US2839195A - Water conditioning units for steam emitting pressing devices - Google Patents

Description

J1me 1958 A. E. REIMERS ETAL WATER CONDITIONING UNITS FOR STEAM EMITTING PRES-SING DEVICES Flled March 11, 1954 ATTOIPNE Y WATER CONDITIONIYG UNITS FOR STEAM EMITTING PRESSING DEVICES Alfred E. Reimers, Clearhrook, and Walter K. Tavender and Leonard J. MeCnrmack, Jr., Winchester, Va.

Application March 11, 1954, Serial No. 415,566

3 Claims. (Cl. 210-94) This invention relates to improvements in water-conditioning units for steam-emitting pressing devices such as steam sadirons and like devices.

Water from water mains is never pure but always contains some objectionable materials, such as minerals. Steam-discharging sadirons have base portions provided with a series of steam-conducting passages and steamdischarge outlets extending to the pressing surface, while many of such sadirons are provided with electric heating elements for heating and converting into steam water that is fed directly from water mains in order to produce the steam that is discharged in a pressing operation. Therefore, when water from a water main is fed to electricallyheated steam-producing and discharging irons and therein converted into steam, the residual objectionable materials such as minerals clog up and encrust the steam passages A United States Patent and discharge openings thereof, and may also affect the cleanliness of the steam supplied in a pressing operation.

One of the objects of this invention is to embody in the water feed lines of a sadiron of the type specified a unit that will condition the feed-water prior to entrance feed line of the type specified a water-conditioning unit of the character described and a throttling device.

Still another object of our invention is in a water feed line of the type described to utilize in combination with a water-conditioning unit a suitable filtering device.

A brief summary of our invention comprises the provision in the feed-water line of a sadiron an efiicient water-conditioning unit of relatively small size, embodying a relatively short anchoring element and a waterconditioning body composed of an elongated transparent plastic hose section wound into a plurality of circular coils substantially filled with a water-conditioning material in the form of a non-adherent powder, granular substances or like comminuted solid particles through which the water is compelled to pass, and which so changes its color as to be observable through the transparent hose, said coils having a connection at one end with the water supply pipe and at the other end with the steam hose of the sadiron, said coiled body having its turns suitably fastened together and being supported at its opposite ends by such anchoring element to retain its circular coiled shape and reduce its overall size.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrangement of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a feed-water line to a steam sadiron embodying a coil of transparent hose comprising a water-conditioning unit of our invention;

theerof into the passages of the sadiron by removing from I the water being fed to the sadiron objectionable materials, such as minerals.

Another object of our invention is to utilize a waterconditioning unit embodying means whereby the operative condition of the water-conditioning material, and consequently of the Water being fed to the sadiron or like device, may be constantly observed.

Another object of our invention is to provide a waterconditioning unit of the type specified which will comprise a section of the water-supply hose or conduit to the sadiron or like device and which will be readily releasable and replaceable when the water-conditioning material becomes exhausted.

Another object of our invention is in a device of the character specified to embody in a water-supply conduit for steam iron a hose section provided with a body of water-conditioning material in the form of comminuted solid particles through which the feed-water is compelled to pass.

Still another object of our invention is in a device of the character specified to employ as a hose section in a water-supply conduit of the character specified a transparent, or partly transparent, plastic tube substantially filled with a water-conditioning material in the form of a non-adherent powder or granular substance through which the feed water is caused to flow and that so changes its color as to be readily observable through such transparent, or partly transparent, tube when the conditioning quality or characteristics of said material have become exhausted and requires replacement.

Another object of our invention is to provide a hoseunit that is disposable and readily replaceable when and so soon as observation shows that the color of the material has changed and has thus become exhausted.

Another object of our invention is to combine in a Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 1 showing a preferred form of filter positioned adjacent to the outlet from the coil of transparent hose shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of our coiled hose unit comprising a series of coils connected together and supported by an anchoring device in accordance with our invention; and 1 Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the hose adjacent to the outlet and showing the insertion of a wad of shredded copper at the outlet end of the hose of said water-conditioning unit to prevent passing. beyond said end of the water-conditioning material.

Referring now to these drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, 10 indicates a water-supply pipe from a suitable water main, not shown, to which the inlet end of our suitably supported Water: conditioning unit D, comprising our coil of hose which is filled with a water-conditioning material in commiuuted form that has a chemical or ionic afiinity for'objectionable materials such as minerals contained in Water, is suitably connected, while the outlet end is connected to a sadiron, as hereinafter more particularly specified.

The outlet end of the water-supply pipe 10 is preferably provided with a conventional screwthreaded connection and one end of a pressure-reducing valve 11, which is conventionally adjustable, is connected between said outlet 10 and said unit D. Said valve 11 preferably is connected to and sold as part of our water-conditioning apparatus and is positioned at the inlet end of the water-conditioning unit D to vary the pressure in the line in accordance with requirements of such unit. We also preferably provide in connection with said valve, or in the line adjacent thereto, a pressure gauge 10a to show the pressure.

As illustrated, the valve 11 is provided at its inlet side with a conventional screw threaded nipple 11a which is connected to the water-supply pipe 10, and said valve 11 also has a screw-threaded connection at its outlet side .to whichis applied .athreaded nipple 12c .(Fig. 4), which forms part of a downturnedtelbow 12 passing through an,

aperture 13 in a rectangularly positioned and projecting flange .1'4dfcomprising one endiof a supporting member comprising an anchoring bracket '14, and then suitably iconnected at .15 'to a hose member 16 that is formed into aiseries of coils 17 and has at its opposite end another downturned elbow12a connected to and supported by the opposite flange 14b of said supporting bracket 14. Four of-such coils 17 are shown, and, as illustrated, the lead hose section 16 has an inclined portion 18 which is passed through the coils 17 from oneside thereof to the other .so -as to provide a centralized and stable body of coils arranged in substantially the plane of the flanges Fla-14b of the supporting bracket 14. Said body of coils'17 is suitably fastened together preferably by bands 19 of adhesive tape and the terminal end member 17b o'f the coiled hose is connected at to the elbow 12 a which passes through an aperture 13a in the rectangularly turned and projecting flange 14!: of the anchoring bracket 14. nipple 12b adapted to be connected to a valve 20 (Fig. ,1), which, as shown, is a conventional shutofi valve. The valve'2'0 is then preferably connectedto a filtering member 21, which, as shownyis provided with an external 'screwthread 21'e by which it is connected by .a connecting element 22 to a water-feed jhose '23 of a steam sadiron '24. e

' 'In the preferred form of our invention illustrated, the filter'21'(see Fig. 3) comprises a metallic shell'21a having'an internal chamber 21b provided with a body of filtering material'such as woven cotton tape 21c suitably held in place by screens 21d-21d'.

In accordance with our invention as shown, the coiled hose 17 is composed of a transparent or semi-transparent plastic material which is substantially filled with a waterconditioning substance preferably in the comminuted form ofpowder or granular material, and in the preferred embo'diment of our invention such water-conditioning material is composed of a powdered or granular substance that changes-its color when the efiectiveness of its waterconditioning function is exhausted. In the ,device illustrated, we provide means for observing the color condition ofthe water-conditioning material, and when its conditioning quality or characteristics have become exhausted, the water is shut offand the coiled hoseis removed by a mere unscrewingofthe connections and may be then replaced. V

We have thus provided a unit or device that ishighly eflicient and is readily-removable from its position and readily replaceable when and so soon as observation shows that the color of the water-conditioning ,material has changed and has thus become exhausted.

It will be-seen that the use of a plurality of circular coils will compel the water to traverse a very long path through such circular coils which thus enables an etfec tive water-conditioning action of the material within the unit.

By the use of a long hose in coiled condition, we also provide a unit that will have a longer'life than would be possible with a unit having a relatively short passage for v the flow of water. a

Our elongated unit comprising said circularly-coiled body of transparentplastic hose so filled with a granulated water-conditioning material is provided with means to prevent the passage 'of the'water-conditioning materialwith the flow of water. We avoid such movement ofsuch material, first, by suspending or hanging the unit with the outlet and inlet elements extending vertically in a downward direction to permit the gravity of the Waterconditioning material to operate asv a retarding influence against displacement of V such material by the flow of water, also by reducing the size ofthe bores of the'outletnipple relatively to the size or diameter of the hose Said elbow 121: preferably has a screw-threaded and by providing a wad of shredded copper ,25 ,of suitable size or dimensions and inserting or forcing the same into position at the outlet end of the hose in the path of movement of the reconditioned water as it leaves the transparent hose. prevents the passing of all such granular water-conditioning material with the reconditioned water through said outlet end of the hose. 7

We have found that the suspended body or coiled hose provides a stabilizing influence on the comminuted or powdered material to permit water to flow therethrough under suitably adjusted pressure of the inlet valve 11.

ln operation, water from themain 10 ispassed in adjusted pressure through the valve 11 and into the coil 17 where it filters through the powdered material in the coiled-up body of hose and passes outwardly through the outlet leg 17b and nippel 12b into the conventional filter 21 whichwill take up any physical constitutents in the flow of water. The feed water is thus passed in the steam hose 23 of the steam iron 24 free from physical particles as well as being in substantially pure condition and free from objectionable matter, such as mineral ingredients that might cause a clogging up and encrusting of the steam passages and discharge openings thereof, and might also exited the purity of the stream of steam supplied in a pressing operation.

Cur unit will cause the, feed water to travel along, tortuous path and thus-such objectionable materials, such as minerals contained in such feed water, will have prolonged contact'with the water-conditioning agent'so as to be completely neutralized and filtered out by continuous contact over such long path of travel.

The water-conditioning material employed by us has a chemical or ionic aflinity for the objectionable matter, including salt and other minerals in the water supply,

and the action of such water-conditioning material is to combine inchemical 'or ionizing union with such objecq tionable materials carried in the water, thus gradually exhausting the aflinity of the said material and causing the combined material to change its color, but during such changing of color reducing to an extremely low level the content of objectionable materials in the through our unit.

In our said preferred water-conditioning material cations, or positively'charged particles, in the raw water are exchanged for hydrogen ions in the material, and anions, or negatively charged particles, are exchanged for hydroxyl ions on such material during the passage of the water through the unit; Hydrogen and hydroxyl ions resulting from the two exchange processes react almost instantly with each other to form water molecules, so that the effiuent from the unit contains only water and nothing else.

water passing The change of color hereinabove referred to may be observed through the substantially transparent walls of the coiled hose and is clearly noticeable. When the said exhaustion of the material has reached a degree that instead of the initial blue-black color, such material assumes a yellowish tinge indicating that such combining power of such material is completely or substantially exhausted, the said coiled hose unit is released from its a position in the water-feed or supply and is replaced by a This wad of shredded copper effectively ciency when the pressure on the gauge is held to approximately lbs. per sq. inch, and the hose in conjunction with the filter 21 passes about 60 drops of water per minute.

Having described our invention, we claim:

1. A water conditioner unit for steam-emitting pressure devices comprising, in combination, an elongated hose unit formed into a contracted hose body comprising a plurality of coils composed of substantially transparent material, said coiled hose body being substantially filled with a Water conditioning material in cornminuted form and having a given color observable through the said transparent material of said hose body, said water-conditioning material having an afiinity for materials that are objectionable for passage through a steam-emitting pressing device and are conventionally contained in water supplied from water mains, said water-conditioning material being adapted to change its color upon exhaustion, an inlet connection pipe at one end for feeding from a water supply to said hose body water to be reconditioned, an outlet connection pipe at the opposite end of said hose body for connection to a steam-emitting pressing device and passing reconditioned water from said body thereto, a relatively short anchoring bracket element contacting with said connecting pipes for supporting said hose body, and means comprising a wad of shredded copper positioned at the said outlet end of said coiled hose body in the path of movement of reconditioned water for preventing the outward passage with the reconditioned water of comminuted material from said hose body.

2. A water-conditioner unit as claimed in claim 1 in which the color-changing conditioning material in said hose body comprises non-adherent powder which permits ready passage of water therethrough and the plurality of coils of said hose body have the turns thereof fastened together to provide a unitary body that is sus- 6 pended in vertical position from the anchoring bracket element to provide the long path for Water to be treated and to cause the changing color of said powdered material to be observable therethrough.

3. Awater-conditioner unit as claimed in claim 1 in which a filtering means is embodied in the said waterconditioning unit and consists of woven cotton held between two screens and arranged in conjunction with a pressure reducing valve to cause water to be passed through the outlet end of the conditioning unit at about drops per minute.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,667 Shuman Sept. 1, 1891 826,300 Wilson July 17, 1906 1,609,867 Eisenhauer Dec. 7, 1926 1,706,228 Harden et al. Mar. 19, 1929 1,774,004 Haslett Aug. 26, 1930 1,860,849 Burch May 31, 1932 1,911,609 Dorsey May 30, 1933 1,975,306 Yates Oct. 2, 1934 2,037,332 Lieberman Apr. 14, 1936 2,082,322 Brundage June 1, 1937 2,525,497 Monfried Oct. 10, 1950 2,537,898 Hunter et a1 Jan. 9, 1951 2,547,857 Cook Apr. 3, 1951 2,682,268 Ryan et al June 29, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 588,152 Great Britain May 15, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Modern Plastics, vol. 28, No. 1, September 1950, New Fields for Ion Exchange Resins by Paul Klass.

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