EP3002364A1 - Steam ironing apparatus including an iron comprising a sole with a body provided with a heating element mounted thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

Steam ironing apparatus comprising an iron (1) having a sole (2) surmounted by a body (4) provided with a heating element (3), the soleplate comprising a humidification zone (21) of the machine, provided with steam outlet holes (20), and a laundry drying zone (22), without steam outlet holes, the heating element (3) being disposed in a first portion (4A) of the body (4) extending only above the dewatering zone (22) and the steam outlet holes (20) being fed by a diffusion chamber (47) extending over the zone d humidification device (21), characterized in that the diffusion chamber (47) is at least partially formed in a second portion (4B) of the body (4) which is devoid of heating element and which is separated from the first part ( 4A) of the body by a separation space (7), the body (4) comprising at least one linking arm (71, 72) passing through the separation space ( 7).

Description

The present invention relates to a steam ironing apparatus comprising an iron having a sole surmounted by a body provided with a heating element, the sole having a humidifying zone of the laundry provided with steam outlet holes. and a dryer drying area without steam outlet holes. The invention relates more particularly to an ironing apparatus in which the heating element is arranged only in a first part of the body extending only above the dewatering zone of the soleplate and in which the exit holes of steam are fed by a diffusion chamber extending above the moistening zone of the soleplate.

It is known from the patent application filed by the applicant under the application number FR 1354961 , a steam ironing apparatus comprising an iron comprising a soleplate surmounted by a heating body, the soleplate being provided with a front part provided with steam outlet holes and a rear part without steam outlet holes , the heating body being only in thermal contact with the rear part of the soleplate and the steam outlet holes of the soleplate being fed by a diffusion chamber formed in a non-heating body disposed on the front part of the soleplate.

Such an ironing apparatus has the advantage of having a sole provided with an unheated steam emission zone, ensuring a very good humidification of the laundry.

However, this ironing appliance has a heating body and a non-heating body which are distinct, and which must be reported independently of one another on the soleplate, which complicates the operation of assembly of the iron and increases the time required for assembly.

Also, an object of the present invention is to overcome this disadvantage by providing an ironing appliance with ironing performance similar to those of the iron described in the application FR 1354961 and that is simpler and more economical to implement.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a steam ironing apparatus comprising an iron having a sole surmounted by a body provided with a heating element, the soleplate comprising a moistening zone of the cloth provided with holes. vapor outlet and a drying zone of the laundry without steam outlet holes, the heating element being disposed in a first portion of the body extending only above the dewatering zone of the soleplate and the steam outlet holes being fed by a diffusion chamber extending above the moistening zone of the soleplate, characterized in that the diffusion chamber is at least partially formed in a second part of the body which is without of a heating element and which is separated from the first part of the body by a separation space contributing to thermally isolating the first part of the second part, the body comprising at least one arm of link crossing the separation space to locally connect the first part and the second part.

Such a separation space, extending at the boundary between the first and the second part of the body, has the advantage of ensuring good thermal insulation of the vapor diffusion chamber formed in the second part of the body with respect to the first part of the body provided with the heating element, while maintaining a body in one piece that can be assembled quickly on the sole during the process of manufacturing the iron.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the separation space is in communication with the air outside the iron.

Such a feature allows the circulation of fresh air from the outside of the iron, in the separation space, which improves the thermal insulation between the first and second parts.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the separation space extends over a width greater than 5 mm.

Such a feature allows the establishment of an air gap ensuring very good thermal insulation. In addition, the removal of the first portion relative to the second portion reduces the temperature-related heating.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the body is a foundry, preferably aluminum.

Such a feature has the advantage of ensuring good thermal diffusion of the first body part to the drying area of the sole and be inexpensive to implement.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first part of the body comprises a steam distribution circuit which supplies the diffusion chamber with steam.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to superheat the steam, by circulating it in a distribution circuit formed in the first part of the body provided with the heating element, which makes it possible to eliminate any condensates transported by the steam.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the connecting arm forms a steam duct connecting the steam distribution circuit to the diffusion chamber.

Such a feature allows the steam duct to be directly integrated into the link arm and to avoid having to use an independent duct to be attached in a specific mounting operation. This results in a reduction in assembly time and cost of manufacture.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the body comprises a bottom wall, advantageously substantially flat, coming into contact with the soleplate, the diffusion chamber and the distribution circuit being formed on an upper face of the body, the lower wall having the minus an opening that opens into the separation space.

Such an opening limits heat exchange between the first and second body parts, especially in the thickness of the bottom wall.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body comprises a heating element having a power of between 500 and 800W.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first part of the body closes an electrical resistance, the steam distribution circuit comprising an overheating channel for the vaporization of the condensates.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the heating body is made of aluminum.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the surface of the soleplate covered by the diffusion chamber represents at least 20% of the total surface of the soleplate.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the moistening zone of the sole is constituted by a front portion of the sole and the dewatering zone of the sole is constituted by a rear portion of the sole.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole is in one part.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the sole is made of aluminum coated with enamel or stainless steel.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the apparatus comprises a steam generating base enclosing a vessel for the generation of pressurized steam connected by a cord to the iron.

• la figure 1 est une vue de côté d'un appareil de repassage selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'un sous-ensemble équipant le fer à repasser de l'appareil de repassage de la figure 1, la semelle étant représentée séparée du corps ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective du dessus du sous-ensemble de la figure 2 une fois assemblé ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessus du corps de fonderie équipant le sous-ensemble de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective éclatée du dessous du corps de fonderie avec son couvercle et sa plaque de fermeture.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, presented by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings. wherein :

• the figure 1 is a side view of an ironing apparatus according to the invention;
• the figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a subassembly equipping the iron of the ironing apparatus of the figure 1 the sole being shown separated from the body;
• the figure 3 is a perspective view from above of the subset of the figure 2 once assembled;
• the figure 4 is a top view of the foundry body equipping the subset of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the underside of the foundry body with its lid and closure plate.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

The figure 1 represents an ironing apparatus comprising a base 100 generating steam and an iron 1 interconnected by a cord 101, the iron 1 conventionally comprising an ironing sole 2 surmounted by a plastic housing incorporating a handle of gripping.

The base 100 has an inclined plane on which the iron 1 can come to rest during inactive ironing phases and contains, in a manner known per se, a tank 102 for the production of steam under a pressure of about 4 to 6 bar, the tank 102 being supplied with water from a reservoir 103 by means of a pump 104.

The base 100 is connected to the domestic electrical network by an electric wire 105 which allows both the power supply of heating means of the tank 102, not shown in the figures, and the power supply of the iron 1 through cord 101.

In accordance with Figures 2 to 4 , the sole 2 of the iron has a humidification zone 21 of the laundry, provided with steam outlet holes 20, advantageously constituted by a front portion of the sole, and a drying zone 22 of the laundry, without holes vapor outlet, advantageously constituted by the rear part of the sole 2.

The sole 2 is made of stainless steel, or in an aluminum sheet which is covered with enamel on its lower face, and is surmounted by a body 4 comprising a substantially flat bottom wall 40 coming directly into contact with the sole 2, the body 4 being preferably constituted by an aluminum foundry in which is embedded a heating element advantageously constituted by a U-shaped shielded electrical resistance 3.

More particularly according to the invention, the electrical resistance 3 extends only in a first portion 4A of the body overcoming the dewatering zone 22, the body 4 having a second heat-insulated second portion 4B extending over the humidification zone 21 of the sole 2.

In accordance with the figure 2 the first part 4A of the body advantageously comprises a steam distribution circuit which is delimited by the lower wall 40 of the body and by a peripheral wall 42 projecting from the upper face of the body 4 at its rear part, the distribution being closed in its upper part by a closure plate 5 attached to the body 4.

The closure plate 5 comprises a steam inlet port 50 to which is connected a steam pipe, not shown in the figures, which is integrated in the cord 101 connecting the steam generator base 100 to the iron 1, this steam pipe for supplying the distribution circuit with the pressurized steam produced by the tank 102.

Preferably, the steam distribution circuit comprises an expansion chamber 43 at which opens the inlet orifice 50, and comprises an overheating channel 44, disposed in the extension of the expansion chamber 43. The channel overheating 44 advantageously has a reduced cross section, substantially constant, and bypasses a boss 45 for receiving a heating resistor control thermostat 4, then winds near the electrical resistance 3 around the expansion chamber 43.

The electrical resistance 3 advantageously has a power of between 500 W and 800 W which allows a regulation of the temperature of the lower surface of the heating body 4 around a set temperature of the thermostat of between 100 ° C. and 210 ° C. an ironing session, such power also allowing the vaporization of all possible condensates present in the stream of vapor from the cord 101 when the course of the steam in the overheating channel 44.

The overheating channel 44 is connected by a vapor duct 46 to a vapor diffusion chamber 47 formed in the second body part 4B, the diffusion chamber 47 being delimited by the bottom wall 40 of the body and by a peripheral wall 48. projecting on the upper face of the body 4, the diffusion chamber 47 being closed in its upper part by a cover 6 attached to the body 4.

In accordance with the figure 5 , the lid 6 advantageously comprises walls 60 projecting inside the diffusion chamber 47 which form a diffusion channel 61 provided with lateral slots, not shown in the figures, ensuring a homogeneous distribution of the steam in the chamber of diffusion. The diffusion chamber 47 is placed in communication with a distribution chamber 41, formed on the lower face of the body 4, by passage openings 49 made in the lower wall 40 of the body, the distribution chamber 41 extending towards steam outlet holes 20 of the soleplate 2 so that steam from the distribution chamber 41 escapes through these steam outlet holes 20.

More particularly according to a particular embodiment of the invention, a separation space 7 is provided between the first portion 4A and the second portion 4B of the body, this separation space 7 extending between the peripheral wall 48 of the chamber of diffusion 47 integrated in the second part 4B of the body and the peripheral wall 42 of the distribution circuit integrated in the first part 4A of the body.

Preferably, the bottom wall 40 has openings 70 opening into the separation space 7, these openings 70 extending between the peripheral wall 48 of the diffusion chamber 47 and the peripheral wall 42 of the distribution circuit, marrying the outer form of these. The openings 70 are interrupted at two lateral connecting arms 71, of reduced passage section, disposed at the edge of the body and an additional connecting arm 72 advantageously integrating the steam duct 46 connecting the end of the duct. overheating 44 to the diffusion chamber 47, the connecting arm 72 being closed in its upper part by an extension 52 of the closure plate 5 of the distribution circuit.

As can be seen on the figure 5 the extension 52 advantageously comprises a boss 53 which is inserted inside the steam duct 46 and progressively reduces the passage section of the steam before entering the diffusion channel 61 thus making it possible to slow down the flow of steam. steam to cool it better in the diffusion chamber 47.

The operation of such an ironing apparatus will now be described.

At the start of the apparatus, the tank 102 is heated and the water it contains is brought to a boil, the pressurized steam produced by the tank 102 being transmitted through the bead 101 to the iron 1. this transmission of the vapor through the bead 101, the temperature of the steam is lowered so that condensates can form in the stream of steam arriving in the iron 1, especially when the cord 101 is cold at the start of the device.

These possible condensates are removed during the passage of the steam flow in the distribution circuit of the heating body 4 by being vaporized in the superheating channel 44, then the superheated steam is transmitted through the vapor duct 46 into the diffusion chamber 47 of vapor extending above the humidification zone 21 of the sole 2.

The passage of the stream of vapor in the diffusion chamber 47 is accompanied by a decrease in the temperature of the vapor, because of the low temperature prevailing in the diffusion chamber 47 thanks to the excellent thermal insulation established between the first part 4A of the body, provided with the electrical resistance 3, and the second part 4B of the body, without heating element, this thermal insulation being achieved by the separation space 7 and the openings 70 formed in the lower wall 40 of the body, this separation space 7 receiving air at room temperature from outside the iron.

The temperature of the steam then drops to a temperature preferably between 100 ° C and 120 ° C at the steam outlet holes 20 of the sole 2, such a lowering of the temperature of the a vapor having the effect of increasing the moisture content of the vapor by increasing the number of small water droplets, of a diameter less than 10 pm, contained in the vapor stream.

The diffusion of this stream of wet vapor makes it possible to guarantee excellent moistening of the laundry, without the formation of a visible water drop on the laundry, the humidification zone 21 of the soleplate 2 surmounted by the diffusion chamber 47 also presenting the advantage of being at a low temperature, preferably less than 110 ° C, which does not overheat the laundry in the vicinity of the steam outlet holes 20 and contributes to a better condensation of steam in the laundry to iron.

The ironing apparatus thus produced thus has a soleplate 2 provided with an unheated moistening zone 21 provided with steam outlet holes 20 which makes it possible to obtain excellent moistening of the linen, which guarantees a good performance. ironing, while the dewatering zone 22 of the soleplate which is heated and devoid of steam outlet holes makes it possible to quickly evaporate all the moisture contained in the laundry when the iron 1 is moved forwardly .

This gives an ironing apparatus with optimal ironing performance.

In addition, such a construction, in which the first part and the second part of the body are mechanically integral with each other while being thermally insulated relative to each other by the separation space s' extending to the boundary between the first part and the second part of the body, has the advantage of facilitating the process of manufacturing the iron. Indeed, the body which is attached to the sole has the advantage of remaining in one part so that its fixing and positioning are facilitated.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the tank for the production of steam can be shipped directly into the iron and / or be constituted by an instantaneous vaporization chamber.

Thus, in a variant embodiment not shown, the separation space between the first and the second part of the body may receive a thermally insulating material.

Thus, in an embodiment variant not shown, the heating element may be produced by a screen-printed flat heating element.

Claims (11)

Steam ironing apparatus comprising an iron (1) having a sole (2) surmounted by a body (4) provided with a heating element (3), said sole comprising a humidification zone (21) of the a cloth having steam outlet holes (20) and a drying area (22) of the laundry without steam outlet holes, the heating element (3) being disposed in a first portion (4A) of the body (4). ) extending only above the dewatering zone (22) and the steam outlet holes (20) being fed by a diffusion chamber (47) extending above the humidification zone ( 21), characterized in that the diffusion chamber (47) is at least partially formed in a second portion (4B) of the body (4) which is devoid of heating element and which is separated from the first portion (4A) of the body by a separation space (7) contributing to thermally isolating the first part (4A) of the second part (4B), the body s (4) comprising at least one connecting arm (71, 72) passing through the separation space (7) for locally connecting the first portion (4A) and the second portion (4B). Ironing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said separation space (7) is in communication with the air outside the iron. Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the separation space (7) extends over a width greater than 5 mm. Ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said body (4) is a foundry, preferably aluminum. Ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first portion (4A) of the body (4) comprises a steam distribution circuit which supplies the diffusion chamber (47) with steam. Ironing apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said connecting arm (72) forms a steam duct connecting the steam distribution circuit to the diffusion chamber (47). Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the body (4) has a bottom wall (40) coming into contact with the sole (2), the diffusion chamber (47) and the circuit dispensing being formed on an upper face of the body (4), the bottom wall (40) having at least one opening (70) which opens into the separation space (7). Ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the first part (4A) of the body (4) closes an electrical resistance (3) and in that the steam distribution circuit comprises a cooling channel. overheating (44) for condensate vaporization. Ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the heating element (3) has a power of between 500 and 800W. Ironing apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the moistening zone (21) of the soleplate is constituted by a front part of the soleplate (2) and the dewatering zone (22). the sole is constituted by a rear portion of the sole (2). Ironing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a base (100) generating steam containing a tank (102) for the generation of pressurized steam connected by a cord (101) to iron (1).

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