RU2516478C2 - Electric steam iron and valve - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: personal usage articles.

SUBSTANCE: electric steam iron 33 with a reservoir 4 intended for storage of water and a device 8 intended for removal of air from the water reservoir 4 and containing a valve 34. In the valve body 14 there is a side hole 40 and the valve globoid 30 that tightly adheres to the valve seat 20 under gravity when the water reservoir 4 is filled which locks the air removal device 8; when the water reservoir 4 is full up, a water cavity is formed therein 32. in the vertical (non-operating) position of the steam iron 33 the air removal device 8 is in an open state, the end section 46 of the air conduit 42 having a hole for liquid 16 projecting into the air cavity 32.

EFFECT: invention is intended, in particular, for reliable equalisation of pressure in the electric steam iron water reservoir both in the vertical non-operating position and the horizontal operating position and for reliable filling of the water reservoir.

11 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Technical field

This invention relates to an electric steam iron according to the preamble of paragraph 1 of the claims, as well as to a valve for such a steam iron, moreover, in the steam iron there is a tank designed to hold water in it, with a device designed to remove air from the water tank, which has a valve with a valve body located in the valve body and when filling the water tank tightly adjacent to the valve seat, thus locking the device for removing air, and at maximum there is a cavity in the water tank, and at least in the vertical inoperative position of the steam iron, the air removal device is in the open state.

State of the art

In known electric steam irons, there is a heated sole, a tank designed to hold water in it, and a steam chamber for producing and storing water vapor interacting with the sole and the water tank. When a steam iron is heated in a water tank, an overpressure occurs, which in known steam irons is released in the area of the opening for filling them through an overflow device or through an air removal device.

In this regard, it is known, for example, from US Pat. No. 4,688,340 A, a steam steam iron in which there is a valve which locks and closes the filling paths of the water tank, the valve including a valve body in which the valve seat is made and the valve body is arranged.

In particular, in steam irons, in which the filling hole is located in the rear of the housing, it is not possible to realize such an air outlet. Therefore, the German patent application DE 102007060191 A1 of the applicant proposes to supply the water tank from the housing side with a breathable and waterproof membrane, which allows you to equalize the pressure in the water tank or relieve it to the pressure level of the external environment.

Likewise, a back-mounted electric steam iron is known to the applicant, which has a valve-controlled device for removing air. Such a steam iron 1 with a heated sole according to FIG. 1 has at least a housing 2, a water tank 4 and a steam chamber 6. In the water tank 4 there is a device 8 for removing air, which includes essentially a valve 10 and connected to valve 10, the pipe 12 of the exhaust air that goes into the external environment.

The valve 10 is located in the front region of the water tank 4, remote from the filling hole, and has a valve body 14 with a fluid hole 16 and a connecting fitting 18 for outputting the air exhaust pipe 12. Between the fluid hole 16 and the connecting fitting 18, a valve seat 20 is formed. The valve body 14 has a body section 22 with an expanded cross section that defines a fluid hole 16 on the front side, and a body section 26 with a narrowed cross section for forming a connecting fitting 18, and a cone-shaped transition section 28 located between both body sections 22, 26 , on the inner side surface of which a valve seat 20 is formed. On a body portion 22 with an expanded cross section, a spherical valve body 30 is located, which preferably consists of a metallic base material and is brought into contact with the valve seat 20 only due to its weight.

As shown in FIG. 1, when filling the water tank 4, the valve body 30 fits snugly against the valve seat 20, so that the valve 10 is locked and water flowing through the filling hole cannot flow out through the air removal device 8. After filling, the filling hole is closed, and the steam iron 1 is installed, as shown in FIG. 2, in a 180 ° position to the rear portion of its housing in which the filling hole is located. In this case, an air-filled cavity 32 is formed in the front region of the steam iron 1 above the water level. In this vertical or almost vertical inoperative position, the valve body 30 is adjacent to the console 24 of the water tank /, and the device 8 for removing air is unlocked. This creates problems in this respect, that when the steam iron 1 is heated in this inoperative position, water through the fluid hole 16 enters the housing section 22 with an expanded cross section and can flow through the valve seat 20 into the air exhaust pipe 12, thus exiting from the tank 4 for water.

Disclosure of invention

The objective of the invention is the creation of such an electric steam iron, which eliminated the above-mentioned disadvantages and reliably prevents the escape of water from the water tank when heated in a vertical idle position, as well as the creation of a valve for such a steam iron.

This problem is solved by an electric steam iron with the features of paragraph 1 of the claims and a valve for such a steam iron with the features of paragraph 11 of the claims. Preferred embodiments and improvements of the invention are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

In the electric steam iron according to the invention, there is a reservoir for receiving water therein, and a device for removing air from the water reservoir. The device for removing air has a valve with a valve body, which is located in the valve body and when filling the water tank fits snugly on the valve seat, thereby locking the device for removing air. In the vertical non-working position (resting position) of the steam iron, when it is filled to the maximum, a cavity is formed in front of the water tank, and the air removal device is in the open state. According to the invention, the valve has a hole for the liquid, which in a vertical inoperative position protrudes into the cavity. Due to this arrangement of the liquid opening in the cavity, water dripping is prevented when the steam iron is heated through an open valve into the air removal device. In this case, it is possible to fill the water tank with a large amount of water, depending on the position of the liquid hole in the cavity. There is a direct pressure equalization between the air in the cavity and the air in the environment. When the steam iron is heated, the water level can rise without creating a risk of water escaping from the air removal device, since the liquid opening extends far into the cavity.

In a preferred embodiment, the fluid opening is formed by a pipe-like duct that is hydraulically connected to an opening in the valve body remote from the fluid opening. This makes it possible to at least partially integrate the duct into the valve body from the side of the perimeter side, whereby the valve is compact.

In a steam iron mounted in a vertical inoperative position, the duct preferably extends in a vertical or nearly vertical direction. Thus, the greatest distance is achieved from the fluid hole to the water level with a minimum axial length of the duct. The compactness of the valve can be improved if the duct and valve body are approximately the same size in the longitudinal direction.

In one embodiment, the implementation of the hole in the valve body is made on a section of the body with a cross section expanded compared to the section of the valve seat hole. The expansion of the cross section of the valve body serves, in particular, to place the valve body in the vertical inoperative position of the steam iron and makes it possible to smoothly equalize the pressure in the steam iron when it is heated, since the valve body is located as if outside the flow path generated in the valve during pressure equalization .

The hole is preferably made in the side surface of the valve body. Thus, the duct at that end portion thereof, which is remote from the fluid hole, and the portion of the valve body having an expanded cross section are closed together by the same closure element located at the end.

In order to equalize the pressure in the water tank also in the working position of the steam iron, that is, during ironing, the air removal device is designed so that in the horizontal or approximately horizontal position of the steam iron through the air removal device, air exchange between the water tank is possible and the external environment. Accordingly, the hole is located on the side surface of the valve body in such a way or has such a cross-sectional area that it cannot be locked by the valve body.

The valve according to the invention for unlocking and locking the device for removing air from the water tank of the electric steam iron, with the valve body in which the valve seat is made and the valve body is located, has, according to the invention, a submersible air duct with the effect of a breathing tube, which serves to form a liquid opening. The air duct makes it possible to place the fluid hole in a region located at a distance from the valve body, so that air can, for example, exit through the valve into the air exhaust pipe even when the valve body, including the valve seat and valve body, is under water, and only the hole for the liquid is located above the water level.

The present invention is intended, in particular, for reliably balancing the pressure in a water tank of an electric steam iron both in a vertical idle position and in a horizontal operating position and for reliable filling of the water tank.

Other preferred refinements of the present invention are the subject of further dependent claims.

A brief comment on the figures of the drawings

Below, a preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail on the basis of schematic images. They show:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the front of a known steam iron in a filling position,

Figure 2 is a section in the longitudinal direction of the known steam iron of figure 1 in a vertical inoperative position,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the front of the steam iron according to the invention in the filling position,

Figure 4 is a section in the longitudinal direction of the steam iron of figure 3 in a vertical inoperative position, and

5 is a perspective view of a valve according to the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The implementation of the invention

Figure 3 shows, in the filling position, an electric steam iron 33 according to the invention with a rear filling opening not shown. In this position, the steam iron 33 is substantially vertically supported on the not shown tip of the sole, so that the filling opening is directed upward. The steam iron 33 has at least a casing 2, a water reservoir 4 located in the casing 2, an air removal device 8 located in the water reservoir 4 and a steam chamber 6.

In addition, the steam iron 33 has a heated sole that is not shown and corresponding control or regulating devices, such as a temperature selection switch, for example, to set the desired water temperature and steam flow rate.

The device 8 for removing air has a valve 34 located in the front region of the steam iron 33 or tank 4 for water, as well as connected to the valve 34, the pipe 12 of the exhaust air, which goes into the external environment at the rear of the housing of the steam iron 33.

The valve 34 is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the steam iron 33 and has a valve body 14 in the form of a glass or a tulip with a tube-shaped body section 22 having an expanded cross section and a tube-shaped body section 26 having a narrowed cross section, as well as with a cone-shaped transition section 28, which connects both sections 22, 26 of the housing with each other. The transition section 28 has an inner side surface whose radius decreases as it approaches the body section 26 with a narrowed cross section, forming a valve seat 20. Section 26 of the housing with a narrowed cross-section has a laterally extending connecting fitting 18 for connecting the exhaust pipe 12. Section 22 of the housing with an expanded cross section serves to accommodate a spherical body 30 of the valve and at the free end end opposite the valve seat 20 is closed by a locking element 36 in the form of a plate. For simplified positioning of the locking element 36, there is an axial flange 38 on it, which enters the end portion and adjoins the lateral surface to it.

The valve body 30 is spherical in shape and at least partially consists of a metal material or a corresponding alloy. It has the ability to move freely within the area of the housing 28 with an expanded cross section and is given the position of contact with the valve seat 20 or in a position remote from it only due to its weight. In the filling position shown in FIG. 3, the valve body 30 fits snugly against the valve seat 20, so that the valve 34 is locked and water flowing into the water tank 4 cannot exit through the air removal device 8.

Section 22 of the housing with an expanded cross section through the side opening 40 is open in the direction of the duct 42, which is at least partially integrated in the valve body 14 on the side and extends in the vertical direction when the steam iron 33 is installed in the vertical idle position. The air duct 42 is tube-shaped, with two end sections 44, 46, with the end section 44 closest to the hole being closed from the end side by a closure element 36, and the end section 46 spaced from the hole defines a liquid opening 16 located at its end. The duct 42 and the valve body 14 are approximately the same length in the axial direction, and in the embodiment presented here with the inoperative position (rest position) shown in FIG. 4, the fluid hole is located above the valve seat 20 and, accordingly, the connecting fitting 18.

After filling the steam iron 33, the filling hole is closed, and the steam iron 33 is transferred to the vertical inoperative position shown in FIG. 4, in which it is mounted on the rear portion of the body and the tip of its sole points upward. Moreover, in the front region of the water tank 4, when the water tank 4 is filled above the water level to the maximum, an air-filled cavity 32 is formed. The valve body 30 is adjacent to the closure element 36 and the valve seat 20 is open, so that the pressure is balanced between the water tank 4 and the external environment through the device 8 to remove air. In order to prevent water from flowing out of the water tank 4 through the air removal device 8 when the steam iron 33 is heated or when the pressure is equalized, the position of the liquid hole 16 in the water tank 4 is selected so that it extends far into the cavity 32.

Moreover, the pressure equalization between the tank 4 for water and the external environment can occur even in the unlikely event that water penetrates through the fluid hole 16 into the duct 42 and thereby into the valve body 14, since the valve body 30 is heavier than water and cannot float to the surface, in contact with the valve seat 20.

In the not shown horizontal operating position of the steam iron 33 due to the fact that the water exits into the steam chamber 6, the cavity 32 increases, which requires an influx of outside air. This is due to the fact that the fluid hole 16 is now also located above the steady-state water level, and the valve body 30 is located at a distance from the valve seat 20, and thus the valve 34 or the air removal device 8 is open, making air circulation between the tank possible 4 for water and the environment.

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the valve 34 according to the invention shown in figures 3 and 4. It contains, as already explained above, the valve body 14 with a body section 22 having an expanded cross section, with a body section 26 having a narrowed transverse cross-section, and with a transition section 28 located between the two body sections 22, 26. The transition section 28 is used to form a valve seat 20 that is invisible here, which is closed or opened by means of the spherical valve body 30 located inside extended section 22 of the housing. In the region of the housing section 26 with a narrowed cross-section, a transverse connecting fitting 18 is made for connecting the air exhaust pipe 12.

In addition, in the valve 34 there is a longitudinally extending duct 42 that is integrated in the valve body 14 and defines a fluid hole 16 located above the connecting fitting 18. The housing portion 22 with an expanded cross section and the duct 42 are closed from the end side by means of a closure element 36, their inner spaces communicating with each other through a hole not shown 40 (see figures 3 and 4).

An electric steam iron 33 is disclosed with a reservoir 4 for receiving water therein, and with a device 8 for removing air from the reservoir 4 for water, which has a valve 34 with a valve body 30 located in the valve body 14 and when filling the reservoir 4 for water tightly adjacent to the valve seat 20, thereby locking the device 8 for removing air, and with a maximum filling of the water tank 4, a cavity 32 is formed in it, and at least in the vertical non-working position of the steam iron 33 devices 8 the vent is in an open state, wherein the valve 34 has an opening 16 for liquid which in the vertical inoperative position into the cavity 32 comes, and also contains the valve 34 for such a steam iron 33.

Legend List

1. steam iron

2. housing

4. water tank

6. steam chamber

8. air bleeder

10. valve

12. air exhaust pipe

14. valve body

16. fluid hole

18. connecting nipple

20. valve seat

22. housing section with an expanded cross section

24. console

26. body section with narrowed cross-section

28. cone-shaped transition section

30. valve body

32. cavity

33. steam iron

34. valve

36. cover element

38. axial flange

40. hole

42. duct

44. end section

46. end section

Claims (11)

1. Electric steam iron (33) with a reservoir (4) designed to contain water, and with a device (8) for removing air from the reservoir (4) for water, containing a valve (34) with a valve body (30), which is located in the valve body (14) and when filling the tank (4) for water, tightly adheres to the valve seat (20) and, thus, locks the device (8) for removing air, and with maximum filling in the tank (4) for water a cavity (32) is formed, and, at least in the vertical inoperative position of the steam iron (33), the device (8) To remove the air is in the open position, characterized in that the valve (34) has an opening (16) for liquid which in the vertical inoperative position protrudes into a cavity (32). 2. Electric steam iron (33) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole (16) for the liquid is formed by a tube-shaped duct (42), which is hydraulically connected to the hole (40) remote from the hole (16) for the liquid in the housing (14 ) valve. 3. Electric steam iron (33) according to claim 2, characterized in that the duct (42) is at least partially integrated into the valve body (14) from the side of the side. 4. Electric steam iron (33) according to claim 2, characterized in that in the inoperative position the duct (42) extends in the vertical direction. 5. Electric steam iron (33) according to claim 2, characterized in that the duct (42) and valve body (14) are approximately the same size in the longitudinal direction. 6. Electric steam iron (33) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the hole (40) is made on a section (22) of the valve body (14) having an expanded cross section compared to the section of the seat hole (20) valve. 7. Electric steam iron (33) according to claim 6, characterized in that the hole (40) is made in the side surface of the valve body (14). 8. Electric steam iron (33) according to one of claims 2 to 5, 7, characterized in that the duct (42) in its final section (44), spaced from the hole (16) for the liquid, and a section (22) of the housing valves having an expanded cross section are closed by a closing element (36) located at the end. 9. Electric steam iron (33) according to one of claims 2 to 5, 7, characterized in that in the vertical inoperative position the valve body (34) is located on the valve body section (22) with an expanded cross section. 10. Electric steam iron (33) according to one of claims 2-5, 7, characterized in that in the horizontal operating position of the steam iron (33), air exchange is possible between the water tank (4) and the external environment through an air removal device. 11. Valve (34) for opening and locking the device (8) for removing air from the tank (4) for water of the electric steam iron (33) with the valve body (14), in which the valve seat (20) is made and the body (30) is located ) a valve, characterized in that the valve body (14) is connected to the immersion duct (42) with the effect of a breathing tube to form a hole (16) for the liquid.

Images