US2794275A - Steam iron - Google Patents

Description

June 4, 1957 A. c. HOECKER 2,794,275

STEAM IRON Original Filed Jan. 2, 1948 32 FIG. 1. 3 9'6 50 FIG 7 I 36 a7 #7 0 IN VEN TOR.

rates Unite STEAM RON Continuation of abandoned application Serial No. 292,

January 2, 1948. This application May 24, 1954, Serial No. 431,917

4 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to pressing irons, and particularly to pressing irons of the steam generating type adapted to discharge substantially dry steam, a mixture of steam and water, or atomized water.

This application is a continuation of my pending application Serial No. 292, filed January 2, 1948, for Steam and Dampening Iron, and, in general, represents improvemcnts over the construction disclosed in my U. S. Patent No. 2,387,757, issued October 30, 1945.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel steam and dampening iron whereby dampening fluid can be conducted to the material being ironed, through the sole plate, and from above the sole plate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel steam and dampening iron with means whereby the particles of moisture or Water from a dampening iron can be directed to the material being ironed without lifting the iron off the material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a steam and dampening iron with a control valve and an atomizing discharge outlet restricted to enable the steam pressure within the boiler to effect atomization of the dampening fluid discharged through said discharge outlet.

It is another object of the invention to provide a steam and dampening iron adapted to discharge substantially dry steam, a mixture of steam and water, or atomized water to the material to be ironed.

Other and further objects will appear in the specification and be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings exemplifying the invention and in which:

- Fig. 1 is a vertical central sectional view of the iron.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the iron.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of the sole plate.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the rear of the iron.

Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are views of the valve showing the various open and closed positions thereof.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the iron generally. The iron includes a boiler 1 and a sole plate 2, said sole plate being cast as an integral part of the boiler. Between the lower wall 3 of the boiler and the sole plate is a recess 4 for the reception of a heating element 5. The heating element 5 is of conventional design and is provided with the usual terminals 6, said terminals being connected to a conductor 7 which conducts electrical energy from a source of supply to the heating element 5.

At the rear end of the boiler is a housing 12 cast as an integral part of the boiler walls for the reception of the terminals 6 of the heating element 5. In the lower wall 3 of the boiler which extends into the housing 12 are slots 9 for the reception of the terminals 6. Below the wall 3 and above the sole plate 2 is 'a slot 8 which communicates with the recess 4. The heating element atent for the reception of the conductor 7.

The forward end of the sole plate 2 is provided with a steam distributing channel 13 having stem discharge outlets 14 to the under surface of the sole plate 2.

Extending up in the boiler is a steam distributing channel 15 which extends vertically and transversely of the iron, the walls of said channel being cast as an integral part of the boiler for conducting the steam through an opening in the sole plate and for conducting the steam through an opening 16 into the steam channel or chamber 13, from which the steam is conducted to the matcrial to be ironed through the outlets 14 in the sole plate. The upper wall of the channel 15 is provided with an atomizing discharge outlet or spray slot 17 which communicates with the channel 15 and the boiler for conducting steam or atomized Water to the material to be ironed.

This atomizing discharge outlet or spray slot 17 is very important because the small restricted outlet 17 retains sufficient steam pressure in the boiler to effect atomization of the water discharged therethrough.

Extending upwardly from the slot 17 and cast integrally with the walls of the distributing channel 15 is a tubular member 18 which extends through the top wall of the boiler. On one side of the tubular member 18 and communicating therewith are a pair of water inlets 19 and 20 which in turn communicate with a water pipe 21 which extends into the water space in the boiler. Opposite the Water inlets 19 and 20 is a water discharge outlet 22 which communicates with the discharge outlet or atomizing outlet 23 in the spray housing 24, and just below the outlet 22 is a steam inlet 25 which communicates with the tubular member 18.

Located within the tubular member 18 is a rotary valve 26, and extending through the valve is a passageway 27 which communicates with the water inlet 19 and the discharge outlet 22 and restricted atomizing discharge outlet 23 in the spray housing 24. Below the passageway 27 in the valve and extending through the valve is a second passageway 28 which communcates with the steam inlet 25 and the water inlet 20 and both of said inlets and the passageway 28 communicate with the discharge outlet 29 in the center of the valve and the atomizing discharge outlet 17, the discharge outlet 17 communicating with the distributing channel 15. The steam inlet 25 also communicates with a passageway 30 and discharge outlet 29 in the valve 26, the discharge outlet 29 communicating with the atomizing discharge outlet 17 in the channel 15. The operation of the valve 26 will be described later.

A valve stem 31 is secured to the valve 26 and extends through a s-tufiing box 32 and gland 33 and opening in the member 34 and is secured to the operating handle 35. The lower end of the member 34 is provided with an enlarged tapered portion 36 for sealing the tapered opening 37 in the boiler wall. The member 34 and tubular member 18 are provided with screw threads 38 for securing the member 34 in position.

The rear end of the boiler is provided with a cylin drical chamber 39, the Wall of said chamber being cast integrally with the upper and rear walls of the boiler. The chamber communicates with the interior of the boiler and the lower end of the chamber is reduced to form a valve seat 40 in which a valve 41 is seated. A valve stem 42 is secured to the valve 41, said stern extending through a plate 43 and packing 44, said plate closing the upper opening in the chamber 39 and being secured to the boiler by screws 49. The upper end of the valve stem 42 is secured to an operating handle 45, said handle adapted to cooperate with a earn 46 which is cast as an integral part of the rear end or the boiler and extends transversely thereof for lifting the valve 41 off the seat 40. A spring 43 surrounds the valve stem 42 and engages the valve 41 and plate '43 for holding the valve on its seat. A bracket '50 on the handle 51, holds the packing 44 in position, said handle being secured to the iron by screws 52.

At the rear of the boiler and on the side of the chamber 39 is a box-like member or casing 56 including a funnel 55 which is cast integrallywith the boiler wall and the wall of the housing 12 and in the wall of the chamber391 and communicating with the'boX-like member and funnel 55 and chamber 39 is an open'ingor steam'outlet 53 which communicates with a steam outlet 54 and between the outlets 53 "and 54 and cast integrally with the walls of the box-like member '56 is a baffle 55. This bafiie 55 causes the steam to travel in zigzag manner around the bafiie 55 in the casing or'box-like member 56, before'the steam is discharged through the opening 54 to the-atmosphere, thereby reducing the steam pressure and preventing injury to the operator of the iron, in the event excessive steam pressure in the boiler should lift the valve 41 oil the seat 40, or in the event the operator of the iron should accidentally lift the valve olf its seat, while steam is in the boiler, for filling'the boiler with water. The valve is lifted off the seat 'by moving the handle 45 from the low part'of the cam 46 to the high part of the cam.

It will be noted that the valve 41 has adual purpose: (l)it acts as a safety valve, and (2) it provides means for filling the boiler with water.

To prevent Waterentering the steam inlet 25 during the movements of the iron, the iron is provided with'a baffle 57 which is cast integrally with the boiler and extends from the side walls of the boiler to the front of the boiler and in the baffle atthe forwardendth'ereof is a minute opening 58 which extends through the baffle in such a manner that any water passing through the opening will be discharged againstthe wall of the boiler and thereby prevent the water splashing upwardly into the steam inlet 25, and any water that-may accidentally or otherwise pass through'the opening SS-from the boiler 'Will'drain back into-the boiler.

To operate the iron, it isonlynecessary to move the handle 45 to the high point on the cam '46 for introduction of water into the'boiler through the'funnel 55. After the boiler is 'filled with water 'to-approxim'ately one inch below the baffle 57, the handle 45 --is moved to the lowpoint on the cam 46. With the handle 45 at the low point of the cam 46, the 'boiler'will be sealed and the valve'41 will act as a safety valve. The electric current'may then be applied to the-conductor 7 and the terminals 6 to heat the electric heating elementwhich will heat the sole plate 2 and the water in-the boiler. After sufficient steam is generated and referring now to the enlarged valves shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, it will be noted that in Fig. 7, the 'valve 26 is shown in closed position and the pointer on the handle 35 should point to (Off) on the dial on the handle 51. When the pointer on the handle 35-points to (Off) 011 the handle 51'no steam'or dampening fluid will beconducted to the material to be ironed and the iron will act as a-dry iron. If the operator of the iron desires a'mixt'ure of atomized steam and water the handle 35 is'rota'te d clockwise until the pointer on the handle 35 points to (SW) on the handle 51. With the pointer on'the handle '35 pointing to (SW) water will enterthe passageway 28 in the valve 26 through the water inlet 20 andsteam 'willenter'the passageway 2 8 through the steam inlet "25 as clearly shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 6, mixing the steam and water in the passageway -28. From the passageway 28 the mixed steam and Water passes through the outlet 29 in the valve 26 and is discharged through the atomizing outlet 17 into the transverse opening 15 and from the transverse opening the mixture :of atomized steam and Water is conducted to the material to be ironed. Note the atomizing discharge outlet 17 extends up in the iron a distance from the material to beironed so the atomized mixture of steam and water can scatter before contacting the material. Note also that the transverse opening 15 extends almost the full Width of the iron and the atomizing discharge outlet extends parallel therewith, making it possible for the atomized mixture of steam and Water to scatter over a considerable area of the material.

If the operator of the iron desires dampening the clothing or material with atomized water, the handle 35 is rotated until the pointer on the handle 35 points to (W) "on the handle 51. With the pointer pointing to (W) Water Will enter the passageway 27 in "the valve 26 through the water inlet 19 and be conducted to the material to be ironed through the "outlet 22 "and atomizing discharge outlet 23, "as shown in Fig. '1 and in "the enlarged valve View of Fig. '3. It will be 'no'tedthatth'e atomizing'disc'harge outlet '23 also extends above the sole plate so the atomized Water can scatter before contacting the material to be ironed, there-by properly "dampening the material.

7 If theoperatorof the iron'desires s'team'only the handle 35 is rotated until the pointer on the handle 35 points to (S) on the'handle 51. With the'pointer'onthe handle 35 pointing to (S on-the-handle 51'the valvewill be in the position shown in the enlarged view of Fig. 9. With the valve'open as shown in Fig. 9, *steam'will'enter the valve passagewaySll through-the steaminlet 25 and be conducted to the material tobe ironed through the opening 29 in the valve and-through the atomizing discharge outlet 17 and transverse opening. The transverse opening 15 extends through the sole -plate'2 for conducting the steam to the material-beingironed, however, While the iron'is on the clothin'gor material 'part of the steam will enterthe channel 13 through the opening I6 andb'ee'ondueted to the material through-'the-discharge outlets 14.

From the foregoing it will be noted that I have not only invented a steam iron but-also'a dampening'ir'on that will-dampen the material to-be ironed s'ufliciently to remove wrinkles from all clothing, which is the most important parrot 'the item-"since steamirons-do not furn'ish snfiicient moisture to remove wrinkles from all clothing.

Variousmodifications may bemade in this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, andtherefore the exact-forms are to be taken Y as illustrative only, and not in a limiting-sense and 'it is-'desired'that only stwh limitations shall be placed thereon as necessitated in-the prior'art.

What I claim'is:

.1. A steam and dampening iron comprising a sole plate, a boiler for the reeeption=of-steam :and water, said boiler having a steam space anda water space,-*a'n atomizing device com'p'rising a water=conductor having one end extendinginto said water space and the'other end having an atomizing dischargeoutlet'suificientlyrestricted to retain sufiicientsteam pressure in said boiler to 'atomize the water passing through said discharge outlet, said discharge 'oiltlet extending above the sole plate exteriorly of said b'oiler, so the atomized i water discharged frorn said outlet can satterover a considerable areaof the-material being ironed witlioutlifting the iron "off the material, meansconiniunioating with-the ste'am space in-said boi'ler fo r conducting the stea'm through an' opening in said sole: plate to-canse' the :steam to be forced through the-material beingironed, andrneans for heating said sole plate and the water insaid =boiler =tolproduce steam.

2. A steam and dampening iron comprising a sole plate, a boiler for the reception of steam and water, said boiler having a steam space and a water space, an atomizing device comprising a water conductor having one end extending into said Water space and the other end of said conductor extending above said sole plate exteriorly of said boiler for conducting atomized water from said boiler to the material to be ironed so that the atomized water will scatter over the material to be ironed in a cloud of atomized water, at least a part of said conductor being restricted to retain suflicient steam pressure in said boiler to atomize the water passing through said conductor and a valve in the passageway of said conductor for controlling the water passing through said conductor, means communicating with said steam space and an opening through said sole plate for conducting steam to the material to be ironed, and means for heating said sole plate and the water in said boiler to produce steam.

3. A steam and dampening iron comprising a sole plate, a steam boiler for the reception of steam and water and having a steam space and water space, an atomizing device comprising a water conductor having one end extending into said water space and the other end extending above the sole plate exteriorly of said boiler and provided with an atomizing discharge outlet for conducting the atomized Water to the material to be ironed, said atomizing discharge outlet extending above said sole plate so that the atomized water can burst into a cloud of atomized water before contacting the material to be ironed, to properly dampen the material, steam conducting means communicating with said steam space and with an .6 opening through said sole plate for conducting steam to the material to be ironed and valve control means communicating with said water and steam conducting means for directing the water through said atomizing discharge outlet to the material to be ironed for dampening the material, and for directing the steam through said sole plate opening for steaming the material, and means for heating said sole plate and the water in said boiler to produce steam.

4. A dampening and pressing iron comprising a sole plate, a boiler for the reception of steam and water, said boiler having a steam space and a water space, an atomizing device comprising a water conductor having one end extending into said water space and the other end extending above said sole plate exteriorly of said boiler for conducting atomized water from said boiler -to the material to be ironed so that the atomized water will scatter over the material in a cloud of atomized water, at least a part of said conductor being restricted to enable the steam pressure within the boiler to efiect atomization of the water passing through said conductor and a valve in the passageway of said conductor for controlling the atomized water, and means for heating said sole plate and the water in said boiler to produce steam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,357,862 Wolcott et a1 Sept. 12, 1944 2,387,757 Hoecker Oct. 30, 1945 2,596,608 Scott May 13, 1952 2,674,054 Maykemper Apr. 6, 1954

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