EP0998603B1 - Iron comprising two heating means with particular automatic temperature control mode - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to the general technical field of apparatus designed to shape a textile article such as a garment, by subjecting it to the combined action of a heat treatment, a mechanical ironing treatment and steam treatment.

The present invention relates to an electric iron comprising a hot part consisting of a soleplate and a vaporization chamber for which the temperature is ensured via a circuit heating in thermal relation with a regulation or control device of the temperature.

The present invention also relates to a method for regulating a electric steam iron.

PRIOR ART

The steam irons known from the prior art generally include a heating element in thermal relation with a vaporization chamber, by example a tubular heating element molded in the foundry of said chamber, said heating element being associated with regulation means, which are most often attached to the foundry. This construction traditional has several drawbacks. When the temperature of setpoint of the regulating means is set at a low value, so to obtain a low sole temperature, for example for the purpose of iron delicate fabric items that cannot stand temperatures the temperature in the vaporization chamber is insufficient to vaporize the water introduced into said chamber. This situation is bothersome since it does not allow the production of steam during the ironing delicate items. When the setpoint temperature of the regulation is fixed at a high value, in order to obtain a sole temperature high and preferably a high vapor flow rate, in order for example to iron resistant articles, it is known and highlighted by thermographies that the part of the sole located under the vaporization chamber is substantially cooler than the rest of the sole surface, especially during the vaporization. This situation is troublesome since it is generally desired that the surface of the soleplate of the iron reaches its optimum temperature by the time steam is emitted.

It is known from document US 3 110 975 to make a steam iron comprising a hot part comprising a sole and a vaporization, the soleplate and the vaporization chamber each forming a zone thermal with a heating element associated with regulation means, the sole and the vaporization chamber being thermally insulated from one another the other. When ironing delicate fabrics it is thus possible to obtain in the vaporization chamber a temperature sufficient for the vaporization of water, all keeping the sole temperature low enough not to deteriorate the article to be ironed.

This embodiment has the drawback of having two heating means distinct, each associated with its own regulatory means. As a result, this construction is expensive, and cumbersome, since there are two means of regulation and that these must be placed in the appropriate places.

Similarly it is known from GB1380415 a steam iron in which we can define a first zone of the hot part of the iron substantially corresponding to the vaporization chamber provided with first means heating. We can also define a second zone, corresponding to the sole in ceramic reinforced by an aluminum support piece. This second area concerning the ironing surface comprises a regulating member and a second heating means.

The thermostat located in the second zone also controls the first means of heating to regulate the temperature of the entire hot section. Because of the distance between the thermostat and the vaporization chamber, the thermostat does not react quickly when spraying begins, resulting in a significant drop the temperature of the sole, especially under and in the vicinity of this chamber. Conversely when the spraying ceases, the spraying chamber and its environment overheat before the thermostat sees this overheating. This causes temperature oscillations which can reach the resistance limit fabrics, or conversely make ironing temporarily ineffective.

It is known from document FR 2 727 439 to produce a steam iron comprising a hot part comprising a sole and a vaporization, the hot part being divided into at least two thermal zones, each of them being provided with a heating element, a first zone comprising at least one surface corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber, a second zone comprising at least one surface corresponding substantially to the sole portion located under the chamber, the heating element of the first zone being associated with a regulation arranged in said zone, the heating element of the second zone being associated with a regulating member disposed in said zone, the first zone and the second zone being in thermal relation to each other, the heating element associated with the first zone being provided to ensure partially heating the second zone. When ironing items requiring large amounts of steam, the heating element of the second zone prevents the formation of a cold zone of the sole under the vaporization chamber. Ironing is therefore more efficient.

This embodiment also has the drawback of having two separate heating means each associated with regulation means own. This realization is therefore expensive. In addition, in order to limit the sole temperature for ironing delicate textiles, control of the heat transfer between the sole and the foundry of the chamber vaporization requires a reduction in the exchange surface between the soleplate and the foundry, which makes it difficult to seal and mechanical strength of the sole.

For all the reasons previously explained the above-mentioned achievements are not satisfactory.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is therefore to produce a steam iron for efficiently ironing thick or resistant fabrics requiring a significant vapor flow, and allowing to iron the fabrics delicate by producing steam without risk of damaging them, while presenting a simple and economical construction.

Of course, the invention also applies to irons with an integrated tank, as with irons with a separate external tank.

The objects of the invention are achieved by an electric iron with steam, comprising a hot part comprising a soleplate and a chamber vaporization, the hot part of the iron being divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber being provided with first heating means, a second corresponding zone substantially to a portion of the sole being provided with second means of heating, the first heating means being provided to ensure partially heating the second zone, the first and second means heaters being associated with a regulating member, characterized in that the second zone provided with the second heating means corresponds substantially to the portion of the sole disposed under the chamber vaporization, and in that the regulating member is disposed in the first zone.

The iron thus obtained is of a simplified design since it does not comprise only one regulatory body. The power of the second heating means must of course be chosen so as not to damage the article to board. For powers of the second selected heating means of way to compensate more than the drop in temperature of the sole due to the vaporization of water in the vaporization chamber, this arrangement allows obtain higher sole temperatures when water is introduced into the vaporization chamber and thus better dry the difficult to iron items that require a lot of steam. The articles delicate applications requiring low ironing temperatures not requiring a lot of steam, the present invention makes it possible to obtain with an inexpensive construction enslavement of the means of heater particularly suitable for ironing different categories articles.

Advantageously, the second heating means are formed by a flat heating element.

The size of the iron is thus significantly reduced, thanks to the low thickness of the flat heating element. The heating of the sole is more homogeneous, the flat heating element providing heating on a surface.

The aims of the invention are also achieved by a method of regulation for an electric steam iron, including a hot part comprising a soleplate and a vaporization chamber, the hot part of the iron being divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber being provided with first means of heats, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole having second heating means, the first means of heaters being provided to partially heat the second zone, the first and second heating means being associated with a regulation, characterized in that the second heating means are associated with a portion of the sole disposed substantially under the vaporization chamber and in that the first and second heating means are regulated by a regulator arranged in the first zone.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 montre selon une coupe longitudinale une vue partielle d'un exemple de réalisation d'un fer conforme à l'invention.
• la figure 2a montre une vue schématique de dessus selon une coupe longitudinale d'un exemple de réalisation d'un fer conforme à l'invention.
• la figure 2b montre une vue schématique de dessus selon une coupe longitudinale d'une variante d'un exemple de réalisation d'un fer conforme à l'invention.
• la figure 2c montre une vue schématique de dessus selon une coupe longitudinale d'une autre variante d'un exemple de réalisation d'un fer conforme à l'invention.
• la figure 3 montre une vue schématique d'un autre exemple de réalisation d'un fer selon l'invention.

Other particularities and advantages will emerge more clearly on reading the description given below with reference to the appended drawings given by way of illustrative but nonlimiting examples in which:

• Figure 1 shows in a longitudinal section a partial view of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention.
• Figure 2a shows a schematic top view in a longitudinal section of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention.
• Figure 2b shows a schematic top view in a longitudinal section of a variant of an exemplary embodiment of an iron according to the invention.
• Figure 2c shows a schematic top view in a longitudinal section of another variant of an embodiment of an iron according to the invention.
• Figure 3 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of an iron according to the invention.

BEST WAY TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

An example of an electric steam iron according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. The iron according to the invention comprises a hot part comprising a sole 1 and a vaporization chamber 2. The hot part of the iron is divided into two thermal zones. The first zone thermal corresponds substantially to the vaporization chamber 2, and is provided first heating means 3. The second thermal zone corresponds substantially to a portion of the sole 1 disposed under the chamber vaporization 2, and is provided with second heating means 4. The first heating means 3 are associated with a regulating member 5 arranged in said first zone and are provided to partially ensure the heating of the second zone. As shown in Figure 1 the vaporization chamber comprises a metal body 22 made of a material which is a good conductor of heat, attached to the sole 1, on which a cover 23 is attached. The body 22 is fixed in a known manner to the sole 1 so as to achieve good thermal connection between said sole and said chamber. As shown in the FIG. 1 the regulating member 5 is mounted on the cover 23.

According to the invention, the heating means 4 of the second zone are associated with the regulating member 5 of the first zone. This provision is made possible by choosing second heating means 4 of a appropriate power and advantageously lower than that of the first heating means 3.

The regulator 5 closes the power supply to the first heating means 3 when the temperature of the first thermal zone, substantially corresponding to the vaporization chamber 2, decreases. This state occurs infrequently when iron is used dry. Just adjust the power of the first and second heating means 3; 4 and the calibration of the regulating member 5 so that the temperature of the sole 1 is adapted to the tissue corresponding to a given position of the regulating member.

When the iron is used in the steam position, the water introduced into the vaporization chamber 2 contributes to cooling said chamber. Implantation second heating means 4 under the vaporization chamber 2 makes it possible to fight against the aforementioned drop in temperature. As the second means of heaters 4 are supplied during the aforementioned temperature drop, the risk of burning ironed fabrics is limited and even avoided by choosing a appropriate power for said second heating means 4, for example from 70 to 200 W.

When the user wants more steam, it increases the intake water in the vaporization chamber 2. The regulating member 5 is stressed by the decrease in temperature following the admission of water, and acts to expected way on the power supply of the first heating means 3 associated with the vaporization chamber 2. Solicitation of the regulatory body 5 acts in a less expected manner on the second associated heating means 4 to the sole 1. The second heating means 4 regulated by the member 5 are in effect more energized when water is admitted into the vaporization chamber 2. It follows that if the second heating means 4 have sufficient power, for example greater than 70 W, their power supply compensates for the drop in temperature occurring on the sole, following the admission of water into the vaporization chamber 2. Thus the particular temperature control mode of the heating means provides higher sole temperatures than during dry running for the same adjustment of the regulating member 5, when water is admitted into the vaporization chamber 2, and all the higher that a lot of water is admitted into said room. This provision is interesting because when an article is difficult to iron and requires a lot of steam, the higher temperature of sole 1 will allow better dewater said article. Of course the power of the second heating means 4 must be chosen so as not to damage the article to be ironed. A value of 200 W allows to stay within an acceptable limit.

Advantageously, the second heating means 4 are formed by a flat heating element 6, as shown in Figures 1, 2a, 2b and 2c. Such a heating element has a lower thermal inertia than tubular or shielded heating elements. This characteristic makes it possible to simplify the regulation because the temperature peak in the second zone is reached soon after or even when the electrical supply is cut off by the regulating member 5. In addition, the flat heating element 6 heats a surface of substantially homogeneously, if such a configuration is desired, or can be easily drawn so as to bring the calories into the zone most affected by the drop in temperature. This element preferably occupies a relative surface of 116 ^e to 2/5 ^e of the total surface of the sole. Of course, several flat heating elements 6 can be connected together in series or in parallel or in any combination of these two modes so as to produce the desired heat map, without going beyond the ambit of the invention.

Advantageously, the first heating means 3 are formed by a tubular heating element 7, molded in the foundry forming the body 22 of the vaporization chamber 2, as shown in Figure 1, The power of this element is preferably between 1000 and 2000 W.

According to an advantageous arrangement of the present invention shown in FIG. 2a, the tubular heating element 7, forming the first means of heater 3, has two substantially parallel branches 8, 9, connected by a bend 10, and between which substantially extends the flat heating element 6.

The geometry of the flat heating element 6 is in no way limited to the rectangular shape shown in Figure 2a, but may take other forms. Figure 2b shows a flat heating element with the following geometry at less in part the shape of the branches 8, 9 of the tubular heating element 7. Figure 2c shows a flat heating element whose geometry follows at least partially the shape of the bottom of the vaporization chamber.

Figure 2a shows the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 mounted in parallel and associated with the regulating member 5 arranged in the first thermal zone.

FIG. 2b also shows the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 mounted in parallel and associated with the regulation 5 arranged in the first thermal zone. First means of command 11 allow the second heating means to be switched off 4. Such an arrangement is advantageous in particular for ironing textiles very delicate because it allows better control of the temperature of the sole.

FIG. 2c also shows the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 mounted in parallel and associated with the regulation 5 arranged in the first thermal zone. Second means of control 12 make it possible to short-circuit the regulating member 5 for the second heating means 4. An electrical connection 13 mounted between the second heating means 4 and the regulating member 5 allows the control second heating means 4 by the regulating member 5 when the second control means are not in the active position forcing the supply of the second heating means 4.

As a variant, it is possible to provide the first means of control 11 (not shown in FIG. 2c) on the electrical connection 13 or on a main electrical connection 15 connecting the second heating means 4 to a point 16 to which the connection 13 and the second means of connection are connected command 12. Either of these wiring diagrams can be used in the iron shown in Figure 3.

The first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 shown in Figures 2a and 2b are mounted in parallel. As a variant it is possible to envisage a series connection of the first and second means of heats 3, 4. The mounting of the control means 11 of the second means heating 4 must in this case be modified to short-circuit said means 4 instead of turning them off.

The first control means 11 provided for switching off the second heating means 4 and the second control means 12 provided to force the supply of the second heating means 4 can be controlled by the user directly or indirectly.

The iron shown schematically in Figure 3 has a spray button 22 intended to be actuated by the user. The key spray 22 controls a rod 20 for opening an orifice 19 provided to put a water tank 18 into communication with the spray 2.

The iron shown schematically in Figure 3 includes also an ironing selector 21 intended to be actuated by the user and cooperating with the first control means 11 The selector 21 is likely to occupy a dry ironing position in which the first control means 11 deactivate the second heating means 4, and at least one steam ironing position, in which the second heating means 4 are capable of being supplied.

Advantageously, the selector 21 is capable of occupying a position large vapor, in which the spray button 22 is capable of control the second control means 12 forcing the supply of second heating means 4, and a delicate steam position, in which the spray button 22 cannot control the second means of control 12 for supplying the second heating means 4. The first position is intended for steam ironing difficult textiles, while the second position is for steam ironing textiles delicate.

Preferably the selector 21 in delicate steam position limits the travel of the spray button 22. This arrangement allows on the one hand to limit the opening of the orifice 19 and by the same amount of water admitted into the vaporization chamber 2, and on the other hand to prevent the actuation of the second control means 12. Preferably the selector 21 in the position dry ironing blocks rod 20, directly or via the button vaporization 22, to prevent the admission of water into the spray 2.

The invention also relates to a control method for a steam iron. electric steam iron, comprising a hot part comprising a soleplate 1 and a vaporization chamber 2, the hot part of the iron being divided in two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber 2 being provided with first heating means 3, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole 1 disposed under the vaporization chamber 2 being provided with second means for heater 4, the first heating means 3 being associated with a regulation 5 arranged in said first zone, the first heating means 3 being provided to partially heat the second zone, regulation process in which the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 are regulated by the regulating member 5 disposed in the first zone.

Many improvements can be made to this device in the scope of the claims.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The invention finds its application in the technical field of irons electric steam ironing.

Claims (10)

1. An electric steam iron comprising a hot portion that includes a soleplate (1) and a steam chamber (2), the hot portion of the iron being divided into two thermal zones: a first zone corresponding substantially to the steam chamber (2) and provided with first heater means (3); and a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the soleplate (1) and provided with second heater means (4); the first heater means (3) being designed to provide part of the heating of the second zone, and the first and second heater means being associated with a regulation member (5), the iron being characterized in that the second zone provided with second heater means (4) corresponds substantially to the portion of the soleplate (1) disposed under the steam chamber (2), and in that the regulation member (5) is disposed in the first zone.
2. An iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the second heater means (4) are formed by a flat heater element (6).
3. An iron according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first heater means (3) are formed by a tubular heater element (7).
4. An iron according to claim 3, characterized in that the tubular heater element (7) includes two substantially parallel branches (8, 9) with the flat heater element (6) extending substantially between them.
5. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first heater means (3) and the second heater means (4) are connected in parallel.
6. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it includes first control means (11) provided to short-circuit the second heater means (4).
7. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes second control means (12) provided to force power supply to the second heater means (4).
8. An iron according to claim 6, characterized in that it includes an ironing selector (21) provided to co-operate with the first control means (11) and capable of occupying an ironing position in which the second heater means (4) are short-circuited.
9. An iron according to claim 7, characterized in that it includes a steam button (22) provided to control the opening of an orifice (19) putting a water tank (18) into communication with the steam chamber (2), said button being provided to co-operate with the second control means (12) in order to force power supply to the second heater means (4).
10. A regulation method for an electric steam iron comprising a hot portion that includes a soleplate (1) and a steam chamber (2), the hot portion of the iron being divided into two thermal zones: a first zone corresponding substantially to the steam chamber (2) and provided with first heater means (3); and a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the soleplate (1) and provided with second heater means (4); the first heater means (3) being designed to provide part of the heating of the second zone, and the first and second heater means being associated with a regulation member (5), the method being characterized in that the second heater means (4) are associated with a portion of the soleplate (1) disposed substantially under the steam chamber (2), and in that the first and second heater means (3, 4) are regulated by a regulation member (5) disposed in the first zone.

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