Ironing Plate Steam Path for Boiler-Free Pressurized Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ironing apparatuses with steam irons and external water tanks face high electricity consumption, increased design and production costs due to separate heating of the ironing plate and instant boiler, and issues with steam delivery such as condensation, dripping, and incomplete evaporation at atmospheric pressure.
Innovation Solution
An ironing apparatus with an internally shaped ironing plate and valve system that allows for super-pressurization of water, ensuring complete and instantaneous steam delivery without a boiler, by creating an obligatory path for progressive evaporation and using a valve to control steam release, which reduces energy consumption and eliminates pre-evaporation chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If water is injected at atmospheric pressure into an evaporation chamber heated by the ironing plate, then the structure is simple, but steam production takes a long time and causes condensation and dripping problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating water in a dedicated heating chamber before it enters the evaporation chamber. This preliminary heating ensures water is already at optimal temperature for rapid evaporation, eliminating the slow steam production and condensation issues associated with injecting cold water directly into the evaporation chamber at atmospheric pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pressurized water injection system where water is forced through the evaporation chamber under pressure. This hydraulic approach allows water to be quickly injected and evaporated, dramatically increasing steam production speed compared to atmospheric pressure systems, while the pressure control prevents condensation and dripping problems.
2Reliability
If a separate instant boiler is provided to transform water into steam, then steam delivery is improved, but design and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the heating chamber and evaporation chamber into a single integrated ironing plate structure. The heating chamber receives pre-heated water and the evaporation chamber transforms it into steam, both functions being combined within the plate itself rather than requiring a separate instant boiler. This integration maintains reliable steam delivery while significantly reducing design and production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The ironing plate is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the heating element for clothes and as the steam generation system. The plate contains both heating and evaporation chambers, making it a universal component that performs multiple functions (heating, steam generation, steam delivery) without requiring additional dedicated boiler equipment.
3Reliability
If water is injected repeatedly in proximity to heating means, then complete evaporation is achieved, but the path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a coil-shaped obligatory path for water flow through the evaporation chamber. This curved, spiral configuration allows water to repeatedly pass near heating means within a compact space, achieving complete evaporation without requiring a long linear path. The coil geometry maximizes heating efficiency while minimizing the overall path length.
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
The solution provides efficient and immediate steam delivery at any plate temperature, reducing energy consumption, preventing condensation, and ensuring complete evaporation, thus lowering production and maintenance costs while maintaining effective steam pressure.
Implementation Method 1
an ironing plate (16) heated by heating means, for example an electric resistance
Implementation Method 2
valve means (18) that allows to achieve a super-pressurization of a certain quantity of water inside the ironing plate
Implementation Method 3
make the water pass repeatedly in correspondence with and/or in proximity to the heating means, as far as the delivery zone, in order to cause its progressive and complete evaporation
Implementation Method 4
when the valve means is activated, said quantity of water can easily be transformed into steam and delivered under pressure in the form of steam
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Ironing apparatus (10) comprising an iron (11) with an ironing plate (16) heated by means of heating members (17) and provided with a steam delivery zone (27), and a container unit (12) which holds a determinate quantity of water and selectively feeds it to the ironing plate (16) through an inlet zone (26). The ironing plate (16) has a shape such as to define an obligatory path (23) that extends between the water inlet zone (26) and the steam delivery zone (27). The obligatory path (23) is configured so as to make the water pass repeatedly in correspondence with and/or in proximity to the heating members (17) as far as the delivery zone (27), in order to cause its progressive and complete evaporation from the inlet zone (26) to the delivery zone (27). The apparatus (10) also comprises a valve (18) disposed in cooperation with the obligatory path (23) downstream of the inlet zone (26), and can be selectively configured between a first closed condition, in which it defines, in correspondence with the heating members (17), a loading chamber (20) in which the water is maintained still in order to reach determinate conditions of temperature and pressure, and a second open condition, in which it allows the heated and pressurized water to access the obligatory path (23), so as to undergo a rapid and effective progressive evaporation.