JPH0477600B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Technical field of invention] The present invention relates to a steam iron.

[Technical background of the invention]

Generally, in a steam iron, water is dripped into a vaporization chamber on the top surface of a base that has a heater, and the steam is ejected from the jet hole on the bottom surface of the base. However, if water is dripped when the base is cold, There are problems in that the water is not completely vaporized and is ejected as water droplets from the nozzle or the water remaining in the vaporization chamber corrodes the material such as aluminum alloy that forms the vaporization chamber.

Therefore, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-79, a switch device operated by a reversible bimetal provided near the vaporization chamber is provided in the water passage communicating the water tank and the vaporization chamber. It has been proposed to prevent water from dripping when the base is cold.

[Problems with background technology]

In such a steam iron, the reversible bimetal is placed close to the vaporization chamber, so when water starts to be supplied to the vaporization chamber, the vaporization chamber is gradually cooled, and the reversible bimetal is also placed close to the vaporization chamber. Because the influence of the temperature of the vaporization chamber is stronger than the average temperature of There is a problem in that the opening/closing device is blocked and the steam jetting stops.

To improve these drawbacks, for example, if the reversible bimetal is placed away from the vaporization chamber,
Immediately after the heater is de-energized,
When water starts dripping, the reversible bimetal cannot sense the sudden drop in temperature in the vaporization chamber, and can stop water dripping even when the base has almost lost its vaporizing ability. Therefore, the water that has not been completely vaporized may drip from the nozzle or the water remaining in the vaporization chamber may corrode the base, making it impossible to achieve the original purpose.

As shown in Figure 4, when the temperature of the base is measured at each point in the vaporization chamber (a), the position (b) near the outside of the vaporization chamber, and the position (c) and (d) away from the vaporization chamber, the temperature of the base is measured as shown in Figures 5 and 4. The temperature distribution will be as shown in Figure 6. In other words, Figure 5 shows the temperature distribution of the base over time when water is dropped into the vaporization chamber while the heater is energized. The distribution is almost stable at (D). In addition, Figure 6 shows the temperature distribution at the base when water is dropped into the vaporization chamber immediately after the heater is turned off. The temperature will eventually match room temperature. Therefore, the ideal position for the reversible bimetal is the point C, which indicates the average temperature of the base when steam is injected while the current is on, and the point C, which indicates the average temperature of the base, when the steam is injected when the power is cut off. A location (B) that can immediately detect changes in room temperature is desirable.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and aims to maintain a stable operating state when steam is ejected, and to reliably stop the supply of water when power is cut off to the heater. It is something.

[Summary of the invention]

The steam iron of the present invention includes a base having a heater and having a vaporizing chamber on the upper surface and an ejection hole communicating with the vaporizing chamber on the lower surface, a water tank provided on the upper part of the base, and a water tank in the water tank. a water passageway for supplying water to the vaporization chamber, a switching device for opening and closing the water passageway, and a switching device disposed near the vaporization chamber of the base, the switching device being operated so as not to supply water when the temperature of the base is below a predetermined temperature. The device includes a thermally responsive member, and a heat transfer member made of a thermally conductive material that is attached to the base and thermally connects the upper surface side of the thermally responsive member to the heater portion.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 is a base, and a heater 2 is embedded within this base 1. Further, a vaporizing chamber 3 is formed on the upper surface of the base 1, and an ejection hole 4 communicating with the vaporizing chamber 3 is formed on the lower surface of the base 1,
Moreover, the vaporization chamber 3 is covered with a steam cover 5.

A cover 6 is provided on the base 1, a heat shield plate 7 is attached to the upper part of the cover 6, and a handle 9 has a handle portion 8 integrally formed on the heat shield plate 7.
A cassette-type water tank 10 is detachably provided at the front of the handle 9.

A lock button 12 for the water tank 10 is provided in the front part of the handle part 8 at the upper part of the handle 9 with an operation piece 11 projecting upwardly, so as to be movable in the front and rear direction.
At the tip of this lock button 12, the water tank 1
A locking piece 14 is provided to lock and release the locking portion 13 provided at the lock button 12, and a spring 15 is provided at the rear of the lock button 12.
is constantly urged forward by the spring 15 to lock the water tank 10, and the lock button 12 is pushed backwards (to the right in the figure) against the spring 15.
By sliding the locking piece 14 from the locking portion 13 of the water tank 10, the water tank 10 can be attached or removed.

An outflow hole 16 is formed in the lower part of the water tank 10, and the water tank 10 is inserted into the outflow hole 16 through the handle 9.
A valve device 17 is provided which opens when mounted on the front part of the vehicle.

Further, the water guide frame 1 has a water passage 18 in the cover 6 portion that communicates with the outflow hole 16 of the water tank 10.
A drip nozzle 20 facing the vaporization chamber 3 is provided at the rear of the water guiding frame 19, and a valve rod 21 is provided to be movable up and down with respect to the drip nozzle 20. A spring 22 is attached that always urges the valve rod 21 upward, that is, in the opening direction of the drip nozzle 20, and the valve rod 2
An operation button 23 is provided at the upper end of the device.
This operation button 23 is located on the upper surface of the handle 9 in front of the lock button 12. Then, by operating the operation button 23, the valve rod 21 is moved up and down to open and close the drip nozzle 20 at its lower end, thereby selecting the "steam" or "dry" state.

A reaction rod 24 is provided adjacent to the valve rod 21 so as to be movable up and down, and a spring 25 is attached to the reaction rod 24 to bias the reaction rod 24 downward. A regulating plate 26 is provided in the middle of the valve rod 21 and is engaged with the valve rod 21.
4 biases and supports the valve rod 21 downwardly, that is, in the closing direction of the dripping nozzle 20, overcoming the spring 22, thereby opening and closing the water passage 18 with respect to the vaporization chamber 3. An opening/closing device 27 is formed.

Further, a recess 28 is formed in the base 1 below the reaction rod 24 and near the vaporization chamber 3, and a reversible bimetal 29 as a thermally responsive member is provided in the recess 28. This reversible bimetal 29 has a substantially rectangular projected shape and is arranged so that one long side thereof faces the vaporization chamber 3 side.

Further, a recessed groove 33 is formed adjacent to one side of the recessed portion 28 of the base 1, and a temperature sensing element 34 such as a thermistor for detecting the temperature of the base 1 is installed in the recessed groove 33 with a heat-resistant filler. It is installed so that heat conduction is good through it.

A plate-shaped heat transfer member 35 made of a good thermal conductor such as aluminum is placed over the recess 28 and groove 33 of the base 1 and fixed with several screws 36,
The reversible bimetal 29 and the temperature sensing element 34 are held, and both ends 37 of the heat transfer member 35 are brought into contact with the heater 2 section. Further, the inner bottom surface of the recess 28 and the inner upper surface of the heat transfer member 35 are curved to face the reversible bimetal 29 and follow the shape of the reversible bimetal 29 when the reversible bimetal 29 is inverted vertically. Then, the reversible bimetal 2 is inserted through the center of the heat transfer member 35.
The lower end of the response rod 24 is opposed to the upper center of the rod 9.

A switch 38 for setting the temperature of the base 1 is provided on the top surface of the handle 9 in front of the operation button 23. ~3mm).

This switch 3 is located around the front of the switch 38.
A display device 39 is provided to display the temperature set by the operation in step 8. This display device 39 is
A plurality of light emitting diodes 40 are arranged in a semicircle.

The temperature sensing element 3 is located at the rear of the handle 9.
4. A control device 41 to which a switch 38 and a display device 39 are connected is provided. This control device 41 includes an output switching circuit whose output state is sequentially switched each time the switch 38 is turned on and off, and an output of a comparator circuit including a resistor selected by the output of the temperature detection element 34 and the output switching circuit. and a power control circuit that controls the supply of electricity to the heater 2.

Next, the operation will be explained.

By turning on and off the switch 38 and setting it to an arbitrary temperature, for example, steam temperature (150 to 200°C), the power supply to the heater 2 is controlled, and the base 1
The temperature rises to the set temperature and remains there.

As the temperature of the base 1 rises, the temperature of the reversible bimetal 29 also rises, and when it reaches a temperature suitable for steam (150 to 200°C), it is reversed and has a convex top surface, forming a curved surface 35a of the heat transfer member 35. , and pushes the response rod 24 upward against the spring 25.

By operating the operation button 23 in this state, the valve rod 21 moves upward to open the drip nozzle 20, and the water in the water tank 10 flows from the outflow hole 16 through the water passage 18 of the water guide frame 19 to the vaporization chamber. The dropped water immediately turns into steam and is ejected from the ejection hole 4.

As this steam gushing state continues,
The temperature near the vaporization chamber 3 decreases to the return temperature of the reversible bimetal 29;
Heat is supplied to the heater 2 by the heat transfer member 35, and the inverted state can be maintained. At this time, since the reversible bimetal 29 and the temperature detection element 34 are covered with the same heat transfer member 35, the temperature response of both becomes the same, and stable characteristics can be obtained. Furthermore, since the surface of the heat transfer member 35 facing the reversible bimetal 29 has a curved shape along the reversible bimetal 29, heat is efficiently transferred between the two. Therefore, the steam does not stop during use.

In this state, operate the operation button 23 again,
When the valve rod 21 is moved downward, the dripping nozzle 20 is closed and dripping stops.

In addition, even in the steam state described above,
When the power is turned off, the heat is no longer supplied from the heat transfer member 35 to the reversible bimetal 29, so the temperature of the reversible bimetal 29 drops rapidly, reaching a temperature below the return temperature and returning to its original shape. The response lever 24 is moved downward by the spring 25, pushing down the valve lever 21 and opening the drip nozzle 20.
is blocked and dripping stops.

In this way, during actual use, that is, when steam is produced with the heater 2 energized, heat is supplied to the reversible bimetal 29 by the heat transfer member 35.
It can be kept in the open state, and if steam is generated immediately after use, that is, when the base 1 is still hot with the heater 2 cut off, the temperature drop in the base 1 will be immediately detected and the switch will open and close. device 27
Since the drip nozzle 20 of the base 1 is closed, the base 1
Dripping stops when the liquid has sufficient vaporization ability,
Water that is not completely vaporized becomes hot water and is not spouted out from the spout hole 4, and water that remains in the vaporization chamber 3 does not corrode the base 1.

In this embodiment, the reversible thermally responsive member is made of a reversible bimetal, but a shape memory alloy may be used as the thermally responsive member. Further, the water tank may be of a fixed type, in addition to a removable cassette type.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, by arranging the thermally responsive member near the vaporization chamber and thermally connecting its upper surface side to the heater section through the heat transfer member, the temperature of the thermally responsive member is maintained when steam is used. It can maintain stable operating conditions, and when the heater is turned off after use, it can rapidly follow the temperature drop in the vaporization chamber and stop dripping, making it safe and long-lasting. can do.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway side view showing an embodiment of the steam iron of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partial plan view thereof, Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the part shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the temperature measurement points on the base.
6 and 6 are temperature measurement graphs of the base. 1...base, 2...heater, 3...vaporization chamber,
4...Blowout hole, 10...Water tank, 18...Water passage, 27...Switching device, 29...Reversible bimetal as a thermally responsive member, 35...Heat transfer member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A base having a heater and having a vaporizing chamber formed on its upper surface and an ejection hole communicating with the vaporizing chamber formed on its lower surface, a water tank provided at the upper part of this base, and water in this water tank. a water passageway for supplying water to the vaporization chamber; a switchgear for opening and closing the water passageway; and a switchgear disposed near the vaporization chamber of the base and operating the switchgear so as not to supply water when the temperature of the base is below a predetermined temperature. A steam iron comprising: a thermally responsive member; and a heat transfer member made of a good thermal conductor that is attached to the base and thermally connects the upper surface side of the thermally responsive member to the heater section. 2. The steam iron according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer member has a surface facing the thermally responsive member curved along the thermally responsive member.