GB2065176A - Steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

In a steam iron having a soleplate (2) with a heating element (3), a steam chamber (8), two groups of steam discharge openings (18, 19) in the soleplate, a water reservoir (4) with a steam dome (5), a control knob (7) for axially moving a control rod (6), which control rod (6) comprises a needle valve (14) for controlling the passage of water to the steam chamber (8), a riser pipe (17) which connects the steam chamber (8) to the steam dome (5), a separate steam pipe (20, 21) between each group of discharge openings (18, 19) and the steam dome, the inlet opening (22) of one of the steam pipes (20) can be closed by a distribution valve (23). This reduces the possibility of a deposit of water hardness scale blocking movement of the distribution valve (23). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Steam iron The invention relates to a steam iron provided with a soleplate having a heating element, a steam chamber, two groups of steam-discharge openings in the soleplate, a water reservoir with a steam dome, a control knob for axially moving a control rod, which control rod comprises a needle valve for controlling the passage of water to the steam chamber, a riser pipe which connects the steam chamber to the steam dome, a steam pipe which connects the steam dome to the discharge openings, and a distribution valve for distributing the steam to the two groups of discharge openings.

Such a steam iron is known from United States Patent Specification No. 3,703,043. In this known steam iron only one steam pipe is arranged between the steam dome and the steamdischarge openings. As a result of this the distribution valve is located after the discharge opening of the steam pipe, that is in the bottom of the steam iron near the soleplate and thus at a location of a hot part of the iron. At this location water hardness scale deposit is rather substantial and this can adversely affect the movement of the distribution valve. It is an object of the invention to reduce this disadvantage.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a steam iron of the afore-mentioned type, in which the distribution valve is resistant to malfunction.

The steam iron according to the invention is therefore characterized in that between each group of discharge openings and the steam dome there is provided a separate steam pipe, whilst the inlet opening of one of the steam pipes can be closed by the distribution valve.

The advantage of this is that the distribution valve is not or is hardly subject to scale deposit, because the distribution valve is arranged at a location, namely in the steam dome, where the temperature is substantially lower than in the vicinity of the soleplate.

As the distribution valve is now located in the steam dome, the construction for actuating the distribution valve can be very simple to realize. To this end the steam iron in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the distribution valve is secured directly to the control rod.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing of an embodiment of a flat iron. In this drawing a housing 1 and soleplate 2 accommodate a heating element 3 in known manner. The housing includes a water reservoir 4 having an upwardly projecting portion which functions as a steam dome 5. Acontrol rod 6 is axially movable by means of a control knob 7 and can be latched in to a selected one of different axial positions. The control rod 6 extends through the steam dome 5 and the water reservoir 4 into a steam chamber 8. Via an opening 9 in the housing and a filler opening 10 in the steam dome which can be closed the water reservoir can be filled.For this purpose the control rod 6 is provided with a filling valve 11 and a pressure spring 12, by means of which the filler opening 10 can be opened or closed, as desired.

The filling valve also serves as a safety valve.

Between the water reservoir 4 and the steam chamber 8 there is an opening 13 which can be closed and through which the end of the control rod 6 projects. The rod end takes the form of a needle valve 14 with a steam valve 15. By means of this steam valve 15 and a pressure spring 16 the opening 13 can be opened or closed, as required. The steam chamber 8 communicates with the steam dome 5 via a riser pipe 17.

In the soleplate two groups of discharge openings 18 and 19 respectively are formed. The number of openings and thus the total passage area of the group of discharge openings 1 9 is substantially smaller than the passage area of the group of discharge openings 18.

In accordance with the invention a riser pipe 20 is included between the group of discharge openings 18 and the steam dome 5 and another riser pipe 21 between the group of discharge openings 19 and the steam dome 5. The inlet opening 22 of the steam pipe 20 can be closed by means of a distribution valve 23. This distribution valve is secured to the control rod 6 and is completely accommodated in the steam dome 5.

The distribution valve 23 is subject to the action of a pressure spring 24, enabling the steam pipe 20 to be opened or closed, as desired.

The operation of the steam iron is as follows: when the control rod 6 is in its upper position, the filling valve 11 is in its upper position and the filler opening 10 is open. Via the opening 9 the reservoir 5 can be filled with water. In this first position the inlet opening 22 of the riser pipe is open, but the opening 13 between the water reservoir 5 and the steam chamber 8 is closed.

The control rod is depressable to a second position against the spring force of the springs 12, 24 and 16 by means of the control knob 7. In said second position the filler opening 10 is just closed by the filling valve 11. The inlet opening 22 of the steam pipe 20 is open and opening 13 to the steam chamber 8 is closed. In this position dry ironing is possible. When the control knob 7 is further depressed into a third position, the steam valve 15 will no longer close the opening 13. Via the needle valve 14 water drips into the steam chamber 8, where it will evaporate. In this third position the inlet opening 22 of the steam pipe is still open.

The steam which is produced rises via riser pipe 17 into the steam dome 5. Hence the steam passes to the two groups of discharge openings 18 and 19 via the two steam pipes 20 and 21.

Thus, the third position of control knob 7 is the normal steam-ironing position. If the control rod is still further depressed into a fourth position, the opening 22 will be closed by the distribution valve 23. The steam will then only escape via the steam pipe 21 to the second smaller group of discharge openings 19. As the steam volume produced in both the third and the fourth positions is the same, the emerging steam wil! be more concentrated in the fourth position. The fabric area to be ironed will receive an increased dose of steam, which facilitates smooth ironing in comparison with the third position for normal steaming.

The control rod 6 can be latched in the selected one of the various positions by means of latching means known per se. This may for example be effected with the aid of cams on the control knob 7, which engage behind a wall portion of the housing 1. Since such latching means are known per se, they are not shown in the schematic drawing.

Claims (3)

1. A steam iron provided with a soleplate having a heating element, a steam chamber, two groups of steam discharge opening in the soleplate, a water reservoir with a steam dome, a control knob for axially moving a control rod, which control rod comprises a needle valve for controlling the passage of water to the steam chamber, a riser pipe which connects the steam chamber to the steam dome, a steam pipe which connects the steam dome to the discharge openings, and a distribution valve for distributing the steam to the two groups of discharge openings, characterized in that between each group of discharge openings and the steam dome there is provided a separate steam pipe, whilst the inlet opening of one of the steam pipes can be closed by means of the distribution valve.

2. A steam iron as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the distribution valve is secured directly to the control rod.

3. A steam iron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.