US2205241A - Steam installation for pressing appliances - Google Patents

Description

F. J. CLARK I STEAM INSTALLATION FOR PRESSING` APPLIANCES June 18, 2,205,241

Filed Oct; 23. 1936 .ATTORNEYS I l l rofwm. y.

Patented June 18, 1940 STEAM INSTALLATION FOR, PRESSING APPLIANCES Frederick J. Clark, Buffalo, N. Y.,`assignor to Eastman Machine Company, Buffalo, N.A Y.

. Application October Z3, 1936, Serial No. 107,213

` 'z yclaims. (ci. ss-'m This invention relates toA improvements in pressing apparatus of that kind in which a pressing iron or appliance is employed equipped with means whereby steam may be discharged under control, as through perlorations in the pressing face of the iron, for the purpose of moistening the goods being pressed, or improving the quality of the work.

Steam pressing irons of this sort are usually heated by means of an electric or other heating element in or on the iron, and they are quite commonly constructed so that the steam which is delivered to the iron from a boiler or other source of supply, is superheated or dried by said heating element before the steam is discharged from the iron, `in order to prevent moist steam or condensation from being discharged on the work, and thus possibly injuring or objectionably kmoistening the goods being pressed.

Control means are provided for shutting off or preventing the discharge of the steam when it is not needed in the pressing of the goods or when the iron is not being used, and for discharging the steam and regulating Vthe quantity dis- 26 charged, as may be necessary, depending upon the character of the Work or of the material being pressed. Insome irons, the steam control valve or device is arranged on or adjacent to the iron, but a serious objection to such arrange- 30 ment of the control valve is that whenit is closed to prevent discharge of steam, condensation may occur in the flexiblel hose or connections which supply the steam to the iron, and it frequently happens when the valve is opened to discharge steam, that the steam superheating means of the iron is not adequate to convertthis water of condensation into dry steam so that some Water or moisture is.discharged from the iron with the result, in many instances, of

'40 spotting or injuring the goods being pressed.

Attempts have been made to overcome this objection, by providing steam supply installations for such steam pressing irons in which the valve or device for controlling the discharge of steam not been entirely satisfactory becausethe con- 55 structions or relative arrangements of the control devices and the steam supply pipes have been such as to form pockets r places in which condensation can collect, with the result that, particularly when the iron is used after it has been standing idle for awhile, this condensation 5 will be blown out by the steam and discharged on the goods being pressed..

The objects of my invention are to provide a steam supply installation with control means forsteam discharge pressing appliances which is of 10 a novel construction and arrangement adapted to rcliab-ly prevent harmful or objectionable discharge of condensation or moisture from the appliance; in which the control device and the steam supply connections are constructed and 15 arranged so as to eliminate pockets or places in which condensed steam can collect so as to be blown or to pass vto the pressing appliance when the control device is operated to discharge steam from the pressing appliance; and also to improve 20 steam installations for steam discharge, pressing appliances in the particulars hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation of a pressing apparatus 25 provided withl steam supply means embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the control device, enlarged, on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation or the same on 30 line 3-3,Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating a pressing iron of a type used in appai'atus embodying the invention.

I0 represents the steam discharge pressing 35 iron of the apparatus. This invention is Anot concerned With any particular construction of the pressing iron or appliance, which may be a portable hand iron or other pressing appliance of usual or any suitable construction adapted for 40 pressing purposes and to discharge steam under control during the pressing operation. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the iron is provided with an electrical heating element II to which electric current is conducted through the usual exiblc cord or cable I2, and the pressing face of the iron is provided with perforationsl I3 through which steam may be discharged to the goods` being pressed.l The steam may be supplied to the iron through the usual exible hose or pipe I4 and, as shown, the iron is constructed with one or more passages or chambers I5 with which the hose I4 communicates and which are arranged so that steam passing therethrough to the discharge perforations I3, is superheated or dried by'heat from the heating element II. The passage or passages I5 may communicate by one or more passages I6 with the discharge perforations I3.

5 The hose or pipe I4 extends downwardly to the pressing iron from an overhead control device 20 to which steam is supplied through an ascending pipe 2|. 'I'his pipe 2| extends upwardly from a steam and condensation separator 22 interposed l,between the lower end of the pipe 2| and a steam supply main 23. The steam passes' from the supply main 23, through the separator 22 to the pipe 2I, and this separator may be of usual or any suitable construction adapted to separate condensation from the steam and 4permit the condensation to drain 01T through a steam return or drain pipe 24 leading from the bottom of the separator.

The control device 2|) preferably comprises a steam cutoff valve, and a regulating valve for regulating the volume of steam which is delivered to the iron for discharge when the cutoff valve is opened. As shown, these two valves are constructed with a single or common valve body 25 25 which is secured on the upper end of the ascending steam pipe 2|, as by screwing the threaded upper end of the pipe into a threaded socket 2B in the valve body. An inlet passage 21 leads upwardly from this socket into a valve chamber 28, in which the movable member 28 of the cutoff valve is located. This member is provided with a suitable valve washer or disk adapted to seat upwardly against and form a stern-tight joint with a valve seat '38 at the upper portion of the chamber 28. The valve disk is normally closed or seated by a suitable spring 3| which,

as shown, surrounds the reduced lower portion ofthe valve member, within a hollow screw cap or plug 32 closing the lower end of the valve chamber 40 28. The cutoff valve has an operating stem 33 extending out of the valve body through .a packing gland 34 for actuation by suitable valve operating means.

The regulatingvalve shown is disposed between the cutoff valve and the descending hose I4 leading from the control device to the pressing iron, and regulates the flow of steam through a passage 35 in the valve body leading from the valve chamber 28 to a nipple or fitting I4a to which the hose I4 is connected. The passage 35 shown is of angle form having a lateral inlet portion connected with the valve chamber 28 above the valve seat 30, and a downwardly e'xtending discharge portion. The regulating valve shown is in the form of a screw needle Avalve comprising a valve rod 38 having a screw threaded p engagement 31 in a bonnet or fitting on the valve lbody 25 and having a hand wheel 38 at its outer end for turning the valve rod to move its conical inner end toward and from a conical seat 39 in the valve body. By appropriate adjustment of this valve, it may be closed against its seat or set relatively thereto to regulate, as desired, the flow of steam to the iron'. In the use of the apparatus, this regulating valve is set to predetermine the Vdesired volume of steam to be supplied to the pressing iron for discharge, and is left in this adjustment during the use of the iron, the steam beingturned on to discharge from the iron and shut off to stop the discharge as desired, by opening and closing the control valve 28, which may be opened and closed by suitable operating means. Any suitable operating means for the control valve 28 may be employed, that shown comprising a lever 48 which is pivoted on a bracket 4| ascending pipe 2|.

fixed on the valve body 25, and is adapted to engage. the outer end of the valve stem 33. The lever 40 is connected, as by a rod 42 to a lever 43 which is pivoted on the separator 22, or other suitable support, and is connected, as by a wire 44, to the rock arm of a treadle 45, which is suitably located for operation by the foot of the operator using the pressing iron. A spring 46 connectedto the lever 43 normally'holds the lever 48 out of engagementwith the valve stem 33. By depressing the treadle, the lever 40 is swung to press the stem 33 inwardly and open the control valve 28 against the action of its closing spring 3|. Steam is thus delivered to the pressing iron for discharge to the work, and the steam will discharge as long as the valve is held open by depression of the treadle. Upon releasing the treadle, the control valve will be closed by its spring 3| and shut ofi the steam to prevent its discharge from the iron.

It will be noted that the control device 20, comprising the control and regulating valves, is located at the highest poi 1t of the steam conduit formed by the ascending pipe 2| and the descend' ing hose |4, through which the steam passes from the separator 22 to the pressing iron; that the pipe 2| extends in an uninterrupted descending direction from the valve body 25 to the separator, and that the exible hose or connections |4 from the control device to the pressing iron also extends in an uninterrupted descending direction from the valve body 25 to the pressing iron, so that there is no horizontal or ascending portion in the conduit on either the inlet or outlet side of the control device in which steam condensation could collect. Therefore, when the cutoff valve 28 is closed, any condensation occuring in the conduit at the inlet side of the valve can immediately drain backthrough the pipe 2| into the separator where it will be separated from the steam and discharged, and any steam in the flexible hose or conduit at the outlet side of the cutoff valve will discharge through the hose and pressing iron so as to prevent the formation of condensation in the hose or conduit beyond the control device. Furthermore, it will be noted Athat the passage 35 in the valve body extends in a descending direction from the regulating valve 36 to its connection with the hose |4, and they seat 30 for the cutoi valve :is located above the inlet passage 21 of the valve body connecting the valve chamber 28 with the upper end of the Thus, the only portion lol' the steam conduit between the separator 22 and the pressing iron which is located at an elevation above the. seat 38 of the cutoi valve and in which condensation could collect, is the small, upper end portion of the chamber 28 and the short inlet portion of the passage 35 in the valve body, and these parts are so small that any condensation thatmig'ht be blown therefrom to the pressing iron bythe steam when the valve is again' opened after the steam has been shut ofi, would be of such minute volume that it would be thoroughly vaporized in the steam superheating'or drying chamber of the ron. By 'fixing-the valve body 25 at the inclination shown in Fig. 2, even the lateral inlet portion of the passage-35 inclines downwardly from the valve chambery, thereby preventing condensation from accirnulating in t s passage. Any possibility of condensed steam being discharged from the iron is thus effectually prevented. I claim as my invention:

1. Steam supply and discharge control means asoman 1 for discharging steam free from condensate from a pressing or analogous appliance constructed for the discharge of steam therefrom, comprising a control device distant from and above said appliance for controlling the discharge of steam Y for ydischarging steam free from condensate from trol device, whereby condensate is prevented from i collecting in said pipes at either side of said control device.

3. Steam supply and discharge control means for discharging steam. free from condensate from a pressing or analogous appliance constructed for the discharge of steam therefrom, comprising a valve distant from said appliance for controlling the discharge of steam from the appliance,

a steam supply pipe from a source of steam distant from said appliance ascending to said control valve, and a pipe descending from said control valve to the appliance, saidcontrol valve having a valve chamber connecting with said pipes and forming therewith a steam supply conduit for the applianceand cooperating'members in and controlling the passage of steamthrough said valve chamber, said conduit extending in an uninterrupted descent from portions of said valve chamber in immediate proximity to both the inlet and outlet sides of said cooperating members in the -valve chamber whereby condensate is prevented from collecting in said conduit at either-side of said valve.

4. Steam supply and discharge control means vfor discharging steam free from condensate from a pressing or analogous appliance constructed for the discharge of steam therefrom and havl ing means for heating the steam prior to its discharge, comprising a valve distant from the appliance for controlling the` discharge of steam from the appliance, a condensation separator, a steam supply pipe ascending from said separator to said control valve, and a exible pipe descending from. said control valve to the appliance, said control valve having a valve member movable in a valve chamber connecting with said pipes and forming therewith a steam supply conduit for the appliance, said conduit extending in an uninterrupted descent directlyfrom portions of said valve chamber in immediate proximity to both the inlet and outlet sides of said movable member in the valve chamber', thereby eliminating any pockets in said conduit at either side of said valve member in which condensate can collect.

5. Steam supply and discharge control means for discharging steam. free from condensate from a pressing or analogous appliance constructed for the discharge of steam therefrom and with means for heating the steam, comprising a control device distant from the appliance for controllingv the dischargeof steam from the appliance, a steam supply-pipe ascending to said control device, and a flexible pipe descending from said control device to the appliance, said control device comprising a cuto valve and a regulating valve having a single valve body, one of said pipes extending in an uninterrupted descent directly from said cutoii valve and said other pipe extending in an uninterrupted descent directly means for heating the steam prior to its dis-4 charge, comprising a valve distant from the appliance for controlling the discharge of steam from the appliance, a condensation separator, a

steam supply pipe ascending from said separator to said control valve, and a flexible pipe descending from said control valve to the apsaid valve chamber connecting with said pipes and forming therewith a steam supply conduit from the separator to the appliance, and said conduit extending in an uninterrupted `descent directly from portions of said valve chamber in immediate proximity to both the inlet and outlet sides of said stationary member in the valve chamber, whereby the formation of any pocket in said conduit at either side of said stationary valve member in which condensate can collect and discharge into the conduit is eliminated.

7. Steam supply and discharge control means for discharging steam free from condensate from a pressing or analogous appliance constructed for the discharge of steam therefrom and having means for heating the steam prior to'its discharge, comprising a cut-olf valve distant from the appliance for controlling the discharge oi steam from the appliance, a condensation separator, a steam supply pipe ascending from said separator to said valve, and a flexible pipe descending from said valve to the appliance, said cut-oi! valve having a valve member movable relatively to a stationary member in a valve chamber to open and close the valve, said valve chamber connecting with saidpipesy and forming therewith a. steam supplyconduit from the separator to the appliance; which conduit extends inan uninterrupted descent directly from said valve chamber in immediate proximity to both the inlet and outlet sides of said stationary valve member, whereby the formation of any pocket in said conduit at either side of said stationary valve member in which condensate can collect and discharge into the'conduit isvprevented, and a regulating valve controlling said descending conduit between the cut-od valve andthe appliance.

J. CLARK

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