EP2511417B2 - Household ironing appliance comprising a case including a tank and a pump supplied with liquid by the tank - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a household ironing appliance comprising a housing comprising a reservoir and a pump supplied with liquid by the reservoir.

It is known, from the patent EP 0 843 039 filed by the Applicant, a steam generator comprising a vessel for the production of pressurized steam which is supplied with water from a reservoir by means of a pump. Such a pump, usually of the electromagnetic type, makes it possible to send water under a pressure of the order of 15 bars into the tank for the production of steam, the latter being equipped with heating means generally regulated to produce water. steam at a pressure of the order of 5 bars.

Such a device has the advantage of allowing the generation of pressurized steam which ensures high efficiency during ironing.

However, such a device comprises a high pressure pump which has the drawback of being relatively noisy, in particular because of the transmission of vibrations generated by the pump to the housing and the reservoir which then act as resonance boxes.

CN 101 864 662 A2 discloses a household appliance with the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1. It is known from the prior art to attempt to remedy this drawback by mounting the pump on a metal spring in order to damp the vibratory movements of the pump. However, such a spring-mounted mounting complicates the mounting of the pump in the housing, the pump being generally placed in a housing that is difficult to access for reasons of compactness of the housing. In addition, mounting the pump in the housing also requires the connection of a pump suction circuit, and possibly a purge circuit, with the reservoir. However, the presence of such a damping spring, if it is incorrectly positioned in the housing during assembly, can generate stresses that cause noise. On the other hand, the connections of the suction circuit and the purge circuit are additional manual operations that can generate operating faults if they are incorrectly carried out.

Also, an object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by providing an ironing appliance, comprising a housing comprising a reservoir intended to be connected to a pump arranged in the housing, in which the operating noise of the pump is attenuated. and the assembly of the pump is facilitated.

To this end, the invention relates to a household ironing appliance comprising a housing comprising a reservoir and a pump supplied with liquid by the reservoir, the pump being mounted suspended on a support consisting of a part which is attached to the housing, the pump being mounted on the support by means of an elastic part which comes between the pump and the support, the elastic part comprising a central part supporting the pump and comprising elastic arms extending radially from the central part, the elastic arms being stretched between anchoring studs of the support.

By suspended mounted pump is meant a flexible mounting of the pump on the support allowing damping of the vibrations generated by the pump.

By independent support is meant a support which is constituted by a part independent of the housing, that is to say which is not directly integrated into the housing but which is attached to the latter so that the mounting of the pump on the support can be carried out outside the housing.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the support is rigid.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the support is positioned on the housing by means of positioning fingers which engage in guide rings.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the housing comprises a lower shell and an upper shell which are assembled one on the other, the support being immobilized in the housing by being sandwiched between the upper shell and the lower shell. .

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pump comprises a suction circuit comprising an inlet fitting intended to be connected to an outlet port of the reservoir, the inlet fitting being carried by the support.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the pump comprises a purge circuit comprising a connection member intended to be connected to a lower end of a pipe carried by the housing, the connection member being carried by the support.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the pump is an electromagnetic pump generating a pressure greater than ten bars and comprises a delivery pipe which is connected to a tank for the generation of pressurized steam.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the tank for generating pressurized steam is connected to an iron by a cord.

The invention also relates to a method of assembling a household ironing appliance as described above, comprising a housing intended to enclose a pump supplied with liquid by a reservoir supported by the housing, characterized in that the pump is, in a first assembly phase, mounted suspended on an independent support and in that, in a second assembly phase, the pump / support sub-assembly thus obtained is mounted in the housing.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil de repassage selon un mode particulier de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective, partiellement arrachée, du boîtier générateur de vapeur de l'appareil de repassage de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe de l'appareil de repassage selon la ligne III-III de la figure 2 dans laquelle le corps de la pompe n'est toutefois pas représenté en coupe pour plus de clarté ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée du sous-ensemble pompe représenté isolément ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en perspective du sous-ensemble pompe de la figure 4 lorsque celui est assemblé dans une phase préalable à son montage dans le boîtier ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective du boîtier générateur de vapeur disposé à l'envers et démuni de sa coquille inférieure, lors de la phase de montage du sous-ensemble pompe dans le boîtier,
• la figure 7 est une vue en coupe de l'appareil de repassage selon la ligne VII-VII de la figure 2. ;
• la figure 8 est une vue en perspective d'un boîtier générateur de vapeur selon une variante de réalisation de l'invention, le boitier étant disposé à l'envers et démuni de sa coquille inférieure, le sous-ensemble pompe étant représenté dans la phase de montage sur le boîtier ;
• la figure 9 est une vue en perspective éclatée du sous-ensemble pompe de la figure 8 représenté isolément ;
• la figure 10 est une vue similaire à la figure 8 avec le sous-ensemble représenté en position monté dans le boitier.

The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the description given below of a particular embodiment. of the invention, presented by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of an ironing appliance according to a particular embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the steam generator housing of the ironing appliance of the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is a sectional view of the ironing device along line III-III of the figure 2 in which the body of the pump is however not shown in section for the sake of clarity;
• the figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pump sub-assembly shown in isolation;
• the figure 5 is a perspective view of the pump sub-assembly of the figure 4 when that is assembled in a phase prior to its assembly in the housing;
• the figure 6 is a perspective view of the steam generator housing arranged upside down and without its lower shell, during the assembly phase of the pump sub-assembly in the housing,
• the figure 7 is a sectional view of the ironing device along line VII-VII of the figure 2 . ;
• the figure 8 is a perspective view of a steam generator housing according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the housing being arranged upside down and without its lower shell, the pump subassembly being shown in the assembly phase on The box ;
• the figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the pump sub-assembly of the figure 8 shown in isolation;
• the figure 10 is a view similar to figure 8 with the sub-assembly shown in the mounted position in the box.

Only the elements necessary for understanding the invention have been shown. To facilitate reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another.

The figure 1 shows an ironing appliance comprising a steam generator housing 1 connected to an iron 100 by a cord 101 containing, in a manner known per se, a conduit for transporting steam and electric cables making it possible to supply a resistance electrically heater embedded in the soleplate of the iron 100.

As can be seen in this figure, the housing 1 comprises a lower shell 1A and an upper shell 1B made of plastic material, such as polypropylene, assembled one on top of the other, the upper shell 1B of the housing incorporating a reservoir 2 of water provided with a filling orifice closed by a retractable funnel 20, the wall of the tank 2 being preferably made of a transparent or translucent material to reveal the water level in the tank 2.

In accordance with the figure 2 , the housing 1 contains a vessel 3 for the generation of pressurized steam which is maintained in a cavity 10 of the housing 1 by being sandwiched between the lower shell 1A and the upper shell 1B, the vessel 3 comprising a lateral opening 30 communicating with a rigid conduit 31 comprising an axial end provided with a drain orifice closed by a plug 32, visible in particular on the figure 6 . The rigid conduit 31 also comprises a connector 31A intended to be connected to a delivery pipe 40 of a high pressure pump 4, advantageously constituted by an electromagnetic pump providing a pressure of the order of 15 bars, the pump 4 being arranged vertically. outside the tank 2, in a housing 11 of the upper shell 1B forming a protuberance in the bottom of the tank 2.

In accordance with the figure 3 , the pump 4 has an inlet port 41 at its upper end which is connected to a suction circuit connected to an outlet port 21 of the reservoir 2, the latter being surrounded by a connecting tube 22 projecting on the face lower part of the upper shell 1 B.

The pump 4 comprises a discharge port 43 at its lower end which is connected to an outlet fitting 44 comprising a first outlet 44A communicating with a purge circuit and a second outlet 44B communicating with the delivery pipe 40 leading to the tank 3 .

As can be seen in this figure, the purge circuit comprises an angled connection pipe 45 having one end which is connected to a connection tube 23 projecting on the underside of the upper shell 1B, this connection tube 23 communicating with a pipe 24 extending vertically inside the tank 2 up to near the upper end of the tank 2. The purge circuit thus produced also comprises, in a manner known per se, a valve 46 which s' opens when the pressure downstream of the discharge port 43 is low, so as to allow the evacuation of any air bubbles present in the pump 4 to facilitate its priming, and which closes when the pressure increases so that all of the pumped water is sent to the delivery pipe 40.

In accordance with figures 4 to 7 , the pump 4 is supported by an independent rigid support 5 which is attached to the housing 1 and on which the pump 4 is mounted suspended by means of an elastic part 6 interposed between the pump 4 and the support 5.

The support 5 is advantageously made of a plastic material, such as polyamide 6-6, and preferably comprises four branches 50 extending radially from an annular central part 51, allowing free passage of the lower part of the pump 4, up to to guide rings 53 provided with a cylindrical bore 53A.

The elastic part 6 is advantageously made of silicone and comprises a central part 62 supporting the pump 4 as well as four elastic arms 60 extending radially from the central part 62 to the anchoring studs 52 carried by the branches 50 of the support. 5.

The ends of the elastic arms 60 have holes 61 in which the anchoring studs 52 are engaged so that the elastic part 6 is found stretched between the anchoring studs 52, the central part 62 being provided with an orifice 62A in which the lower part of the pump body 4 is fitted so that a shoulder 4A of the pump body, visible on the figure 3 , rests on the edge of the orifice 62A of the central part 62.

Advantageously, the anchoring studs 52 comprise lugs 52A at their upper end which engage above the holes 61 of the elastic part 6 to hold the elastic part 6 on the support 5 and thus form a sub-assembly. of integral parts, consisting of the support 5, the elastic part 6 and the pump 4, forming an easy-to-assemble module in the housing 1.

Preferably, the lower face of the upper shell 1B of the housing comprises projecting positioning fingers 13, visible on the figures 6 and 7 , which engages in the guide rings 53 of the support during the installation of the support sub-assembly 5 / elastic part 6 / pump 4 in the housing 1, the support 5 being immobilized in a final assembly position in being sandwiched between the upper 1B and lower 1A shells of the housing, the latter comprising flanges 14 facing the positioning fingers 13.

The top of the pump 4 advantageously comprises a pad 7 made of flexible material, such as an elastomer of EPDM type (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer), having the shape of a disc intended to come to rest at the edge of a cavity 11. A formed at the bottom of the housing 11 of the pump 4 so as to constitute a flexible axial stop helping to damp the movements of the pump 4.

As can be seen from figures 4 and 5 , the suction circuit of the pump 4 comprises a pipe 42 of flexible material, preferably molded from the same material and at the same time as the pad 7, this pipe 42 being connected on the one hand to the inlet port 41 of the pump and on the other hand at one end of a rigid tube 54 forming an integral part of the support 5, the other end of this rigid tube 54, visible on the figure 3 , being connected to an inlet fitting 8 made of flexible material, such as an elastomer of EPDM type.

The inlet fitting 8 is advantageously held in position on the support 5 by means of retaining claws 55, carried by the support 5, which engage in lateral grooves 80 of the inlet fitting 8, the inlet fitting 8 having a shape adapted to come to connect automatically, and in a sealed manner, with the connecting tube 22 when the support 5 is put in place in the final assembly position.

Preferably, the support 5 also comprises, opposite to the retaining claws 55, the retaining claws 56 which engage in a groove 45A of the connection pipe 45 to hold the latter in position, the connection pipe 45 being made of a flexible material, such as EPDM, and having a shape adapted to come to connect automatically, and in a sealed manner, with the connection tube 23 of the purge circuit projecting on the underside of the upper shell 1 B of the housing when the support 5 is in place in the final assembly position.

The device thus produced has the advantage of allowing simple, reliable and rapid assembly of the pump 4 in the housing 1 of the device, this assembly ensuring excellent damping of the vibrations generated by the pump 4, thanks to the suspended assembly of the device. the pump 4 on the support 5, and making it possible to reduce the risks of incorrect assembly of the parts, thanks to the excellent ergonomics offered during the various assembly phases.

In fact, the pump 4 / elastic part 6 / support 5 sub-assembly illustrated on figure 5 can be assembled simply, like an independent module, in a pre-assembly phase, then be easily placed in the housing 1 by placing the upper shell 1 B upside down, as illustrated in the figure figure 6 , and by engaging the positioning fingers 13 projecting from the edge of the housing 11 through the bores 53A of the four guide rings 53 of the support 5.

The operator then only has to push on the support 5 until the damping pad 7 comes into abutment against the bottom of the housing 11 so that the inlet fitting 8 of the suction circuit and the connection 45 of the purge circuit are automatically connected respectively to the connection tube 22 defining the outlet of the tank 2 and to the connection tube 23 coming in the extension of the pipe 24.

Then, the operator only has to manually connect the delivery pipe 40 of the pump 4 with the tank 3, then to assemble the lower shell 1A on the upper shell 1 B so that the support 5 is immobilized vertically in the housing 1 by the flanges 14 of the lower shell 1A.

The figures 8 to 10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the invention in which the housing of the apparatus comprises an upper shell 101B on which a pump 104 is disposed horizontally, in a housing 111 of the upper shell 101B forming a protuberance in the bottom of the tank.

The pump 104 comprises a suction pipe 142 connected to an outlet port 122 of the reservoir and a delivery pipe 140 leading to the vessel of the steam generator, the pump 104 being supported by a rigid support 105 of thermoplastic material which is attached. on the upper shell 101 B.

In accordance with the figure 9 , the pump 104 is mounted suspended by means of two elastic parts 106 which come between the pump 104 and the support 105, the elastic parts 106 being arranged at each longitudinal end of the pump 104 and comprising an annular central part 162 engaging around the body of the pump 104 and four resilient arms 160 extending radially in a star shape from the central part 162 to the anchor rods 161 which engage in the anchoring pads 152 carried by the support 105.

Advantageously, the anchoring rods 161 project axially from the guides 152 so that their ends form positioning fingers which engage in guide rings 113 carried by the upper shell 101 B during the positioning of the sub- support 105 / elastic part 106 / pump 104 assembly in the housing.

This variant embodiment has the advantage of allowing horizontal assembly of the pump 104 reducing the vertical bulk of the housing, this assembly remaining reliable and rapid and ensuring excellent damping of the vibrations generated by the pump.

Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has been given only by way of example. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the support can also support a connection pipe ensuring automatic connection of the outlet of the pump to a delivery pipe to the tank.

Thus, in an alternative embodiment not shown, the reservoir can be removably mounted on the housing.

Claims (9)

1. Household ironing appliance comprising a case (1) including a tank (2) and a pump (4; 104) supplied with liquid by said tank (2), said pump (4; 104) being mounted on a supporting member (5; 105) consisting of a part which is assembled in said case (1), said pump (4; 104) being mounted on the supporting member (5; 105) by means of an elastic part (6; 106) inserted between the pump (4; 104) and the supporting member (5; 105), said elastic part (6; 106) comprising a central part (62; 162) supporting the pump (4; 104), characterised in that said elastic part (60; 106) comprises elastic arms extending radially from the central part (62; 162), said elastic arms being braced between anchoring points (52; 152) of the supporting member (5; 105).
2. Household ironing appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that said supporting member (5; 105) is rigid.
3. Household ironing appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the supporting member (5) is positioned on the case (1) by means of positioning pins (13) engaged in guide rings (53; 113).
4. Household ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the case (1) comprises a lower shell (1A) and an upper shell (1B) which are assembled together, and in that the supporting member (5) is immobilised in the case (1) by being sandwiched between the upper shell (1B) and the lower shell (1A).
5. Household ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that said pump (4) includes a suction circuit comprising an intake coupling (8) intended to be connected to an outlet orifice (21) of the tank and in that said intake coupling (8) is borne by the supporting member (5).
6. Household ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pump (4) comprises a bleeding circuit including a connection member (45) intended to be connected to a lower end of a pipe (24) borne by the case (1), the connection member (45) being borne by the supporting member (5).
7. Household ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that said pump (4) is an electromagnetic pump generating a pressure greater than ten bar and comprises a discharge pipe (40) which is connected to a tank (3) for generating pressurised steam.
8. Household ironing appliance according to claim 7, characterised in that said tank (3) for generating pressurised steam is connected to an iron (100) by a lead (101).
9. Method for assembling a household ironing appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8 including a case (1) intended to contain a pump (4) supplied with liquid by a tank (2) supported by the case (1), characterised in that said pump (4) is, in a first assembly phase, mounted suspended on an independent supporting member (5), and in that, in a second assembly phase, said pump (4)/supporting member (5) subassembly obtained thereby is mounted in the case (1).

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