CN108611830B

CN108611830B - Iron comprising a condensate retaining and evaporating device

Info

Publication number: CN108611830B
Application number: CN201711320354.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 弗雷德里克·科莱; 托马斯·科迪尔; 斯特凡·洛普雷特; 格扎维埃·夏图瓦尔
Original assignee: SEB SA
Current assignee: SEB SA
Priority date: 2016-12-13
Filing date: 2017-12-12
Publication date: 2021-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 2037-12-12
Also published as: EP3336240A1; CN108611830A; CN208395535U; FR3060029A1; FR3060029B1; EP3336240B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an iron comprising a circuit for diffusing a flow of steam towards at least one steam outlet hole (20), said circuit comprising means for retaining and evaporating condensate, said means allowing to avoid the diffusion of water droplets through the steam outlet hole (20), characterized in that said means for retaining and evaporating condensate comprise a first channel (43A), said first channel (43A) opening into an evaporation chamber (43) arranged in a body (3), said body (3) comprising a heating resistor, said evaporation chamber (43) comprising an intermediate side wall (9), said intermediate side wall (9) comprising a side opening (43C), said side opening (43C) communicating with a second channel (43B), through which second channel (43B) the flow of steam exits towards said steam outlet hole (20), and said evaporation chamber (43) comprising, in a region opposite to said side opening (43C), a condensate forming a dead circuit A liquid holding bag, the flow of steam coming from said first channel (43A) being conveyed towards said dead circuit and being able to be discharged only by return.

Description

Iron comprising a condensate retaining and evaporating device

Technical Field

The invention relates to an iron comprising a circuit for diffusing a steam flow towards at least one steam outlet, said circuit comprising means for retaining and evaporating a condensate which allow to avoid the diffusion of water droplets through the steam outlet.

Background

An iron is known which comprises a condensate retaining and evaporating device comprising a labyrinth-shaped path cooperating with a cyclone separating device, as disclosed in patent application WO2016/030122a 1. However, such a cyclone separating device has the disadvantage of being relatively bulky, in particular relatively high in height, which makes it difficult to integrate it in an iron having a tapered front end.

It is known that in patent application EP2746460a2, filed by the present applicant, an iron is disclosed, which comprises a circuit for diffusing a steam flow towards a steam outlet orifice, said circuit comprising a condensate evaporation means. In this document, the device for evaporating the condensate comprises a first channel opening into an evaporation chamber arranged in a body comprising a heating resistor, the evaporation chamber comprising a side wall comprising a side opening communicating with a second channel through which the steam flow is discharged from the evaporation chamber towards a steam outlet.

Such a device for evaporating the condensate has the advantage of being compact, in particular in height, but has the disadvantage of allowing the condensate to drain, in particular when the steam flow comprises large water droplets moving at high speed.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to overcome these drawbacks by providing an iron comprising means for holding and evaporating the condensate, which are compact, of good performance and which are simple and economical to implement.

The invention therefore relates to an iron comprising a circuit for spreading a steam flow towards at least one steam outlet orifice, said circuit comprising condensate retaining and evaporating means allowing to avoid the spreading of water droplets through the steam outlet orifice, said condensate retaining and evaporating means comprising a first channel opening into an evaporating chamber arranged in a main body, said main body comprising a heating resistor, said evaporating chamber comprising a side opening communicating with a second channel through which the steam flow is discharged from said evaporating chamber towards said steam outlet orifice, said evaporating chamber comprising a condensate retaining pocket in an area opposite said side opening, said condensate retaining pocket forming a dead circuit towards which the steam flow from said first channel is conveyed, and can only be discharged by return.

This feature allows to obtain the establishment of a circulation flow in which the condensate is projected by centrifugal force towards the holding bag, while the steam can be discharged laterally through the side opening of the evaporation chamber. An effective separation of the condensate present in the vapor stream is thus obtained, said condensate being gradually evaporated under the effect of the heat released by the heating resistor. Furthermore, this configuration has the advantage that the change of direction of the steam flow is carried out in a single horizontal plane, which allows to obtain a device with a low height.

A dead-end forming holding bag refers to a holding bag comprising a single inlet channel through which the steam flow enters and exits the holding bag.

According to another characteristic of the invention, at the outlet of the first channel, the flow of steam is directed in the direction of a side wall of the evaporation chamber, which extends between the side opening and the bag, said side wall having a shape suitable for deflecting the drops of water projected on the side wall towards the bag.

This feature allows for a greater freedom of arrangement of the retaining bag in the evaporation chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the side walls extend along a curved shape and preferably along an arc of a circle.

This feature allows the condensate that is projected on the side wall to be effectively deflected towards the holding bag.

According to another feature of the present invention, the first channel surrounds the evaporation chamber.

This feature allows to obtain a device that is particularly compact in width.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first channel is laterally delimited by a side wall of the evaporation chamber and by a peripheral side wall extending around the evaporation chamber, the peripheral side wall comprising a portion projecting inside the evaporation chamber.

Such a protruding portion has the advantage of forming a flow deflector which deflects the steam flow into a predetermined direction.

According to another feature of the invention, the evaporation chamber comprises a top comprising ribs in the prolongation of the peripheral side wall and extending towards the pouch.

Such ribs have the advantage of guiding condensate along the top towards the bag.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the evaporation chamber comprises a bottom which is arranged lower than the outlet of the first channel, so as to form a step between the bottom of the evaporation chamber and the lower face of the first channel.

This feature allows a cavity to be formed in the bottom of the evaporation chamber, into which the condensate can flow by gravity and be temporarily stored while waiting to be evaporated under the effect of the heat released by the heating resistor.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the side opening is raised with respect to the bottom of the evaporation chamber.

This feature allows limiting the risk that the condensate stored in the bottom of the evaporation chamber is discharged through the side openings by the air flow generated by the flow of the steam flow.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the condensate retaining and evaporating device comprises, upstream or downstream of the first channel, at least one further retaining pocket towards which the flow of steam is directed by one side of the wall, the pocket forming a dead circuit, the flow of steam being dischargeable only through a passage arranged at the other side of the wall.

This feature allows for having an additional pocket in which at least a portion of the condensate transported by the stream can be captured.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bag is arranged opposite an injection zone through which the steam flow is introduced into the condensate holding and evaporating device.

Such a bag allows larger condensate injected at the injection area together with the steam flow to be captured.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bag is arranged in the vicinity of the heating resistance.

This feature allows to ensure a gradual evaporation of the condensate trapped in the bag.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating resistance is powered by a thermostat according to the temperature of the evaporation chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thermostat is arranged for starting and powering the heating resistance when water is present in the bottom of the evaporation chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the passage section for the flow of steam through the evaporation chamber is greater than the passage section in the first channel.

The evaporation chamber thus constitutes a pressure reduction and deceleration zone of the vapor flow, which allows to improve the retention of the condensate and the efficiency of the evaporation device.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises an ironing surface, which is advantageously flat, and the steam outlet aperture is arranged on the ironing surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the holding and evaporation means comprise an injection zone where the flow of steam enters the device, surrounded by a side wall over part of its perimeter.

According to another feature of the invention, the side walls surrounding the injection zone define a first portion of a first channel surrounding the side walls and having at the same time two consecutive 90 ° corners.

This feature allows condensate that may be carried by the vapor to be projected onto the side walls of the first channel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first channel comprises a portion, called the centrifugal portion, which is in the extension of the first portion and extends substantially along a circular arc curve around the evaporation chamber.

This feature allows to obtain a particularly compact and excellent performance of the separation device of the condensate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the power supply of the heating resistance is regulated by a thermostat in order to maintain the temperature of the evaporation chamber at a preset temperature comprised between 100 ℃ and 145 ℃, and preferably at a preset temperature comprised between 100 ℃ and 115 ℃.

This feature allows to obtain steam with high humidity at the outlet of the evaporation chamber, so as to achieve better ironing performances.

According to another feature of the invention, the preset temperature of the thermostat is not adjustable by the user.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the flow of steam injected into the device for maintaining and evaporating the condensate has a flow rate greater than or equal to 70 g/min.

The invention also relates to a steam ironing device comprising a steam generating base connected to the iron described above by means of a conduit.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the steam generating base comprises a water container and comprises a tank for generating steam under pressure, said tank comprising a steam outlet equipped with an electric valve connected to a steam conduit delivering steam to the iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises means for injecting the water of the container directly into the steam duct.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for injecting the water of the container directly into the steam conduit comprise a pump, an electrovalve and a shunt conduit.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the water is injected into the steam conduit sequentially when the electrovalve is open.

Drawings

The objects, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following description of several embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 is a side view of an ironing apparatus according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a top perspective view of a sub-assembly of an iron fitted with the ironing apparatus of figure 1, realised according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the subassembly of figure 2;

figure 4 is a top view of the subassembly of figure 2, not equipped with a closing lid;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 4;

figure 6 is a perspective view of the subassembly shown in figure 4;

figure 7 is a bottom perspective view of the cover closing the evaporation chamber;

figure 8 is a bottom perspective view of the subassembly of figure 5 with the cover unassembled;

figure 9 shows a time-sequence working diagram.

Detailed Description

Only the elements necessary for an understanding of the present invention are shown. To facilitate reading of the drawings, like elements between different drawings bear like reference numerals.

It is noted that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "front", "rear", "bottom", "top" used to describe the iron refer to the iron in use when the ironing board is placed on a horizontal plane.

Fig. 1 shows an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generating base 100 and an iron 1, said steam generating base 100 and iron 1 being connected to each other by a flexible conduit 101, said iron 1 comprising a housing realized in plastic material integrating a gripping handle.

Said base 100 comprises an inclined plane on which the iron 1 can rest during the rest phase of ironing and said base 100 comprises, in a known manner, a tank 102 for generating steam at a pressure of about 4 to 6 bar. The tank 102 is supplied with water from a container 103 through a supply circuit comprising a pump 104 controlled by an electronic card 108. The tank 102 comprises a steam outlet equipped with an electric valve 102A, said electric valve 102A being controlled by a pin 10 arranged below the handle of the iron 1, said electric valve being connected to the iron 1 through a steam conduit 105 arranged in the conduit 101.

Advantageously, the supply circuit of the tank 102 also comprises a shunt conduit 106 and a two-way electric valve 107, the shunt conduit 106 allowing the water of the container 103 to be directly conveyed into the steam conduit 105, the two-way electric valve 107 being controlled by an electronic card 108 allowing the tank 102 and the shunt conduit 106 to be supplied alternately or simultaneously.

Said base 100 is connected to the household electrical network by means of an electric cord, not shown in the figures, which allows both the power supply of the heating means of the tank 102 and the power supply of the iron 1 through the conduit 101.

As shown in fig. 2 to 8, the iron 1 comprises a cover 2, said cover 2 comprising a flat lower surface defining an ironing surface for contact with the garment, said cover 2 being in close proximity to a body constituted by a heating sole plate 3, said heating sole plate 3 comprising a substantially flat lower wall in direct contact with the cover 2, said cover 2 being glued to the heating sole plate 3 by means of a silicone adhesive.

The cap 2 is advantageously made of an aluminium sheet, having a thickness of about 1.4mm, covered with enamel on its underside and comprising a front portion, arranged in front of a transverse axis Y passing through the middle of the cap 2, having a substantially triangular shape with a tip at its front end, and a rear portion, arranged behind said transverse axis Y, having a greater width and ending with a rounded rear edge.

Preferably, said heating soleplate 3 is constituted by a cast aluminium in which a first armoured electric resistance 31 of U-shape is embedded, said first armoured electric resistance 31 extending only in the rear portion of the heating soleplate 3, the rear portion of said heating soleplate 3 being mounted on the rear portion of the enclosure 2 so as to create a hot zone at the rear portion of the enclosure 2 where the temperature of the ironing surface is highest.

The power supply of said first resistor 31 is regulated by a first thermostat, advantageously constituted by an NTC probe, not shown in the figures, which abuts against a boss 32 arranged on the rear part of the heated soleplate 3 and cooperates with a relay controlled by the electronic card 108.

Said first resistance 31 advantageously has a power of between 300W and 600W and said first thermostat comprises a preset temperature that can be adjusted by the user over a temperature range advantageously between 90 ℃ and 240 ℃ and preferably between 110 ℃ and 200 ℃, this preset temperature of the first thermostat corresponding to the temperature of the point a located in the hot area of the ironing surface, near the centre of the cover 2.

Said heating soleplate 3 comprises, opposite the front part of the mantle 2, a front part 4 equipped with a U-shaped armoured second electrical resistance 41, said second electrical resistance 41 also having a power advantageously comprised between 300W and 600W.

By way of example, the heating sole plate 3 can be realised by moulding in an aluminium alloy casting having a mass of about 350g and moulded over a first and a second armoured electrical resistance, each of these resistances having a power of about 450W.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the front portion 4 comprises an upper face on which a peripheral wall 42 projects, the peripheral wall 42 laterally delimiting condensate retaining and evaporating means, which comprise in particular a central container 43 forming an evaporating chamber of the instantaneous evaporation type, the evaporating chamber 43 being closed at its upper end by a cover 6, the cover 6 resting on the upper edge of the peripheral wall 42.

The cover 6 supports a second thermostat 60 fixed to a contact 44, the contact 44 projecting in the evaporation chamber 43 and passing through the cover 6. The second thermostat 60 is connected to the second resistance 41 so as to regulate the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 around a fixed preset temperature that is not adjustable by the user and is slightly greater than 100 c, preferably about 105 c.

The second thermostat 60 is advantageously realized by a mechanical thermostat of the bimetallic strip type, requiring less precision for the adjustment of the temperature of the heating body 4 than for the heating soleplate 3.

The cover 6 comprises a connector 61, said connector 61 being connected to a steam duct 105, said steam duct 105 being integrated in a duct 101, said duct 101 connecting the steam generating base 100 and the iron 1, the connector 61 allowing the steam generated by the tank 102 to be used to supply the evaporation chamber 43.

As shown in fig. 4, the joint 61 opens into the front section 4 at an injection zone 45, from which injection zone 45 the vapour is discharged through the condensate retaining and evaporating means.

Preferably, said condensate holding and evaporating means comprise a peripheral side wall 5, said peripheral side wall 5 having a U-shaped portion 5A, said U-shaped portion 5A surrounding the injection zone 45 over more than 75% of the periphery of the injection zone 45 and thus forming a cavity with a single outlet 45A oriented towards a first pocket 45B, the first pocket 45B forming a blind duct and advantageously extending above the second electrical resistance 41, said first pocket 45B being located in the flow direction of the steam flow coming from the injection zone 45.

The condensate retaining and evaporating device further comprises an evaporation circuit comprising a first channel 43A, the inlet 43D of said first channel 43A being arranged laterally with respect to the outlet 45A so that the flow of steam entering the first channel 43A is in the opposite direction to the flow of steam exiting through the outlet 45A.

The first channel 43A has a first portion which surrounds the portion 5A of the side wall 5 and has at the same time two consecutive 90 ° corners, the first channel 43A then having a portion, called the centrifugal portion, which extends substantially along the curve of a circular arc around the evaporation chamber 43 and at the same time rotates in the opposite direction to the corner of the first portion and extends partly above the second resistor 41.

The centrifugal portion comprises a first zone, indicated by a first series of hatchings on figure 4, which extends over an angular sector of about 180 ° and is laterally delimited by the inner side of the side wall 5 and by the outer side of the circular arc-shaped side wall 8 of smaller radius surrounding the evaporation chamber 43.

Preferably, said side wall 5 has a radius of curvature at the centrifugal part greater than 25mm and a gradually increasing passage section in order to reach a maximum passage section at the outlet of the first zone. By way of example, said passage section may be about 100mm at the entrance of the first zone²And about 130mm at the exit of the first zone²。

Said centrifugation portion comprises, in the extension of the first zone, a second zone, indicated by a second set of hatchings, which opens into said evaporation chamber 43. Advantageously, said evaporation chamber 43 comprises a bottom, which is arranged lower than the end of the outlet of said first channel 43A, so as to form a step 48 at the inlet of the evaporation chamber 43, the recessed bottom of said evaporation chamber 43 forming a storage cavity for the condensate.

Said centrifugal part has, at the second region, a particular shape which allows to deflect the water droplets pushed by the steam flow towards a dead-circuit condensate retention pocket 43E, said condensate retention pocket 43E being arranged between the two branches of the U-shaped second electrical resistance 41.

This condensate holding bag 43E is arranged at the end of the evaporation chamber 43 and is defined by the inner side of the side wall 8 and an inner wall 8A, said inner wall 8A projecting inside the evaporation chamber 43.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, said inner wall 8A is connected to the side wall 8 by forming an obtuse angle with the side wall 8 at an edge 80, said edge 80 defining the inlet of said evaporation chamber 43, said condensate retaining bag 43E being open opposite the inlet of the evaporation chamber 43.

The inner side of said side wall 5 has, opposite the edge 80, a portion with a decreasing radius of curvature and ending with a portion 5B, which protrudes at the inlet of the evaporation chamber 43 and forms a deflector that deflects the drops pushed by the steam flow towards the condensate retaining bag 43E.

As shown in fig. 7, the cover 6 includes a lower face defining the top of the evaporation chamber 43 and including a rib 62, the rib 62 extending the side wall 5 at the end of the flow deflector 5B and extending in a direction toward the condensate retaining bag 43E so as to guide the condensate to flow on the top of the evaporation chamber 43 toward the condensate retaining bag 43E.

Said evaporation chamber 43 is laterally delimited, behind the deflector 5B, by an intermediate lateral wall 9, said intermediate lateral wall 9 extending in a curved manner between the lateral wall 5 and the lateral wall 8 and delimiting a portion of the outer perimeter of said evaporation chamber 43. The side walls 5 and the intermediate side wall 9 advantageously form an obtuse angle with each other at their intersection, and the end of the flow director 5B is protruding with respect to the inner side surface of the intermediate side wall 9.

The intermediate side wall 9 has, on its upper edge, a notch forming the lower end of a side opening 43C communicating with the second channel 43B, the other part of the side opening 43C being arranged in the cover 6, as shown in fig. 7.

Preferably, the side opening 43C has a lower edge at a distance of about 12mm with respect to the bottom of the evaporation chamber 43. The second channel 43B advantageously extends opposite the first channel 43A with respect to the evaporation chamber 43 and has a shape such that the steam flow makes a turn of 180 ° passing from the first channel 43A to the second channel 43B through the side opening 43C.

Said second channel 43B extends outside the intermediate side wall 9 and towards the front end of the heating body 4, said second channel 43B communicating with two passages 46 through the heating body 4 in order to open onto the underside of the heating body 4 in the vapor diffusion chamber 7, as shown in fig. 5, said vapor diffusion chamber 7 being arranged in the receptacle 30 of the heating sole plate 3 provided between the evaporation chamber 43 and the cover 2.

This cavity 30 limits the heat exchange between the heating soleplate 3 and the enclosure 2, carried out by conduction, and therefore creates a cold zone in the front portion of the enclosure 2, in which the temperature of the ironing surface is lower than in the hot zone located in the rear portion of the enclosure.

In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cavity 30 has a substantially triangular shape, said shape conforming to the shape of the front portion of the mask 2, the width of said cavity 30 representing at least 65% of the width of the mask 2.

As shown in fig. 3 and 8, the diffusion chamber 7 allows to supply a first group 21 of steam outlet holes 20, located mainly in the front portion of the enclosure 2, in the cold region of the ironing surface, and a second group 22 of steam outlet holes 20, located in the rear portion of the enclosure 2, in the hot region of the ironing surface. The steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 are arranged mainly directly opposite the diffusion chamber 7, so that the steam diffused by these holes does not come into contact with the heated soleplate 3 and is not heated by the heated soleplate 3 before being diffused outside the hood 2.

Preferably, the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 are distributed over the entire surface of the cap 2 covered by the cavity 30, so as to spread the steam over a width corresponding to at least 65% of the width of the cap 2.

The steam outlet holes 20 of said second group 22 are indirectly fed through a distribution channel 47 arranged on the rear portion of the hood 2, where the steam is heated before being diffused outside the hood 2 at the steam outlet holes 20 of said second group 22.

The operation of such an ironing apparatus and the advantages brought by such a construction will now be described.

When the device is started, the tank 102 is heated and the water it contains is heated to boiling, and steam under pressure generated by the tank 102 is transported through the steam conduit 105 towards the iron 1. When the steam is transported through the duct 105, the temperature of the steam is reduced, so that condensate is formed in the steam flow reaching the iron 1.

When the user actuates the pin 10 in order to release the steam under pressure contained in the tank 102, if this condensate is sufficiently large to form a water blockage in the steam conduit 105, this water is pushed violently through the steam circuit, in particular at the injection zone 45. These droplets of water pushed by the steam flow are mostly collected by their inertia in the first pocket 45B, the water is stored in the first pocket 45B so as to be gradually evaporated, while the steam flow continues its path by exiting laterally through the inlet 43D.

In any case, the possible water droplets are driven by the steam flow in the first channel 43A of the device, then flow along the outer side wall 5 of the centrifugal part and reach the deflector 5B, where the water droplets are projected into the evaporation chamber 43 towards the side wall 8 facing the deflector 5B. The water droplets then move in the evaporation chamber 43 along a parabolic type curve, as indicated by the dashed arrow in fig. 4, until hitting the side wall 8, where the water droplets are taken into the condensate retaining bag 43E, while the steam can be directly discharged through the side opening 43C arranged at the top of the evaporation chamber 43.

When the flow of the steam flow is regularly established between the base 100 and the iron 1, the condensate carried by the steam is less and moves in the form of separated water droplets or in the form of a liquid film which moves along the walls of the evaporation circuit under the action of the driving force generated by the steam flow.

The liquid film flowing in the first channel 43A along the side wall 8 reaches the edge 80, at which edge 80 a vortex flow is formed, which is accompanied by a drop in the velocity of the steam flow, allowing the film to flow under the action of gravity in the bottom of the evaporation chamber 43, behind the step 48.

The liquid film flowing along the side wall 5 in the first channel 43A reaches the area located downstream of the deflector 5B, opposite the edge 80, wherein the speed of the steam flow drops due to the sudden change of direction, so that the film flows by gravity into the bottom of the evaporation chamber, downstream of the step 48.

A film of liquid flows on the lid 6 along the top of the evaporation chamber 43, said film being guided by the ribs 62 until reaching a condensate retaining pocket 43E forming a gentle area, said pocket 43E being remote from the main flow of steam, where the water droplets can flow by gravity into the bottom of the evaporation chamber 43.

After the recovery of the condensate carried by the steam flow, and after the recovery of the liquid film, the water accumulated in the bottom of the evaporation chamber 43 is gradually evaporated by being heated by the heat conducted by the bottom of the evaporation chamber 43.

The energy consumed for evaporating the water contributes to reducing the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 and thus to avoiding that the evaporation chamber 43 is not overheated by the heat flow generated by the first resistance 31 when the preset temperature of the first resistance 31 is greater than 200 ℃.

This configuration of the evaporation chamber 43 allows obtaining, at the outlet of the evaporation chamber 43, a steam with only a micro water droplet load, which passes through the channels 46 to be released in the diffusion chamber 7 arranged above the front portion of the hood 2.

Said diffusion chamber 7 is remote from the hot area of the enclosure 2, the steam at the diffusion chamber 7 being diffused through the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21, which has a higher humidity, that is to say a load of micro-sized water droplets deposited on the fabric being ironed.

A good moistening of the laundry is thus obtained by the steam coming from the steam outlet aperture 20 arranged in the front portion of the hood 2.

In particular, this configuration allows to establish a large thermal gradient between point B, located in the cold region of the ironing surface, and point a, located in the hot region of the ironing surface, since the geometry allows to confine the heat flow between the centre of the enclosure 2, which is directly subjected to the heating by the first electrical resistance 31, and the front portion of the enclosure 2.

Thus, the temperature of the heating soleplate 3, and thus the temperature of the rear portion of the ironing surface, can be adjusted to around a preset temperature greater than 240 ℃ while maintaining the temperature in the front portion of the ironing surface, and especially around point B, around 100 ℃.

Furthermore, in order to avoid the energy released by the rear portion of the soleplate 3 gradually causing an increase in the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 exceeding 130 ℃, the electronic card 108 may advantageously comprise a program controlling the pump 104 and the electric valve 107 so as to regularly inject small amounts of water into the steam conduit 105.

In fact, the water injected into the steam duct 105 is entrained by the steam flow up to the evaporation chamber 43, where these purposely introduced water droplets will be evaporated and thus produce a drop in the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43.

The controlled injection of water in the steam conduit 105 can be achieved in a systematic way when the user actuates the pin 10 of the control electrovalve 102A in order to release steam through the steam conduit 105.

Thus, as shown in fig. 9, the electronic card 18 controls the opening of the electric valve 107 and the activation of the pump 104 at regular intervals, so as to direct the water coming from the pump 104 towards the steam conduit 105 when the electric valve 102A is open. For example, when the pin 10 is pressed, the pump is activated for 100ms on a 500ms cycle during the entire opening phase of the electrovalve 102A, the electrovalve 107 being activated and deactivated with a waiting time of, for example, 100ms with respect to the activation of the pump 104.

In an embodiment variant, the controlled injection of water in the steam duct 105 may be conditioned by a preset temperature of the first electrical resistance 31. As an example, the controlled injection of water will only be carried out when the preset temperature of the first electrical resistance 31 is greater than a certain threshold value, for example 200 ℃.

In another embodiment variant, the regular injection of small quantities of water into the steam duct 105 can be carried out in a controlled manner according to the actual temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 measured by the sensor, the quantity of water injected being greater when the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 is higher.

Of course, the preset temperature of the first thermostat is low, which is close to 100 ℃, the presence of the second resistance 41 and its regulation by the second thermostat 60 allows to keep the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 at a temperature close to 105 ℃, thus allowing to gradually evaporate the condensate collected in the evaporation chamber.

The iron 1 thus realized thus allows the diffusion of high humidity steam through the steam outlet apertures 20 of the first group 21, but without condensate. Thus, the steam discharged by the holes 20 condenses rapidly in the thickness of the fabric, and allows to obtain better ironing performances, this condensation in the fabric being promoted by the low temperature of the ironing surface, close to 100 ℃, in the vicinity of the steam output holes 20 of the first group 21, which avoids overheating the fabric.

Due to this heat distribution and the diffusion of steam at temperatures close to condensation, the wrinkle removing properties of fabrics requiring higher ironing temperatures, such as linen or cotton fabrics, are improved.

Furthermore, when the iron is moved towards the front, the fabric area previously wetted by the steam outlet holes 20 of the cold area of the ironing surface is dried by the rear portion of the ironing surface having a higher temperature.

When the preset temperature of the ironing surface is about 100 ℃, the temperature of the front portion of the enclosure 2 remains greater than 90 ℃, due to the heat exchange established by radiation with the front end 4 of the heating sole, by convection of the steam present in the cavity 30, or by conduction with the portion of the heating sole 3 surrounding the cavity 30, which is sufficient to avoid direct condensation of the steam on the enclosure 2 and at the same time wetting of the laundry by capillary phenomenon formation, resulting in excessive drying times.

Finally, the steam discharged by the steam output holes 20 of the second group 22 has the advantage of being less humid than the steam discharged by the first group 21, because it is reheated when it diffuses through the distribution channels of the heating soleplate 3, so that the discharge of steam through these holes does not hinder the drying of the rear portion of the laundry covered 2. Conversely, when only the rear portion of the enclosure 2 is used to iron a specific area of the garment on which the iron 1 is moved only towards the rear, the presence of the steam outlet apertures 20 of the second group 22 allows improving the efficiency of the iron.

The invention is of course in no way limited to the embodiments shown and described, which are given by way of example only. Changes may be made, especially in matters of construction of different elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without exceeding the scope of the invention.

In a variant embodiment that is not shown, the hood may therefore comprise only the first group of steam outlet holes and no second group of steam outlet holes.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the tank for generating steam can be mounted directly in the iron and/or be constituted by an instantaneous evaporation chamber.

In a variant embodiment that is not shown, the heating element can therefore be realized as a flat heating element that is screen-printed.

Thus, in another embodiment variant, not shown, the iron may comprise a collector arranged transversely with respect to the cavity of the heated soleplate. The collector is advantageously realized by punching a stainless steel plate, said collector comprising a discharge hole opposite each steam outlet hole of the first set, in order to pre-orient the steam flow towards these steam outlet holes. Such a collector has the advantage of further limiting the heat exchange established between the steam flow and the heating sole plate, which allows further lowering of the steam temperature at the outlet of the steam outlet holes of the first group, so as to achieve a greater degree of moistening of the garment and a better ironing performance.

Claims

1. An iron (1), said iron (1) comprising a circuit for diffusing a flow of steam towards at least one steam outlet hole (20), said circuit comprising means for retaining and evaporating condensate, said means for retaining and evaporating condensate allowing to avoid the diffusion of water droplets through said steam outlet hole (20), said means for retaining and evaporating condensate comprising a first channel (43A), said first channel (43A) opening into an evaporation chamber (43) arranged in a main body (3), said main body (3) comprising a heating resistor, said evaporation chamber (43) comprising an intermediate side wall (9), said intermediate side wall (9) comprising a side opening (43C), said side opening (43C) communicating with a second channel (43B) through which the flow of steam exits from said evaporation chamber (43) towards said steam outlet hole (20), characterized in that the evaporation chamber (43) comprises, in the region opposite the side opening (43C), a condensate retaining pocket (43E), the condensate retaining pocket (43E) forming a dead circuit towards which the steam flow coming from the first channel (43A) is conveyed and can only be discharged by return.

2. An iron (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at the outlet of the first channel (43A) the steam flow is directed in the direction of a side wall (8) of the evaporation chamber (43) extending between the side opening (43C) and the condensate retaining bag (43E), the side wall (8) having a shape suitable for deflecting water droplets projected on the side wall (8) towards the condensate retaining bag (43E).

3. Iron (1) as in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the side wall (8) extends along a curved shape.

4. Iron (1) as in claim 2, characterized in that the side wall (8) extends along an arc of a circle.

5. An iron (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first channel (43A) surrounds the evaporation chamber (43).

6. Iron (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said first channel (43A) is laterally delimited by a lateral wall (8) of said evaporation chamber (43) and by a peripheral lateral wall (5), said peripheral lateral wall (5) extending around said evaporation chamber (43), said peripheral lateral wall (5) comprising a portion (5B) projecting inside said evaporation chamber (43).

7. Iron (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the evaporation chamber (43) comprises a top comprising a rib (62), the rib (62) being in the prolongation of the peripheral side wall (5) and the rib (62) extending towards the condensate retaining bag (43E).

8. Iron (1) as in any one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that the evaporation chamber (43) comprises a bottom, which is arranged lower than the outlet of the first channel (43A), so as to form a step (48) between the bottom of the evaporation chamber (43) and the lower face of the first channel (43A).

9. Iron (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the side opening (43C) is elevated with respect to the bottom of the evaporation chamber (43).

10. Iron (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said means for retaining and evaporating the condensate comprise, upstream or downstream of said first channel (43A), at least one first pocket (45B) towards which said flow of steam is directed by one side of the wall (5A), said first pocket (45B) forming a dead circuit, said flow of steam being dischargeable only through a passage arranged at the other side of said wall (5A).

11. Iron (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said heating resistance is powered by a thermostat (60) depending on the temperature of said evaporation chamber (43).

12. Iron (1) as in claim 11, characterized by the fact that the thermostat (60) is arranged for activating and powering the heating resistance when water is present in the bottom of the evaporation chamber (43).

13. Steam ironing device, characterized in that it comprises a steam generating base (100) connected to an iron according to any one of claims 1 to 12 by means of a duct (101).

14. Ironing apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that said base (100) comprises a water container (103) and comprises a tank (102) for generating steam under pressure, said tank (102) comprising a steam outlet equipped with an electric valve (102A), said electric valve (102A) being connected with a steam conduit (105) that delivers steam to said iron (1).