Recessed Iron Sole Layout for Steam Diffusion and Fabric Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothing irons with recessed soles, despite their steam cushion design, fail to adequately moisten the cloth and are costly to manufacture, offering only marginally better performance than standard flat soles while being energy-inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A clothing iron with a sole featuring a recess of depth 1 mm or greater, surrounded by a sliding surface without steam exit holes, which enhances steam diffusion and reduces radiation energy to the cloth, ensuring thorough moistening and efficient drying, with recess depth adjusted based on the sole material's emissivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a recess is added to the sole to create a steam cushion, then steam dispensing efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is segmented into a recessed central area and a peripheral sliding surface area, creating distinct functional zones. The recess (10) is bounded by the sliding surface (11) to form a steam diffusion cavity, separating steam generation and steam dispensing functions into different spatial zones, thereby improving steam cushion formation while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through simple geometric division.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional flat sole to a three-dimensional structure with a recess of depth 1-5mm. This vertical dimension creates a steam cushion cavity that traps and diffuses steam more effectively, adding a new spatial dimension for steam management without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
2Quantity of substance
If the recess depth is increased to improve steam cushion formation, then cloth moistening is improved, but radiation energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the recess depth parameter within a specific range of 1-5mm, and further refines it based on the emissivity of the sole material. For low emissivity materials (e.g., stainless steel), the depth is closer to 1mm, while for high emissivity materials (e.g., enamel), the depth is closer to 5mm. This parameter optimization balances steam cushion formation with radiation energy control.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom of the recess is equipped with steam exit holes (12) concentrated in specific zones, particularly in the front tip area, while the peripheral sliding surface lacks steam exit holes. This local differentiation ensures steam is delivered where needed while preventing excessive radiation from areas not requiring steam dispensing.
3Productivity
If steam exit holes are distributed across the entire sliding surface, then steam dispersion is improved, but cloth drying performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Steam exit holes (12) are localized to the bottom of the recess (10) and specifically concentrated in the front tip area, while the peripheral sliding surface (11) is deliberately kept without steam exit holes. This local differentiation allows steam to be dispensed effectively from the recessed area while the peripheral sliding surface provides a dry contact zone for effective drying and scraping of the fabric.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding surface is segmented into a steam-dispensing zone (bottom of recess with holes) and a drying zone (peripheral sliding surface without holes). This functional segmentation allows the iron to perform both steam ironing and drying functions simultaneously through different areas of the sole.
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
This design achieves superior ironing performance with reduced energy expenditure, ensuring the cloth is thoroughly moistened and efficiently dried, while using less steam and power, thus improving ironing efficiency and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
the recess forms a steam diffusion cavity that is surrounded by the sliding surface when the sole is applied to the cloth being ironed
Implementation Method 2
the depth of the recess is greater than or equal to 1 mm. Such a depth of the recess makes it possible to reduce the energy transmitted by radiation by the bottom of the recess to the surface of the cloth
Data Source
AI summary
Clothing iron including a sole (1) having a bottom side with a sliding surface (11) coming into contact with cloth and comprising at least one steam-supplied recess (10), the recess (10) being bounded on its entire periphery by the sliding surface (11) in such a manner that the recess (10) forms a steam diffusion cavity that is surrounded by the sliding surface (11) when the sole (1) is applied to the cloth being ironed, characterized in that the depth of the recess (10) is greater than or equal to 1 mm.