US3003266A

US3003266A - Steaming and dampening iron

Info

Publication number: US3003266A
Application number: US728725A
Authority: US
Inventors: Laurence G Horwitt; Julio F Suarez; Robert E Hopp
Original assignee: Casco Products Corp
Current assignee: Casco Products Corp
Priority date: 1958-04-15
Filing date: 1958-04-15
Publication date: 1961-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-10
Also published as: GB890671A

Description

OC 10, 1951 L.. G. HoRwlTT ETAL 3,003,266

STEAMING AND DAMPENING IRON Filed April l5, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VBY United States Patent O 3,003,266 STEAMING AND DAMPENING IRON Laurence G. Horwitt, New Haven, and Julio F. Suarez,

Milford, Conn., and Robert E. Hopp, Mount Vernon,

N.Y., assignors to Casco Products Corporation, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Filed Apr. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 728,725 13 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) The present invention relates to an electric hand iron of the type which converts self-contained water to steam for steam ironing -fabn'cs and more particularly to an iron which also enables spraying of the self-contained water in a nebulized stream onto fabrics for dampening them.

The steam and spray iron of the present invention has a boiler containing water to be heated to create steam, with the latter being conducted to the fabric through holes in the soleplate. The steam is driven from the boiler by the pressure created therein by the conversion and in the iron of the present invention this pressure is also utilized lto drive the water out of a small orifice with suicient velocity to form a dampening spray of iine droplets of warm water.

An object of the present invention is to provide a steam and spray iron in which self-contained water may be directed as steam ythrough the soleplate to steam iron a fabric or in which the water may be directed in a stream containing only tine droplets of warm water forwardly and downwardly of the iron to dampen the Ifabric prior to and/ or while ironing.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for the spraying of fabrics by a boiler type steam and spray iron in which the spraying means is economical to manufacture and may be incorporated into a conventional steam iron with relatively few changes in the conventional iron.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in a steam and spray iron of the boiler type for the maintaining of a minimum steam pressure in the boiler to enable immediate spraying at any time during steaming and in which the pressure is safely reduced upon opening of the boiler for lling it with water.

In carrying out the present invention, a boiler type steam iron such as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,679,- 704, granted to Thibault, is provided with structure which enables the above recited objects to be attained. To this end, there is provided a pair of passageways in the boiler, one of which conducts steam and hence starts in the steam containing portion of the boiler, while the other conducts water and starts in the water containing portion of the boiler. The other ends of the passageways terminate in a duct which has a nozzle at one end having a small orifice and manually operable valve means are interposed between the passageways and the duct. Operation of the valves causes water to be forced into the duct and through the small orifice to be emitted as a stream of atomized water directed downwardly and forwardly of the iron. It will be appreciated that the commingling of the steam and water in the duct and orifice plus the pressure forcing the uids through the orice causes cooling of the fluid so that the stream consists substantially solely of fine droplets of water. Moreover, the stream, by being remote from the soleplate, does not aiect the temperature of the soleplate nor does the soleplate add heat to the stream.

While la boiler type steam iron has very little pressure therein when it is being used for steaming, the present invention provides for maintaining a minimum pressure in the boiler during steaming to provide suicient pressure in the boiler to cause the spray upon opening of the valves. This is accomplished by a restriction in the 3,63,266 Patented Oct. 10, 1961 ICC passageway conducting steam from the boiler to the sole-- plate to limit the amount of steam flow and yet upon the steam pressure rising to a preselected value, the restriction permits more steam to flow to thus maintain a safe pressure within the boiler.

The steam pressure in the boiler, while needed for spraying, could constitute a hazard to the operator when the filling opening of the boiler is opened. In order to eliminate this possible hazard, the steam and spray iron of the present invention provides a pressure releasing means in the opening which enables the pressure to be safely eliminated quickly and entirely when it is desired to iill the boiler.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of the steam and spray iron of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the iine 2 2 of FiG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of FiG. 2, somewhat enlarged.

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of PEG. 2, also enlarged, with only portions thereof shown in full. FIG. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. l.

Referring to FIGURE l, the iron of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 10 and includes a handle 11, a shell i2 and a soleplate 13 having an electrical heating wire 14 embedded therein. A thermostatic unit 15 is mounted on the soleplate within the shell 12 and has a projecting control knob 16 for enabling the setting of the temperature of the soleplate by regulating the electrical current passing through the heating wire 14 in a manner well known in the art. Mounted within the shell 12 is a boiler 17 which contains water that may be utilized either -for spraying or for steaming the fabric (not shown) -to be ironed.

The steam pressure in the boiler, while needed Vfor the shell for movement between a closed spraying position shown in full lines and a -boiler lling position shown in dotted lines in FIG. l. The handle carries a locking mechanism 19 which cooperates with a catch 28 formed on the upper surface of the shell and a plug 21 for closing a iilling aperture 22 of the boiler, the `filling aperture being located below the top of the boiler, and the plug mtaes with a sealing ring 23 clamped between the shell and the boiler. The wire 14 heats the soleplate and the -water in the boiler to create steam and the steam is conducted from -a steam dome 24 through a steaming passageway consisting of tubular members 25 and 26, channel 27 and apertures 28 formedin the soleplate 13 onto the fabric being ironed. This steam iron construction is well known in the art as evidenced by the above recited patent to Thibault.

The present invention provides for making the above described steam iron into a steam and spray iron economically with only minor alterations in the steam iron structure. This is accomplished by forming the steam dome of an annular turret 29 having the cross-sectional shape shown and including a pair of passageways 34) and 31. One passageway 30 which constitutes a steam passageway terminates in the steam dome, while the other passageway 31 includes a tube 32 which terminates in the water containing portion 33 of the boiler. The other ends of the passageways terminate in a duct 34 which extends radially of the turret and has a nozzle 35 provided with a downwardly and forwardly directed on'tice 36 of smaller diameter than the duct. It will thus be appreciated that steam may pass `from the steam dome through the passageway 30, the duct 34 and out the on'- ice 36 and that Water may be Aforced by steam pressure in the boiler up the tube 32, through -the passageway 31 and the duct 34 and out the orice 36. The steam and is mounted .in the turret a steam valve means and a f water valve means. The steam valve includes -a stem 37 having a beaded end 3% to which is attached a resilient washer 39 -for engagement against the turret adjacent the passageway 3Q to create the seal. The stem 37 extends through the passageway 39 (and has a diameter less than the passageway 36 to enable dow of steam therearound), the duct 34 and through an Vaperture 40 in the turret to project beyond a cap 41 mounted on and forming a part of the turret. Located within the cap 41 is a spring 42 which forces the stem 37 upwardly by engaging .a washer 43 fastened on the stern and a washer 44 resting on the turret. A sealing washer 45 Iis mounted beneath the washer 44 to substantially revent leakage into the cap through the aperture 40. The cross-sectional area of the duct 34 is larger than the cross-sectional area in which steam can dow in the steam passageway 30 with the stem therein to thereby provide less steam pressure in the duct than in the passageway.

The water valve means similarly includes aV stem 46 which passes through the water passageway 31 (and which -is of less diameter than the passageway to enable water to flow therearound) and has Ia reduced end portion 47 containing a rigid Washer 48 and `a resilient sealing washer 49 held in place `as by crimping at 50. The lower extremity of theV stem 46 is provided with a portion of. reduced diameter Si and an end portion 52. The end portion 52 is normally located in an aperture 53 formed in a washer 54, the latter being held in place by compression between the threaded end of the tube and an abutment in the turret. The stern 46 is mounted for axial movement between a closed position shown inV full lines and an open position shown in dotted lines wherein the reduced diameter portion 51 is positioned within the aperture 53 in the washer 54. The stern 46 is biased to -a valve closed position by a springSS circumscribing the portion of the stem enclosed by the cap 41, with the upper portion of the spring abutting a washer 56 secured on the stem, while the lower end of the spring abuts ,a washer 57 resting on the turret with a sealing washer 5S provided to prevent water dow into the cap. The stem has a decreased portion 46a which is positioned in the duct 34- whenthe valve is open to increase the flow area past the stern. Y

It will accordingly be appreciated by the above recited structure that movement of the two

stems

37 and 46 downwardly opens the steam passageway and the Water passageway respectively to permit ow of duid therethrough. In addition, the use of the washer 54 and the reduced diameter Si and the end portion 52 of the water stem '46 provides for controlling the amount of water which can pass through the water valve means and thus serve to meter the spray, and these parts may be economically manuactured within close tolerances. VThe end portion 52 by being only slightly smaller than the aperture 53 enables the metering valve to be self-cleaning.

To operate the valve and thus provide for the spray of tine droplets ofV water'through the orice, aV control button 59 yis mounted in the handle for axial movement and is contained in place by a plate I60' having a tongue 6l which operates in a channel 62 formed' in the button. The bottom surface 63 of the button engages the top of the stems 37 and 4.6 so that movement of the button 59 downwardly by manipulation of the useropens. the two valves to cause the spray.Y It will be appreciated that the' button 59 is located in the forward portion of the handie :l1 and proiects thereabove in a position to be operated by the users thumb of either hand.

According to the present invention it has been found desirable to have steamY flow only through theori-ce at the beginning of the spraying cycle and at the end of the spraying cycle since this prevents large water droplets from being sprayed and it helps to maintain the orifice clear by preventing droplets of water from remaining in the orilice which, upon evaporation, would tend to clog the orifice by leaving deposits therein. To this end, the bottom surface 63 of thev button isv provided with a groove 641 aligned with the top of the water stem 46 with* the bottomoi the groove recessed below thefbottom surface 63 of the button which engages the steam stem 37. Accordingly, pressing the button 59 t'o its normally open spraying position will lirst open the steam valve and then open the water valve while release of the button will first close the water. valve and then close the steam valve.

The present invention provides lfor the prevention of steaming through the soleplate during spraying. This `is accomplished in an economical 'and eicient manner by using the steam valve stem 37 to close the passageway for directing the steam to the soleplate. The upper end of the tubular member 25 is provided withra tubular collar 65 having its top edge 66 Vhanged over the end of the tubular member 2S and its lower edge flanged inwardly as at 67. A resilient tubular insert- 68 is maintained in the tubular member 25 by the collar in the manner shown and projects thereabove to be in alignment with the stern 37 and engageable by the headed end 38 of the stem. t will be appreciated that when the stem 37 is moved to the dotted vline position for normal spraying that the head of the stem engages the end of the resilient tubular insert 63 to close oi the passageway Vconducting steam v to the apertures in the soleplate.

In order to enable the turret 29 and associated parts to be easily and economically secured to the boiler of the conventional steam iron above referred to, the turret Z9 has `an outward-directed ilange `69 on its lower end which engages an inwardly hanged nut 70 to cla-mp the ange 69 between a threaded nipple 71 secured to the boiler by means of threading engagement between the nut 7) and the nipple 7i'. It will thus be appreciated that if it is desired to remove-the turret, including the valve means, .all that is required is the unthreading of the nut. 79. This construction is particularly advantageous in hard water areas wherein the water carries excessive amounts of miner-als which after a period of time are apt to aect the operation of the spray.

In a boiler type steam iron there .isY very little steam pressure in the boiler when steaming andV it has been found that the pressure is insuicient to permit substantially instantaneous spraying upon operation of the button 59 since a time lag is required in order to enable the steam pressure to increase. 1n order to enable the steam and spray iron of the present invention to have immediate spraying upon manipulation of the button 59, there is provided means for maintm'ning a minimum steam pressure within the boiler which does not interfere with the normal steaming of the iron. Thismeans includes a short outer tube 7-2 secured inside the steaming tubular member 2S as by apressed `iit and an inner tube 73 mounted for axial movement relative to the tube 72. The tube 73 carries at its lower end a sealing washer 74 held in place by spinning over the lower end of the inner tube 73 against la metal washer 75 while the upper end of the tube 73 is spun over' arigid washer 76 having arcuate cutoutsV 77 (see FIG. 5) with the washer 76 fitting inside the outer tube 7-2. A spring 73 circumscribes the inner tube 73l and bears against at its upper end the washer 76 and at itsV lower end an inwardly directed tiange 79 of the outer tube 72. The spring tensions the two

tubes

72 and 73 axially and causes the` sealing washer 74 to abut the flange 79 so that with the parts inthe position shown steam passes only through the inner tube 73 since the washer 74 prevents steam -fi'om owing through the cutouts 77 and between the flange 79 and the inner tube.

It will be appreciated that the above described structure restricts the amount of steam ow through the steam tube since the size of the inner tube is selected to maintain a minimum pressure Within the boiler of approximately 11/2 p.s.i. at low steaming temperatures. During higher steaming temperatures when a larger volume of steam is created in order to prevent a substantial increase in the steam pressure, the steam ow to the soleplate is increased. This is effected by the steam pressure acting on the portion of the sealing Washer 74 between the ange 79 and the inner tube 73 to oppose and overcome the tension of the spring 78 to force the sealing washer 74 away from the ange 79 and permit steam to ladditionally iiow through the cutouts 77, between the inner tube 73 and the outer tube 72, between the sealing washer 74 and the flange 79 and around the washers 74 and 75 and the tubular member 25. The spring is selected to permit increasing the steam flow at a relatively low safe steam pressure in the boiler in order to prevent excessive build-up of pressure within the boiler.

To fill the boiler of the iron of the present invention with water, it is necessary to release the latohing mechanism 19 and pivot the handle 11 from the solid line position shown in FIG. 1 to the dotted line position. during steaming and particularlyv spraying, the steam pressure in the boiler would normally constitute a hazard if the filling aperture 22 were opened without releasing the pressure since it would tend to cause steam and boiling water droplets to rush out the aperture 22. In order to eliminate the hazard there is mounted in the iilling opening 22 a cup 80 which closes oli` the opening when there is steam pressure within the boiler. The cup 80 has a bottom surface provided with a plurality of apertures 81 (see FIG. 6) and mounted on the bottom of the cup for movement theretowards Iby a pin S2 is a disk 83. The cup 80 is held Aagainst the funnel-like side 84 of the opening 22 by the pressure of the cover shell and the sealing ring 23.

Upon opening of the lling aperture 22 with steam pressure in the boiler, the pressure will cause the disk 83 to be forced against the bottom of the cup and close oi the apertures 81. However, in order to relieve the pressure safely, there is provided a vent 85 in the funnellike sides 84 of the opening 22 which communicates with another vent 86 formed opposite thereto in the side of the cup 80. Accordingly steam can ow through the vent 85 around the annular chamber formed between the cup and the sides 84 and out-the vent 86. It will be appreciated that steam traveling this tortuous course ydecreases in pressure and that any water contained therein, such as droplets, will not be forced out of the hole to create a hazard. Any water which would collect in the chambercan return to the boiler by passing between the side 84 of the opening and the cup while the disk 83 is large enough todeect Iwaterbubbling upward from the boiler from entering the chamber.

The steam and spray iron of the present invention is provided with a relief valve toV prevent excessive steam pressure if such should occur during either spraying or steaming. As shown in FIG. 4, the turret 29 is provided with a vertical aperture 87 in which is positioned a pin 88 having a head 89 and a sealing washer 96 which bears against the turret. The lower end portion of the pin has a ange 91 against which abuts an end of a spring 92 with the other end of the spring engaging the turret. It will thus be appreciated that the steam pressure exerts a force on the sealing washer 90 and when this force becomes greater than the tension of the spring 92, the washer moves away from the turret to enable steam to escape through the aperture 87 into the cap 41 of the turret. A relief port 93 is provided in the valve and from leakage around the stems 37 and 47. The owing of uid out through the port 93 does not create a hazard since the ilow is deiiected by the handle.-

It will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosed a steam and spray iron which may be economically manufactured by reason of the spraying mechanism being easily incorporated into a conventional steam iron. The iron is safe to use during spraying since the spray consists only of tine droplets of warm water and the boiler may be iilled with water immediately after spraying without creating a hazard by the provision of means for safely releasing the steam pressure in the boiler. The iron of the present invention moreover provides for substantially instantaneous spraying upon operation of the control button by reason of the maintaining of a minimum steam pressure within the boiler during the steaming operation.

Variations and modifications may :be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

1. A spraying and steam iron comprising a soleplate, a heating element for the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water and be heated to convert the water to steam, a turret mounted on the boiler and forming a steam dome, a duct formed in the turret and communieating with an orifice formed therein, a rirst passageway communicating with the duct and the steam dome, a second passageway independent of the rst communieating between the duct and the water containing portion of the boiler, and separate valve means located in its associated passageway for opening and closing each passageway individually whereby opening of both valve means enables the steam pressure in the boiler to force water through the second passageway into the duct and out the orifice in a stream of tine droplets of water.

2. A spraying and steam iron comprising a soleplate, a heating element for the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water and be heated to convert the water to steam, -a turret mounted on the front portion of the boiler and forming a steam dome, a duct formed in the turret and extending lengthwise of the iron, a downwardly inclined orice having a diameter less than that of the duct communicating with the duct, a rst passageway communicating with the `duct and the steam dome, a second passageway independent of the first communicating between the duct and the water containing portion of the boiler, and separate valve means located in its associated passageway for opening and closing each passageway individually whereby opening of both valve means enables the steam pressure in the boiler to force water through the second passageway into the duct and out the orifice in a stream of ne droplets o water downwardly and lforwardly of the iron.

3. A spraying `and steam iron comprising a soleplate, a heating element for the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water and be heated to convert the water to steam, an annular nipple secured to the boiler, a turret having a steam dome, means for removably securing the turret to the nipple, a duct formed in the turret and communicating with an ori-lice formed therein, a tirst passageway communicating with the duct and the steam dome, a second passageway independent of the first communicating between the duct and the Water containing portion of the boiler, and separate valve means located in its associated passageway for opening and closing each passageway individually whereby opening of both valve means enables the steam pressure in the boiler to force water through the second passageway into the duct and out the oriiice in a stream of iine droplets of water.

4. A spraying and steam iron comprising a soleplate, a heating element for the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water and be heated to convert the water to steam, a turret mounted on the boiler and forming a steam dome, a duct formed in the turret and communisondeosV cating with an oriiice formed therein, a first passageway communicating with the duct and the steam dome, la second passageway Vindependent of the rst communicating, between the duct and the water containing portion of the boiler, separate valve means located in its associated passagewayV for opening and closing each passageway with each of said valve means including a stem mounted for axial movement in the turret and includingV an end portion extending beyond the turret, a handle having a portion overlying the turret, and a button mounted in the handle for movement along the axis of the valve stems, said button when actuated having a surface which engages the ends of both stems to operate both valves whereby pressing of the button causes opening of both valve means to enable the steam pressure inthe boiler to force Water through the second passageway into the duct and out the oriice in a stream ofY ne droplets o water. Y

5. A spraying; and. steam iron comprising a soleplate, a heating element for the soleplate, a boilerV adapted to contain water and be heated to convert the water to steam, a turret mounted on the boiler and forming a steam dome, a duct formed in the turret and communieating with an orice formed therein, a first passageway communicating with the duct and the steam dome, a second passageway independent or" the first communicating between the duct and the water containing portion of the boiler, separate valve means located in its associ.- ated passageway for opening and closing each passageway, and a single control means for operating lboth valve means including a lost motion connection between the second passageway valve means and the control means whereby operation of the control means opens the irst passageway lirst and then the second to enable the steam pressure in the lboiler to force water through the second passageway into the duct and out the oriice in a stream of ne droplets of water and upon release of the control means the rstpassageway is closed after the second passageway, in which each valve means includes a stem having an end projecting above the turret, the ends are substantially aligned, the control means is a button having a surface engaging the endsof the stem and the first passageway valve stem engaging portion of the button protrudes beyond vthe second passageway stem engaging portion of the button.

6. A spraying and steam iron .comprising avsoleplate, a heating element for the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain` water -and'be heated to convert the water to steam, a turret mounted on the boiler yand forming a steam dome, said turret including an aperture communicating with the steam dome and a reliefl port communicating with a channel, pressure relief valve means 1n said channel whereby said relief valve means opens to allow escape of excess steam pressure in said boiler through said Vchannel and port, a duct formed in thev turret and communicating with an orifice formed therein independent of the channel, a first passageway communicatingV with the duct and the steam dome, a secondl passageway communicating between'the duet and the w-ater containing portion of the boiler, valve means for opening `and closing each passageway whereby opening of the valve meansenables the steam pressure in the boiler to force water through the second passageway into the duct and out the orifice in a stream of ine droplets of water.

7. The invention as dened in claim 6 in which the iron has a handle, in which the relief port is in the top portion of the turret and in which the handle includes a portion overlying the port to deect escaping steam.

k8. In a spray and steam electric iron having a soleplate, electric heating means for the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water and to be heated by the heating means to convert the water to steam, means for spraying water from the boiler forwardly of the iron and means for conducting steam from the boiler to the $91,6-

81 plate, the improvement comprising means for maintaining a minimum. steam pressure in the boilerwhensteam-A ingsaid pressure being suicient to force the water from the boiler out the spray means upon.V actuationV of the spraying means and in which the means is mounted in the steam conducting means and includes an outer tube and an inner tube mounted. inside the outer tube, a sealing surface onl an end of the inner tube, a sealing seat formed on the adjacent end of the outer tube, spring means for maintaining sealingv engagementv between the sealing surface and seat whereby the inner tube restricts the amount of steam flowing through the conducting means to maintainsa pressure and steam. ilows between the outer and inner tube upon the steamnpres` sure overcoming the force of the spring to end engage-A ment between the. sealing, surface,Y and sealing seat.

9. AY spray and steam iron comprising, a soleplate, heating means on the soleplate, a boiler adapted to con.- tain water which` is heated by the heating/'means into steam and being formed with a Vfilling opening, ahandle carrying a closing member forY the filling opening mountedy for pivotal movement with respect to the boiler between opening and closing positions for the opening, and pressure releasing means positionedin the wall of the opening for preventing sudden release of steam pressure upon opening of the opening.

l0. A spray and steam iron comprising a soleplate, heating means on the soleplate, a boiler adapted to con.- tain water which is heated by the heating meansV into steam. and being formed with a lling opening, a handle carrying a closing` member for the illing opening mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the boiler between opening and closing positions for the opening, and pres,- sure releasing means positioned inthe opening for preventing sudden release of steam pressure upon opening of the opening, said pressure releasing means includingl a cup positioned in the opening and. having -apertures formed in the bottom thereof, and a disk mountedvon the cup and normally spaced from the bottom of the cup for movement against the bottom when the opening is opened Wherebysteam pressure in the boiler causes the disk to be moved against the bottomA to close oi the apertures..

11. A spray and steam iron comprising a soleplate, heating means on the soleplate, a boiler adaptedV to contain water which is heated by the heating meansY into steam and being formed with a filling opening,r a handle carrying a closing member for the filling opening mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the boiler between opening and closing positions for the opening,4 and pressure releasing means positioned in the openingV for preventing sudden release of steam pressure upon opening of the opening and including at least one vent inthe side of the opening for enabling the steam to gradually flow therethrough to safely decrease the steam pressure.

l2. A spray and steam iron comprising a soleplate, heating means on the. soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water which. is heated by the heatingY meansA into steam and being formed with a lling opening, aV handle carrying a closing member for the filling openingmounted for pivotal movement with respect to the boiler between opening and closing positions for theY opening, and pressure releasing means positioned in the openingk for preventing sudden release of steam pressure upon opening of the opening, said pressure releasing means including a cup positioned in the opening, the sides of the cup and the sides of the opening forming therebetween an annular chamber, a irst vent in the side of the boiler leading to the chamber and a second vent in the side of the cup leading to the chamber whereby steam in the boiler passes through the rst vent, the chamber and out the second vent Vto reduce the pressure gradually in the boiler.

13. A spray and steam iron comprising a' soleplate, heating means on the soleplate, a boiler adapted to contain water which is heated by the heating means into steam and being formed with a filling opening, a handle carrying a closing member for the llling opening mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the boiler between opening and closing positions for the opening, and pressure releasing means positioned in the opening for preventing sudden release of steam pressure upon opening of the opening, said pressure releasing means including a cup positioned in the opening and having -apertures formed in the bottom thereof, a disk mounted on the cup and normally spaced from the bottom of the cup for movement against the bottom when the opening is opened whereby steam pressure in the boiler causes the disk to be moved against the bottom to close off the apertures, the sides of the cup and the sides of the opening forming therebetween an annular chamber, a rst vent in the side of the boiler leading to the chamber and a second vent 15 2,810,218

in the side of the cup leading to the chamber whereby steam in the boiler passes through the rst vent, the chamber and out the second vent to reduce the pressure gradually in the boiler.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,387,757 Hoecker Oct. 30, 1945 2,475,572 Schreyer July 5, 1949 2,655,745 Thibault Oct. 20, 1953 2,716,297 Hoecker Aug. 30, 1955 2,768,455 Hoecker Oct. 30, 1956 2,805,497 Gomersall Sept. 10, 1957 Hoecker Oct. 22, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. ,3,003,266 October 10 1961 Laurence G. Horwitt et al.

It is hereby certified 'that error ap entvrequirng correction and that the sai "corrected below.

pears in the above numbered patd Letters Patent should read as Column 2, linde 37, for "The steam pressure in the boiler@ while needed for' read The handle ll is pivoted on pivot 18 on the rear of --3 column 5 line 26? for "during" read During vSigned and sealed this 3ra day of April 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER T DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents