Steam iron with steam and spray pump

Abstract

An electric steam iron comprises a pump (20) adapted to remove a quantity of water from a reservoir (17) and to send this quantity, via a selection device (24), either into a steam chamber (14) so as to obtain abruptly an abundant emission of steam through holes in the sole, or to a cold water spray (25), this pump being of the type having a piston (27) movable in an intake chamber (31). The selection device comprises a deformable membrane (56) with two valves (58, 59) associated respectively with two openings, namely an injection opening (44) connected to the steam chamber (14) and a spray opening (45) connected to the spray chamber (25) and subjected respectively to two manual control buttons, namely, a steam button (62) and a spray button (63). The membrane (56) occupies a working position, defined when one or the other of the two buttons (62, 63) is actuated, in which the valve associated with the actuated button is maintained closed and obstructs the corresponding opening, while the valve associated with the other button opens by deformation of the membrane (56) effected by pressure of the pressurized water and clears the corresponding opening through which passes the pressurized water.