EP3336245B1 - Steam ironing appliance comprising a steam-generating base and an iron connected to one another by a conduit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steam ironing apparatus comprising a steam generating base and an iron interconnected by a conduit for transporting steam, the iron comprising an ironing surface provided with at least one steam outlet hole and a first electrical resistance intended to heat the ironing surface, said first electrical resistance being associated with a first regulating member, the iron also comprising a second electrical resistance intended to heat a vaporization chamber in which the vapor from the duct is sent before being diffused through the vapor outlet hole.

It is known, from the patent application EP 1 852 544 , a steam ironing machine with such characteristics. However, this appliance has the drawback of having a complex construction, with the installation of insulating means between the different parts of the ironing surface, which make it expensive to manufacture.

Also, an aim of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing an iron which is simple and economical to use and which has improved ironing performance.

To this end, the invention relates to a steam ironing appliance comprising a steam generating base and an iron connected to each other by a duct for transporting steam, the iron comprising an ironing surface provided with at least one steam outlet hole and a first electrical resistance intended to heat the ironing surface, said first electrical resistance being associated with a first regulating member, the iron also comprising a second electrical resistance intended to heat a vaporization chamber into which the vapor from the duct is sent before being diffused through the vapor outlet hole, characterized in that the first electrical resistance and the second electrical resistance are arranged in a one-piece heating sole and in that the vaporization chamber is at least partially provided in said heating sole.

The apparatus thus produced has the advantage of comprising a one-piece heating sole incorporating both the electrical resistance intended to heat the ironing surface and the electrical resistance intended to heat the vaporization chamber, which is simple and economical to produce.

Such a construction with two electrical resistors makes it possible to obtain a thermal gradient between the ironing surface heated by the first electrical resistance and the vaporization chamber heated by the second electrical resistance.

By one-piece heating sole integrating the first and second electric resistances, it is meant that the sole which integrates the two electric resistances is produced in a single piece.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating sole is obtained by a casting process and the first electrical resistance and second electrical resistance are at least partially embedded in the heating sole.

Preferably, the heating sole is formed by an aluminum casting part.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first electrical resistance is placed in line with a so-called hot zone of the ironing surface and the vaporization chamber is placed in line with a so-called cold zone of the surface. iron with steam outlet holes.

The term “arranged directly above the zone” is understood to mean arranged above the zone when the iron rests horizontally on the ironing surface.

The apparatus thus produced has the advantage of having a vaporization chamber which is offset laterally with respect to the first electrical resistance so as not to be heated directly by the latter.

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

According to another characteristic of the invention, the ironing surface is carried by a cap in one piece which is attached under the heating sole.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to adapt the material of the cap to the desired characteristics of the ironing surface.

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

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber is located mainly, and preferably exclusively, outside the volume swept by the hot zone of the ironing surface when the latter is moved in a plane perpendicular to the surface. ironing.

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

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

Advantageously, the first and second electrical resistors are offset with respect to each other so that, in the projection plane formed by the ironing surface, the first and second electrical resistors do not overlap or overlap on an area representing less than 20% of their length.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the power supply to the first electrical resistance is regulated by means of a first thermostat to maintain the hot zone around a set temperature of between 90 ° and 240 ° C.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a hot zone, the temperature of which can be adapted according to the fabric to be ironed.

The term “thermostat” is understood to mean any regulating device making it possible to maintain the temperature in an enclosure around a set temperature by acting on the heating means. By way of example, the thermostat could be of the mechanical type comprising a bimetallic strip associated with a switch, or of the electronic type comprising a temperature sensor, such as a CTN, associated with an electronic card.

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

According to another characteristic of the invention, the supply to the second electrical resistance is regulated by means of a second thermostat to maintain the temperature of the vaporization chamber around a set temperature of between 100 ° C and 135 ° vs.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to obtain a steam with a high humidity rate at the outlet of the vaporization chamber for better ironing performance.

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

According to another characteristic of the invention, the setpoint temperature of the second thermostat is automatically adjusted by a control unit as a function of the setpoint temperature of the first thermostat or as a function of the measured temperature of the heating pad.

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 placed on the front half of the ironing surface and the hot zone is placed on the rear half of the ironing surface.

Such a feature makes it possible, when the iron is moved forwards, to first humidify the textile to be ironed with the aid of humid steam through the cold zone of the sole, then to dry the fabric with the hot area.

According to another characteristic, the steam outlet holes from 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.

By maximum width of the ironing surface is meant the overall width of the ironing surface.

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.

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

Such a feature 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 sole comprises a cavity arranged between the vaporization chamber and the ironing surface, the cavity forming a diffusion chamber in which the vapor coming from the vaporization chamber circulates before being emitted. through the exit holes of the ironing surface.

The presence of the vapor diffusion cavity above the ironing surface makes it possible to reduce the heat exchange between the zone of the ironing surface surmounted by the diffusion cavity and the heating sole. This lowers the temperature of the cold zone of the ironing surface, where the steam is diffused, which promotes condensation of the steam in the laundry.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the cavity extends in width over more than 40% of the width of the ironing surface and preferably over more than 65% of 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.

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

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

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

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device for separating the condensates comprises a circuit for transporting the steam exhibiting a sudden change of direction and comprises a cavity for retaining the condensates downstream of this sudden change of direction.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the vaporization chamber comprises a stud used as a temperature measurement point and the stud adjoins 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 this whatever the set temperature of the zone. hot.

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

According to another characteristic of the invention, the base comprises a water tank and contains a tank for the generation of pressurized steam comprising a steam outlet provided with a solenoid valve connected to a steam line bringing 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 water from the reservoir directly into the steam line comprise a pump, a solenoid valve and a bypass line.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the water is injected so sequential in the steam line when the solenoid valve is opened.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first electrical resistance is regulated by means of a first thermostat to maintain the hot zone around a set temperature of between 90 ° and 240 ° C, water being injected regularly. in the steam line when the setpoint temperature of the first thermostat is greater than a predetermined threshold.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating sole comprises means for measuring the temperature of the vaporization chamber, water being injected into the vapor line when the measured temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold.

• 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 montre un diagramme de fonctionnement temporel.

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

• the figure 1 is a side view of an ironing appliance according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view from above of a sub-assembly equipping the iron with the ironing appliance of the figure 1 produced according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the sub-assembly of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 is a top view of the subset of the figure 2 without the closing cover;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view along line VV of the figure 4 ;
• the figure 6 is a partially broken away perspective view of the sub-assembly illustrated on figure 5 ;
• the figure 7 is a perspective view, from below, of the sub-assembly of the figure 5 with the cap not assembled;
• The figure 8 shows a diagram of temporal operation.

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

It will be noted 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 shows an ironing appliance comprising a steam-generating base 100 and an iron 1 interconnected by a flexible duct 101, the iron 1 comprising a plastic housing incorporating a gripping handle.

The base 100 comprises 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 at a pressure of the order of 4 to 6 bars. The tank 102 is supplied 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 includes a steam outlet provided with a solenoid valve 102A, controlled. by a trigger 10 arranged under the handle of the iron 1, connected to the iron 1 by a steam line 105 arranged in the conduit 101.

Advantageously, the supply circuit of the tank 102 also comprises a bypass line 106 making it possible to route water from the tank 103 directly into the steam line 105 and a two-way solenoid valve 107 controlled by the electronic card 108 making it possible to supply the tank 102 and the bypass line 106 alternately or together.

The base 100 is connected to the domestic electrical network by an electrical wire, not shown in the figures, which allows both the electrical supply of the heating means of the tank 102 and the electrical supply of the iron 1 through the led 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 cover 2 being attached to a heating sole 3 comprising a substantially planar lower wall coming directly into contact with the cover 2, the latter being glued to the heating sole 3 by a silicone adhesive.

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

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

The power supply to the first electrical resistance 31 is regulated by means of a first thermostat, advantageously constituted by a CTN probe, not shown in the figures, pressed against a boss 32 made on the rear part of the heating sole 3 and associated to a relay controlled by 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 setpoint 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 setpoint 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 hood 2.

The heating sole 3 comprises, facing the front part of the cover 2, a front part 4 provided with a second U-shaped shielded electrical resistance 41 also having a power advantageously included between 300 and 600 W.

By way of example, the heating soleplate 3 could be produced by molding in an aluminum alloy foundry having a mass of the order of 350 g which is molded onto the first and second shielded electric resistors, each of these electric resistors. having a power of the order of 450W.

As can be seen from figures 3 and 4 , the front part 4 comprises an upper face on which protrudes a peripheral wall 42 which laterally delimits a device for the retention and vaporization of the condensates comprising in particular a central reservoir 43 forming a vaporization chamber, of the instant vaporization type, the vaporization chamber 43 being closed at its upper end by a cover 6 which comes to rest 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 setpoint temperature, advantageously fixed and 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 mechanical thermostat of the bimetal type, the precision required for the temperature regulation of the front part 4 being less important than that required for the temperature regulation of the rear part of the heating sole. 3.

The cover 6 comprises a connector 61, which is connected to the steam pipe 105 which is integrated into the pipe 101 connecting the steam generator base 100 to the iron 1, this connector 61 making it possible to supply 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 front part 4 at an injection point 45 from which the vapor escapes through the device for retaining and vaporizing the condensates, the latter comprising a first pipe 43A extending in spiral shape around a circular central volume where the stud 44 protrudes and a second pipe 43B communicating with this central volume via a lateral opening 43C. The second pipe 43B extends outside the first pipe 43A and has a shape such that the flow of steam makes a 180 ° turn passing from the first pipe 43A to the second pipe 43B through the side opening 43C . The second pipe 43B then extends towards the front end of the front part 4 where it communicates with two passages 46 passing through the front part 4 to open out on the underside of the front part 4, in a diffusion chamber 7. steam formed in a cavity 30 of the heating soleplate 3 arranged between the vaporization chamber 43 and the cap 2.

This cavity 30 limits the heat exchange taking place by conduction between the heating sole 3 and the cap 2, the front part of the cap 2 comprising, directly above the vaporization chamber 43, a so-called cold zone, extending in particular opposite the cavity 30, where the temperature of the ironing surface is lower than in the hot zone located in the rear part of the cap 2.

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 from figures 3 and 7 , the diffusion chamber 7 makes it possible 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 arranged in the rear part of the cap 2, in the hot zone of the ironing surface. The vapor outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 are mainly arranged directly opposite the diffusion chamber 7 so that the vapor diffused by these holes does not come into contact with the heating sole 3 and is not heated by this last before being diffused outside the fairing 2.

Preferably, the vapor 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 cap 2.

The steam outlet holes 20 of the second group 22 are for their part supplied indirectly through distribution channels 47 formed on the rear part of the cap 2, at which the steam is reheated before being diffused through the outside of the fairing 2.

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

When the appliance is started up, the tank 102 is heated and the water it contains is brought to a boil, the pressurized steam produced by the tank 102 being transmitted through the steam line 105 to the iron 1 During this transmission of the steam through the steam line 105, the temperature of the steam drops so that condensate forms in the stream of steam arriving in the iron 1.

The largest condensates are eliminated during the passage of the vapor flow in the vaporization chamber 43. Indeed, the flow of the vapor through the first and second pipes 43A, 43B makes it possible to separate the condensates from the vapor of water, the sudden change in direction of the steam flow being established at the inlet of the second pipe 43B making it possible to separate the condensates from the steam flow and to retain them in the central volume. In addition, the sudden increase in the passage section being established at the level of 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 a 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 spent to vaporize the condensates having the advantage of helping to lower the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 and thus preventing it from being overheated by the vaporizer. heat flow produced by the first electrical resistance 31 when the setpoint temperature of 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 only with micro-droplets of water, this vapor passing through the passages 46 to be delivered into the diffusion chamber 7. cut above the front part of the cover 2.

The diffusion chamber 7 being remote from the hot zone of the cap 2, the vapor therein is diffused through the vapor outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 with a high moisture content, that is to say - say by being loaded with micro-droplets of liquid water which are deposited on the fabric being ironed.

Very good humidification of the laundry is thus obtained by the steam coming from the steam outlet holes 20 made 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 point A located 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. In fact, such a construction makes it possible to limit the flow of heat to about 18 W. maximum heat that can pass by conduction through the peripheral edges of the heating sole 3 which laterally border the cavity 30, when the point A of the cap 2 is at a temperature of 180 ° C.

Thus, the temperature of the heating sole 3, and therefore of the rear part of the ironing surface, can be regulated around a set point temperature which can reach more than 240 ° 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 the order of 130 ° C on the peripheral zone where the cap 2 is in contact with the peripheral edges of the heating sole 3 which border the cavity 30.

In addition, to prevent the energy released by the rear part of the sole 3 from gradually leading to an increase in the temperature of the chamber of vaporization 43 above 130 ° C, the electronic card 108 may advantageously include a program controlling the pump 104 and the solenoid valve 107 to regularly inject small quantities of water into the steam line 105.

Indeed, the water injected into the steam line 105 is taken with the steam flow to the vaporization chamber 43 where these water droplets, intentionally introduced, are vaporized causing a drop in the temperature of the chamber. spray 43.

This controlled injection of water into the steam line 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 line 105.

Thus, in accordance with the figure 8 , the electronic card 18 will be able to control, at regular intervals, the opening of the solenoid valve 107 and the starting of the pump 104 to direct the water coming from the pump 104 to the steam line 105 when opening of the solenoid valve 102A. For example, when the trigger 10 is pressed, the pump will be active for 100 ms over a period of 500 ms throughout the 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 to the setpoint temperature of the first electrical resistance 31. By way of example, the controlled injection of water may not be intervene only when the setpoint 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 may be carried out in a controlled manner as a function of the effective temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 measured using a sensor. , the quantity of water injected being greater when the temperature of the vaporization chamber 43 is high.

Of course, when the setpoint 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 making it possible to gradually vaporize the condensates collected in the vaporization chamber 43.

The steam, at high humidity, emitted by the steam outlet holes 20 of the first group 21 can therefore condense quickly in the thickness of the laundry, allowing better ironing performance to be obtained, 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.

Thanks to this thermal distribution and to the steam diffused at a temperature close to condensation, the smoothing performance of fabrics requiring a high ironing temperature, such as linen or cotton, are improved.

In addition, when the iron is moved forward, the area of the laundry previously moistened by the steam outlet holes 20 of the cold area of the ironing surface is then dried by the rear part of the ironing surface. ironing which has a higher temperature making it possible 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 above 90 ° C thanks to the heat exchange being established by radiation with the part front 4 of the heating soleplate, by convection through the steam present in the cavity 30, or by conduction with the part of the heating sole 3 bordering the cavity 30, which is sufficient to prevent the steam from condensing directly on the cap 2 by creating wetting of the laundry by capillary action which would generate too long a drying time.

Finally, the steam emitted by the second group 22 of steam outlet holes 20 has the advantage of having a lower humidity rate than that of the steam emitted by the first group 21, due to the heating of the steam. taking place during its dissemination through the distribution channels of the heating sole 3, so that the emission of steam through these holes does not interfere with the drying of the laundry through the rear part of the cover 2. Conversely, the presence of the holes 20 for the steam outlet 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 area of the laundry on which the iron 1 is moved only towards the rear.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and illustrated which have been given only by way of examples. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the cap could comprise only the first group of steam outlet holes and be devoid of the second group of steam outlet holes.

Thus in an alternative embodiment not shown, the heating element could be produced by a screen printed flat heating element.

Thus in yet another variant embodiment not shown, the iron may include a manifold disposed across the cavity of the heating sole. This collector will advantageously be produced by stamping a stainless steel sheet comprising an exhaust port facing each steam outlet hole of the first group in order to pre-orient the flow of steam towards the latter. Such a manifold has the advantage of further limiting the heat exchanges being established between the steam flow and the heating soleplate, which makes it possible to further lower the temperature of the steam at the outlet of the steam outlet holes of the first group. , for greater humidity of the laundry and better ironing performance.

Thus in an alternative embodiment not shown, the setpoint temperature of the second thermostat can be adjusted automatically by a control unit as a function of the setpoint temperature of the first thermostat or as a function of the measurement of the temperature of the heating pad. .

Claims (15)

1. Steam ironing appliance comprising a steam generating base (100) and an iron (1) connected to each other by a duct (101) for the transport of steam, the iron (1) comprising an ironing surface provided with at least one steam outlet hole (20) and a first electrical resistor (31) intended to heat the ironing surface, said first electrical resistor being associated with a first regulating element, the iron also comprising a second electrical resistor (41) intended to heat a steam-generating chamber (43) into which the steam coming from the duct (101) is sent before being diffused through the steam outlet hole, characterised in that the first electrical resistor (31) and the second electrical resistor (41) are arranged in a single-piece heated soleplate (3) and in that the steam chamber (43) is at least partially formed in said heated soleplate (3).
2. Ironing appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the heated soleplate (3) is obtained by a foundry process, the first electrical resistor (31) and the second electrical resistor (41) being at least partially embedded in the heated soleplate (3).
3. Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterised in that the first electrical resistor (31) is arranged perpendicular to a so-called hot zone of the ironing surface and in that the steam chamber (43) is arranged perpendicular to a so-called cold zone of the ironing surface provided with at least one steam outlet hole (20).
4. Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the ironing surface is carried by a cap (2) in a single piece which is attached under the heated soleplate (3).
5. Ironing appliance according to any of the claims 3 or 4, as dependent on claim 3, characterised 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 resistor (31) is implemented and in that the steam chamber (43) is located mainly, and preferably exclusively, outside the swept volume of the hot zone of the ironing surface when the latter is moved in a plane perpendicular to the ironing surface.
6. Ironing appliance according to any of the claims 3, 4 or 5, as dependent on claim 3, characterised in that the first regulating element is a first thermostat regulating the temperature of the hot zone around a set temperature of between 90° and 240°C.
7. Ironing appliance according to claim 6, characterised in that the set temperature of the first thermostat is adjustable by the user.
8. Ironing appliance according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the second regulating element is a second thermostat (60) regulating the temperature of the steam chamber (43) around a set temperature of between 100°C and 135°C.
9. Ironing appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that the set temperature of the second thermostat (60) is not adjustable by the user.
10. Ironing appliance according to any of the claims 3 or 4 to 9, as dependent on claim 3, characterised 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 rear half of the ironing surface.
11. Ironing appliance according to any of the claims 3 or 4 to 10, as dependent on claim 3, characterised in that 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.
12. Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the heating soleplate (3) comprises a cavity (30) located between the steam chamber (43) and the ironing surface, said cavity (30) forming a diffusion chamber (7) in which the steam coming from the steam chamber (43) circulates before being emitted through the outlet holes (20) of the ironing surface.
13. Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the base (100) comprises a reservoir (103) of water and contains a tank (102) for generating pressurised steam comprising a steam outlet provided with a solenoid valve (102A) connected to a steam line (105) bringing the steam to the iron (1).
14. Ironing appliance according to claim 13, characterised in that the base (100) includes means (106, 107, 108) for injecting water from the reservoir (103) directly into the steam line (105).
15. Ironing appliance according to claim 14, characterised in that the water is injected sequentially into the steam line (105) when the solenoid valve (102A) is opened.

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