FR2889211A1 - IRONING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SWITCHING DEVICE FOR SELECTIVELY FEEDING STEAM AND ELECTRICITY DIFFERENT ACCESSORIES - Google Patents

Abstract

Ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator connected by several cords (20, 30) to various accessories (2, 3), such as an iron (2) and a steam brush (3), characterized in that it comprises selection means (17) allowing the user to indicate which accessory (2, 3) he wishes to use and a steam and electricity switching device for selectively supplying the accessory with steam and electricity ( 2, 3) selected.

Description

B.07511

  IRONING APPARATUS COMPRISING A SWITCHING DEVICE TO MAKE SOURCES OF STEAM AND ELECTRICITY

DIFFERENT ACCESSORIES

  The present invention relates to an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator connected by several cords to various accessories, such as an iron and a steam brush.

  It is known multi-purpose steam generators in which removable plugs including both power and steam supply, can connect various accessories, such as a steam cleaning tool or an iron . However, such devices have the disadvantage of requiring many connection and disconnection manipulations every time the user wants to use a new accessory. In addition, removable accessories, which are used only occasionally, are most often stored at the bottom of a closet and are not immediately available.

  It is known from the document FR 2,714,401 filed by the applicant, to overcome these disadvantages by providing an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator connected to an iron by a cord, the generator also comprising means of diversion of the steam, mounted on the water filling port of the generator tank, can be permanently connected to an accessory such as a steam brush. Such an apparatus proves very practical in use because the two accessories can be permanently connected to the tank of the generator, which allows them to be used alternately without waiting time or complex maneuvering.

  However, with such a device, there is a risk that both accessories are used simultaneously while the power of the device is not adapted to simultaneously provide the two accessories steam. In addition, the accessory connected by means of steam bypass is not electrically powered, which greatly limits the type and / or effectiveness of the accessory can be connected to these means of derivations.

  It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome these disadvantages by providing an ironing apparatus, comprising a steam generator connected by several cords to various accessories, in which the steam and electricity consumption of the apparatus is optimized and the safety of use of the accessories is increased.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is an ironing appliance comprising a steam generator connected by several cords to various accessories, such as an iron and a steam brush, characterized in that it comprises means of selection allowing the user to indicate which accessory he wishes to use and a steam and electricity switching device for selectively supplying steam and electricity to the selected accessory.

  Such a characteristic makes it possible to limit the availability of steam and electricity supply to only one of the accessories at the same time, which makes it possible to improve the operation of the appliance by limiting the risks of overconsumption of steam or electricity of the appliance. 'apparatus.

  According to another characteristic of the ironing apparatus according to the invention, the selector means are constituted by a manual selector.

  According to another characteristic of the ironing apparatus according to the invention, the switching device comprises a steam distribution valve for directing the steam towards one or other of the accessories and at least one switch coupled to the steam distribution valve to identify the accessory to be supplied with electricity.

  According to another characteristic of the ironing apparatus according to the invention, the steam generator is connected by a first cord to an iron having a heating sole provided with a vaporization chamber and by a second cord to a brush of degreasing comprising a heating body provided with a vaporization chamber.

  According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the apparatus comprises a control module comprising a microprocessor which manages the opening of a solenoid valve arranged upstream of the steam distribution valve for orienting the steam towards the brush of steaming or iron, the microprocessor controlling the power supply of the heating body of the steam brush and the heating soleplate of the iron.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the control module prohibits the emission of steam towards the iron or the steaming brush when the vaporization chamber of the latter is at a temperature insufficient to ensure the evaporation of condensates present in the cord of the selected accessory.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the control module authorizes the emission of steam to the scrubbing brush only after a determined operating time of the heating body which varies as a function of the cumulative operating time of the heating element since the start of the appliance and the time elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the steam brush.

  According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the control module authorizes the emission of steam towards the iron only after a determined operating time of the heating soleplate which varies as a function of the cumulative operating time of the heating soleplate since the start of the appliance and the time elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the iron.

  The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment of the invention presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing apparatus according to a particular embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows a partially exploded perspective view of the iron of the apparatus of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, the cord winder of the steam brush being removed from the base of the apparatus; Fig. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the scrubbing brush of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Figures 5a and 5b are respectively perspective views of the steam generator of Figure 1 when using the iron and the steam brush; Figures 6a and 6b are respectively perspective views of the switching device during the steam supply of the steam brush and the iron; Figures 7a and 7b are respectively longitudinal sectional views of the feed valve of Figures 6a and 6b; Figure 8 shows the operating algorithm of the control module of the steam generator of the apparatus.

  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.

  FIG. 1 represents an ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator conventionally constituted by a tank for producing steam under pressure, not shown in the figures, integrated in a portable base 1, the tank being supplied with water by a removable tank 10 arranged on the back of the base 1.

  The base 1 is advantageously electrically powered by a cable 12 mounted on a winder disposed behind the front face of the base 1, the cable 12 opening into a cavity 13 of the front face of the base 1 and winding automatically when the user presses a button 14 disposed near the cavity. A general switch 15 is also provided on the front face of the base 1 to control the start or stop of the device.

  The steam generator integrated in the base 1 is permanently connected to an iron 2 by a first bead 20 advantageously having a length of the order of 1.8 m and comprises an inclined plane 11 for laying the iron 2.

  According to FIG. 2, the iron is provided with a heating soleplate 21 comprising a steaming chamber 22 and superheating of the steam arranged upstream of the steam outlet holes of the soleplate, allowing the vaporization of any condensates present in the connecting bead 20. In a manner known per se, the bead 20 incorporates a conduit for feeding the iron 2 with the pressurized steam from the generator tank and an electrical cable for supplying the resistance electric heating of the heating sole 21 of the iron. The iron 2 also includes a trigger 23 for controlling the sending of steam through the steam outlet holes of the heating soleplate 21.

  The steam generator of the base 1 is also permanently connected to a scrub brush 3 by a second cord 30 advantageously having a length of the order of 1.6 m, the cord 30 incorporating a conduit for feeding the brush 3 with steam under pressure from the generator and incorporating an electric cable for electrically feeding the steam brush 3.

  According to FIG. 3, the second cord 30 is preferably mounted on a cord winding device 4 taking place in a cavity provided for this purpose under the base 1, behind the reel of the electric cable 12. This cord winding device 4 comprises return means for automatically winding the cord 30 inside a drum when the user presses a button 41 disposed laterally to the winder. This cord winder 4 is identical to that described in the patent application FR 05 03125 filed by the applicant and will therefore not be described in more detail in the present patent application.

  Advantageously, the base 1 comprises, on one of its sides, a holding clamp 16 in which the body of the steaming brush 3 can be inserted, such an arrangement allowing to have a hair brush 3 which remains very accessible once stored while maintaining a compact device.

  The holding clip 16 is preferably disposed on the side of the base 1 where the cord 30 exits the winder 4, so that the length of the cord 30 remaining outside the winder 4, when the brush of Unwrapping 3 is stored in the clamp 16, is very limited, of the order of 20 cm, such a feature to reduce the risk of attachment of the cord 30.

  In order to allow the evaporation of any condensates present in the bead 30, the steaming brush 3, shown in more detail in FIG. 4, contains a heating element 31 comprising a steam vaporization and superheating chamber 32 closed by a lid 31 ', this vaporization chamber 32 being heated by an electrical resistor disposed under the heating body 31 and supplied by the electric cable integrated in the connecting cord 30. The vaporization chamber 32 opens onto steam outlet holes 32 ', visible only in FIG. 5b, making it possible to obtain powerful jets of steam for the vertical steaming of the laundry. The steaming brush 3 is provided with a trigger 33 controlling the sending of steam to the steaming brush 3.

  More particularly according to the invention, the front face of the base 1 of the generator is provided with a rotary selector 17 that the user can maneuver between a first position, illustrated in Figure 5a, corresponding to the use of the iron 2 and a second position, illustrated in Figure 5b, corresponding to the use of the steam brush 3.

  According to FIGS. 6a and 6b, the selector 17 is connected by a bead wire 5 to a steam and electricity switching device comprising a steam distribution valve 6 comprising a steam inlet 60 connected upstream to a solenoid valve 7 arranged at the outlet of the generator tank and two steam outlets 61, 62 respectively connected to the conduits of the cords 20, 30 for feeding the iron 2 and the steaming brush 3.

  The valve 6 comprises a sleeve 63 rotated by the rod 5 and connected to the body of the valve 6 by a screw-type connection, the outer surface of the body of the valve comprising a helical rib 64 engaging in a helical groove formed inside the sleeve 63, so that the rotation of the sleeve 63 is accompanied by a translational movement of the latter.

  The switching device also comprises two switches 66a, 66b actuated by bosses 65a, 65b disposed on the outer surface of the sleeve 63, the bosses 65a, 65b being arranged in such a way that the first switch 66a is actuated only when the selector 17 is in the position of use of the iron 2 shown in Figure 6a while the second switch 66b is operated only when the selector 17 is in the position of use of the steam brush 3 shown in Figure 6b.

  These two switches 66a, 66b are connected to a control module 100, shown schematically in these FIGS. 6a and 6b, comprising a microprocessor which deduces from the operating state of the switches 66a, 66b the position of the valve 6 and therefore of the selector 17.

  According to Figure 7a, which shows a sectional view of the valve 6 when the selector 17 is in the position of use of the iron 2, the inlet port 60 of the valve opens into a distribution chamber of a cylindrical steam 67 which is extended at each of its ends by a bore 68a, 68b of smaller diameter, the first bore 68a being in communication with the outlet orifice 61, connected to the connecting cord 20 of the iron, and the second bore 68b being in communication with the outlet orifice 62, connected to the cord 30 of the steaming brush 3.

  The sleeve 63 is integral with a sliding piston 69 having a first lip seal 69a which is in the distribution chamber 67 when the sleeve 63 is in the position of use of the iron 2, so that the steam can passing around the seal 69a and escape to the iron, and a second seal 69b which is then introduced into the second bore 68b to prevent the passage of steam to the steam brush 3. The piston 69 is also provided with a third seal 69c disposed in the first bore 68a downstream of the outlet to prevent vapor leakage through the orifice of the body traversed by the axis of the piston 69.

  According to Figure 7b, when the selector 17 is rotated to the position corresponding to the use of the steam brush 3, the sleeve 63 rotates backward on the body of the valve 6, causing the displacement 2889211 8 of the piston 69 and the depression of the first seal 69a through the first bore 68a so that the steam can no longer pass in the direction of the iron 2. In contrast, the second seal 69b is then moved into the distribution chamber 67 of larger diameter so that the steam can pass around the periphery of the second seal 69b and escape through the orifice 62 to the steam brush 3.

  Advantageously, the control module 100 controls the solenoid valve 7 disposed at the outlet of the generator tank to prohibit the steam supply of the iron 2 or the steaming brush 3 for a certain time depending on the duration during which the selected accessory, namely the iron 2 or the steaming brush 3, has not been supplied with electricity. Such a security makes it possible to avoid any projection of condensates by ensuring that the vaporization chamber 22 of the iron or the steaming chamber 32 of the steaming brush is at a temperature sufficient to allow the evaporation of any condensates present in the cords 20,30.

  By way of example, the microprocessor of the control module 100 can control the authorization of the opening of the solenoid valve 7 of the generator tank according to the algorithm illustrated in FIG. 8.

  According to this figure, the control module 100 detects in a first step El which accessory is selected by the user between the iron 2 and the hairbrush 3. This determination of the selected accessory is simply made from information communicated by the switches 66a, 66b.

  The control module 100 then measures, in a second step E2, the time Tm that has elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the selected accessory 2,3. Per session of use of the accessory means a session where the ironing appliance is running and the selector 17 is in the position corresponding to the accessory.

  In a third step E3, the control module 100 checks whether the preheating time Tcs_ accumulated during previous sessions of use of the accessory has been sufficient to allow a preheating of the accessory for a total time of 120 seconds.

  If the cumulative preheating time Tcs.l during previous sessions is less than 120 seconds, then the control module 100 completes the preheating of the accessory in a step E3 'during which the accessory is heated for a time Tc corresponding to the preheating time missing to reach the total of 120 seconds preheating. During this preheating time Tc, a diode 18 flashes on the front face of the base 1 to indicate to the user that the selected accessory is in the heating period. At the end of this additional preheating period, the control module 100 goes to step E4.

  Conversely, if the preheating time of 120 seconds has already been reached during the previous sessions of use of the accessory, then the control module 100 goes directly to the step E4 in which it compares the time Tm elapsed since the previous session of the accessory with a threshold that is set at 5 minutes in the example shown.

  If the time Tm is less than 5 minutes, the control module authorizes the immediate opening of the solenoid valve in a step E5 when it receives the command signal of the trigger 23,33 of the accessory 2, 3.

  On the other hand, if the cumulative time Tm is greater than 5 minutes, then the control module goes to a step E4 'of additional heating of the accessory to compensate for the cooling of the accessory by thermal losses during the period of non-use of the accessory.

  During this step E4 'the accessory is heated for an additional time Ts which is equal to the number of minutes Tm beyond the threshold of 5 minutes multiplied by a coefficient KA corresponding to the number of additional heating seconds to be performed for each minute stopping the accessory beyond the threshold of 5 minutes.

  However, if the time Ts obtained by this calculation is greater than 120 seconds, then the additional heating time will be limited to Ts = 120s corresponding to the initial warm-up time required when the accessory is cold. During this additional heating period, the diode 18 on the front face of the base 1 flashes to indicate to the user that the selected accessory is in the heating period. At the end of this additional heating period, the control module 100 goes to step E5 where it authorizes the opening of the solenoid valve 7 to trigger the trigger 23,33 of the accessory.

  Of course, the coefficient KA depends on the thermal mass and the heating power of the selected accessory. By way of example, the coefficient KA will have the value KA = 1 s / min for the steaming brush 3 and KA = 1.25 s / min for the iron 2.

  Thus, if the selected accessory is the scrub brush 3 and the time Tm elapsed since the previous session of use of the scrub brush 3 is 9 minutes, then the time Ts additional preheating will be 4 seconds before the control module 100 allows the sending of steam through the cord 30.

  The ironing apparatus thus produced has the advantage of greater safety by supplying steam and electricity only one of the accessories at a time, so that there is no risk that the unselected accessory is inadvertently handled, for example by a child. Such a solution also makes it possible to limit the electrical consumption of the apparatus and thus to avoid an overload of the network to which the apparatus is connected. In addition, such a solution makes it possible to limit the consumption of steam and thus to avoid a too sudden drop in the vapor pressure in the tank. The apparatus can therefore have a steam generator with optimized sizing.

  Finally, such an apparatus allows precise control of the electricity and steam supply of the selected accessory so that the risk of burns of the user by projection of condensate burning through the steam outlet holes of the accessory may be limited.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. 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.

Claims (8)

B.0751 R 'CLAIMS   1) An ironing apparatus comprising a steam generator connected by several cords (20, 30) to various accessories (2, 3), such as an iron (2) and a steam brush (3), characterized in that it comprises selection means (17) allowing the user to indicate which accessory (2, 3) he wishes to use and a steam and electricity switching device for selectively supplying steam and electricity. accessory (2, 3) selected.   2) An ironing appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that said selection means are constituted by a selector (17) manual.   3) An ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said switching device comprises a steam distribution valve (6) for directing the steam to one or other of the accessories (2, 3) and at least one switch (66a, 66b) coupled to the steam distribution valve (6) for identifying the accessory (2, 3) to be supplied with electricity.   4) An ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the steam generator is connected by a first cord (20) to an iron (2) having a heating sole (21) provided with a vaporization chamber (22) and a second cord (30) to a steam brush (3) having a heating body (31) provided with a vaporization chamber (32).   5) An ironing appliance according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that it comprises a control module (100) comprising a microprocessor which manages the opening of a solenoid valve (7) arranged upstream of the dispensing valve. steam (6) for directing the steam towards the steaming brush (3) or the iron (2), said microprocessor controlling the electric power supply of the heating body (31) of the steaming brush and the heating soleplate (21) iron.   6) An ironing appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the 2889211 12 control module (100) prevents the emission of steam towards the iron (2) or the scrub brush (3) when the chamber vaporization (22,32) of these is at a temperature insufficient to ensure the evaporation of the condensates present in the cord (20, 30) of the selected accessory.   7) An ironing appliance according to claim 6, characterized in that the control module (100) authorizes the emission of steam to the steam brush (3) only after a determined operating time of the heating element (31). ) which varies as a function of the accumulated operating time of the heating body (31) since the start-up of the appliance and the time elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the steaming brush (3).   8) An ironing appliance according to any one of claims 6 to 7, characterized in that the control module (100) allows the emission of steam to the iron (2) after a period of operation determined from the heating soleplate (21) which varies as a function of the cumulative operating time of the heating soleplate (21) since the start-up of the apparatus and the time elapsed since the end of the previous session of use of the iron to iron (2).