Patent GB-608017-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electric steam irons
IPC: D06F75/18
Filed: 1946-02-14
Abstract: 608,017. Electric steaming-irons. WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC INTERNATIONAL CO. Feb. 14, 1946. No. 4637. Convention date. Feb. 10, 1945. [Class 138(ii)] [Also in Groups XXIX and XXXVII] Relates to an electric steaming-iron comprising a soleplate 12, a heating-element therefor, a steam-generating chamber 50, means, including an orifice 62, for delivering water to said camber, a thermostatassembly for controlling the energisation of the heating-element, a valve-assembly for controlling the delivery of water through the orifice 62, and a follower arm 108 which forms part of the valve-assembly and co-operates with a cam 96 on the adjusting stem 42 of the thermostat. According to the invention, the thermostat-assembly is provided as a pre-assembled and precalibrated unit, the follower arm 108 is adapted to be locked in an adjusted position relative to the valve-adjusting spindle 72. and the thermostat-assembly, cam 96, and valve-assembly are removable from the iron and adapted to be reassembled in the iron without affecting the calibration of the thermostat-assembly or the adjustment of the follower arm 108. The adjusting stem 42 and the valve spindle 72 are disposed in sleeves 46, 64 mounted between the upper and lower walls 152 and 154 of a water tank 14 which is housed in the cover; this cover comprises a skirt portion, a horizontal peripheral ledge for supporting the handle 16, and a transverse bridge 88 having openings for locating the upper ends of the stem 42 and spindle 72. The sleeve 64 has waterinlet openings 68 leading to a bushing 56 which communicates with the steam chamber 50, the orifice 62 at the bottom of the bushing 56 being controlled by the valve 70; a reduced extension 71 on the valve 70 serves to eject salt and other deposits from the orifice 62. The sleeve 64 is also provided with an enlarged bore for receiving a collar 74 on the spindle 72. spring-pressed packing 78 being disposed in the bore below the collar 74. The follower arm 108 is locked in position upon the spindle 72 by a nut 110, and a spring 112 is disposed between the bridge 88 and the arm 108 so as to urge the valve 70 to its closed position. The lower end of the thermostat stem 42 has screw-threaded engagement with a bush 38 carried by a supporting plate 36 and is provided with an insulated pin 44 engaging the. adjusting lever 32 of the thermostatic bimetallic element' 30 (see Group XXXVII); this element 30, together with its associated switch arm 26 and adjusting lever 32, are carried as a unit on a rivet 34 on the plate 36. The cam 96 is in splined engagement with the stem 42, being disposed on a thrust washer 102 in a depression in the top wall 152 of the tank 14. The follower arm 108 has a depending lug 114 engaging the upper face of the cam 96, and an upstanding lug 118 arranged to co-operate with the forked end 120 of an actuating lever 122; this lever 122 is rotatably mounted on the hub of the cam 96 and has a handle extension 126 passing through an arcuate slot 132 in the bottom 134 of the handle 16. The lever 122 and cam 96 are biassed downwardly by a spring 140 engaging openings in the bridge 88, and the upper end of the stem 42 passes through an opening in the handle 16 and carries a knob 150. If desired, the water tank 14 may be omitted, water being supplied from an external source to the bushing 58. Operation. When the iron is used without steam, the arm 122 is moved so that the lug 114 on the arm 108 rides off the graudally rising upper surface 115 of the cam 96 to permit the spring 112 to bias the valve 70 to close the orifice 62; the thermostat may be adjusted by the knob 150 to maintain the iron at the desired heat. When used for steaming, the arm 122 is turned so as to cause the lug 114 to ride on the gradually rising surface 115 and the position of the valve 70 is then determined by the setting of the thermostat stem 42 and the cam 96. The cam is also provided with a flat segmentary surface which is arranged so that when the thermostat is either set to the "off" position or for relatively low temperatures, the valve will completely close the orifice 62. If desired, the cam may be provided with a ridge so that, when the lug 114 is first engaged with the rising surface 115, a relatively large quantity of water is momentarily fed to the steam chamber 50 in order to flush the orifice 62. Specifications 557,139 and 570,409 are referred to.