des plis de chemises, il tourne de nouveau le bouton 43 de manière à déplacer hélicoïdalement le boisseau 39, toujours par action de la came 48 sur la rampe 50 et avec raclage du tartre par le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau, pour amener le boisseau 39 en sa position vapeur, telle qu'illustrée à la figure 4, dans laquelle le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau ponte d'une façon ponctuelle l'extrémité supérieure 52b de la rainure 52. L'ouverture 70 du réservoir 17 étant toujours découverte, l'eau traverse alors ponctuellement la rainure 52 au niveau de son extrémité supérieure 52b et, par suite, s'écoule très régulièrement en un jet rapide dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 (voir figure 4). Cette injection provoque l'abondante émission de vapeur souhaitée, à travers les trous 16 de la plaque de repassage 14.When the user now wants to iron with maximum steam flow for smoothing fabrics or crease marking in thick fabrics, for example folds of shirts, it turns the button 43 so as to move the plug helically 39, still by the action of cam 48 on the ramp 50 and with scraping of the scale by the annular bulge 46 of the plug, to bring the plug 39 into its position steam, as shown in Figure 4, in which the annular bulge 46 of the bushel bridges in a way punctual the upper end 52b of the groove 52. The opening 70 of the reservoir 17 is still uncovered, the water then punctually crosses the groove 52 at the level from its upper end 52b and, consequently, flows very regularly in a rapid jet in the vaporization chamber 12 (see Figure 4). This injection causes the abundant emission of steam desired, through the holes 16 of the ironing plate 14.

A la fin du repassage, lorsque l'utilisateur désire purger le fer, il tourne de nouveau le bouton 43 de manière à déplacer hélicoïdalement le boisseau 39, toujours par action de la came 48 sur la rampe 50 et avec raclage du tartre par le renflement annulaire 46 du boisseau, pour amener le boisseau 39 en sa position d'auto-nettoyage, telle qu'illustrée à la figure 5, dans laquelle le renflement 46 du boisseau découvre complètement la fente verticale 55 du puits 25 tout en étant partiellement en appui contre la face interne de la paroi verticale 56 du puits. L'ouverture 70 du réservoir étant toujours découverte, l'eau s'écoule alors rapidement dans le puits 25 via la fente 55 et, par suite, jaillit abondamment dans la chambre de vaporisation 12 (voir figure 5). Ce jaillissement provoque une très abondante émission de vapeur, à travers les trous 16 de la plaque de repassage 14, purgeant ainsi complètement le réservoir 17 tout en éliminant le tartre formé.At the end of ironing, when the user wishes purge the iron, it turns knob 43 again so as to move the plug 39 helically, always by action of cam 48 on ramp 50 and with scraping of the scale by the annular bulge 46 of the plug, to bring the plug 39 into its self-cleaning position, as shown in Figure 5, in which the bulge 46 of the bushel completely uncovers the vertical slot 55 of the well 25 while being partially bearing against the internal face of the wall vertical 56 of the well. The opening 70 of the tank being still uncovered, the water then flows quickly into the well 25 via the slot 55 and, as a result, springs abundantly in the vaporization chamber 12 (see figure 5). This gushing causes a very abundant emission steam, through holes 16 on the ironing board 14, thus completely purging the tank 17 while by eliminating the scale formed.

Lorsque l'utilisateur débranche le fer soit après l'avoir purgé, soit lorsque le boisseau est en position vapeur (figures 3 et 4), la semelle 10 refroidit suffisamment après un certain temps, de sorte que l'élément bimétallique 68 revient dans sa position initiale (voir figure 1) ; le manchon 66 est alors rappelé vers sa position de repos, à la fois grâce à l'élasticité de la membrane 60 et sous l'action du ressort de rappel 74, et obture ainsi par son extrémité supérieure 66b l'ouverture 70 du réservoir 17, comme montré à la figure 1.When the user disconnects the iron either after having purged it, either when the plug is in position steam (Figures 3 and 4), sole 10 cools sufficiently after a while, so the item bimetallic 68 returns to its initial position (see figure 1) ; the sleeve 66 is then returned to its position rest, both thanks to the elasticity of the membrane 60 and under the action of the return spring 74, and closes thus by its upper end 66b the opening 70 of the reservoir 17, as shown in FIG. 1.

Claims (10)

  1. Steam iron having a water reservoir (17) communicating with a vaporisation chamber (12) by means of a nozzle joint (23) with a vertical communication well (25), and a device (35) for adjusting the water inlet flow rate into the vaporisation chamber comprising a vertical valve (39) whose bottom end (44) has a bulge (46) and whose top end (41) is fixed to a manual control button (43), the said valve (39) being able to move in an axial translation movement inside the well (25) of the nozzle joint (23), under the action of the manual control button (43), between a so-called dry position in which the valve (39) completely closes the well (25), and at least one so-called vaporisation position in which the water can pass in the well (25), characterised in that the bulge (46) of the valve (39) is mounted tight in the well (25) of the nozzle joint (23) and at one point bridges a vertical groove (52) which is formed over part of the height of the well (25) and which thus delimits, with the bulge (46) of the valve (39), a cross-section of flow of the water when the valve (39) is in its vaporisation position.
  2. Steam iron according to claim 1, characterised in that the well (25) of the nozzle joint (23) has a bottom part which is closed off by the bulge (46) of the valve (39) when the latter is in its dry position, whilst the vertical groove (52) extends above the bottom part of the well (25) and has a cross-section varying continuously by increasing towards the top edge (27) of the well (25), the valve (39) thus passing from its dry position to its vaporisation position in an axial translation movement directed upwards.
  3. Steam iron according to claim 2, characterised in that the bottom part of the well (25) in the nozzle joint (23) has a narrowed region (54) forming a seat for receiving the bulge (46) of the valve (39) when the latter is in its dry position.
  4. Steam iron according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that, in the well (25) of the nozzle joint (23), there is formed at least one vertical slot (55) extending over a height (h) lying between the top end of the groove (52) and the top end (27) of the well (25), so that the valve (39), following an upward axial movement on a predetermined course, comes to occupy a so-called self-cleaning position in which the bulge (46) of the valve (39) uncovers the slot (55) whilst being partially in abutment against the internal face of the vertical wall (56) of the well (25) so as to form a passage allowing an abundant flow of water.
  5. Steam iron according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on the bottom wall (19) of the reservoir (17), there is formed a vertical chimney (21) through which the vertical valve (39) extends and which rises over a height greater than the maximum water level in the reservoir (17).
  6. Steam iron according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the nozzle joint (23) is produced from a flexible plastics material, and the well (25) of the joint (23) has a cylindrical shape, whilst the bulge (46) of the valve (39) has an annular shape whose outside diameter is slightly greater than the inside diameter of the well (25), characterised in that the movable valve (39) is subjected to means (48, 50) making it possible to impart to it a helical movement resulting from a rotation movement accompanied by its axial translation movement, the bulge (46) of the valve (39) causing an elastic deformation of the well (25) in the joint (23) whilst describing a helical wave accompanying the movement of the valve (39) in the well (25).
  7. Steam iron according to claims 5 and 6, in which the manual control button (43) is mounted so as to rotate in the top region of the iron, characterised in that the means (48, 50) for imparting a helical movement to the valve (39) include a cam (48) formed at the top end (41) of the valve (39) and able to move, by rotation of the button (43), on a ramp (50) formed at the top end of the vertical chimney (21).
  8. Steam iron according to any one of the preceding claims, also comprising an antidrip device (37), characterised in that the antidrip device (37)has an elastic membrane (60) shaped like a tulip arranged laterally to the nozzle joint (23) and connected to the latter by a water flow channel (62), this membrane (60) comprising a cup (64) through which there passes integrally in its central region a vertical cylindrical sleeve (66) forming a valve whose bottom end (66a) is pressed on a bimetallic element (68) fixed to the vaporisation chamber (12), and whose top end (66b) cooperates with an opening (70) formed in the bottom wall (19) of the water reservoir (17), the said sleeve (66) being able to move axially upwards between an idle position in which the bimetallic element (68) is not activated and in which the top end (66b) of the sleeve (66) completely closes the said opening (70), preventing any passage of water from the reservoir (17) to the vaporisation chamber (12) and thus corresponding to the dry position of the valve (39), and an active position in which the bimetallic element (68) is activated and in which, under the action of the bimetallic element, the top end (66b) of the sleeve (66) uncovers the opening (70) so as to allow water to pass from the reservoir (17) to the vaporisation chamber (12) via the channel (62) and the well (25) of the nozzle joint (23) in which the valve (39) is in its vaporisation position or in its self-cleaning position, the said sleeve (66) returning to its idle position through elasticity of the membrane (60).
  9. Steam iron according to claim 8, characterised in that the antidrip device (37) also has a vertical cylindrical end piece (72) fitted coaxially through its bottom part in the sleeve (66) of the membrane (60), and a spiral spring (74) for returning the sleeve (66) which is interposed coaxially with the sleeve between the top part in the form of a head (75) of the end piece (72) and a protrusion (77) formed on the internal face of the top wall (18) of the water reservoir (17), this spring (74) assisting the closure of the opening (70) of the reservoir (17) by means of the top end (66b) of the sleeve (66) when the latter is returned to its idle position.
  10. Steam iron according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the nozzle joint (23) and the membrane (60) are moulded in a single piece from a flexible plastics material, such as an elastomer of the silicon type.
EP99915794A 1998-03-27 1999-03-23 Steam iron Expired - Lifetime EP1064422B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9803849 1998-03-27
FR9803849A FR2776680B1 (en) 1998-03-27 1998-03-27 STEAM IRON
PCT/FR1999/000672 WO1999050496A1 (en) 1998-03-27 1999-03-23 Steam iron

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1064422A1 EP1064422A1 (en) 2001-01-03
EP1064422B1 true EP1064422B1 (en) 2002-11-20

Family

ID=9524599

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99915794A Expired - Lifetime EP1064422B1 (en) 1998-03-27 1999-03-23 Steam iron

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US6318009B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1064422B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1302344A (en)
DE (1) DE69904029T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2188154T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2776680B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1999050496A1 (en)

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CN102384307A (en) * 2011-11-02 2012-03-21 浙江工业职业技术学院 Water level control valve with flow rate continuous control function

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DE10106141B4 (en) * 2001-02-10 2006-12-07 INTER CONTROL Hermann Köhler Elektrik GmbH & Co KG Thermally controlled device for actuating a valve opening, in particular a liquid valve
FR2821368B1 (en) 2001-02-27 2003-04-18 Rowenta Werke Gmbh SELF-CLEANING IRON WITH ANTI-DRIP
US7000342B2 (en) * 2004-01-23 2006-02-21 Mitco International Ltd. Steam iron
FR2895421B1 (en) * 2005-12-22 2008-06-06 Rowenta Werke Gmbh IRON IRON COMPRISING A VALVE CONTROLLED BY A THERMALLY DEFORMABLE ELEMENT
US20070220784A1 (en) * 2006-03-22 2007-09-27 Wen-Ching Li Intelligent steam iron
ES2330698B1 (en) * 2006-10-24 2010-09-21 Bsh Krainel, S.A. STEAM IRON.
US8091257B2 (en) * 2009-03-31 2012-01-10 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Steam iron with acceleration and tilt detection
PL3024970T3 (en) * 2013-07-25 2020-07-27 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Apparatus for generating steam
CN207659747U (en) * 2017-12-05 2018-07-27 漳州灿坤实业有限公司 Steam generating iron
IT201800008025A1 (en) * 2018-08-10 2020-02-10 De' Longhi Appliances Srl IRONING APPARATUS

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CN102384307A (en) * 2011-11-02 2012-03-21 浙江工业职业技术学院 Water level control valve with flow rate continuous control function

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69904029T2 (en) 2003-10-09
ES2188154T3 (en) 2003-06-16
CN1302344A (en) 2001-07-04
FR2776680A1 (en) 1999-10-01
DE69904029D1 (en) 2003-01-02
EP1064422A1 (en) 2001-01-03
WO1999050496A1 (en) 1999-10-07
FR2776680B1 (en) 2001-09-28
US6318009B1 (en) 2001-11-20

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