FR2998199A1 - SPRAY DEVICE COMPRISING A DIFFUSION NOZZLE OF A LIQUID SPRAY AND AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE PROVIDED WITH SUCH A SPRAY DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Spray device (1) comprising a nozzle (2) for diffusing a liquid spray, said nozzle (2) being supplied with pressurized liquid by means of a supply circuit connected to a pump (105), said nozzle supply circuit (2) having an element (3) movable between a rest position, wherein said movable member (3) prevents the flow of liquid towards the nozzle (2), and a position of in which the movable element (3) allows the circulation of liquid towards the nozzle (2), the movable element (3) being returned to the rest position by return means (31), characterized in that said movable member is constituted by a piston (3) having a shape adapted so that the displacement of said piston (3) from the operating position to the rest position generates a vacuum causing suction of a volume of liquid located in the nozzle (2) towards the inside of the circuit of mentation.

Description

The present invention relates to a spraying device comprising a nozzle for diffusing a liquid spray, the nozzle being a spraying device comprising a nozzle for diffusing a liquid spray, the nozzle being fed with pressurized liquid by means of a supply circuit connected to a pump and more particularly relates to a spraying device in which the supply circuit of the nozzle comprising a movable element between a rest position, in which the movable element prevents the flow of liquid towards the nozzle, and an operating position in which the movable element allows the circulation of liquid towards the nozzle, the movable element being returned to the rest position by recall means. It is known from US Pat. No. 3,829,993 an iron comprising a spraying device comprising a nozzle supplied with water under pressure by means of a pump, the nozzle comprising a valve movable between a rest position in which the valve prevents the flow of water towards the nozzle and an operating position in which the valve allows the flow of water towards the nozzle, the valve being returned to the rest position by a spring and being moved to the position of functioning by the pressure of the water applying against the valve when the pump is actuated. Such a spraying device has the advantage of having a valve that interrupts the flow of water towards the nozzle when the pump is not actuated to prevent the water in the supply circuit of the nozzle does not continue to flow by gravity through the nozzle. However, such a spraying device always has a volume of water located in the body of the nozzle downstream of the valve, which causes the formation of a meniscus of water leaving the nozzle. However, the presence of residual water at the exit hole of the nozzle has the disadvantage of resulting in the closure of the nozzle by the limescale deposits occurring during the drying of this drop.

In addition, the meniscus of water at the outlet of the nozzle disrupts the release of the first water droplets diffused by the nozzle during the actuation of the pump and tends to form a few drops of water of larger size which have the disadvantage of staining delicate fabrics, such as silk, and being difficult to dry by means of the soleplate of the iron when such a spraying device is used on an ironing apparatus. Also, an object of the present invention is to provide a spray device that overcomes these disadvantages. For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a spraying device comprising a diffusion nozzle of a liquid spray, the nozzle being supplied with liquid under pressure by means of a supply circuit connected to a pump, the circuit supplying the nozzle comprising a movable element between a rest position, in which the movable element prevents the flow of liquid towards the nozzle, and an operating position, in which the movable element allows the circulation of liquid in the direction of the nozzle, the movable element being returned to the rest position by return means, characterized in that the movable element is constituted by a piston having a shape adapted so that the displacement of the piston of the position operating towards the rest position generates a depression causing the suction of a volume of liquid located in the nozzle towards the inside of the supply circuit. Such a characteristic has the advantage of emptying the nozzle, and in particular its outlet orifice, of any liquid, which makes it possible to prevent the nozzle from becoming clogged quickly by the formation of limestone and to avoid the formation of a meniscus at its outlet.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the displacement of the piston from the operating position to the rest position comprises a first phase in which the displacement of the piston causes the abrupt interruption of the feed of the nozzle. liquid, then a second phase in which the displacement of the piston generates a depression causing suction of the volume of liquid in the nozzle.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the supply circuit comprises a suction volume recovery cavity having a shape adapted to retain the aspirated liquid and prevent it from being evacuated by gravity through of the nozzle.

Such a characteristic makes it possible to safely store the liquid sucked by the return of the piston. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the supply circuit comprises an end duct connecting the recovery cavity to the nozzle, the recovery cavity having a volume greater than the volume of residual liquid that may be contained in the nozzle and the end duct, the displacement of the piston towards the rest position causing suction of the liquid contained in the nozzle and the end duct for its transfer into the recovery cavity. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the piston is movably mounted in translation in a housing. According to another characteristic of the invention, the recovery cavity is integrated in the housing and corresponds to a part of the volume of the housing. Such a characteristic has the advantage of allowing a compact construction of the spraying device to be obtained.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the housing comprises at least one annular seal coming into contact with the periphery of the piston, the annular seal forming a tight barrier between a supply chamber fed by the pump and the nozzle . According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the piston comprises an outer surface provided with recesses, the recesses coming opposite said annular seal when the piston is in the operating position to allow the circulation of liquid towards the nozzle. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the supply chamber is supplied with liquid from the pump via an inlet duct 30 opening laterally into the supply chamber. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the piston is moved from the rest position to the operating position by pressing a control member. According to yet another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the return means comprise a spring generating a mechanical force on the piston and / or a pressurized liquid exerting a return force on the piston. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the piston is moved from the rest position to the operating position by means of a pivotally mounted control lever. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the pump is electric and its start is controlled when the piston moves from the rest position to the operating position. According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the pump is started before the piston reaches the operating position. Such a characteristic makes it possible to put the pressure supply circuit of the nozzle under pressure before the piston occupies the operating position allowing the circulation of liquid towards the nozzle, which has the advantage of making it possible to obtain a powerful and prompt spray from the first moments of diffusion of liquid droplets through the nozzle thus limiting the risk of formation of too large droplets. The invention also relates to a household electrical appliance comprising a spraying device as previously described. According to another characteristic of the invention, the appliance comprises a heating soleplate for ironing. The aims, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention presented by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic view of an iron equipped with a spraying device according to the invention; FIG. 2 is a front view of the spraying device fitted to the iron of FIG. 1; - Figure 3 is a sectional view of the spray device along the line III-III of Figure 2; - Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the spray device equipping the iron of Figure 1 according to a first embodiment; - Figures 5 and 6 show a longitudinal sectional view along the line V-V of Figure 2, the spray device of Figure 4 when the spray device is respectively stopped and in operation; - Figures 7 and 8 show a sectional view along the line VII-VII of Figure 2 of the spray device of Figure 4 when the spray device is respectively stopped and in operation. - Figure 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Figure 5, the spray device according to an alternative embodiment.

Only the elements necessary for the understanding of the invention have been represented. To facilitate the reading of the drawings, the same elements bear the same references from one figure to another. FIG. 1 schematically represents an iron 100 conventionally comprising a heating sole 101 surmounted by a housing 102 comprising a gripping handle 103 and a spraying device 1, the spraying device 1 comprising a removable nozzle 2 disposed on the front face iron 100 and an intake duct 13, better visible in Figure 2, connected by a pipe 104 to an electric pump 105, itself connected to a reservoir 106 integrated in the housing 102 of the iron and advantageously intended to receive tap water. The box 102 of the iron also comprises a control button 107, arranged in front of the handle 103, allowing, when actuated, to start the spraying device 1 to obtain the emission of a spray of fine water droplets, preferably with a diameter of less than 500 μm, at the outlet of the nozzle 2. In accordance with FIGS. 4 and 5, the spraying device 1 comprises a main body 10 enclosing a feed circuit of the nozzle 2, the main body 10 comprising a tapered front end 10A on which the nozzle 2 is removably fixed and a rearward end 10B more bulging receiving a control lever 4 pivotally mounted about an axis 40 disposed in a bore 11 the main body 10, the control lever 4 comprising a cam 41 bearing against a roller 51 rotatably mounted on a pusher 5, the pusher 5 being able to move in translation in a guide cage 6 fixed by screws on the rear of the main body 10. The roller 51 is pivotally mounted on an axis 50 which can move in translation in a groove 60 of the guide cage 6 between a rest position, illustrated in FIGS. and 7, wherein the pusher 5 occupies a retracted position with the axis 50 abutting against a rear end of the groove 60, and an operating position, illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, wherein the pusher 5 is in position. advanced position with the axis near a front end of the groove 60, the pusher 5 comprising a radial arm 52 passing through a groove 61 of the guide cage 6 and comprising an actuating head 53 acting on a switch 7 carried by the main body 10, this switch 7 being electrically connected to a power supply circuit of the pump 105.

According to FIG. 3, the actuating head 53 comprises a cavity in which is disposed a finger 54 intended to come into contact with a button 70 of the switch 7 when the pusher 5 moves from the rest position to the operating position, the finger 54 being mounted movably in translation in the cavity against a spring 55 so that the finger 54 comes to actuate the button 70 of the switch and start the operation of the pump 105 in a first part of the stroke of the pusher 5 and that the displacement of the pusher 5 to the operating position can continue after the actuation of the switch 5 by the depression of the finger 54 in the cavity against from the spring 55.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the pusher 5 comprises a cylindrical front part which is fixed by a screw 56 at the rear end of a piston 3 slidably mounted in a cylindrical housing 12 of the main body 10, this housing 12 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle 2 and having a rear end sealingly closed by a membrane 9 disposed between the pusher 5 and the piston 3, this membrane 9 being deformable and having a peripheral flange 90 sandwiched between an immobilizing flange 15 resting on the main body 10 and the guide cage 6. Preferably, the nozzle 2 comprises a crimped tablet 20 and is screwed onto the tapered front end 10A of the main body 10 so that the nozzle 2 can be easily disassembled for cleaning, without the risk of loss of the tablet 20. The nozzle 2 is supplied with liquid from the tank 106 by a circuit of ali including an end duct 14 formed in the tapered front end 10A of the main body 10, this end duct 14 extending in the axis of the nozzle 2 and opening at the top of the front portion of the housing 12.

According to Figure 7, the housing 12 is supplied with liquid from the reservoir 106 through the inlet duct 13, the latter opening radially into the housing 12 at a feed chamber 8 comprising a distribution ring 80 extending between a first and second annular seals 16, 17 comprising a lip 16A, 17A bearing on the outer surface of the piston 3, the distribution ring 80 having an external groove 81 and four radial orifices 82, distributed at 90 ° from each other, the radial orifices 82 passing through the distribution ring 80 and allowing the circulation of the liquid coming from the intake duct 13 towards the periphery of the piston 3.

The two seals 16, 17 and the distribution ring 80 are advantageously arranged in a cavity of the main body 10 having an internal diameter greater than that of the housing 12 so that the two seals 16, 17 are immobilized. by being sandwiched between a shoulder of the main body 10 and the immobilizing flange 15 on which the flange 90 of the membrane 9 and the guide cage 6 are successively supported. According to FIGS. 4 and 5, the piston 3 comprises four recesses 30, arranged in the same radial plane and distributed at 90 ° to each other on the outer surface of the piston 3, the piston 3 being movable in translation on a path between a rest position and an operating position, the piston 3 being returned to the rest position by a return spring 31 advantageously disposed in a hollow front end of the piston 3 and bearing on a wall 19 at the front of the housing 12 In the rest position, illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7, the recesses 30 are interposed between the lips 16A, 17A of the two seals 16, 17 so that the liquid present in the feed chamber 8 can flow in the direction of the nozzle 2. In the operating position, illustrated in Figures 6 and 8, the recesses 30 on the surface of the piston 3 are opposite the lip 16A of the first seal 16 and allow the passage of a flow of liquid towards the nozzle 2 through a gap 14A present between the piston 3 and the main body 10, in the extension of the end conduit 14. The operation of the spray device will now be described. During an ironing session, when the user wishes to operate the spraying device 1 to moisten the laundry, he presses the button 107 located at the front of the handle 103, which causes the pivoting of the control lever 4 and the cam 41, the latter bearing on the roller 51 and pushing the pusher 5 and the piston 3 associated with it, to the operating position shown in Figures 6 and 8. During this step of moving from the pusher 5 to the operating position, in a first part of the stroke of the pusher 5, the finger 54 carried by the actuating head 53 actuates the button 70 of the switch 7 which causes the start of the pump 105 and the pressurization of the water present in the feed chamber 8 before the piston 3 has reached the operating position.

The displacement of the pusher 5 then continues on a second part of the stroke in which the displacement of the pusher 5 is accompanied by a progressive depression of the finger 54 in the actuating head 53 against the return spring 55, allowing the pusher 5 and the piston 3 to reach the operating position while maintaining the switch 7 actuated. When this operating position is reached by the piston 3, the recesses 30 present on the surface of the piston 3 are opposite the lip 16A of the first seal 16 and allow the sudden passage of the pressurized water beyond the first seal 16 so that water from the supply chamber 8 is sent to the nozzle 2 through the gap 14A extending between the piston 3 and the main body 10, then by the end duct 14. The water arriving at a pressure of the order of 3.5 bar to the nozzle 2 is then instantaneously sprayed into fine droplets of diameter of the order of 100 to 200 pm, which allows moisten the laundry without the risk of forming a drop of diameter greater than 500 pm at the outlet of the nozzle 2.

When the user wishes to interrupt the water spray through the nozzle 2, he releases the control button 107 which then no longer exerts pressure on the control lever 4 so that the latter is pushed upwards by the displacement the pusher 5 and the piston 3 in the rest position, illustrated in Figures 5 and 7, under the combined effect of the forces generated by the return spring 31 and the water pressure exerted on the piston 3, the latter being sized to ensure automatic return of the piston in the rest position without, however, generating control lever actuation forces 107 too high for greater comfort of use. During this return of the piston 3 to the rest position, the recesses 30 are quickly offset relative to the lip 16A of the first seal 16 so that, after having traveled a first portion of the stroke of the piston 3 towards the rest position, the seal is restored around the entire periphery of the piston 3, which causes the sudden interruption of the water supply to the nozzle 2, then the piston 3 continues its course by sucking the water located downstream of the piston 3 under the effect of the depression generated by the displacement of the piston 3 in the housing 12. The residual water in the nozzle 2 and in the end pipe 14 is then sucked into the front portion of the housing 12, the latter forming a recovery cavity 12A of the residual water in which the water is stored without risk of flow through the nozzle 2. In fact, the recovery cavity 12A has a shape adapted to retain the to suck and prevent the latter from escaping towards the nozzle 2, the volume of the recovery cavity 12A being greater than the volume of residual water contained in the nozzle 2 and the end pipe 14 so that that the water level n in the recovery cavity 12A after suction of the residual water volume remains below the junction of the end duct 14 with the housing 12, as shown in Figure 5. In parallel , the return of the pusher 5 in the rest position is also accompanied by the recoil of the actuating finger 54 which then no longer acts on the button 70 of the switch 7 so that the operation of the pump 105 is interrupted.

A very effective spraying device is thus obtained for which the risk of visible drop formation, with a diameter of greater than 500 μm, at the exit of the nozzle is reduced, whether during the start of the spraying device, thanks to the absence of meniscus of stagnant water at the outlet of the nozzle and the sudden arrival of pressurized water in the nozzle, or when stopping the spray device by the suction of the volume of residual water located in the nozzle in a recovery cavity of the supply circuit during the return of the piston in the rest position. Such a spraying device therefore has the advantage of limiting the risk of staining on the laundry by the flow of a drop on the latter and also reduces scaling problems leading to the closure of the nozzle because there is no more stagnant water at this level. In addition, such a spraying device has the advantage of not requiring a check valve in the nozzle to limit the flow of water by gravity, which simplifies the construction of the nozzle and provides a nozzle that can easily be disassembled and reassembled for cleaning. FIG. 9 illustrates a spraying device 201 according to an alternative embodiment of the first embodiment previously described in which the second annular seal coming into contact with the piston has been eliminated. According to this figure, the spray device 201 according to this embodiment variant comprises a main body 210 having a front end provided with a nozzle 202 and a rear end comprising a control lever 204 pivotally mounted, the control lever 204 comprising a cam 241 bearing against a roller 251 rotatably mounted on a pusher 205 being able to move in translation in a guide cage 206.

The pusher 205 has a front portion 205A which is fixed by a screw 256 to the rear end of a piston 203 slidably mounted in a cylindrical housing 212 of the main body 210, this housing 212 having a rear end sealingly closed by a membrane 209 disposed between the front portion of the pusher 205 and the piston 203. In a similar manner to the first embodiment, the housing 212 is supplied with liquid under a pressure of the order of 3.5 bars by means of a duct. admission, not visible in the figure, opening radially into the housing at a feed chamber 208 comprising a distribution ring 280. More particularly according to this embodiment, the distribution ring 280 extends between a seal sealing ring 216 and the membrane 209, the seal 216 and the distribution ring 280 being disposed in a cavity of the main body 210 having a larger diameter than that of the housing 212 so that the seal 216 and the distribution ring 280 are immobilized by being sandwiched between a shoulder of the main body 210 and a peripheral flange 290 of the membrane 209 maintained compressed by a cage 206 for guiding the pusher 205. Preferably, the piston 203 comprises four recesses 230 distributed at 90 ° to each other on the outer surface of the piston 203, the piston 203 being movable in translation on a path between a rest position, illustrated in Figure 9, wherein the recesses 230 are offset with respect to the seal 216 and an operating position, not shown, in which the recesses 230 are opposite the seal 216 and allow the passage a flow of liquid towards the nozzle 202, the piston 203 being returned to the rest position by a restoring force directly of the pressure of water, of the order of 3.5 bars, exerted on the membrane 209 inside the feed chamber 208, this restoring force being advantageously, but not necessarily, to be completed by a return spring 231 exerting a mechanical return force on the piston 203. The operation of the spray device according to this embodiment remains similar to the operation of the spray device described for the first embodiment and will therefore not be described more in detail. Such a variant has the advantage of being less expensive to produce than the spraying device according to the first embodiment, thanks to the suppression of the second seal, this suppression of the second seal also having the advantage. to reduce the friction forces on the piston and thus allow easier operation of the control lever. Such an alternative embodiment also has the advantage of being able to operate without using a return spring of the piston in the rest position, the piston being brought back by the single hydraulic pressure exerted on the diaphragm, so that the cost of the spraying is further reduced. Of course, the invention is not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments which have been given by way of example. Modifications are possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. Thus, in another embodiment not shown, the spraying device can equip a separate steam generator iron in which the tank and the pump are not integrated in the iron but are arranged in a base receiving the generator steam, the water being transmitted to the iron by a cord connecting the iron to the base.

Thus, the spraying device according to the invention can be used on various types of domestic appliances and may, for example, be used on a fan to cool or humidify the air sent by the fan on a dryer. hair to moisten the hair before smoothing or looping or for flavoring in an oven or steamer.

Claims (4)

REVENDICATIONS1. Spray device (1; 201) comprising a nozzle (2; 202) for diffusing a liquid spray, said nozzle (2; 202) being fed with pressurized liquid by means of a supply circuit connected to a pump (105), said nozzle supply circuit (2; 202) having an element (3; 203) movable between a rest position, wherein said movable member (3; 203) prevents the flow of liquid in direction of the nozzle (2; 202), and an operating position, in which the movable member (3; 203) allows the flow of liquid towards the nozzle (2; 202), the element (3; 203 ) mobile being returned to the rest position by return means (31; 231), characterized in that said movable member is constituted by a piston (3; 203) having a shape adapted for the displacement of said piston (3; 203) from the operating position to the rest position generates a vacuum causing the suction of a volume of liquid in the nozzle (2; 202) towards the inside of the supply circuit. 2. Spraying device (1; 201) according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement of the piston (3; 203) from the operating position to the rest position comprises a first phase in which the displacement of the piston (3 203) causes a sudden interruption of the feed of the nozzle (2; 202) in liquid and a second phase in which the displacement of the piston (3; 203) generates a depression causing the suction of the volume of liquid in the nozzle (2; 202). 3. Spraying device (1; 201) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the supply circuit comprises a recovery cavity (12A) of said volume of aspirated liquid having a shape adapted to retain the liquid sucked and prevent it from being evacuated by gravity through the nozzle (2). 4. Spraying device (1; 201) according to claim 3, characterized in that the supply circuit comprises an end duct (14) connecting said recovery cavity (12A) to the nozzle (2) and in that that the recovery cavity (12A) has a larger volume than the volume of residual liquid that can be contained in the nozzle (2) and the end pipe (14), the displacement of the piston (3) towards the rest position causing the suction of the liquid contained in the nozzle (2) and the end conduit (14) for its transfer into the recovery cavity (12A). Spray device (1; 201) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the piston (3; 203) is mounted movable in translation in a housing (12; 212). Spray device (1; 201) according to claim 5, characterized in that the recovery cavity (12A) is integrated in the housing (12) and corresponds to a part of the volume of the housing (12). Spray device (1; 201) according to one of Claims 5 to 6, characterized in that the housing (12; 212) has at least one annular seal (16; 216) which contacts the periphery of the piston ( 3; 203), said annular seal (16; 216) forming a sealed barrier between a supply chamber (8; 208) fed by the pump (105) and the nozzle (2; 202). Spray device (1; 201) according to claim 7, characterized in that the piston (3; 203) has an external surface provided with recesses (30; 230), said recesses (30; 230) facing said annular seal. (16; 216) when the piston (3; 203) is in the operating position to allow the circulation of liquid towards the nozzle (2; 202). Spray device (1; 201) according to one of Claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the supply chamber (8) is supplied with liquid from the pump (105) via an intake duct ( 13) opening laterally into the feed chamber (8). Spray device (1; 201) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the piston (3) is moved from the rest position to the operating position by pressing a control member ( 107). 11) Spray device (1; 201) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the return means comprise a spring (31; 231) generating a mechanical force on the piston (3; 203) and / or a pressurized liquid exerting a return force on the piston (3; 203). 12) spray device (1; 201) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said pump (105) is electric and its start is controlled during the displacement of the piston (3; 203) of the rest position 5 to the operating position. 13) Spray device (1; 201) according to claim 12, characterized in that the pump (105) is started before the piston (3; 203) reaches the operating position. 14) Household appliance (100) for household use, characterized in that it comprises a spraying device (1; 201) according to any one of claims 1 to 13. 15) Domestic appliance (100) according to claim 14 , characterized in that it comprises a sole (101) heating for ironing.