GB2254861A

GB2254861A - Thermal cut-out and attitude cut-out for electric irons

Info

Publication number: GB2254861A
Application number: GB9207765A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Robert Bannigan
Original assignee: Kambrook Distributing Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Kambrook Distributing Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1991-04-09
Filing date: 1992-04-07
Publication date: 1992-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 2012-04-07
Also published as: GB9207765D0; GB2254861B

Abstract

An electric iron having a heating element 3, a soleplate heated by the element and on which soleplate the iron stands in a first position during ironing, a heel on which the iron may stand in a second position when not ironing with the soleplate extending generally vertically and a first circuit means 4 (e.g. a mercury switch) adapted to pass substantially full current to the element when the iron is in the first position but not when the iron is in the second position and second circuit means 5 (e.g. a temperature sensitive switch) adapted to pass substantially less than full current when the iron is in the second position and the temperature of the soleplate is at or above a predetermined temperature. <IMAGE>

Description

ELECTRIC IRON This invention relates to an electric iron.

Electric irons require substantial power when in use in actual ironing but when waiting to be used such as when standing on end on an ironing board do not require much power. However, apart from thermostatic control, it is usual for irons to consume substantial power when waiting to be used.

The present invention seeks to provide a means which will reduce the power consumption of an electric iron when waiting to be used The present invention provides an electric iron having a heating element, a soleplate adapted to be heated by the heating element and on which soleplate the iron stands in a first position during ironing, a heel on which the iron-may stand in a second position when not ironing with the soleplate extending generally vertically and a first circuit means adapted to pass at least substantially full current to said element when the iron is in said first position but not when the iron is in said second position.

Preferably there is a second circuit means adapted to pass at least substantially full current to said element when the iron is in the first position or the second position and the temperature of the soleplate is below a predetermined temperature.

Preferably second circuit means is adapted to pass at least substantially less than full current when the iron is in the second position and the temperature of the soleplate is at or above said predetermined temperature.

Preferably first indicator means is provided to indicate that the element is heating That first indicator means may, if desired, merely indicate that the iron is connected to power.

Preferably second indicator means is provided to indicate that the second circuit means is permitting at least substantially less than full power to be delivered to the ~element. Preferably the second indicator means will cease to indicate when at least substantially full power is being delivered to the element.

The first circuit means preferably comprises a position sensitive switch which will be closed when the iron is in said first position and open when the iron is in said second position.

The position sensitive switch is preferably a mercury switch.

The second circuit means preferably comprises a temperature sensitive switch. That switch may be preset to open and close within a predetermined temperature range.

In another instance the second circuit means comprises a temperature dependant resistor.

The position sensitive switch and temperature sensitive switch are preferably parallel to one another.

A specific circuit of an iron in accordance with this invention will now be described by way of example as a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a circuit diagram of an iron in accordance with this invention.

COMPONENTS LIST ~ PREFERRED VARIABLES (If applicable) 1. Terminal 2 Terminal 3. Soleplate element 4. Mercury switch 5. Temperature sensitive switch 6. Resistor 680R 1/4 watt 7. Resistor 2M2 1/4 watt 8. Capacitor 0.22 uF 630V 9. Diac ST4 10. Triac SCl4lD 21. Resistor 39K 1 watt 22. Red LED 23. Resistor ~ 39K 1 watt 24.Green LED The circuit shown in Fig. 1 comprises terminals 1 and 2 for connection to a mains electricity supply, a soleplate element 3 of about 1200 watt, a mercury switch 4, a temperature sensitive switch S which will open at about 150 C, resistors 6 and 7, a capacitor 8, a diac 9 and a triac 10 The switch 4 is mounted in the iron such that when the soleplate is horizontal the switch 4 will be closed circuit and when the soleplate extends generally vertically the switch 4 will be open circuit.

The cirCuit additionally includes a thermostat 11 to enable the iron to be set to heat to different temperatures to suit fabrics such as synthetics, cotton and linen.

there is also a thermal fuse 12.

Additionally, there is a first indicator circuit comprising a resistor 21 and a red LED 22.

Further, there is a second indicator circuit comprising a resistor 23 and a green LED 24.

In use of an iron incorporating the above circuit the manner of operation may be as follows.

The iron will be stood on end so that the soleplate extends vertically and switch 4 will be open.

When mains power is' supplied and the soleplate is below 350'C the switch 5 will be closed and the diac 9 will gate the triac 10 to deliver full power at about 1200 watt to the soleplate so as to rapidly heat.

When the soleplate comes to about 150sC switch 5 will open and the diac 9 will be supplied via the resistors 6 and 7 and will gate the triac 10 to deliver substantially less power to the soleplate. In practice, about 2.5 of full power has been found to be satisfactory.

If the temperature of the soleplate falls below 1500C the switch 5 will close and full power will again be supplied.

Thus the iron will be rapidly brought to temperature but will be maintained at that temperature in a power saving mode.

When a person wishes to do ironing, the soleplate will be moved from the vertical to the horizontal and in so doing the switch 4 will close to cause full power to be delivered via the triac 10 to the soleplate so as to maintain the soleplate temperature as is determined by the thermostat 11. It is to be noted that the thermostat 11 may be set to a higher temperature than 150 C. It may also be set to lower than 1504C but this is not usual or likely.

If a user wishes to pause in actual ironing, ds is often the case, the iron will be stood on end, the switch 4 will open and the iron will. be once again be put in the power saving mode.

In tests performed, applicant has found energy Savings of up to 20t as compared to an identical iron without the circuit fitted.

The first indicator circuit comprising the red LED 22 will light to indicate that power is being delivered to the soleplate element 3..

The second indicator circuit comprising the green LED 24 will light to indicate that the iron is in the power saving mode.

Claims

CLAIiiS

1. An electric iron having a heating element, a soleplate adapted to be heated by the heating element and on which soleplate the iron rOn stands in a first position during ironing, a heel on which the iron may stand in a second position when not ironing with the soleplate extending generally vertically and a first circuit means adapted to pass at least substantially full current to said element when the iron is in said first position but not when the iron is in said second position and wherein there is second circuit means adapted to pass at least substantially less than full current when the iron is in the second position and the temperature of the soleplate is at or above said predetermined temperature.

2. An electric iron as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second circuit means is adapted to pass at least substantially full current to, said element when the iron is in the first position or the second position and the temperature of the soleplate is below a predetermined temperature.

3. An electric iron as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein indicator means is provided to indicate that the element is heating

4. An electric iron as claimed in any preceding claim wherein indicator means is provided to indicate that the second circuit means is 'permitting at least substantially less than full power to be delivered to the element.

5. An electric iron as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the second indicator means is such as will cease to indicate when at least substantially full power is being delivered to the element

6. An electric iron as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first circuit means comprises a position sensitive switch which will be closed when the iron is in said first position and open when the iron is in said second position.

7. An electric iron as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second circuit means comprises a temperature sensitive switch.

8. An electric iron substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing