EP2002050B1 - Steam iron comprising a scale indicator - Google Patents

Steam iron comprising a scale indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2002050B1
EP2002050B1 EP07733962A EP07733962A EP2002050B1 EP 2002050 B1 EP2002050 B1 EP 2002050B1 EP 07733962 A EP07733962 A EP 07733962A EP 07733962 A EP07733962 A EP 07733962A EP 2002050 B1 EP2002050 B1 EP 2002050B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
iron
thermostat
scaling indicator
heater
energy consumed
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Not-in-force
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EP07733962A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2002050A1 (en
Inventor
Marcus-Christian Wiedemann
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Rowenta Werke GmbH
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Rowenta Werke GmbH
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    • 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
    • D06F75/14—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron
    • D06F75/18—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron the water being fed slowly, e.g. drop by drop, from the reservoir to a steam generator
    • 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
    • D06F75/26—Temperature control or indicating arrangements

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Irons (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analyzing Non-Biological Materials By The Use Of Chemical Means (AREA)
  • Devices For Medical Bathing And Washing (AREA)

Abstract

The steam iron with a scaling indicator (10) comprises a radiator (3) having vaporization chamber (30) and a unit to calculate an electric power consumed by iron and to activate the scaling indicator when calculated energy exceeds a pre-determined threshold. The radiator has an electrical resistance heater (31) whose operation is controlled by a thermostat. The unit measures cumulative operating time of the heater during which the thermostat supplies electrically the heater resistance, and is integrated into an electronic circuit that receives thermostat information relating to the supply. The steam iron with a scaling indicator (10) comprises a radiator (3) having vaporization chamber (30) and a unit to calculate an electric power consumed by iron and to activate the scaling indicator when calculated energy exceeds a pre-determined threshold. The radiator has an electrical resistance heater (31) whose operation is controlled by a thermostat. The unit is used to measure cumulative operating time of the heater during which the thermostat supplies electrically the heater resistance, and is integrated into an electronic circuit that receives thermostat information relating to the supply. The unit is used to calculate the power consumption quantity by resistance heater to produce vapor in which the scaling indicator is activated when the power consumption quantity exceeds the predetermined threshold. The energy consumed to produce vapor is calculated by subtracting the energy consumed by the resistance heating. The estimated energy is necessary for pressing to dry a textile at thermostat temperature. The energy required for pressing the dry textiles to adjust a temperature of the thermostat is estimated by the determined power value from values stored in an integrated circuit memory. The activation threshold of the scaling indicator is modulated to a degree of hardness of water introduced in the vaporization chamber, which is specified by the user. A knob enables the activation when the scaling indicator is activated by resetting the calculation of consumed electric power. The knob comprises self-cleaning knob causing the sudden arrival of a large amount of water into the vaporization chamber.

Description

La présente invention se rapporte à un fer à repasser à vapeur comprenant un corps chauffant muni d'une chambre de vaporisation et se rapporte plus particulièrement à un fer à repasser comportant un indicateur d'entartrage permettant d'alerter l'utilisateur sur la nécessité d'effectuer une opération de maintenance.The present invention relates to a steam iron comprising a heating body provided with a vaporization chamber and relates more particularly to an iron with a scaling indicator to alert the user to the need for perform a maintenance operation.

Il est connu, de la demande de brevet EP 1 045 932 , un fer à vapeur muni d'une chambre de vaporisation alimentée par une pompe dans lequel un indicateur d'entartrage est activé après un temps d'utilisation prédéterminé du fer, ce dernier comportant des moyens permettant de mesurer le temps d'utilisation accumulé du fer à vapeur. Dans une variante perfectionnée de réalisation, l'indicateur d'entartrage n'est activé qu'après un temps prédéterminé de fonctionnement de la pompe de manière à avoir une meilleure précision sur l'état d'entartrage du fer.It is known from the patent application EP 1 045 932 , a steam iron provided with a vaporization chamber fed by a pump in which a scaling indicator is activated after a predetermined use time of the iron, the latter comprising means for measuring the accumulated use time of the steam iron. In an improved embodiment, the scaling indicator is activated only after a predetermined time of operation of the pump so as to have a better accuracy on the scaling state of the iron.

Un tel indicateur d'entartrage présente l'avantage d'inciter régulièrement l'utilisateur à effectuer une opération d'auto-nettoyage du fer pour évacuer les particules de tartre accumulées dans la chambre de vaporisation.Such an indicator of scaling has the advantage of regularly encouraging the user to perform a self-cleaning operation of the iron to remove scale particles accumulated in the steam chamber.

Cependant, une telle méthode d'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage présente l'inconvénient d'être peu représentative de l'état réel de calcification du fer dans son mode de réalisation le plus simple et d'être relativement coûteuse dans sa variante la plus complexe, cette variante étant de plus inutilisable sur les fers à vapeur comprenant un simple dispositif goutte-à-goutte à la place de la pompe pour alimenter la chambre de vaporisation.However, such a method of activating the scaling indicator has the disadvantage of being poorly representative of the actual state of iron calcification in its simplest embodiment and of being relatively expensive in its variant. the most complex, this variant being more unusable on steam irons comprising a simple device drip instead of the pump to feed the vaporization chamber.

L'invention qui suit vise à pallier ces inconvénients en proposant un fer à vapeur muni d'un indicateur d'entartrage dans lequel l'indicateur est activé au moyen d'une méthode d'activation pouvant être utilisée sur les fers vapeurs les plus simples et permettant d'obtenir une meilleure adéquation entre l'état réel d'entartrage du fer et l'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage tout en restant simple et économique à réaliser.The following invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a steam iron with a scaling indicator in which the indicator is activated by means of an activation method that can be used on the simplest steam irons and to obtain a better match between the actual state of scaling iron and the activation of the scaling indicator while remaining simple and economical to achieve.

Le but de l'invention est atteint par un fer à vapeur comportant un indicateur d'entartrage et comprenant un corps chauffant comportant une chambre de vaporisation pour la production de vapeur, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens permettant de calculer une énergie électrique consommée par le fer et des moyens servant à activer ledit indicateur d'entartrage lorsque l'énergie calculée dépasse un seuil préalablement déterminé.The object of the invention is achieved by a steam iron comprising a scaling indicator and comprising a heating body comprising a vaporization chamber for the production of steam, characterized in that it comprises means for calculating an electrical energy. consumed by the iron and means for activating said scaling indicator when the calculated energy exceeds a previously determined threshold.

Un tel fer, dans lequel l'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage se base sur le calcul d'une énergie consommée, permet d'obtenir une meilleure estimation de l'état d'entartrage du fer. En effet, dans un fer à production de vapeur au moyen d'une chambre de vaporisation, l'essentiel de l'énergie consommée est dépensé lors de la vaporisation de l'eau.Such an iron, in which the activation of the scaling indicator is based on the calculation of energy consumed, provides a better estimate of the scaling state of iron. Indeed, in a steam iron by means of a steam chamber, most of the energy consumed is spent during the vaporization of the water.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, le corps chauffant comporte une résistance chauffante électrique dont le fonctionnement est régulé par un thermostat et le fer comprend des moyens pour mesurer le temps cumulé pendant lequel le thermostat alimente électriquement la résistance chauffante.According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body comprises an electric heating resistor whose operation is regulated by a thermostat and the iron comprises means for measuring the accumulated time during which the thermostat electrically supplies the heating resistor.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, les moyens pour mesurer le temps cumulé de fonctionnement de la résistance chauffante sont intégrés à un circuit électronique commandant l'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage, ce circuit électronique recevant du thermostat l'information relative à l'alimentation ou non de la résistance chauffante.According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for measuring the cumulative operating time of the heating resistor are integrated in an electronic circuit controlling the activation of the scaling indicator, this electronic circuit receiving from the thermostat the relative information. whether the heating resistor is powered or not.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, le fer comprend des moyens pour calculer la quantité d'énergie consommée par la résistance chauffante, l'indicateur d'entartrage étant activé lorsque la quantité d'énergie consommée par la résistance chauffante dépasse un seuil préalablement déterminé.According to another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises means for calculating the amount of energy consumed by the heating resistor, the scaling indicator being activated when the amount of energy consumed by the heating resistor exceeds a threshold previously determined.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, le fer comprend des moyens pour calculer la quantité d'énergie consommée pour produire de la vapeur et l'indicateur d'entartrage est activé lorsque ladite quantité d'énergie consommée pour la vaporisation dépasse un seuil préalablement déterminé.According to another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises means for calculating the amount of energy consumed to produce steam and the scaling indicator is activated when said quantity of energy consumed for the vaporization exceeds a threshold previously determined.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, l'énergie consommée pour produire de la vapeur est calculée en soustrayant, de l'énergie consommée par la résistance chauffante, une estimation de l'énergie nécessaire pour le repassage à sec d'un textile à la température de consigne du thermostat.According to another characteristic of the invention, the energy consumed to produce steam is calculated by subtracting, from the energy consumed by the heating resistor, an estimate of the energy required for the heating. Dry ironing of a textile at the set temperature of the thermostat.

Selon encore une autre caractéristique de l'invention, l'énergie nécessaire pour le repassage à sec d'un textile à la température de réglage du thermostat est estimée en intégrant dans le temps une puissance standard nécessaire pour le repassage à sec d'un textile à la température de réglage du thermostat, la valeur de cette puissance étant déterminée à partir de valeurs stockées dans une mémoire du circuit électronique.According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the energy required for the dry ironing of a textile at the thermostat control temperature is estimated by integrating over time a standard power required for the dry ironing of a textile at the thermostat setting temperature, the value of this power being determined from values stored in a memory of the electronic circuit.

Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, le seuil d'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage est modulé en fonction du degré de dureté de l'eau introduite dans la chambre de vaporisation qui est indiqué par l'utilisateur.According to another characteristic of the invention, the activation threshold of the scaling indicator is modulated according to the degree of hardness of the water introduced into the vaporization chamber which is indicated by the user.

Selon encore une autre caractéristique de l'invention, le fer comporte un bouton dont l'actionnement permet, lorsque l'indicateur d'entartrage est activé, de réinitialiser le calcul de l'énergie électrique consommée.According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the iron comprises a button whose actuation allows, when the scaling indicator is activated, to reset the calculation of the electrical energy consumed.

Selon encore une autre caractéristique de l'invention, le bouton de réinitialisation constitue également un bouton d'auto-nettoyage provoquant l'arrivée brutale d'une grande quantité d'eau dans la chambre de vaporisationAccording to yet another characteristic of the invention, the reset button is also a self-cleaning button causing the sudden arrival of a large amount of water in the vaporization chamber

On comprendra mieux les buts, aspects et avantages de la présente invention, d'après la description donnée ci-après d'un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention, présenté à titre d'exemple non limitatif, en se référant au dessin annexé dans lequel :

  • La figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'un fer à vapeur selon un mode de réalisation particulier de l'invention.
The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawing. in which :
  • The figure 1 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a steam iron according to a particular embodiment of the invention.

Seuls les éléments nécessaires à la compréhension de l'invention ont été représentés.Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented.

Le fer, représenté schématiquement à la figure 1, comprend un boîtier 1 disposé au dessus d'une semelle 2 munie de trous de sortie de vapeur, non représentés sur la figure. La semelle 2 est en liaison thermique avec un corps chauffant 3 comportant une chambre de vaporisation 30 fermée classiquement par une plaque 4.Iron, represented schematically in figure 1 , comprises a housing 1 disposed above a sole plate 2 provided with steam outlet holes, not shown in the figure. The sole 2 is in thermal connection with a heating body 3 comprising a vaporization chamber 30 conventionally closed by a plate 4.

Le corps chauffant 3 comprend une résistance chauffante 31 alimentée par un thermostat 6 en relation thermique avec le corps chauffant, le thermostat 6 assurant la régulation de la température de la semelle 2 autour d'une température de consigne définie par l'utilisateur au moyen d'un bouton 60. Le fer est relié au réseau électrique par un cordon 5.The heating body 3 comprises a heating resistor 31 powered by a thermostat 6 in thermal relation with the heating body, the thermostat 6 ensuring the regulation of the temperature of the sole 2 around a set temperature defined by the user by means of a button 60. The iron is connected to the electrical network by a cord 5.

De manière connue en soi, le boîtier 1 renferme un réservoir d'eau 8 muni d'un orifice 8a de remplissage débouchant sur la face avant du fer et comporte un dispositif goutte à goutte 9 qui ménage un passage de l'eau du réservoir 8 vers la chambre de vaporisation 30, ce dispositif possédant classiquement un orifice dont la section peut être réduite par un pointeau.In a manner known per se, the housing 1 contains a water tank 8 provided with a filling orifice 8a opening on the front face of the iron and comprises a device 9 which drips a passage of water from the tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 30, this device typically having an orifice whose section can be reduced by a needle.

Afin de prévenir l'utilisateur sur la nécessité d'effectuer une opération de détartrage de fer, ce dernier comporte un indicateur d'entartrage constitué par un voyant 10 qui est activé par un circuit électronique 11. Ce circuit électronique 11 est avantageusement alimenté en électricité par le réseau électrique lorsque le cordon 5 du fer à vapeur est raccordé au réseau.In order to warn the user of the need to carry out an iron descaling operation, the latter includes a scaling indicator consisting of a light 10 which is activated by an electronic circuit 11. This electronic circuit 11 is advantageously supplied with electricity by the electricity network when the cord 5 of the steam iron is connected to the network.

Plus particulièrement selon l'invention, le circuit électronique 11 est relié au thermostat 6 et reçoit de ce dernier l'information relative aux périodes d'alimentation en électricité de la résistance chauffante 31.More particularly according to the invention, the electronic circuit 11 is connected to the thermostat 6 and receives from the latter the information relating to the power supply periods of the heating resistor 31.

A partir de cette information, le circuit électronique 11 renferme un microprocesseur qui mesure l'énergie électrique consommée par la résistance chauffante 31 depuis la première utilisation du fer. Cette mesure est effectuée avantageusement en intégrant dans le temps la puissance de la résistance chauffante 31, qui est par exemple de l'ordre de 2000 W, pendant le temps de fonctionnement de la résistance chauffante 31, ce temps de fonctionnement étant déterminé directement à partir du temps de fermeture du thermostat 6.From this information, the electronic circuit 11 contains a microprocessor which measures the electrical energy consumed by the heating resistor 31 since the first use of the iron. This measurement is advantageously carried out by integrating over time the power of the heating resistor 31, which is for example of the order of 2000 W, during the operating time of the heating resistor 31, this operating time being determined directly from thermostat closing time 6.

L'accumulation de l'énergie consommée est enregistrée dans une mémoire du circuit électronique 11, de préférence une mémoire non volatile telle qu'une mémoire flash ou EEPROM. Dans une variante, le circuit électronique 11 peut également comporter un dispositif d'alimentation autonome, tel une batterie ou un condensateur, pour conserver la donnée en mémoire lorsque le cordon d'alimentation 5 du fer à vapeur est déconnecté du réseau.The accumulation of the energy consumed is recorded in a memory of the electronic circuit 11, preferably a non-volatile memory such as a flash memory or EEPROM. Alternatively, the electronic circuit 11 may also include an autonomous power supply device, such as a battery or a capacitor, for storing the data in memory when the power cord 5 of the steam iron is disconnected from the network.

Lorsque le cumul de l'énergie consommée par la résistance chauffante 31 atteint un seuil prédéterminé, le circuit électronique 11 active le voyant 10, par exemple de manière clignotante, pour inviter l'opérateur à effectuer une opération de détartrage.When the cumulative energy consumed by the heating resistor 31 reaches a predetermined threshold, the electronic circuit 11 activates the indicator 10, for example flashing, to invite the operator to carry out a descaling operation.

L'utilisateur est alors invité à effectuer une opération de détartrage du fer en positionnant par exemple le thermostat 6 sur la température maximale et en appuyant sur un bouton d'auto-nettoyage 12 prévu sur le fer de manière à provoquer, de manière connue en soi, une arrivée brutale d'eau du réservoir 8 vers la chambre de vaporisation 30 pour obtenir le décollement des particules de tartre et leur évacuation au travers des trous de vapeur de la semelle 2.The user is then invited to perform a descaling operation of the iron, for example by setting the thermostat 6 to the maximum temperature and by pressing a self-cleaning button 12 provided on the iron so as to cause, in a manner known in a sudden inflow of water from the tank 8 to the vaporization chamber 30 to obtain the separation of the scale particles and their evacuation through the steam holes of the sole 2.

De manière préférentielle, le circuit électronique 11 est relié au bouton d'auto-nettoyage 12 et effectue, lors de actionnement du bouton d'auto-nettoyage, une remise à zéro de la mémoire dans laquelle est stocké le cumul de l'énergie consommée par la résistance chauffante 31.Preferably, the electronic circuit 11 is connected to the self-cleaning button 12 and performs, upon actuation of the self-cleaning button, a reset memory in which is stored the accumulation of energy consumed by the heating resistor 31.

A titre d'exemple, la valeur du seuil à partir duquel le voyant 10 est activé est obtenu expérimentalement en faisant fonctionner des fers à pleine vapeur avec de l'eau moyennement calcaire et en mesurant le seuil à partir duquel l'état d'entartrage du fer nécessite une opération de détartrage.By way of example, the value of the threshold from which the indicator light 10 is activated is obtained experimentally by operating irons at full steam with moderately calcareous water and by measuring the threshold from which the state of scaling iron requires a descaling operation.

Une telle activation du voyant d'entartrage à partir de la mesure de la somme de l'énergie consommée par la résistance chauffante permet d'obtenir, d'une façon simple, une bonne adéquation entre l'état réel d'entartrage du fer et l'activation du voyant indicateur d'entartrage. En effet, l'évaporation de l'eau pour la production de vapeur étant fortement consommatrice d'énergie, le voyant indicateur d'entartrage du fer sera activé beaucoup plus rapidement lorsque le fer sera utilisé pour repasser à la vapeur que lorsque le fer sera utilisé pour repasser à sec. Or, l'entartrage du fer dépend essentiellement de la quantité d'eau qui est évaporée dans la chambre de vaporisation.Such activation of the scaling indicator from the measurement of the sum of the energy consumed by the heating resistor makes it possible, in a simple manner, to obtain a good match between the actual state of scaling of the iron and activation of the scaling indicator light. Indeed, the evaporation of water for the production of steam being strongly energy consuming, the indicator indicator of scaling of the iron will be activated much more quickly when the iron will be used to iron when the iron will be used for dry ironing. However, the scaling of iron depends essentially on the amount of water that is evaporated in the vaporization chamber.

Dans une variante perfectionnée du mode de réalisation précédemment décrit, la détermination de l'état d'entartrage du fer sera encore améliorée en calculant l'énergie consommée par la résistance 31 utilisée uniquement pour évaporer l'eau. On obtient ainsi une très bonne estimation de la quantité d'eau évaporée dans la chambre de vaporisation, cette dernière étant en corrélation directe avec l'énergie dépensée pour la vaporisation.In an improved variant of the embodiment described above, the determination of the scaling state of the iron will be further improved by calculating the energy consumed by the resistor 31 used only for evaporating the water. This gives a very good estimate of the amount of water evaporated in the vaporization chamber, the latter being in direct correlation with the energy expended for the vaporization.

Dans cette variante, le circuit électronique 11 calcule de manière approchée l'énergie utilisée pour évaporer l'eau en soustrayant, du cumul de l'énergie consommée par la résistance 31, une estimation de l'énergie nécessaire pour maintenir la semelle 2 à la température de consigne du thermostat 6 lors d'un repassage à sec du textile.In this variant, the electronic circuit 11 calculates, in an approximate manner, the energy used to evaporate the water by subtracting, from the accumulation of the energy consumed by the resistor 31, an estimate of the energy necessary to maintain the soleplate 2 at the same time. thermostat 6 setpoint temperature when dry ironing the textile.

Cette énergie nécessaire au repassage à sec est estimée en intégrant dans le temps une puissance standard nécessaire au repassage à sec du textile pour la température de consigne. De manière avantageuse, la valeur de cette puissance standard est déterminée par corrélation à partir de valeurs standards de puissance, stockées dans une mémoire du circuit électronique 11, pour différentes valeurs de température de la semelle 2.This energy required for dry ironing is estimated by integrating over time a standard power required for dry ironing the textile for the set temperature. Advantageously, the value of this standard power is determined by correlation from standard power values, stored in a memory of the electronic circuit 11, for different temperature values of the sole 2.

A titre d'exemple, ces valeurs de puissance standard sont de l'ordre de 100 W pour une température de semelle proche de 100°C et de 300 W pour une température de semelle proche de 200°C.By way of example, these standard power values are of the order of 100 W for a sole temperature close to 100 ° C. and 300 W for a sole temperature close to 200 ° C.

Le circuit électronique 11 calcule alors simplement, à partir de ces valeurs, l'énergie consommée pour l'évaporation de l'eau en intégrant, sur le temps de fonctionnement de la résistance chauffante 31, déterminé à partir du thermostat 6, la puissance consommée par la résistance chauffante 31 à laquelle est soustraite la puissance standard utilisée pour maintenir la semelle 2 à la température de consigne.The electronic circuit 11 then simply calculates, from these values, the energy consumed for the evaporation of the water by integrating, over the operating time of the heating resistor 31, determined from the thermostat 6, the power consumed. by the heating resistor 31 to which is subtracted the standard power used to maintain the sole 2 at the set temperature.

Lorsque l'énergie consommée pour l'évaporation de l'eau dans la chambre de vaporisation dépasse un seuil prédéterminé, correspondant par exemple à l'énergie nécessaire pour évaporer 15 litres d'eau, l'indicateur d'entartrage est alors activé.When the energy consumed for the evaporation of water in the vaporization chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold, corresponding for example to the energy required to evaporate 15 liters of water, the scaling indicator is then activated.

De manière avantageuse, le fer peut également comporter des moyens permettant à l'utilisateur d'indiquer le degré de dureté de l'eau introduite dans le réservoir, de sorte que la dureté de l'eau puisse être prise en compte par le circuit électronique 11 pour adapter le seuil d'activation du voyant 10 indicateur d'entartrage en fonction de la dureté de l'eau.Advantageously, the iron may also comprise means allowing the user to indicate the degree of hardness of the water introduced into the reservoir, so that the hardness of the water can be taken into account by the electronic circuit. 11 to adapt the activation threshold of indicator 10 scaling indicator depending on the hardness of the water.

Une telle variante permet d'améliorer encore l'adéquation entre l'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage et l'état réel d'entartrage du fer. En particulier, avec une telle variante, l'activation de l'indicateur d'entartrage n'aura pas lieu, ou seulement après une très grande durée d'utilisation du fer, si l'utilisateur repasse essentiellement à sec.Such a variant makes it possible to further improve the adequacy between the activation of the scaling indicator and the actual state of scaling of the iron. In particular, with a alternatively, the activation of the scaling indicator will not take place, or only after a very long period of use of iron, if the user goes back essentially dry.

Bien entendu, l'invention n'est nullement limitée au mode de réalisation décrit et illustré qui n'a été donné qu'à titre d'exemple. Des modifications restent possibles, notamment du point de vue de la constitution des divers éléments ou par substitution d'équivalents techniques, sans sortir pour autant du domaine de protection de l'invention.Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Ainsi, dans une variante de réalisation de l'invention, le thermostat mécanique du fer pourra être remplacé par un thermostat électronique relié à des capteurs de température.Thus, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the mechanical thermostat of the iron may be replaced by an electronic thermostat connected to temperature sensors.

Claims (10)

  1. A steam iron provided with a scaling indicator (10) and having a heater body (3) including a steam generation chamber (30) for generating steam, said iron being characterized in that it is provided with means making it possible to compute the electrical energy consumed by the iron and with means serving to activate said scaling indicator (10) whenever the computed energy exceeds a previously determined threshold.
  2. An iron according to claim 1, characterized in that said heater body (3) includes an electric heater resistor (31), operation of which is regulated by a thermostat (6), and in that the iron is provided with means for measuring the total time for which the thermostat (6) causes the heater resistance (31) to be electrically powered.
  3. An iron according to claim 2, characterized in that said means for measuring the total time for which the heater resistance operates are integrated into an electronic circuit (11) that activates the scaling indicator (10), said electronic circuit (11) receiving from the thermostat (6) the information relating to whether or not the heater resistor (31) is powered.
  4. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the iron is provided with means for computing the quantity of energy consumed by the heater resistor (31), and in that the scaling indicator (10) is activated when the quantity of energy consumed by the heater resistor (31) exceeds a previously determined threshold.
  5. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the iron is provided with means for computing the quantity of energy consumed to generate steam, and in that the scaling indicator (10) is activated when said quantity of energy consumed for steam generation exceeds a previously determined threshold.
  6. An iron according to claim 5, characterized in that the energy consumed to generate steam is computed by subtracting from the energy consumed by the heater resistor (31) an estimate of the energy necessary for dry ironing a textile at the setpoint temperature of the thermostat.
  7. An iron according to claim 6, characterized in that the energy necessary for dry ironing a textile at the temperature setting of the thermostat (6) is estimated by integrating into the time a standard power necessary for dry ironing a textile at the temperature setting of the thermostat (6), the value for said power being determined on the basis of values stored in a memory of the electronic circuit (11).
  8. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the threshold for activating the scaling indicator (10) is modulated as a function of the degree of hardness of the water fed into the steam generation chamber (30), which degree of hardness is indicated by the user.
  9. An iron according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that it has a re-initialization button (12), actuation of which makes it possible, when the scaling indicator (10) is activated, to re-initialize computation of the electrical energy consumed.
  10. An iron according to claim 9, characterized in that said re-initialization button (12) also constitutes a self-cleaning button causing a large quantity of water to enter the steam generation chamber suddenly.
EP07733962A 2006-03-31 2007-03-07 Steam iron comprising a scale indicator Not-in-force EP2002050B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0602828A FR2899246B1 (en) 2006-03-31 2006-03-31 STEAM IRON COMPRISING A DESCALING INDICATOR
PCT/IB2007/000608 WO2007116255A1 (en) 2006-03-31 2007-03-07 Steam iron comprising a scale indicator

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2002050A1 EP2002050A1 (en) 2008-12-17
EP2002050B1 true EP2002050B1 (en) 2009-08-12

Family

ID=37397491

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07733962A Not-in-force EP2002050B1 (en) 2006-03-31 2007-03-07 Steam iron comprising a scale indicator

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US20100175285A1 (en)
EP (1) EP2002050B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101410567B (en)
AT (1) ATE439467T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602007001966D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2331667T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2899246B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007116255A1 (en)

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US7730568B2 (en) 2006-06-09 2010-06-08 Whirlpool Corporation Removal of scale and sludge in a steam generator of a fabric treatment appliance
US7681418B2 (en) 2006-08-15 2010-03-23 Whirlpool Corporation Water supply control for a steam generator of a fabric treatment appliance using a temperature sensor
US7886392B2 (en) 2006-08-15 2011-02-15 Whirlpool Corporation Method of sanitizing a fabric load with steam in a fabric treatment appliance
US7707859B2 (en) 2006-08-15 2010-05-04 Whirlpool Corporation Water supply control for a steam generator of a fabric treatment appliance
US7665332B2 (en) 2006-08-15 2010-02-23 Whirlpool Corporation Steam fabric treatment appliance with exhaust
US7841219B2 (en) 2006-08-15 2010-11-30 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treating appliance utilizing steam
US7753009B2 (en) 2006-10-19 2010-07-13 Whirlpool Corporation Washer with bio prevention cycle
US8393183B2 (en) 2007-05-07 2013-03-12 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treatment appliance control panel and associated steam operations
US8555676B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2013-10-15 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treatment appliance with steam backflow device
US7861343B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2011-01-04 Whirlpool Corporation Method for operating a steam generator in a fabric treatment appliance
US8037565B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2011-10-18 Whirlpool Corporation Method for detecting abnormality in a fabric treatment appliance having a steam generator
US7690062B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2010-04-06 Whirlpool Corporation Method for cleaning a steam generator
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US8555675B2 (en) 2007-08-31 2013-10-15 Whirlpool Corporation Fabric treatment appliance with steam backflow device
ES2396373B1 (en) * 2010-06-15 2014-01-02 BSH Electrodomésticos España S.A. STEAM IRON WITH AUTOMATIC CLEANING AND DECALCIFICATION SYSTEM.
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE439467T1 (en) 2009-08-15
DE602007001966D1 (en) 2009-09-24
ES2331667T3 (en) 2010-01-12
FR2899246B1 (en) 2008-05-09
CN101410567B (en) 2011-02-02
FR2899246A1 (en) 2007-10-05
WO2007116255A1 (en) 2007-10-18
CN101410567A (en) 2009-04-15
US20100175285A1 (en) 2010-07-15
EP2002050A1 (en) 2008-12-17

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