US2861364A

US2861364A - Automatic feed apparatus for steam irons

Info

Publication number: US2861364A
Application number: US433235A
Authority: US
Inventors: Klein Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-05-28
Filing date: 1954-05-28
Publication date: 1958-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1975-11-25

Description

Nov. 25, 1958 w. KLEIN AUTOMATIC FEED APPARATUS FOR STEAM IRONS Filed May 28. 1954 M m m 5 N WM e @NK. N RN e w m 4M4 4 @m. E/ Q i w w MV =YXA M k QA E N 9N \N N NN NNJ N w NR h, m A Q 0 x w A N\ N\ 0% mv.\

United States Patent AUTOMATIC FEED APPARATUS FOR STEAM IRONS Walter Klein, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 28, 1954, Serial No. 433,235

7 Claims. (Cl. 3877) My invention relates to automatic water feed apparatus for steam irons, and included in the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide an automatic water feed apparatus for steam irons which maintains a constant supply of distilled water at a predetermined pressure for a battery of steam irons, whether or not any or all of such irons are in operation.

Second, to provide an apparatus of this class which automatically shuts off and operates a warning means when the supply of water is depleted, or pressure drops from any other cause.

Third, to provide an apparatus of this class which is arranged to utilize distilled water as supplied in glass bottles without transfer to a special storage tank.

With the above and other objects in view, as may appear hereinafter, reference is directed to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of my apparatus, shown in relation to a battery of steam irons;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve means employed in my apparatus;

Fig. 3 is an end view of a modified form of valve element;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thereof, through 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram, illustrating the mode of operation of my apparatus.

My automatic feed apparatus for steam irons employs an electric motor 1 which drives a pump 2, which is connected by an intake line 3 to a source of water supply which may be a conventional glass carboy 4 containing distilled water.

A discharge line 5 extends from the pump 2 to a valve body 6 having a supply passage 7 communicating with the discharge line 5. The supply passage 7 extends through the valve body and is joined to a supply line 3. A main shut-off valve 9 is preferably interposed in the supply line 8, adjacent the valve body 6. The supply line 8 extends past a battery of steam irons 10yand is connected thereto by a series of lateral lines 11, each of which may have control valves 12.

The valve body 6 is provided with a main bypass 13, leading from the supply passage 7 and communicating with a return line 14 which extends into the upper end of the carboy 4. Interposed in the main bypass 13 is a check valve 15 which is preloaded by a spring 16 so that the main bypass 13 remains closed until the pressure in the supply passage 7 and supply line 8 reaches a predetermined value. Adjustment of the spring 16 is effected by a screw 17 located in a screw-threaded socket formed within the valve body 6. The extremity of this socket is closed by a seal screw 18. It is desirable that there be restricted communication between the intake line 3 and the return line 14 at all times. This is accomplished as shown in Fig. 2, by means of a bleed port 19 bypassing the check valve 15.

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Also communicating with the supply passage 7 is a normally closed pressure switch 22 adapted to be opened when the pressure in the supply passage 7 and supply line 8 reach a predetermined value. As shown in Fig. 5, the pressure switch 22 is in series with a normally closed relay 23 having contacts which control the motor 1. A normally open manual switch 24 is provided which shunts the contacts of the relay 23 so that the motor may be started, irrespective of the pressure in the supply passage 7.

It is desirable to provide a warning means should the pressure switch 22 close, causing the relay 23 to open, as would be the case if the pressure in the supply passage 7 and supply line 3 falls below a predetermined value, whether from depletion of the water or other cause. This is accomplished by a signal light 25 and buzzer 26 connected in parallel with the coil of the relay 23 so that when the relay is energized the warning light and buzzer function.

Operation of my automatic feed apparatus for steam irons is as follows:

When the main switch 27 is closed, in order to start the apparatus the warning light and buzzer are caused to operate. The manual switch 24 is then closed and held closed until the warning light and buzzer cease to operate, indicating that the pressure switch 22 has opened and the pressure in the supply line is adequate.

The water demand of a battery of steam irons may vary from zero, when the irons are heating up or are not in operation, to a predetermined maximum when all of the irons are in full use. If the demand is zero or nearly so, the output from the pump is returned through the check valve 15 to the point of supply. As the demand increases, the check valve tends to close, reducing the recirculation of the distilled water. When the apparatus is properly installed, the maximum demand never exceeds the output of the pump so that under all conditions of operation there is a return flow of distilled'water through the return line 14.

It should be observed that the carboy is normally disposed at a lower lever than the pump, and that the restricted bypass around the check valve enables the pump to pump water during the starting period as well as during periods of no demand.

Should the pressure drop for any reason, whether due to pump failure or depletion of the water, the warning light and buzzer functions and the motor 1 is stopped, so that the condition may be immediately rectified before water contained in the steam irons is depleted or the pump run dry.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for automatically supplying water to steam irons, comprising: a supply line connected to a steam iron; a water container; a discharge and return line connected with said water container; a pump having an intake side connected with said discharge line; a motor for driving said pump; a pressure switch for controlling said motor; warning means also controlled by said pressure switch; a valve body having an inlet port connected with the outlet side of said pump, a supply port connected with said supply line, a pressure port connected withsaid pressure switch, a return port connected with said return line, unrestricted ,passageways interconnect- Iingsaid-inlet, supply, and pressure ports, a main passage, and a restricted by-pass, both communicating between said passageways and said return port; and a pres- :sure relief valve including a check valve and spring means disposed in said main passage for effecting unidirectional .flowfrom said passageways to said return port and re-. turn line, and tending to maintainapredetermined pressure in said passageways, supply line, and pressure switch; said pressure switch operable ,to'stop saidmotor .and actuate saidrwarning means on drop of pressure in said passageways below a predetermined value; said re- ;stricted byepass permitting limited circulation from said discharge line through said pump and back to said return line, irrespective of the position of said pressure relief valve.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said restricted by-pass is a passage extending through said ,check valve.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said restricted by-pass is separate from said check valve.

4. An apparatus for automatically supplying water to steam irons, comprising: a supply line connected to a :steam iron; a water container; a discharge and'return .line connected with said water container; a pump having an intake side connected with said discharge line; a motor for driving said pump; a pressure switch for con- .trolling said motor; warning means also controlled by said pressure switch; a valve body defining a longitudinal .bore, atransverse bore, a by-pass bore parallel to said longitudinal bore and intersecting said transverse bore, ;said valve body also defining an inlet port at one extremity .of said longitudinal bore connected with the outlet end of said pump, a supply port at the other end of said longitudinal bore connected with said supply line, a pressure portat one ,endtof said transverse bore connected with said pressureswitch, and a return port connecting .said .by -pass bore with said return line; a valve seat in .saidtransverse bore between said longitudinal bore and ,saidtby-pass bore; ,a check valve engageable with said valve seat to effect unidirectionalflow between said longitudinal bore and said by-pass bore; a spring backing said check valve; a spring tension adjustment member screwthreaded in said transverse bore; a screw-threaded cap closing the transverse bore; said spring being adjustable by said member to hold said check valve closed until a predetermined pressure differential obtains between said longitudinal bore and said by-pass bore; and means forming a restricted passage between said longitudinal bore and by -pass bore to maintain flow of water from said discharge line through saidrpump and back to said return line, irrespective of -the position of said check valve; said pressure switch being operable to stop said motor and actuate said warning means on drop of pressure in said passageway below a predetermined value.

5; An apparatus assetforth inclaim 4, wherein: said restricted port is located within said check valve.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein: said restricted port is located externally of said check valve.

7. An apparatus for automatically supplying water to steam irons: a pump having an intake and an outlet;.-a

motor for driving said pump; a supply line for connect ing the outlet of said pump to a plurality of steam irons; a water container; ,a dispensing line and a return line connected with said container, said dispensing line also being connected with the intake of said pump; means for continuously recirculating a portion of the output of said ptunp through said return line to said container; a pressure, relief valve including a check valve and a spring, and disposed relative to said pump to by-pass additional portions of the output of said pump and tending to maintaina predetermined pressure in said supply line and steam'irons, a pressure switch exposed to the pressure insaid supply line and electrically connected with said motor in the event the pressure in said supply line falls below a predetermined value; and a warning means also electrically connected with said'pressure switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 644,741 Guthrie Mar. 6, 1900 1,654,614 Smith Jan. '3, 1928 2,019,954 Desure Nov. 5, 1935 2,075,719 'I-Iillis Mar. 30, 1937 2,090,035 Fellows Aug. 17, 1937 2,270,146 Steele Jan. 13, 1942 2,302,476 Rubinstein Nov. 17, 1942