A garment steaming device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Garment steaming devices often overheat fabrics, causing shine or deformation, and struggle to maintain optimal temperature for effective crease removal without condensation.
Innovation Solution
A garment steaming device with an intermediate heat conductive metal section between the steam generator and ironing surface, controlling heat transfer to maintain the ironing surface temperature between 90°C and 155°C, using thermal transmittance to balance heat transfer and loss, and incorporating a motion sensor to adjust steam generator temperature based on device movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the ironing surface is heated to a high temperature to enhance steam generation and crease removal, then the steam flow rate increases, but the fabric may be overheated causing shine or deformation
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediate section comprising a first intermediate layer made of heat conductive metal material is disposed between the steam generator and the ironing surface. This intermediate layer acts as a thermal mediator that controls heat transfer from the steam generator to the ironing surface, maintaining the ironing surface temperature between 90°C and 155°C while allowing the steam generator to operate at higher temperatures for effective steam generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate section is configured to have a specific thermal transmittance that controls the rate of heat transfer. By adjusting the thermal transmittance parameter of the intermediate layer, the system maintains the ironing surface temperature within the safe range (90°C-155°C) while the steam generator operates at higher temperatures to produce sufficient steam flow rate for crease removal.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the ironing surface temperature is maintained below 100°C to prevent fabric damage, then fabric safety is improved, but condensation may form on the fabric
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate heat conductive layer acts as a thermal buffer that maintains the ironing surface temperature above the dew point to prevent condensation while keeping it below 155°C to prevent fabric damage. This intermediary structure enables precise temperature control in the range of 90°C-155°C.
Solution Approach 2:
By controlling the thermal transmittance of the intermediate section, the system maintains the ironing surface temperature within the optimal range (90°C-155°C) that prevents both condensation formation and fabric overheating, resolving the contradiction between these two harmful effects.
3Device complexity
If a single heating element is used to heat both the steam generator and ironing surface, then device complexity is reduced, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate heat conductive layer serves as a thermal decoupling element that allows a single heating element to effectively create two different temperature zones. The intermediate layer with controlled thermal transmittance ensures the ironing surface maintains a lower temperature (90°C-155°C) while the steam generator operates at a higher temperature, achieving precise temperature control without requiring separate heating elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents fabric overheating and condensation while maintaining a high steam flow rate for effective crease removal, ensuring the ironing surface remains within safe temperature thresholds.
Implementation Method 1
an intermediate section disposed between the steam generator and the ironing surface to transfer heat from the steam generator to the ironing surface
Implementation Method 2
water is fed from the water receiving chamber to the steam generator and converted into steam
Implementation Method 3
energizing a heater element associated with the soleplate, wherein heat energy is transferred from the heater element to the soleplate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Presented is a garment steaming device comprising a steam generator (20) having a heater (22), an ironing surface (32) against which a fabric of a garment is locatable, and an intermediate section (50, 61, 71) disposed between the steam generator and the ironing surface to transfer heat from the steam generator to the ironing surface so that the ironing surface is indirectly heated by the steam generator via the intermediate section; the intermediate section comprises a first intermediate layer made of a heat conductive metal material and is configured to have a thermal transmittance that, during use, controls the heat transfer from the steam generator to the ironing surface to maintain the temperature of the ironing surface between 90°C and 155°C.