JPS59218197A - 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 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steam iron used for finishing clothes, etc.

Structure of conventional examples and their problems In recent years, most household irons are steam irons with a steam generation function, and about 6
More than half of the irons are cassette-type steam irons with a water tank for steam that is removable from the main body.

The steam generation method of current steam irons uses a so-called drip method, in which the vaporizing chamber and the steam passage are directly connected and the steam generated in the vaporizing chamber is guided directly to the steam outlet on the base surface. If water is supplied to the vaporization chamber before the temperature has risen sufficiently, hot water may spout from the steam outlet, or water remaining in the vaporization chamber after one use may cause corrosion to the vaporization chamber or base. In order to solve these problems, a steam iron as shown in FIG. 1 has been proposed.

In Fig. 1, a base 1 in which a heater 1' is embedded has a
A vaporization chamber 3 and a steam ejection hole 4 are formed and communicated through a steam passage 2. The vaporization chamber 3 is provided in an annular shape around the protrusion 6. Reference numeral 6 indicates a base lid, 7 indicates a water tank, and 8 indicates a nozzle body fixed to the bottom of the water tank 7 facing the vaporization chamber 3, and is a tapered nozzle communicating with the inside of the water tank 7 and extending from the bottom floor. A hole 9 is bored. The nozzle body 8 is made of a heat-sensitive material such as ferrite whose cue point is set at a predetermined temperature, and its lower end is in contact with the upper end of the peripheral wall 3' of the vaporization chamber 3 so that heat is transferred from the base 1. be. 10 is a tapered valve body that opens and closes the nozzle hole 9;
Made of permanent magnets. 11 is the axis of the valve body 10;
Reference numeral 12 denotes an opening/closing shaft, which has a steam button 14 protruding from the handle 13 at the top, and a cylindrical part 16 at the bottom into which a thick diameter part 16 formed at the upper end of the shaft 11 is fitted vertically. 17 is a spring that biases the valve body 1o in the opening direction;
18 is a rubber gasket that prevents water in the water tank γ from leaking to the outside.

With the above configuration, FIG. 1 shows a state in which the opening/closing shaft 12 is lowered via the steam button 14, and the valve body 1
o is in an operational state. That is, the current state indicates that the nozzle hole 9 is in the closed state with respect to the valve body 10. Therefore, the temperature of the vaporization chamber 3, in other words, the temperature of the base 1 is lower than the Curie point of the nozzle body 8 due to the heat-sensitive material.
The nozzle body 8 and the valve body 10 are under a stronger force than the spring 17 due to the magnetic attraction force. When the base is reached, the valve body 10 is pushed down by the force of the spring 17 and the nozzle hole 9 is opened, water in the water tank 7 is supplied to the vaporization chamber 3, and the steam generated here is transferred to the steam passage 2. The steam is ejected from the steam ejection hole 4 through the steam ejection hole 4.

In this way, unless the base temperature reaches a value suitable for water vaporization, the water supply is automatically stopped, and the hot water is not sucked out from the steam outlet 4 or the water is This prevents leakage.

However, in the above configuration, the nozzle body 8 is attached to the base 1.
Furthermore, since the valve body 10 is located below the nozzle body 8 and engages with the cylindrical part 16 above the shaft 11 connected to the valve body 10, the water tank 7 can be attached from the main body. It is impossible to escape from it. In other words, it cannot be used with a cassette type steam iron.

Furthermore, in the conventional configuration described above, water passes through the nozzle body 8 made of a temperature-sensitive material and the valve body 10 made of a permanent magnet, but water passes through the nozzle body 8 made of a temperature-sensitive material and the valve body 10 made of a permanent magnet. ), the nozzle hole 9 will not open unless it exceeds '
Since the temperature of the nozzle body 8 and the valve body 1o is the above-mentioned temperature (generally set at about 150 to 180°C), and cold water is supplied thereto, the nozzle body 8 and the valve body 101d
You will receive a heat shot. Therefore, there is a high possibility that cracks or the like will occur in the nozzle body 8 and the valve body 10 during long-term use. As a result, water also causes nine troubles.

Further, depending on the case of use, for example, in a dry state (in which steam is not used, that is, the position where the shaft 12 is raised by operating the steam button 14 in FIG. 1), the base 1
The temperature is normally 200 to 230°C, and if the steam button 14 is suddenly pressed down during use in this state, the nozzle hole 9 will naturally open, and cold water will pass through the nozzle hole 9. At that time, the cold water still flows through the nozzle body 8.
, when the valve body 10 is affected, a heat shock of more than the above-mentioned level occurs, which increases the cause of the above-mentioned troubles.

Also, while using steam, cold water is poured into nozzle hole 9 as described above.
This will cool the nozzle body 8. Therefore, the nozzle body 8, which has exceeded the Curie point, is cooled by the heat of the base 1, and in some cases, it may become below the Curie point plate. At that time, the nozzle hole 9 is closed as explained above.

In other words, it may cause chattering phenomenon during use.
This is undesirable, such as a decrease in the amount of steam.

Furthermore, the configuration of the nozzle body 8 (heat-sensitive material) and the valve body 1o (permanent magnet) does not ensure sufficient magnetic attraction force.
, ('-1(The closing force in the closed state is unreliable.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
Providing a steam iron with highly reliable steam performance that makes it possible to control the temperature of water dripping from the water tank to the vaporization chamber without changing the basic configuration of current cassette steam irons, and eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks. It is something to do.

Structure of the Invention In order to achieve this object, the steam iron of the present invention includes a base, a vaporizing chamber provided in the base, a water tank that supplies water to the vaporizing chamber, and a water tank that supplies water to the vaporizing chamber from the water tank. It is equipped with a lube device for controlling the air conditioner. This device consists of a heat sensitive body having a predetermined cue point provided outside the water supply passage from the water tank to the vaporization chamber, a permanent magnet with a yoke at one end, a ferromagnetic body supported by an elastic layer, and the water supply passage. and a valve mechanism provided in the passage, wherein the heat sensitive body is fixed in thermal association with the vaporizing chamber, and the other end of the permanent magnet is fixed in magnetic association with the heat sensitive body. It is. The ferromagnetic body and the valve body of the valve mechanism are fixed inside and outside of the water supply passage through a water seal, and the magnetic force acting between the permanent magnet and the ferromagnetic body is combined with the elastic supporting force. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. In FIG. 2, a null base 21 made of a non-magnetic material such as an aluminum alloy in which a heater 21' is embedded has a vaporization chamber 23 and a steam ejection hole 24 which are communicated through a steam passage 22. 25 is a valve device, details of which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. 26 is the valve device 2
6 and the nozzle 27 in a watertight manner, 28 is a valve stem that opens and closes the nozzle 27, and 29 is a shaft that connects the valve stem 28 and the steam button 30. Further, 31 is a vaporization chamber lid, and 41 is a water tank that is detachable from the main body.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, 32 is a valve seat provided on the vaporization chamber lid 31, and 33 is a valve body, both of which constitute a valve mechanism.

It consists of A heat transfer plate 34 forms a part of the water supply passage and is thermally associated with the vaporization chamber 23. 3
A watertight seal 6 serves to allow the valve body 33 to slide in a watertight manner. Reference numeral 36 denotes a heat sensitive body having a predetermined deflection point, which is fixed to the heat transfer plate 34. A permanent magnet 37 has a yoke 38 at one end, and the other end is fixed to the heat sensitive body 36 in magnetic relation. 39 is a ferromagnetic material, and is integrated with the valve body 33 so as to interlock with the valve body 33. Reference numeral 40 denotes an elastic support made of a non-magnetic material that is provided in the gap between the ferromagnetic material 39 and the permanent magnet 37 and urges the ferromagnetic material 38 upward.

Next, the operation will be explained. 1. First, open the nozzle 27 as shown in FIG. In other words, it is in a state where steam is emitted. At this time, the water passes through the nozzle 27 (arrow -) and the valve device 25
Since the is closed, water comes to the inside of the bush 26 and accumulates there. In short, the base temperature of the valve device 25 is low;
The temperature is lower than the Curie point of the heat sensitive body 36, and between the permanent magnet 37 and the ferromagnetic body 39 there is a magnetic circuit A like an arrow loop (permanent magnet 37→yoke→38→ferromagnetic body 39→heat sensitive body 36).
), the strong magnetic attractive force (the permanent magnet is magnetized in the axial direction) overcomes the force of the elastic support 40 and pulls the ferromagnetic body 39 downward, pulling the valve body 33 into the valve seat 32. The valve device 26 is closed.

Next, when the temperature of the base 21 rises and exceeds the cue point of the heat sensitive body 36, the heat sensitive body 36 becomes a non-magnetic material, and the magnetic circuit operates at a portion of the heat sensitive body 36 as shown by the arrow half loop B in FIG. The magnetic attraction force is interrupted and the ferromagnetic body 39 is pushed up by the elastic support force of the elastic support body 4o, and the valve body 33 is also pushed up at the same time, so that the valve device 25 is opened. (Figure 4). The water accumulated in part b of the bush 26 is supplied to the vaporization chamber 23 as indicated by arrow a', and is turned into steam and jetted out from the steam jet hole 24.

Then, when the base temperature drops by lowering the temperature setting of the iron or turning off the power, the magnetic circuit A is reconfigured through the gap between the heat sensitive element 36 and the ferromagnetic material 39, as described above, and the iron is turned off. The magnetic attraction becomes stronger and the valve device 25 is closed (FIG. 3). Therefore, water will accumulate in part b, and the supply to the vaporization chamber 23 will be stopped, so there is no fear of water leakage.

In the case of the embodiment of the present invention, the heat sensitive body 36, the permanent magnet 3
7 are both provided outside the water passage, so there is no fear of heat shock as described in the conventional example. Furthermore, since the heat sensitive element 36 is in direct contact with the cooling water, there is no fear of chattering as in the conventional example, and there is no fear of corrosion due to water. Also, the water tank 41 above the nozzle 27
can be separated from the bushing 26 to form a cassette type steam iron.

Further, in the case of the embodiment of the present invention, the permanent magnet 37 and the heat sensitive body 3 are simply
Compared to a structure in which the magnetic attraction force is generated by opposing the magnetic attraction force 6, the attenuation rate of the magnetic attraction force due to the air gap distance is much smaller. An example of an experiment to demonstrate this is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

In Fig. 5, 1)-b, 101 is a permanent magnet, 1o2t/
'i is a heat sensitive body, 103 is a yoke, 104 is a ferromagnetic material, the configuration in the case of the present invention, Bid is simply a permanent magnet 101
This corresponds to the conventional example when the heat sensitive body 102 is placed facing the ferromagnetic body 104 in the case of the air gap distance t and the magnetic attraction force of 0, and the permanent magnet 101 in the case of the heat sensitive body 102B.
The relationship between the attenuation rate of
As shown in the figure.

As is clear from FIG. 6, the case shown in FIG. 6A is more advantageous.

Here, if the ferromagnetic body 39 hits the heating element 36 before the valve body 33 hits the valve seat 32 as shown in FIG. . Therefore, normally the valve body 33 is designed to hit the valve seat 32 first, but in the case of the embodiment of the present invention, even if a considerable margin is allowed, a considerable amount of force is generated, and the valve body cannot be pressed with sufficient force. 33 can hold down the valve seat 32, which is advantageous and highly reliable. Also, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the elastic support 4o is made of a permanent magnet 37 and a ferromagnetic material. 39 prevents the ferromagnetic material 39 from shifting, maintains a stronger magnetic circuit, and at the same time presses the valve body 33 against the valve seat 32 from directly above, increasing reliability. It is something.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described as a cassette-type steam iron with a water tank that is detachable from the main body, it can also be applied to a steam iron with a fixed water tank. It goes without saying that even if the members 27 to 3o in FIGS. 2 to 4 are removed and the water tank 41 is directly connected to the bushing 26, the above-mentioned effects can be obtained. As mentioned above, the steam iron of the present invention can be used more reliably by providing the heat sensitive body and the permanent magnet outside the water supply path, and solves the problems of the conventional method. Reliability is greatly improved by configuring the circuit.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a steam iron showing a conventional example, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway sectional view of a steam iron showing an embodiment of the present invention, and Figs. 3 and 4 are views of the same steam iron. Cross-sectional views of the pulp machine in the closed and open states, Figures 5A and 5B show permanent magnets. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the structure of the heat sensitive body, and is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between the gap distance and the magnetic attraction force attenuation rate according to FIG. 32... Valve seat, 33... Old valve body, 36...
...Thermosensitive body, 37...°°・Permanent magnet, 38...°0
- Yoke, 39 - Old... Ferromagnetic material, 40... Elastic support. Name of agent: Patent attorney Toshio Nakao (1 person) Figure 1 Figure 3 Figure 2f34P3 Sword 323 Figure 4 Figure 5 (C) (B) Figure 6 Source distance 1 (m□)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) The base includes a vaporization chamber provided in the base, a water tank that supplies water to the vaporization chamber, and a valve device that controls water supply from the water tank to the vaporization chamber, and the valve device includes the A heat sensitive element having a predetermined Curie point provided outside the water supply passage from the water tank to the vaporization chamber, a permanent magnet with a yoke at one end and an elastically supported ferromagnetic body, and a valve provided within the water supply passage. The heat sensitive body is fixed in thermal association with the vaporization chamber, the other end of the permanent magnet is fixed in magnetic association with the heat sensitive body, and the ferromagnetic body and the valve mechanism are fixed. The valve body is interlocked with the inside and outside of the water supply passage through a watertight seal, and opens and closes the valve mechanism under the force relationship between the magnetic force acting between the permanent magnet and the ferromagnetic body and the elastic supporting force. Steam iron. (2) The steam iron according to claim 1, wherein an elastic support is provided in the gap between the ferromagnetic material and the permanent magnet.