EP0461959B1 - Electric iron with improved water softening cartridge and water reservoir - Google Patents

Abstract

The electric steam iron comprises a heating sole (1), an evaporation chamber (3), a water reservoir (5), a device (6) for supplying water to the evaporation chamber, and a water-softening cartridge (7) placed in the water circuit connecting the reservoir (5) to the evaporation chamber (3). <??>The water-softening cartridge (7) is arranged removably between a primary untreated-water reservoir (5) and a secondary softened-water reservoir (25) which communicates with the water-supply device (6), the cartridge (7) communicating with the primary reservoir (5) and the secondary reservoir (25) by means of valves (27a, 27b) preventing the flow of water when this cartridge is removed from the iron. <??>The invention is used particularly for preventing the scaling of steam irons. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an improved electric steam iron.

Known steam irons include a heating soleplate comprising an electrical heating resistor, a water tank, a vaporization chamber, and a device for supplying water to the vaporization chamber. This assembly is capped by a protective bodywork in which is generally incorporated a handle for gripping the iron.

In French patent application FR-A-2 648 163 of June 8, 1989 in the name of the plaintiff, the latter presented an iron of the above type which, in addition to the aforementioned organs, comprises a demineralizing cartridge which is placed in the water circuit which connects the tank to the vaporization chamber.

This cartridge is filled with an ion exchange resin which has the effect of removing from the water the elements such as limestone which are responsible for the scaling of the vaporization chamber and the steam outlet openings made. in the soleplate.

On the other hand, the removable nature of this cartridge poses a sealing problem between the reservoir and the conduit communicating with the device for supplying the vaporization chamber.

The object of the present invention is to provide improvements to the steam iron described in the aforementioned French patent application.

The invention thus relates to an electric steam iron comprising a heating soleplate, a vaporization chamber, a water tank, a device for supplying water to the vaporization chamber, a demineralizing cartridge placed in the circuit of water which connects the tank to the vaporization chamber, the assembly being capped by a protective bodywork.

According to the invention, this iron is characterized in that the demineralizing cartridge is removably disposed between a primary tank of raw water and a secondary tank of demineralized water which communicates with the water supply device, the cartridge communicating with the primary reservoir and the secondary reservoir by means of valves preventing the flow of water, when this cartridge is removed from the iron.

Thus, the cartridge physically separates two reservoirs which contain one of raw water and the other of demineralized water. The valves allow the cartridge to be removed for replacement by a new cartridge, without water flowing from one of the tanks.

According to an advantageous version of the invention, the rear part of the body of the iron is extended beyond the rear edge of the sole, the demineralizing cartridge being housed in said rear part, and located at a sufficient distance from the sole to avoid any heating of this cartridge.

The ion exchange resin contained in the demineralizing cartridge does not withstand a very high temperature and in particular not the heating caused by the heating soleplate and the wall of the vaporization chamber.

Thanks to the arrangement of the cartridge in a rear part of the iron situated beyond the rear edge of the soleplate, it is sufficiently distant from the latter to avoid any heating which is likely to render the resin inactive.

This provision was not obvious to find in the case of a steam iron.

According to an advantageous version of the invention, the demineralizing cartridge is arranged so removable in a housing which is connected to the water tank.

This connection between the cartridge housing and the reservoir implies a heat exchange condition between the reservoir which contains cold water (it comes from the tap) and the cartridge, which contributes to keeping the resin contained at low temperature. in the cartridge.

Preferably, the water tank extends substantially parallel to and at a certain distance above the heating soleplate, the bottom of the cartridge housing being located substantially in the bottom extension of the tank.

Thus, the arrangement of the cartridge does not affect the overall height of the iron.

According to a preferred version of the invention, the upper wall of the cartridge housing is adjacent to the interior of the water tank.

This wall of the housing thus forms part of the wall of the tank, so that the housing is integrated into the tank.

In addition, this wall allows, by heat exchange with the water in the tank, to keep the resin at low temperature.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said upper wall is inclined towards the front of the iron, said upper wall of the housing being connected to the bottom of the water tank by an inclined panel, the rear edge of the inclined panel being connected to the upper wall of the housing by a transverse partition forming with this wall a receptacle constituting a water reserve.

This inclined pan allows a supply of water to the cartridge by the "waves" of water formed during the back and forth movement of the iron.

The waves thus formed flow into the receptacle forming a reserve which communicates with the inlet of the cartridge.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the description below.

• la figure 1 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un fer à repasser conforme à l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe suivant le plan II-II de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe suivant le plan III-III de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe de la cartouche déminéralisante suivant un plan passant par les axes de ses entrée et sortie,
• la figure 5 est une en perspective éclatée des différentes parties du réservoir d'eau,
• la figure 6 est une vue schématique illustrant le fonctionnement lorsque le fer est en position normale d'utilisation,
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique illustrant le fonctionnement lorsque le fer est en position verticale de repos.

In the appended drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples:

• FIG. 1 is a view in longitudinal section of an iron according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the plane II-II of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the plane III-III of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the demineralizing cartridge along a plane passing through the axes of its inlet and outlet,
• FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the different parts of the water tank,
• FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating the operation when the iron is in the normal position of use,
• Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the operation when the iron is in the vertical rest position.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the electric steam iron comprises a heating sole 1 containing an electrical resistance 2, a vaporization chamber 3 closed by a metal wall 4, a water tank 5, a device 6 d water supply "drop by drop" to the vaporization chamber 3, and a demineralizing cartridge 7 (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4) placed in the water circuit which connects the reservoir 5 to the vaporization chamber 3.

All of the aforementioned organs are capped by a protective bodywork 8.

The water tank 5 extends horizontally between the front and the rear of the iron, above the vaporization chamber 3. The latter is separated from the upper wall of the vaporization chamber by a wall 9 in relatively thick plastic which thermally insulates the water tank 5 from the hot lower part of the iron.

The front part of the iron has a flap 10 which releases an opening 11 allowing water (generally tap water) to be introduced into the tank 5.

Other details appear in FIG. 1. These are well known to those skilled in the art, so that it is unnecessary to detail them here.

The demineralizing cartridge 7 is removably disposed in a housing 12 located between a primary tank of raw water 5 and a secondary tank of demineralized water 25, which communicates with the water supply device 6. This cartridge 7 communicates with the primary reservoir 5 and the secondary reservoir 25 by means of valves 27a, 27b preventing the flow of water, when this cartridge is removed from the iron.

In the embodiment shown, the secondary tank 25 is disposed inside the primary tank 5. In addition, the secondary tank 25 consists of two capacities 25c and 25d located respectively at the outlet of the cartridge 7 and around the device. supply 6 to the vaporization chamber.

Furthermore, the volume of the secondary reservoir 25 makes it possible to supply the supply device 6 of the vaporization chamber when the latter is open at its maximum flow rate, for at least 30 seconds.

In addition, each of the reservoirs 5 and 25 has means for venting in order to prevent one or more depressions from being created during the flow towards the vaporization chamber. One of these means consists of a tube 26a placed in the environment close to the supply device 6 of the vaporization chamber.

• d'une capacité 25c contenant le clapet de retenue 27 à la sortie de la cartouche 7 ;
• d'un conduit 25a situé sur ou sous le fond du réservoir 5, intégré à celui-ci par au moins une de ces parois (comme représenté), ou constitué d'un tube souple reliant les deux capacités 25c et 25d. Elle peut également être constituée par l'espace compris entre le fond du réservoir 5 et une seconde paroi (interne ou externe) couvrant tout ou partie du fond, afin d'augmenter le volume d'eau déminéralisée, sans modifier la perte de charge.
• d'une capacité 25d entourant le dispositif d'alimentation 6 de la chambre de vaporisation.

More precisely, the secondary reservoir 25 is made up (see FIGS. 5 and 6):

• with a capacity 25c containing the check valve 27 at the outlet of the cartridge 7;
• a conduit 25a located on or under the bottom of the reservoir 5, integrated into the latter by at least one of these walls (as shown), or consisting of a flexible tube connecting the two capacities 25c and 25d. It can also be constituted by the space between the bottom of the tank 5 and a second wall (internal or external) covering all or part of the bottom, in order to increase the volume of demineralized water, without modifying the pressure drop.
• with a capacity 25d surrounding the supply device 6 of the vaporization chamber.

The secondary tank retaining valve 27 can be omitted in order to reduce the pressure drop towards the capacity 25, if it is provided, on the instructions for use, that the user will have to leave the iron flat on her sole. This position allows only little water to escape, taking into account the shape and the levels of the two capacities constituting the secondary tank 25.

It is further seen in Figure 1 that the rear wall 8a of the body 8 is extended beyond the rear edge 1a of the sole 1 and that the housing 12 of the demineralizing cartridge 7 is located in said rear part; this housing 12 is thus located at a sufficient distance from the sole 1 to avoid overheating of the resin contained in the cartridge.

The demineralizing cartridge 7 is removably placed in the housing 12 which is itself integrated into the rear part of the water tank 5.

On the other hand, it can be seen in FIG. 1 that the bottom 13 of the housing 12 of the cartridge 7 is situated substantially at the same level as the bottom 5a of the reservoir 5.

Furthermore, the upper wall 14 of the housing 12 of the cartridge 7 is adjacent to the interior of the water tank 5.

In addition, this upper wall 14 is inclined towards the front of the iron and is connected to the bottom 5a of the water tank by an inclined panel 15. The rear edge 15a or top of this inclined panel 15 is connected to the upper wall 14 of the housing 12 by a transverse partition 16 forming with this wall 14 a receptacle 17 constituting a water reserve.

It can be seen in FIG. 5 that the housing 12 of the cartridge 7 is molded in one piece with the bottom 5a of the reservoir 5.

Furthermore, this figure shows that the inclined face 15 extends over only part of the width of the water tank and its edge has a vertical border 18.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the housing 12 of the cartridge 7 has on its face opposite to its inlet face 19 which opens outwards, an inlet opening 20a and an outlet opening 20b connected so removable to an inlet nozzle 21a and water outlet 21b of the cartridge 7 (see Figure 4). This cartridge 7 has a central partition 22. At the rear of the end pieces 21a and 21b extends a filtration grid 24 which retains the resin particles 23.

The outlet opening 20b of the housing 12 is connected to the water supply device 6 of the vaporization chamber 3 through the conduit 25 which extends inside the water tank 5.

Furthermore, the water inlet opening 20a in the cartridge 7 opens into a compartment 26 which is separated from the outlet opening 20b by a partition 27. This compartment 26 is supplied with the water contained in the receptacle 17 forming a reserve and is supplied directly by the water from the reservoir 5 proper only when the iron is in the vertical position, as will be explained in more detail below.

Figure 5 shows on the other hand that a part 25a of the conduit 25 is molded in one piece with the bottom 5a of the tank. The other part which covers the part 25a of the duct is designated by the reference 25b in FIG. 5. This part 25a also comprises at its end opposite to the outlet 20b of the housing 12, a vertical duct 26a for venting free.

At the top of FIG. 5, the upper part 5b of the tank is shown, which assembles on its part 5a forming the bottom of the tank 5.

The reservoir further comprises, opposite the inlet 21a and outlet 21b of the cartridge 7, valves 27a, 27b each urged by a spring 28 tending to push the cartridge 7 outwards. These valves 27a, 27b are kept open by contact with stops 29 formed at the ends 21a and 21b of the cartridge when the latter is engaged in the housing 17. These valves 27a, 27b close the inlet 20a and outlet 20b of the housing, by the action of the springs 28 which push these valves onto flexible seals 30 engaged on the end pieces 21a, 21b when the cartridge 7 is removed from the housing 12.

Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, means are provided for locking and unlocking the cartridge relative to the housing 12. These means cooperate by snap-fastening to ensure locking and include a member accessible to the user for controlling the unlocking.

In Figure 2, we see that the underside of the cartridge 7 has a spout 31 which is retained in a recess 32 forming part of an elastic tongue 33 secured to a plunger 34 which is slidably mounted under the housing 12. The tongue 33 has a ramp 34 in front of the recess 32 which causes the tongue 33 to be released downwards when the pusher 34 is pressed. This movement releases the spout 31 of the cartridge 7 and the latter is then pushed outwardly by the springs 28. The release of the cartridge 7 automatically puts the valves 27a and 27b in the closed position, that is to say resting on the flexible seals 30.

We will now describe with reference to the diagrams of FIGS. 6 and 7 the operation of the water supply to the vaporization chamber from the water tank 5.

In FIG. 6, for the sake of clarity, the different parts of the water supply circuit have been placed end to end. In this FIG. 6, the level N of the water contained in the tank 5 is lower than the top S of the ramp 15 located between the bottom 5a of the tank 5 and the receptacle 17 which communicates with the cartridge 7.

Consequently, when the iron is stationary, only the water contained in the receptacle 17 feeds the flow control device 6 which pours the water drop by drop into the vaporization chamber. The water passing through the cartridge 7 is freed from any element such as calcium ions liable to scale the vaporization chamber.

When ironing, the movement of the iron generates waves in the water contained in the tank 5 such that the water can rise on the inclined face 15 and pour successively into the receptacle 17 and maintain therein a substantially constant water level.

Since this level is kept constant, the water flow through the supply device 6 is regular.

In the vertical rest position of the iron, as shown in FIG. 7, the water from the reservoir 5 also fills the receptacle 17, the cartridge 7 and the conduit 26.

Thus, when the user returns the iron to a horizontal position for ironing, the receptacle 17 forming a reserve of water is filled with water, so that the iron is ready to operate.

To change the cartridge 7, simply press the pusher 34 to unlock it from its housing 12. When removing the cartridge 12 the valves 27a, 27b urged by the springs automatically close the water inlet and outlet , so that the water in tank 5 cannot flow outside.

It then suffices to engage a new cartridge in the housing 12. The insertion of the latter into this housing 12 automatically causes the valves 27a, 27b to open.

The outer wall of the cartridge 7 is preferably made of transparent plastic in order to be able to examine the change in color of the product located inside, which allows the user to assess whether it is necessary to replace the cartridge.

By way of example, the volume of the primary reservoir 5 is 220 cm³. That of the secondary tank is 7 cm³, which allows, in the event that the cartridge is unexpectedly blocked, to ensure 30 seconds of steam production, the maximum flow rate of this iron being 15g of steam per minute. The volume of the secondary tank can be increased (in particular by increasing the section of the conduit 25) but without practical consequence, since the flow of vapor is not essentially dependent on the flow of water, but on the electrical power of the soleplate.

So that the primary and secondary tanks can be emptied freely, or, when the iron is on the heel, to balance freely, each of them must be in communication with the atmospheric pressure (by the tubing 26a and by the neck entry). This double venting is necessary by the presence of the ion exchange resin contained in the cartridge 7 which has a high pressure drop. This mass, difficult to cross by the stream of water, would produce a vacuum in the secondary tank when it is emptied into the vaporization chamber, if the tubing 26a did not exist, considerably reducing the flow.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment which has just been described and many modifications can be made to it without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (22)

1. An electric steam iron comprising a heating soleplate (1), a steam-generating chamber (3), a water tank (5), a water feed device (6) for feeding the steam-generating chamber with water, a demineralizing cartridge (7) placed in the water circuit connecting the tank (5) to the steam-generating chamber (3), the assembly being covered by protective bodywork (8), the iron being characterized in that the demineralizing cartridge (7) is disposed in removable manner between a primary tank for untreated water (5) and a secondary tank for demineralized water (25) which communicates with the water feed device (6), the cartridge communicating with the primary tank (5) and with the secondary tank (25) via valves (27a, 27b) that prevent water from flowing when the cartridge is withdrawn from the iron.
2. An iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the cartridge (7) is removably housed in a housing (12) disposed between the two tanks (5 and 25).
3. An iron according to claim 2, characterized it that at least one of the walls of the housing (12) is adjacent to both tanks.
4. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the secondary tank (25) is disposed inside the primary tank (5).
5. An iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the secondary tank (25) is constituted by two volumes (25c and 25d) situated respectively at the outlet from the cartridge (7) and around the feed device (6) for the steam-generating chamber.
6. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the volume of the secondary tank (25) is sufficient to feed the feed device (6) for the steam-generating chamber when it is open for maximum flow rate for a period of at least 30 seconds.
7. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of the tanks (5 and 25) has air vent means in order to ensure that suction is not established in either of them while water is flowing into the steam-generating chamber.
8. An iron according to claim 7, characterized in that one of said means is constituted by a tube (26a) placed in the close environment of the feed device (6) for the steam-generating chamber.
9. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rear portion (8a) of the bodywork of the iron is extended beyond the rear edge (1a) of the soleplate (1), the demineralizing cartridge (7) being housed in said rear portion (8a) and being situated at sufficient distance from the soleplate (1) to avoid any overheating of said cartridge (7).
10. An iron according to claim 9, in which the water tank (5) extends substantially parallel to the heating soleplate (1) and at a certain distance thereabove, the iron being characterized in that the bottom (13) of the housing (12) of the cartridge is situated substantially at the same level as the bottom (5a) of the tank (5).
11. An iron according to claim 10, characterized in that the top wall (14) of the housing (12) for the cartridge (7) is adjacent to the inside of the water tank (5).
12. An iron according to claim 11, characterized in that said top wall (14) slopes towards the front of the iron.
13. An iron according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that said top wall (14) of the housing (12) is connected to the bottom (5a) of the water tank (5) by an inclined face (15).
14. An iron according to claim 13, characterized in that the rear edge (15a) of the inclined face (15) is connected to the top wall (14) of the housing via a transverse partition (16) co-operating with said wall to form a receptacle (17) for constituting a reserve of water.
15. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the housing (12) for the cartridge (7) is integrally molded with the bottom (5a) of the tank (5).
16. An iron according to any one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the inclined face (15) extends over a fraction of the width of the water tank (5).
17. An iron according to any one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the housing (12) of the cartridge (7) includes in its face opposite to its inlet face (19) that opens out to the outside, an inlet opening (20a) and an outlet opening (20b) connected in removable manner to a water inlet endpiece (21a) and an outlet endpiece (21b) of the cartridge (7).
18. An iron according to claim 17, characterized in that the opening of the outlet (20b) is connected to a water feed device (6) for the steam-generating chamber via a duct (25) extending inside the water tank (5).
19. An iron according to claim 18, characterized in that the water inlet opening (20a) into the cartridge (7) opens out into a compartment (26) which is separated from the outlet opening (20b) by a partition (27), said compartment (26) being fed with the water contained in the reserve-forming receptacle (17), and said compartment being fed directly with water from the tank proper (5) only when the iron is in the vertical position.
20. An iron according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that a fraction (25a) of the duct (25) is integrally molded with the bottom (5a) of the tank (5).
21. An iron according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterized in that the tank (5) includes, facing the inlet and outlet (21a, 21b) of the cartridge (7) valves (27a, 27b) each of which is urged by a spring (28) tending to expel the cartridge (7) to the outside, said valves (27a, 27b) being held open by contact with the cartridge (7) when the cartridge is engaged in the housing (12), and said valves (27a, 27b) closing the inlet and outlet (20a, 20b) of the tank under drive from the springs (28) when the cartridge is removed from the housing (12).
22. An iron according to claim 21, characterized in that means (31, 32, 33) are provided for locking and unlocking the cartridge (7) relative to the housing (12), said means co-operating in snap-fastening manner for locking purposes, and including a user-accessible member (34) to control unlocking.

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