EP3786345A1 - Iron comprising a removable scale collection container - Google Patents

Abstract

Iron (1) comprising an ironing sole (12), a heating body (3) comprising a vaporization chamber (33) having a vaporization surface (33A) onto which water is injected to produce steam , and a cavity (5) receiving a removable scale collecting container (4), the heating body (3) comprising a partition (34) which laterally delimits the vaporization chamber (33) and is interrupted at an orifice outlet (38) through which the vapor escapes from the vaporization chamber (33) towards a vapor distribution circuit, characterized in that the scale collecting vessel (4) has a front end which reaches a distance less than 1 cm from the outlet port (38) or penetrates through the outlet port (38).

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to an iron comprising an ironing sole, a heating body comprising a vaporization chamber and a cavity receiving a removable scale collecting container.

State of the art

It is known, from the patent FR3062857 filed by the Applicant, an iron comprising an ironing sole surmounted by a heating body comprising a vaporization chamber, the iron comprising a steam distribution circuit comprising a cavity formed at the rear of the receiving iron a removable scale collection container.

Such a scale collecting container has the advantage of allowing, by a simple and ergonomic operation, the removal of scale particles present in the iron. However, such a scale collecting container collects only a part of the scale particles present in the iron, some particles being able to be blocked on the access path leading to the scale collecting container.

It is also known from the patent EP 0 711 862 an iron comprising a steam distribution circuit comprising a removable filtration device arranged at the rear of the iron and placed directly at the outlet of the vaporization chamber. However, such a filtration device has the drawback of being difficult to clean and of not allowing easy removal of the scale, the scale particles having a tendency to remain blocked in the mesh of the filter.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide an iron in which the performance of collecting scale particles by means of the scale collecting container is improved.

The object of the invention is achieved by an iron comprising an ironing sole, a heating body comprising a vaporization chamber having a vaporization surface onto which water is injected to produce steam, and a cavity receiving a removable scale collection container, the heating body comprising a partition which laterally delimits the vaporization chamber and stops at an outlet orifice through which the vapor escapes from the vaporization chamber in the direction of a circuit distribution of steam, characterized in that the scale collecting container has a front end which reaches a distance of less than 1 cm from the outlet or enters through the outlet.

Such a feature makes it possible to improve the rate of recovery of the scale particles in the scale collecting container by reducing the distance between the vaporization surface, where scale develops, and the scale collecting container. In particular, such a feature makes it possible to limit the risk of scale particles getting stuck on the access path between the outlet of the vaporization chamber and the scale collecting container.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the front end of the scale collecting container comes in the extension of the vaporization surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the front end of the scale collecting container adjoins the vaporization surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cavity has a front part which receives the front end of the scale collecting container and the vaporization surface is inclined towards the front part of the cavity when the iron rests at flat on its ironing sole.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to further improve the recovery rate by virtue of the driving, by gravity, of the scale particles present on the vaporization surface in the direction of the scale collecting container.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the front part of the cavity comprises a bottom wall which is set back from the surface. vaporization.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to ensure a guiding of the front part of the scale collecting container in the bottom of the heating body. In addition, it can also make it possible to prevent the front edge of the scale collecting container from protruding from the vaporization surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the scale collecting container has the shape of a spoon.

Such a spoon has the advantage of being simple and economical to produce.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating body comprises a closure plate which comes to rest on the partition to close the upper part of the vaporization chamber, the closure plate comprising at least one orifice through which water is injected onto the spray surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the heating body comprises an electrical resistance embedded in an aluminum or magnesium foundry.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the scale collecting container is removable via an orifice closed by a removable stopper accessible from outside the iron.

Such a feature makes it possible to simplify the operation of cleaning the iron.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus comprises a casing surmounting the heating body, a part of the cavity being disposed in a part of the casing lying in a cantilever behind the ironing sole when the iron ironing rests on its ironing sole.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to have a particularly compact iron with a scale collecting container placed in a relatively cold zone.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the steam distribution circuit supplies steam outlet holes made in the ironing sole.

• [Fig 1] est une vue en perspective d'un fer à repasser selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig 2] est une vue en perspective du corps chauffant du fer à repasser de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig 3] est une vue en perspective du corps chauffant démuni de sa plaque de fermeture ;
• [Fig 4] est une vue en perspective du corps chauffant de la figure 3 lorsque le bouchon de l'orifice de détartrage est enlevé ;
• [Fig 5] est une vue de dessus du corps chauffant de la figure 3 ;
• [Fig 6] est une vue en coupe selon la ligne VI-VI de la figure 5.

The objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention. the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• [ Fig 1 ] is a perspective view of an iron according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig 2 ] is a perspective view of the heating body of the iron from the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig 3 ] is a perspective view of the heating body without its closure plate;
• [ Fig 4 ] is a perspective view of the heating body of the figure 3 when the cap of the descaling opening is removed;
• [ Fig 5 ] is a top view of the heating body of the figure 3 ;
• [ Fig 6 ] is a sectional view along line VI-VI of the figure 5 .

detailed description

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

It will be noted that the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "lower", "upper", "front", "rear" used to describe the iron refer to this appliance when it rests flat on its soleplate. ironing.

The figure 1 shows an ironing appliance which comprises an iron 1 and a base 2 on which the iron 1 can be placed during inactive ironing phases.

The ironing appliance further comprises a water reservoir 20 in the base 2 which may for example be removable, and a supply circuit fluidly connected to the water reservoir. The supply circuit comprises in particular a pipe 21 for conveying water fluidly connecting the reservoir 20 to the iron 1, and a supply pump (not visible in the figures) integrated into the base 2 and configured to supply the iron. iron 1 with water from the tank 20.

The iron 1 comprises a housing 10 comprising a gripping handle 11 at its upper end, and an ironing sole 12 provided with a substantially flat ironing surface and a plurality of steam outlet openings 12A (visible on the figure 6 ) opening into the ironing surface.

As shown more particularly on figures 2 to 6 , the iron 1 also comprises a heating body 3 integrated into the lower part of the housing 10, and thermally and mechanically linked to the ironing sole 12. The heating body 3 is mainly constituted by a foundry 30 made of aluminum and by a resistance electric heater 31 curved in the shape of a U which is mainly integrated in the foundry 30.

The heating body 3 also includes a closure plate 32 (visible on the figure 2 ) which rests on the foundry 30, and a vaporization chamber 33 delimited by the foundry 3 and the closure plate 32. The foundry 30 more particularly comprises a partition 34 going up to the closure plate 32, being linked so sealed with the latter, and laterally delimiting the vaporization chamber 33. Advantageously, the vaporization chamber 33 is at least partly, and for example substantially entirely, coated on the inside with an anti-heating coating.

The vaporization chamber 33 is of the instantaneous vaporization type and comprises a vaporization surface 33A onto which water is projected to produce vapor. The vaporization surface 33A has a multitude of pyramidal studs making it possible to increase the heat exchange surface, the water from the reservoir 20 being injected into the vaporization chamber 33 through an orifice 32A of the closure plate 32.

The heating body 3 comprises a peripheral wall 35, projecting from the upper face of the foundry 30, which laterally delimits a space comprising the vaporization chamber 33 and a vapor distribution circuit. The vaporization chamber 33 is arranged in the center of the upper face of the heating body 3 and the vapor distribution circuit comprises side channels 36 extending on either side of the vaporization chamber 33. The lateral channels 36 advantageously meet at the front end of the heating body 3 where orifices 37 are formed passing through the heating body 3. The orifices 37 open out on the underside of the heating body 3, at the level of steam distribution cavities 37A, visible on the figure 6 , conventionally supplying the steam outlet holes 12A of the ironing sole 12.

As can be seen from the figures 4 and 5 , the partition 34 extends continuously along the side and front edges of the vaporization chamber 33, the partition 34 interrupting at a plane P, visible on the figure 5 , delimiting the rear end of the vaporization chamber 33.

The passage section formed at the level of the plane P between the two ends of the partition 34 forms an outlet orifice 38 of the vaporization chamber 33. A passage slot 39 is formed between each end of the partition 34 and the peripheral wall 35. , these passage slits 39 allowing the vapor produced by the vaporization chamber 33 to escape in the direction of the side channels 36.

As can be seen from the figures 3 and 6 , the iron 1 comprises a removable scale collecting container 4 arranged in a cavity 5 formed in part in a collector 6 attached to the rear end of the heating body 3. The peripheral wall comprises, facing the outlet orifice 38 of the vaporization chamber 33, an opening 35A which communicates with the cavity 5.

The scale collecting container 4 is introduced into the cavity 5, in a manner known per se, through an orifice 60 formed at a rear end of the collector 6, this orifice 60 being closed by a removable plug 7 placed on the rear part of the housing 10. iron. Advantageously, the scale collecting container 4 has the shape of a hollow metal spoon, the rear end of which is fixed to the removable stopper 7.

The scale collecting container 4 has a front end which passes through the opening 35A to reach the vicinity of the outlet orifice 38 of the vaporization chamber 33 and advantageously penetrate through this. outlet port 38.

The front end of the scale collecting container 4 takes place in a front part of the cavity 5 extending in the bottom of the heating body 3, between the opening 35A of the peripheral wall and the outlet 38 of the chamber vaporization 33, the front part of the cavity 5 advantageously penetrating into the vaporization chamber 33, that is to say extending beyond the plane P delimiting the outlet orifice 38.

Preferably, the front part of the cavity 5 comprises a bottom wall 5A set back with respect to the vaporization surface 33A so that the front end of the scale collecting container 4 is located at or below from the rear end of the spray surface 33A.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the front part of the cavity 5 is arranged in the extension of the vaporization surface 33A and adjoins the latter, the vaporization surface 33A being inclined towards the front part of the cavity 5.

Thus, when the scale collecting container 4 is present in the cavity 5, its front edge reaches up to the immediate vicinity of the rear end of the vaporization surface 33A and the scale particles are naturally entrained by gravity and by the flow. of steam to the scale collection vessel 4.

The iron thus produced has the advantage of having a scale collecting container whose efficiency in collecting scale particles is optimized.

Indeed, such a scale collecting container reaches as close as possible to the vaporization surface, where the scale particles are generated, so that the risk of scale particles remaining stuck upstream of the scale collecting container is considerably reduced.

In addition, the fact that the scale collection container is placed below the level of the vaporization surface when the iron is lying flat on its sole makes it possible to further improve the performance of recovery of the scale particles, the scale particles being entrained naturally by gravity and by the flow of steam in the scale collecting vessel.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated above which has been given only by way of example. 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 of the invention, the steam distribution circuit of the iron may include, in a manner known per se, a device for filtering the particles of scale arranged downstream of the scale collecting container. This device could for example be constituted by a filter or by a cyclonic separator and will be advantageously arranged so that the particles blocked by the filtration device fall naturally by gravity into the scale collecting container.

Claims (8)

Iron (1) comprising an ironing sole (12), a heating body (3) comprising a vaporization chamber (33) having a vaporization surface (33A) onto which water is injected to produce steam , and a cavity (5) receiving a removable scale collecting container (4), the heating body (3) comprising a partition (34) which laterally delimits the vaporization chamber (33) and is interrupted at an orifice outlet (38) through which the vapor escapes from the vaporization chamber (33) towards a vapor distribution circuit, the scale collecting vessel (4) having a front end which reaches a distance less than 1 cm from the outlet (38) or penetrates through the outlet (38), the cavity (5) having a front part which receives the front end of the scale collecting container (4), characterized in that the vaporization surface (33A) is inclined towards the front part of the cavity (5) when the iron (1) lies flat on its ironing sole (12) and in that the front part of the cavity (5) has a bottom wall (5A) which is set back relative to the vaporization surface (33A). Iron (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the front end of the scale collecting container (4) is an extension of the vaporization surface (33A). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the front end of the scale collecting container (4) adjoins the vaporization surface (33A). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the scale collecting container (4) has the shape of a spoon. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the heating body (3) comprises a closing plate (32) which comes to rest on the partition (34) to close the part upper part of the vaporization chamber (33), the closure plate (32) comprising at least one orifice (32A) through which water is injected onto the vaporization surface (33A). Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the heating body (3) comprises an electrical resistance (31) embedded in an aluminum or magnesium foundry. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the scale collecting container (4) is removable by an orifice (60) closed by a removable plug (7) accessible from the outside iron. Iron (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a housing (10) surmounting the heating body (3) and in that part of the cavity (5) is disposed in a part of the box (10) lying in a cantilever behind the ironing sole (12) when the iron rests on its ironing sole.

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