Patent Application
20130014410
The present invention relates to the field of electric irons of domestic appliance, and in particular relates to an oil-storage type electric iron.
In the prior art, the soleplate of an domestic electric iron is generally designed as a die-casted aluminum soleplate integrated with the heating tube, and an adjustable temperature controller mounted on the upper surface of soleplate is used to control the operations of heating tube, so as to control and regulate the temperature on the bottom surface of the soleplate of electric iron. Such electric iron has the following disadvantages: the specific-heat capacity of aluminum product is relatively lower, the thermal capacity of the soleplate of electric iron is relatively smaller, so that the first-stroke temperature at the starting time is high, the temperature fluctuation in the operation of electric iron is high, and the stability of operating temperature is poor, so that the use safety and ironing quality of electric iron are affected; in order to increase the thermal capacity of soleplate, it is generally necessary to increase the weight of the aluminum material for soleplate, which causes higher cost and energy consumption in production. Furthermore, the operation of electric iron is not sufficiently flexible due to increased weight. Furthermore, the surface abrasion resistance of the cast-aluminum soleplate is poor, so that it is necessary to spray a wearing coat on the bottom surface of soleplate. Such wearing coat has poor wearing property and may be easily scraped and worn. If the soleplate is wrapped with a stainless steel plate or an additional thin layer of wear resistant soleplate, such problems as lower thermal efficiency and higher wear will occur. Furthermore, said electric iron also has such problems as uneven temperature distribution on the bottom surface of soleplate, higher temperature at the position corresponding to the heating tube and lower temperature at other positions. However, since domestic electric irons generally adopt dynamic ironing mode, so that the uneven surface temperature of soleplate causes less influence. Therefore, in the field of domestic iron irons, an electrothermal tube is habitually used to directly heat the metal plate. Furthermore, all the traditional electric irons are designed as electric irons with core (with power line). In the practical use, due to the dragging operation of power line and the limit in the distance from power supply, more convenient and comprehensive use of the traditional electric irons are affected.
With the view of said problems, it is the technical object of the present invention to provide an oil-storage type electric iron, which is featured by high stability and evenness of working temperature, convenient, flexible and safe operation and long service life and can reduce material costs and energy consumption in production and thus save resources.
More specifically, the present invention provides an oil-storage type electric iron, comprising a flat ironing part and an adjustable temperature controller 6, wherein the flat ironing part comprises a stainless steel soleplate 1, an upper casing plate 2, an electrothermal tube 3 and a heat conducting oil 4; the stainless steel soleplate 1 and the upper casing plate 2 form a closed shell; and the closed shell is internally provided with the electrothermal tube 3 and the heat conducting oil 4.
In addition, the closed shell is also internally provided with an electrothermal tube bracket 5 and a temperature controller mounting seat 7; the adjustable temperature controller 6 is provided on the temperature controller mounting seat 7, and the electrothermal tube bracket 5 is permanently connected with the electrothermal tube 3 and the temperature controller mounting seat 7 respectively.
Preferably, the adjustable temperature controller 6 is an adjustable temperature controller made of thermal bimetal strip and also comprises a temperature overheat protector.
Preferably, the temperature overheat protector comprises a pair of temperature control switch contacts 6.5 provided on the adjustable temperature controller 6; an arched spring piece 6.1 is connected in series with the temperature control switch contacts 6.5, an eutectic tin alloy welding spot 6.2 is used to weld the free end of the arched spring piece 6.1 with the free end of a first wiring terminal 6.3 for the purpose of conducting, the fixed end of the first wiring terminal 6.3 is separated from the fixed end of the arched spring piece 6.1 by means of a mica washer 6.6; the first wiring terminal 6.3 and a second wiring terminal 6.4 are respectively connected with the electrothermal tube 3 and the power input end.
Preferably, the oil-storage type electric iron also comprises a pair of contact pins 11, the contact pins 11 are provided under a terminal box 30 at the rear end of the oil-storage type electric iron, the ends of the contact pins 11 are respectively connected with the electrothermal tube 3 and the adjustable temperature controller 6 through a pair of wiring terminals 12 inside the terminal box 30, and another end of the contact pins 11 is an extending end which extends from the terminal box 30 and is connected with a power supply device.
Preferably, The power supply device is a preheating power socket, which comprises a pair of contact spring pieces 13, a pair of power wiring terminals 21 and a power line 22; the free end of the contact spring piece 13 is contiguously connected with the extending end of the contact pin 11, the surface of the contact spring piece 13 and the surface of the extending end of the contact pin 11 are respectively provided with a silver coating or a compound silver coating.
The oil-storage type electric iron and the preheating power socket also comprise an electrical connection safety device, the electrical connection safety device comprises a pushing boss 14, a movable pressing block 15, a fixed plate 16 and a movable spring piece 17; the pushing boss 14 is provided on the terminal box 30 at the rear end of the electric iron, the movable pressing block 15 is provided on the preheating power socket; a resetting torsion spring 18 is provided on the pivot of the movable pressing block 15; one end of the fixed plate 16 is connected with the fixed end of a contact spring piece 13, and a first electrical contact 19 is provided on the another end of the fixed plate 16; one end of the movable spring piece 17 is connected with the power wiring terminal 21, and a second electrical contact 20 is provided on the another end of the movable spring piece 17; when the oil-storage type electric iron is placed in the preheating power socket, the extending end of the contact pin 11 is connected with the free end of the contact spring piece 13, the pushing boss 14 pushes the movable pressing block 15 to move downwards and press down the movable spring piece 17, so that the second electrical contact 20 of the movable spring piece 17 contacts with the first electrical contact 19 of fixed plate 16; The preheating power socket also comprises a bracket seat 23 and a thermal insulation cushion 24; the inclination angle of the table of the bracket seat 23 is 15°-45°, and the thermal insulation cushion 24 is made of soft silica gel.
A coating layer is provided in the whole/partial periphery on the side of the closed shell, and the coating layer is composed of one, two or three kinds of reversible thermopaints 25 which can change colors at specific temperature.
The oil-storage type electric iron also comprises a steam-generating device, and the steam-generating device comprises a second closed shell 26, a steam conduit 27, a second electrothermal tube 28 and a temperature-limiting type temperature controller 29; water and steam are provided in the second closed shell 26.
The second closed shell 26 is provided above the flat ironing part and is permanently connected with the built-in mounting seat 10 in the closed shell; a water filling nozzle sealed tube 31 and a cock 32 are provided on the second closed shell 26, the second electrothermal tube 28 is provided inside the second closed shell 26, a steam inlet 27.1 is provided on the upper end of the steam conduit 27, a lower port 27.2 of the steam conduit 27 extends out of the second closed shell 26; a steam-spray chamber 27.3 is provided between the upper casing plate 2 and the stainless steel soleplate 1, a steam-spray hole 1.1 is provided on the stainless steel soleplate 1, and the position of the steam-spray hole 1.1 corresponds to the position of the steam-spray chamber 27.3.
The beneficial effects of the present invention as follows:
The present invention breaks through the traditional use mode of electric iron, and puts forward a solution to effectively solve such problems as low thermal capacity, poor temperature stability, temperature uniformity, durability and safety of the soleplate of electric iron. In addition, the cordless electric iron is adopted to provide more convenient and safe operations. The present invention can also be used in combination with the steam-generating device to further improve the functions of electric iron.
The technical solution of the present invention is described in detail in combination with the attached figures and the specific embodiments.
Generally, the specific-heat capacity of heat conducting oil is 2-3 KJ/Kg° C., while the specific-heat capacity of aluminum is merely 0.88 KJ/Kg° C. With the same weight, the thermal capacity of heat conducting oil is 2.5-3.5 times as much as that of aluminum. Since the media of heat conducting oil is heated by means of heating tube and the thermal capacity is transferred to the whole surface of the soleplate, as compared with the case where the electrothermal tube is used to directly heat the soleplate, the temperature uniformity of the soleplate of electric iron is improved. Therefore, if the oil-storage type electric iron is adopted, it is feasible to increase the thermal capacity of the soleplate of electric iron by several times against the made metallic soleplate, so that such problems as poor temperature stability and temperature uniformity and high temperature fluctuation on the ironing bottom surface of electric iron can be solved. With smaller working temperature fluctuation, lower action frequency of temperature controller and lower thermal shock at the time of starting up, the service life of electric iron can be effectively extended.
The stainless steel soleplate 1 can be made of stainless steel plate in thickness of 1.2-2.5 mm, which is punched into a disk-shaped soleplate of iron. The upper casing plate 2 can be made of stainless steel plate in thickness of 0.5-1 mm, which is punched into a disk-shape matching with the periphery of the stainless steel soleplate 1. Since the stainless steel plate has satisfactory corrosion resistance and wearability, the polished soleplate is durable in use and is uneasily damaged in collision. As compared with the cast aluminum plate sprayed with wear-resistant coating or wrapped with stainless steel surface, the polished soleplate can effectively improve the durability of electric iron and reduce the material costs and energy consumption in production. Since heat conducting oil is used to transfer heat, the surface temperature of the soleplate is even and stable without local high temperature, so that such problems as local colour change on the surface of the stainless steel soleplate and plastering of fabric will not occur, which often occur on the surface of the cast aluminum soleplate.
Several reinforcing ribs 8, which emboss inwards, are provided on the upper casing plate 2, so as to strengthen the rigidity of the upper casing plate 2 on the one hand and to play the function of wave elimination on the other hand, namely to eliminate the surge that may be generated by the heat conducting oil in the movement of electric iron.
An eutectic tin alloy welding spot 6.2 is used to weld the free end of the arched spring piece 6.1 with the free end of a first wiring terminal 6.3 for the purpose of conducting, the fixed end of the first wiring terminal 6.3 is separated from the fixed end of the arched spring piece 6.1 by means of a mica washer 6.6; the first wiring terminal 6.3 and a second wiring terminal 6.4 are respectively connected with the electrothermal tube 3 and the power input end; through a spring assembly 6.9 in the adjustable temperature controller 6, a pair of temperature control switch contacts 6.5, the arched spring piece 6.1 and the first wiring terminal 6.3, the second wiring terminal 6.4 forms electrical connection with the electrothermal tube 3.
The preset dangerous temperature for the stainless steel soleplate 1 of the electric iron is 360° C. When the temperature of the soleplate rises to the melting point temperature 240° C. of the eutectic tin alloy welding spot, the eutectic tin alloy welding spot 6.2 melts, so that the arched spring piece 6.1 springs open and thus switches off the circuit connected from the power input end to the electrothermal tube 3, playing the function of safety protection.
In general, an electric iron is provided with a power line and a plug. For the purpose of ironing operation, it is necessary to insert the power line on the power supply socket, so that the electric iron can generate heat and work. However, the dragging and shackling of the power line cause inconveniences in use and operation of the electric iron. Sometimes, the clothing may be contaminated by the pollutions on the power line. If a cordless electric iron is used, the temperature of electric iron drops very quickly due to small thermal capacity of the traditional metallic soleplate, so that it is necessary to preheat the electric iron frequently, which causes inconvenience. If an oil-storage type electric iron is used, since the soleplate of oil storage type iron has big thermal capacity, there will be longer effective operation time after a preheating. Therefore, it is especially advisable to adopt a cordless electric iron. When the power supply is relatively far from the clothing to be ironed, there is no need to drag the power line, the operation process becomes more flexible and clean, and the range of uses and functions of the electric iron can be greatly extended. Furthermore, being able to operate in uncharged state, the electric iron is safer and energy-saving.
As shown in
In order to prevent the safety problem from being caused by an electric iron, which contacts with an exposed contact spring piece 13 before it is placed on the preheating power socket, and an electrical connection safety device is adopted on the electrical connection position of the electric iron and the preheating power socket in this embodiment. As shown in
As shown in
Because the movable spring piece 17 has lost the pushing force of the movable pressing block 15 when the electric iron leaves from the preheating power socket, the movable spring piece 17 moves upwards under the effect of the elastic force generated by the resetting torsion spring 18 and the movable spring piece 17, so that the second electrical contact 20 is disengaged from the first electrical contact 19, the power supply is disconnected and the contact spring piece 13 is powered off. At this moment, under the effect of elastic force, the contact spring piece 13 pushes the contact pin 11 to move up simultaneously, so that the contact pin 11 has been under power off condition although the contact pin 11 has not been disengaged from the contact spring piece 13. Therefore, when the contact pin 11 is disengaged from the contact spring piece 13, arc phenomenon will unlikely occur, the resetting torsion spring 18 resets the movable pressing block 15 and the movable spring piece 17 returns to its initial position.
In order to guarantee that the contact spring piece 13 is uncharged whenever the contact pin 11 contacts with or separates from the contact spring piece 13, it is necessary to make the extension height of the contact pin 11 and the contact stroke in coordination with the contact spring piece 13 exceed the height of the pushing boss 14 at the tail of electric iron as well as the stroke in coordination with the movable pushing 15, so that when the movable pressing block 15 in coordination with the pressing boss 14 is pressing on the first electrical contact 19 and the second electrical contact 20, the time point when electrical contact 19 is connected with the second electrical contact 20, is posterior to the time point when the contact pin 11 is connected with the contact spring piece 13, and the time point when electrical contact 19 is disconnected with the second electrical contact 20, is ahead of the time point when the contact pin 11 is disconnected with the contact spring piece 13. That is to say, when a cordless electric iron is placed, the contact pin 11 firstly contacts with the contact spring piece 13, and subsequently the movable pressing block 15 presses down the movable spring piece 17, so that the first electrical contact 19 contacts with the second electrical contact 20, and the power supply is turned on. When the cordless electric iron is removed, the movable pressing block 15 firstly loosens the movable spring piece 17, so that the first electrical contact 19 is separated from the second electrical contact 20, the power supply is turned off, and in turn the contact pin 11 is separated from the contact spring piece 13.
The said electrical-connection safety device can be used to further improve the safety and service life of electric iron and to generate the effect of ensuring the safety of a power network.
When the electric iron is required to use steam for working, the steam indicating switch 33 may be turned on, so that the second electrothermal tube 28 heats the water in the second closed shell 26 to boil and generate steam; after the steam has entered the steam inlet 27.1 above the steam conduit 27, the steam enters the steam-spray chamber 27.3 from the lower port 27.2 and then is sprayed out from the steam-spray hole 1.1 above the soleplate of the iron.
An oil-storage type electric iron can be designed as a cordless or a core dry ironing type electric iron without steam generation part, also can be designed as a cordless or a core team type electric iron with steam generation part. In general cases, it is advisable to adopt cordless type for dry ironing electric iron and adopt electric iron with core for steam type electric iron.
In conclusion, the oil-storage type electric iron provided by the present invention has such advantages as temperature uniformity, convenient operation, energy saving, safety use and high economic value and use value and breaks through the mode of the traditional electric iron.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201010222506.9 | Jul 2010 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN2010/075695 | 8/4/2010 | WO | 00 | 9/21/2012 |
