EP3336243A1 - Iron comprising an ironing surface, a heating plate and a vaporisation chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

Iron (1) comprising an ironing surface, a heating soleplate (3) for heating the ironing surface and a vaporization chamber (43), the heating soleplate (3) comprising a first electrical resistance (31) arranged at plumb with a so-called hot zone of the ironing surface, the vaporization chamber (43) being formed in a heating body (4) comprising a second electrical resistance (41), the vaporization chamber (43) being arranged at the plumb with a so-called cold zone of the ironing surface having steam outlet holes (20), the steam outlet holes (20) being fed by a steam diffusion chamber (7) provided at the outside of the vaporization chamber (43), in a cavity formed between the vaporization chamber (43) and the cold zone of the ironing surface, characterized in that the entire ironing surface is carried by a lower face a cap (2), in one s a piece, which is attached under the heating soleplate or by a lower face of the heating soleplate (3).

Description

The present invention relates to an iron having an ironing surface, a heating soleplate for heating the ironing surface and a vaporization chamber, the heating soleplate comprising a first electrical resistance disposed above a so-called zone. hot of the ironing surface and the vaporization chamber being formed in a heating body comprising a second electrical resistance. The present invention relates more particularly to an iron in which the heating body is disposed in line with a so-called cold zone of the ironing surface having steam outlet holes, the steam outlet holes being fed by a steam diffusion chamber formed in a cavity formed between the vaporization chamber and the cold zone of the ironing surface.

It is known from the patent application GB 2,437,283 , an iron with such features. However, this iron has the disadvantage of having a complex construction, with a two-part ironing surface that must be attached edge to edge being held in the same plane, which makes it complex and expensive to manufacture. In addition, such a device does not sufficiently moisten the fabric being ironed to obtain optimal ironing performance.

Also, an object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage by providing an iron that is simple and economical to implement. Another object of the present invention is to provide an iron with improved ironing performance.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an iron with an ironing surface, a heating soleplate for heating the ironing surface and a vaporization chamber, the heating soleplate comprising a first electrical resistance arranged vertically above the ironing surface. a so-called hot zone of the ironing surface, the vaporization chamber being formed in a heating body comprising a second electrical resistance, the chamber of vaporization being disposed above a so-called cold zone of the ironing surface having steam outlet holes, the steam outlet holes being fed by a vapor diffusion chamber provided, outside the chamber in a cavity formed between the vaporization chamber and the cold zone of the ironing surface, characterized in that the whole of the ironing surface is carried by a lower face of a cap, in one piece, which is attached under the heating sole or by a lower face of the heating soleplate.

By arranged vertically above the area, it is meant that the member is disposed above the area when the iron rests horizontally on the ironing surface.

The apparatus thus produced has the advantage of having an ironing surface which is formed on a piece in one piece, constituted either by the attached cap, or directly by the heating soleplate, for greater simplicity of construction.

In addition, such a construction makes it possible to obtain a strong thermal gradient between the cold zone of the ironing surface used to diffuse the steam and the hot zone used to dry the laundry. This gives very good ironing performance, the cold area of the ironing surface promoting the condensation of steam in the laundry and allowing its good wetting before drying by the hot zone.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the hot zone corresponds to the smallest closed convex surface in which the orthogonal projection of the first electrical resistance is inscribed.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the heating soleplate and the heating body are not in contact with each other in the area directly above the cold zone of the ironing surface.

Preferably, the heating soleplate and the heating body are in contact with each other only at contact surfaces, which in an orthogonal projection on the ironing surface, are distributed at the periphery of the cold zone. way to establish a controlled thermal gradient between the cold zone and the heating soleplate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ironing surface is constituted by the underside of the cap and the heating sole plate has, opposite the cold zone, an opening which is at least partially obscured by the cap.

Such a feature allows the steam from the vaporization chamber to be diffused to the steam outlet holes present on the cold zone without circulating on the heating soleplate but remaining in the environment of the cold ironing zone. This prevents the steam from overheating as it travels from the vaporization chamber to the steam outlet holes in the cold zone, as well as overheating the cold zone of the cap by the heating soleplate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cap is made of aluminum or steel sheet.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ironing surface is constituted by a lower face of the heating soleplate and the heating soleplate presents opposite the cold zone, or between the cold zone and the hot zone, a part where its thickness is reduced compared to the thickness of the heating soleplate facing the hot zone.

Such a restriction of the passage section of the heating soleplate at the level of the cold zone makes it possible to limit the thermal transfer taking place by conduction through the thickness of the heating soleplate between the hot zone located at the base of the first electrical resistance and the cold zone located in line with the heating body enclosing the vaporization chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body and the heating soleplate are made in two separate parts attached to one another, the heating body being attached to the heating soleplate.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to reduce the heat exchange between the heating body and the heating soleplate, which makes it possible to thermally decouple them and to control their temperature more easily.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the diffusion chamber of The steam is located outside the volume swept by the hot zone of the ironing surface when the latter is moved in a plane perpendicular to the ironing surface.

Such a construction makes it possible to move the vapor diffusion chamber away from the superheated environment by the heating soleplate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first electrical resistance is a U-shaped shielded resistor and the vapor diffusion chamber is located outside the volume swept by the resistor when it is moved in a plane perpendicular to the ironing surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the power supply of the first electrical resistance is regulated by means of a first thermostat.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first thermostat comprises a setpoint temperature, or trigger, which is between 90 ° C. and 240 ° C.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a hot zone whose temperature can be adapted according to the textile to be ironed.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the set temperature of the first thermostat is adjustable by the user.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the supply of the second electrical resistance is regulated by means of a second thermostat whose setpoint temperature, or trigger, is between 100 ° C and 135 ° 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 set temperature of the second thermostat is not adjustable by the user.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the set temperature of the second thermostat is automatically set by a control unit according to the set temperature of the first thermostat or according to measuring the temperature of the heating soleplate.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to automatically increase the setpoint temperature of the second thermostat when the temperature of the heating soleplate decreases below a predetermined threshold.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cold zone is disposed on the front half of the ironing surface and the hot zone is disposed on the rear half of the ironing surface.

Such a feature makes it possible, during a movement of the iron to the front, to initially wet the textile to be ironed with the steam emitted through the cold zone of the heating soleplate, then to dry the textile with the hot zone.

According to another characteristic, the steam outlet holes of the cold zone are distributed over the ironing surface over a width representing at least 40% of the maximum width of the ironing surface and preferably more than 65% of this width.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a large part of the ironing surface which contributes to moisten the laundry, when the iron is moved from the rear to the front, for greater ironing efficiency.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the steam outlet holes are distributed over the ironing surface over a length representing at least 40% of the total length of the ironing surface.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a large part of the ironing surface which contributes to moisten the laundry, when the iron is moved laterally, for greater ironing efficiency.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the hot zone of the ironing surface comprises steam outlet holes.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to improve the ironing performance when the iron is moved back and forth.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body is mechanically coupled to the heating soleplate by fixing points arranged in edge of the cavity forming the diffusion chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body rests on the edge of the opening, a seal advantageously being disposed between the heating body and the heating soleplate.

Such a characteristic makes it possible at the same time to limit the heat transfer between the heating body and the heating soleplate and to seal the diffusion chamber.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the opening, or the part of smaller thickness of the heating soleplate, extends in width over more than 40% of the width of the ironing surface and preferably over more than 65% the width of the ironing surface.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a cold zone of great width on the ironing surface for better humidification of the laundry.

Preferably, the opening extends in width over more than 40% of the maximum width of the ironing surface and preferably over more than 65% of the maximum width of the ironing surface.

Maximum width means the overall width of the ironing surface.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the apparatus comprises a collector positioned in the diffusion chamber, the collector comprising an orifice facing each of the steam outlet holes of the cold zone of the ironing surface.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to pre-orient the flow of steam towards the steam outlet holes of the cold zone of the ironing surface in order to limit the heat exchange occurring between the steam flow and the heating soleplate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the collector is attached to the heating body.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the collector is made of a sheet of stainless steel or aluminum alloy.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body and / or the heating soleplate are made in an aluminum foundry.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises a device for separating condensates from the vapor.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the condensate separation device comprises a circuit for the transport of steam with a sudden change of direction and comprises a condensate retention cavity downstream of this sudden change of direction.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises a stud used as a temperature measuring point and the stud is adjacent to the condensate retention cavity.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the temperature of the front half of the ironing surface is maintained between 95 ° C and 130 ° C when the iron is in operation and regardless of the set temperature of the zone hot.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ironing surface is flat.

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 contains a vessel for the generation of steam under pressure.

• 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 partiellement arrachée du sous-ensemble illustré sur la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective, de dessous, du sous-ensemble de la figure 5 avec la coiffe non assemblée ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en coupe, selon un plan de coupe similaire à celui de la figure 5, d'un sous-ensemble selon un deuxième mode de réalisation ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un sous-ensemble selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective, de dessous, du sous-ensemble de la figure 9 avec la coiffe non assemblée ;
• la figure 11 est une vue en perspective partiellement arrachée du sous-ensemble de la figure 10 ;
• la figure 12 est une vue en perspective, de dessous, d'un sous-ensemble selon un quatrième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 13 est une vue en perspective partiellement arrachée du sous-ensemble de la figure 12.

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 partially broken away of the subassembly illustrated on the figure 5 ;
• the figure 7 is a perspective view, from below, of the subset of the figure 5 with the unassembled cap;
• the figure 8 is a sectional view, according to a sectional plane similar to that of the figure 5 of a subassembly according to a second embodiment;
• the figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a subassembly according to a third embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 10 is a perspective view, from below, of the subset of the figure 9 with the unassembled cap;
• the figure 11 is a partially torn perspective view of the subset of the figure 10 ;
• the figure 12 is a perspective view, from below, of a subassembly according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 13 is a partially torn perspective view of the subset of the figure 12 .

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" used to describe the iron refer to this iron in a situation of use when the ironing plate is placed on a horizontal plane.

The figure 1 represents an ironing apparatus comprising a base 100 steam generator and an iron 1 interconnected by a 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 bar, the tank 102 being supplied with water from a reservoir 103 by means of a pump 104.

The base 100 is connected to the domestic electrical network by an electric wire 105 which allows both the electrical supply of heating means of the tank 102 and the electric power supply of the iron 1 through the conduit 101.

In accordance with Figures 2 to 7 , the iron 1 comprises a cap 2 which comprises a flat lower surface defining an ironing surface intended to come into contact with the laundry, the cap 2 being contiguous to a heating soleplate 3 comprising a substantially flat bottom wall coming directly into contact with the the cap 2, the latter being glued 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 underside, and has a front portion disposed in front of the transverse axis Y passing through the middle of the cap 2, generally having 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 heating element constituted by a first U-shaped shielded electrical resistance 31, the latter only extending in a rear part of the heating soleplate. 3 surmounting the rear portion of 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 relay controlled by an electronic card connected to a CTN probe (not shown in the figures), which is pressed onto a boss 32 formed on the rear part of the heating soleplate 3.

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 of the ironing surface, near the center of the cap 2.

For example, the heating soleplate 3 may be made by molding in an aluminum alloy casting having a mass of the order of 175 g which is overmolded on a shielded electrical resistance of a power of the order of 450 W.

The heating soleplate 3 comprises, opposite the front part of the cap 2, a front part without a heating element, this front part comprising a through opening limiting the thermal exchange being carried out by conduction between the heating soleplate 3 and the cap 2 and thus generating, in the front part of the cap 2, a so-called cold zone where the temperature of the ironing surface is lower than in the hot zone located in the rear part of the cap.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the opening 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. The opening 30 further comprises, at its rear end, two protuberances extending on either side of the rounded front end of the first electrical resistance 31.

In accordance with the figure 3 , the iron 1 also comprises a heating body 4 which is attached to the heating soleplate 3, this heating body 4 being preferably constituted by an aluminum foundry in which is embedded a heating element consisting of a second U-shaped shielded electrical resistance 41, also having a power advantageously between 300 W and 600 W.

The heating body 4 is disposed above the opening 30 and has a generally triangular shape contour conforming to the general shape of the opening 30, the heating body 4 having a peripheral edge comprising six attachment holes 40 for receiving screws stainless steel being attached to six fixing studs 33 formed on the heating soleplate 3, at the edge of the opening 30, a silicone gasket 5 being advantageously disposed between the heating body 4 and the heating soleplate 3.

As can be seen on the figures 3 and 4 , the heating body 4 has an upper face on which protrudes a peripheral wall 42 which laterally delimits a space comprising a vaporization chamber 43, of instantaneous vaporization type, the vaporization chamber 43 being disposed in line with the cold zone of the ironing surface and being closed at its upper end by a cover 6 which rests on the upper edge of the peripheral wall 42.

For example, the heating body 4 may be made by molding in an aluminum alloy casting having a mass of the order of 175 g which is overmolded on a shielded electrical resistance of a power of the order of 450 W, the cover 6 being made in an aluminum alloy casting having a mass of the order of 80 g.

The lid 6 supports a second thermostat 60 fixed on a stud 44 projecting into the vaporization chamber 43 and passing through the lid 6, the second thermostat 60 being connected to the second electrical resistance 41 to regulate the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 around a fixed set temperature, not adjustable by the user, slightly greater than 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 coupling 61, which is connected to a steam pipe, not shown in the figures, which is integrated in the pipe 101 connecting the steam generating base 100 to the iron 1, this connection 61 making it possible to feed the vaporization chamber 43 with the steam produced by the tank 102.

In accordance with Figures 4 to 6 , the connector 61 opens into the vaporization chamber 43 at an injection point 45 from which the vapor escapes through a condensate separation device, the latter comprising a first pipe 43A extending in the form of a spiral around a circular central volume where the stud 44 projects and a second channel 43B communicating with this central volume by a lateral opening 43C. The second pipe 43B extends outside the first pipe 43A and has a shape such that the steam flow makes a 180 ° turn from the first pipe 43A to the second pipe 43B through the lateral opening 43C . The second pipe 43B then extends 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 lower face of the heating body 4, in a steam diffusion chamber 7 formed in the opening 30 of the heating soleplate 3, between the vaporization chamber 43 and the cap 2.

As can be seen on the figures 3 and 7 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 surmounted by the opening 30 so as to diffuse steam over a width corresponding to at least 65% of the width of the cap 2.

The steam outlet holes 20 of the second group 22 are indirectly supplied by means of 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 boiling, the steam under pressure produced by the tank 102 being transmitted through the conduit 101 to the iron 1. When this transmission of steam through the duct 101, the temperature of the steam is lowered so that condensates are formed in the stream of steam arriving in the iron 1.

The largest condensates are removed during the passage of the steam flow in the vaporization chamber 43. Indeed, the flow of steam through the first and second pipes 43A, 43B can separate the condensates from the steam water, the abrupt change in direction of the vapor flow established at the entrance of the second pipe 43B for separating the condensates from the vapor stream and retain them in the central volume. In addition, the sudden increase in the passage section established at the central volume of the vaporization chamber 43 makes it possible to lower the speed of the vapor flow and to collect by gravity, in the bottom of the central volume, the condensates transported in the form of large drops or in the form of liquid film entrained on the walls of the vaporization chamber 43 by the flow of steam.

These condensates are then progressively vaporized by the vaporization chamber 43, the energy expended for vaporizing the condensates having the advantage of contributing to lowering the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 and thus preventing it from being overheated by the heat flux produced by the heating soleplate 3 when the temperature of the latter is greater than 200 ° C. Conversely, when the temperature of set point 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, to maintain the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 at a temperature close to 105 ° C allowing to gradually vaporize condensates collected in the central volume.

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 microdroplets of water, this vapor passing through the passages 46 to be delivered into the diffusion chamber 7 provided in FIG. above the front part of the cap 2.

Since the diffusion chamber 7 is remote from the hot zone of the cap 2, the vapor present therein is diffused through the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 with a high moisture content, that is, ie, being loaded with microdroplets 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 flow of heat between the center of the cap 2, subjected directly to the heating of the heating soleplate 3, and the front part of the cap 2. Indeed, the opening 30 formed in the heating soleplate 3 allows to limit to about 18 W maximum conductive heat flow through the peripheral edges of the heating soleplate 3 which laterally border the opening 30, when the point A of the cap 2 is at a temperature of 180 ° C.

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, the temperature of the ironing surface possibly reaching a maximum temperature of about 130 ° C on the peripheral zone where the cap 2 is in contact with the peripheral edges of the heating soleplate 3 which surround the opening 30.

The high moisture vapor emitted from the steam outlet holes 21 of the first group 21 can therefore rapidly condense in the thickness of the laundry, making it possible 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 to obtain very good ironing performance.

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 body heating 4, by convection through the steam, or by conduction with the portion of the heating sole 3 bordering the opening 30, which is sufficient to prevent the vapor from condensing directly on the cap 2 by creating a wetting of the linen by capillarity that 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.

The figure 8 illustrates a subset of an iron according to a second embodiment of the invention.

This subassembly differs from the iron described above for the first embodiment in that the ironing surface is formed directly by a flat lower face of the heating soleplate 3, the iron having no cap attached under the heating sole 3.

In this embodiment, the heating soleplate 3 comprises, in the front part of the ironing surface, an area 34 where the heating soleplate thickness 3 is reduced, this zone 34 being located in place of the through opening provided in the first embodiment and preferably representing at least 65% of the surface of the front portion of the ironing surface.

The zone 34 where the thickness of the heating sole 3 is reduced forms a cavity in the upper part of the heating soleplate 3 which is closed in its upper part by the heating body 4 and constitutes with the latter the vapor diffusion chamber 7 , the zone 34 of the heating soleplate being provided with steam outlet holes 20.

The operation of the iron according to this second embodiment is similar to that described for the first embodiment, the reduced thickness of the heating soleplate 3 at the zone 34 to limit the heat transfer by conduction through the heating soleplate 3 between the hot zone, located in the rear part of the ironing surface, and the cold zone, located in the front part of the ironing surface.

The Figures 9 to 11 illustrate a subset of an iron according to a third embodiment of the invention.

This iron is different from the iron described in the first mode embodiment only in that it comprises, in addition to all the elements described for the first embodiment, a manifold 8 disposed across the opening 30 of the heating soleplate 3.

This collector 8 is mechanically integral with the heating body 4 and has dimensions slightly smaller than those of the opening 30 so as to take place in the opening 30 without being in contact with the heating soleplate 3.

The collector 8 is advantageously made by stamping a sheet of stainless steel or aluminum alloy crimped on pins protruding from the lower face of the heating body 4, the collector 8 preferably having an exhaust port 80 in view of each steam outlet hole 21 of the first group 21 to pre-orient the flow of steam towards them.

Such a collector 8 further limits heat exchanges between the steam flow and the heating soleplate 3, which further lowers the temperature of the steam at the outlet of the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21, for greater humification of the laundry and better ironing performance.

The Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a subassembly cap / heating sole / heating body of an iron according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

According to these figures, the iron according to this embodiment differs from the iron according to the first embodiment both by the presence of a collector 8 across the opening 30 of the heating soleplate 3 and by the shape of the cap 2.

In this embodiment, the collector 8 is provided with exhaust orifices 80 which make it possible, just as for the third embodiment previously described, to pre-orient the flow of steam towards the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 to limit thermal exchanges between the steam flow and the heating soleplate.

The iron further comprises a cap 2 which has the particularity of having a recessed zone 23 in its front part at which the cap 2 comprises a plane which is recessed in the order of 2 to 5 mm relative to the ironing plane of the cap 2 coming into contact with the laundry.

In accordance with the figure 11 , the recessed area receives a portion of the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 thus forming a cavity located between the cap 2 and the ironing machine in which steam from the vaporization chamber 43 is diffused.

Such a hollow zone 23 makes it possible, by limiting the heat exchange taking place between the cap 2 and the laundry, to further improve the humidification of the laundry, the vapor diffused into the cavity coming to condense more significantly in the laundry because of the lower temperature of the latter.

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 a variant embodiment not shown, the cap may comprise 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 vessel for the production of steam can be embedded directly in 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 an embodiment variant not shown, the set temperature of the second thermostat can be set automatically by a control unit as a function of the set temperature of the first thermostat or as a function of the temperature measurement of the heating soleplate. .

Claims (14)

Iron (1) comprising an ironing surface, a heating soleplate (3) for heating the ironing surface and a vaporization chamber (43), the heating soleplate (3) comprising a first electrical resistance (31) arranged at plumb with a so-called hot zone of the ironing surface, the vaporization chamber (43) being formed in a heating body (4) comprising a second electrical resistance (41), the vaporization chamber (43) being arranged at the plumb with a so-called cold zone of the ironing surface having steam outlet holes (20), the steam outlet holes (20) being fed by a steam diffusion chamber (7) provided at the outside of the vaporization chamber (43), in a cavity formed between the vaporization chamber (43) and the cold zone of the ironing surface, characterized in that the entire ironing surface is carried by a lower face a cap (2), in one s a piece, which is attached under the heating soleplate or by a lower face of the heating soleplate (3). Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ironing surface is constituted by the underside of the cap (2) and in that the heating sole (3) has, opposite the cold zone, an opening (30) which is at least partially obscured by the cap (2). Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the ironing surface is constituted by a lower face of the heating soleplate (3) and in that said heating soleplate (3) has opposite the cold zone, or between the cold zone and the hot zone, a portion (34) where its thickness is reduced relative to its thickness opposite the hot zone. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the heating element (4) and the heating soleplate (3) are made in two separate parts and in that the heating element (4) is attached to the heating sole (3). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hot zone of the ironing surface is defined as the smallest closed convex surface in which the orthogonal projection of the first electrical resistance (31) is inscribed and in that the vapor diffusion chamber (7) is located outside the volume swept by the hot zone of the ironing surface when the latter is moved in a plane perpendicular to the ironing surface. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the supply of the first electrical resistance (31) is regulated by means of a first thermostat. Iron (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the set temperature of the first thermostat is adjustable by the user. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the supply of the second electrical resistance (41) is regulated by means of a second thermostat (60) whose set temperature is between 100 ° C and 135 ° C. Iron (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the set temperature of the second thermostat (60) is not adjustable by the user. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the cold zone is arranged on the front half of the ironing surface and in that the hot zone is arranged on the back half of the ironing surface. ironing surface. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the hot zone of the ironing surface has holes (20) for steam outlet. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the heating body (4) is mechanically coupled to the heating soleplate (3) by fixing points disposed at the edge of the cavity forming the broadcast chamber (7). Iron (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a seal seal (5) is arranged between the heating body (4) and the heating soleplate (3). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it comprises a collector (8) positioned in the diffusion chamber (7), the collector (8) having an orifice (80 ) facing each of the steam outlet holes (20) of the cold zone of the ironing surface.

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