EP1393648B1 - Hair-care appliance with ignition and combustion indicator and corresponding method - Google Patents

Abstract

The hair tongs has inside or on the burner (7) an indicator element (18) to show the gas is lit and an operating indicator element (23)which visibly light up at different times or combustion and/or with different burning states of the burners. The indicator can be a window (22) onto the burner chamber (12) where the fuel is burning. The burner can have a start catalyst (18) such as catalytic coated metal wires.

Description

The present invention relates to a hair care appliance with a heating device for heating a device part, wherein the heating device is a burner for catalytic Combustion of a fuel, according to the preamble of claim 1. The The invention further relates to a method for ignition indication according to the preamble of Claim 12.

From DE 41 19 018 C2 and DE 42 00 852 A1 are gas-driven curling irons known in which the heater is a burner for flameless combustion of a Gas-air mixture has. The burner comprises a catalyst acting as a hollow cylindrical carrier body, which consists of a perforated metal foil or a wire mesh, which is catalytically coated. The burning will Initially initiated by a spark, so that the spreading flame front the Catalyst heated and thus activated. After the fast extinction of the ignition flame the combustion of the gas-air mixture takes place on the heated catalyst flammeless.

Although this design of a fuel-heated curling iron has proven itself many times, Nevertheless, it is still able to be improved. When starting the device, it may happen that the first flame front does not sufficiently heat the catalyst and goes out the starting flame does not use the flameless combustion at the catalyst, but unburned gas flows out. Even if the flameless combustion is already used it may happen that e.g. due to irregular fuel supply the combustion and does not get going again. Here, too, unburned gas flows out.

From JP 59 197 206 A is a hair care device of the type mentioned here, namely a Curler, with a combustion catalyst and an ignition monitoring catalyst known. In a heat transfer cylinder is compared to the catalyst for Zündüberwachung a translucent sub-area and in turn a window arranged, thereby not only the successful ignition, but also the subsequent Combustion can be easily controlled. At the start of combustion, the catalyst becomes supplied with more gas mixture for ignition monitoring than the combustion catalyst, so that the ignition monitoring catalyst begins to glow faster. Furthermore, can the monitoring of the combustion catalyst from the outside also very easy the translucent part are made.

Also, from US 4,631,024 A is heated by means of catalytic combustion Curling iron known, the heat transfer cylinder is a transparent part through which a Zündüberwachungskatalysator is observable. One Curling element has a window, which is located directly above the transparent part is. With this device, the ignition and also the combustion of the catalyst be checked visually.

The present invention is therefore based on the object, an improved heatable To provide device and method of the type mentioned, the disadvantages of the prior art the technique avoids and further develops before the latter in an advantageous manner. Preferably should the control and safety when starting the device are improved. In particular, should not only the successful ignition made visible, but also the other Combustion process of the air-gas mixture at the main catalyst clearly indicated can be.

This object is achieved by a heatable device according to the Claim 1 and a method according to claim 12 solved. preferred Embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

Thus, there is provided a display device, which is an ignition and then a further combustion of the fuel in the burner. This allows the user a simple and immediate or immediate control of whether the gas entering the burner actually is burned or if it flows out unburned. Without the invention Display device, this is hard to control, since it takes a while to get up the corresponding device part has heated so far that this could be noticed. Gives The display device after starting the device is not equal to a corresponding signal the user knows that the combustion did not start. The boot process can be canceled or repeated.

There is also provided a catalyst which provides a flameless combustion of a fuel-air mixture starts or enables. The burner has it a starting catalyst, by very small amounts of heat to operating temperature can be brought and activated. The starting catalyst can be in various forms be carried out, for example, from catalytically coated metal wires in the manner of Angel hair exist. The starting catalyst is at one end, in relation to the Inflow direction of the fuel-air mixture downstream end of the burner arranged. Preferably, the viewing window in a lateral surface of the device housing in Area of the starting catalyst or arranged above this and allows the Look at the glow of the startup catalyst. Through this training is directly at Igniting the burner or the coming of the flameless combustion one Feedback is generated and the user knows immediately after starting the burner, whether the combustion is taking place properly.

Moreover, in addition to the indication by the start catalyst, a display element be provided in or on the combustion chamber, which is a heating of the device by delivering a indicates optical signal. This display element is in particular in the interior of a The main catalyst of the burner arranged in the form of a tubular, catalytic coated carrier body may be formed. The display element itself can be formed differently. The indicator lights or glows, as soon as on Main catalyst the flameless combustion has started and the corresponding Heat acts on the display element.

In a further development of the invention, the ignition or the combustion of the fuel in the Burner made visible to the user's eye. The display device is as Visual display is formed, which emits an optical signal and a visual control of Ignition or combustion allowed. Basically, the display can be different be educated. Preferably, it comprises a viewing window on a combustion chamber of Brenners, in which the combustion of the fuel takes place. The user of the device can through the window through the device housing through the burner or in the Looking combustion chamber and so control the ignition or combustion of the fuel.

Preferably, the viewing window is not an open recess, but consists of a transparent wall section. In the manner of glazing, a burner can be used enclosing heating tube or a surrounding the heating tube device housing a have transparent wall section. Due to the closed training of the Viewing window is ensured unabated high safety of the burner. The Viewing window advantageously has a converging lens, so that the optionally ignited Catalyst / burner can be seen enlarged.

The viewing window can be arranged at different locations on the device. After a preferred embodiment of the invention, the viewing window is arranged coat surface side. Advantageously, it allows a view of the or in the combustion chamber transverse to Inflow direction of the fuel-air mixture to be combusted.

To the ignition or combustion of the fuel to the human eye better To make recognizable, according to the invention, the combustion with a in the or made visible on the burner display element. The display element reacts while on the heat generated by the combustion. In training of Invention is provided as a display element in or on the burner, a glow element, the of the heat of combustion is made to glow and thus to the visible glow. Conveniently, the display element lies in the visible through the viewing window Area inside the unit.

In a further development of the invention, the starting catalyst is designed such that it during the Burning up, that is, when the flammeless combustion is coming on, or burns up and goes off after successful onset of flameless combustion, as well as from a device outside visibly arranged.

As a lucky grip for the indicator has been proven when it comes from a U-shaped Wire body with a catalytic coating which is at an end face, in relation to the inflow direction downstream end of the burner is arranged projecting in this.

To increase the illumination of the display element even more, the burner can a Flow guiding device, the fuel flowing into the burner in Increased amount leads to or to the display element, so that around the Display element around a particularly intense combustion takes place. The Flow guiding device can be designed differently. Is at an inflow opening of the combustion chamber, a distributor screen or a distributor plate is provided which the distributed inflowing fuel in the combustion chamber, the flow guide can a Guide channel preferably in the form of a hole in the distribution screen. Such a hole in the Distributor screen allows direct flow of the display element, so that the Burning around the display element and therefore the released Amount of heat is particularly large. The display element lights up accordingly brighter.

In order to signal to the user when the device is ready for operation, is in training the invention provides a readiness display, the reaching of the operating temperature the heated device part, with which the function of the device is exercised indicates. Basically, the ready indicator can be controlled by a temperature sensor, which detects the temperature of the device part. A particularly simple embodiment exists However, in that as a temperature indicator a heating pipe cover and / or the Heating tube itself has a provided with thermochromic color display section, the is arranged visible from the outside. Reaches the heating pipe or the heating pipe cover a predetermined temperature, for example, provided with a color point amplifies Display section, so that the user knows that the operating temperature is reached is.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Gesamtansicht eines Haarformgeräts gemäß einer bevorzugten Ausführung der Erfindung,

Figur 2

einen Längsschnitt durch das Haarformgerät aus Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine vergrößerte und ausschnittsweise Längsschnittdarstellung des Brenners zur Beheizung des Lockenstabs, der einen Katalysator zur flammlosen Verbrennung eines Brennstoff-Luftgemischs sowie ein Anzeigeelement im Inneren des Katalysators zur Sichtbarmachung der Verbrennung zeigt, und

Figur 4

eine Längsschnittansicht eines um den Brenner herum angeordneten Heizrohrs, das mit einer Bereitschaftsanzeige versehen ist.

Other objects, advantages, features and applications of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings. All described and / or illustrated features alone or in any meaningful combination, the subject of the present invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their relationships. In the drawings show:

FIG. 1

an overall perspective view of a hair styling device according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2

a longitudinal section through the hair styling device of Figure 1,

FIG. 3

an enlarged and fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the burner for heating the curling iron, showing a catalyst for flameless combustion of a fuel-air mixture and a display element inside the catalyst for visualizing the combustion, and

FIG. 4

a longitudinal sectional view of a arranged around the burner heating tube, which is provided with a readiness indicator.

The hair care device 1 shown in the figures is a so-called Straightener, the Formation of curls and in particular for smoothing of natural ruffle find use can. A substantially cylindrical handle 2 carries at its front end a heated mold rod 3, which on one side of a half-shell-shaped clamping jaw. 4 is covered, which is mounted on a transverse axis tiltable on the device body and a Rocker button 5 can be pivoted away, so that between the clamping jaw 4 and the Formstab 3 to be processed hair can be pinched or passed. On the clamping jaw 4 opposite side of the mold rod 3 of a housing shell 6, which protects the user from the heat of the mold bar 3.

Inside the handle 2, a gas cartridge is received, from which a burner 7 in Inside the mold rod 3 can be supplied with gas. As Figure 1 shows, is on the outside of the handle 2, a switch 8 for controlling or shutting off the gas supply and an ignition switch 9 for igniting the gas-air mixture flowing into the burner intended.

As FIGS. 2 and 3 show, the heating device 10 comprises inside the shaped rod 3 a cylindrical heating tube 11, in which the actual burner 7 is arranged. The combustion chamber 12 of the burner 7 is essentially a hollow cylindrical main catalyst 13, which consists of a catalytically coated, perforated body, for example in Form of a wire mesh exists. With its one end of the main catalyst 13 sits by means an annular catalyst holder 15 on a fuel supply 14, which with the Gas cartridge in the handpiece 2 is in communication or can be brought. The mouth of the fuel supply 14 in the interior of the main catalyst 13 is connected to a distributor screen 16th covered, which is shown in more detail in Figure 3a. At its other, from the fuel feeder 14 facing away from the main catalyst 13 with a lid 17 in the form of a covered radial, perforated wall. In addition, at the said second end of Main catalyst 13, a starting catalyst 18 in the form of two metal wire tufts, the catalytic are coated, provided. As FIG. 3 shows, the starting catalysts 18 are available frontally over the main catalyst before. The formation of the catalyst assembly, the Fuel supply and the ignition device not described in detail can basically the catalyst assembly, fuel supply and ignition device of DE 42 00 852 A1, to which extent explicitly referred to and their disclosure content in so far as explicitly made the subject of the present application.

To start up the device, the switch 8 is first opened, so that from the gas cartridge Gas flows via the fuel supply 14 into the combustion chamber 12. By means of the Ignition switch 9 ignition electrodes 19 are activated, the spark that via the fuel supply 14 ignited fuel-air mixture ignited. The released energy of ignited in the heating tube 11 fuel-air mixture first heats the starting catalyst 18 enough to warm it to operating temperature and there the to initiate flame-free combustion. The initial ignition blast disappears within less moments through the blast wave of the explosion again, so that the catalytic combustion is initiated automatically without further manipulation of the device. The At the starting catalyst 34 incipient flameless combustion leads to further heating of the main catalyst 13, so that there, too, the flameless combustion in progress comes.

In order to recognize the burning of the burner 7, the device has a display device 20, which makes firing visible to the human eye. As FIG. 2 shows, is a viewing window 22 is provided in the device housing 21, the mantelflächenseitig in the housing shell 6 is formed and opposite the front end of the catalyst assembly and arranged there starting catalyst 18 is arranged. As FIG. 2 shows, includes both the housing shell 6 and the underlying heating tube 11 respectively a transparent wall portion forming the viewing window 22 and the view with respect to the direction of flow of the gas downstream end of the catalyst assembly consisting of the main catalyst 13 and the start catalyst 18 releases. At least one of the transparent wall sections is in this case as a lens, in particular Conveying lens or plan convex formed. The plastic lens enlarges for the human Eye the catalyst assembly so that the successful ignition of the start catalyst and the display element 23 is shown enlarged optically.

On the one hand, the view of the start catalyst 18 is directly visible through the viewing window 22 released, which heats up at the initial firing by the heat energy released and thus emits a visible firing signal through the viewing window 22. Around the starting catalyst, which is to ensure rapid warming, not by excessive Heat load to permanently burden, and because of its frontal arrangement at the main catalyst, the combustion at the start catalyst 18 goes out as soon as the flameless one Combustion on the main catalyst 13 comes into action, since then no combustible fuel-air mixture more reaches the start catalyst 18. Nevertheless, the further combustion is displayed inside the main catalyst 13, a display element 23 in the form a catalytically coated, U-shaped wire, this comprises a twisted, Wire rope consisting of several thin wires. As Figure 2 shows, the display element 23 attached to the lid 17, which is the downstream end of the main catalyst 13 covers. The U-shaped display element 23 is centered, in particular coaxial with arranged the main catalyst 13 and jumps against the direction of flow of the fuel-air mixture inwardly into the main catalytic converter 13. As Figure 2 shows, is the viewing window 22 is formed so large or lies opposite the display element 23, so that the viewing window 22 the view of the display element 23 inside the main catalyst also releases. The main catalyst 13 itself is also to some extent transparent or perforated, inasmuch as it consists of a perforated wire mesh or a thin expanded metal sheet consists.

As soon as the flameless combustion in the region of the main catalyst 13 begins, the Indicator 23 heats up so that it begins to glow. The illumination of the display element 23 is reinforced by the fact that in the distribution screen 16 at the inflow end of the main catalytic converter 13, a hole 24 is formed (see Fig. 3A), which is a flow guide device forms and to an increased extent the fuel-air mixture on the display element 23 steers, so that there is a particularly strong combustion and heat release he follows. The hole in the distribution screen 24 is preferably coaxial with the main catalyst 13 and / or arranged coaxially with the display element 23.

Thus, the user receives through the viewing window 22 through two start-up or Anbrennsignale. First, the starting catalyst 18 glows for a few seconds. After this extinguishes or shortly before the display element 23 begins to glow for a few minutes, so that the user always knows whether the combustion in the burner 7 is done properly. Of the Main catalyst itself glows less recognizable or needed for heating and a few minutes, because the wire mesh or expanded metal of the main catalyst is more closely interwoven is so that no / hardly thin wire mesh as in the scorching display element and Brennbetriebsanzeigeelement 23 clearly visible light up.

In addition, a readiness display 25 is provided, which upon reaching the operating temperature of the mold rod 3 emits a signal. As FIG. 4 shows, the heating tube is on one 11 jacket-like surrounding heating tube cover 26 a display section 27 is provided in particular formed, which is visible through the housing shell 6 through. The housing shell For this purpose, 6 has an over the display section 27 of the heating tube cover 26 lying Recess on which forms another window 28. The display section 27 of Heizrohrabdeckung 26 is coated with thermochromic paint, which is on reaching the Operating temperature discolored. Thus, on the one hand, the usability on reaching the operating temperature and on the other hand, in the further course, the heating after extinction signaled by the Anbrennanzeigeelement and Brennbetriebsanzeigeelement 23, so that the Ignition and combustion of the gas-air mixture is constantly verifiable.

Claims (15)

1. Hair-care or hair-styling appliance with a heating device (10) for heating an appliance part (3), the heating device (10) having a burner (4) for catalytic combustion of a fuel, the burner (7) having a main catalyst (13) and a starting catalyst (18) arranged on the main catalyst (13), and an indicator device (20) being provided, which first of all indicates the activation of the starting catalyst (18) and then, by means of a burning-operation indicator element (23), indicates the further combustion at the main catalyst (13), it being possible to make the starting catalyst (18) and the burning-operation indicator element (23) visibly light up by means of the heat of combustion, characterized in that a catalytically coated indicator element (23) is provided, as burning-operation indicating element, on the main catalyst (13) upstream of the starting catalyst (18).
2. Appliance according to Claim 1, characterized in that the indicating device (20), which is designed as a visible indicator, has a viewing window (22) onto a combustion chamber (12) in which the combustion of the fuel takes place.
3. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heating tube (11) which surrounds the burner (7) and/or an appliance housing (21) which surrounds the heating tube (11) have a transparent wall section (22) serving as a viewing window.
4. Appliance according to Claim 3, characterized in that one of the transparent wall sections of the viewing window is designed as an optically magnifying lens.
5. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the burner (7) has a starting catalyst (18) in the form of catalytically coated metal wires, which glows when the combustion starts and is arranged so that it can be seen from outside the appliance.
6. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the burner (7) has a main catalyst (13) in the form of a tubular, catalytically coated support body, with an indicator element (23) being arranged in the interior of the main catalyst (13).
7. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indicator element (23) comprises a preferably U-shaped wire body.
8. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the burner (7) has a flow-guiding device (24) which guides increased quantities of fuel flowing into the burner (7) onto or towards the indicator element (23) in order to indicate combustion.
9. Appliance according to Claim 8, characterized in that the flow-guiding device has a guide passage (24) in a distributor screen (16) at the entry to the burner (7).
10. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a readiness indicator (25), which indicates that an operating temperature of the heatable appliance part (3) has been reached, is provided.
11. Appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heating tube cover (26) and/or the heating tube (11) has an indicator section (27) provided with thermochromic ink.
12. Method for indicating ignition and combustion of a fuel in the burner (7) of a heating device (10) of a hair-care or hair-styling appliance, which involves indicating firstly the ignition at a starting catalyst (18) and then the further combustion at an indicator element (23), the burner (7) having a main catalyst (13), the starting catalyst (18) and an indicator element (23), a fuel/air mixture being burnt in the burner (7) and the ignition being indicated by the starting catalyst (18) lighting up, characterized in that the further combustion is indicated by the indicator element (23), which is arranged in catalytically coated form on the main catalyst (13), lighting up.
13. Method according to Claim 12, characterized in that the indicator element (23) lights up for a few minutes and the starting catalyst (18) lights up for a few seconds.
14. Method according to one of Claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the lighting-up is indicated by an indicator device (20), in particular through a viewing window (22) in the housing.
15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that the lighting-up is indicated by an optically magnifying lens in the indicator device, so that the indicator element (23) and the starting catalyst (18) are optically imaged.

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