Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F22—STEAM GENERATION
  • F22B—METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
  • F22B1/00—Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method
  • F22B1/28—Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method in boilers heated electrically
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F75/00—Hand irons
  • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
  • D06F75/10—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed
  • D06F75/12—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water supplied to the iron from an external source

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator connected by several cords to various accessories, such as an iron and a steam brush.
• an object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing an ironing apparatus, comprising a steam generator connected by several cords to various accessories, wherein the steam and electricity consumption of the apparatus is optimized and the safety of use of accessories is increased.
• the subject of the invention is an ironing appliance comprising a steam generator connected by several cords to various accessories, such as an iron and a steam brush, characterized in that it comprises means of selection allowing the user to indicate which accessory he wishes to use and a steam and electricity switching device for selectively supplying steam and electricity to the selected accessory.
• Such a characteristic makes it possible to limit the availability of steam and electricity supply to only one of the accessories at the same time, which makes it possible to improve the operation of the appliance by limiting the risks of overconsumption of steam or electricity of the appliance. 'apparatus.
• the selector means are constituted by a manual selector.
• the switching device comprises a steam distribution valve for directing the steam towards one or other of the accessories and at least one switch coupled to the steam distribution valve to identify the accessory to be supplied with electricity.
• the steam generator is connected by a first cord to an iron having a heating sole provided with a vaporization chamber and by a second cord to a brush of degreasing comprising a heating body provided with a vaporization chamber.
• the apparatus comprises a control module comprising a microprocessor which manages the opening of a solenoid valve arranged upstream of the steam distribution valve. for directing the steam to the steaming brush or the iron, the microprocessor controlling the power supply of the heating body of the steam brush and the heating soleplate of the iron.
• control module prohibits the emission of steam towards the iron or the steaming brush when the vaporization chamber of the latter is at a temperature insufficient to ensure the evaporation of condensates present in the cord of the selected accessory.
• the control module authorizes the emission of steam to the scrubbing brush only after a determined operating time of the heating body which varies as a function of the cumulative operating time of the heating element since the start of the appliance and the time elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the steam brush.
• the control module authorizes the emission of steam towards the iron only after a determined operating time of the heating soleplate which varies as a function of the cumulative operating time of the heating soleplate since the start of the appliance and the time elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the iron.
• FIG. 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the iron of the apparatus of Figure 1;
• FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, the cord winder of the steaming brush being disassembled; from the base of the device;
• Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the steam brush of the apparatus of Fig. 1;
• FIGS. 5a and 5b are respectively perspective views of the steam generator of FIG. 1 when the iron and the steaming brush are used;
• FIG. 6a and 6b are respectively perspective views of the switching device during the steam supply of the steam brush and iron;
• - Figures 7a and 7b are respectively longitudinal sectional views of the feed valve of Figures 6a and 6b;
• FIG. 8 represents the operating algorithm of the control module of the steam generator of the apparatus.
• FIG. 1 represents an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator conventionally constituted by a tank for producing steam under pressure, not shown in the figures, integrated in a portable base 1, the tank being supplied with water by a tank 10 detachable disposed on the back of the base 1.
• a steam generator conventionally constituted by a tank for producing steam under pressure, not shown in the figures, integrated in a portable base 1, the tank being supplied with water by a tank 10 detachable disposed on the back of the base 1.
• the base 1 is advantageously electrically powered by a cable 12 mounted on a winder disposed behind the front face of the base 1, the cable 12 opening into a cavity 13 of the front face of the base 1 and winding automatically when the user presses a button 14 disposed near the cavity.
• a general switch 15 is also provided on the front face of the base 1 to control the start or stop of the device.
• the steam generator integrated in the base 1 is permanently connected to an iron 2 by a first connecting cord 20 advantageously a length of the order of 1.8 m and comprises an inclined plane 11 for laying the iron 2.
• the iron is provided with a heating soleplate 21 comprising a steaming chamber 22 and superheating of the steam arranged upstream of the steam outlet holes of the soleplate, allowing the vaporization of any condensates present in The connection cord 20.
• the connecting bead 20 includes a conduit for feeding the iron 2 with the pressurized steam from the generator tank and an electrical cable for supplying the resistance. electric heating of the heating sole 21 of the iron.
• the iron 2 also includes a trigger 23 for controlling the sending of steam through the steam outlet holes of the heating soleplate 21.
• the steam generator of the base 1 is also permanently connected to a scrub brush 3 by a second cord 30 advantageously having a length of the order of 1.6 m, the cord 30 incorporating a conduit for feeding the brush 3 with steam under pressure from the generator and incorporating an electric cable for electrically feeding the steam brush 3.
• the second cord 30 is preferably mounted on a cord winding device 4 taking place in a cavity provided for this purpose under the base 1, behind the reel of the electric cable 12.
• This cord winding device 4 comprises return means for automatically winding the cord 30 inside a drum when the user presses a button 41 disposed laterally to the winder.
• This cord winder 4 is identical to that described in the patent application
• the base 1 comprises, on one of its sides, a holding clamp 16 in which the body of the steaming brush 3 can be inserted, such an arrangement allowing to have a hair brush 3 which remains very accessible once stored while maintaining a compact device.
• the holding clip 16 is preferably arranged on the side of the base 1 where the cord 30 exits the reel 4, so that the length of cord 30 remaining outside the reel 4, when the wrinkle brush 3 is stored in the clamp 16, is very limited, order of 20 cm, such a feature to reduce the risk of attachment of the bead 30.
• the steam brush 3 shown in more detail in FIG. 4 encloses a heating body 31 having a chamber 32 for steaming and overheating of the steam closed by a lid 31 ', this vaporization chamber 32 being heated by an electrical resistance disposed under the heating element 31 and supplied by the integrated electric cable to the connecting cord.
• the vaporization chamber 32 opens onto steam outlet holes 32 ', visible only in FIG. 5b, making it possible to obtain powerful jets of steam for the vertical steaming of the laundry.
• the steaming brush 3 is provided with a trigger 33 controlling the sending of steam to the steaming brush 3.
• the front face of the base 1 of the generator is provided with a rotary selector 17 that the user can maneuver between a first position, illustrated in Figure 5a, corresponding to the use of the iron 2 and a second position, illustrated in Figure 5b, corresponding to the use of the steam brush 3.
• the selector 17 is connected by a bead wire 5 to a steam and electricity switching device comprising a steam distribution valve 6 comprising a steam inlet 60 connected upstream to a solenoid valve 7 arranged at the outlet of the generator tank and two steam outlets 61, 62 respectively connected to the conduits of the cords 20, 30 for feeding the iron 2 and the steaming brush 3.
• a steam distribution valve 6 comprising a steam inlet 60 connected upstream to a solenoid valve 7 arranged at the outlet of the generator tank and two steam outlets 61, 62 respectively connected to the conduits of the cords 20, 30 for feeding the iron 2 and the steaming brush 3.
• the valve 6 comprises a sleeve 63 rotated by the rod 5 and connected to the body of the valve 6 by a screw-type connection, the outer surface of the body of the valve comprising a helical rib 64 engaging in a helical groove formed inside the sleeve 63, so that the rotation of the sleeve 63 is accompanied by a translational movement of the latter.
• the switching device also comprises two switches 66a, 66b actuated by bosses 65a, 65b disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve 63, the bosses 65a, 65b being arranged in such a way that the first switch 66a is actuated only when the selector 17 is in the position of use of the iron 2 shown in Figure 6a while the second switch 66b is operated only when the selector 17 is in the position of use of the steam brush 3 shown in Figure 6b.
• switches 66a, 66b are connected to a control module 100, shown schematically in these FIGS. 6a and 6b, comprising a microprocessor which deduces from the operating state of the switches 66a, 66b the position of the valve 6 and therefore of the selector 17.
• FIG. 7a which shows a sectional view of the valve 6 when the selector 17 is in the position of use of the iron 2
• the inlet port 60 of the valve opens into a distribution chamber of a cylindrical steam 67 which is extended at each of its ends by a bore 68a, 68b of smaller diameter, the first bore 68a being in communication with the outlet orifice 61, connected to the connecting cord 20 of the iron, and the second bore 68b being in communication with the outlet orifice 62, connected to the cord 30 of the steaming brush 3.
• the sleeve 63 is integral with a sliding piston 69 having a first lip seal 69a which is in the distribution chamber 67 when the sleeve 63 is in the position of use of the iron 2, so that the steam can passing around the seal 69a and escape to the iron, and a second seal 69b which is then introduced into the second bore 68b to prevent the passage of steam to the steam brush 3.
• the piston 69 is also provided with a third seal 69c disposed in the first bore 68a downstream of the outlet to prevent vapor leakage through the orifice of the body traversed by the axis of the piston 69.
• control module 100 controls the solenoid valve 7 disposed at the outlet of the generator tank to prohibit the steam supply of the iron 2 or the steaming brush 3 for a certain time depending on the duration during which the selected accessory, namely the iron 2 or the steaming brush 3, has not been supplied with electricity.
• a security makes it possible to avoid any projection of condensates by ensuring that the vaporization chamber 22 of the iron or the steaming chamber 32 of the steaming brush is at a temperature sufficient to allow the evaporation of any condensates present in the cords 20,30.
• the microprocessor of the control module 100 can control the authorization of the opening of the solenoid valve 7 of the generator tank according to the algorithm illustrated in FIG. 8.
• control module 100 detects in a first step E1 which accessory is selected by the user between the iron 2 and the scrub brush 3. This determination of the selected accessory is simply made from information communicated by the switches 66a, 66b.
• the control module 100 measures, in a second step E2, the time Tm that has elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the selected accessory 2,3.
• Per session of use of the accessory means a session where the ironing appliance is running and the selector 17 is in the position corresponding to the accessory.
• a third step E3 the control module 100 checks whether the preheating time Tc s -i accumulated during previous sessions of use of the accessory has been sufficient to allow a preheating of the accessory for a total of 120 hours. seconds. If the warm-up time Tc i s- accumulated during previous sessions is less than 120 seconds, then the control module 100 completes the preheating of the accessory in a step E3 'during which the accessory is heated for a time T corresponding at the preheating time missing to reach the total of 120 seconds preheating. During this preheating time Tc, a diode 18 flashes on the front face of the base 1 to indicate to the user that the selected accessory is in the heating period.
• step E4 the control module 100 goes to step E4. Conversely, if the preheating time of 120 seconds has already been reached during the previous sessions of use of the accessory, then the control module 100 goes directly to the step E4 in which it compares the time Tm elapsed since the previous session of the accessory with a threshold that is set at 5 minutes in the example shown. If the time Tm is less than 5 minutes, the control module authorizes the immediate opening of the solenoid valve in a step E5 when it receives the command signal of the trigger 23,33 of the accessory 2, 3.
• control module proceeds to a step E4 1 of additional heating of the accessory to compensate for the cooling of the accessory by thermal losses during the period of non-use of the accessory.
• the accessory is heated for an additional time Ts which is equal to the number of minutes Tm beyond the 5 minute threshold multiplied by a coefficient K A corresponding to the number of seconds to perform additional heating for each stop of the accessory beyond the threshold of 5 minutes.
• the diode 18 on the front face of the base 1 flashes to indicate to the user that the selected accessory is in the heating period.
• the control module 100 goes to step E5 where it allows the opening of the solenoid valve 7 to trigger the trigger 23,33 of the accessory.
• the coefficient K A depends on the thermal mass and the heating power of the selected accessory.
• the time Ts additional preheating will be 4 seconds before the control module 100 allows the sending of steam through the cord 30.
• the ironing apparatus thus produced has the advantage of greater safety by supplying steam and electricity only one of the accessories at a time, so that there is no risk that the unselected accessory is inadvertently handled, for example by a child.
• Such a solution also makes it possible to limit the electrical consumption of the apparatus and thus to avoid an overload of the network to which the apparatus is connected.
• such a solution makes it possible to limit the consumption of steam and thus to avoid a too sudden drop in the vapor pressure in the tank.
• the apparatus can therefore have a steam generator with optimized sizing.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Irons (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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ID=36143187

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Family Cites Families (8)

• 2005
  • 2005-07-26 FR FR0507919A patent/FR2889211B3/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2006
  • 2006-07-10 EP EP06778841A patent/EP1910605A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-07-10 RU RU2008106918/12A patent/RU2008106918A/ru not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2006-07-10 CN CN2006800267529A patent/CN101228309B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-07-10 WO PCT/FR2006/001671 patent/WO2007012720A1/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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