GB2330843A

GB2330843A - safety filler knob for steam generator.

Info

Publication number: GB2330843A
Application number: GB9723201A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harbey Kuplas
Original assignee: Morphy Richards Ltd
Current assignee: Morphy Richards Ltd
Priority date: 1997-11-03
Filing date: 1997-11-03
Publication date: 1999-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-03
Also published as: GB2365028B; GB2330843B; GB9723201D0; GB2365028A; GB0125290D0

Abstract

A separate steam generator 2 for feeding steam to the iron (Figure 1) has a filler orifice 11, a filler knob 7 for closing the filler orifice 11, a sealing member 12 disposed, and extending radially from the orifice 11, and with a flexible uptumed peripheral rim 13. The filler knob 7 has a downwardly depending peripheral edge 19 which lies closely adjacent and outside the peripheral rim 13 of the sealing member 12 whereby when the filler knob 7 is at least partially released steam pressure in the steam generator 2 causes the flexible peripheral rim 13 to make sealing contact with peripheral edge 19 to prevent steam from being released around the knob 7. A steam exhaust outlet 8 may also be provided, connected to sealing member 12 via a flap valve 21. In addition, an audible warning may be provided as knob 7 is unscrewed, due to the steam pressure on flap valve 21. Also, the upturned edge 13 of seal 12 may act as a funnel to aid filling of the generator.

Description

Electric Irons This invention relates to electric irons and relates more specifically to socalled steam generator irons.

Steam generator irons comprise an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator which feeds steam to the iron under the control of a "steam" button normally positioned on the handle of the iron. The steam generator consists of a boiler tank contained within an outer casing, the boiler tank being provided with a heater element which, when operated, causes water in the boiler tank to be converted to steam which is fed to the iron via a solenoid valve and a connecting tube, the solenoid valve being operated by the "steam" button on the iron. The boiler tank is usually provided with a pressure sensor and a thermostat which operate in conjunction with the heater element to limit the steam pressure and the temperature inside the boiler tank, and a thermal fuse is also normally provided which is caused to operate should the boiler tank overheat for any reason.

Before use of a steam generator iron it is necessary to fill the boiler tank of the steam generator with water and for this purpose a filler orifice is provided in the steam generator which after filling of the boiler tank is closed by a filler knob which screws into the orifice. As an additional safety feature the filler knob is usually provided with a spring loaded pressure release valve which operates when the pressure in the boiler tank exceeds a predetermined level and allows steam to be evacuated from the boiler tank around the periphery of the filler knob.

When using a steam generator iron, a user is advised that should the steam generator require refilling, before unscrewing the filler knob the iron should be switched off for a period of time and the "steam" button on the iron should be operated to reduce the pressure inside the boiler tank. Notwithstanding these instructions it often happens that the filler knob is released whilst the boiler tank is under pressure, and this can cause a rapid release of very hot steam around the periphery of the filler knob which can startle the person unscrewing the knob and may cause them to receive severe scalding or burns.

Various methods have been proposed to overcome this problem such as by providing a pressure operated latch which prevents the filler knob from being unscrewed when the boiler tank is pressurised, but these have proved to be either expensive to implement or unsatisfactory in operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a steam generator iron in which the aforesaid problem is overcome or alleviated in a relatively inexpensive manner.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide for improved filling of the boiler tank of a steam generator iron.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator for feeding steam to said iron, said steam generator having a filler orifice, a filler knob for closing said filler orifice, a sealing member disposed around said filler orifice, said sealing member extending radially from said orifice and having a flexible upturned peripheral rim, said filler knob having a downwardly depending peripheral edge which lies closely adjacent and outside the peripheral rim of said sealing member whereby when said filler knob is at least partially released steam pressure in said steam generator causes the flexible peripheral rim of said sealing member to make sealing contact with the downwardly depending peripheral edge of said knob to prevent steam from being released around said knob.

In carrying out the invention according to the first aspect it may be arranged that said steam generator comprises a steam exhaust outlet, said sealing member having an opening in the radial extension thereof which overlies said outlet.

Advantageously, said sealing member comprises a flap valve, which is preferably dome shaped, formed integrally therewith overlying said opening.

In a preferred arrangement it will be arranged that said filler orifice is internally threaded, and that said filler knob is generally dome shaped and is provided with an internal pressure relief valve which is externally threaded and is screwed into said filler orifice, an "0" ring seal being provided between said pressure release valve and said filler orifice.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator for feeding steam to said iron, said steam generator having a filler orifice and a filler knob for closing said filler orifice, means being provided responsive to steam pressure released from said filler orifice when said filler knob is at least partially released for affording an audible warning.

In a preferred arrangement according to said second aspect it is arranged that said steam generator comprises a sealing member disposed around said filler orifice, said sealing member extending radially from said orifice and having a flexible upturned peripheral rim, said filler knob having a downwardly depending peripheral edge which lies closely adjacent and outside the peripheral rim of said sealing member whereby when said filler knob is at least partially released steam pressure in said steam generator causes the flexible peripheral rim of said sealing member to make sealing contact with the downwardly depending peripheral edge of said knob, said sealing member having an opening therein affording access to a steam exhaust outlet in said steam generator which affords said audible warning.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator for feeding steam to said iron, said steam generator having a filler orifice, a filler knob for closing said filler orifice, a sealing member disposed around said filler orifice, said sealing member extending radially from said orifice and having an upturned rim to afford a funnel configuration to aid in the filling of said steam generator.

In carrying out the invention according to the third aspect it may be arranged that said filler knob has a downwardly depending peripheral edge which extends around the rim of said sealing member.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1, is a schematic representation of a steam generator iron in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2, is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of part of the steam generator of Fig. 1.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is shown a steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron 1 and a separate steam generator 2 which feeds steam to the iron 1 via a connecting tube contained within a tubular covering 3 under the control of a "steam" button 4 positioned on the handle of the iron 1. Electrical connections between the iron 1 and the steam generator 2 are also contained within the tubular covering 3 and electrical connection to the steam generator is effected by an electrical cable 5.

The steam generator 2 is provided with a "rest" portion 6 on which the iron may be positioned, and also with a filler knob 7 which when unscrewed affords access to a filler orifice (not shown) which allows the steam generator 2 to be filled with water.

The steam generator iron thus far described is of conventional, well known form.

However, the steam generator iron shown in Fig. I, differs from previous steam generator irons in that it is provided with a steam exhaust outlet 8 in accordance with the present invention as will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 2.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings there is shown the part of the steam generator 2 of Fig. 1 in the vicinity of the filler knob 7.

In Fig. 2 part of the outer casing 9 of the steam generator 2 is shown, and also part of the boiler tank 10 which is contained within the outer casing 9. The boiler tank 10 is provided with a filler orifice 11 which is internally threaded.

Around the filler orifice 11 and between it and the outer casing 9 is a sealing member 12 which is sealed to and extends radially outwards from the filler orifice ill, and is provided with a flexible upturned peripheral rim 13.

In Fig. 2 the filler knob 7 of Fig. 1 is also shown and consists of a generally dome shaped body 14 in the underside of which is secured a pressure relief valve 15 of conventional form and which is provided at its lower end with an externally threaded part 16 by means of which the filler knob 7 is screwed into the filler orifice 11, an "0" ring seal 17 being provided between the pressure relief valve 15 and the filler orifice 11.

The generally dome shaped body 14 of the filler knob 7 is provided with a downwardly depending peripheral edge 19 which lies closely adjacent but spaced from and outside the peripheral rim 13 of the sealing member 12.

In the radially extending part 18 of the sealing member 12 is an opening 20 which is covered by an integrally formed, dome shaped, flap valve 21. The opening 20 in the sealing member 12 overlies an aperture 22 in the outer casing 9 of the steam generator 2, the inner part of the outer casing 9 surrounding the aperture 22 being extended and having secured to it a steam exhaust tube 23 the outlet of which constitutes the steam exhaust outlet 8 of Fig. 1.

The filler knob arrangement of Fig. 2 operates as follows: When the boiler tank 10 is un-pressurised, the filler knob 7 may be unscrewed from the filler orifice 11 and the boiler tank 10 may be filled with water in the usual way. In this respect it is to be noted that the upturned peripheral rim 13 of the sealing member 12 acts as a funnel which allows the boiler tank to be easily filled with water without the need to use a separate funnel which is often required with prior art steam generator irons.

If an attempt is made to unscrew the filler knob 7 when the boiler tank 10 contains pressurised steam, the initial release of steam causes pressure to build up in the underside of the knob 7 and forces the flexible peripheral rim 13 of the sealing member 12 outwards to make sealing engagement with the inner surface of the peripheral edge 19 of the filler knob 7, thereby preventing steam from being ejected around the periphery v of the filler knob 7.

Any further build-up of steam under the filler knob 7 is released via the flap valve 21 and the steam exhaust tube 23 to the steam exhaust outlet 8 which is remote from the filler knob 7 and directs steam away from the user's hand, thereby avoiding any scalding, etc., which may otherwise occur.

The release of steam via the flap valve 21 and the steam exhaust tube 23 has the added advantage that an audible warning in the form of a whistling noise is caused to be generated, due mainly to the existence of the flap valve 21, which provides a warning signal to the user that the filler knob 7 should not be unscrewed.

It will be appreciated that provision of the sealing member 12 and the steam exhaust tube 23 can be effected very cheaply and enables otherwise standard parts to be used.

The steam generator iron which has been described has been given by way of example only and may be adapted to suit any particular application. For example, the sealing member 12 may be provided with an integral exhaust tube for conducting steam to a convenient outlet thereby obviating the need to provide the separate steam exhaust tube 23 and the associated couplings.

It should be appreciated that although a steam generator iron has been described which incorporates the features of sealing the filler knob against the release of steam, affording an audible warning of when the filler knob is partially released, and the use of a sealing member having a funnel configuration, it is envisaged that any one or more of these features may to advantage be incorporated in a steam generator iron of otherwise conventional form.

Claims

1. A steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator for feeding steam to said iron, said steam generator having a filler orifice, a filler knob for closing said filler orifice, a sealing member disposed around said filler orifice, said sealing member extending radially from said orifice and having a flexible upturned peripheral rim, said filler knob having a downwardly depending peripheral edge which lies closely adjacent and outside the peripheral rim of said sealing member whereby when said filler knob is at least partially released steam pressure in said steam generator causes the flexible peripheral rim of said sealing member to make sealing contact with the downwardly depending peripheral edge of said knob to prevent steam from being released around said knob.

2. An iron as claimed in claim 1, in which said steam generator comprises a steam exhaust outlet, said sealing member having an opening in the radial extension thereof which overlies said outlet.

3. An iron as claimed in claim 2, in which said sealing member comprises a flap valve formed integrally therewith overlying said opening.

4. An iron as claimed in claim 3, in which said flap valve is dome shaped.

5. An iron as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said filler orifice is internally threaded and in which said filler knob is generally dome shaped and is provided with an internal pressure relief valve which is externally threaded and is screwed into said filler orifice, an "0" ring seal being provided between said pressure release valve and said filler orifice.

6. A steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator for feeding steam to said iron, said steam generator having a filler orifice and a filler knob for closing said filler orifice, means being provided responsive to steam pressure released from said filler orifice when said filler knob is at least partially released for affording an audible warning.

7. An iron as claimed in claim 6, in which said steam generator comprises a sealing member disposed around said filler orifice, said sealing member extending radially from said orifice and having a flexible upturned peripheral rim, said filler knob having a downwardly depending peripheral edge which lies closely adjacent and outside the peripheral rim of said sealing member whereby when said filler knob is at least partially released steam pressure in said steam generator causes the flexible peripheral edge of said sealing member to make sealing contact with the downwardly depending peripheral rim of said knob, said sealing member having an opening therein affording access to a steam exhaust outlet in said steam generator which affords said audible warning.

8. An iron as claimed in claim 7, in which said sealing member comprises a flap valve formed integrally therewith overlying said opening.

9. An iron as claimed in claim 8, in which said flap valve is dome shaped.

10. A steam generator iron comprising an electric pressing iron and a separate steam generator for feeding steam to said iron, said steam generator having a filler orifice, a filler knob for closing said filler orifice, and a sealing member disposed around said filler orifice, said sealing member extending radially from said orifice and having an upturned rim to afford a funnel configuration to aid in the filling of said steam generator.

11. An iron as claimed in claim 8, in which said filler knob has a downwardly depending peripheral edge which extends around the rim of said sealing member.

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