Steam Iron Water Flow Regulation for Complete Evaporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ironing apparatuses with steam irons face inefficiencies in steam production due to long evaporation times and incomplete water evaporation at low heating temperatures, leading to dripping issues and increased production costs from complex electronic control units.
Innovation Solution
A device with a selection knob and mechanical means to regulate water flow rate through the feed pipe, adjusting the passage section based on the selected heating temperature, ensuring optimal water evaporation without the need for electronic command and control units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electronic command and control units are used to regulate water flow rate according to heating temperature, then steam production efficiency is improved, but device complexity and production costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electronic command and control units with a purely mechanical regulation system. The selection knob directly mechanically adjusts the water flow rate through the feed pipe while simultaneously controlling the heating temperature, eliminating the need for electronic sensors, processors, and actuators. This mechanical substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining steam production efficiency through direct coupling of temperature and flow rate control, while dramatically reducing device complexity and production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The selection knob serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls the heating temperature of the ironing plate and directly regulates the water flow rate through the feed pipe. This multi-functionality allows a single component to achieve what previously required separate electronic control systems, thereby improving steam production efficiency while reducing device complexity and eliminating the need for dedicated electronic command and control units.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If low heating temperature is used for delicate garments, then garment damage is prevented, but water evaporation is incomplete and steam production time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of water flow rate in direct correlation with heating temperature. When the heating temperature is reduced for delicate garments, the water flow rate is simultaneously reduced through mechanical regulation. This parameter change ensures that even at lower temperatures, the water evaporation process is optimized by providing the appropriate amount of water, preventing incomplete evaporation and reducing steam production time while still protecting delicate garments from damage.
3Productivity
If high heating temperature is used for fast steam production, then steam production time is reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of water flow rate that corresponds to heating temperature settings. When high heating temperature is selected for fast steam production, the system dynamically increases water flow rate to match the higher thermal energy input, optimizing evaporation efficiency. This dynamic coupling ensures that energy is used more effectively - the increased water flow rate at high temperatures prevents energy waste from incomplete evaporation, thereby achieving fast steam production with more reasonable energy consumption compared to static high-temperature operation.
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 solution ensures complete water evaporation into steam across all heating conditions, reducing energy consumption and production costs while eliminating condensation and residue formation, providing efficient and economical steam production.
Implementation Method 1
the fed water is heated and transformed into steam by means of said electric resistance
Implementation Method 2
the fed water is heated and transformed into steam
Implementation Method 3
the fed water is heated and transformed into steam
Data Source
Figure 1~5
AI summary
Device (10) to regulate the temperature of an ironing apparatus (11) comprising a steam iron (12) with an ironing plate (17) heated by means of heating members (18) of the adjustable type, and a container unit (13) that contains a determinate quantity of water and selectively feeds it to the ironing plate (17) through a feed pipe (26). The device (10) comprises a selection knob (22) selectively driven in order to regulate the heating temperature of the heating members (18). The device (10) also comprises mechanical members (27, 29) to regulate the water flow rate fed to the iron (12), directly associated with the selection knob (22), so as to be moved together with the selection knob (22) in order to modify the flow rate according to the actual heating temperature of the heating members (18).