MIE.31 – Cordless Steam Ironing System

• Muhammad Abdullah
• Syed J Manzoor
• Wahab Khan

Over the years of innovation humans have developed and invented many methods of making their lives easier by developing various applications that help save time and money. Some of the prime examples are mobile phones as a means of communication, vehicles as a means of transportation, etc. Similarly, there has been many advancements in the household appliances’ sector which has made life easier in many ways. The concept of an ironing system has been around for a long time. This paper describes the product development thesis that was conducted in designing an electric ironing system for a compact living. Through extensive market research and consultation with the technical advisors, the finalized design includes an ironing board that produces steam from its base while incorporating the key ideas of compatibility, efficiency, and affordability. The ‘Cordless Ironing System’ consists of three main components, the steam generator, the ironing board body, and the cordless iron. Guided by market research and theoretical analysis, a selection of heating element and toggle switch is made for the steam generator. The steam generator is operated by a 20-amp SPST toggle switch which controls a 1500 Watts heating element. The heating element has capacity to boil 2236 g of water in under 8 mins. As a result, 4473 g of water can be converted to 7650 liters of steam that will approximately last more than 20 mins. Furthermore, a 12-gauge THHN copper wire was chosen which can operate in temperatures upward of 190 °F to help power the heating element. Moreover, the body of the ironing board is built using 3003 aluminum alloy that has the characteristics of being light weight, corrosion resistant, and good heat conductor. To uniformly disperse the steam through the top surface of the ironing board different variation of holes were incorporated. The variation of holes helps satisfy the Bernoulli’s effect. The body of the ironing board also includes a multi-purpose shelf, a drainage valve to discard excess water, and foldable legs that can extend to its entirety. Furthermore, a 1500-Watt cordless iron provides sufficient heat through its soleplate to help accommodate the steam coming out from the ironing board therefore creating a pleasant yet an efficient ironing experience for the user. The cordless iron remains hot for a duration of 5 mins and can be ready for use in under 30 sec. Also, the automatic shut-off feature provides the user with a visible signal before the iron shuts off. Lastly, the production cost of this product was under $350 which is remarkably affordable compared to the products in the market that range upwards of $2500. Our product is not only easy to dissemble for repairs and cleaning but also includes various safety features such as insulated surfaces and round edges. Also, the product’s design is in compliance with safety codes and regulation set by the IEC, UL, CSA, NEC, VW-1 and NFPA.