EP0323328B1 - Portable electric steam generator, particularly for removing wall coverings - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric portable device for the production of steam applied to a surface, usable more particularly, but not exclusively, for the removal of wall coverings.

Most of the devices currently known for peeling off wall coverings, such as wallpapers, use a "steam tray" provided with a rubber hose connected to a steam boiler which rests on the floor. Some of these devices vaporize water at a pressure close to atmospheric pressure and others at a pressure of 2 bars. They have an operating autonomy ranging from 3/4 of an hour to 2 hours 30 minutes for, powers from 1500 watts to 2000 watts, and they have a vaporization time ranging from 20 to 35 minutes. They are provided with pressure safety and absence of water means, as well as pressure maintenance for devices operating at 2 bars. These known devices are relatively large, while having a relatively poor thermal efficiency. The steam produced is accompanied by water droplets which humidifies the paper too much, causing on the one hand, a delay in the rise in temperature to around 75 ° C and, on the other hand, a tendency of the paper to tear. Furthermore, these devices are relatively expensive and cannot reach a large audience.

We also know the use of the "pressure cooker" to produce the steam which is channeled, by a rubber hose connected to a "steam tray", which is commercially available. This device has the same drawbacks as the aforementioned devices with, in addition, the danger of overturning and explosion when using gas stoves.

We also know, from patent FR-A-2 291 048, a wallpaper stripper device comprising a housing containing a liquid to be vaporized, and means for heating this liquid to its vaporization temperature, said housing being subdivided into two compartments, namely a closed rear compartment containing the steam generator proper, and means for heating this liquid, and an anterior compartment, forming vaporization cavity, or "steam tray", open towards the outside, delimited by a peripheral edge which can be applied to the surface intended to receive the vapor, the anterior and posterior compartments being in communication by openings. Devices of this type have, in particular, the drawback on the one hand of having to be rigorously maintained in the same position under penalty of disturbing their operation, or even of stopping it completely and, on the other hand, of supplying a vapor wet, that is to say strongly loaded with water droplets.

Finally, various types of device are known which use the retention capacity of porous bodies to store a mass of water which is vaporized, when this water is heated to the desired temperature, by association of an energy source suitable for this porous body. These devices are mainly characterized in that the liquid mass is stored in the form impregnated in the porous body, with or without the presence of a permanent liquid mass. In the case where the liquid is heated by the passage of electric current, it is possible to obtain different flow profiles of vapor as a function of the density of the chosen porous body. Such devices are described for example in patent FR-A-2,595,052.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of known steam generating devices, by using the specific properties of the devices using a porous body for the retention of liquid to be vaporized and by adapting these devices in a judicious manner.

To this end, the present invention relates to an electric portable device for the production of steam applied to a surface, usable more particularly, but not exclusively, for the removal of wall coverings, comprising a housing containing a liquid to be vaporized, and means for heating this liquid to its vaporization temperature, said housing being subdivided into two compartments, namely a closed rear compartment containing the steam generator proper (12, 13) and means for heating this liquid, and an anterior compartment forming a vaporization cavity or "vapor plate", open towards the outside, delimited by a peripheral edge which can be applied to the surface intended to receive the vapor, the anterior and posterior compartments being in communication through openings, characterized in that the rear compartment consists of two housings, namely a lower housing r, separated from the front compartment by a lower partition, in which the liquid to be vaporized is contained, in exclusively impregnated form, in a porous body which extends over almost the entire height of said lower housing, and an upper housing, separate from the front compartment by an upper partition, the housing upper being in communication, through the openings, with the front compartment, to allow the passage of the steam produced in the lower housing in the front compartment.

The electro-portable device according to the invention offers the advantage of having a particularly simple structure and of comprising, in an integrated manner, its reserve of liquid to be vaporized, allowing it, for example, autonomy without recharging of the order of 20 minutes for a low weight, the electric control, the vaporization cavity or "steam tray" and a handle to hold the device. This device has a power of 1500 Watts for example and it can be equipped with a steam flow variator by switching or by an electronic circuit. It produces vapor practically free from water droplets and has excellent thermal efficiency. It operates at atmospheric pressure and very quickly produces steam after about two minutes when cold and after about 30 seconds when hot after recharging with water. This device is compact for its storage and it creates a low spraying noise. For the same power as known devices, the temperature of a wallpaper to be peeled off is raised in half the time. It can be built in plastic and is then of a low cost price and it can thus be used by a large audience in the field of DIY or crafts.

• La figure 1 est une vue en coupe verticale d'un appareil électro-portatif générateur de vapeur suivant l'invention, dans un plan transversal perpendiculaire à la surface sur laquelle l'appareil est appliqué.
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe verticale faite suivant la ligne II-II de la figure 1.
• La figure 3 est une vue en coupe horizontale faite suivant la ligne III-III de la figure 1.
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective du générateur de vapeur proprement dit de l'appareil suivant l'invention.
• La figure 5 est un schéma électrique d'un dispositif de commutation des électrodes pour adapter le générateur de vapeur à une plage de résistivités des eaux et/ou pour faire varier le débit de vapeur produite.
• La figure 6 est un diagramme représentant différents profils de débit de vapeur obtenus par commutation pendant une durée de 20mn.
• La figure 7 est un diagramme comparant les temps d'élévation de la température du papier peint entre un appareil suivant l'invention et un décolleur dont la chaudière repose sur le sol, pour une même puissance dissipée.
• La figure 8 est une vue en perspective d'un dispositif électronique de commande du générateur de vapeur associé à la fiche d'alimentation électrique de l'appareil électro-portatif suivant l'invention.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the attached drawing in which:

• Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an electric portable steam generator according to the invention, in a transverse plane perpendicular to the surface on which the device is applied.
• Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line II-II of Figure 1.
• Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line III-III of Figure 1.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the actual steam generator of the apparatus according to the invention.
• FIG. 5 is an electrical diagram of a device for switching the electrodes to adapt the steam generator to a range of water resistivities and / or to vary the flow rate of steam produced.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram representing different profiles of vapor flow rate obtained by switching over a period of 20 minutes.
• Figure 7 is a diagram comparing the rise times of the temperature of the wallpaper between an apparatus according to the invention and a stripper whose boiler rests on the ground, for the same dissipated power.
• FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an electronic device for controlling the steam generator associated with the electrical supply plug of the electric portable device according to the invention.

If we refer to Figures 1 to 3 we see that these figures represent an electric portable device according to the invention for the production of steam intended to be applied to a surface 1, for example for the purpose of peeling off a wall covering such as wallpaper adhering to this surface. The device comprises a two-part housing which consists of a lower parallelepiped box 2 and an upper cover 3. The lower box 2 comprises a horizontal bottom 4, two vertical side walls 5,6 a vertical rear wall 7 is a vertical partition 8 extending between the two side walls 5 and 6 parallel to the rear wall 7. The partition 8 defines with the rear wall 7 a rear compartment 9 which is closed and, on the opposite side, a compartment front 11, which is open and which forms part of a vaporization cavity or of a "vapor plate". In the rear compartment 9 is housed a steam generator proper consisting of a parallelepiped porous body 12 intended for the storage of water to be vaporized, and heating means 13 consisting of parallel horizontal electrodes in contact with the porous body 12. This porous body 12 can be 160mm high, 200mm wide and 30mm thick, this body being cut from a rock fiber mat, the fiber diameters of which are mainly between about 1 micrometer and 3.5 micrometers and whose length ranges from 5mm to 15mm, for example. These fibers preferably form, by assembly, laminated layers parallel to the heating electrodes, being maintained by a binder promoting the impregnation of water. In the example considered the porous body 12 has an original density of 75kg / m³ which, by slight compression between the heating electrodes, has a final density of 130kg / m³ for a width of 30mm.

In the embodiment of the invention described by way of nonlimiting example, the heating means 13 are constituted by twelve horizontal electrodes 13a, 13b ... 13 l which are distributed, by pairs of electrodes located at the same level, on the two large anterior and posterior vertical faces of the porous body 2. Consequently, the posterior face of the porous body 2 carries the electrodes 13a, 13b ... 13f which extend horizontally and follow each other from top to bottom in this order . The front face of the porous body 2, that is to say that which is located near the partition 8, similarly carries the electrodes 13g, 13h ... 13 l , which extend horizontally and follow each other from top to bottom in this order. The electrodes are for example made of copper, and are preferably shaped so as to each have a U-shaped cross section. Each electrode is applied against the porous body by its core and the two branches of each U extend towards the outside. The electrodes 13a-13 l advantageously have a length such that they protrude on either side of the vertical uprights 14.15 arranged on the two small vertical faces of the porous body 12, in the immediate vicinity thereof. The uprights 14.15 are secured at their upper ends to the cover 3. Each of these uprights 14,15 is pierced with twelve holes in which are engaged the end portions of the horizontal electrodes 13a-13 l . The distances between the electrodes are variable from bottom to top For example the distance between the most basic electrodes 13e (or 13k) is, for example, 52mm the distance between the electrodes 13d, 13e (or 13j , 13k) is 24mm, the center distance above it is 28mm then 24mm, then 28mm between the two highest electrodes (13a, 13b), and finally 24mm between the electrodes 13k-13l and 13e -13f.

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of an electric switching arrangement 13a-13 the electrodes to operate the apparatus the steam generator at an average power of 1500 Watts for a water resistivity range of 850Ωcm to 2200Ωcm. In this example of mounting the 13h.13j electrodes 13k and placed on the front side of the porous body 12 and optionally the electrode 13 are joined electrically together at one sector of the phase 16 while 13b.13d electrodes 13e and optionally the electrode 13f which are disposed respectively at the same level as the previous ones on the rear face of the porous body 12, are connected to the other phase 17 of the sector, for a voltage of 220 volts. In other words the three pairs of electrodes 13b 13h.13d 13j.13e 13k which are located at the same level, are connected in parallel to the two phases 16,17 of the sector. Furthermore, the front electrodes 13g, 13i are connected to each other and to a contact of a switch 18, the other contact of which is connected to phase 16. while the rear electrodes 13a and 13c are connected to each other and to a contact d 'a switch 19 whose other contact is connected to the other phase 17 of the sector. In other words, the pairs of electrodes 13a 13g and 13c 13i which are located at the same level, are connected in parallel, via switches 18.19, to the two phases 16, 17 of the sector.

As can be seen in Figures 1,2 and 3, the cover 3 of the device is fixed to the lower box 2 by means of screws 21, with the interposition of a seal 22. The cover 3 has a shape complementary to that of the lower box 2, that is to say it comprises an upper horizontal wall 23, of the same extent as the bottom 4 of the box 2, two vertical side walls 24.25 connecting to the vertical side walls 5, 6 of the box 2, a vertical rear wall 26 connecting to the vertical rear wall 7 of the box 2 and a vertical partition 27 connecting to the partition 8 of the box 2 and extending between the two vertical side walls 24 and 25. The partition vertical separation 27 delimits thus, in the cover 3 two compartments, namely a rear compartment 28 located above the rear compartment 9 of the box 2 and a front compartment 29 located above the front compartment 11 of the box 2, the two front compartments 11 and 29 constituting together the vaporization cavity or the "vapor plate" intended to be applied, by its peripheral edge, to the surface 1 which is to receive the vapor.

The vertical partition 27 of the cover 3 is crossed by tubes 31 extending horizontally and communicating the two posterior 28 and anterior 29 compartments in order to channel the vapor produced towards and into the vaporization cavity formed by the anterior compartments 11 and 29. According to a variant of the passages can be provided, in place of the tubes 31 or in addition to these between the two rear 9 and anterior 11 compartments of the box 2 at any height, in the partition, of so as to distribute the vapor produced as well as possible.

The cover 3 also includes an orifice 32 intended for loading the apparatus with water, this orifice 32 being closed by a plug 33.

On the rear side, the lower box 2 is integral with a vertical handle 34 connected, at its upper and lower ends, to the rear wall 7 of the box 2 and in this handle 34 passes a cord 35 of electrical supply, connected to the sector, which leads, at its upper end, to a female plug 36. This female plug is engaged in a male plug 37 carried by an upper extension 38 of the handle 34. The female plug 36 passes through an opening having a section having the same shape as the section right of the female plug 36. which is formed in a vertical wing 39a, extending downward. behind the extension 38, a piece in the form of a square 39 made of plastic. This square-shaped part 39 is articulated on the cover 3 and for this purpose it is secured to a pivot 41 on which it is held by means of a screw 42. The square-shaped piece 39 is secured to 'an arm lever 43 extending horizontally, along the upper part of the rear wall 26 of the cover 3. and this lever arm 43 is integral at its end. a cover 44 disposed above the water filling orifice 32 closed by the plug 33 which is integral with the cover 44, below the latter. This cover 44 which has a gripping tab 45, is embedded between walls 46, 47 and 48 of the cover 3 of the device so that the water is loaded in a bowl, the lower part of which is indicated at 49 on Figure 2.

Furthermore, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the rear wall 26 of the cover 3 of the appliance carries sealed bushings 51, 52, 53 for the electrical connection wires connected to the electrodes of the steam generator, according to the diagram. assembly of FIG. 5, and which lead to the contacts of the switches 18, 19 which are carried by the extension 38 of the handle 34, between this extension and the rear wall 7 of the box 2.

In the particular embodiment of the invention which has been described above, the general dimensions of the device are a length of 255mm, a height of 185mm and a thickness of 65mm, including an interior width of 50mm for the housing of the water storage and vaporization device.

The operation of the apparatus according to the invention which has been described is as follows. First of all to charge the storage and vaporization device with water, the female plug 36 is removed from the male plug 37, which releases the square part 39. Thus the lever arm 43 and the intake cover d 44 are released. We can then lift the water inlet cover 44, using the tongue 45, to put this assembly in the vertical position, which thus makes it possible to charge the device with water through the orifice 32, ie at by means of a jet from a tap or from any container. This completes the filling of the apparatus until the water appears at the level of the filling orifice 32. Then the porous body 12 is allowed to soak in water for a few seconds, then the excess water contained all around the porous body 12 is removed by inverting the device. The device having been thus impregnated, all that remains is to close the intake cover of water 44 and consequently the plug 33 closing the orifice 32 so that the lever arm 43 comes to lie horizontally. In this position, the opening of the square-shaped piece 39 is located opposite the male socket 37, which makes it possible to introduce, through this opening, the female socket 36 into the male socket 37. From at this time the electrodes of the steam generator group are energized and the electric current passes through the water contained in the porous body 12 to heat it and then vaporize it. The vapor thus produced is distributed throughout the box 2 and in the interior compartment 28 of the cover 3, and this vapor escapes through the tubes 31 to reach the vaporization cavity or the "vapor tray" formed by the anterior compartments 11.29. Steam thus reaches the wallpaper to be peeled off when the appliance is applied to the wall 1.

It should be noted that, when the water change orifice 32 is accessible, it is impossible to fit the female plug 36 because the square-shaped piece 39 masks the entry of the male plug 36, which thus provides perfect security with regard to a risk of electric shock, since the electrodes are no longer under electric voltage when charging with water.

Likewise, it should be noted that by removing excess water, after filling the porous body, the removal of foreign bodies which can accumulate in the porous body as well as in the enclosure is thus carried out. vaporization.

When switching on the appliance, depending on the resistivity of the water used or on the desired steam flow, the results obtained are indicated below according to the setting of the switch 18.19 to two positions. In the diagram of FIG. 6 are represented four examples of results representing four vapor flow profiles obtained with the apparatus described above. The dissipated power, expressed in watts, is plotted on the ordinate while time is plotted on the abscissa, in minutes. The curves a , b , c , are representative for the use of water having a resistivity of 2000 Ωcm. Curve a corresponds to the case where the two switches 18,19 are open (relatively low steam flow), curve b to the case where the switch 18 is open and the switch 19 is closed (average steam flow), while that curve c corresponds to the case where the two switches 18 and 19 are closed (high vapor flow rate). The curve d represents the case of the use of water having a resistivity of 1000Ωcm when the switches 18 and 19 are open. Thus in this example of result and for a design device with a relatively low cost price, we ensure its use in the resistivity range of the water distributed for a maximum power of 2000 watts, while making it possible to obtain flow profiles of relatively constant steam and sufficient autonomy for these types of work.

To ensure greater flexibility of use of the apparatus, when, for example, it is desired to obtain progressive vapor flow rates, the apparatus can be equipped with an electronic power variator making it possible to vary this power between 0 and 100%. In general, for example, a triac is used associated with different components, a potentiometer of which provides the desired adjustment of the vapor flow rate. When this device is an integral part of the wallpaper peeling device, the electrode interconnection diagram becomes as follows: in accordance with FIG. 5, the electrodes 13g, 13h, 13i, 13j, 13k are paralleled and optionally 13 l then also, those of electrodes 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e and possibly 13f, each of whose interconnections is connected to the electronic circuit. In addition to the possibility of adjusting the steam flow, this circuit has the advantage of widening the range of use of the resistivity of water.

Another type of electronic circuit can also be used, for example based on triac, the function of which, by the use, for example, of a zener diode, will ensure constant power despite large deviations in the resistivity of the water. used. In this case, it is possible to develop a device with two positions of steam flow corresponding, for example, to two powers: 1000 watts and 1500 watts.

Thus, by these different ways of supplying electric power to the vaporization device, a whole range of devices can be offered in order to reach a choice by the users as well as a range of prices.

In the diagram of FIG. 7, the results are shown comparing the times of rise in the temperature of the paper obtained with the apparatus according to the invention and with a known wallpaper stripper whose boiler rests on the ground, provided from its pipe connected to a steam tray. This measurement was carried out by inserting thermocouples into the plaster and close to the wallpaper and in both cases the time required to reach 100 ° C. was measured. The temperature, in ° C, is plotted on the ordinate as a function of time, plotted on the abscissa, in seconds. Curve e relates to the stripper according to the invention, and curve f to the boiler on the ground. Since the softening point of the adhesives is around 75 ° C., it is noted that it takes less than half the time, for the benefit of the invention, to achieve the same result when the two devices have the same power. Conversely, for half the power, you can do the work at the same time.

Figure 8 is an exemplary embodiment of an electronic control device of the evaporator that can be associated with the female power plug of the device. This assembly consists of a female plug 54 which can be housed in the male plug 37, an adjustment button 55, for example integral with a potentiometer for controlling the electronic circuit to vary the steam flow rate, a heat sink 56 to dissipate heat from the triac by its association therewith, an electrical supply cord 57 and a sealed assembly 58 containing the components of the circuit.

If, in the exemplary embodiment of the device for storing and vaporizing water described above, a single block of porous body was used, this can be produced differently, for example, in the form of three elementary porous bodies mounted horizontally, comprising, for example, two electrodes each, these elementary porous bodies being spaced 5mm from each other. Likewise, if porous bodies having a density of 130 kg / m³ have been used, a range of density can be used ranging between 90 kg / m³ and 180 kg / m³ with similar results for this type of apparatus. and according to the kinds of electronic control devices. Likewise, other kinds of porous materials can be used, for example, glass fibers, or even, for example, cellular materials. Also, if the distance between the electrodes is 30mm for a voltage of 220 volts, this can be between 25mm and 35mm. If we want to create a range of devices taking into account the optimizations for each, we can therefore play on the compromises, choice of material, type and density of the porous bodies, location and distance of the electrodes, width and nature of the material thereof, additional amount of water that can surround the porous body to increase its autonomy without recharging, etc. to satisfy the power, the supply voltage, the weight, the size, the duration of life of the product, cost price, etc. We can also change the general or particular design of the elements of the device, for example its general shape, the place of entry of water, its means of obturation the water inlet, for example, put a rack to activate the masking of the socket, or activate a switch breaking the two poles of the sector, in connection with the plug of the water intake orifice, or, for example, locate different ent the orifices serving the steam in the tray, etc. and it is also possible to apply other vaporization operation control devices to it.

It is also possible, from the embodiment of the water storage and vaporization device, to widen the range of the wallpaper stripper by using, for example, other sources of electrical energy of other kinds. design of the electronic device for the control of the vaporization group, and other ways of effecting its water supply, for example by a pump withdrawing water from a container and controlled, for example, by a level detection of vaporization current which thus affects the operation of the pump.

Claims (10)

1. Electro-portable apparatus for producing steam applied to a surface, usable more particularly but not exclusively for ungluing wall coatings, comprising a housing containing a liquid to be vaporized, and means for heating this liquid up to its temperature of vaporization, said housing (2, 3) being subdivided into two compartments, namely a rear closed compartment (9) containing the steam generator (12, 13) proper and means (13) for heating this liquid, and a front compartment (11, 29) forming vaporization cavity or "steam plate", open to the outside, defined by a peripheral edge able to be applied on the surface (1) intended to receive the steam, the front (11, 29) and rear (9) compartments being in communication via openings (31), characterized in that the rear compartment (9) is constituted by two housings, namely a lower housing (2), separated from the front compartment (11) by a lower partition (8), in which the liquid to be vaporized is contained, in exclusively impregnated form, in a porous body which extends over virtually the whole height of said lower housing (2), and an upper housing (3), separated from the front compartment (11) by an upper partition (27), the upper housing (3) being in communication, via openings (31), with the front compartment (11) to allow passage of the steam produced in the lower housing (2) in the front compartment (11).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lower housing (2) comprises a horizontal bottom (4), two vertical lateral walls (5, 6), a vertical rear wall (7) and the vertical separation partition (8) extending between the two lateral walls (5, 6) parallel to the rear wall (7), the upper housing (3) being defined by a cover having a shape complementary of that of the lower housing (2), i.e. it comprises an upper horizontal wall (23), of the same extent as the bottom (4) of the lower housing (2), two vertical lateral walls (24, 25) connected to the vertical lateral walls (5, 6) of the lower housing (2), a vertical rear wall (26) connected to the vertical rear wall (7) of the lower housing (2), and the vertical separation partition (27) connected to the separation partition (8) of the lower housing and extending between the two vertical lateral walls (24, 25).
3. Apparatus according to either one of the preceding Claims, characterized in that the steam generator proper is constituted by a parallelepipedic porous body (12) intended for storing the liquid to be vaporized, and by heating means (13), constituted by parallel horizontal electrodes, in contact with the porous body (12), these horizontal electrodes (13a-13l) being distributed, in pairs of electrodes located at the same level, on the two front and rear vertical large faces of the porous body (12).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the electrodes (13a-13l) have a length such that they project on either side of vertical uprights (14, 15) disposed on the two vertical small faces of the porous body (12), in the immediate proximity thereof, each of these uprights (14, 15) being pierced with holes in which are engaged the end parts of the horizontal electrodes (13a-13l).
5. Apparatus according to either one of Claims 3 and 4, characterized in that pairs of electrodes (13b, 13h; 13d, 13j; 13e, 13k) which are located at the same level, are respectively connected in parallel to the two phases (16, 17) of the electrical supply mains, whilst other pairs of electrodes (13a, 13g; 13c, 13i) are connected in parallel, via switches (18, 19), respectively to the two phases (16, 17) of the mains, switches (18, 19) being open and/or closed as a function of the resistivity of the water to be vaporized and/or of the desired flowrate of steam.
6. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the openings existing between the front compartment (31) and the rear compartment (9) are constituted by bores of tubes disposed between these cavities.
7. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, on the rear side, the lower housing (2) is fast with a vertical handle (34) connected, at its upper and lower ends, to the rear wall (7) of the lower housing, this handle (34) being traversed by an electrical supply cord (35) connected to the electrical supply mains, which terminates, at its upper end, in a female socket (36) which may be engaged in a male plug (37) borne by an upper extension (38) of the handle (34).
8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, characterized in that the female socket (36) passes through an opening, having a section of the same shape as the cross section of the female socket (36), which is made in a vertical flange (39a), extending downwardly, to the rear of the extension (38), of an angle-shaped piece (39) which is articulated on the cover and which is fast with a lever arm (43) extending horizontally, along the upper part of the rear wall (26) of the cover of the apparatus, this lever arm (43) being fast, at its end, with a cover (44) disposed above a water-filling orifice (32) closed by a stopper (33).
9. Apparatus according to Claim 8, characterized in that the water-admission cover (44) which comprises a tongue (45) for gripping, is fitted between walls (46, 47, 48) of the cover of the apparatus so that filling with water is effected in a basin (49).
10. Apparatus according to any one of Claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the rear wall (26) of the cover of the apparatus bears tight passages (51, 52, 53) for the electrical connection wires connected to the electrodes of the steam generator and which terminate at the contacts of the switches (18, 19) which are borne by the extension (38) of the handle (34), between this extension and the rear wall (7) of the box (2).

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