US3685180A

US3685180A - Adjustable sprayer iron

Info

Publication number: US3685180A
Application number: US84411A
Authority: US
Inventors: William E Davidson
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1970-10-27
Filing date: 1970-10-27
Publication date: 1972-08-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-08-22
Also published as: AU3410371A; DE2152683A1; AU468991B2; CA933084A

Abstract

The disclosure shows a steam and spray iron having an adjustable sprayer assembly with means to vary the spray flow rate through the sprayer by varying the steam flow on each manual operation of the sprayer.

Description

United States Patent Davidson [45] Aug. 22, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE SPRAYER IRON 2,716,297 8/1955 l-loecker ..38/77.5 inventor: E. Davidson, Ontario, SwenSOn et al. ..38/77-5 [73] Assignee: General Electric Company Primary ExaminerPatrick D. Lawson Attorney-Lawrence R. Kempton, Leonard J. Platt [22] Filed. Oct. 27, 1970 and John F. Cullen [21] Appl. No.: 84,411

. ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl ..38/77.5 The disclosure shows a steam and spray iron having an [51] Int. Cl. ..D06f 75/06 adjustable sprayer assembly with means to vary the [58] Field of Search ..38/77.5, 77.81 spray flow rate through the sprayer by varying the steam flow on each manual operation of the sprayer. [56] References Cited 6 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoecker ..3s/77.5

ADJUSTABLE SPRAYER IRON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a spray iron and more particularly to a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron whereby an adjustment means varies the steam flow through the sprayer and consequently changes the spray flow rate when the manually operated sprayer control means is actuated.

2. Description of the Prior Art I With the advent of irons using distilled or tap water for either steam or spray purposes or both, a liquid reservoir in the form of a water tank is generally provided in the iron above the soleplate and a water valve structures provides controlled water drippage into a steam generator where the water is evaporated and directed out steam holes in the soleplate to steam the article. Spray attachments have been added to such irons to supply a fine spray from the water tank to spray onto the garment. Such spray attachments may be manual, where each actuation of a suitable button pumps a spurt of water, or the spray may be steam powered where, by suitable valving, the steam pressure is raised and directed to the spray where it aspirates, lifts, or pressurizes the water so that a single depression of the button provides a continuous spray until the button is released. A typical powered spray iron of this type is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,041,757 of common assignment. In steam irons which have the spray feature, the irons have proven to be extremely useful in the ironing of unsprinkled clothes and the occasional redampening of troublesome spots during ironing. The

amount of moisture in the spray or the spray rate of such irons, however, is generally a compromise between a dry or light spray suitable for light fabrics, such as synthetics, to a medium spray suitable for woolens or medium weight cottons, to the heavier wet spray desirable for heavy cottons and linens. Operators differ widely as to what is the proper spray rate for the different materials. For example, a single rate spray iron tends to provide too much liquid on the fabric when synthetics and permanent press fabrics are ironed and it provides insufficient moisture for heavy cottons and linens. Inasmuch as the fabrics being ironed require different amounts of spray and the operators, even on the same materials, differ as to the proper amount of spray, the usual single rate iron is a compromise to meet these variable conditions.

Generally, prior art construction has not provided a design with an adjustable sprayer assembly to vary the spray rate and thus meet a wide range of requirements of fabrics and operators. Assignees copending application Ser. No. 824,591, filed May 14, 1969, now US. pat. No. 3,605,299 of Sept. 20, 197i, discloses such as iron where the spray rate may be varied and this is accomplished by selecting the liquid flow rate through the sprayer. The instant application is a different structural means for providing an adjustable rate power spray to vary the spray flow rate by changing the stem quantity or flow through the sprayer assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention is directed to a steam and adjustable or variable rate power spray iron that has a water reservoir and steam generator connected to receive water from the reservoir and direct steam through the soleplate to the ironing surface and which also uses a sprayer assembly with a sprayer head connected to direct a water and steam mix through a single spray outlet to the ironing surface under the operation of a manual control means in the form of a button on the handle. The sprayer assembly is improved upon by providing a steam tube which has a spray discharge outlet and a water tube that is disposed in the steam tube with an opening adjacent the spray outlet. A tubular spray mixer member is disposed in the water tube and steam tube and it has a transverse passage through it connecting the interior of the steam tube with the outlet. A pin having different thicknesses such as a stepped cross section is disposed in the mixer extending across the passage and slideable lengthwise of the mixer with the water tube, mixer, and pin all longitudinally contained within the steam tube. The stepped cross section of the pin is progressively decreasing so that different cross sections are moved across the passage. The spray operation is controlled by a cap assembly that is slideably mounted over the tubes to open and close the outlet and is operated by the button through a lever means to slide the cap assembly up and down and open and close the outlet respectively. The control means may rotate to act as an adjustment for the lever meansand move the pin to bring different cross sections into the passage and thus variably control the steam flow through the passage. A spring means is provided to bias the pin towards its smallest cross section and the pin has a flat head abutting the cap to limit pin movement. The opening in the water tube may be made in the form of an orifice and the pin can extend into the orifice to act as a clean-out means on each actuation of the sprayer. Consequently, as different cross sections are brought opposite the transverse passage, the steam flow through the passage is variably controlled or changed so that the spray rate varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely with the steam flow. Thus, the main object of the invention is applicable to a steam powered spray iron and is directed to providing an improved sprayer assembly with means to vary the steam flow through the sprayer head as selected when the sprayer control means is actuated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the location of the invention in a flatiron;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross section through the sprayer head showing the sprayer in the 011 position and using a multiple stepped-pin construction;

FIG. 3 is a Semi-diagramatic showing of the spray assembly in the on position of a heavy spray with the sprayer enlarged for clarity and using a two-stepped P FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 3 showing the-spray assembly in the on" position of a light spray setting with higher steam flow; and

FIG. 5 is a partial view internally of the sprayer showing the use of a tapered pin.

Referring to FIG. 1, an iron embodying this invention typically includes a soleplate 10, connected cover 12, and operating handle 14. In accordance with conventional practice, soleplate 10 may be cast from aluminum with an electrical heating element cast into position. The heating element preferably is of the sheathed type in which an electrical resistance element 16 extends through an outer tubular protective sheath with the heating element separated from the outer sheath by an electrical insulating compound resistance to heat such as a mass of granulated and compressed magnesium oxide. The temperature of the soleplate is set by temperature control knob 17 connected to operate a thermostat all as well-known in the. art. In the usual manner, the heating element extends in a loop from the rear of the iron along one side to the forward or pointed end and then rearwardly along the other side. Thus, a substantially uniform heat distribution is provided, especially when an aluminum soleplate plain or coated is employed.

Since spray irons are generally found in combination with steam irons, it is in this. context that the invention is described. The iron includes means for generating vapor under pressure and typically, this may be used to convert liquid such as water into steam and the invention is so described although the term is intended to cover any other liquid also such as aqueous starch solutions. For steam generation, soleplate is provided with a steam generator in the form of cavity 18. A liquid reservoir in the form of water tank 20 supplies water to orifice 22 in water valve 24. The water is controlled by valve stem 26 that is actuated by stepped but-- ton 28 by suitable known linkage mechanism whereby water drips onto the hot soleplate and is converted into steam. The steam so generated is confined and directed over the heated upper surface of the soleplate by coverplate 30 and thence out steam outlets 32. A steam collecting dome 34 is tightly sealed to coverplate' 30 in any suitable fashion and supports various components of the iron including water valve 24. It also carries a pressure balancing tube 36 which transmits the pressure from the steam generator to the upper portion of the water tank 20 to equalize pressure throughout the system. All connections to the steam dome are made liquid tight by well-known techniques. Generally, uniform operating steam pressure is maintained by a steam pressure regulator 38 which determines the pressure under which the liquid spray nozzle operates. A regulator of this type is shown in the aforementioned US. Pat. No. 3,041,757. Steam produced in generator 18, as controlled by regulator 38, is directed upwardly for subsequent downward flow through the pressure regulator and thence through steam outlets 32 to the ironing surface. The pressure regulator 38 maintains a pressure suitable for spray operation.

For maximum use in various operations, the iron should be operable as a dry iron, as a steam iron, or as a liquid sprayer. Therefore, means are provided for controlling whether or not steam is generated within the iron. This includes elongated valve stem 26 suitably guided in a well-known manner and connected to the stepped steam button 28 in the handle. Valve stem 26 is urged upwardly by suitable spring 40, which is compressed when button 28 is depressed to lock the stepped portion of the button under the handle surface whereby stem 26 closes orifice 22 and the iron is operable as a dry iron all in a well-known manner.

To spray water on fabric, there is provided a sprayer assembly including a sprayer head generally shown at 42, arranged within the iron handle and partially extending through an opening within the handle. Preferably, the sprayer is directed downward so the fabric can be dampened without lifting the. iron. The sprayer head is sealed to steam tube means 44 extending through filler cap 46 and opening to the upper portion of the water tank. As seen in FIG. 1, steam tube 44 is aligned with pressure balance tube 36 so that tube 44 is in relatively direct communication with generator cavity 18. Also connected with sprayer head 42 is water tube means 48 communicating at its lower end with the bottom of the tank 20, and at its upper end with sprayer 42.

As described in US. Pat. No. 3,605,299 and, referring to FIG. 2 herein, a cap assembly 50 is disposed over the tubes and designed to move up and down and open and close a spray discharge outlet 52 in the steam tube as will be more fully described hereinafter. The cap assembly is actuatedv by a linkage-control means shown diagramatically in FIGS. 3 and 4 and more fully described in said co-pending application. Briefly, the control means includes a rotatable button 54 with angled or cammed bottom surface 56 to abut angle member 58 whose arm 60 is one end of a lever struc-' ture comprising lever 62 that rotates in a generally bellcrank fashion about pivot 64 on fixed support 66 within the handle. The other arm 68 is bifurcated to straddle cars 70 (shown rotated in FIG. 2 for clarity) and raise and lower the cap through a tube sleeve 72 that bears on the bottom of the gasket member 74. The gasket, in turn, secures and carries the cap 50 with it upon movement. The specific lever structure and tolerance compensating means is fully described in the reference co-pending application and the details thereof form no part of the present invention but is a typical control means connected to move the cap as might be applied to this invention.

In said US. Pat. No. 3,605,299 structure is disclosed whereby the liquid flow rate, i.e., the rate of flow of water through the sprayer may be varied to provide different spray rates. The present invention is directed to a structural arrangement whereby the steam flow instead is varied to result in different structural executions that may offer certain advantages in simplifying the number of parts required, and more precise spray settings.

In a spray iron, the spray flow rate is generally defined as the pounds of water per minute that are passed through the sprayer. Thus, a dry spray in a power spray system comprises mostly steam with a small quantity of water and is used on synthetics. A heavy or wet spray for cottons and linens requires more water and less steam. In order to achieve these varying sprays, the present invention directly controls the steam flow to vary the spray rate. To this end, as seen in FIG. 2, water tube 48 is generally disposed longitudinally within steam tube 44 and water is introduced into the spray by providing the upper end of the water tube 48 with a fixed spray mixing member 76 that acts as an extension of the water tube. Mixing member 76 has a suitable diametrical or transverse passage 78 opening into spray outlet 52 as shown to provide water for the spray. The transverse passage 78 permits steam flow from the interior of steam tube 44 to pass across the passage whereby water in water tube 48 is pulled into the passage and mixed with the steam to exit from outlet 52 in a well-known manner. Water tube 48 acting through the mixer has an opening'80 discharging into adjacent outlet 52 and through which the water exits as picked up by steam coming through passage 78.

In order to control the quantity of steam flow, pin means 82 is longitudinally disposed so that the water tube, mixer and pin are respectively disposed in the steam tube and the pin is designed for movement in the mixer relative to transverse passage 78. Progressively varying quantities of steam flow are obtained by making the pin of decreasing cross-sectional shape or of decreasing diameter in the most convenient execution. Any number of suitable cross sections may be employed-three being shown in FIG. 2. Movement of the pin may be controlled by biasing it towards the smallest cross section opposite passage 78 by spring 84 pressing under flat head 86 which in turn pushes on gasket 74 and against cap 50. The flat head spreads the pin load preventing rupturing the gasket. Thus, movement of the control means permits pin 82, under the urging of spring 84, to move upward longitudinally within the tube and, depending on the position of the pin, brings a different cross section into transverse passage 78. Two such positions are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 which illustrate heavy or wet and light or dry spray settings respectively and use a modified two-dimensional pin instead of the three-dimensional one shown in FIG. 2.

Referring again to FIG. 2 for purpose of explanation, it will be seen that, as the different smaller cross sections D D are brought into the transverse passage 78 then larger steam flow areas are progressively presented for increased steam flow from the interior of steam tube 44. In other words, as the, diameter decreases, more steam flows through transverse passage 78. This results in more steam in the watersteam mix and thus a dry or light spray as shown in FIG. 4. The spray flow rate therefore varies directly with the pin cross section, increasing as the cross section increases, i.e., less steam in the mix. The spray rate also varies inversely with the steam flow, i.e., as the steam flow goes down with larger pin cross sections at the passage the flow rate goes up as in FIG. 3, i.e., more water is introduced to the spray. As noted, any number of steps may be used although two will generally be sufficient as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Similarly, a tapered pin as shown in FIG. 5 could provide an infinite choice of spray by controlling the steam flow.

In spray irons that are designed to use tap water where impurities may be present in the water, it may be advisable to collect the impurities at a given control point and then clean them out rather than have them collect throughout the fine passages. In the present invention it is convenient to provide for this by making the opening in the water tube 48 in the form of an orifice 88 where the impurities are prone to collect and then make the smaller diameter of pin 82 act as a cleanout means for the orifice on each actuation as well as a control diameter in the light or dry spray condition as shown in FIG. 4.

Thus, the present invention is designed to vary the flow rate by varying the steam flow across passage 78 and therefore change the mix of steam and water that exits from outlet 52. It can be seen that the spray flow rate then varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely with the steam flow in a different and simplified structuralmeans as selected by the user.

While there have been described preferred forms of the invention, obvious equivalent variations are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practised, otherwise than as specifically described, and the claims are intended to cover such equivalent variations.

' Iclaim:

1. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed water reservoir, a steam generator, and

a sprayer assembly connected to direct a water and steam mix through a single'outlet to the ironing surface, the improvement in the sprayer assembly comprising,

a steain tube having a spray discharge outlet,

a water tube with an opening adjacent said outlet,

a tubularspray mixer member disposed in said water tube and having a transverse steam passage therethrough connecting said steam tube interior and outlet, variable cross section pin means disposed in said mixer across said passage and movable relative thereto, and

control means connected to open and close said outlet and move said pin to present different cross sections opposite said passage and variably control the steam flow through said passage,

whereby the spray flow rate varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely with the steam flow.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 whereinsaid water tube, mixer, and pin are respectively disposed longitudinally within said steamtube, said pin being of progressively decreasing cross section,

spring means biasing said pin toward the smallest cross section opposite said passage, and

means to limit movement of said pin.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said opening is an orifice disposed in said mixer and said pin extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out means therefore on each actuation of said sprayer, I

4. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed water reservoir, a steam generator, and a sprayer assembly connected to direct a water and steam mix through a single outlet to the ironing surface, the improvement in the sprayer assembly comprising,

a steam tube having a spray discharge outlet,

a water tube disposed in the steam tube with an opening adjacent said outlet,

a tubular spray mixer member disposed in said water tube and steam tube and having a transverse passage therethrough connecting said steam tube interior and outlet,

a stepped cross section pin means disposed in said mixer across said passage and slidable longitudinally of said mixer,

a cap slidably disposed over said tubes, and

control means connected to move said cap to open and close said outlet and move said pin to present different cross sections to said passage and variably control the steam flow through said passage,

7 8 5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said movement of said pin. Water tube, mixer, and P are respectively disposcd 6. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said longitudinally within said steam tube, said pin being of opening is an orifice disposed in said mixer and said pin progressively decreasing cross section,

extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out means sprlng means biasing said pin toward the smallest aids ra er. cross section opposite said passage, and therefore on each actuauon ofs p y said pin having a flat head abutting said cap to limit

Claims

1. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed water reservoir, a steam generator, and a sprayer assembly connected to direct a water and steam mix through a single outlet to the ironing surface, the improvement in the sprayer assembly comprising, a steam tube having a spray discharge outlet, a water tube with an opening adjacent said outlet, a tubular spray mixer member disposed in said water tube and having a transverse steam passage therethrough connecting said steam tube interior and outlet, variable cross section pin means disposed in said mixer across said passage and movable relative thereto, and control means connected to open and close said outlet and move said pin to present different cross sections opposite said passage and variably control the steam flow through said passage, whereby the spray flow rate varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely with the steam flow.

2. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said water tube, mixer, and pin are respectively disposed longitudinally within said steam tube, said pin being of progressively decreasing cross section, spring means biasing said pin toward the smallest cross section opposite said passage, and means to limit movement of said pin.

3. Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said opening is an orifice disposed in said mixer and said pin extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out means therefore on each actuation of said sprayer.

4. In a steam and adjustable rate power spray iron having a closed water reservoir, a steam generator, and a sprayer assembly connected to direct a water and steam mix through a single outlet to the ironing surface, the improvement in the sprayer assembly comprising, a steam tube having a spray discharge outlet, a water tube disposed in the steam tube with an Opening adjacent said outlet, a tubular spray mixer member disposed in said water tube and steam tube and having a transverse passage therethrough connecting said steam tube interior and outlet, a stepped cross section pin means disposed in said mixer across said passage and slidable longitudinally of said mixer, a cap slidably disposed over said tubes, and control means connected to move said cap to open and close said outlet and move said pin to present different cross sections to said passage and variably control the steam flow through said passage, whereby the spray flow rate varies directly with the pin cross section and inversely with the steam flow.

5. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said water tube, mixer, and pin are respectively disposed longitudinally within said steam tube, said pin being of progressively decreasing cross section, spring means biasing said pin toward the smallest cross section opposite said passage, and said pin having a flat head abutting said cap to limit movement of said pin.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein said opening is an orifice disposed in said mixer and said pin extends into said orifice to act as a clean-out means therefore on each actuation of said sprayer.