US3449846A - Pressing device - Google Patents

Description

June 17, 1969 5, BRlCKER 3,449,846

PRESSING DEVICE I Filed June 12, 1967 Sheet of 2 WITNESSES INVENTOR Samuel 'R. Bricker AGENT June 17, 1969 s. R. BRICKER PRESSING DEVICE Sheet 2 0:2

Filed June 12, 1967 United States Patent "ice 3,449,846 PRESSING DEVICE Samuel R. Bricker, Shelby, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 12, 1967, Ser. No. 645,407 Int. Cl. A47j 51/00 U.S. CI. 38-71 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Actuator mechanism for a combination pressing and steaming device. The mechanism comprises a lever arm pivotable about its center and provided at one end thereof with a protuberance for depressing a diaphragm in the wall of a water tank to thereby actuate valve structure in the tank, the one end of the actuator being further characterized by having means thereon adapted to cooperate with the wall of the water tank to prevent overtravel of the actuator and therefore the protuberance.

Background of the invention This invention relates, in general to combination pressing and steaming devices and, more particularly to steam actuator mechanism therefor.

It is well known that water feed structure for pressing devices utilizing steam and the means for actuating the feed structure must be precisely constructed in order to obtain satisfactory steam generation. In conventional steam irons, the water reservoir is stationarily mounted within a housing structure and is provided with a top fill opening. A valve extends through the to opening and into a valve seat in the bottom of the reservoir. Calibration or setting of the valve stem for proper operation has, heretofore, been accomplished by providing certain adjustable elements which can be utilized to compensate for certain tolerance build up between assembled parts.

The type of device herein contemplated does not lend itself to being provided with adjustable means for such calibration, and therefore, must rely on holding close manufacturing tolerances in one part or another. One method has been to hold to close tolerances, the thickness of a casing section to which a valve actuator is mounted. This method proved to be unsatisfactory because of the wide variation in tolerances.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide, in a steam pressing device, new and improved mechanism for actuating the valve thereof.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved actuator mechanism for use in a steam pressing device which mechanism limits valve stem travel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve stem and actuator therefor which need not be adjusted for calibration thereof to produce proper valve stem operation.

Summary Briefly, the present invention accomplishes the abovecited objects by providing a molded valve actuator in a steam pressing device which actuator is pivotally mounted in an opening in a wall of a casing section. One end of the actuator which is pivoted through the opening engages a molded diaphragm provided in one wall of a water tank or reservoir, the end of the actuator being provided with a protuberance on the surface of boss formed in the actuator. The longitudinal axis of the boss is greater than the longitudinal axis of the aperture supporting the diaphragm while the dimensions of the pro- 3,449,846 Patented June 17, 1969 tuberance are smaller than the aperture. It will be apparent that engagement of the wall portions delineating the aperture with the boss will limit penetration of the protuberance into the water tank through deflection of the diaphragm. In this manner displacement of the valve actuating mechanism which is engaged by the diaphragm is kept within tolerable limits by holding close manufacturing tolerances on molded pieces such as the diaphragm and the actuator.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent when considered in view of the following detailed description and drawings forming a part hereof.

Description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is an end planned view, partly broken away, of a combination pressing and steaming device representing the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 1, but with the actuator mechanism in one operative position;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the actuator incorporated in the invention;

FIG. 4 is an end planned view of the actuator shown in FIGURE 3, but partly broken away;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the device illustrated in FIGURE 1, but with the actuator shown in FIGURE 3 removed;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the inner side of casing section which supports the actuator as shown in FIGURE 3; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on the lines VII-VII of FIGURE 6.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, especially FIGURE 1, reference character 10 designates generally a combination pressing and steaming device comprising a pair of easing sections 11 and 12, preferably molded from a suitable material, for example, plastic, and secured together by suitable means, not shown.

A cavity 13 is formed between the sections 11 and 12 for receiving a water reservoir or tank 14, as shown in FIGURE 2. The tank 14 is provided internally thereof with valve structure (not shown), the outlet (not shown) of which communicates with a heater generally indicated at 15 through an inlet opening 16 at the bottom of the cavity 13.

The heater 15 is provided with a first pressing plate 17 and has secured thereto in opposed relationship to the plate 17 a second pressing plate 18. The plate 18 is secured to the heater 15 by means of an L-shaped bracket 19 and is provided with a groove 20 for receiving a flange 21 of the plate 17 thereby forming a hinge joint therebetween which allows the plate 18 to be pivoted away from the plate 17 to facilitate insertion of workpiece therebetween. The plate 18 is normally biased toward the plate 17 by a pair of coil springs 22 (only one being shown). An arm 23 secured to the back side of the plate 18 by a screw 24 cooperates with the L-shaped bracket 19 to serve as lever for effecting movement of the plate 18 away from the plate 17.

Movement of the arm 23 is effected by means of an actuator 25, best shown in FIGURES 3, 4, '6 and 7. The actuator 25 preferably comprises a unitary structure which is preferably molded from a suitable plastic material. Referring to FIGURE 3, it will be seen that the actuator 25 has two segments 26 and 27 which lie in intersecting planes so that the actuator may be rocked or pivoted about a pivot point comprising a pair of trunnions 28, molded integrally in the casing section 12, and trunnion receiving grooves 29 provided in the actuator 25 (see FIG UR ES 5, 6 and 7). The actuator 25 is secured, in an opening 30 in the casing section 12, by means of an I-shaped member 31 disposed on the opposite side of the casing section from the actuator. The member 31 is secured to a post 32 carried by the actuator 25 extending through the opening 30, fastening being accomplished by means of a conventional fastener 33 screwed into the post 32 at 34.

When the actuator 25 is pivoted clockwise, it is viewed in FIGURE 1, a protuberance 35 carried thereby engages the arm 23 to effect movement of the plate 18. Rotation of the actuator 25 in the counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIGURE 2, effects actuation of the valve mechanism (not shown) through the depressing of diaphragm 36, represented schematically in FIGURE 2 by dotted lines, by a protuberance 37 carried on a boss 38 preferably formed integrally in segment 27. As can be seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, the dimensions of the boss 38 are such that it and protuberance 37 will pass through the opening 30, however, only the protuberance 37 will penetrate the water tank 14 (see FIGURE 2). This is because the longitudinal axis of the boss 38 is greater than the aperture in a wall 39, of the water tank, in which the diaphragm 36 is disposed.

Since numerous changes may be made in the above described apparatus and dilferent embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pressing device adapted for simultaneous steaming and pressing, a casing including two sections cooperating to support therebetween structure for rendering such pressing device operative, means disposed intermediate said casing sections for supporting a Water tank, a water tank carried by said support means, said water tank comprising a walled structure having an aperture in one wall thereof adjacent an opening in one of said casing sections, yieldable means in said aperture, actuator means carried by said one of said casing sections adjacent said opening, means carried by said actuator means operative to depress said means upon movement of said actuator means, means cooperating with said actuator means to limit movement of said actuator means to insure proper operation of valve mechanism in said water tank and to prevent damage to said yieldable means.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said movement limiting means comprises, a boss having at least one dimension thereof which is larger than said aperture and wherein said means for depressing said yieldable member comprises a protuberance carried by said boss.

3. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said actuator means comprises a unitary structure having arm segments lying in intersecting planes, said actuator being provided with trunnion receiving grooves to permit rocking thereof in said opening.

4. Structure as specified in claim 3, including means for containing said trunnions in said grooves.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein portions of said actuator means are larger than said opening and said actuator is inserted into said opening from inside of said one of said casing sections, said trunnion containing means comprising a resilient member positioned on the opposite side of said one of said casing sections and secured to said actuator.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,461,006 2/1949 Sowers .l 3871 2,748,511 6/1956 Pezza 387l 2,750,692 6/1956 Finlayson.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.

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