Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Sim Tech LLC

Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Tech. (simtech)

Leo Hubert Maria Krings

Youg Ling Wu

Yong Jiang

Gerard Cnossen

Tang Pong Har

Lanying Ji

Mun Thoh Ma

Soo-Kong Chang

A steam ironing device includes a steam iron, a steam generator for generating steam and supplying steam to the steam iron, and a supply device for supplying water to the steam generator. During operation of the steam ironing device, scale is formed in the steam generator, and the water in the steam generator gradually gets contaminated with ions. In order to clean the steam generator and replace the water with fresh water, the steam generator is regularly subjected to an auto-rinsing process. A moment at which this process needs to take place is a moment at which an amount of scale and/or a concentration of ions have exceeded a predetermined maximum. The amount of scale and/or the concentration of ions are indirectly monitored by keeping account of a total quantity of water that has been supplied to the steam generator since a set starting point.

Measures for keeping a degree of contamination of a steam generator including its contents below a predetermined maximum

Disclosed is an iron, comprising an aluminum sole plate which is provided with a coating which is provided by means of a sol-gel process and wherein an intermediate layer is present between the aluminum sole plate and the sol-gel coating. The intermediate layer comprises a porous layer of aluminum oxide. Also described is a method of manufacturing such an iron. The method comprises the steps of providing an aluminum sole plate, applying a porous intermediate layer of aluminum oxide by electrochemical treatment of the aluminum sole plate in an electrolyte comprising a solution of phosphoric acid, and providing a sol-gel coating on the treated sole plate. Furthermore, an aluminum sole plate which is suitable for use in an iron is disclosed.

Iron and sole plate for an iron

Disclosed is a domestic appliance, at least comprising an aluminum sole plate which is provided with a coating which is provided by means of a sol-gel process and wherein an intermediate layer is present between the aluminum sole plate and the sol-gel coating. The intermediate layer comprises a multi-layer structure. Also described is a method of manufacturing such a domestic appliance. The method comprises the steps of providing an aluminum substrate, applying a porous intermediate layer of aluminum oxide by electrochemical treatment of the aluminum sole plate in an electrolyte comprising a solution of phosphoric acid, applying a dense intermediate layer of aluminum oxide by electrochemical treatment in an electrolyte, and providing a sol-gel coating on the treated substrate.

Domestic appliance and method of manufacturing thereof

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

Leo Hubert Maria Krings