GB811363A - Improvements relating to steam irons - Google Patents

Abstract

811,363. Steam irons. PROCTOR ELECTRIC CO. Sept. 28, 1956 [Out. 10, 1955], No. 29662/56. Class 138 (2). A steam iron having a covered steam-generating chamber 12 formed in the upper surface of a sole plate 10, passages 41, 42 and 47, 48 interconnecting the steam-generating chamber 12 with a plurality of steam emission apertures 53, 54 through the bottom of the sole plate, and thermostatic means 14 for controlling a heating element 11, is characterized in that the steam-generating chamber 12 extends continuously along the centre of the sole plate through a major portion of its length, the steam emission apertures being spaced longitudinally from each other along opposite sides of the chamber 12 and communicating therewith at an end opposite a water introduction end. The chamber 12 comprises an elongated channel 39 connected at its rear end with channels 41, 42 which communicate at their front ends with outer channels 47, 48. As shown in Fig. 3, the depth of the channels 41, 42 is intermediate between the depths of the chamber 12 and channels 47, 48. As shown in Fig. 11, the steam passage is restricted by baffles 45, 46 and 51, 52. The steam passages are surrounded by a wall 32 forming an integral part of the sole plate and having an upwardly-facing groove 33. A sheet metal cover 34 preferably of stainless steel is provided with a U-shaped lip 35 adapted to fit into the groove 33. The cover 34 can be readily removed for cleaning purpose but is held in place during use of the iron owing to unequal expansion of the cover 34 and sole plate 10 which is preferably of aluminium. A water reservoir 13 has at its forward end a valve body 19 adapted to be received in an opening in the cover 34. The rear end of the reservoir 13 rests on heat insulating pillars 65 and is pressed downwardly by a leafspring 66. The valve body 19 is held in a channel section portion 60 of the reservoir 13 by means of a turned-over portion 61 which also holds in place an L-shaped anti-splash baffle 63 having apertures 64. The reservoir 13 has a filling spout 18 extending upwardly to a mouthpiece 72 in the front handle pillar 17. The valve 19 is operated by a verticallymovable rod 78 which is biased upwardly to open the valve by means of a spring 84. The upper end of the rod 78 carries a finger 86 which engages a cam surface 87 on a manual control element 88. The element 88 is slidably supported on a rod 90 anchored within the handle 16 and is movable to and fro by means of a finger-piece 91 extending through a slot 92. Specification 811,364 is referred to.