US2782537A - Steam pressing iron - Google Patents

Description

Feb 26, 1957 R. VERA-MEGE STEAM PRESSING IRON '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1954 m m w c 4 u a Mm 272mm 49m STEAM PRESSING IRON Rafael Vera-Mege, Concepcion, Chile Application June 25!, 1954, Serial No. 440,218

2 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to electric irons, and more particularly to an improved steam iron.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved steam pressing iron which is simple in construction, which provides proper distribution of steam in the article of clothing being pressed, and which is provided with safety means which prevents the steam pressure in the iron from rising to an excessive value.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved steam pressing iron which involves inexpensive components, which is durable in construction, which provides an effective distribution of steam through the article of clothing being pressed and which avoids the channeling of steam through the plies of the clothing article when the clothing is in a folded condition or is of multiple-ply construction, and which is provided with injection means for developing sufiicient steam pressure to penetrate through heavy clothing articles.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved steam pressing iron which is easy to operate, which is provided with means for developing suflicient steam pressure to penetrate relatively heavy clothes, which provides a controlled amount of moisture in the steam, preventing excessive drying of the clothes being ironed, and being arranged so that the discharge of steam from the iron occurs by contact with the article of clothing being ironed and thus provides an eflicient distribution or" the steam through the clothing article.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved steam pressing iron constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical cross sectional view taken through a portion of the steam iron of Figure 1, and showing the constructional details of the injection cylinder and associated parts, employed on the improved steam iron.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan detail view showinga modified form of water injection nozzle which may be employed with the injection device illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross sectional view taken on the line l -4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken through a portion of the steam chamber of a steam pressing iron according to the present invention showing one form of steam discharge valve which may be employed in the sole plate of the iron.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional detail view, similar to Figure 5, showing another form of steam discharge valve structure which maybe employed in the improved steam iron of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figures 5 and 6, andv illustrating still another form of steam discharge valve which may be employed in the steam iron of the present invention.

2,782,537 Patented Feb. 26, 1957 Figure 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figure 7, showing a further modification of steam discharge valve construction which may be employed in the steam iron of this invention.

Figure 9 is a vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figures 5 to 8, showing a still further modified form of steam discharge valve in the sole plate of the steam pressing iron.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view, similar to Figure 9, showing a still further modified form of discharge valve which may be employed in the sole plate of the pressing iron.

Figure 11 is a vertical cross sectional view taken through the steam chamber of an improved steam pressing iron according to the present invention, showing a spring loaded safety valve employed in the sole plate of the iron, said safety valve being shown in open position to allow steam under excessive pressure to escape from the steam chamber of the iron.

Figure 12 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure 11, showing the safety valve in its normal closed position.

Figure 13 is a cross sectional view taken through the steam chamber of a steam pressing iron, showing a modified form of safety valve.

Figure 14 is a bottom perspective view of a steam pressing iron according to the present invention, showing the manner in which the steam discharge valve are distributed around the Sole plate of the iron.

Referring to the drawings, a steam pressing iron according to the present invention is designated generally at 11 in Figure I. The steam pressing iron comprises a suitable body 12 provided with conventional heating means, said body being formed with a water storage chamber 13, a steam generating chamber ltd, and a sole plate 15, the water chamber having the bottom wall 16, and said water chamber 13 communicating with the steam chamber 14 by a water injection nozzle 17 provided in the bottom end of a water injection cylinder 18.

As shown in Figure 2, the cylinder 18 is vertically mounted and projects from the top wall 19 of the body 12, the top end of the cylinder being contained in a housing 20, as shown in Figure 2, the top wall 21 of said cylinder being spaced below the centrally apertured top wall 22 of the housing 29. The upper portion of the cylinder 18 is provided with the vent apertures 23, and the top portion of the cylinder and the wall of the housing 24) are apertured at 24 to provide free communication of the upper portion of the cylinder with the atmosphere.

As shown, the apertures 23 are located in the upper portion of the water chamber 13, thus allowing atmospheric pressure free access to the upper portion of the water chamber 13.

A valve chamber 25 is provided adjacent the lower end of the cylinder 18, said valve chamber communicating with the lower end of the cylinder by an aperture 25, as shown in Figure 2, the valve chamber being in communication with the water chamber 13 by an aperture 27 in the valve wall, as shown. Designated at 23 is a movable valve disc which normally is spaced a short distance below the aperture 27, allowing water to flow from the water chamber and through the aperture 26 into the lower portion of the cylinder 18. When pressure is developed in the lower portion of the cylinder, the valve disc 28 is elevated into sealing engagement with the top wall of the valve chamber, closing off the aperture 27, and confining the water in the lower portion of the cylinder. As shown in Figure 2, the nozzle 17 has a restricted bottom orifice portion 27' through which water may be discharged into the steam chamber 14, located above the sole plate 15, said sole plate being heated by suitable conventional heating means, whereby the water discharging into the chamber 14 will be vaporized and will be converted into steam.

A piston 39 is provided in the cylinder 18, said piston being provided with the vertically extending piston rod 29 which extends slidably through the upwardly extending annular flange portion 32 provided centrally in the top wall 21 of the cylinder 18.

Designated at 33 is a hollow plunger having the bottom flange 34, the hollow plunger extending through a central aperture in the top wall 22 of housing 20, the flange 34 limiting the plunger 33 against upward removal from the housing 20, as is clearly shown in Figure 2, Slidably extending through the hollow plunger 33 is the flanged collar member 35 through which the top end of the piston rod 29 extends, said piston rod being fixedly secured to the collar 35 as at 36, as shown in Figure 2. A coiled spring 37 surrounds the piston rod below the collar 35, said spring bearing between the collar 35 and the cylinder top wall 21, and another coiled spring 38 is provided in the hollow plunger 33, the spring 38 bearing between the top wall of the plunger and the collar 35.

By exerting a downward force on the plunger 33, the piston rod 29 may be forced downwardly, causing the piston 30 to be moved downwardly in the cylinder 28, and causing the pressure in the lower portion of the cylinder 18 to be built up sufliciently to elevate valve plate 28 against the top wall of valve housing 25. The pressure applied by the piston 30 thus causes water to be injected into the steam chamber 14, whereby added steam pressure may be developed, as required to penetrate through relatively heavy clothing articles or materials which require substantial steam pressure for proper penetration of the steam therethrough.

The hollow plunger 33 is formed with a means or notch 40 in its wall portion, said notch being engageable with means on the housing or the edge of the central aperture 41 in the top wall 22 of housing 20, with the plunger 33 tilted, whereby the plunger 33 may be locked in a depressed position, if so desired, as where it is desired to maintain downward pressure on the plunger rod 29 for a period of time.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the discharge nozzle in the bottom of the cylinder, shown at 17', may be provided with the reduced bottom orifice portion 27 which is formed with a conical valve seat 42. A cone valve 43 carried by a vertical valve rod 44 may be provided, the top end of the rod 44 being supported on a cruciform member 45 whose arms engage the top rim of the nozzle 17'. A coiled spring 46 surrounds the rod 44, hearing between the cruciform member 45 and the shouldered bottom portion 47 of the nozzle member 17, biasing the cone valve element 43 into seating engagement with the valve seat 42. When the liquid in the lower portion of the cylinder 13 is placed under compression, by the downward movement of the piston 31), as above described, the increased pressure causes the cone valve element 43 to be lowered, whereby the water may be discharged from the orifice portion 27 into the subjacent steam chamber 14.

As shown, a suitable lock nut 48 is employed, to secure the nozzle member to the bottom wall 49 of the cylinder 18. As shown in both Figures 2 and 4, the nozzle member is threadedly engaged in a boss 50 provided in the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14, the bottom wall 49 of the cylinder 18 being provided with a central aperture receiving the upper portion of the nozzle, and the lock nut 48 is engaged on the upper portion of the nozzle, whereby the bottom wall of the cylinder 18 is clamped between the lock nut 48 and the top rim of the boss 50.

As shown in Figure 14, the sole plate 15 of the iron is formed with spaced steam discharge apertures 52 which may be arranged adjacent the edge of the sole plate, at the forward portion thereof, in the manner shown in Figure 14, or which may have any other suitable distribution over the sole plate. In the form of the invtillt n illustrated in Figure 5, the sole plate 15a has the valve balls 53 seated on annular valve seats 54 provided in the apertures 52, said balls 53 normally projecting below the bottom plane of the sole plate 15a, whereby the balls will be elevated by contact with an article of clothing being pressed, for example, the article of clothing 56, shown in Figure 5, allowing steam to be discharged past the elevated ball 53 and to penetrate into the article 56. As will be apparent from Figure 5, steam is admitted only at those areas of the article which are engaged by balls 53, whereby no steam escapes from the sole plate apertures at points other than those actually contacted by the article being pressed. This prevents steam from discharging laterally into the article and prevents channeling of the steam through the plies of the article of clothing. Instead, the steam is forced to penetrate actually through the fabric and to provide the desired steaming effect on the fabric.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 6, threaded valve bushings 57 are provided, said bushings being engaged in suitably arranged apertures in the sole plate, each bushing 57 having a conical valve seat 58 on which is disposed a ball valve 59, said ball valve being biased downwardly by a coiled spring 60 acting between the top of the ball 59 and the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14. The ball 59 projects sufficiently below the bottom plane of the sole plate- 15b so that the ball will be elevated when an article of clothing is engaged thereby, in the same manner as in Figure 5.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 7, respective vertical, vaned valve members 61 are disposed in the respective apertures 52, said valve members 61 having the circular top flanges 63 which normally overlie the margins of the apertures 52 and seal said apertures, the depending portions of the valves 61 extending below the bottom plane of the sole plate 15c, whereby the valves 61 will be elevated by actual contact with the article 56, allowing steam to be discharged from the steam chamber 14 into the fabric of the article, whereas those valve members 61 not engaged by the article are held in closed positions by the steam pressure in the steam chamber 14.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 8, the valve members 61 are disposed in bushings 65 threadedly engaged in the sole plate, and coiled springs 66 are provided between the top flanges 63 of the valves and the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14, biasing the valves toward closed positions.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 9, the sole plate 15 is provided with the downwardly tapering valve openings 52' in which are seated the downwardly tapering valve element 67, said elements normally projecting below the bottom plane of the sole plate 15e, and being elevated in response to contact with the article of clothing 56 being ironed, whereby steam is permitted to escape from the steam chamber 14 through the apertures 52 into contact with the article being ironed. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 10, bushing members 68 are threadably engaged in the sole plate 157', said bushing members being provided with the downwardly tapering valve seats, shown at 69, the valve members 67 being biased into sealing engagement with the valve seats 69 by coiled springs 70 provided between the top ends of the valves 67 and the top wall 51 of the steam chamber 14. As in the previously described form of the invention, the valve elements 67 project below the bottom plane of the sole plate 151, whereby said valve elements 69 are elevated by contact with the article of clothing being pressed. 7

The sole plate 15g is provided with a pressure-responsive safety valve, designated generally at 71, in Figure 11, said safety valve comprising a cone valve element 72 carried on the valve rod 73 which extends through a vertical passage 74 in the sole plate 15. The top end of the rod 73 has a transverse pin 74 engaged therethrough, and acting between the pin 74 and the sole plate 15 is a coiled spring 75 which biases the rod 73 upwardly and urges the cone 72 against a conical valve sea-t 76, the valve seat being formed centrally in a countersunk portion 77 provided in the bottom surface of the sole plate 15g. Normally, as shown in Figure 12, the conical valve element 72 is held in sealing engagement with the valve seat 76. When excessive pressure develops in the steam chamber 14, the pressure will overcome the force of the spring 75, causing the valve 72 to be moved downwardly, allowing steam under excess pressure to escape from the steam chamber 14, as is clearly shown in Figure 11;

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figure 13, a bushing member 77' is threadedly engaged in the sole plate 15m, said bushing member being formed with the passage 74' and having the valve rod 73 disposed in said passage, said valve rod carrying the cone valve 72' at its bottom end engageable with a conical valve seat formed in the bottom of the bushing 77. A coiled spring 75' biases the cone element 72' toward sealing position, as in the previously described form of the safety valve shown in Figures 11 and 12. Under excess pressure, the cone valve 72' is forced downwardly, to allow the steam to discharge from the steam chamber 14.

While certain specific embodiments of an improved steam pressing iron have been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam pressing iron, a steam generating chamber having a top Wall, a water storage chamber having a top wall and -a bottom wall arranged in superimposed relation with respect to said steam chamber with the bottom wall spaced from the top wall of said steam chamber, a cylinder extending vertically through the top and bottom walls of said water chamber and having the lower end portion extending into the space between the bottom wall of said water chamber and the top wall of said steam chamber and having the upper end portion exteriorly of the top wall of said water chamber, a nozzle projecting through the top wall of said steam chamber and connected in communication with the lower end portion of said cylinder, there being an aperture in the portion of said cylinder between the top and bottom walls of said Water chamber adjacent the bottom wall of said water chamber, an upstanding housing exteriorly of said Water chamber and having the lower end portion surrounding the upper end portion of said cylinder and having the upper end portion exteriorly of the upper end portion of said cylinder, a piston slidable within said cylinder, a piston rod extending vertically and slidably through the upper end portion of said cylinder and the upper end portion of said housing and having the lower end fixedly secured to said piston, a plunger mounted in the upper end portion of said housing for up and down movement and operatively connected to the upper end of said piston rod, a valve chamber in said water chamber and connected in communication with said cylinder p'or tion aperture, said valve chamber being provided with an aperture for ingress therethrough of water contained in said water chamber, and a valve in said valve chamber normally in open position with respect to the valve chamber aperture and movable to closed position with respect to the last mentioned aperture in response to pressure flowing through the cylinder aperture.

2. In a steam pressing iron, a steam generating chamber having a top wall, a water storage chamber having a top wall and a bottom wall arranged in superimposed relation with respect to said steam chamber with the bottom wall spaced from the top wall of said steam chamber, a cylinder extending vertically through the top and bottom walls of said water chamber and having the lower end portion extending into the space between the bottom wall of said water chamber and the top wall of said steam chamber and having the upper end portion exteriorly of the top wall of said water chamber, a nozzle projecting through the top wall of said steam chamber and connected in communication with the lower end portion of said cylinder, there being an aperture in the portion of said cylinder between the top and bottom walls of said water chamber adjacent the bottom wall of said water chamber, an upstanding housing exteriorly of said water chamber and having the lower end portion surrounding the upper end portion of said cylinder and having the upper end portion exteriorly of the upper end portion of said cylinder, a piston slid-able within said cy-linder, a piston rod extending vertically and slidably through the upper end portion of said cylinder and the upper end portion of said housing and having the lower end fixedly secured to said piston, a hollow plunger mounted in the upper end portion of said housing for up and down movement and operatively connected to the upper end of said piston rod, a valve chamber in said water chamber and connected in communication with said cylinder portion aperture, said valve chamber being provided with an aperture for ingress therethrough of water contained in said water chamber, a valve in said valve chamber normally in open position with respect to the valve chamber aperture and movable to closed position with respect to the last mentioned aperture in response to pressure flowing through the cylinder aperture, and means on said plunger engageable with means provided on said housing for relea-sably locking the plunger in its down movement position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,472 Temple Oct. 5, 1915 1,292,510 Peth June 28, 1919 1,793,750 S-ayles Feb. 24, 1931 1,843,568 Ledbetter Feb. 2, 1932 2,045,926 Reutter June 30, 1936 2,113,695 Krannan Apr. 12, 1938 2,317,706 Woodman Apr. 27, 1943 2,334,222 Schoell Nov. 16, 1943 2,483,579 Green Oct. 4, 1949 2,628,005 Keesnan Feb. 10, 1953

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