Patent GB-991209-A (GB)
Title: Pressing iron
IPC: D06F75/18
Filed: 1963-01-28
Abstract: 991, 209. Steam irons. SUNBEAM CORPORATION. Jan. 28, 1963 [June 19, 1962], No. 3477/63. Heading D1A. A pressing iron comprises an electricallyheated sole plate, a flash-type steam generating chamber associated with the sole plate, and means for supplying water under pressure from a reservoir to the chamber, the latter having a steam outlet connected to an aspirating spray nozzle connected for aspirating water from the reservoir when steam is supplied to the nozzle. The iron described is a modification of the iron described in Specification 812,828, and enables a spray to be operated when the iron is used either dry or as a steam iron. A sole plate 21 is connected by a casing 38 to a moulded handle 40. The sole plate 21 is provided with a heating element 22 disposed in the base of an upwardlyprojecting U-shaped rib 23. The upper portion of the latter is formed with a channel which has deep portions 96a alternating with shallow portions 96b, and which is closed by a pair of cover plates 97, 99 to constitute a high pressure steam generating chamber 96. Water from a reservoir 31 is forced by a pump 88 via a pipe 90 and non-return valve 91 through an aperture 86 at one end of chamber 96. A pipe 92, connected to an aperture 87 at the other end of chamber 96, conveys steam at a pressure of from 30 to 50 1b per square inch to an operating nozzle 93, whereby water is drawn from the reservoir 31 through a pipe 94 also connected to nozzle 93, and is discharged as a fine spray forwardly and downwardly through an aperture 51 in the handle 40. Reservoir 31, which is filled through aperture 51, is supported on rib 23 at the apertures 86, 87 by means of respective resilient sealing rings 118, 134. Nozzle 93 comprises a body 119 formed with a steam inlet passage 120 and a water inlet passage 121 interconnected by a cross passage 122 which terminates an enlarged opening 122a containing a dished nozzle plug 123 having a small central opening 124. Body 119 is connected by a resilient sealing member 128 and clamp member 130 to the pipes 92, 94. Pump 88 comprises a resilient plunger which is carried at the lower end of a rod 101, and is disposed in a well 89 depending from the base of reservoir 23. Rod 101 is biased upwardly by a spring 102 and carries at its upper end a button 103 slidable in handle 40. Depression of button 103 supplies sufficient water to chamber 96 to produce a spray lasting from 5 to 10 seconds. In a modification the pump is removable as a unit. Sole plate 21 is formed in the space between the arms of rib 23 with a depression closed by a cover 26 to constitute a low pressure steam generating chamber 24 which communicates via ports 28 with grooves 29 in the lower surface of the sole plate. Plate 26 is connected to reservoir 31 by a valve body 30 containing a valve needle 33, the upper end of which is connected to one arm of a lever 73 pivoted in the handle 40. The other arm projects outwardly of the latter and is biased by a toggle spring 75 either to the raised position for lowering needle 33 to close valve 30, or to the lowered position for raising needle 33 to open valve 30, when water flows by gravity into chamber 24 to be discharged as steam through the grooves 29 at a pressure of under 1 1b per square inch. A thermostat, controlling the temperature of element 22, is regulated by a lever 36 connected to the lower end of a slidable rod 43, the upper end of which carries follower 44 co-operating with a circular cam 59 pivoted in the handle 40 and rotatable by means of an external handle.