MXPA97006893A - Vapor plate with all temperature for va production - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam iron with a valve between the water tank and the seat plate. The valve has a valve stem that is connected to a temperature control. The valve stem is rotated axially when the temperature control moves, without longitudinally moving the valve stem. The valve stem has a varied depth groove located between an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice of a valve member to vary the flow of water through the valve based on the rotational position of the valve stem relative to the valve member. A user-operated mechanism is also provided to longitudinally move the valve stem between the closed, open positions of variable flow, and not variab

Description

VAPOR PLATE WITH TOPA THE TEMPERATURE FOR OE STEAM PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to steam irons and, more particularly, to a plate with variable steam production. U.S. Patent 2,887,800 discloses a rotating disc on a steam iron to simultaneously control the temperature control of the iron and a water metering valve. U.S. Patent 2,317,706 discloses two separate controls for a thermostat and a water valve. The valve stem is rotated axially to longitudinally move the valve stem relative to a valve member. According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a steam iron having a housing with a water tank, a seat plate, a temperature control connected to the seat plate, a valve between the water tank and the water tank. seat plate, and a connection between the temperature control and a valve stem of the valve to vary the flow of water through the valve based on the temperature setting of the temperature control. The valve stem is connected to the temperature control by the connection to axially rotate the valve stem when the temperature control is moved, without longitudinally moving the valve stem relative to a valve member of the valve, to vary the flow of water through the valve. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a steam iron comprising means for moving a valve rod and means for varying the flow of water from a reservoir to the base plate. The means for moving the valve rod can move the valve rod between three positions which include a closing position, an open position of non-variable flow, and a variable flow position. The valve is located between the tank and the seat plate. The means for varying the flow is adapted to vary the flow of water from the reservoir to the seat plate when the valve is in the variable flow position. The means for varying the flow varies the flow of the water by axially rotating the valve stem based on the movement of a temperature control of the plate. The means for varying the flow only varies the flow of water through the valve based on the axial rotation of the valve stem when the valve stem is located in the variable flow position. According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a steam iron having a seat plate, a temperature control and a water tank. The steam iron further comprises a valve and a transmission mechanism. The valve is located between the water tank and the seat plate. The valve has a rotatable valve stem and a valve member. The transmission mechanism connects the valve stem to the temperature control such that the movement of the temperature control axially rotates the valve stem. The valve stem has a section with a perimetric channel that varies in the area to different radial positions. The valve member has an inlet orifice and an outlet hole such that water can travel from the inlet through the perimeter channel and out into the outlet orifice. The axial rotation of the valve stem changes the area of the channel between the inlet port and the outlet port to vary the flow of water through the valve. According to a method of the present invention there is provided a method of assembling a steam iron comprising the steps of providing a valve with a valve rod and a valve member, the valve rod having a section with a channel to along a perimeter, the channel varies in size at different radial positions, and the valve member having a main orifice with an inlet and an outlet orifice that are offset angularly from each other relative to a central axis of the valve. main hole; and connect a transmission between a temperature control of the plate and the valve stem such that the movement of the temperature control axially rotates the valve stem. The aspects mentioned in the foregoing and other characteristics of the invention are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plate incorporating the features of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the lower front portion of the plate shown in Figure 1; Figure 3A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the valve shown in Figure 2; Figure 3B is a cross-sectional view as in the Figure 3A showing the valve stem in a non-variable open position; Figure 3C is a cross section as in Figure 3B showing the valve rod in a fully closed position; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the valve stem; and Figure 5 is a perspective view of the valve member. With reference to Figure 1, there is shown an electric steam iron 10 incorporating features of the present invention. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the individual embodiment shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention can be incorporated into several different types of alternative plate arrangements. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or material can be used. The plate 10 generally comprises a seat plate 12, a housing 14, a temperature control knob 16, a sprinkler button 18a and a relief button 18b. Referring also to Figure 2 a partial cross-sectional view of the front of the plate is shown. The seat plate 12 has a wall 24 raised in a general triangular shape that forms the side walls for the steam chamber 20. A cover 22 is attached to the top of the wall 24 to form the upper part of the steam chamber. A thermostat 26 is mounted on the seat plate 12 and is connected to the temperature control knob 16 by the shaft 28. The housing 14 includes a water reservoir 30. A valve 32 is provided between the reservoir 30 and the seat plate 12. The valve 32 includes a valve body or member 34 and a valve stem 36. The valve member 34 is mounted on the cover 22 of the steam chamber and forms a seat 37 of the valve. With reference also to Figures 3a and 5, the valve member 34 has a main orifice 38, an inlet orifice 40, an outlet orifice 42, and an alignment notch 44. The inlet orifice 40 and the outlet orifice 42 are both located in the main orifice 38, but are displaced radially from each other relative to the central axis of the orifice 38. An outlet 46 is provided in the lower part of the reservoir 30 in the orifice 40 entry. The valve rod 36 has a lower cone 48, a slot 50 in a section on the bottom of the cone 48, and a top section 52. Referring also to Figure 4, a cross-sectional view of the rod 36 is shown in the slot 50. As noted, the depth of the slot 50 varies in different radial positions. The slot 50 does not extend completely around the perimeter of the shank 36. In this way, the area of the slot 50 varies with the radial position in the shank 36. The shank 36 also has a projection 54 at the end of the slot 50. A portion 56 of the rod between the projection 54 and the slot 50 does not have any of the slot or projection. Figures 2 and 3a show the valve stem 36 in an open position of variable flow relative to the member 34. The slot 50 is in the same plane as an upper portion of the outlet orifice 42 and a lower portion of the inlet orifice 40 . The variable flow position will be described in detail below. The upper section 52 of the rod 36 has a flange 58 and a headless bolt 64. The temperature control shaft 28 is connected to the rod 36 of the valve by two gears 66, 68. The first gear 66 is connected to the shaft 28 of such that the axial rotation of the shaft 28 axially rotates the first gear 66. The second gear 68 is mounted on the headless bolt 64 of the valve rod 36. The two gears 66, 68 have relatively large outer perimeters 70, 72 with teeth 74, 76, respectively. The teeth 74, 76 are interengaged in a constant manner to a joint 78 of the two gears. The headless pin 64 has a wedge shape. The lower center of the secondary gear 68 has an aperture 80 wedged. The headless bolt 64 is located in the opening 80 such that the axial rotation of the second gear 68 axially rotates the valve rod 36. A spring 60 is provided in a cavity 62 of the housing spring. The spring 60 is in contact with the bottom portion of the flange 58 and deflects the valve rod 36 in an upward direction. The lower part of the center of the second gear rests against the lower part of the flange 58. Therefore, the second gear 68 is also deflected in a higher direction. The upper center of the second gear 68 has a guide projection 82. As best seen in Figures 1 and 2, a user of the selector 84 operable is mounted to the housing 14. The selector 84 is a lever pivotably mounted to the housing 14 in the pivot 86 and captured under a sleeve 88 of the housing 14. A section 90 of cams projecting through an orifice is located in the lower part of the selector 84. in the housing 14. The deviation action of the spring 60 biases the guide projection 82 against the lower surface of the cam section 90. The lower surface of the cam section 90 forms a cam surface. Referring now to Figures 3a, 3b and 3c, the operation of selector 84 will be described. Figure 3c shows selector 84 in a first closed position. In this first closed position the lower surface 90c of the cam section 90 is in contact with the guide projection 82. The cam section 90 holds the second gear 68 in a low position. The teeth 76 of the second gear remain in contact with the teeth 74 of the first gear in the joint 78 in this low position of the second gear 68. Due to the connection of the second gear 68 in the upper part of the valve stem 36, the rod 36 The valve is also located in a low position when the second gear 68 is in its low position. In the low position of the valve stem 36, the portion of the valve stem on the slot 50 is located between the inlet orifice 40 and the outlet orifice 42 of the valve member 34 and, more specifically, blocks the inlet orifice 40. from the main orifice 38. Therefore, the water can not flow from the inlet orifice 40 to the outlet orifice 42. Since the first gear 66 is still operably engaged with the second gear 68, the rotation of the temperature control knob 16 (see Figure 1) still rotates the shaft 28 (see Figure 2), the first gear 66, the second gear 68 and the valve stem 36, but has no effect on the flow of water through the valve. Figure 3a shows the selector 84 in a second open position of variable flow. In this second position the intermediate surface 90a of the cam section 90 is in contact with the guide projection 82. The cam section 90 and the spring 60 cooperate to hold the second gear 68 in the second variable flow position. The teeth 76 of the second gear remain in contact with the teeth 74 of the first gear in the joint 78. Due to the connection of the second gear 68 in the upper part of the valve stem 36, the valve rod 36 is also located in the position of variable flow. In this intermediate variable flow position, the slot 50 is aligned between the lower part of the inlet orifice 40 and the upper part of the outlet orifice 42 in the valve member 34. In this way, it is possible for the water to flow from the inlet orifice 40 through the slot 50, and exit at the outlet orifice 42 towards the seat plate 12. However, also referring to Figure 4, due to the non-uniform shape of the slot 50, the flow velocity of the water through the valve in this second variable flow position depends on the axial position of the valve stem 36 with respect to to valve member 34. The valve member 34 of the axial rotation is prevented due to an interposition assembly of a portion of the reservoir tank 31 with the alignment notch 44 (see Figure 5). Due to the connection of the temperature control knob 16 (see Figure 1) to the valve stem 36 via the shaft 28 (see Figure 2) and two gears 66, 68, the movement of the knob 16 axially rotates the rod 36 of valve. When the knob 16 is in a OFF position, the axial position of the valve stem 36 is such that the projection 54 locks the bottom portion of the inlet orifice 40. Therefore, no water flows through the valve with knob 16 in the OFF position. When the knob 16 is rotated by a user from the OFF setting, the valve rod 36 is rotated axially to open a path via the slot 50 from the inlet orifice 40 to the outlet orifice 42. The further the knob 16 is rotated away from the setting of OFF, the greater is the fixation of the thermostat 26 (see Figure 2) and the greater the area of the path formed by the slot 50 between the inlet orifice 40 and the orifice 42 of departure. Therefore, the water flow rate through the valve correlates to the temperature setting selected by the user. A low temperature setting will have a low velocity of water flow through the valve. This will help ensure that the water transforms into steam at a low temperature setting and therefore avoids problems with water staining. However, at a high temperature setting, a sufficient flow rate is provided to allow a good quality and quantity of steam generation at the high temperature. The flow velocity of the water through the valve is thus dependent on the temperature setting of the plate when the valve stem is in its variable flow position. Figure 3b shows the selector 84 in a third open position of non-variable flow. In this position, the upper surface 90b of the cam section 90 is in contact with the guide projection 82. The cam section 90 and the spring 60 cooperate to hold the second gear 68 in the high position. The teeth 76 of the second gear remain in contact with the teeth 74 of the first gear at the joint 78. Since the spring 60 biases the valve rod 36 in an upward direction, the valve rod 36 is located in the open position not variable of flow. In this position, the upper part of the lower cone section 48 of the valve stem 36 is located in the lower part of the inlet orifice 40. This allows water to flow directly from the inlet port 40, through the main port 38, and into the chamber 20 of the seat plate as seen by the arrow A without having to travel through the slot 50 or the 42 exit hole. The open position of non-variable flow allows a self-cleaning function of the plate to be performed by the user. Since the gears 66, 68 are still operably connected to each other by their teeth, movement of the knob 16 will axially rotate the valve stem 36, but this will not affect the flow of water through the valve. The present invention allows the valve rod 36 to be moved longitudinally between the three positions shown in Figures 3a, 3b and 3c. When the valve rod 36 is located in the intermediate position shown in Figure 3a, the axial rotation of the valve rod 36 varies the velocity of the water flow through the valve. The gears 66, 68 remain operably connected to each other to prevent misalignment problems. Preferably, both gears 66, 68 are rotatably mounted in portions of the tank 31 I I to keep the two gears 66, 68 assembled together. This is best shown in Figure 2 with the section 33 within the first gear 66 and the section 69 of the second gear 68 within the section 35. With the present invention, a variable continuous steam velocity is possible from the temperature setting more goes down to the highest temperature setting. This allows a user to have a vapor in a low setting of 104.4CC (220 ° F), such as for ironing acrylic or acetate material. In alternative embodiments, other types of configurations may be possible, such as a mode where the axial rotation of the valve stem moves the valve to the three positions of closed, open / variable and open / non-variable and longitudinal movement of the valve stem. the flow velocity varies when the valve stem is in the open / variable position. Other alternate structural details and modalities may also be designed by persons skilled in the art.

Claims (20)

1. A steam iron having a housing with a water tank, a base plate, a temperature control connected to the base plate, a valve between the water tank and the base plate, and a connection between the control temperature and a valve stem of the valve to vary the flow of water through the valve based on the temperature setting of the temperature control, characterized because: the valve stem that is connected to the temperature control by the connection for axially rotate the valve stem when the temperature control is moved, without longitudinally moving the valve stem relative to a valve member of the valve, to vary the flow of water through the valve.

2. The steam iron, according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve stem has a section with a groove along a portion of its perimeter.

3. The steam iron, according to claim 2, characterized in that the groove varies in depth along the perimeter portion of the valve stem. p

4. The steam iron, according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a path of the groove is smaller than the circumference of the valve rod.

5. The steam iron, according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for longitudinally moving the valve rod between a variable flow position and an open non-variable flow position, the open position of non-variable flow that keeps the valve in an open position independent of the rotational position of the valve stem.

6. The steam iron, according to claim 5, characterized in that the connection of the valve stem to the temperature control comprises a first gear in the temperature control and a second gear geared in the valve rod.

7. The steam iron, according to claim 6, characterized in that the second gear moves longitudinally along its axis of rotation between a high position when the valve rod is in its open position of non-variable flow and another position when the valve rod is in its variable flow position, where the first and second gears remain constantly meshed in the two positions.

8. The steam iron, according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the mechanism can longitudinally move the valve rod between the variable flow position and a closed position, wherein the second gear moves longitudinally to a low position when the The valve stem moves to the closed position, but the first and second gears remain permanently engaged in the low position.

9. A steam iron characterized in that it comprises: means for moving a valve stem of a valve between a closed position, an open position of non-variable flow and a variable flow position, the valve being located between a reservoir and a plate seat of the iron; and means for varying the flow of water from the reservoir to the seat plate when the valve stem is in the variable flow position by axially rotating the valve stem based on the movement of a plate temperature control; wherein the means for varying the flow varies only the flow of water through the valve based on the axial rotation of the valve stem when the valve stem is located in the variable flow position.

10. The steam iron, according to claim 9, characterized in that the means for moving the valve rod includes a selector operated by the user in a housing of the steam iron that moves the valve rod longitudinally up and down separately of the axial rotation of the valve stem.

11. The steam iron, according to claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the means for varying the flow comprises a groove in the valve stem, the groove that varies in size along the different radial positions of the valve stem.

12. The steam iron, according to claims 9 or 11, characterized in that the means for varying the flow comprises a first gear in the temperature control and a second gear in the valve rod.

13. The steam iron, in accordance with the claims 12, characterized in that the first and second gears remain operationally connected to each other when the valve rod is located in the open position of non-variable flow and the closed position.

14. The steam iron having a seat plate, a temperature control, and a water tank, the steam iron, characterized in that it comprises: a valve located between the water tank and the seat plate, the valve having a rotatable valve stem and a valve member; and a transmission mechanism that connects the valve stem to the temperature control such that the movement of the temperature control axially rotates the valve rod, wherein the valve rod has a section with a perimeter channel that varies in area in the different radial positions and the valve member has an inlet hole and an exit orifice angularly displaced such that water can travel from the inlet through the perimeter channel and out into the outlet orifice and rotation Axial valve stem changes the channel area between the inlet port and the outlet port to vary the flow of water through the valve.

15. The steam iron, according to claim 14, further characterized in that it comprises a mechanism for longitudinally moving the valve rod up and down separated from the axial rotation of the valve stem, the mechanism includes a selector actuated by the user.

16. The steam iron, according to claim 14, characterized in that the channel has different depths at different radial positions and does not extend around the total perimeter of the valve stem.

17. The steam iron, according to claim 14 or 16, characterized in that a path is opened by the channel between the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice for substantially all of the temperature control fasteners when the valve rod is in a variable flow position.

18. The steam iron, according to claim 17, characterized in that the valve rod moves out of the variable flow position by a mechanism operated by the user which longitudinally moves the valve rod irrespective of the position or radial movement of the rod. valve.

19. A method for assembling a steam iron, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: providing a valve with a valve stem and a valve member, the valve rod having a section with a channel along a perimeter, the channel which varies in size to different radial positions, the valve member having a main orifice with an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice which are offset angularly from each other relative to the central axis of the orifice; and connecting a transmission between a temperature control of the plate and the valve stem so that the temperature control movement axially rotates the valve stem.

20. In addition, it comprises connecting a user actuating mechanism to the valve stem to longitudinally move the valve rod irrespective of the axial rotation and rotational position of the valve stem.