GB2170826A - A thermally controlled steam valve for a steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

A steam valve for a steam iron has a vertically movable closing shaft (3) operable to open the valve when steam-forming temperature is reached in a steam forming chamber (2) and is rotatable by an external control (8). A shaft-carrying member (6) has a lateral projection (7) co-operating with a cam (12) on the bridge portion of a yoke (9) of which the arms are provided with projections (10) which co-operate respectively with bi-metallic elements (14, 15) located above the chamber (2). Operation of the valve is determined by the angular position of the shaft carrying member (6) relative to the yoke (9) and by operation of the devices (14, 15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A spray or steam valve for a steam iron The present invention refers to improvements obtained in the spray valves operating by bimetal, which are used in steam irons.

All of the irons which generate steam as an aid to the ironing operation generally have: A steam chamber in which the steam is generated, which is located in the sole of the iron and which receives the heating from the resistances (or resistance); a chamber located in the upper part, which stores the water which is going to be supplied to the spraying chamber, and a duct for the passage of the water from the storage chamber to the spraying chamber.

It is known to insert, in the passage duct between the storage chamber and the spraying chamber, a sprinkling (drip ?) valve to close or open the duct at will.

There is also known the fact of using a sprinkling or drip valve, characterised in that it is in contact union a bimetal affixed on one side to the spraying chamber the shape variation movement of which takes place at right angle with the axis of the valve body, and in that way there exists the Federal German Patent No. P2936812.

The object of the present invention is to render automatic the non-passage of the water to the spraying chamber until there has been reached the temperature sufficient to cause the transformation into steam, for the purpose of preventing the iron from expulsing water instead of steam. That improvement introduced into the sprinkling or drip valve essentially consists of a closing shaft which when moving vertically on the seat of the valve, opens or closes said valve with one of its ends, having its opposite end affixed to a shaft-carrying member, the action of the shaft being determined by the following elements: An external command which can cause the rotation of the shaft-carrying member and of its shaft.

A lateral projecting existing in the shaft-carrying member.

An operating member in the shape of a bridge, which in its lower part ends with two small vertical pin cylinders and in the upper part of that member there exists an extension the horizontal section of which in the form of a circular ring and the lateral section of which is slanted, forming (giving origin to) a kind of container carn through the central opening of which there can run the shaft-carrying member but which does not accept the passage through said opening, of the lateral projection of the shaft-carrying member.

Two bimetallic blades located on the spraying chamber and on each of which there rests one of the cylinders of the bridge-shaped member.

All the above results in the fact that the opening of the valve is determined by the operation of the two bimetallic elements as well as by the angular position of the shaft-carrying member respective to the slanted circumference surface of the container cam of the bridge-shaped member.

In order better to understand the nature of the present invention, in the attached drawing we are represented, as an example which is merely illustrative and not limitative, one preferred form of industrial execution, to which we shall refer in our description of said drawing.

Figure 1 is a schematic view in perspective in which there are shown the elements which form the invention, and their position in the iron, for a better observation of same there have been cut the internal partitions which separate the various enclosures.

Figure 2 is a lateral view of the elements represented in Figure 1, when the iron is in the position of work but has not yet reached the suitable temperature for the spraying (turning into steam) and the valve is closed; in an enlarged detail of that figure there is represented the position of the closing shaft with respect to the seat of the valve.

Figure 3 is the same view as Figure 2, but when there has been reached or exceeded the minimum temperature necessary for the spraying and the valve is open; also in its enlarged detail, there is represented the position of the closing shaft separated from the seat of the valve.

Figures 4 and 5 are schematic representations of the position and of the working of the elements, when the shaft-carrying member has its projection turned to the working position, and from those Figure 4 shows the closed valve and Figure 5 the open valve. The section of the container cam (12) in those Figures is given by the line indicated (2121) in Figure 9.

Figures 6 and 7 are schematic representations of the position and of the working of the elements when the shaft-carrying member has its projection turned to the closed position, of position of dry ironing, and then the deformation of the bimetal members by the heat does not produce the opening of the valve.

Figure 8 is a schematic representation of the position and of the working of the elements when the shaft-carrying member has its projection turned to the "self-cleaning" position, a position in which the valve always is completely open, including with the bimetallic elements in their lowest position.

Figure 9 is a schematic representation, in perspective of the container cam to help appreciate its slanted surfaces and to indicate the axis (21-21) through which there has been given the section represented in Figures 4 to 7.

In the drawing, there are mentioned the following references: 1. Water chamber.

2. Spraying (vapour forming) chamber.

3. Closing shaft.

4. Seat of the valve.

5. Forward end of the shaft (3).

6. Shaft-carrying member.

7. Lateral projection.

8. External command (control).

9. Bridge-shaped member.

10. Cylinder running through member (9).

11. Cylinder running through member (9).

12. Container cam.

13. Slanted surface of container (12).

14. Bimetallic blade.

15. Bimetallic blade.

16. Spring.

17. Lid (closure) of the spraying chamber.

18. Upper partition or wall.

19. Elastic disc.

20. Slanted surface of container (12) for the "selfcleaning" position.

21. Section indicator.

According to our invention, the passage of the water from chamber (1) to the spraying or steam forming chamber (2) is done through a valve, which is comprised of the static element (4) of the seat of the valve, and of the movable element which is the closing shaft (3) which with its forward end (5) closes or opens the valve by moving in the vertical direction.

The closing shaft in its other end is affixed to a shaft-carrying member (6) which is cylindrical and hollow and which in its lateral surface has a projection (7) which projects in a marked manner in the radial direction. Any longitudinal or rotating motion performed by the shaft-carrying member (6) is also performed by the closing shaft (3).

At the top, the shaft-carrying member (6) is coupled to the external command or control (8) into which it fits telescopically as it may be seen in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, and with the particularity that the fitting (socket ? ) is rigid in the rotating direction but movable in the axial direction and with an elastic character because of the existence of a spring 16 between the telescopic fitting of those members. That spring ensures that the forward end (5) of the closing shaft (3) rests against the seat of valve (4), closing the passage of the water, or that projection (7) of the shaft-carrying member (6) rests on the slanted circumference surface (13) of the container cam (12) the valve (4) in that latter case being more or less open.

That opening of the passage valve (4) is checked through the intervention of the bridge-shaped member (9) which in its lower part has two legs each one of them ending with a cylindrical pin, (10, 11), which respectively rest on the bimetallic blades (14 and 15) located on the lid (17) of the spraying or steam making chamber (2).

The bridge-shaped member has in its upper part an extension the section of which is a circular ring and laterally slanted, which represents a container cam (12) which has a slanted circumference surface (13), and a central opening the section of which that it permits the free passage of the shaftcarrying member (6), but not the passage of the lateral projection (7) which remains located vertically above the slanted circumference surface (13) of the container can (12).

If we place the external command or control (8) in the extreme position of "steam production" it will correspond to a rotating position of the shaftcarrying member (6) such as represented in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, and in it the lateral projection (7) is located on the slanted surface (12) of the cam (12) in its high point and therefore the valve will remain closed while the iron is cold, as the bimetallic members (14 and 15) are in their lowest position (Figures 2 and 4); but as the bimetallic members (14 and 15) heat up, they will push on the respective cylinders (10 and 11) and they will raise the bridge-shaped member (9) which with cam (12) will displace the lateral projection (7) of the shaftcarrying member (6) only in the case in which the temperature is suitable for the spraying (formation of steam) (in case that temperature is not reached, the can (12) will not succeed in displacing the lateral projection (7) and, therefore, the water passage would not open) and compressing the spring (16) it will move vertically the closing shaft (3) which when separating itself from the seat (4) will open the water passage and steam will be produced; that position of the elements is the one represented in Figures 3 and 5.

The use of the bimetallic elements (14 and 15) indiametral arrangement together with the configuration of the bridge-shaped member (9), ensures a balanced and powerful force fit to overcome the resistance of the members.

If we place the external command or control (8) in its other extreme position (closed or dry ironing), as represented in Figures 6 and 7, the shaftcarrying member (6) has rotated and the lateral projection (7) remains located on the lower point of the slanted surface (13) of the cam (12), in that case the valve will remain closed not only when the iron is cold (Figure 6) but including when it is hot (Figure 7) as the bimetallic elements (14 and 15) when becoming hot will push and raise the bridge-shaped member (9) but the displacement will not be sufficient for the cam (12) to succeed in pushing the lateral projection (7) of the shaft-carrying member (6), and consequently the closing shaft (3) will continue to close the seat (4) of the valve.

That position proves especially useful as it makes it possible that, including with the hot iron, if we wish to interrupt the formation of steam, for "dry ironing" for example, we shall be able to do it at will.

Obviously, in addition to those two described extreme positions, with the outside control or command (8) it is possible to adjust to a whole series of intermediate positions in which the lateral projection (7) remains at definite distances from surface (13) of cam (12) and which will correspond to definite levels of steam production for a (given) degree of deformation of the bimetallic elements (14 and 15) and finally for a given temperature, and that permits us to have the generation of a quantity of steam not exclusively depending on temperature, since, according to the type of material of the garment to be ironed it is possible to regulate the desired flow of steam.

If we place the external command or control (8) in the "self-cleaning" position, as represented in Figure 8, the shaft-carrying member (6) has rotated and the lateral projection (7) rest on surface (20) of the container cam (12), in that case the valve shall always remain completely open, whatever may be the temperature of the iron since even though the bimetallic elements (14 and 15) modify the position of the bridge-shaped member (9) through pins (10 and 11), the relative position of the closing shaft (3) with respect to valve (4) will be such that the end (5) of the closing shaft (3) will never succeed in closing the water passage of valve (4).

In order to help having a more fine passage of the water, the forward end (5) of the closing shaft (3) ends with a lateral rabbet or chamfer of lesser section as may be seen in the enlarged details in Figures 2 and 3.

In those enlarged details also, of Figures 2 and 3, there is observed that the seat of valve (4) (which is) metallic, in order to obtain a good seat surface, is mounted on an elastic disc (19) of a synthetic material which with its upper and lower circular projection fits in a movable manner against the surfaces of lid (17) of the spraying or steam formation chamber (17) and of the upper partition (18).

Figure 9, in perspective, helps us to appreciate that in the container cam (12) there exists two slanted surfaces (13 and 20), slanted surface (13) is the one which intervenes in the work position which have been described in Figures 4 and 7; while the other slanted surface (20) intervenes solely in the "self-cleaning" position, which has been described in Figure 8. For a better interpretation of Figures 4 to 7, it must be stressed that the container cam (12) which is seen in them corresponds to the section given by a vertical plane along line (21-21) in Figure 9.

The nature of the present invention as well as its industrial mode of execution having been sufficiently described, there only remains to add that in its whole and in its constituting parts, it is possible to introduce changes in forms, in material and in arrangement, without for as much leaving the scope of the present invention, in as much as such changes do not change its basic principle.

Claims (6)

1. Improvements introduced into spraying (steam forming) valves, characterised in that the closing shaft which (by its vertical displacement on the seat of the valve with one of its ends opens and closes the valve, only execute said opening when the temperature reached in the steam forming or spraying chamber is the one capable of producing steam, and it therefore prevents the possibility for the iron to expulse drops of water instead of steam, said closing shaft having its other end affixed to a shaft-carrying member, the working of the shaft being determined by the following elements: An external command or control which can cause the shaft-carrying member and its shaft to rotate.

A lateral projection which exists in the shaft-car rying member.

An operating member shaped like a bridge which in its lower part ends with two small vertical running cylinders (pins ? ) and in the upper part of that member there exists a projection of the horizontal section in a circular ring and a slanted lateral section, giving origin to some kind of a container cam which can have running through its central opening the shaft-carrying member, but which does not admit the passage through said opening of the lateral projection of the shaft-carrying member;; Two bimetallic elements located at the top of (above? ) spraying or steam formation chamber and on each one of which there takes its support one of the cylinders of the bridge-shaped member, All of that in a manner such that the opening of the valve is determined by the operation of the bimetallic elements as well as by the angular position of the shaft-carrying member with respect to the bridge-shaped member.

2. Improvements introduced into spraying or steam forming valves operated by bimetallic elements, used in steam irons, in everything according to Claim 1, characterised in that in an extreme angular position the projection will be located on the highest part of the slanted surface of the container cam (of the zone meant to regulate the volume of steam) and in that case, when the spraying chamber reaches the temperature sufficient to produce steam, the bimetallic elements (by the deformation they undergo as a result of that heating) will raise the bridge-shaped member which will displace the shaft-carrying member, there being obtained as a result that the closing shaft becomes separated from the seat of the valve, opening therefore the passage of the water from the storage chamber to the spraying or steam formation chamber; that being the position of maximum steam production.

3. Improvements introduced in spraying or steam forming valves operated by bimetallic elements, used in steam irons, in everything according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the other extreme angular position the projection will be located on the lowest part of the slanted surface of the container cam and at a distance such that the lifting of the bridge-shaped member produced by the deformation by heating of the bimetallic elements does not succeed in displacing the shaftcarrying member, and as a consequence, the closing shaft does not become separated from the valve seat and, therefore, the valve remaining closed, no water passes from the storage chamber to the spraying or steam formation chamber, that being the "closed or dry ironing" position.

14. Improvements in the spraying or steam formation valves operated by bimetallic elements used in steam irons, in everything according to Claims 1, 2 and 3, characterised in that in the intermediate angular positions located between the two extreme positions (according to Claims 2 and 3), the projection will be located in the intermediate parts of the slanted surface of the container cam (of the same meant to regulate the volume of steam) and in that case, when the spraying or steam formation chamber reaches the temperature suitable to execute the spraying or steam formation the bimetallic elements (by the deformation they undergo through that heating) will raise the bridge-shaped member which will displace the shaft-carrying member, there being obtained in that way that the closing shaft becomes separated from the valve, opening therefore different sections for the passage of the water from the storage chamber to the spraying or steam formation chamber (that passage of the water will always be in a quantity smaller than the one obtained with the provision specified in Claim 2), those being the positions for the production of steam in quantities which vary according to the angular position of the projection.

5. Improvements introduced in spraying or steam production valves operated by bimetallic elements, used in steam irons, in everything according to Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, characterised in that in an angular position called "self-cleaning", the projection rests in the highest zone of the slanted surface of the container cam (of the zone meant for "self-cleaning") which raises the closing shaft to a position such that at all times it remains completely separated from the closing of the valve and therefore remains completely open the passage of the water from the storage chamber to the spraying or steam formation chamber, that being the "self-cleaning" position.

6. A spraying or steam production valve for a steam iron, comprising a valve control shaft rotatable by external control means between first and second positions and movable vertically by the action of bimetallic means located adjacent a steamproduction chamber, the arrangement being such that, with the shaft in its first position, said bimetallic means, when actuated by attainment of a steam production temperature in said chamber, is permitted to move the shaft axially to open a water valve and thereby admit water into the chamber, but, with the shaft in its second position, actuation of said bimetallic means does not result in opening of said valve.