US2402575A - Quick drying flatiron - Google Patents

Description

June 25, 1946. Y

'AQ c. PURPURA Q UICK DRYING FLATIRON Filed May 12, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l I gigi. l

June 25, 1946. A. c. 'PURPURA 2,402,575

QUICK DRYING FLATIRON Filed May l2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llnmllllllllmllllll; IHIIIHIIIIHIIIIIIIII ununmnnmnu Patented June 25, -1-946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE QUICK DBYING FLATIRON August Purpura, Chicago, Ill. Application May 12, 1942, 'Serial No. 442,586

The object of the present invention is greatly.

to speed up the ordinary ironing operations with hand ilatirons and, further, to make it simple and easy to dry, by ironing, goods that-have heretofore been regarded asbeing too wet for ironing'.

In carrying out my invention, I provide meansv to evacuate ythe moisture progressively as it is transformed into steam, so that no blanket of steam can form between the face of the iron and the goods to act as a heat insulator and create a ,pressure which results in raising the boiling point of the water in the goods. Th'e invention may therefore be regarded as having for its object a simple, novel and efficient means to withdraw the moisture from goods, in hand ironing, as soon as it is converted into steam.

The particular means which I employ involves (Cl. 21B-25) vention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in theclaims; but,

the creation of a partial vacuum between the iron.

and the goods; and. because this permits the water in the steam to be vaporized at a lower temperature than is the case at atmospheric pressure, the present invention may be said to have for its object to give to a hand flatiron the capacity to iron goods successfully at lower temperatures than in the case of an ordinary iron.

-A further object of the present invention is so to coordinate the vacuum producing means and the atiron that there shall be no interference with the transmission of heat from the heating device to the sole of the iron, so that the total heat energy is utilized to transform m isture in the goods into steam.

" A further object of the present invention is to produce a simple and novel .constriuztion and arrangement whereby, using only a single plug, the conductors 'for the electricity to energize the flatiron and the conduit for carrying away the moisture, may be simultaneously coupled to or uncoupled from' the ilatiron. A

A further object of the present invention is to produce a simple and novel pump for creating the needed partial vacuum and causing the moisture to be withdrawn from goods that are being ironed l The various features of novelty whereby my inthe under face of for a full understanding of my invention and of its objects and advantages, reference may be had .to the following detailed description ktaken in connection with thev accompanying drawings, where- Figure l is a side elevational View of an electric atiron and cooperating vacuum producing and moisture removing means, embodying the present invention, and shown as resting on a table or other support;` Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the ilatiron; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan yew of the ilatiron; Fig. 4 is a central vertical section through the pump unit shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig.`4, showing a modicatiom and Fig. 'I is a section on line 1-1 of Fig. 6, showing only the vibrator and a fragment of its supporting shaft.

Referring toFigs. 1 to 5, l represents any usual or suitable hand ilatiron. In the drawings the iron is electrically heated, and for the sakeof brevity, only this particular embodiment of the invention will be specifically described. In the arrangement shown, the bottom or sole plate 2 of the iron is heated by any usual or suitabie heating element 3 overlying the same.

In accordance with my invention. I provide means for permitting the escape of moisture as soon as it is converted into steam below the sole plate. In the arrangement shown there are in the sole plate a plurality of channels or grooves l radiating from a common center. A nipple 5 extends through the sole plate at this common center and is provided in the sides with perforations 6 communicating with the grooves or channels. A little pipe or conduit 1 leads from the end of the nipple lying in the interior of the atiron to the outside where it is ultimately connected to a suitable pump 8.

It will be seen that when suction is applied to the pipe 1, a partial vacuum is created in thc channels l whenever the sole plate of the iron is resting upon a piece of goods that is being ironed. Consequently steam that is generated through the heat of the iron enters the channels and is carried away through the nipple. The grooves or channels may be variously disposed. In the arrangement shown there are only four of them arranged in the form of an X, the ends of which lie near but spaced apart from the side edges of the iron lengthwise, for any desired distance in the direction of such movement. It will also be seen that there is no interference with the transmission of heat to the sole plate excepting, only, in the small area occupied by the nipple, so that the efilciency of the iron, so far as transmission of heat to the goods is concerned, is not diminished to any appreciable extent. Also, because the moisture is carried away directly from the nipple by the little pipe or conduit, it exerts no influence, whatever, upon the heating capacity of the iron, after having been Withdrawn from beneath the sole'plate.

The connection to the pipe or conduit 1 from vthe outside, may be conveniently made through an ordinary plug 9 which contains an open-ended tubular element I so located and constructed that when the` plug is attached to the iron in the customary manner for attaching the usual electric conductors to the terminals in the iron, the lower end of the element I0 ts tightly upon a frustoconical tip Il positioned on the upper end of the pipe above the top of the body of the iron beside the electric terminals. A rubber tube I3 is connected to the upper end of the tubular element I0 and, along with the usual cord I4, forms a `cable that extends to the pump. At the pump there may be a switch I5 that controls the circuits for the flat iron and the motor for the pump, as well.

The pump apparatus illustrated comprises a housing I1 on one side of which is mounted an electric motor I8 whose shaft I9 extends into the housing through a wall thereof. rPhe housing contains a ilexible partition 22 in a plane at right angles to the motor shaft, thereby creating a shallow pump chamber 23 in one side of the housing. A shelf 24 projects outwardly from the wall of the housing forming the main outer wall of the pump chamber. Located beneath and detachably secured to the shelf is a container for water, preferably of glass. The interior of the container communicates with the pump chamber by means of a passage 26 in the shelf. In this passage is a check valve 21 that permits fluids to flow from the compartment into the container and prevents any ow in the opposite direction. The rubber tube I3 is attached to a nipple 28, the passage in which is continued through the housing wall to the pump chamber, so as to place the rubber hose in communication with this chamber. In this latter passage is a check valve 29 that permits fluids to flow from the tube into the pump chamber but not in the opposite direction.

By rapidly vibrating the diaphragm, the size of pump chamber is alternately decreased and in creased. Upon each decrease some of the fluid in the chamber is pushed out into the container 26; and during every increase, iluid is drawn from the rubber hose into the chamber. In this way a partial vacuum is created in the rubber tube and, therefore, at the face ofthe sole plate. Therefore, at each suction stroke of the diaphragm,

' some duid is withdrawn from beneath the sole plate into the pump chamber.

The vibration of the diaphragm is conveniently brought about by means of a face cam 30 fixed on the end of the motor shaftrandengaging a lug 32 fixed to the middle of the diaphragm. When the diaphragm is of the resilient type, being formed of spring metal, it' tends constantly to remain in or assume the position illustrated in 4; the pump chamber now being of maximum size. The center of the diaphragm is pressed toward the right during each revolution of the motor, thus effecting a decrease in the size of the pump chamber. Wherever the cam permits, the diaphragm springs back to its normal position and remains there until the high portion of the cam again acts on it.

'Ihe shelf 24 is preferably provided with a passage 33 through which the container is vented to atmosphere, to avoid the building up of back pressure in the container.

That portion of the motor shaft in the housing is preferably provided with a fan element 34 to produceva circulation of air to cool the pump apparatus as a whole.

In Figs. 6 and '1 I have illustrated a modified form of pump. Instead of employing a housing and a pump casing, there is a single two-part casing 35 between the parts of which is clamped the diaphragm 22. This casing is secured to a supporting member 36 which carries the shelf 24 from which the container 25 is suspended. The pump chamber 31 lies between the diaphragm and the casing wall 38 engaged with the support. The passage 26 extends through this wall as does the passage39 leading to a nipple 40 corresponding to the nipple 29 in the other form. The diaphragm is operated by a vibrator consisting of a stationary electromagnet 42 and a cooperating L-shaped rocking armature 43. One arm of this armature lies above the stationary electromagnet while the other lies near and parallel to the diaphragm. The armature is supported for rocking movements by a pin 44. Normally the parts occupy the positions shown in Fig. 6, a ball or knob 45 on the vertical arm of the rocking armature contacting the diaphragm at the center of the latter and the other arm standing clear of the electromagnet. When the electromagnet is energized it alternately draws the armature toward it and releases it, thereby producing the same kind of vibrations in the diaphragm as in the case of the motor-operated one. The armature may be provided with heat dissipating means, illustrated as taking the form of a vane 46 projecting from the short arm of the armature.

It is highly desirable that the iron be prevented from overheating and, therefore, I have provided a simple thermostatic control means which shuts oil the heating current whenever any desired temperature is reached and turns it on again upon a predetermined drop of temperature. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the conductors in the cable I4 are connected to two movable switch ilngers 46 and 41 which normally are out of contact with each other. These fingers are located within the body of the iron and, therefore, I have provided a simple thermostatic control means which shuts o the heating current whenever any desired temperature is reached and turns it on again upon a predetermined drop of temperature. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the conductors in the cable I4 are connected to two movable switch lingers 46 and 41 which normally are out of contact with each other. These fingers are located within the body of the iron, well above the sole plate. Extending into the body of the iron from above is a screw 48 having thereon a finger piece 43 for turning the same. The switch and the screw may both be supported by a bracket I6 in such positions relative to each other that the screw may press down the finger 46 until it contacts the finger 41 and, thereafter force both fingers down together.

Attached at one end to the top of the sole plate,

below the switch,is a bimetallic strip 52. The free end of the strip B2 underlies'one end of a lever 53 pivotally supported between its ends on the bracket, below the switch. The switch finger l1 is longer than the finger 46 so that its free end projects beyond the free end of the latter. The second end of the rocking lever 53 has a hook 5I rising therefrom and extending back over the free end of the finger 4l; .the parts being so proportioned that there is some play between the lever.

and the iinger. When the switch is closed, the finger 4l may or may not be pressed down until it contacts the underlying lever, depending upon the temperature at which the switch is to open. In any event, when this temperature isreached, the free end of the bimetallic strip -52 rises, rocking the lever 533 and causing the hook thereon to pull the nger @l down and open the switch. It will be seen that if the switch fingers are pushed down far: enough to rock 'the lever 53 and lift the end in contact with the bimetallic strip clear of the strip, it will take a higher temperature to cause the strip to open the switch than is the case when the lever engages the strip while the switch remains closed.

It will thus be seen that I have'made it possible, without otherwise interfering with the efiiciency of a hand electric fiatiron, to iron and dry goods more rapidly and at lower temperatures than heretofore and speedily to iron and dry goods that have heretofore been regarded as too wet to vpermit ironing without pre-drying. It will further be seen that, although a pump is employed, this does not add to the labor of the ironer, because the pump remains stationary in use, beingn simply permanently connected to one end oi a cable the other end of which is plugged into the iron in the usual way; the only dinerences being that an air or steam line is coupled to the iron simultaneously with, the completing of the electrical connection. It will also be seen that the operation of the iron is automatically controlled to maintain, as nearly as need be, any

6 desired temperature provided that the user properly sets the controlling iinger piece. additionally seen that I have produced simple, eflicient and durable pumpingjmeans for creating the suction necessary for the withdrawal of the moisture from beneath. the sole plate of the natiron.

While I have illustrated and described with particularity only a preferred embodiment of my invention, with a slight modification, I do not desire to be limited to all o! the particular details illustrated and described; but intend to cover all constructions and arrangements coming within the definitions of my invention constituting th appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, an electrically heated atiron provided with a sole plate having a small opening through the `bottom face and a plurality of long channels of a depth less than the thickness oi' the sole plate extending into the iron through said i'ace and radiating from said opening, and a vacuum conduit extending through the body of the iron and connected to said opening.

A 2. 'Ihe combination with an electrically heated hand flatiron having terminals and a bottom face, oi' a conduit opening through said face and provided with an outlet for steam generated below the iron, a suction tube and conductors for an enn ergizing current, and means consisting of a single plug element for simultaneously connecting the tube to the outlet and the conductors to the ter- I minals. l

3. The combination with an electrically heated hand atiron having terminals and a bottom face, of a conduit opening through said face and pro-I vided with an outlet for steam generated below.

the tube and conductors for simultaneously 'connesting the tube to the outlet and the conductors to the terminals.

AUGUST C. PURPURA.

It will be

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