US3823498A - Self cleaning steam iron - Google Patents

Self cleaning steam iron Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3823498A
US3823498A US00354641A US35464173A US3823498A US 3823498 A US3823498 A US 3823498A US 00354641 A US00354641 A US 00354641A US 35464173 A US35464173 A US 35464173A US 3823498 A US3823498 A US 3823498A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
steam
boiler
water
iron
tank
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00354641A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
W Davidson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US00354641A priority Critical patent/US3823498A/en
Priority to CA194,364A priority patent/CA992452A/en
Priority to NLAANVRAGE7405436,A priority patent/NL175204C/xx
Priority to IT21728/74A priority patent/IT1007995B/it
Priority to AU68199/74A priority patent/AU473631B2/en
Priority to FR7414139A priority patent/FR2227379B1/fr
Priority to DE2419734A priority patent/DE2419734C3/de
Priority to JP4824874A priority patent/JPS577760B2/ja
Priority to GB1830074A priority patent/GB1464465A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3823498A publication Critical patent/US3823498A/en
Assigned to BLACK & DECKER, INC., A CORP. OF DE reassignment BLACK & DECKER, INC., A CORP. OF DE ASSIGNS AS OF APRIL 27, 1984 THE ENTIRE INTEREST Assignors: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY A NY CORP.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F75/00—Hand irons
    • D06F75/08—Hand irons internally heated by electricity
    • D06F75/10—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed
    • D06F75/14—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron
    • D06F75/18—Hand irons internally heated by electricity with means for supplying steam to the article being ironed the steam being produced from water in a reservoir carried by the iron the water being fed slowly, e.g. drop by drop, from the reservoir to a steam generator

Definitions

  • the invention herein pertains to a steam iron and, more particularly, to a self-cleaning steam iron which employs a substantially and separate large opening in the internal water tank whereby the tank may be suddenly emptied directly into the steam boiler with the resultant gush of water and steamsubstantially purging the iron.
  • the present invention is an improved version of the basic self-cleaning iron structure of U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,241 of common assignment. That patent discloses the concept of suddenly dumping the water tank to create a large mass of steam to clean the passages of the iron.
  • That patent discloses the concept of suddenly dumping the water tank to create a large mass of steam to clean the passages of the iron.
  • it is customary to provide a water tank above the soleplate and use the water valve to provide controlled and metered water drippage into a steam boiler where it flashes to steam and is directed out ports in the soleplate'to steam the article.
  • This is the flash boiler steam iron and is typical of most U.S. steam irons today.
  • Spray attachments 'either powered or manual, have been added to such irons to supply a fine spray of water onto the fabric being ironed.
  • distilled water is used in such steam irons because of the fineness of the various water passages and orifices subject to clogging due to mineral deposits from the water which vary from one locality to another.
  • the steam ports in the soleplate tend to collect lint from the ironing operation and some i of this lint may subsequently find its way into the internal passage structure when the iron is upended and not in use.
  • the tap water contains minerals which produce loose flakes of varying sizes and deposits that plate out on the iron components and clog the fine passages.
  • the present invention is directed to a steam iron that has a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports and a steam generating foiler.
  • the invention provides an improvement and means to completely and forcefully purge the iron of water and steam and this is accomplished by means of a substantially large opening in the water tank, the large opening communicating directly with the soleplate boiler.
  • Means are provided for controlling the opening so'that the water in the tank can he suddenly dumped directly into the boiler to empty the tank rapidly.
  • the main object of the invention is to disclose the concept of suddenly dumping the water tank to generate a large quantity of steam and purge the iron by the improvement of dumping the water directly into the soleplate boiler for additional cleaning action.
  • FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partially in section and broken away, showing general parts of a manual spray steam iron with the invention applied;
  • FIG. 2 is a partially exploded perspective to show the actual dumping valve structure of FIG. 1.
  • the invention is described in connection with a spray-steam iron of the manual type although it should be understood that it is applicable: to steam irons alone of the flooded boiler type as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,156,054, non-flash boiler type shown in US. Pat. No. 2,810,218, both of common assignment or the more common flash boiler type described herein with or without a manual or power spray.
  • the invention discloses a self-cleaning iron where, on pushing a button, the water tank is suddenly emptied directly into the steam boiler and then suddenly generated steam forces substantially all loose mineral deposits from the iron. These may be forced out the soleplate ports as described herein or other openings in the iron. This is the intent of purge or self-cleaning and the like as used herein.
  • a steam iron'that includes soleplate 10 having plural steam ports 12 and outer shell 14 connected in any suitable manner to handle 16 all in known fashion.
  • the soleplate may be cast aluminum with electrical heating element 18 cast in position.
  • the heating element is generally the sheathed heat distribution is provided to the soleplate.
  • the iron includes means for generating steam by providing interior water tank 20 which may have a vertical outer suitably shaped riser tube means 22 in the forward portion for housing various operating mechanisms.
  • soleplate 10 has a steam generator cavity or boiler 24 to receive metered water. The water is started and stopped forcontrolling steam generation by water valve structure generally indicated at 26 and activated by steam control means such as button 28 and connected spring-biased vertical stem 30. Water is metered through an orifice 32 from tank 20 into boiler 24, the resulting steam being distributed and directed through distribution passages 34, under coverplate 36, and out the ports onto the fabric being ironed. If de sired, a spray attachment 38 may be operated by control button 40 and may be manual as shown or power, both well-known in the art.
  • Temperature control 42 operates the thermostat to control the heat generated in the soleplate.
  • fill opening 44 communicates directly with the water tank.
  • the iron is steaming with button 28 in the up for steam position as shown in FIG. 1
  • water is metered to boiler 24 and the system may be closed to ambient or atmosphere by means of 5 water will drip at a constant rate for steam generation.
  • suitable steam pressure control means not shown, may be provided.
  • Such means may include valve structure as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,041,756 or merely orificecontrolling structure shown in co-pending application Ser.
  • valve 54 which may be spring-biased closed and guided by stem 55 reciprocating in the coverplate as shown, and which is actuated from a suitable button 56 on the side of the handle.
  • depressing button 56 opens valve 54 to dump all the water directly from tank 20 and bypass the usual outlet through orifice 32.
  • the sudden surge of water hitting the hot soleplate creates a'large quantity of steam which is directed and used to purge the iron and clean it as fully described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,241.
  • the present invention which is an improvement on said 3,747,241 patent, is designed to conduct the suddenly-dumped water directly into the iron boiler to provide better cleaning to the boiler itself as well as a scrubbing action therein.
  • the usual coverplate 36 is provided with an opening or aperture 58 most of which is directly over boiler 24 as seen in FIG. 1. This may conveniently also serve as a receptacle for the duct work below metering orifice 32 which metering structure may be typical of that described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,496,661 with reference to FIG. 4 and of common assignment.
  • the water may be dumped directly on the upper surface of coverplate 36 from which it flows through the aperture 58 directly into boiler 24 with the result that a large quantity of steam is suddenly generated.
  • the tank water may be suddenly dumped directly into the boiler to empty the tank therein very rapidly.
  • the water is conducted by the coverplate and the aperture directly into the boiler.
  • a ramp means 60 extending from the bottom of the boiler to the distribution passages at the top of the inner surface of the soleplate under the coverplate, and this may, if desired, be made narrower than the boiler so that the steam is funnelled out the ramp at a higher velocity to provide a scrubbing action.
  • suddenly-dumped water may be introduced into boiler 24 partially on the ramp means as shown in FIG. 1 or in substantially any manner such as to one side to provide a swirling and scrubbing action to the boiler by use of guide means shown in phantom at 62 in FIG. 2 to direct the incoming fluid.
  • the ramp may be at any suitable angle to facilitate the steam exit and this also creates a through passage from the soleplate directly to the bottom of opening 52 permitting the opening to be vented directly to atmosphere.
  • the cleaning feature may be used with either the balanced pressure system using valve 46 and balance tube 48 or with an ambient pressure system with the resultant efficient cleaning and scrubbing by directing the water directly into the boiler.
  • a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank, a soleplate with ports and having a steam generating boiler with a coverplate thereover and steam distribution passages between the soleplate and coverplate, the improvement in means to purge the iron of water and loose residues comprising,
  • j means connects the boiler and steam distribution passages.
  • said conducting means comprising an aperture directly over said boiler.
  • ramp means connects the boiler and steam distribution passages.
  • Apparatus as described in claim 6 having guide means disposed to swirl the dumped water through the boiler to provide a scrubbing action therein.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Irons (AREA)
  • Control Of Steam Boilers And Waste-Gas Boilers (AREA)
US00354641A 1973-04-26 1973-04-26 Self cleaning steam iron Expired - Lifetime US3823498A (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00354641A US3823498A (en) 1973-04-26 1973-04-26 Self cleaning steam iron
CA194,364A CA992452A (en) 1973-04-26 1974-03-07 Self-cleaning steam iron
IT21728/74A IT1007995B (it) 1973-04-26 1974-04-22 Ferro da stiro a vapore autopulente
NLAANVRAGE7405436,A NL175204C (nl) 1973-04-26 1974-04-22 Zelfreinigend stoomstrijkijzer.
AU68199/74A AU473631B2 (en) 1973-04-26 1974-04-23 Self-cleaning steam iron
FR7414139A FR2227379B1 (fr) 1973-04-26 1974-04-24
DE2419734A DE2419734C3 (de) 1973-04-26 1974-04-24 Selbstreinigendes Dampfbügeleisen
JP4824874A JPS577760B2 (fr) 1973-04-26 1974-04-26
GB1830074A GB1464465A (en) 1973-04-26 1974-04-26 Steam iron

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US00354641A US3823498A (en) 1973-04-26 1973-04-26 Self cleaning steam iron

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3823498A true US3823498A (en) 1974-07-16

Family

ID=23394288

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00354641A Expired - Lifetime US3823498A (en) 1973-04-26 1973-04-26 Self cleaning steam iron

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3823498A (fr)
JP (1) JPS577760B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU473631B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA992452A (fr)
DE (1) DE2419734C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2227379B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1464465A (fr)
IT (1) IT1007995B (fr)
NL (1) NL175204C (fr)

Cited By (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3869816A (en) * 1974-01-30 1975-03-11 Gen Electric Steam iron
US4017988A (en) * 1976-04-07 1977-04-19 General Electric Company Self-cleaning steam iron
US4070773A (en) * 1976-10-07 1978-01-31 General Electric Company Steam iron water valve structure
US4130954A (en) * 1977-10-11 1978-12-26 General Electric Company Iron self-clean valve assembly
US4149328A (en) * 1976-07-21 1979-04-17 Jura Elektroapparate-Fabriken L. Henzirohs A.G. Steam iron
US4180928A (en) * 1978-07-17 1980-01-01 General Electric Company Self-clean steam iron
US4213258A (en) * 1978-10-23 1980-07-22 General Electric Company Steam iron water gauge
FR2489859A1 (fr) * 1980-09-10 1982-03-12 Seb Sa Fer a repasser electrique a vapeur
DE29718639U1 (de) * 1997-10-21 1998-01-08 Rowenta-Werke GmbH, 63071 Offenbach Dampfbügeleisen
US6105286A (en) * 1998-03-04 2000-08-22 U.S. Philips Corporation Device for ironing with bypass for selfcleaning
DE102010063081A1 (de) * 2010-11-19 2012-05-24 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Bügeleisen und Bügeleisen-Set
ES2555727A1 (es) * 2014-07-02 2016-01-07 Bsh Electrodomésticos España, S.A. Procedimiento para limpiar una plancha a vapor y estación de planchado a vapor
US20160161107A1 (en) * 2013-07-25 2016-06-09 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Apparatus for generating steam
US20170184302A1 (en) * 2014-05-30 2017-06-29 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Steamer head
US11965284B2 (en) 2022-06-21 2024-04-23 Donte Lewis Clothing ironing assembly

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5348976A (en) * 1976-10-18 1978-05-02 Nippon Zeon Co Ltd Mass transfer apparatus of hollow fiber type
JPS5521443A (en) * 1978-08-03 1980-02-15 Kanagawaken Purification of waste oil and waste grease
US4220535A (en) * 1978-08-04 1980-09-02 Monsanto Company Multi-zoned hollow fiber permeator
JPS5670095A (en) * 1979-11-12 1981-06-11 Kanagawaken Purifying apparatus for waste oil and grease
DE3210243C2 (de) * 1982-03-20 1985-05-30 Rowenta-Werke Gmbh, 6050 Offenbach Elektrisch beheiztes Bügeleisen mit Schwallwassereinspritzung
JPS6012563U (ja) * 1983-07-05 1985-01-28 三洋電機株式会社 コ−ド巻き取り装置
DE29720259U1 (de) * 1997-11-14 1998-01-15 Rowenta-Werke GmbH, 63071 Offenbach Dampfbügeleisen
DE10357545B4 (de) * 2003-12-10 2007-04-26 Braun Gmbh Elektrisches Dampfbügeleisen mit Entkalkungsfunktion

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US580135A (en) * 1897-04-06 Flat-iron
US2708801A (en) * 1953-09-01 1955-05-24 Jacob D Voskresenski Electric steam iron
US2880530A (en) * 1954-04-27 1959-04-07 Dormeyer Corp Electric iron
US3130507A (en) * 1957-06-28 1964-04-28 Albert C Hoecker Steam and dampening iron
US3238649A (en) * 1964-09-17 1966-03-08 Gen Electric Steam iron boiler cleaning
US3728805A (en) * 1972-05-31 1973-04-24 Gen Electric Multi-function steam iron
US3747241A (en) * 1971-10-06 1973-07-24 Gen Electric Self-cleaning steam iron

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US580135A (en) * 1897-04-06 Flat-iron
US2708801A (en) * 1953-09-01 1955-05-24 Jacob D Voskresenski Electric steam iron
US2880530A (en) * 1954-04-27 1959-04-07 Dormeyer Corp Electric iron
US3130507A (en) * 1957-06-28 1964-04-28 Albert C Hoecker Steam and dampening iron
US3238649A (en) * 1964-09-17 1966-03-08 Gen Electric Steam iron boiler cleaning
US3747241A (en) * 1971-10-06 1973-07-24 Gen Electric Self-cleaning steam iron
US3728805A (en) * 1972-05-31 1973-04-24 Gen Electric Multi-function steam iron

Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3869816A (en) * 1974-01-30 1975-03-11 Gen Electric Steam iron
US4017988A (en) * 1976-04-07 1977-04-19 General Electric Company Self-cleaning steam iron
FR2347484A1 (fr) * 1976-04-07 1977-11-04 Gen Electric Fer a repasser a vapeur auto-nettoyant
US4149328A (en) * 1976-07-21 1979-04-17 Jura Elektroapparate-Fabriken L. Henzirohs A.G. Steam iron
US4070773A (en) * 1976-10-07 1978-01-31 General Electric Company Steam iron water valve structure
US4130954A (en) * 1977-10-11 1978-12-26 General Electric Company Iron self-clean valve assembly
FR2406019A1 (fr) * 1977-10-11 1979-05-11 Gen Electric Soupape de decharge pour fer a vapeur autonettoyant
US4180928A (en) * 1978-07-17 1980-01-01 General Electric Company Self-clean steam iron
US4213258A (en) * 1978-10-23 1980-07-22 General Electric Company Steam iron water gauge
FR2489859A1 (fr) * 1980-09-10 1982-03-12 Seb Sa Fer a repasser electrique a vapeur
EP0047695A1 (fr) * 1980-09-10 1982-03-17 Seb S.A. Fer à repasser électrique à vapeur
US4414766A (en) * 1980-09-10 1983-11-15 Seb S.A. Steam iron sole plate design
DE29718639U1 (de) * 1997-10-21 1998-01-08 Rowenta-Werke GmbH, 63071 Offenbach Dampfbügeleisen
US6105286A (en) * 1998-03-04 2000-08-22 U.S. Philips Corporation Device for ironing with bypass for selfcleaning
DE102010063081A1 (de) * 2010-11-19 2012-05-24 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Bügeleisen und Bügeleisen-Set
ES2387204A1 (es) * 2010-11-19 2012-09-18 BSH Electrodomésticos España S.A. Plancha y conjunto de plancha
DE102010063081B4 (de) * 2010-11-19 2013-09-05 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Bügeleisen und Bügeleisen-Set
US20160161107A1 (en) * 2013-07-25 2016-06-09 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Apparatus for generating steam
US20160161108A1 (en) * 2013-07-25 2016-06-09 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Apparatus for generating steam
US10234134B2 (en) * 2013-07-25 2019-03-19 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Apparatus for generating steam
US10422521B2 (en) * 2013-07-25 2019-09-24 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Apparatus for generating system
US20170184302A1 (en) * 2014-05-30 2017-06-29 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Steamer head
ES2555727A1 (es) * 2014-07-02 2016-01-07 Bsh Electrodomésticos España, S.A. Procedimiento para limpiar una plancha a vapor y estación de planchado a vapor
US11965284B2 (en) 2022-06-21 2024-04-23 Donte Lewis Clothing ironing assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA992452A (en) 1976-07-06
JPS577760B2 (fr) 1982-02-12
AU473631B2 (en) 1976-06-24
AU6819974A (en) 1975-10-23
FR2227379B1 (fr) 1977-10-21
NL7405436A (fr) 1974-10-29
NL175204B (nl) 1984-05-01
IT1007995B (it) 1976-10-30
DE2419734B2 (de) 1977-10-06
DE2419734A1 (de) 1974-11-14
GB1464465A (en) 1977-02-16
DE2419734C3 (de) 1978-06-01
JPS5012395A (fr) 1975-02-07
NL175204C (nl) 1984-10-01
FR2227379A1 (fr) 1974-11-22

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3823498A (en) Self cleaning steam iron
US3747241A (en) Self-cleaning steam iron
US3599357A (en) Electric pressing iron
JP4731492B2 (ja) スチームアイロン装置
US7191554B2 (en) Steam iron
US5279055A (en) Steam iron including boiler and overlying extraction channel
US3001305A (en) Pressing irons
US3986282A (en) Steam iron
US3872613A (en) Self-cleaning surge iron
US2762143A (en) Steam iron
US3728805A (en) Multi-function steam iron
US4017988A (en) Self-cleaning steam iron
US2557732A (en) Water supply means for steam iron steam generators
US3041756A (en) Steam and liquid spray iron
US3849916A (en) Self-cleaning steam iron
EP1355000B1 (fr) Fer à repasser à vapeur avec chambre de vaporisation
US2716297A (en) Steam iron
US3869816A (en) Steam iron
US3156054A (en) Flooded boiler steam or spray iron
JPH0161080B2 (fr)
US2802288A (en) Steam irons
US3722117A (en) Steam nozzle iron
CA2053525C (fr) Pompe et pulverisateur ou clapet selecteur de jet de vapeur pour fer a repasser electrique
US3183610A (en) Steam and liquid spray iron
US3045370A (en) Steam iron with position controlled valve

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BLACK & DECKER, INC., 1423 KIRKWOOD HIGHWAY NEWARK

Free format text: ASSIGNS AS OF APRIL 27, 1984 THE ENTIRE INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY A NY CORP.;REEL/FRAME:004349/0275

Effective date: 19840824

STCK Information on status: patent revival

Free format text: ABANDONED - RESTORED