JPS6238635Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a steam iron in which steam can be ejected from the underside of the base as needed.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

As shown in Fig. 1, this type of iron is equipped with a pump b on the top surface of a base a, and this pump b is activated by the heat of the base a to pump water in a water tank c above the water surface in the water tank c. push upwards,
Water is sent to the lower chamber e through the dripping pipe a, thereby constantly supplying a constant amount of water to the vaporization chamber e without being affected by changes in the water head height in the water tank c, thereby keeping the amount of steam ejected constant. (Special Publication No. 57-6960).

However, this method has the following problems. In other words, since pump B operates with the heat of base A, it always remains in operation regardless of whether the iron is set to "steam" or "dry." ”, the internal pressure of pump b increases, which is dangerous. Also, pump b is based on base a
Because it operates by receiving conductive heat from
There is a delay in the timing of activation and shutdown, which means that there is a lack of immediate response, and even if base a reaches the operating temperature, steam may not blow out for a while, or base a
Even after the power is turned off, the pump b continues to operate due to the residual heat and pumps water into the vaporization chamber e unnecessarily, and the vaporization chamber e may be corroded by the water. Since the capacity of pump b is determined by the heat of base a, it is important to accurately adjust the mutual relationship between them, but the temperature distribution on the top surface of base a tends to have relatively large variations, Accurate adjustment is likely to be difficult.

[Purpose of invention]

The present invention was developed with the above-mentioned points in mind, and its purpose is to eliminate the risk of inadvertently increasing the internal pressure of the pump, and to ensure that the pump can be activated and stopped accurately at predetermined times. To provide a steam iron with which pump capacity can be easily set and adjusted.

[Summary of the invention] The pump is characterized in that a dedicated heating element is provided in the pump, and the pump is operated by controlling the supply of electricity to the heating element.

[Example of idea]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a base made of aluminum die-casting, and a heating element 2 such as a sheathed heater is cast into this base 1.
A vaporization chamber 3 and a guide chamber 4 are formed on the upper surface of the base 1, and these chambers 3 and 4 communicate with each other via a passage (not shown), and their upper surfaces are hermetically sealed by a common lid plate 5. A guide chamber 4 communicates with the lower surface side of the base 1 via an ejection hole 6. Furthermore, the heating element 2 is placed on the upper surface of the base 1.
A temperature regulator 7 is provided to control the temperature of the base 1 and maintain the base 1 at a predetermined set temperature.To explain this, 8 is a fixed contact plate, 9 is a movable contact plate,
Both of them are arranged facing each other, and the fixed contact plate 8 has a fixed contact 10, and the possible contact plate 9 has a movable contact 11. Movable contact plate 9
A bimetal 12 that curves and deforms by sensing the temperature of the base 1 is arranged below the base 1.
An insulator 13 is attached to the tip of the insulator 13, and the movable contact plate 9 is in contact with this insulator 13 by its own elasticity.
Then, the movable contact plate 9 is displaced following the bending deformation of the bimetal 12, and this displacement causes both the contacts 1
0 and 11 open and close to maintain the base 1 at a predetermined set temperature.

The upper surface of the base 1 is covered with a metal cover 14, and a heat shield plate 15 made of heat-resistant synthetic resin is arranged at a distance on the upper surface of this cover 14.
A handle 16 made of synthetic resin is attached to the top surface of the handle 5. There is a water tank 17 inside the handle 16.
is formed, and this water tank 17 has a hollow part 18 and an opening 19. A water inlet body 20 integrally formed of synthetic resin is installed on the front end surface of the handle 16, and this water inlet body 20 has a water inlet 21 and a lid plate 22 that can be opened and closed.
is fitted into the opening 19 of the water tank 17. Therefore, open the cover plate 22 to open the water inlet 2 as appropriate.
1 through which water can be supplied into the water tank 17.

A recess 23 is formed in a portion of the upper surface of the cover 14, and a pump 24 is provided between the recess 23 and the inner surface of the heat shield plate 15. This pump 24 communicates with the bottom of the water tank 17 via an inlet pipe 25,
A normally open check valve 26 is disposed at the connection between the introduction pipe 25 and the bottom of the water tank 17. A water pump 27 extends and stands up from the side surface of the pump 24 , and a drip pipe 28 is connected to the upper end of the water pump 27 . facing the inside of. A heating element 29 formed in a membrane shape is attached to the outer periphery of the pump 24, and the entire outer periphery is covered with this heating element 29. A temperature-sensitive switch 30 is provided on the top surface of the base 1 to open and close contacts depending on the temperature of the base 1, and the temperature-sensitive switch 30 is electrically connected to the heating element 29.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a support plate provided at the upper part of the front end of the handle 16, and an operating disk 33 is rotatably supported on the upper surface of the support plate 31 via a shaft portion 32. This operation disk 33 has a first cam surface 34 on the bottom surface.
However, a second cam surface 35 is formed on the upper surface, and each of these cam surfaces 34 and 35 is long along an arc centered on the shaft portion 32, and is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane. 36 is the operating lever, this is water tank 1
A bent piece 3 is inserted through the hollow part 18 of the temperature controller 7, has a lower end connected to the free end of the fixed contact plate 8 of the temperature controller 7, and has an upper end bent into an L shape as shown in FIG.
7. The bent piece 37 faces the supporting piece 38 protruding from the inner wall surface of the handle 16, and the screw 39 loosely inserts the bent piece 37 and screws onto the supporting piece 38, so that the bent piece 37 and the supporting piece A spring 40 is interposed between the lever 38 and the lever 38, and the spring 40 elastically urges the operating rod 36 upward. A mounting piece 41 is provided on the upper end side edge of the operating rod 36, and an operating rod 42 is attached to this mounting piece 41. The actuating rod 42 slidably passes through the support plate 31 and comes into elastic contact with the first cam surface 34 based on the elastic force of the spring 40. Further, the actuator 44 of the changeover switch 43 is elastically in contact with the second cam surface 35. The operating disk 33 is covered with a cap 45 and integrally has a knob 46 on one side edge, which is exposed to the outside of the cap 45 as shown in FIG. An instruction plate 47 is attached to the surface, and instructions for setting "steam" and "dry" are displayed on this instruction plate 47.

Next, to explain the electric circuit, as shown in FIG. The two series circuits are connected in parallel to the power supply 49. In addition, 50 is an operation switch.

Next, the effect will be explained. A heating element 2 cast into the base 1 is energized via a temperature regulator 7,
The base 1 is heated by this energization. On this occasion,
When the operating disk 33 is rotated through the knob 46 and the knob 46 is aligned with the "STEAM" range on the indicator plate 47, the operating rod 42 and the operating rod 36 are moved by the inclination of the first cam surface 34. When operated, the fixed contact plate 8 of the temperature regulator 7 is displaced, and the fixed contact 10
is set at a predetermined position, thereby setting the base 1 to a temperature suitable for generating steam (approximately 160 to 190°C). Also, at this time, the operation disk 33
The actuator 44 is pressed by the inclination of the second cam surface 35, and the contact of the changeover switch 43 is closed. When the temperature of the base 1 rises to an appropriate temperature for generating steam, the temperature-sensitive switch 30 senses the temperature and closes, and the heating element 29 of the pump 24 is energized. This energization heats the water in the pump 24 and increases the pressure in the pump 24. With this increase, the water in the water pump 27 is pushed up above the rated water level in the water tank 17, and the water in the drip pipe 28 is pushed up. It is sent out into the vaporization chamber 3 through. When the pressure inside the pump 24 decreases with this delivery, the check valve 26 opens and the water in the water tank 17 is replenished into the pump 24 through the introduction pipe 25. By repeating this process, an appropriate amount of water is sent into the vaporization chamber 3. The water sent into the vaporization chamber 3 is sequentially vaporized by the heat of the base 1 and becomes steam, and this steam is ejected from the guide chamber 4 through the injection hole 6 to the lower surface side of the base 1.

When the knob 46 is operated from this state and the position is set in the "dry" range on the indicator plate 47, the contact point of the changeover switch 43 is opened via the actuator 44 due to the inclination of the second cam surface 35. In addition, the temperature of the base 1 is adjusted by the slope of the first cam surface 34.
The temperature is set according to the position of 6. When the changeover switch 43 is opened, the power supply to the heating element 29 of the pump 24 is cut off, and therefore the operation of the pump 24 is stopped. Therefore, the internal pressure of the pump 24 does not increase.

When operating the pump 24 in this way, instead of operating it by conductive heat from the base 1 as in the past, a dedicated heating element 2 attached to the pump 24 is used.
Since it is operated by directly using the heat of 9,
Immediate response is improved, and the time when the base 1 reaches an appropriate temperature can be accurately matched with the time when the pump 24 starts operating. In addition, the pump 24 can be stopped immediately and accurately by turning off the power to the heating element 29. In other words, the pump 24 does not operate due to the residual heat of the base 1 as in the conventional case, and therefore no water is wasted in the vaporization chamber 3. Therefore, the vaporization chamber 3 will not be corroded. Furthermore, as mentioned above, the pump 24 is not controlled by the heat of the base 1, but is controlled by using the dedicated heating element 29, so that the setting and adjustment of its capacity can be done without being restricted by the temperature situation of the base 1. It is extremely easy to do.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the present invention, there is no risk of inadvertently increasing the internal pressure of the pump, the pump can be started and stopped accurately at predetermined times, and furthermore, the setting of the pump capacity can be easily adjusted. It has the effect of being able to

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional steam iron, Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the support structure of the operating lever of the same embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a conventional steam iron. Similarly, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the knobs and an electric circuit diagram. 1...base, 3...vaporization chamber, 17...water tank, 24...pump, 29...heating element.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The pump is equipped with a pump that is operated by heat, and when the pump is operated, the water in the water tank is pushed up above the water surface in the water tank and sent to the vaporization chamber of the base, and the pump is provided with a heating element, and the heating element A steam iron that operates a pump by controlling the electricity supplied to the iron.