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US 7,395,619 B2Granted
Steam iron
AssigneeTunbow Electrical Limited
InventorPak Man Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steam iron (10) for clothing has direct measurement of sole plate temperature by a suitable sensor (19). A control device (20) such as a programmable logic controller, holds a characteristic relating sole plate temperature to steam production, and controls opening of an electrically actuated release valve (16) for water from a tank (15) to the sole plate (13). The sensor (19) may also control electrical energy for heating the sole plate (13).
Claims11
A steam iron for clothing, said iron comprising:
- a body;
- a water tank in said body;
- a heatable sole plate having an interior side, an exterior side, and through passages from said interior side to said exterior side;
- a temperature sensor provided on said sole plate and having an electrical output;
- and
- a control device operable to release water from said tank to said interior side, the control device comprises a solenoid operated release valve, the release valve comprising:
- a tubular body defining an internal frustoconical valve seat
- a valve element movable to and from the valve seat, the valve element comprising a cylindrical armature having a frusto conical seating land for engagement with said seat;
- and
- a resilient bias to urge said valve element to said valve seat, wherein
- said control device is electrically operable in response to said electrical output of said temperature sensor such that said solenoid is activated by said electrical output to move said valve element from said seat against said resilient bias.
8 more elements
A method of controlling the release of water from a water tank to a sole plate of a steam iron, said method comprising:
- determining the temperature of said sole plate by means of a sensor having a proportionate electrical output;
- providing a pre-programmable characteristic relating the temperature of said sole plate to a desired flow rate of water;
- and
- controlling release of water via an electrically actuable device operable in accordance with said characteristic.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.