GB2067600A

GB2067600A - Improvements in steam irons

Info

Publication number: GB2067600A
Application number: GB8100408A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: MARTI MOGAS J
Current assignee: MARTI MOGAS J
Priority date: 1980-01-10
Filing date: 1981-01-08
Publication date: 1981-07-30
Also published as: FR2473573A1; BE887019A; IT1134985B; ES8100376A1; DE3100617A1; ES487858A0; IT8119069A0

Abstract

A steam iron of which the body (1) has a cavity (2) at its upper side divided by a plurality of partial partition walls (9a) forming a convoluted passage (9). The cavity (2) is sealed by an upper cover (3) thus forming a vaporization chamber comprising a first, water vaporization, zone (8), having a water inlet, a second, steam superheating, zone (9) and a third, steam expansion, zone (10), the zone (10) being connected to a lower steam distributing chamber (11) provided with outlet holes (16) at its lower surface. Electrical heaters are housed in cavities (14). Water may be fed from a tank (not shown) either built into the iron or situated externally. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in steam irons This invention relates to steam irons.

Steam irons are used both in industry, such as in dyehouses and similar places, and in the home.

They commonly comprise a body wherein suitable heating elements are housed and constituting a water vaporization chamber and a steam distributing chamber having distribution holes in its lower surface.

The improved steam iron according to the invention has been devised with the object of achieving improved vaporization, i.e. a dry steam which is drier than can be produced by existing steam irons, thus definitely achieving better ironing performance.

The invention accordingly is characterized by the fact that the upper side of the iron body has a cavity which is hermetically sealed by an upper cover to define the vaporization chamber, there being arranged through the upper cover a conduit for supply of water from a tank, the vaporization chamber having several successive zones, namely a water vaporization zone wherein said supply of water is received, a steam superheating zone and a steam expansion zone with a steam outlet towards the distributing chamber.

In the accompanying drawings there is shown by way of non-limitative example an embodiment of iron according to the present invention.

In these drawings:~ Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of the steam iron body; Figure 2 is a plan view of the body of the iron without its upper cover and showing the cavity constituting the vaporization chamber.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the iron body.

Figure 4 is a sectional and exploded view of a detail of the iron on an enlarged scale.

Referring now to these drawings, the steam iron comprises a main body 1 at the upper side of which is a water vaporization cavity 2 sealed by an upper cover 3 with an interposed gasket 4 made of a suitable material such as asbestos. This gasket is applied on the upper edge of the main body which has a shallow surrounding channel 5 defined between two ribs 5a, 5b. This is for the purpose of ensuring that the cavity 2 is sealed when the cover 3 is fixed with suitable members, such as screws, applied to the cover holes and in other associated holes 6 provided in the body 1.

On the upper cover 3 a water inlet from a tank to the vaporization chamber is provided and comprises a tubular conduit 7 which penetrates the cover and is lined with an athermous material, such as teflon whereby premature water vaporization inside the conduit 7, which might hinder free water inlet to the chamber is avoided.

In Figure 2 is shown a preferred embodiment of the vaporization chamber 2, this chamber comprising a first zone 8 for water access from the tank (not shown) for its vaporization, at which zone due to the arrangement of the athermous conduit 7 the water freely enters. A superheating zone 9 has a plurality of partial dividing walls 9a which alternate to form a labyrinth. If convenient there may be provided in this zone a plurality of additional members (not shown) capable of delaying the passage of the steam, such as wire mesh pads, chippings, steel balls, and so forth.

Finally the vaporization chamber comprises a steam expansion zone 10. As can be seen, the three zones, that is the inlet zone 8, the superheating zone 9 and the expansion zone 10 are convoluted.

The vaporization chamber 2 communicates with a steam distributing chamber 11 through a passage 12 at the end of the steam travel in the steam expansion zone 10. Also, the surrounding channel 5 communicates with the steam distributing chamber 11 through a conduit 13 which permits flow to the distributing chamber of the small quantity of steam which might pass through the seal between the cover 3 and the body 1.

Between the two vaporization and distributing chambers are interposed some housings 14 for the heating elements comprised of electrical resistors 15 with connecting means. The distributing chamber 11 has at its lower surface a plurality of suitably arranged holes 1 6 for egress of steam during an ironing operation.

Through the upper cover 2 and adjacent the conduit 7 which feeds water towards the water inlet zone of the vaporization chamber there may extend a second conduit which empties into the upper side of the water tank for the purpose of discharging the excess of steam accumulated inside the said vaporization chamber and imparting pressure to the water contained in the tank and which feeds the vaporization chamber.

According to the invention, the water feeding tank (not shown) can be built into the iron, for example, on the cover 3 if the iron is of domestic type or instead such tank can be situated externally of the iron if the latter is designed for industrial use.

The iron generally has associated shut off valves which are manually operable outside the main body to prevent escape of steam while the iron is not being used and to initiate such escape when an ironing operation is required.

1. A steam iron comprising a body containing suitable heating elements and defining a water vaporization chamber and a steam distributing chamber having distribution holes in its lower surface, characterized in that the upper side of the body has a cavity which is hermetically sealed by an upper cover to define the vaporization chamber, there being arranged through the upper cover a conduit for supply of water from a tank and said vaporization chamber having several successive zones, namely a water vaporization zone wherein said supply of water is received, a steam superheating zone and a steam expansion zone with a steam outlet towards the distributing

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in steam irons This invention relates to steam irons. Steam irons are used both in industry, such as in dyehouses and similar places, and in the home. They commonly comprise a body wherein suitable heating elements are housed and constituting a water vaporization chamber and a steam distributing chamber having distribution holes in its lower surface. The improved steam iron according to the invention has been devised with the object of achieving improved vaporization, i.e. a dry steam which is drier than can be produced by existing steam irons, thus definitely achieving better ironing performance. The invention accordingly is characterized by the fact that the upper side of the iron body has a cavity which is hermetically sealed by an upper cover to define the vaporization chamber, there being arranged through the upper cover a conduit for supply of water from a tank, the vaporization chamber having several successive zones, namely a water vaporization zone wherein said supply of water is received, a steam superheating zone and a steam expansion zone with a steam outlet towards the distributing chamber. In the accompanying drawings there is shown by way of non-limitative example an embodiment of iron according to the present invention. In these drawings:~ Figure 1 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section of the steam iron body; Figure 2 is a plan view of the body of the iron without its upper cover and showing the cavity constituting the vaporization chamber. Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the iron body. Figure 4 is a sectional and exploded view of a detail of the iron on an enlarged scale. Referring now to these drawings, the steam iron comprises a main body 1 at the upper side of which is a water vaporization cavity 2 sealed by an upper cover 3 with an interposed gasket 4 made of a suitable material such as asbestos. This gasket is applied on the upper edge of the main body which has a shallow surrounding channel 5 defined between two ribs 5a, 5b. This is for the purpose of ensuring that the cavity 2 is sealed when the cover 3 is fixed with suitable members, such as screws, applied to the cover holes and in other associated holes 6 provided in the body 1. On the upper cover 3 a water inlet from a tank to the vaporization chamber is provided and comprises a tubular conduit 7 which penetrates the cover and is lined with an athermous material, such as teflon whereby premature water vaporization inside the conduit 7, which might hinder free water inlet to the chamber is avoided. In Figure 2 is shown a preferred embodiment of the vaporization chamber 2, this chamber comprising a first zone 8 for water access from the tank (not shown) for its vaporization, at which zone due to the arrangement of the athermous conduit 7 the water freely enters. A superheating zone 9 has a plurality of partial dividing walls 9a which alternate to form a labyrinth. If convenient there may be provided in this zone a plurality of additional members (not shown) capable of delaying the passage of the steam, such as wire mesh pads, chippings, steel balls, and so forth. Finally the vaporization chamber comprises a steam expansion zone 10. As can be seen, the three zones, that is the inlet zone 8, the superheating zone 9 and the expansion zone 10 are convoluted. The vaporization chamber 2 communicates with a steam distributing chamber 11 through a passage 12 at the end of the steam travel in the steam expansion zone 10. Also, the surrounding channel 5 communicates with the steam distributing chamber 11 through a conduit 13 which permits flow to the distributing chamber of the small quantity of steam which might pass through the seal between the cover 3 and the body 1. Between the two vaporization and distributing chambers are interposed some housings 14 for the heating elements comprised of electrical resistors 15 with connecting means. The distributing chamber 11 has at its lower surface a plurality of suitably arranged holes 1 6 for egress of steam during an ironing operation. Through the upper cover 2 and adjacent the conduit 7 which feeds water towards the water inlet zone of the vaporization chamber there may extend a second conduit which empties into the upper side of the water tank for the purpose of discharging the excess of steam accumulated inside the said vaporization chamber and imparting pressure to the water contained in the tank and which feeds the vaporization chamber. According to the invention, the water feeding tank (not shown) can be built into the iron, for example, on the cover 3 if the iron is of domestic type or instead such tank can be situated externally of the iron if the latter is designed for industrial use. The iron generally has associated shut off valves which are manually operable outside the main body to prevent escape of steam while the iron is not being used and to initiate such escape when an ironing operation is required. CLAIMS

1. A steam iron comprising a body containing suitable heating elements and defining a water vaporization chamber and a steam distributing chamber having distribution holes in its lower surface, characterized in that the upper side of the body has a cavity which is hermetically sealed by an upper cover to define the vaporization chamber, there being arranged through the upper cover a conduit for supply of water from a tank and said vaporization chamber having several successive zones, namely a water vaporization zone wherein said supply of water is received, a steam superheating zone and a steam expansion zone with a steam outlet towards the distributing chamber.

2. A steam iron according to claim 1, characterized in that said successive zones in the vaporization chamber are defined by inside partitions at least one of said zones including a plurality of partial partition walls alternated like a labyrinth and other members capable of delaying the water and steam passage alongside the chamber.

3. A steam iron according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized by a shallow peripheral channel defined between parallel ribs at the upper side of the main body to ensure sealing of the vaporization chamber by the interposition of a gasket between the upper cover and the ribs said channel communicating through the body with the steam distributing lower chamber.

4. A steam iron according to any of claims 1,2 or 3 characterized in that the water supply conduit to the vaporization chamber through the upper cover has an inside coating of athermous material.

5. A steam iron according to any of claims 1 to 4 characterized by a second conduit extending through the upper cover adjacent the water supply conduit, and leading into the upper portion of the water tank, to discharge the excess of steam accumulated inside the vaporization chamber and pressurise the water contained in the tank which water supplies the vaporization chamber.

6. A steam iron constructed and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.