JPS587297A - Water leakage preventing apparatus of steam iron - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and reliable water leakage prevention device for a steam iron using the action of a shape memory alloy.

It is known that so-called shape memory alloys undergo a phase transformation inside the metal by heating and cooling near the transformation point, changing the shape and at the same time generating a strong transformation force. In other words, after shaping this alloy into the shape you want to memorize,
If the shape is maintained and heat treated to memorize the shape, no matter how it is deformed at a temperature below the transformation point, the transformation temperature will be reached by subsequent heating. , it returns to its original memorized shape with a strong transformation force. Alloys with this property are generally Ti a Ni alloys, or Cu/Zn-x (
x is a metal element that affects the properties of the memory alloy), and the physical properties of the alloy can be varied depending on the mixing ratio.

The present invention mainly applies the property of shape change at the transformation point of this shape memory alloy to a water leak prevention device for a steam iron, and will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings while comparing with a conventional example.

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional steam iron,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a base heated by a heater 2, and a vaporization chamber 5 that vaporizes water droplets dripping from a valve seat 4 provided on a cover 3.
It is equipped with Further, the steam vaporized in the vaporization chamber 5 passes through passages and is ejected from the steam ejection lower. 8
is a water tank and has a water inlet 9, through which water droplets are dripped into the vaporization chamber 5 of the base through the valve seat 4). A rod 10 has a needle-shaped on-off valve 11 at its lower end, and is made to fit into a small hole in the valve seat 4. Numeral 12 is a button that moves the rod 10 up and down. For example, once the button 12 is pressed, the rod 10 goes down and the needle valve 11 closes the small hole, causing the tank 8 to close.
Water droplets inside will not fall.

in this case. Although not particularly shown, a locking device is provided so that the rod 10 will unravel at the pressed position even when the pressing force of the button 12 is removed. When the button 12 is pressed again, the locking device is released and the 07 door 12 is raised, the valve is opened and water droplets fall into the vaporization chamber 5, and the steam vaporized in the vaporization chamber is ejected from the ejection lower of the base 1. , exhibits the function of a steam iron. Reference numeral 13 denotes a thermostat made of bimetal that keeps the temperature of the base constant, and a rod 15 is lowered by a rotary knob 14 so that the set temperature can be adjusted.

The configuration and operation of conventional steam irons have been explained above, but there are potential problems with this type of steam iron.
If the base 1 opens 11 to generate steam, water in a liquid state will flow out from the base [17], causing a problem.

The present invention uses a shape memory alloy to solve this problem in a simple and reliable manner. In Figure 2, the first
Parts that are the same as those in the figure are indicated by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 16, 16 are pillars provided on the base 1, which pass through holes at both ends of the metal fitting 17 in a loose manner. Also 18, 18
is a U-shaped shape memory alloy that has been subjected to memory treatment so that it deforms into the shape shown in the figure at a temperature above a certain transformation point. The upper end of the shape memory alloy 18 , 18 is loosely penetrated by the support 16 from above the metal fitting 17 , and the lower end is fastened to the base 1 by the support 16 . 19 is a hemispherical stopper attached to the metal fitting 17, and when the shape memory alloy 18.18 is cold, the expansion force of the spring 20 that biases the metal fitting 17 causes the outlet 21 of the valve seat 4 to open as shown by the dotted line. This prevents water droplets from falling.

Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, even if the user accidentally pulls up the rod 1o to open the valve when the base 1 is at a temperature at which steam cannot be generated, the spring 2o will cause the shape memory alloy to 18. Push up 18 and plug 1
9 closes the outlet 21 of the valve seat 4, so water droplets do not fall. This is possible because the shape memory alloy 18.18 is extremely pliable in the cooled state. Now, once the base 1 is heated to a temperature above the transformation temperature, the shape memory alloy 18.18 exhibits the above-mentioned characteristics, compressing the spring 2o with a strong force, opening the outlet 21, and generating steam.

As described above, the present invention has an extremely simple structure and can reliably prevent water leakage from a steam iron using a shape memory alloy, thereby solving the conventional problems.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

゛ Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional steam iron, Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional steam iron.
The figure is an enlarged sectional view showing an embodiment of the device of the present invention. 1...Base, 4...Valve seat, 5...Mark/vaporization chamber, 18...Shape M self-memory alloy, 19...
...Plug, 16... Prop, 2o...
spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a base heated by a heater and having a vaporization chamber;
This steam iron is equipped with a water tank with an on-off valve that drips water into the vaporization chamber.The valve seat that drips water is powered by a shape memory alloy that senses the temperature of the base and opens and closes it. A water leak prevention device for a steam iron, characterized in that it is equipped with a second valve.