Self-cleaning steam iron

Claim 2

In a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank, said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, and means operable to open and close said opening, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped onto the soleplate to empty said tank rapidly through said ports.

Claim 3

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said means operable to open and close said opening is disposed on the iron handle and operable separately from said steam control means.

Claim 4

Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said interior tank has means closing it to ambient pressure when the iron is steaming and said large opening is in the bottom of said tank.

Claim 5

Apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein said large opening is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 6

Apparatus as described in claim 3 having a balance tube connecting the steam generating portion of the soleplate and the interior of said tank.

Claim 7

Apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said large opening is disposed adjacent said balance tube and directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 8

Apparatus as described in claim 5 having means impeding the normal generated steam flow to said ports on tank dumping whereby increased steam pressure to said tank interior assists said emptying.

Claim 9

Apparatus as describeD in claim 7 wherein said impeding means consists at least partly of said dumping water.

Claim 10

In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, an on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, and means operable to open and close said opening, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped onto the soleplate to bypass the orifice and empty said tank rapidly through said ports.

Claim 11

In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, an on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, said opening communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, and means operable to open and close said opening, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped onto the soleplate to bypass the orifice and empty said tank rapidly through said ports.

Claim 12

Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said means operable to open and close said opening is disposed on the iron handle and operable separately from said water valve.

Claim 13

Apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said interior tank has means closing it to ambient pressure when the iron is steaming and said large opening is in the bottom of said tank.

Claim 14

Apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein said large opening is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 15

Apparatus as described in claim 11 having a balance tube connecting the steam generating portion of the soleplate and the interior of said tank.

Claim 16

Apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said large opening is disposed adjacent said balance tube and directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 17

Apparatus as described in claim 13 having means impeding the normal generated steam flow to said ports on tank dumping whereby increased steam pressure to said tank interior assists said emptying.

Claim 18

Apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said impeding means consists at least partly of said dumping water.

Claim 19

In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, a coverplate spaced from said tank and over the soleplate to direct and distribute steam to said ports, and on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, and means to control said water valve from the handle of said iron, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, a matching opening in the coverplate communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, a tubular shroud connecting said openings, valve means operable in said shroud to open and close said connection, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped onto the soleplate to bypass the orifice and empty said tank rapidly through said ports.

Claim 20

In a steam iron having a fill opening to an interior water tank and a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, a coverplate spaced from said tank and over the soleplate to direct and distribute steam to said ports, and on-off water valve to start and stop a metered flow of water from said tank through an orifice and onto the soleplate to generate steam, and means to control said water valve from the handle of said iron, the improvement in means to purge said iron of water and steam through the soleplate comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank spaced and separate from said orifice, a matching opening in the coverplate communicating directly with the inner surface of said soleplate, a tubular shroud connecting said openings, valve means operable in said shroud to open and close said connection, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped onto the soleplate to bypass the orifice and empty said tank rapidly through said ports.

Claim 21

Apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein said shroud valve means is operable separately from said water valve means.

Claim 22

Apparatus as described in claim 17 wherein said interior tank has means closing it to ambient pressure when the iron is steaming and said large tank opening is in the bottom of said tank.

Claim 23

Apparatus as described in claim 19 wherein said matching opening in said coverplate is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 24

Apparatus as described in claim 19 having a balance tube connecting the steam generating portion below the coverplate and the interior of said tank.

Claim 25

Apparatus as described in claim 21 wherein said matching opening in said coverplate is disposed directly above the hottest part of the soleplate.

Claim 26

Apparatus as described in claim 21 having means impeding the normal generated steam flow to said ports on tank dumping whereby increased steam pressure to said tank interior assists said emptying.

Claim 27

Apparatus as described in claim 22 having a pressure control valve to maintain a constant steam prEssure upstream of said coverplate.

Claim 28

Apparatus as described in claim 23 whereby said impeding means is provided by extending said shroud through the coverplate and close to but spaced from said soleplate to provide a steam path therebetween so the dumping water flow is directed into said steam path to impede said steam flow to the ports and generate a momentary pressure rise.

Claim 29

In a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank, a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, valve means to close the tank to atmosphere, and means to pressurize said tank, the improvement in means to purge at least said tank of water and loose residues comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank, said opening communicating to the atmosphere, and means operable to open and close said opening, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped to empty said tank rapidly.

Claim 30

In a steam iron having steam control means, a fill opening to an interior water tank, a steam generating soleplate with ports therein, valve means to close the tank to atmosphere, and means to pressurize said tank, the improvement in means to purge at least said tank of water and loose residues comprising, a substantially large opening in said tank, said opening communicating to the atmosphere, and means operable to open and close said opening, whereby the water in said tank may be suddenly dumped to empty said tank rapidly.