EP0135484B1

EP0135484B1 - Improvements in steam generators for use with electrodomestic appliances such as a steam iron

Info

Publication number: EP0135484B1
Application number: EP19840830216
Authority: EP
Inventors: Costantino Ronchi
Original assignee: ELWATT Srl
Current assignee: ELWATT S.R.L.
Priority date: 1983-07-18
Filing date: 1984-07-16
Publication date: 1988-12-28
Also published as: EP0135484A2; EP0135484A3; DE3475826D1

Description

Combination of steam iron and steam generator are per se known such as, for example, of the type in which a reciprocating membrane pump pumps water from a water container and to a steam generatorfrom which steam is supplied to a steam iron under the control of a push button provided in the iron handle The reciprocating membrane pump is connected to an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, each provided of a non-return valve.
A first drawback of the known combination resides in the calcareous deposits that render the steam iron inefficient after a very short period of time.
A second drawback of such known very expensive and not operative combination is that it is not a compact construction.
A third drawback of such known combination resides in the fact that the operator must press the control push button with a high frequency since the steam generator has no thermic inertia.
A fourth drawback of such known combination is that the combination is necessarily limited to steam irons. US-A-2 606 272 discloses a vapor generator in which a pump feeds water from a water reservoir to a heating unit; the heating unit comprises a metallic block heated by electric resistors. This vapor generator is not suitable for domestic use and no provisions are made to prevent calcium deposits. Cleaning operations and general maintenance must be performed by specialists and would be expensive and time consuming.
FR-A-2 306 400 discloses a vaporization chamber with front and rear opening of expensive construction, which does not solve adequately the cleaning and decalcification problems.
The task of this invention is to provide a reliable, efficient, durable steam generator which is suitable also for domestic appliances and in which provisions are made to prevent calcium deposits and to facilitate cleaning operations and general maintenance.
This task is achieved by a steam generator as defined in claim 1.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the enclosed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the steam iron and steam generator combination with the cover disconnected for representation consistency;
Fig. 2 is an electric diagram of the proposed combination;
Fig. 3 shows according to a sectional view the novel disposable device for decalcifying the water to be supplied to the water reservoir;
Fig. 4shows partially according to a longitudinal sectional view the steam outlet embodying the steam outlet nipple permitting the cleaning of the steam generator chamber as well of the steam outlet nipple only;
Fig. 5 shows with some portions removed an horizontal sectional view of the steam generator;
Fig. 6 shows the different possible applications of the proposed combination.

The following specification will deal separately with:

I: General construction
II: Anticalciferous means
III: Steam generator
IV: Operation

I General Construction

With reference to the Figure 1 the invention provides a support frame FR made of metallic sheet or of plastics material supporting a steam generator SB, an electrical vibration piston pump PU, and a water reservoir CO. A cover or closure KO is provided having an opening AP to provide access to the water inlet opening /A of the water reservoir CO. The cover KO may be fixed to the support frame FR with screws and the frame has an up-standing side flange PR with a carrying handle MA.
The cover has an aperture which receives a switch SW associated with a warning lamp WL.
The piston pump PU is supported by two spaced rubber flanges FL 1-F^L which absorb the pump vibrations.

II Anticalciferous means

Reference is made to the Figures 3, 4, and 5.
A container CN is partially charged with known resin RS and has an upper aperture UA and a lower aperture LA, the latter cooperating with the inlet opening IA of the water reservoir.
UA and LA are designed respectively to receive stoppers SR¹-ST² and the exchange resin container is of the disposable kind. The resin layer RS is confined between two spongy layers SR¹-S7², leaving an upper cavity CV so that the resin container CN operates as illustrated as a funnel. When the resin container is removed from the water reservoir CO a rubber stopper SR closes the water inlet as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.
When the resin is exhausted the resin coloration changes, alerting the operator that a fresh container should be substituted.
With reference now to the Figure 4 novel means are illustrated for the removal of calciferous deposits in the event that a resin container is not used.
The steam generator SB has a steam chamber CA and comprises a metallic body BL incorporating an electric heating resistor RE associated with a thermostat TH. A threaded bushing TB is fixed to the outlet of the cylindrical steam chamber having an internal threaded portion which receives an outlet steam nipple ON. The latter is hollow and machined with a set of holes and presents an inside threaded portion TR cooperating with a screw SC that presents a longitudinal hole HL.
To a cylindrical portion CY of nipple a steam hose SH may be secured with a band BN in known manner.
If it is required to clean only the nipple ON it is sufficient to unscrew the screw SC. If it is required to clean the whole steam chamber, the nipple ON may be unscrewed and removed to give access to steam chamber CA for cleaning with a brush (non represented).
A "teflon" insulating sleeve is provided for the protection of the steam hose SH.

III Steam Generator

The steam generator SB comprises a metallic block BL embodying a heating resistor RE. The inlet water duct has been shown at Wand is close to the water outlet OU from the pump to which it is connected by a teflon duct TD as shown. An insulating layer LY covers the metallic block BL, and the layer LY and the block BL are surrounded by metallic housing HO as shown. In this way the invention provides a steam generator that has a very high thermal inertia.

IV Operation

From the foregoing and particularly from the Fig. 2 the operation of the proposed novel combination is apparent.
If the switch SW is operated to connect the electrical supply (compare Fig. 2) the heating resistor RE produces steam from the water injected into the steam chamber if the pump is energized. This is rendered possible by activating the switch push button PP provided in the iron handle HA. The warning lamp is not energized. If the temperature in the steam generator chamber is too high the thermostat disconnects the heating resistor from the electrical supply and the warning lamp is energized. Namely the lamp is energized as soon as the thermostat opens.
For preventing calciferous deposits the resin container operating as funnel may be used, as already stated (see II).
If the resin container is not used the calciferous deposits may be removed from the steam outlet nipple e.g. ON or from the steam generator chamber CA as stated (see II).
As will be apparent the steam iron rests on the cover KO, when ironing is not required.
FU shows a fuse and RY the electrical resistor of the steam iron combination.
With reference now to the Figures 1, 2 and 6 it results apparently that the electrodomestic appliance such as a steam iron may be disconnected and the steam generator may be used alternatively for a steam floor washing apparatus SA, a coffee machine CM or an electric steam brush VB and so like. This is permitted thanks to the provision of a quadripolar plug QP and a quadripolar socket AT which latter is fixed to the flanged portion PR.
Since the steam hose and the electric quad- ripole cable may be disconnected the whole Fig. 1 steam generator may be alternatively used for the Fig. 6 uses.
The objects and advantages of the invention well result from the foregoing.

Claims

1. A steam generator (SB) for use with electrodomestic appliances such as a steam iron, comprising a metallic block (BL) made of a material with high thermal inertia embodying heating resistors (RE) and a vaporization chamber (CA), thermostat means (TH), cooperating with a warning lamp (WL), being connected in series to said heating resistors (RE), said steam generator being connected to a water reservoir (CO), by means of a vibration electric pump (PU), for feeding water to said chamber, and to an appliance such as a steam iron (IR), said steam generator further comprising a threaded steam outlet to which a nozzle (ON) is applied, said nozzle being removably associated with said vaporization chamber and adapted for permitting access to said chamber for cleaning purposes, characterized in that said nozzle (on) comprises a hollow part connected at one side to said chamber by means of a set of radially arranged holes (FX) and at the opposite side connected to a hose (SH), said hollow part of said nozzle protruding into said chamber (CA), said nozzle having also an internal threading (TR) engaging a screw (SC) fitted with a calibrated hole (LH) for delivery steam at suitable high pressure, said screw being removable for permitting cleaning of said nozzle, said hollow part of said nozzle having, on its side adjacent to said chamber, a closed flat end defining, together with the internal walls of said chamber, an annular laminating passage adapted for reducing calcium deposits.

2. A steam generator, according to claim 1, wherein said vaporization chamber (CA) is connected to said vibration electric pump (PU) by means of a nipple (IW) of relatively large internal diameter located on the sid.e of said chamber opposite to said nozzle.

3. A steam generator, according to claim 1, wherein said vibration electric pump (PU) is activated by a switch (PP) associated to said appliance.

4. A steam generator, according to claims 1 and 3, wherein said steam generator, water reservoir and vibration pump are associated to a base element (FR) and a cover element (KO), said cover element being adapted to operate as a support member for an appliance such as a steam iron.

5. A steam generator, according to claim 1, wherein said heating resistors (RE) are embodied into said metallic block (BL) during the moulding stage.