EP3336240A1 - Iron comprising a device for retention and vaporisation of condensates - Google Patents

Abstract

Iron comprising a circuit for diffusing a stream of steam towards at least one steam outlet hole (20), the circuit comprising a device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates to prevent the diffusion of droplets water through the steam outlet hole (20), characterized in that the device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates comprises a first pipe (43A) which opens into a vaporization chamber (43) formed in a body (3). ) comprising a heating resistor (41), the vaporization chamber (43) comprising a lateral wall (9) having a lateral opening (43C) which communicates with a second channel (43B) through which the vapor flow escapes in the direction of the vapor outlet hole (20) and in that the vaporization chamber (43) comprises, in an area opposite the lateral opening (43C), a condensate-holding pocket (43) forming a dead-end towards which e the vapor flow from the first pipe (43A) is sent and can escape only by turning back.

Description

The present invention relates to an iron comprising a circuit for the diffusion of a steam flow towards at least one steam outlet hole, the circuit comprising a device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates to avoid the diffusion of water droplets through the steam outlet hole.

It is known from the patent application WO 2016/030122 an iron comprising a condensate retention and vaporization device comprising a labyrinth-shaped path associated with a cyclonic separation device. However, such a cyclonic separation device has the disadvantage of being relatively bulky, especially in height, which makes its integration difficult in an iron having a tapered front end.

It is known from the patent application EP2746460 filed by the Applicant, an iron having a circuit for the diffusion of a vapor flow towards steam outlet holes comprising a condensate vaporization device. In this document, the condensate vaporization device comprises a first pipe which opens into a vaporization chamber formed in a body comprising a heating resistor, the vaporization chamber comprising a lateral wall having a lateral opening which communicates with a second pipe through which the vapor flow escapes from the vaporization chamber towards the steam outlet holes.

Such a condensate vaporization device has the advantage of being compact, especially in height, but nevertheless has the drawbacks of being able to let condensates escape, in particular when the flow of vapor comprises large droplets of moving water. at high speed.

Also, an object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages by providing an iron comprising a device for the retention and vaporization of condensates which is compact, efficient and simple and economic to achieve.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an iron comprising a circuit for diffusing a stream of vapor towards at least one steam outlet hole, the circuit comprising a device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates. to prevent the diffusion of water droplets through the steam outlet hole, characterized in that the device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates comprises a first pipe which opens into a vaporization chamber formed in a body comprising a resistor heating, the vaporization chamber comprising a side wall having a lateral opening which communicates with a second pipe through which the flow of vapor escapes from the vaporization chamber towards the steam outlet hole and in that the vaporization chamber comprises, in an area opposite the lateral opening, a condensate retention pocket forming a dead end towards which the flow of steam from the first pipe is sent and can escape only by turning back.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain the establishment of a flow of circulation in which the condensates are projected by the centrifugal force towards the retention pocket while the vapor can escape laterally through the lateral opening of the chamber. Spraying. This effectively separates the condensates present in the vapor stream, the latter being gradually vaporized under the effect of the heat released by the heating resistor. In addition, such a construction has the advantage of using a change of direction of the vapor flow in a single horizontal plane which provides a device having a small footprint in height.

By retention pocket forming a dead end, it is meant that the retention pocket has a single access channel through which the flow of steam enters and leaves the retention pocket.

According to another characteristic of the invention, at the outlet of the first pipe, the flow of vapor is directed towards a side wall of the vaporization chamber extending between the lateral opening and the pocket, the side wall having a shape adapted to deflect the water droplets projected on the side wall towards the pocket.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to offer greater freedom in the arrangement of the retention pocket in the vaporization chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the side wall extends in a curved shape and preferably in a circular arc.

Such a feature effectively deflects the condensates projected on the side wall towards the retention pocket.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first pipe wraps around the vaporization chamber.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a particularly compact device in width.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first pipe is delimited laterally by the side wall of the vaporization chamber and by a peripheral lateral wall extending around the vaporization chamber, the peripheral lateral wall comprising a portion projecting from inside the spray chamber.

Such a projecting portion has the advantage of forming a deflector which deflects the flow of steam in a predetermined direction.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises a ceiling which comprises a rib which extends in the extension of the peripheral lateral wall and which extends in the direction of the pocket.

Such a rib has the advantage of guiding the condensates flowing along the ceiling towards the pocket.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises a bottom which is arranged lower than the mouth of the first pipe so that it results a step between the bottom of the vaporization chamber and the lower face of the the first channel.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to form a cavity in the bottom of the vaporization chamber in which the condensates can flow through gravity and be temporarily stored waiting to be vaporized under the effect of the heat released by the heating resistance.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the lateral opening is raised relative to the bottom of the vaporization chamber.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to limit the risk that condensates, stored in the bottom of the vaporization chamber, escape through the lateral opening under the effect of the blast generated by the circulation of the vapor flow.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates comprises, upstream or downstream of the first pipe, at least one other retention pocket to which the vapor flow is guided by one side of a pipe. wall, the pocket forming a dead end whose vapor flow can escape only through a passage formed on the other side of the wall.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a complementary pocket in which at least part of the condensates transported by the flow can be trapped.

According to another characteristic, the bag is disposed facing an injection zone through which the flow of vapor is introduced into the condensate retention and vaporization device.

Such a pocket makes it possible to trap the most important condensates injected with the steam flow at the injection zone.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pocket is disposed near the heating resistor.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to ensure progressive vaporization of the condensates trapped in the pocket.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating resistor is supplied by a thermostat as a function of the temperature of the vaporization chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thermostat is arranged to trigger and electrically power the heating resistor when water is present in the bottom of the vaporization chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the passage section for the vapor flow in the vaporization chamber is larger than the passage section in the first pipe.

Thus, the vaporization chamber is a zone of expansion and reduction of the velocity of the vapor flow, which improves the efficiency of the condensate retention and vaporization device.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the iron has a preferably flat ironing surface and the steam outlet hole is provided on the ironing surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the retention and vaporization device comprises an injection zone, at which the vapor flow is admitted into the device, which is surrounded on a part of its periphery by a side wall.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the side wall surrounding the injection zone defines a first portion of the first pipe, the first pipe winding around the side wall by presenting two successive bends at 90 °.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to project any condensates transported by the steam against the side wall of the first pipe.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first channel comprises a portion, called centrifugation, which comes in the extension of the first portion and which extends substantially in an arcuate circle around the vaporization chamber.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a device for separating condensates that is particularly compact and efficient.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the supply of the heating resistor is regulated by means of a thermostat to maintain the temperature of the vaporization chamber around a set temperature of between 100 ° C. and 145 ° C. and preferably between 100 ° C and 115 ° C.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a vapor with a high moisture content at the outlet of the vaporization chamber for better ironing performance.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the thermostat setpoint temperature is not adjustable by the user.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the flow of vapor injected into the condensate retention and vaporization device has a flow rate greater than or equal to 70 g / min.

The invention also relates to a steam ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator base connected by a conduit to an iron as previously described.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the steam generator base comprises a water tank and encloses a tank for the generation of pressurized steam comprising a steam outlet provided with a solenoid valve connected to a steam pipe carrying the steam to the iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises means for injecting water from the reservoir directly into the steam pipe.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for injecting the reservoir water directly into the steam pipe comprise a pump, a solenoid valve and a bypass line.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the water is injected sequentially into the steam pipe during the opening of the solenoid valve.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un appareil de repassage selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du dessus d'un sous-ensemble équipant le fer à repasser de l'appareil de repassage de la figure 1 réalisé selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée du sous-ensemble de la figure 2;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus du sous-ensemble de la figure 2 démuni du couvercle de fermeture ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective du sous ensemble illustré sur la figure 4;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective du dessous du couvercle venant fermer la chambre de vaporisation ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective, de dessous, du sous-ensemble de la figure 5 avec la coiffe non assemblée ;
• La figure 9 montre un diagramme de fonctionnement temporel.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given hereinafter of several particular embodiments of the invention, presented by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in FIG. which :

• the figure 1 is a side view of an ironing apparatus according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a subassembly equipping the iron of the ironing apparatus of the figure 1 realized according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the subset of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a top view of the subset of the figure 2 without the closure lid;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view along line VV of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a perspective view of the subassembly shown on the figure 4 ;
• the figure 7 is a perspective view of the bottom of the lid closing the vaporization chamber;
• the figure 8 is a perspective view, from below, of the subset of the figure 5 with the unassembled cap;
• The figure 9 shows a temporal operating diagram.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

Note that in this document, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "front", "rear", "bottom", "ceiling" used to describe the iron refer to this iron in use situation when the ironing plate is placed on a horizontal plane.

The figure 1 represents an ironing apparatus comprising a base 100 generating steam and an iron 1 interconnected by a flexible conduit 101, the iron 1 having a plastic housing incorporating a handle.

The base 100 has an inclined plane on which the iron 1 can come to rest during inactive ironing phases and contains, in a manner known per se, a tank 102 for the production of steam under a pressure of about 4 to 6 bars. The tank 102 is fed with water from a tank 103 by means of a supply circuit comprising a pump 104 controlled by an electronic card 108. The tank 102 comprises a steam outlet provided with a solenoid valve 102A, controlled by a trigger 10 disposed under the handle of the iron 1, connected to the iron 1 by a steam pipe 105 disposed in the conduit 101.

Advantageously, the feed circuit of the tank 102 also comprises a bypass line 106 for conveying water from the tank 103 directly into the steam line 105 and a two-way solenoid valve 107, controlled by the electronic card. 108, for alternately or together feeding the tank 102 and the bypass line 106.

The base 100 is connected to the domestic electrical network by an electric wire, not shown in the figures, which allows both the electrical supply of heating means of the tank 102 and the power supply of the iron 1 through the leads 101.

In accordance with Figures 2 to 8 , the iron 1 comprises a cap 2 which comprises a flat bottom surface defining an ironing surface intended to come into contact with the laundry, the cap 2 being contiguous to a body constituted by a heating soleplate 3 comprising a substantially flat bottom wall from directly in contact with the cap 2, the latter being bonded to the heating soleplate 3 by a silicone adhesive.

The cap 2 is advantageously constituted by an aluminum sheet, of a thickness of the order of 1.4 mm, covered with enamel on its lower face, and comprises a front portion disposed in front of the transverse axis Y passing through the middle of the cap 2, having generally a triangular shape with a tip at its front end and a rear portion, disposed behind the transverse axis Y, of greater width ending in a rounded rear edge.

Preferably, the heating soleplate 3 is constituted by an aluminum foundry in which is embedded a first U-shaped shielded electrical resistance 31, the latter only extending in a rear portion of the heating soleplate 3 overlying the rear portion of the the cap 2 so as to generate at the rear portion of the cap 2 a so-called hot zone where the temperature of the ironing surface is the highest.

The power supply of the first electrical resistance 31 is regulated by means of a first thermostat advantageously constituted by a NTC probe, not shown in the figures, pressed onto a boss 32 formed on the rear part of the heating soleplate 3 and associated with a relay controlled by the electronic card 108.

The first electrical resistance 31 advantageously has a power of between 300 W and 600 W and the first thermostat comprises a set temperature which is adjustable by the user over a range advantageously between 90 ° C and 240 ° C, and preferably between 110 ° C and 200 ° C, this set temperature of the first thermostat corresponding to the temperature at a point A located in the hot zone the ironing surface, near the center of the cap 2.

The heating soleplate 3 comprises, facing the front portion of the cap 2, a front portion 4 provided with a second U-shaped shielded electrical resistor 41 also having a power advantageously between 300 and 600 W.

For example, the heating soleplate 3 may be made by molding in an aluminum alloy casting having a mass of the order of 350 gr which is overmolded on the first and second shielded electrical resistances, each of these electrical resistors. having a power of the order of 450W.

As can be seen on the Figures 3 and 4 , the front portion 4 has an upper face on which projects a peripheral wall 42 which laterally delimits a condensate retention and vaporization device comprising in particular a central tank 43 forming a vaporization chamber, of instantaneous vaporization type, the vaporization chamber 43 being closed at its upper end by a cover 6 which rests on the upper edge of the peripheral wall 42.

The cover 6 supports a second thermostat 60 fixed on a stud 44 projecting into the vaporization chamber 43 and passing through the cover 6. The second thermostat 60 is connected to the second electrical resistance 41 to regulate the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 around a fixed setpoint temperature, not adjustable by the user, slightly above 100 ° C and preferably of the order of 105 ° C.

The second thermostat 60 is advantageously produced by means of a bimetallic mechanical thermostat, the accuracy required for the temperature regulation of the heating body 4 being less than that required for temperature regulation of the heating soleplate 3.

The lid 6 comprises a connection 61, which is connected to the steam duct 105 which is integrated in the duct 101 connecting the steam generator base 100 to the iron 1, this connection 61 making it possible to feed the vaporization chamber 43 with the vapor produced by the tank 102.

In accordance with the figure 4 , the connector 61 opens into the front portion 4 at an injection zone 45 from which the steam escapes through the device for retention and vaporization of the condensates.

Preferably, the condensate retention and vaporization device comprises a peripheral lateral wall 5 having a U-shaped portion 5A which surrounds the injection zone 45 over more than 75% of its periphery and thus forms an enclosure having a single 45A outlet oriented towards a first pocket 45B, dead end, which advantageously extends above the second electrical resistance 41, the pocket 45B being located in the direction of flow of the vapor stream from the zone Injection 45

The device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates also comprises a vaporization circuit comprising a first pipe 43A whose inlet 43D is disposed laterally at the outlet 45A so that the flow entering the first pipe 43A flows in the opposite direction of the outgoing flow by exit 45A.

The first channel 43A has a first portion which wraps around the portion 5A of the side wall 5 by presenting two successive bends at 90 °, then has a portion, called centrifugation, which extends substantially in an arcuate curve a circle around the vaporization chamber 43, turning in the opposite direction of the elbows of the first portion, and partly traveling above the second electrical resistance 41.

The centrifugation portion comprises a first zone, represented by a first series of hatching on the figure 4 , which extends over an angular sector close to 180 ° and which is delimited laterally by the internal lateral face of the side wall 5 and by the external lateral face of a side wall 8 in a circular arc, of smaller radius, bordering the vaporization chamber 43.

Preferably, the radius of curvature of the side wall 5 at the level of the centrifugation portion is greater than 25 mm and the passage section increases gradually to reach a maximum passage section at the exit of this first zone. For example, the passage section may be of the order of 100 mm ² at the input of the first zone and of the order of 130 mm ² at the output of the first zone.

The centrifuging portion comprises, in the extension of the first zone, a second zone, represented by a second series of hatching, which opens into the vaporization chamber 43. Advantageously, the vaporization chamber 43 comprises a bottom which is arranged lower than the outlet end of the first pipe 43A so that there is a step 48 at the entrance of the vaporization chamber 43, the bottom recessed from the vaporization chamber 43 forming a condensate storage cavity .

The centrifugation portion has, at the level of the second zone, particular shapes making it possible to deflect the water droplets propelled by the steam flow towards a second pocket 43E, in a cul de sac, formed between the two branches of the second electrical resistance 41 U-shaped.

This second pocket 43E is formed at one end of the vaporization chamber 43 and is delimited by the internal lateral face of the side wall 8 and by an internal wall 8A which projects inside the vaporization chamber 43.

In accordance with figures 4 and 6 , the inner wall 8A joins the side wall 8 forming with it an obtuse angle at an edge 80 which defines the entrance of the vaporization chamber 43, the second pocket 43E being open opposite the entrance of the vaporization chamber 43.

The internal lateral face of the side wall 5 has, opposite the edge 80, a portion having a progressively decreasing radius of curvature and which ends with a portion 5B projecting at the inlet of the vaporization chamber 43 and forms a deflector which deflects water droplets propelled by the flow of steam towards the second pocket 43E.

As can be seen on the figure 7 , the cover 6 has a lower face which defines the ceiling of the vaporization chamber 43 and which comprises a rib 62 which extends the side wall 5 at the end of the deflector 5B and extends towards the second pocket 43E to guide the condensates flowing on the ceiling of the vaporization chamber 43 to the second pocket 43E.

The vaporization chamber 43 is delimited laterally, behind the deflector 5B, by an intermediate side wall 9 which extends in a curved manner between the side wall 5 and the side wall 8 and defines a portion of the outer contour of the vaporization chamber 43 The side wall 5 and the intermediate side wall 9 advantageously form between them an obtuse angle at their intersection and the end of the deflector 5B protrudes with respect to the internal lateral surface of the intermediate side wall 9.

The intermediate side wall 9 has, at its upper edge, a notch which forms the lower end of a lateral opening 43C which communicates with a second pipe 43B, the other part of the lateral opening 43C being formed in the lid 6 , visible on the figure 7 .

Preferably, the lateral opening 43C has a lower edge which is located at a distance of about 12 mm from the bottom of the vaporization chamber 43. The second pipe 43B advantageously extends opposite the the first channel 43A with respect to the vaporization chamber 43 and has a shape such that the flow of steam makes a 180 ° turn from the first pipe 43A to the second pipe 43B through the lateral opening 43C.

The second pipe 43B extends outside the side wall 9 intermediate and towards the front end of the heating body 4 where it communicates with two passages 46 passing through the heating body 4 to open on the underside of the heating body 4, in a vapor diffusion chamber 7, visible on the figure 5 , formed in a cavity 30 of the heating soleplate 3 disposed between the vaporization chamber 43 and the cap 2.

This cavity 30 limits the heat exchange effected by conduction between the heating soleplate 3 and the cap 2 and thus generates, in the front part of the cap 2, a so-called cold zone where the temperature of the ironing surface is lower only in the hot zone located in the rear part of the cap.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the cavity 30 has a generally triangular shape, matching the shape of the front part of the cap 2, the width of which represents at least 65% of the width of the cap 2.

As can be seen on the figures 3 and 8 the diffusion chamber 7 is used to supply steam to a first group 21 of steam outlet holes 20 located mainly in the front part of the cap 2, in the cold zone of the ironing surface, and a second group 22 of steam outlet holes 20 disposed in the rear part of the cap 2, in the hot zone of the ironing surface. The steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 are mainly arranged directly opposite the diffusion chamber 7 so that the vapor diffused through these holes does not come into contact with the heating soleplate 3 and is not heated by this method. last before being broadcast outside the cap 2.

Preferably, the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 are distributed over the entire surface of the cap 2 covered by the cavity 30 so as to diffuse steam over a width corresponding to at least 65% of the width of the the cap 2.

The steam outlet holes 20 of the second group 22 are indirectly supplied via distribution channels 47 formed on the rear part of the cap 2, at which the steam is heated before being diffused to the outside of the cap 2.

The operation of such an ironing apparatus and the advantages provided by such a construction will now be described.

At the start of the apparatus, the tank 102 is heated and the water it contains is brought to a boil, the steam under pressure produced by the tank 102 being transmitted through the steam pipe 105 to the iron 1 During this transmission of the steam through the steam pipe 105, the temperature of the steam is lowered so that condensates are formed in the stream of steam arriving in the iron 1.

If these condensates are large enough to form a water plug in the steam pipe 105, this water is propelled violently through the steam circuit, and especially at the injection zone 45, when the user actuates the trigger 10 to release the pressurized vapor contained in the tank 102. These water droplets propelled by the vapor flow are then mostly collected, by their inertia, in the first pocket 45B where they are stored to be vaporized gradually then that the flow of steam continues its way by escaping laterally through the inlet 43D.

Any droplets that are still entrained in the first channel 43A of the device by the steam flow then flow along the outer side wall of the centrifugation portion and reach the deflector 5B where they are projected into the vaporization chamber 43 towards the side wall 8 facing the deflector 5B. The water droplets then move in the vaporization chamber 43 according to a parabolic curve, illustrated by a dotted arrow on the figure 4 until they come into contact with the side wall 8 where they are entrained in the second pocket 43E while the vapor can escape directly through the lateral opening 43C formed at the top of the vaporization chamber 43.

When the flow of the steam flow is established regularly between the base 100 and the iron 1, the condensates transported by the steam are fewer and move in the form of separate water droplets or in the form of liquid film moving along the walls of the vaporization circuit under the effect of the driving forces generated by the flow of steam.

The liquid film flowing in the first pipe 43A, along the side wall 8, reaches the edge 80 where the vortex flow formed there, associated with the decrease in the velocity of the vapor flow allows the film to flow, under the effect of gravity, into the bottom of the vaporization chamber 43, behind the step 48.

The film of liquid flowing in the first pipe 43A along the side wall 5 reaches an area downstream of the deflector 5B, opposite the edge 80, where the speed of the vapor flow decreases, under the effect of the abrupt change of direction, so that the film flows by gravity into the bottom of the vaporization chamber, downstream of the step 48.

The liquid film that flows on the lid 6, along the ceiling of the vaporization chamber 43, is in turn guided by the rib 62 into the second pocket 43E which forms a quiet zone, away from the main stream of steam , where the drops can flow by gravity into the bottom of the vaporization chamber 43.

The water accumulated in the bottom of the vaporization chamber 43, following the recovery of the condensates transported by the vapor flow and the recovery of the liquid films is then progressively vaporized by being heated by the heat transmitted by the bottom of the vaporization chamber 43. The energy expended for vaporizing this water contributes to lowering the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 and thus prevents it from being overheated by the heat flow produced by the first electrical resistance 31 when the temperature of the the latter is greater than 200 ° C.

Such a construction of the vaporization chamber 43 makes it possible to obtain a vapor at the outlet of the vaporization chamber 43 loaded solely with micro-droplets of water, this vapor passing through the passages 46 to be delivered into the diffusion chamber 7 arranged above the front part of the cap 2.

The diffusion chamber 7 being remote from the hot zone of the cap 2, the The vapor therein is diffused through the steam outlet holes 21 of the first group 21 with a high moisture titer, i.e., being loaded with micro-droplets of liquid water which are deposited on the fabric being ironed.

This gives a very good humidification of the laundry by the steam coming from the steam outlet holes 20 formed in the front part of the cap 2.

In particular, such a construction makes it possible to establish a strong thermal gradient between a point B located in the cold zone of the ironing surface and the point A situated in the hot zone of the ironing surface, thanks to a geometry which makes it possible to limit the heat flow between the center of the cap 2, subjected directly to the heating of the first electrical resistance 31, and the front part of the cap 2.

Thus, the temperature of the heating soleplate 3, and therefore of the rear part of the ironing surface, can be regulated around a set temperature of up to more than 240.degree. C., while maintaining a temperature in the front part of the ironing surface. the ironing surface, and in particular in the vicinity of point B, of the order of 100 ° C.

In addition, to prevent the energy released by the rear part of the soleplate 3 from progressively leading to an increase in the temperature of the evaporation chamber 43 beyond 130.degree. C., the electronic card 108 may advantageously comprise a control program. the pump 104 and the solenoid valve 107 for regularly injecting small amounts of water into the steam line 105.

Indeed, the water injected into the steam pipe 105 is taken along with the vapor flow to the vaporization chamber 43 where these water droplets, intentionally introduced, are vaporized causing a lowering of the temperature of the chamber Spray 43.

This controlled injection of water into the steam pipe 105 can be carried out systematically when the user actuates the trigger 10 controlling the solenoid valve 102A for the emission of steam through the steam pipe 105.

So, according to the figure 9 , the electronic card 18 can control, at regular intervals, the opening of the solenoid valve 107 and the start of the pump 104 to direct the water from the pump 104 to the steam pipe 105 at the opening of the solenoid valve 102A. For example, when pressing the trigger 10, the pump will be active for 100 ms over a period of 500 ms during the entire opening phase of the solenoid valve 102A, the solenoid valve 107 being activated and deactivated with a time latency, for example 100 ms, compared to the activation of the pump 104.

In an alternative embodiment, the controlled injection of water into the steam pipe 105 may be conditioned at the set temperature of the first electrical resistance 31. For example, the controlled injection of water may not intervene only when the set temperature of the first electrical resistance 31 is greater than a certain threshold, for example 200 ° C.

In another variant embodiment, the regular injection of small quantities of water into the steam pipe 105 can be carried out in a controlled manner as a function of the effective temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 measured using a sensor , the amount of water injected being greater when the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 is high.

Of course, when the set temperature of the first thermostat is low, close to 100 ° C., the presence of the second electrical resistance 41, and its regulation by the second thermostat 60, makes it possible to maintain the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 at a temperature close to 105 ° C to gradually vaporize the condensates collected in the vaporization chamber.

The iron 1 thus produced allows the diffusion of a steam with high humidity, but without condensates, through the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21. The steam thus emitted by the holes 20 condenses rapidly in the thickness of the laundry and allows to obtain better ironing performance, this condensation in the laundry being favored by the low temperature of the ironing surface, close to 100 ° C, in the vicinity of the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 which avoids overheating the laundry.

Due to this thermal distribution and the vapor diffused at a temperature close to the condensation, the anti-crease performance of fabrics requiring a high ironing temperature, such as linen or cotton, are improved.

In addition, when the iron is moved forwards, the area of the laundry previously wetted by the steam outlet holes in the cold area of the ironing surface is then dried out by the rear portion of the ironing surface. ironing which has a higher temperature.

When the set temperature of the ironing surface is of the order of 100 ° C., the temperature of the front part of the cap 2 remains greater than 90 ° C. thanks to the heat exchange established by radiation with the part before 4 of the heating soleplate, by convection through the vapor present in the cavity 30, or by conduction with the portion of the heating soleplate 3 bordering the cavity 30, which is sufficient to prevent the vapor from condensing directly on the cap 2 by creating a wetting of the laundry by capillarity which would generate too much drying time.

Finally, the vapor emitted by the second group 22 of steam outlet holes 20 has the advantage of having a lower moisture content than that of the vapor emitted by the first group 21, due to the heating of the steam. being effected during its diffusion through the distribution channels of the heating soleplate 3, so that the emission of steam through these holes does not come to thwart the drying of the laundry by the rear portion of the cap 2. A conversely, the presence of the steam outlet holes of the second group 22 makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the iron when only the rear part of the cap 2 is used to iron a particular zone of the fabric on which the iron Iron 1 is moved only backwards.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments which have been given only as examples. 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.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the cap may include only the first group of steam outlet holes and be deprived of the second group of steam outlet holes.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the tank for the production of steam can be shipped directly into the iron and / or be constituted by an instantaneous vaporization chamber.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the heating element may be produced by a screen-printed flat heating element.

Thus, in yet another variant embodiment not shown, the iron may include a collector disposed across the cavity of the heating soleplate. This collector is advantageously made by stamping a stainless steel sheet having an exhaust port facing each steam outlet hole of the first group to pre-direct the flow of steam towards them. Such a collector has the advantage of further limiting the thermal exchanges between the steam flow and the heating soleplate, which further lowers the temperature of the steam at the outlet of the steam outlet holes of the first group, for greater humification of the laundry and better ironing performance.

Claims (13)

Iron (1) comprising a circuit for diffusing a stream of steam towards at least one steam outlet hole (20), the circuit comprising a device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates to prevent the diffusion of water droplets through the steam outlet hole (20), the condensate retention and vaporization device comprising a first channel (43A) which opens into a vaporization chamber (43) formed in a body (3) comprising a heating resistor (41), the vaporization chamber (43) comprising a lateral wall (9) having a lateral opening (43C) which communicates with a second channel (43B) through which the flow of vapor escapes from the chamber spraying apparatus (43) towards the steam outlet hole (20), characterized in that the spraying chamber (43) comprises, in an area opposite the side opening (43C), a retention pocket (43E) condensates fo Rmant a dead end to which the flow of steam from the first pipe (43A) is sent and can escape only by turning back. Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at the outlet of the first pipe (43A), the vapor flow is oriented towards a side wall (8) of the vaporization chamber (43). ) extending between the lateral opening (43C) and the pocket (43E), the side wall (8) having a shape adapted to deflect the water droplets projected on said side wall (8) towards the pocket ( 43E). Iron (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the side wall (8) extends in a curved shape and preferably in a circular arc. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first pipe (43A) wraps around the vaporization chamber (43). Iron (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first channel (43A) is delimited laterally by the side wall (8) of the vaporization chamber (43) and by a peripheral side wall (5) extending around the vaporization chamber (43), the side wall (5) ) device comprising a portion (5B) projecting inside the vaporization chamber (43). Iron (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the vaporization chamber (43) comprises a ceiling which comprises a rib (62) which extends in the extension of the peripheral side wall (5) and which extends towards the pocket (43E). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the vaporization chamber (43) has a bottom which is arranged lower than the mouth of the first pipe (43A) so that there is a step (48) between the bottom of the vaporization chamber (43) and the lower face of the first pipe (43A). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lateral opening (43C) is raised relative to the bottom of the steam chamber (43). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates comprises, upstream or downstream of the first pipe (43A), at least one other pocket ( 45B) to which the vapor flow is guided by one side of a wall (5A), the pocket (45B) forming a dead-end whose vapor flow can escape only through a passage of the other side of the wall (5A). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the heating resistor (41) is fed by a thermostat (60) as a function of the temperature of the vaporization chamber (43). Iron (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the thermostat (60) is arranged to trigger and electrically supply the heating resistor (41), when water is present in the bottom of the vaporization chamber (43). Steam ironing apparatus comprising a steam generating base (100) connected by a conduit (101) to an iron according to any one of claims 1 to 11. Ironing apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the base (100) comprises a reservoir (103) of water and encloses a tank (102) for the generation of pressurized steam comprising a steam outlet provided with a solenoid valve (102A) connected to a steam pipe (105) bringing the steam to the iron (1).

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