FR2576928A1 - DIFFUSION VALVE WITH BILAME CONTROL SYSTEM FOR STEAM IRON - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS VALVE CONSISTS OF A FIXED SEAT 4 NEAR THE SOLE OF THE IRON AND A SHUTTER ROD 3 VERTICALLY MOVABLE BY THE COMBINED ACTIONS OF A SELECTOR BUTTON 8 ADJUSTABLE FROM THE EXTERIOR AND TWO BILAMES 14, 15 FIXED ON THE VAPORIZATION CHAMBER 2. THE VALVE IS LOCATED IN THE PASSAGE CONNECTING WATER TANK 1 TO THIS CHAMBER 2, WHERE THE WATER IS TRANSFORMED TO VAPOR DIFFUSED THROUGH THE SOLE. THE VALVE CAN ONLY BE OPENED WHEN A PROPER VAPOR FORMING TEMPERATURE IS REACHED, EXCEPT WHEN KNOB 8 IS TURNED TO A SELF-CLEANING POSITION, OR THE VALVE REMAINS FULLY OPEN.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements to the safety valves.

  diffusion ordered by bimetal used in

steam irons.

  All irons that produce steam to facilitate ironing generally have: a vaporization chamber in which steam is produced, which is located in the soleplate of the iron and which receives heat from the resistor or heating resistors; a room located in the upper part and forming

  a tank for the water which is to be supplied to the vaporization chamber

  tion, as well as a conduit for the passage of water from the reservoir to

the vaporization chamber.

  It is known to insert a valve called a diffusion valve into the passage between the water tank

  and the spray chamber to allow closing or opening

at will of this conduit.

  The use of a diffusion valve is also known.

  sion which is in contact with a bimetallic strip fixed on one side of the vaporization chamber and whose end moves, during the bending of the bimetallic strip, perpendicular to the axis of the valve shutter element, see request of the Republic patent

  Federal of Germany n P 2936812.

  The object of the present invention is to prevent self-

  the passage of water from the reservoir to the vapor chamber

  rization until a sufficient temperature Y is reached for the transformation of water into vapor, in order to avoid

  that the iron diffuses drops of water instead of steam.

  According to the invention, a diffusion valve for a steam iron comprises a shutter rod which is movable

  vertically with respect to a valve seat, for opening

  ture or closure of the diffusion valve by the lower end of the rod, the opposite end is fixed to a piece forming a rod holder. The action of the valve stem is determined by several elements: an external selector element, in particular in the form of a button, which makes it possible to rotate the stem holder and the stem; a lateral projection or finger secured to the rod holder; a reverse U-shaped control element, described in more detail below, and two bimetallic blades mounted on

the vaporization chamber.

  The inverted U control element ends at the bottom with two small vertical cylindrical dowels which each rest at their lower end on a bimetallic blade. The upper part of the control element has an extension

  composed of a horizontal ring-shaped section and a sec-

  circular peripheral device oriented vertically and whose

  upper edge consists of two inclined portions or ramps.

  The extension thus affects the shape of a cup and constitutes a cam. In this cam can fit the rod holder, exception

  made with the finger protruding laterally.

  The arrangement is such that the opening of the valve

  is determined both by the actuation of the bimetallic elements

  and by the angular position of the rod holder relative to the cam ramps formed by the cup at the top of the

inverted U control.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention

  will emerge more clearly from the following description of a

  nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, as well as the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view, in perspective and with a cutaway, showing the elements constituting the object of the invention and their position in the front part d 'a steam iron;

  - Figure 2 is a side view of the elements shown

  felt in Figure 1 while the iron is in the working position

  but has not yet reached the appropriate temperature for distribution

  steam (conversion of water into steam), the valve being closed, as indicated more clearly by the detail shown on a larger scale next to it; - Figure 3 corresponds to the side view of the

  figure 2, but after the iron has reached or exceeded the temperature

  minimum temperature required for vapor diffusion, the valve

  now being open, which is also more clearly visible

  rement in detail shown on a larger scale next, o It can be seen that the lower end of the valve stem has been lifted from the seat;

  - Figures 4 and 5 are diagrammatic representations

  matiques of the position and operation of the different elements when the rod holder has been turned with his finger to the working position by the external selector button located at the top, the valve being shown in the closed position in Figure 4 and in the open position in FIG. 5 (the section plane of these figures corresponding to the line 2121 which is visible in FIG. 9 showing the cam 12 in the form of a cup); - Figures 6 and 7 are representations

  similar diagrams, but showing position and function-

  elements when the rod holder has been turned with its finger to the closed position or dry ironing position, the deformation of the bimetallic elements under the effect of heat does not produce the opening of the valve; - Figure 8 is a schematic representation

  position and operation of the elements when the holder

  rod has been turned with his finger to the "self-cleaning" position, where the valve is still fully open, even when the bimetallic elements are in their lowest position; and - Figure 9 is a schematic perspective view of the cup-shaped cam, clearly showing the ramps formed by the upper edge of the cup,

  same as line 21-21 corresponding to the cutting plane of the representations

  schematic views of Figures 4 to 7.

  According to the invention, the passage of water from chamber 1 forming a reservoir to chamber 2 for the formation of vapor or vaporization is controlled by a valve composed of a stationary element 4 forming the seat of the valve and of a movable element in the form of a plug 3 which, by its lower end 5, closes or opens the valve when it is moved

in the vertical direction.

  The rod is fixed by its other end to a rod holder 6 which is a hollow cylindrical piece whose lateral surface is provided with a radial projection or finger 7. The rod holder 6 can perform axial and rotational movements, at which

participates rod 3.

  At the top, the rod holder 6 is coupled to an external control or selection element in the form of a selector button 8, in which the rod holder is telescopically movable, as can be seen in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7. Compared to the selector button 8, the rod holder 6 is therefore movable axially - and more elastically due to the presence of an intermediate spring 16 - but the button 8 and the stem holder are rigidly coupled in rotation. The spring 16 ensures either the application of the lower end 5 of the rod 3 against the seat 4 of the valve, thus preventing the passage of water, or the application of the finger 7 of the rod holder 6 against the upper edge of the cup-shaped cam 12 and in particular against the

  cam ramp 13, in which case the valve is more or less open.

  The diffusion valve opening is produced

  via the inverted U-shaped control element 9,

  dant at its lower part two side tabs which each terminate in a vertical cylindrical dowel 10, .11 bearing on one or the other of the bimetallic blades 14, 15 mounted on

  the cover 17 of the vaporization chamber 2.

  The control element 9 has at the top an extension

  in a cup forming the cam 12 which has already been discussed several times. A part of the upper edge of the cup forms the cam ramp 13 and the other part forms a second cam ramp 20. The central opening of the cam 12 allows the free fitting of the rod holder 6, with the exception however of the lateral finger 7, which can in particular remain vertically at a

  certain distance above the ramp 13.

  If the selector button 8 is turned to the maximum "steam production" position, the rod holder 6 will occupy the rotational position shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and its lateral finger 7 will be on the point higher of the ramp 13 of the cam 12, so that the valve will remain closed, as long as the iron is cold, since the bimetallic elements 14 and 15 occupy the lowest position (Figures 2 and 4). However, as the bimetallic elements 14, 15 heat up, they will push the corresponding pins 10 and 11 upwards, thereby lifting the control element 9 in inverted U and the cam 12 with it. The cam will only come into contact with the lateral finger 7 of the rod holder 6 when the temperature is suitable for diffusion (formation of vapor). As long as this temperature is not reached, the cam 12 will not be able to push up the finger 7 and the rod 3 with it, so that the water passage remains closed. When the right temperature is reached,

  the cam 12, by its ramp 13, will repel the finger 7, the holder

  rod 6 and rod 3 upwards, so that the lower end

  lower 5 of the rod 3 will be lifted from the seat 4. The water can now flow from the reservoir 1 into the vaporization chamber 2 and be transformed into vapor there. The position of the elements

  at this time is shown in Figures 3 and 5.

  The use of the bimetallic elements 14 and 15 in a diametrical arrangement, together with the configuration of the control element 9 in inverted U, provides a balanced system

  and powerful to overcome resistance to movement.

  If the external control or selection element formed by the button 8 is brought to its other extreme position (closed position or dry ironing position), as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rod holder 6 is rotated at the same time time and the lateral finger 7 is brought above the lowest point of the ramp 13 of the cam 12. At this position, the valve remains closed, not only when the iron is cold (FIG. 6) but also when it is hot (FIG. 7) since, although the bimetallic elements 14 and 15, when they become hot, raise the control element 9, this lifting is not sufficient for the cam 12 to be able to raise the finger 7 from the door - rod 6, so that rod 3 will remain in

  valve closed position on seat 4.

  The position which has just been described is particularly

  particularly useful since it allows, even when the iron is hot, to interrupt the formation of steam if desired

dry iron for example.

  Obviously, in addition to the two extreme positions which have just been described, the selector button 8 can be brought to a whole series of intermediate positions o The lateral finger 7 remains, as long as the iron is cold, at defined distances from the ramp 13. All of these intermediate positions correspond to defined levels of steam production for a given degree of deformation of the bimetallic elements 14 and 15 and, ultimately, for a given temperature, which makes it possible to produce a quantity of steam which does not depend exclusively on the temperature since the desired steam flow can thus

  be adjusted according to the nature of the textile material to be ironed.

  If the selector button 8 is brought to the "self-cleaning" position, as shown in FIG. 8, the lateral finger 7, as a result of the rotation of the rod holder 6, is brought to the ramp 20 of the cam 12. At this position, the valve remains permanently fully open, regardless of the temperature of the iron. Indeed, although the bimetallic elements 14 and 15 modify the position of the control element 9 in inverted U by means of the dowels 10 and 11, the position of the rod 3 relative to the valve will be such that the lower end 5 of the rod cannot be applied against the seat 4 and thus prevent the flow of water from the reservoir into the chamber

vaporization.

  In order to facilitate obtaining a listening pass

  slightly thinner for water, the lower end 5 of the rod 3 is chamfered, as can be seen in particular in the details

  on a larger scale of Figures 2 and 3.

  It can also be seen in these details that the seat 4 of the valve - which is metallic - is mounted, in order to obtain suitable support and sealing, in an elastic disc 19 made of synthetic material, which is arranged by projecting circular ribs, one upper and the other lower, against the top of the cover 17 of the vaporization chamber 2 and against the lower side of a partition or upper wall 18. The elastic disc 19 containing the seat is

  removably mounted in this position.

  The perspective view of Figure 9 shows clear-

  ment that the cup-shaped cam 12 defines two ramps 13 and by its upper edge. The first, 13, intervenes in the working positions described relative to Figures 4 and 7, while the other ramp 20 is used only in the position

  "self-cleaning" which has been described with reference to FIG. 8.

  To allow a good interpretation of Figures 4 to 7, it is

  recalled that the cam 12 as seen in these corresponding figures

  lays the cut taken along the vertical plane indicated by the

line 21-21 of figure 9.

  The invention is not limited to the embodiments

  described and the person skilled in the art can make various

  modifications, without going beyond its framework.

  8 - ty2576928 List of references: 1. Chamber forming a water tank 2. Vaporization chamber (for vapor formation) 3. Sealing rod 4. Valve seat 5. Lower end of rod 3 6. Rod holder 7 Lateral finger 8. External control or selection element 9. Inverted control element 10. Cylindrical dowel secured to Element 9 11. Cylindrical dowel secured to Element 9 12. Cup-shaped cam 13. Ramp cam 14. Bi-metallic blade 15. Bi-metallic blade 16. Spring 17. Cover (closing wall) of the vaporization chamber 18. Partition or upper wall 19. Elastic disc 20. Cam ramp for the "self-cleaning" position

21. Cut indication mark.

9 2576928

Claims (5)

  1. Valve called diffusion for a steam iron with bimetal control, o the valve is used for the admission of water from a water tank of the iron into a vaporization chamber o the water is transformed into vapor which is diffused on the ironed textile material, characterized in that it   essentially consists of a fixed seat (4) and a closed rod   ratrice (3) which is vertically movable and whose lower end (5) cooperates with the seat (4) for closing and   the opening of the valve, the rod (3) being fixed by its end   mite opposite to a rod-forming part (6), the vertical displacements of the rod (3) being determined by a selector button   exterior (8), o a similar exterior selector element allows   both turn the rod holder (6) and the rod (3) with it, a projection or lateral finger (7) protruding radially from the rod holder (6), a control element (9) in inverted U, bearing in bottom two vertical pegs (10, 11) and above an extension consisting of a horizontal ring-shaped section and a circular peripheral section oriented vertically and whose upper edge is inclined, the extension thus resembling a cup and forming a cam (12) with at least one ramp (13) on the upper edge, the rod holder (6) being able to fit up and down in the cam (12), with the exception of the lateral finger (7 ), as well as by two bimetallic elements (14, 15) arranged on the vaporization chamber (2) and acting on the pins (10, 11) integral with the control element (9), with a view to lifting the latter due to deformation of bimetallic elements   when the temperature rises, the arrangement being such that the opening   ture of the valve is determined both by the operation of the bimetallic elements (14, 15) and by the angular position of the rod holder (6) relative to the control element (9) and that in a normal working position , the bimetallic elements prevent the flow of water from the chamber (1) forming the water reservoir in the vaporization chamber (2) until the latter has reached an adequate temperature for transforming the water into steam, so as to avoid the diffusion of water drops instead steam.   2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that, in an extreme angular position of the rod holder (6), the lateral finger (7) is located above the highest part of a cam ramp ( 13) used to regulate the steam flow and that, when the vaporization chamber (2) reaches the temperature suitable for producing steam, the bimetallic elements (14,), by the deformation which they undergo as a result of the temperature rise, raise the control element (9) and with it, via the finger (7), the rod holder (6) and the rod (3), the lower end (5) of which is lifted from the valve seat (4), thereby opening the passage for water flow from the tank (1) to the vaporization chamber (2), said position   corresponding to the maximum steam production.   3. Valve according to claim 2, characterized in that, in the other extreme angular position of the rod holder (6), the lateral finger (7) is located above the lowest part of said cam ramp (13), at a distance such that the   lifting of the control element (9) by the bimetal elements   liques does not cause the rod holder (6) to be raised, so that the rod (3) is not lifted from the seat (4) of the valve, which remains thus closed, this position corresponding to the position of dry closing or ironing.   4. Valve according to claim 3, characterized in that, in intermediate positions located between the two mentioned extreme angular positions of the rod holder (6), the lateral finger (7) is located above an intermediate part of the cam ramp (13) for adjusting the steam flow, so that when the vaporization chamber (2) reaches the temperature suitable for the formation and diffusion of vapor, the bimetallic elements (14, 15) raise the element control (9) and with it the rod holder (6) and the rod (3), so that the latter is lifted from the seat (4) of the valve, the different intermediate angular positions of the rod holder (6) corresponding to different valve opening sections and therefore different steam rates.   5. Valve according to any of claims 1   4, characterized in that, in an angular position called self-cleaning of the rod holder (6), the lateral finger (7) is supported on the highest zone of a second cam ramp (20), corresponding to Self-cleaning, where the rod (3) is lifted   so that the valve remains fully open.