Abstract: A soleplate for a steam iron includes a plurality of beads. Each bead incorporates therein at least two steam outlet openings. The steam outlet openings located on the side close to the outer edge of the soleplate are larger than the steam outlet openings located on the side remote from the outer edge of the soleplate. The larger steam outlet openings are arranged in the front portion of the soleplate, with the smaller steam outlet openings arranged in the rear portion. The number of steam outlet openings per bead increases towards the pointed end of the soleplate.

Abstract: An apparatus for vaporizing liquid gasoline for use in a carburation system includes a centrifugal pump which pumps liquid gasoline from a tank through a check valve into an inlet of the pump. The rotor of the centrifugal pump is operated at a sufficiently high rate to cause a substantial amount of cavitation of liquid gasoline within the centrifugal pump. The liquid gasoline is preheated by exhaust heat from the engine before it enters the inlet from the centrifugal pump, and vaporizes rapidly in the cavitation region. The vaporized gasoline and some liquid gasoline are fed back into the tank, wherein the liquid portion recombines with gasoline already in the tank and the gasoline vapor accumulates above the liquid gasoline in the tank. Gasoline vapors are conducted from within the tank through a check valve into a carburation apparatus which mixes the gasoline vapors with a controlled amount of air and feeds it into the intake manifold of the engine.