JP2679283B2 - Steam generator for iron - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steam generator for an iron for general household use.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a steam generator for this type of iron, a push-out water pump is provided in a part of a water transfer unit that connects a water tank and a vaporization chamber, and the push-out water pump is manually operated. Or, a type in which a small solenoid is used to electrically operate is common.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a conventional structure when a small solenoid is used.

That is, a push-out type water pump 3 is provided on a plunger of a small solenoid 2 provided in the main body 1. The small solenoid 2 and the water pump 3 are provided in a vaporization chamber 6 provided in a water tank 4 and an iron base 5. It is configured as a part of the water guiding unit 7 that constitutes a water channel that connects the and. In this configuration, when the small solenoid 2 is energized, the water pump 3 is pushed downward, water is vigorously ejected into the vaporization chamber 6 against the spring pressure of the ball valve 8, and a power shot (strong steam) is generated. To do. Then, when the energization of the small solenoid 2 is stopped, the water pump 3 is pushed upward by the action of the spring 9, and the water in the water tank 4 is composed of a resin ball having a slightly larger specific gravity than the water. The stop valve 10 is pushed up and sucked into the water pump 3. Further, when the small solenoid 2 is continuously energized, the water pump 9 remains pushed down, and the pin 11 attached to the tip of the water pump keeps the ball valve 8 pushed down. Vaporization chamber 6 little by little by the water pressure in tank 4
It can be dropped inside to generate so-called normal steam. In the figure, 12 is a heater and 13 is a control circuit.

However, in such a structure, since the push-out type water pump 3 is used, a valve structure such as a check valve 10 and a ball valve 8 is required for both suction and discharge. Therefore, the structure of the water guiding unit 7 becomes complicated, and the number of parts must be increased. Further, in the case of the example shown in FIG. 5, the small solenoid 2 requires a large current to drive it, which inevitably causes a large amount of heat generation and a sharp temperature rise. In principle, the iron is used in a high temperature state, and the ambient temperature inside the main body 1 is also quite high (60 to 70 degrees), and therefore, a driving component such as a solenoid that has a high temperature rise is used. That alone was a big problem.

In addition, considering the stage in which water is poured into the water tank 4 and set on the main body 1 in order to use the iron, as described above, the ball valve 8 is closed in the non-conductive state of the iron, so that the inside of the water guiding unit 7 is The air is trapped in the water pump 1 and the water pump 1 does not enter water as it is. Therefore, even if you try to use the power shot immediately, the water will not be sent until the trapped air is pushed out by the water pump 3, and you will have to hit several times before actually generating the power shot. There was a problem that it had to be. Needless to say, this problem is the same even if it is a manual type.

Therefore, it is a first object of the present invention to provide a water-conducting unit having a simple structure and having a small amount of heat generated by a drive unit and being easy to use.

A second purpose is to enable a power shot to be generated immediately without having to hit the ball several times even when trying to use the power shot at the beginning of using the iron.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the first object, the present invention provides a heater, an iron base containing a vaporization chamber, a water tank for storing steam generation water, and a vaporization chamber from the water tank. A water guiding unit constituting a water channel to the water guiding unit, wherein the water guiding unit is a screw type pump driven by a motor,
A water passage valve that opens the water channel by the discharge pressure of this screw type pump is built in, and the water passage for steam generation is adjusted steplessly by controlling the rotation of the screw type pump.

In order to achieve the second object, the present invention provides an atmosphere opening hole and a float which engages with this hole between a screw type pump and a water passage valve which opens a water channel by the discharge pressure of this screw type pump. An open / close valve is provided so that when the vicinity of the atmosphere opening hole is filled with water, the buoyancy of the float closes the atmosphere opening hole.

The steam generator for irons of the present invention has a simplified structure by using a screw type pump that uses a small motor as a drive component, and does not require a large current such as a solenoid as a drive current. There is little heat generation, and by controlling the rotation of a small motor, the state of steam generation can be adjusted steplessly from normal steam to increased steam to power shots.

In addition, the power shot idling prevention mechanism, which is provided with an air opening hole and an on-off valve with a float that engages with it in a part of the water channel of the water guiding unit, is open to the atmosphere when there is no water in the water guiding unit. The water in the water tank can be easily introduced into the water guiding unit at the pressure of the water level, and when the water is filled, the atmosphere opening hole can be reliably closed by the action of the float provided on the on-off valve to prevent water leakage. You don't have to worry.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, 14 is an iron base, which has a heater 15 and a vaporization chamber 16 built therein. Reference numeral 17 denotes a water guiding unit, which constitutes a water channel for guiding the water stored in the water tank 18 to the vaporization chamber 16. 19 is a pump case provided in the water conveyance unit 17, 20 is a screw type pump housed in the pump case 19, 21 is a small DC for rotating the screw type pump 20.
It is a motor. Here, the water inlet at the tip of the screw pump 20 is a water guiding unit so that water can be supplied most efficiently.
It is located at the bottom of 17 waterways. 22 is a screw type pump
Small DC motor with water valve installed at 20 drainage ports
When the 21 does not rotate and the screw pump 20 is not operating, the valve is closed by the action of the spring and the small DC motor 21
When the screw type pump 20 is operated by being energized, the discharge passage of the screw type pump 20 opens the water channel.

Next, the operation of the configuration of the embodiment will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 1, when the water tank 18 containing water is set and the heater 15 is energized, the iron base
As 14 is heated, the water in the water tank 18 reaches the water inlet at the tip of the screw pump 20 through the water passage of the water guiding unit 17. However, in this state, since the water passage valve 21 is closed, air is trapped in the drainage port at the upper part of the screw pump 20, and water does not flow into the vaporization chamber 16. Therefore, it is in a so-called dry iron state in which steam is not generated. When the small DC motor 21 starts to be energized and the screw pump 20 rotates as shown in FIG. 2, the water near the water supply port is removed by the screw pump 20.
Is pumped up to the drainage port provided above the screw pump 20, and the discharge pressure pushes down the water passage valve 22.
It flows into the vaporization chamber 16. Here, when the voltage applied to the small DC motor 21 is relatively low, the rotation speed of the screw type pump 20 is low and the amount of water pumped up is small, so that water is supplied to the vaporization chamber 16 little by little. It is possible to create a so-called normal steam condition. And small
As the voltage applied to the DC motor 21 is increased, the amount of water supplied to the vaporization chamber 16 also gradually increases to a state called increased steam, and when the voltage is further increased, the water to the vaporization chamber 16 is increased. The supply is close to a gush and so-called power shot (strong steam) can be generated.

In this embodiment, an example in which a DC motor is used as a small motor has been shown, but it goes without saying that an AC motor may also be used.

Next, an embodiment of a power shot idling prevention mechanism in which an opening / closing valve with a float is provided in a part of the water channel of the water guiding unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In FIG. 3, 23 is a pump case with an atmosphere opening hole equipped with the screw type pump 20 and an atmosphere opening hole 24, and 25 is an on-off valve with a float which is engaged with the atmosphere opening hole 24 and is provided in the water channel. is there. The operation of the open / close valve 25 with a float will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The state indicated by A on the left side in FIG. 4 shows the state where the iron is first used, and the water tank 18 has not been set yet. When the water tank 18 is set in this state, water flows into the water supply port at the tip of the screw pump 20 through the water channel in the water guiding unit 17.

Here, when there is no atmosphere opening hole 24 as in the present embodiment,
Since air is trapped near the upper drainage port of the screw type pump 20, water that has reached the water supply port cannot flow into the upper portion of the screw type pump 20. Therefore, even if you try to generate a powerful steam like a power shot from the beginning of using the iron, for a while after the operation of the small DC motor 21, the power shot cannot be generated until the air trapped inside is exhausted. Become. This is the so-called blank driving state.

However, in this embodiment, since the atmosphere opening hole 24 is provided, the air above the screw type pump 20 can be discharged to the outside of the water channel through the atmosphere opening hole 24 as shown in FIG. 4A. Water that has reached the water supply port of the screw pump 20 can smoothly flow upward, and air is not trapped in this portion. On the other hand, when the water is filled up to the upper drainage portion of the screw type pump 20 in this way, FIG.
In this state, the on / off valve 25 with a float is pushed upward by the action of the float to close the atmosphere opening hole 24, so that water does not leak to the outside from this hole and the inside of the screw pump 20 is prevented. The whole is filled with water, and you can reliably generate a power shot from the beginning of using the iron.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, according to the present invention, since the water introducing unit has the screw type pump and the water passage valve built therein, the structure is simple, it is not easily broken down, and the assembly is easy. Since the pump is a pump-type screw pump rather than a water pump, the generation state of steam can be adjusted steplessly by controlling the rotation of a small motor that is a drive source. Furthermore, since the drive source is a small motor, it is possible to significantly reduce heat generation as compared with the conventional solenoid drive, which is extremely practical.

Further, in the present invention, since the atmosphere opening hole and the opening / closing valve with a float are provided in a part of the water channel of the water guiding unit, air is trapped inside the water guiding unit (the upper part of the screw type pump) at the beginning of use of the iron. Of course, unlike the conventional case, it is not necessary to repeatedly hit the ball for a while when using the power shot, and the power shot can be efficiently generated from the beginning, which is very useful.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a steam generator provided with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view for explaining the same operation, and FIG. 3 is a power provided with an atmosphere opening hole and an on-off valve with a float. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a shot idle prevention mechanism, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the same operation, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional iron. 14 …… Iron base, 15 …… Heater, 16 …… Vaporization chamber, 17 …… Water transfer unit, 18 …… Water tank, 20 …… Screw pump, 21 …… Small motor, 22 …… Water valve, 24 ......
Opening hole to atmosphere, 25 …… Open / close valve with float.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A water guide unit comprising a heater, an iron base containing a vaporization chamber, a water tank for storing water for steam generation, and a water guiding unit forming a water channel from the water tank to the vaporizing chamber. Has a screw-type pump driven by a motor and a water passage valve that opens the water channel by the discharge pressure of this screw-type pump. By controlling the rotation of the screw-type pump, water is generated to generate steam. A steam iron that can be adjusted steplessly. 2. An atmosphere opening hole and an opening / closing valve with a float engaging with this hole are provided between the screw type pump and the water passage valve which opens the water channel by the discharge pressure of the screw type pump, and the atmosphere opening. The steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the air opening hole is closed by the buoyancy of the float when the vicinity of the hole is filled with water.