small user inputs u2014 e g a small handle displacement or a small force applied to the handle u2014 can be amplified to narrow the input displacement force interval that corresponds to an intermediate position of the valve the input force interval that corresponds to an intermediate position of the valve valve may for example be narrowed to 100 500 gf 0 98 4 9 n or even smaller advantageously the amplification mechanism may also take care of any play due to the tolerance stack up in the design of the handle operated valve the handle operated valve including a mechanical linkage amplification mechanism 5 thus provides a substantially on off switch functionality that u2014 purposefully u2014 does not allow the user to select a specific desired steam rate a user however may desire to control the steam rate of the iron 1 in such a way that he or she can adjust the steam rate between zero dry ironing and a certain user defined maximum to this end the iron 1 may be fitted with a conventional metering device which will be described in some detail with reference to fig2 fig2 schematically illustrates how a handle operated valve 7 a by pass and a conventional metering system may be coherently arranged in a water channel 13 in addition a drip stop 23 is shown as well the assemblies shown in fig2 may be thought of as implementations of the components located in the area demarcated by a dashed line 20 in fig1 to define the flow direction in fig2 an upstream point of the water channel 13 is marked 21 and a downstream point in water channel 13 is marked with 29 referring to fig2 a now going downstream from the.