MXPA00000774A - Iron comprising two heating means with particular automatic temperature control mode - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a steam electric iron, comprising a hot part including the sole plate (1) and an evaporation chamber (2), the hot part being divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the evaporation chamber (2) being provided with first heating means (3), a second zone corresponding substantially to a sole plate (1) portion arranged beneath the evaporation chamber (2) being provided with second heating means (4), the first heating means (3) being associated with a regulating member (5) arranged in said first zone, the first heating means (3) being provided to partially ensure the second zone heating. The invention is characterised in that the second heating means (4) are associated with the first zone regulating member (5).

Description

PLATE THAT HAS TWO HEATING MEANS WITH A PARTICULAR TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODE TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to the general technical mastery of apparatuses conceived to ensure the manufacture of a textile article such as a suit, subjecting it to the combined action of a thermal treatment, a mechanical treatment and a steam treatment. The present invention relates to an electric iron comprising a hot part constituted by a sole and a vaporization chamber for which the setting at temperature is ensured by means of a heating circuit in thermal relation with a regulation or control device of the temperature. The present invention also relates to a method of regulating an electric steam iron.

PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE The known plates of the prior art generally have a heating element in thermal relation with a vaporization chamber, for example a tubular heater element molded in the bottom of said chamber, said heating element is associated with the regulation means, the which are fixed more frequently on casting. This traditional construction has many drawbacks. When the setpoint temperature of the regulating means is set to a low value, in order to obtain a base sole temperature, for example for ironing articles of delicate fabric, which do not withstand high temperatures, the temperature which The queen in the vaporization chamber is insufficient to vaporize the water introduced into said chamber. This situation is uncomfortable since it does not allow to benefit steam production when ironing delicate items. When the setpoint temperature of the regulating means is set at a high value, in order to obtain a high sole temperature and preferably a significant vapor expenditure, for example for ironing resistant articles, it is known and it shows by means of thermographs that the part of the sole located under the vaporization chamber is noticeably colder than the rest of the surface of the sole, in particular during the vaporization operation. This situation is inconvenient since it is generally desired that the surface of the plate reaches its optimum temperature at the time when the steam is emitted. It is known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,975 to manufacture a steam iron comprising a hot part having a sole and a vaporization chamber, each of the sole and the vaporization chamber forming a thermal zone provided with a heating element associated with regulation means, the sole and the vaporization chamber are thermally isolated one with respect to the other. After ironing delicate textiles it is thus possible to obtain in the vaporization chamber a sufficient temperature for the vaporization of the water, keeping a sole temperature sufficiently low so as not to damage the article being ironed. This manufacturing has the drawback of having two different heating means each associated with the appropriate regulating means. It turns out that this construction is expensive, and cumbersome, since it has two means of regulation and these must be arranged in appropriate places. It is known from document FR 2 727 439 to build a steam iron having a hot part having a sole and a vaporization chamber, the hot part being divided into at least two thermal zones, each of which is provided with a heating element, a first zone comprising at least one surface corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber, a second zone corresponding at least to a surface corresponding substantially to the sole portion located under the chamber, the heating element of the first zone being associated with a regulatory body arranged in said area, the heating element of the second zone is associated with a regulating element arranged in said zone, the first zone and the second zone are in thermal relation with respect to each other, the heating element associated with the first zone is provided to ensure partially heating the second zone. After ironing articles that demand large amounts of steam, the heating element of the second zone allows to prevent the formation of a cold zone of the sole under the vaporization chamber. Ironing like this is more effective. This fabrication also has the disadvantage of having two different heating means each associated with appropriate regulating means. This realization is also onerous. In addition, in order to limit the temperature of the sole for ironing delicate textiles, the control of thermal transfer between the sole and the casting of the vaporization chamber require a decrease in the exchange surface between the sole and the cast iron, which the tightness and the mechanical content of the sole becomes difficult. For these reasons discussed above, the aforementioned fabrications are not satisfactory.

EXHIBITION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is thus to manufacture a steam iron that allows to effectively iron the thick or resistant fabrics that demand an important steam expenditure, and that allows to review the delicate fabrics producing steam without risking to deteriorate them, presenting a simple and economic construction. Of course, the invention also applies to sheets having an integrated container, such as sheets having a separate outer container. The objects of the invention are achieved by an electric steam iron, which comprises a hot part having a sole and a vaporization chamber, the hot part of the iron is divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber is provided with first heating means, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole arranged under the vaporization chamber is provided with second heating means, the first heating means are associated with a regulating organ arranged in said first zone, the first heating means are provided to partially ensure the heating of the second zone, characterized in that the second heating means are associated with the regulating member of the first zone. The plate thus obtained is of a simplified design since it has only one regulating member. The power of the second heating means must, however, be chosen so as not to damage the article to be ironed. For the power of the second heating means chosen in order to compensate more for the temperature drop of the sole due to the vaporization of the water in the vaporization chamber, this device allows obtaining higher sole temperatures when the water is introduced into the chamber. Vaporization chamber and thus ironing better difficult ironing items that demand a lot of steam. The delicate articles that demand low ironing temperatures do not need much steam, the present invention allows to obtain with a low cost construction a control of heating means particularly adapted to the ironing of different categories of articles. Advantageously, the second heating means are formed by a flat heating element. The volume of the plate is reduced significantly, thanks to the thin thickness of the flat heating element. In addition the heating of the sole is more homogeneous, the flat heating element provides heating on a surface. The objects of the invention are also achieved by a regulation procedure for an electric steam iron, comprising a hot part having a sole and a vaporization chamber, the hot part of the iron is divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber is provided with first heating means, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole arranged under the vaporization chamber is provided with second heating means, the first heating means are associated to a regulating member disposed in the first zone, the first heating means are provided to partially ensure the heating of the second zone, characterized in that the first heating means and the second heating means are regulated by the regulating member arranged in the second zone. the first zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other particulars and advantages will appear better with the reading of the description given immediately with reference to the attached drawings given by way of illustrative but not limiting examples in which: Figure 1 shows according to a longitudinal section a partial view of an example of an embodiment of a plate according to the invention, Figure 2a shows a schematic top view according to a longitudinal section of an embodiment of a plate according to the inventionFigure 2b shows a schematic top view according to a longitudinal section of a variant of an embodiment of a plate according to the invention, Figure 2c shows a schematic top view according to a longitudinal section of another variant of an embodiment of a plate according to the invention, Figure 3 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a plate according to the invention.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an electric steam iron according to the invention is shown in Figure 1. The iron according to the invention comprises a hot part having a sole 1 and a vaporization chamber 2. The hot part The iron is divided into two thermal zones. The first thermal zone corresponds substantially to the vaporization chamber 2, and is provided with first heating means 3. The second thermal zone corresponds substantially to a portion of the sole 1 arranged under the vaporization chamber 2, and is provided with second means 4. The first heating means 3 are associated with a regulating member 5 arranged in said first zone and are provided to partially ensure heating of the second zone. As shown in FIG. 1, the vaporization chamber has a metallic body 22 made of a material which is a good heat conductor, which reaches the sole 1, on which a cover 23 is connected. The body 22 is fixed in a known manner to the sole 1 so as to make a good thermal connection between said sole and said chamber. As shown in FIG. 1, the regulating member 5 is mounted on the cover 23. According to the invention, the heating means 4 of the second zone are associated with the regulating member 5 of the first zone. This arrangement becomes possible by choosing the second heating means 4 of a suitable power and advantageously lower than that of the first heating means 3. The regulating member 5 closes the electrical supply of the first heating means 3 when the temperature of the The first thermal zone, corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber 2, decreases. This state intervenes little frequently when the iron is used dry. It is sufficient to adjust the power of the first and second heating means 3; 4 and the calibration of the regulating member 5 so that the temperature of the sole 1 is adapted to the corresponding fabric at a given position of the regulating member. When the iron is used in the steam position, the water introduced into the vaporization chamber 3 contributes to cooling said chamber. The implantation of second heating means 4 under the vaporization chamber 2 makes it possible to combat the aforementioned low temperature. As the second heating means 4 are fed after the aforementioned lowering of temperature, the risk of damaging the pressed fabrics is limited and also avoided by choosing a suitable power for said second heating means 4, for example from 70 to 200 watts. . When the user wants the advantage of the steam, the water intake in the vaporization chamber 2 increases. The regulating member 5 is prompted by the temperature decrease following the admission of the water, and acts in an expected manner on the supply of water. energy of the first heating means 3 associated with the vaporization chamber 2. The incitement of the regulating member 5 acts less expected on the second heating means 4 associated with the sole 1. The second heating means 4 regulated by the organ 5 are in fact advantageously supplied with energy when the water is admitted into the vaporization chamber 2. It follows that if the second heating means 4 have a sufficient power, for example higher than 70 watts, its power allows to compensate for the low temperature that intervenes on the sole, consecutive to the admission of water in the vaporization chamber 2. Thus the control mode of particular temperature of the heating means allows to obtain higher sole temperatures than after a dry operation for a same adjustment of the regulating member 5, when water is admitted in the vaporization chamber 2, and all the higher when it is admitted lots of water in said chamber. This arrangement is interesting because when an item is difficult to iron and demands a lot of steam, the higher temperature of the sole 1 will allow to better dry said article. Of course, the power of the second heating means 4 must be chosen so as not to damage the article to be ironed. A value of 200 watts allows to be in an acceptable limit. Advantageously, the second heating means 4 are formed by a flat heating element 6, as shown in Figures 1, 2a, 2b and 2c. Such a heating element has a thermal inertia that is weaker than the tubular or armored heating elements. This feature makes it possible to simplify the regulation since the peak temperature in the second zone is reached shortly thereafter even after the power supply is cut off by the regulating member 5. Furthermore, the flat heating element 6 heats up a surface in a substantially homogeneous manner, such a configuration is desired, it can be easily designed so as to provide calories to the area most affected by the drop in temperature. This element preferably occupies a relative area of one sex to two fifths of the total surface of the sole. Of course, many flat heating elements 6 can be connected together in series or in parallel or according to any combination of these two modes so as to realize the desired thermal chart, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

Advantageously, the first heating means 3 are formed by a tubular heating element 7, molded in the cast iron forming the body 22 of the vaporization chamber 2, as shown in Figure 1. The power of this element of preference is included between 1000 and 2000 watts. According to the advantageous arrangement of the present invention shown in Figure 2a, the tubular heating element 7, which forms the first heating means 3, has two substantially parallel branches 8, 9, connected by an elbow 10, and between which it extends The flat heater element 6 is substantially not limited to the rectangular shape shown in FIG. 2a, but may take other forms. Figure 2b shows a flat heating element of geometry that follows at least in part the shape of the branches 8, 9 of the tubular heating element 7. Figure 2c shows a flat heating element whose geometry follows at least partially the shape of the bottom of the vaporization chamber. Figure 2a shows the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 mounted in parallel and associated with the regulating member 5 disposed in the first thermal zone. Figure 2b also shows the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 mounted in parallel and associated with the regulating member 5 disposed in the first thermal zone. The first control means 11 allow the second heating means 4 to be out of circuit. This arrangement is especially interesting for the ironing of very delicate textiles since it allows a better control of the temperature of the sole. Figure 2c also shows the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 mounted in parallel and associated with the regulating member 5 disposed in the first thermal zone. The second control means 12 make it possible to cut the circuit of the regulating member 5 by means of the second heating means 4. An electrical connection 13 mounted between the second heating means 4 and the regulating member 5 allows control of the second heating means 4 by the regulating member 5 when the second control means are not in active position forcing the feeding of the second heating means 4. As a variant, it is possible to provide the first command means 11 (not shown in Figure 2c) ) on the electrical connection 13 or on a main electrical connection 15 linking the second heating means 4 with a point 16 on which the connection 13 and the second control means 12 are connected. One or the other of these electrical schemes can be to be used on the plate shown in Figure 3. The first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 showed in Figures 2a and 2b are mounted in parallel. As a variant it is possible to consider a series assembly of the first and second heating means 3, 4. The assembly of the command means 11 of the second heating means 4 must in this case be modified to cut the circuit of said means 4 instead of putting them out of the loop. The first control means 11 provided for putting the second heating means 4 out of the circuit and the second control means 12 provided for forcing the supply of the second heating means 4 can be controlled directly or indirectly by the user. The iron represented schematically in the Figure 3 has a vaporizing key 22 intended to be operated by the user. The vaporization button 22 controls a rod 20 that allows opening a hole 19 provided for communicating a water container 18 with the vaporization chamber 2. The plate shown schematically in Figure 3 also has an ironing selector 21 provided to be operated by the user and cooperating with the first control means 11. The selector 21 is capable of occupying a dry ironing position in which the first control means 11 deactivate the second heating means 4, and at least one steam ironing position, in which the second heating means 4 are capable of being fed. Advantageously the selector 21 is able to occupy a position of high steam, in which the vaporization button 22 is able to control the second control means 12 forcing the supply of the second heating means 4, and a delicate steam position, in which the vaporizing key 22 can not control the second control means 12 for feeding the second heating means 4. The first position is intended for the steam ironing of difficult textiles, while the second position is intended for ironing Steamed delicate textiles. Preferably, the selector 21 in the delicate vapor position limits the course of the vaporization button 22. This arrangement allows, on the one hand, to limit the opening of the hole 19 and for the same amount of water admitted in the vaporization chamber 2, and on the other hand preventing the actuation of the second control means 12. Preferably the selector 21 in the dry ironing position locks the rod 20, directly or by means of the vaporization button 22, to prevent the admission of water into the vaporization chamber 2 .

The invention also relates to a regulation method for an electric steam iron, comprising a hot part having a sole 1 and a vaporization chamber 2, the hot part of the iron is divided into two thermal zones, a first zone which corresponds substantially to the vaporization chamber 2 is provided with first heating means 3, a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole 1 arranged under the vaporization chamber 2 is provided with second heating means 4, the first means 3 are associated with a regulating member 5 disposed in said first zone, the first heating means 3 are provided to partially ensure the heating of the second zone, regulation procedure in which the first heating means 3 and the second heating means 4 are adjusted by the adjusting member 5 arranged in the first zone. Numerous improvements can be made to this apparatus within the framework of the claims.

POSSIBILITY OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION The invention finds its application in the technical field of electric steam irons.

Claims (10)

1. Electric steam iron, comprising a hot part having a sole (1) and a vaporization chamber (2), the hot part of the iron is divided into two thermal zones, a first zone corresponding substantially to the vaporization chamber (2) provided with first heating means (3), a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole (1) disposed under the vaporization chamber (2) provided with second heating means (4), the first means of heating (3) are associated with a regulating organ (5) arranged in the first zone, the first heating means (3) are provided to partially ensure heating of the second zone, characterized in that the second heating means (4) ) are associated with a regulatory body (5) of the first zone.

2. Iron according to claim 1, characterized in that the second heating means (4) are formed by a flat heating element (6). Iron according to any of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the first heating means (3) are formed by a tubular heating element (7). An iron according to claim 3, characterized in that the tubular heating element (7) has two substantially parallel branches (8, 9) between which the flat heating element (6) extends substantially. 5. Iron according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first heating means (3) and the second heating means (4) are mounted in parallel. 6. Iron according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it has first control means (11) provided for cutting the circuit of the second heating means (4). 7. Iron according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it has second control means (12) provided to force the supply of the second heating means (4). Iron according to claim 6, characterized in that it has an ironing selector (21) provided to cooperate with the first control means (11) and capable of occupying an ironing position in which the circuit of the second means of cutting is cut off. heating (4). 9. Iron according to claim 7, characterized in that it has a vaporizing key (22) provided for controlling the opening of an orifice (19) that puts in communication a water container (18) with the vaporization chamber (2), said The key is designed to cooperate with the second control means (12) to force the supply of the second heating means (4). 10. Regulation procedure for an electric steam iron, comprising a hot part having a sole (1) and a vaporization chamber (2), the hot part of the iron is divided into two thermal zones, a first zone that corresponds substantially to the vaporization chamber (2) equipped with first heating means (3), a second zone corresponding substantially to a portion of the sole (1) disposed under the vaporization chamber (2) provided with second heating means (4), the first heating means (3) are associated with a regulating organ (5) disposed in said first zone, the first heating means (3) are provided to partially ensure the heating of the second zone, characterized in that the first heating means (3) and the second heating means (4) are regulated by the regulating member (5) arranged in the first zone.