CA1254050A - Beverage making device - Google Patents
Beverage making deviceInfo
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- CA1254050A CA1254050A CA000554419A CA554419A CA1254050A CA 1254050 A CA1254050 A CA 1254050A CA 000554419 A CA000554419 A CA 000554419A CA 554419 A CA554419 A CA 554419A CA 1254050 A CA1254050 A CA 1254050A
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- water
- hot water
- container
- thermostat
- coil
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
An improved beverage-making device, particularly useful for brewing coffee, provides a safety thermostat arrangement for quickly detecting excessive temperatures of a hot water container generally near a heating element arranged therein. A running thermostat provides a self-supporting sensing tube means in cooperation with a capillary tube and thermostat which detect the mean temperature of the hot water and are responsive to a narrow range of temperature variations within the hot water container. The improvement further includes a tap-off hot water system which provides hot water separately and independently of the brewing water heated in said container. The system is connected upstream of the cold water inlet valve of the device and directs cold water into a water coil means residing within the hot water container.
Outlet pipe means convey heated water from the coil to an outlet faucet projecting exteriorly of the device. An improved spray disk assembly provides a cooperatively lockable spray disk and mounting collar. The spray disk locks with the mounting collar to tightly seal a flexible gasket around said spray disk whereby the spray disk receives hot water siphoned from said hot water container and evenly distributes hot water in a random dripping flow through the disk. Additionally, a bottom drain system is provided for emptying the hot water container which is non-corrodible and thread disengageable from said container. The drain system provides means for tightly sealing around a bottom drain hole of the container and manually operable valve means to facilitate draining the container.
An improved beverage-making device, particularly useful for brewing coffee, provides a safety thermostat arrangement for quickly detecting excessive temperatures of a hot water container generally near a heating element arranged therein. A running thermostat provides a self-supporting sensing tube means in cooperation with a capillary tube and thermostat which detect the mean temperature of the hot water and are responsive to a narrow range of temperature variations within the hot water container. The improvement further includes a tap-off hot water system which provides hot water separately and independently of the brewing water heated in said container. The system is connected upstream of the cold water inlet valve of the device and directs cold water into a water coil means residing within the hot water container.
Outlet pipe means convey heated water from the coil to an outlet faucet projecting exteriorly of the device. An improved spray disk assembly provides a cooperatively lockable spray disk and mounting collar. The spray disk locks with the mounting collar to tightly seal a flexible gasket around said spray disk whereby the spray disk receives hot water siphoned from said hot water container and evenly distributes hot water in a random dripping flow through the disk. Additionally, a bottom drain system is provided for emptying the hot water container which is non-corrodible and thread disengageable from said container. The drain system provides means for tightly sealing around a bottom drain hole of the container and manually operable valve means to facilitate draining the container.
Description
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The present invention has been divided out of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 480,291 filed April 29, 1985.
The invention re]ates to a beverage-making device uhich constitutes an improvement over the prior art, particularly directed to those devices ~vhich automatically brew coffee.
Jn such devices, a water supply line is in direct communication with sn inlet valve for on-demand admittance of cold water to a water-heating container in which Q constant source of hot water for brewing is avai]able. The inlet valve is electrically operated to open for a pre-set bre~ing cycle equal to the amount of time required to provide sur~icient liquid to fill a receiving decanter, such AS a coffee pot.
A running thermostat senses the temperature in the ~ater container and e]ectrically communicates with a coiled, or looped, heating e]ement so that the constant desired temperature is maintained.
~ 'ater systems for admitting cold ~ater to the container include inlet tube means for dispensing the incoming ~ater flt the bottom of the container. As the cold ~vater enters, displaced vo]umes Or hot water at the top Or the container are siphoned from the container to a brewing chamber, which is manually pr~iilled with a load of fresh ground coffee.
As incoming water reduces the ~vater temperature in the container, the running thermostat senses this lower temperature and activates the heating element. 'rhe heating element remains energized until the thermostat senses that the required water temperature has been reached. With high capacity electric heAting elements, a substantial temperature increase occurs over ~ short period of time. Should the running thermostat fail in the on position, a so-called "run away" condition i~ril] result whereby ~he heater will stay energized. Thereaî ter, the heating element will guick]y evaporate the ster and reach a dangerously high temperature.
In order to prevent overheating, conventionAI systems ;nc]ude high limit thermostats. A high ]imit thermostat serves to de-activate the heating c~emcnt when excessive temperatures are sensed. This safety feature is particular]y useful ~hen someone hss inadvertently fAiled to fill the water container prior to initiating a bre~ing cycle. I~ithout this feature the running thermostflt would b]ind]y sense thc ~mbient air ternperature inside the empty containcr. In response, the heating element wou~d continue to operate unti] reaching a dangerous "red-hot" condition.
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Customarily, the hot water container is provided with a hermetically sealed cover which supportive]y accomodates the aforesaid siphon, running and high limit thermostats, and inlet tube means, as well as the terminals for the heating element. ~ drawback to this typical arrangement is that only the temperature at the cover is sensed by the high ]imit thermostat. As a result, an excessively high temperature at ]ower portions of the container, localized near the heating element, can sometimes occur while the cover remains relatively cool. The remote disposition of a high limit thermostat at the container cover is inherently inefficient for detecting these temperature fluctuations at the bottom llalf of the container. A thermostat system which can immediately detect this dangerous condition, and promptly de-activate the heating element, would be a significant achievement.
Running thermostats are typically connected to an enlarged sensing bulb by means of a thin capillary tube. The bulb end is usually positioned at the lower half of the container. The capillary tube must therefore extend downwardly into the container to reach the bulb end. A long guide sleeve is used to hold the bulb in place. The guide sleeve is attached to the cover and extends downwardly into the ContAiner to surround and protect the capillary tube and the full length of the enlarged bulb end. Usually, guide sleeves are secured to the bottom of the heating coil so that the bulbs are fixed in the proper orientation. Deficiencies in this convention~t arrangement have been encountered. Firstly, the enlarged bulb end is limited to only sensing temperatures in the vicinity of the bottom hal~ or third of the container. Temperatures at the upper portions are not detected, and may in fact be sufficiently high to brew coffee without further activation of the heating coil. It would be considerably more advantageous to detect the mean temperature of the entire water volume. Secondly, conventional enlarged bulb thermostats have a temperaturç-sensing spread of about 6-8 F. Thereby, the henting element is not quickly activated when the water becomes too cool and, once activated, will unnecessarily remain on for a period of tirne after the ~ ater has reached the desired temperature. A thermostat arranaement that reacts to smaller temperature changes would be economically beneficia~, since the heater wo-~d be activated soon after the water falls 5~
below the l~sual brewing temperature of 205~F. and then de-sctivsted very shortly nfter this is attained.
The guide sleeve arrangements in the prior art have hindered maintenance procedures. In order to remove the thermostat and bulb for repair, the cover has had to be removed in order to disconnect the guide sleeve from the heating element. It wou]d be a great aid to repair personnel to eliminate the need for a guide sleeve and provide a running therrnostat, capillary tube and sensing tube that are completely disengageable from the device without requiring other components, such as the cover, to be disconnected or disturbed. A self-supporting sensing means would greatly advance the solution to this problem. Savings in maintenance time and repair costs would be made.
Automatic beverage-making devices have also inc~uded means for dispensing hot water for making tea, instant soup and the like. In the past thcse systems simply drained hot water directly from the water container. By extracting a volume of hot water from the container~ the brewing capability of the device is diminished. Should a contemporaneous brewing cycle be desired, the container must first be r~filled with co]der inlet u ater and then heated to elevate the ternperature of the water to the necessary brewing level. The re-filling step has usually been initisted by the provision of a float switch arranged in the upper portion of the container ~ hich detects the drop in the water level. The inlet valve is electrically controlled by the switch which signals it to open until the ~loat is satisfied. Due t~ lime build-up the switches can close and become inoperable. A hot water system that eliminates the need for a float switch would be a significant sdvance in the art. It wou~d also be a valuab]e improvement to provide a hot water system which does not borrow from the water in the container but still makes hot water instantaneously available for these other purposes.
ln order to distribute the siphoned hot water over the coffee grounds, typical beverage-making devices utilize resiliently biased spray means over which the siphoned uater is directed. The spray means is usu~]ly a flat, perforate disk. Other devices have used a sho~erhead type arrangement wherein a siphon tube nozzle fluidly communicates with a spray means that is concave rather than disk-shaped. Spray means, in either form, provide for sprinkling hot water over the coffee grounds, ~25~L~S~
which are disposed in the brewing basket, or chamber, therebelow. For effective brewing to take p]ace, a llazy drip from the spray means is preîerred for a uniform distribution of hot water over the ground coffee.
A common problem, particularly with flat spray disks, has been that the siphoned water is too forcefully emitted in streams through a series of disk orifices which create an equal number of holes bored into the mound of coffee grounds. Quite oppositely, the desired drip phenomenon is an even flow over the grounds. It ~ould therefore be of great value to provide a moderately paced gravity drip system which eliminates individual spray streams through the disk orifices onto the ground coffee. Spray disks also require cleaning due to the accumulation of lime deposits and other sediments found in water lines. As a result, the disks need to be removed for cleaning. The usual resilient connections between spray disks and associated mounting collars render the disks removable, but are inadequate for achieving a tight engagement therebetween. A tight seal between the periphery of the spray disk and mounting collar is highly desirable so that the siphoned hot w ater will not leak around the edges of the disk, but will be emitted only through the orifices.
Accordingly, a more effective interconnection between a spray disk and mounting col]ar ~ould be a significant improvement over the foregoing devices. A positively locking connection would avoid the disadvantages of the resilient connections found in the prior art. It would.also be beneficial to provide a tight sealed engagement that also snugly lodges a nexible gasket between the outer edge of the disk and the collar.
Thereby, edge ]eakage would be prevented and a random drip pattern attained for the preferred even distribution of hot water over the coffee grounds.
For standard size automatic beverage-making devices, the hot water container normally holds at least three tirnes the vo~ume of a conventional coffee pot and usually takes the form of cylinder having a greater height than width. Cleaning these relatively large containers is necessary for taste and sanitary reasons. In order to remove sedimentation, such as lirne deposits, the prevailing technique involves operating the beverage-m~king device for several cycles with a de-liming solution pumped through tile container. Often, sediments at the container bottom are not dissolved and must be manually removed. In a more rudimentary c]eaning method, ~25~
the container is simply tipped over to empty the water. The latter is clearly an awkward and undesirable technique. A
bottom drain, which allows the container to be fully emptied, would be preferable. Prior art devices have failed to provide a separate bottom draining system, probably due to the problems encountered with attaching drain tubes. The customary manner of affixing drains to metal containers is by welding. A dis-advantage to such fittings is that the welds corrode and result in leakage. Welding also creates a fixed drain connection which impedes removing the container for repair and otherwise generally limits access to other components inside the device.
It would accordingly be of significant value to provide a non-welded bottom drain system which avoids corrosion and leakage problems. In addition, it would be advantageous for the drain system to be disengageable to permit easy access to the interior of the device for the repair, or replacement, of mechanical and electrical components.
The present invention offers an improvement for beverage-making devices of the type described, which satisEies the needs set forth above.
An improved tap-off hot water system forms part of the invention. The system communicates with the incoming water supply upstream of the inlet control valve. The tapped-off water is directed into a water coil system arranged inside the container whereby the surrounding brewing water serves to heat the tapped-off water. When needed, the hot water is directed to flow through the coil to a hot water faucet located at the exterior of the device. The volume of hot water available for brewing coffee is therefore not reduced.
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Specifically, the invention provides in a beverage-making device of the type having a hot water container arranged with a removable cover means thereover and being in communication with inlet valve means associating with a source of cold water for admitting cold water into the container, means for heating water in the container, and outlet means for discharging hot water from the container, the improvement compri.sing a hot water system for heating and discharging hot water independently of the outlet means, said hot water system having means for receiving water from said source of cold water upstream of said inlet valve means, inlet pipe means fluidly communicating therewith for the conveyance of ~ said tapped-off water, water coil means arranged for being immersed in hot water in said con-tainer and being in fluid communication with said inlet pipe means, whereby said tapped-off water is heated therein, said hot water system further including outlet pipe means fluidly communicating with said water coil means to convey hot water therefrom, water faucet means arranged with said outlet pipe means to receive hot water therefrom, whereby said hot water system is capable o~ discharging the heated tapped-off water from said faucet means independently of the water discharging from said outlet means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The improved beverage-making device is described in conjunction with the ollowing figures in which like reference numerals are used throughout to i.dentify the same components, wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view of a beverage-making device having the improvements of the invention housed therein;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the entire water flow system for the beverage-making device of Figure 1, diagram-matically showi.ng the tap-off hot water system, spray disk assembly and bottom drain system;
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Figure 3 is a sectional view of the hot water container of the beverage-making device showing the safety thermostat arrangement, the sensing tube for l:he running thermostat system, the water coil for the tap~off hot water system, and the bottom drain system;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the hot water container cover assembly, including the improved running thermostat system associated therewith and the inlet and outlet openings for the water coil shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the improved safety thermostat arrangement as shown in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 4 showing the locking assembly for mounting the sensing tube of the running thermostat system to the container cover lS and a conventional bracket used for mounting a safety thermostat at the cover;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket for the running thermostat as shown in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of Figure 4 showing thè outlet cap and baffle used for controlling the discharge of brewing water siphoned from the container into a siphon tube;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of a check valve provided Eor the hot water system as shown in Figure 2;
Figure lO is another schematic view of the entire water flow system of the beverage-making device, diagrammatically showing an alternative embodiment for the tap-off hot water system;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of an alternate combination check and relief valve provided for use in the hot water system shown in Figure lO;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the improved spray di$k assembly as shown in Figure 2;
Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the bottom drain system as shown in Figure 3;
Figure 14 is a side view of an alternate looped heating element usable in conjunction with the invention; and Figure 15 is a front view of the heating element as shown in Figure 14.
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DErAILED DESCRl~TION OP THE YRrFERl~ED E1~130DlMENT
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Introduction:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of n coffee-making device 10 which has a generally well-known design and includes an upper housing 11 and lower housing 12. A brewing chamber 13 is removably he]d by a conventional slide track means 14 in position for receiving hot ~ater siphoned from a heated tank disposed inside lower housing 12. A
decanter, or coffee pot 15, is stationed on a warmer 16 and collects incorning brewed coffee from the chamber. The warmer is activated in the usual way by a switch 17. To keep previously brewed portions of coffee warm, the upper housing 11 inc]udes two ~ armers 18 and 19. A
decanter 15 is filled with cofIee and is shown stationed flt warmer 18.
The coffee maker 10 may also employ an auxi]iary wArmer unit 16A of conventional design, shown in phantom lines in Figure 1.
The coffee maker 10 is operated by means of a control pflne] 20, which includes a main switch 21, a brewin~ cyc]e switch 22 and a ready light 23. The switch 21 activ~tes the electrical system of the coffee maker whereby a heating element and thermostat arrangement cause a stored volume of water to be heated to a desired brewîng ternperature, RS ~ l be hereinafter described. A ready light 23 is illuminated when the system is ready to provide hot water for brewing coffee. At that point, a brewing cycle may be initiated by depressing the switch 22, ~hereupon the hot water is siphoned onto coffee grounds conta;ned within the chamber 13. ll~armers 18 and 19 are operflted by the switches 24 and 25 located near the top of the panel 20.
The control panel 20 further inc~udes a hot ~- ater faucet 26 extending outwardly therefrom, which provides menns for dispensing water from the tap-off ~ater system of the invention, as will be described be]ow.
Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the internal components of the coffee maker 10. The upper housing 11 and lower housing 12 ~re shown in dashed ]ines. It will be understood that the e]ectrical circuitry for the device 10 is provided in a conventional manner, such as found in the ~Yiring system for I~Iodel Nos. 8714 and 8715 made by B]oomfield Industries, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. The relat;onships of the various components in the \~iring scheme, inc]uding the improved safety thermostat arrangement 4~:)S~
and the running thermostat system of the invention, are intended to be connected in the circuit in this known manner, and the circuitry therefore forms no part of the invention.
~ Yith reference to Figures 2-4, it will be seen that the coffee-making device 10 includes a hot waier container, or tank, 27 which is initially filled with a predetermined vo]ume of water. In the il]ustrative embodiment, the tank 27 ho]ds approximately one gallon when filled to the intended maximum level of about one-half inch below the top of the container. ~Yhen the s~vitch 21 is on, the temperature of the water inside the tank 27 is monitored by an ;mproved running thermostat system 28.
The required brewing temperature is in the range of from about 200 F.
to about 205 F. To facilitate heating the water, a sheathed electrical heating coil 29 is arranged within the tank and is in electrical communication with the running thermostat system 28. When the running thermostat system 28 detects that the water temperature has fallen below ,the desired range, the system closes a circuit and activates the heating coi] 29 until such time that proper brewing temperature is achieved within the container 27. The ready light 23 is electrically control]ed by the running thermost~t system and is not il]uminated until the heating elernent is de-activated.
As best viewed in Figures 3 and 4, a cover 30 closes the open top of the tank 27 and is hermetically sealed thereto by means of a gas~et 31 disposed between the upper rim of the tank and the peripheral lip of the cover in a known manner. The hot water is thereby safely sealed within the tank.
~ Vhen freshly brewed coffee is desired, the brewing basket, or chamber 13 is lined with filter paper and then manually loaded with a predetermined amount of ground coffee. The coffee pot 15, as shown in Figure 1, may then be placed onto the warmer 16 in position to receive brewed coffee from the chamber 13. Brewing cycle button 22 is then pushed to initiate the brewing sequence.
The water flow system for providing brewing water to the chamber 13 is best understood with reference to Figure 2, wherein a ater in]et pipe 32 is arranged at the bottom portion of the housing 12 and is connected to a water supply line tnot shown). The in]et pipe 32 is in fluid communication with a solenoid valve 33 which is operated by a s~
conventional timer means that begins its sequence when the button 22 Is activated. The timer is calibrated to open the valve 33 for the period of time required to admit a volume of water sufficient to fill the coffee pot 15. The valve 33 includes a cleanout 34 to enable it to be backf~ushed when lime deposits accumulate at the valve. The flow rate from the valve 33 is controlled by an internal flow control valve 35, which in the e~;emp]ary embodiment permits 0.75 gallons per minute to pass into an inlet pipe 36. The inlet pipe 36 directs the cold water up vardly into a basin 37 disposed within upper housing 11. The basin 37 is formed to have a drain sump 38 for draining incoming water into a tube 39. Tube 39 directs the water through an aperture 39 of cover 30 and terminates thereat to open into a funnel 40. Funnel 40 is affixed to the bottom of the cover around aperture 39. An in]et tube 41 is connected to the funnel ~0 and extends downwardly into the container 27 to discharge the cold water near the bottom of the container. The entering cold water disp~sces an equal volume of hot water near the top of the container 27 which flows into a siphon tube 42.
~ Vith reference to Figures 4 and 8, it will be noted that A raised annular shoulder 90 projects upwardly from the cover 30 and has a central aperture 42 into which the siphon tube 42 is attached to be in fluid communication with the hot water. An outlet cap 91 and a baffle 92 are welded at the undersurface of the shoulder 90 in a typical construction whereby the rising, displaced hot water is controlled in i ts passage upwardly through the aperture ~2 into the siphon tube. The siphon tube 42 slopes downwardly from the top of the container and discharges the hot water into a spray disk assembly 93, which distributes the water over the coffee grounds in brewing chamber 13.
Following the timed sequence, the valve 33 is closed, and the hea~ed water within the brewing chamber 13 bathes the coffee grounds therein, whereby brewed coffee seeps from the chamber, by gravity, into the decanter 15. It will be understood that the calibration of the timer means will preferably be made so that the portions of water absorbed by the grounds and lost in the form of steam are taken into account in order that the decanter is fil~ed to the necessary level.
In the event that pressure is built up within the container 27, a vent tube 44 is affixed to the cover 30 at the aperture 44 to communicate ~2~
interior]y of the container 27. The vent tube extends upwardly from the cover 30 to enter the basin 37 for discharge therein. Accordingly, excess water pressure will be relieved into the basin and be safely drained back into the container via the drain sump 38.
Since the cold inlet water decreases the tank water temperature, the running thermostat system 28 will activste the electrical heating e]ement 29, in the manner mentioned above. Fol]owing a brewing cycle, rapid heating sometimes occurs with certain high capacity heating elernents. If the running thermostat is faulty and sticks in the on position, a bacl~-up safety provision is needed to de-energize the heater before the water completely boils away and the clement overheats. In Figure 4, a typical arr~ngement for a safety thermostat 45 is shown in phantom lines and provides a means ior detecting an overheating o~ the cover 30.
A standard bracket 46, sho~vn in solid lines, offers the rnounting means for the safety thermostat 45. In coffee-making devices of the type described, the running thermostat and the safety thermostat are connected in series with the heating e]ement whereby tlle safety thermostat will override the running thermostat to de-activate the heating e]ement when the cover reaches these overheated temperatures. Generally safety thermostats are manuiactured to have an open temperature of about 226 F. This conventional arrangement has been satisfactory for heating elements of 1800 watts or less, such as the looped elements 118 and 118' shown in Figures 14 and 15, and therefore may be practiced with the other features of the invention herein described for these lower capacity elements. Therefore~ the cover 30 is preferably provided with a bracket 46 in the event that the coffee maker 10 is provided with the ]ower capacity heating elements. However, the arrangement of the thermostat 95 has been found to be inefficient for the higher cnpacity elements which can quickly overheat the lower portions of the container 27 long before the cover 30 becomes equally hot.
proved Sarety Thermostat Arrangement:
~ tith reference to Figures 3 and 5, an improved safety thermostat arrangement is shown for use with the high capacity heating elements and replaces the existing techniques, such as the thermostat 45 of Figure 4. In the preferred embodiment, the heating coil 29 is a 230 volt, 4800 ~2S~
watt, 11 loop coi]. Other high capncity heating e]ements, similar to the heating element 29, may alte~natively be provided, such ~s a 12û volt, 2000 watt coil having 5 loops, or a 230 volt, 3500 watt coil having 8 loops.
The top loop of the coils is connected to a conventional terminal assembly T by a vertical section of the heating element. The bottom ]oop of the coil is connected to a conventional terminal assembly T' by a vertical section of the element. Both of the terminal assemb]ies T and T' prov5de water t;ght connections with cover 30 at terminal openings 29A and 29B, as best viewed in Figures 3 and 4.
It will be observed that the loops of the coil 29 extend annularly near the side of the container 27. At these locations rapid increase in temperature can occur. In solution of the problems with prior ~rt s~stems, there is provided a manually resettable thermostat 47 per~erably mounted adjacent the container 27 at or below the mid-point thereof and generally close to the heating coil. The thermostat 47 has an exposed bi-metal disk 48 disposed against the side of the container. In the exemplnry embodiment, the thermostat 47 is an Essex Internstional Controls Division thermostat Model No. 904-58 having an open temperature of 226 ~
9 ~. The thermostat 47 includes terrninals 49 and 50 which are of the spade-type variety, whereby the thermostat 47 is wired to be in series ~vith the running thermostat system 28. The thermostat 47 includes a mounting plste 51 affixed to a housing 52 of the bi-metal disk 48. The p]ate 51 extends trsnsversely to the terminals 49 and 50 and has sidewardly-open notches 53 and 54 st opposite sides thereof. A
cooperative bracket 55 is disclosed for the positionin~ of the thermostat 47 at the desired location along the tank 27. The bracket 55 is preferably made of stainless spring steel and has a mounting foot 56 and an up~srdly extending long arm 57. The foot 56 is mechanica]ly fastened by screws S to the bottom of the housing 12 and is made whereby to form an angle of greater than 90 with arm 57 before sttachment in the coffee maker.
The a~fi~;ation of the foot 56 to housing 12 disposes the arm 57 at right ang]es to the foot 56 and thus arm 57is spring biased toward the container 27 in order to urge the therrnostst 47 against the container. A mechanical f~stening of the thermostat 47 to the brscket 55 is envisioned ~herein the upper end of the srm 57 is cut-out to form a sest 58 intermediate a pair of upstanding side ears 59 and 60. The ears 59 and 60 include ....... .. __ _~_. . . ~_.,_-- .___.. _ ___ .... _ ~5~
holes which~ as would be understood, are spaced to align with the notches 53 and 54 so that screw ~asteners S' may secure the mounting plate 51 to the bracket 55.
Preferably, the thermostat 47 is positioned so that the bi-metal disk 48 contacts the side of tank 27 just slightly above the upper loop of the heating coil 29 where rising heat from the coil wil] create the hottest SpGt. If temperatures exceeding the thermostat capacity are created at the bi-metal disk 48, as might occur when a defective or stuck running thermostat fails to switch off and continues to energize the heating element until finally all the water evaporates, the thermostat opens the circuit to de-activate the heater 29. The thermostat 47 is provided with a manual reset button 62, which requires the operator to make the necessary reset once the heater has been shut down. A manually resettflble thermostat is preferable for this safety system, but alternatively, a self-resetting thermostat may also be used. Access to the reset button 62 is provided by a removably-capped peek hole means 61 located in positional correspondence with the thermostat 47 along the front face of the housing 12, as shown in Figure 1. A small screwdriver, for example, m~y be used to push the button 62 and reset the thermostat for subsequent use.
Improv_d Running Thermostat System:
The running thermostat system 28, which heretofore has been generally discussed with regard to activating and de-activating the heating element 29, will now be described in greater detail with reference made to Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7. System 28 is an improvement over previously known arrangements, particularly because the mean temperature of the entire water volume is sensed. Also, temperature variation is sensed within a very narrow range. These are significant advances in the beverage-making art because the device 10 is thereby rendered considerably more efficient by only operating the heating element when necessary.
The improved running thermostat system 28 includes a thermostat 63 loc~ted at the cover 30. The thermostat 63 has an adjustable control shaft 64 that enables the thermostat setting, and thereby the brewing water temperflture, to be varied. Preferab]y, the thermostat 63 h~s the ~ 5~5CI
operating capacity of a ROBERTSHAW Controls Company thermostat No.
K-944-12, or equivalent. Other suitable devices will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The thermostat 63 is affixed with a mounting flange 6S hsvin~ a pair of engageable holes 66 and 67. A cooperative mounting bracket fi8, best shown in Figures 4 and 7, supports the mounting f]ange 6S, and thereby the thermostat 63, at cover 30. The bracket 68 comprises a ]ower p]ate 69 integrally formed with a vertical plate 70, which includes a vertica] s]ot .71, a hor;zontal s]ot 72, and a central, upwardly open notch 73. The s]ots 71 and 72 correspond to the spacing of the holes 66 arld 67 of the mounting flange 65. Screw fasteners 74 and 75 are provided to be received through the slots 71 and 72 and thereafter engaged within the ho]es 66 and 67 whereby to releasably hold the thermostat on the bracket. In this arrangement, the thermostat 63 is easily removable from the bracket 68 by partially unthreading the screws and thereafter simply moving the thermost~t first upwardly to disengage the fastener 74 from the s10t 71, and therearter sidewardly to remove the fastener 75 from the slot 72. This remov~bility is a significant advanlage for repair personnel since, unlike previous devices, these threaded fasteners need not be removed and therefore cannot become accidentally dropped within the housing of the coffee-making device during repair.
A short capillary tube 76 associates with the thermostat 63 in a conventional manner. However, the capillary tube 76 does not extend downwardly into the container 27 to meet a bulb end, such as found in the prior art. Instead, a unique elongate and self-supporting sensing tube 77, best viewed in Figures 3 and 6, extends downwardly from the cover.
The sensing tube 77 is joined to the capillary tube 76 interiorly of a fastening assembly 78, shown in the sectionfll view of Figure 6. The sensing tube 77 offers a great advance over the existing thermostat systems inasmuch as no guide sleeve is needed. Further, the sensing tube need not be attached to the heating coil, which is customary wilh known guide sleeve systems in order for the bulb to be maintained in the proper vertical orientation at a spccified depth within the hot water container.
The sensing tube 77 is hollow and is preferably made of stainless steel. A conventional oil is contained within the tube 77 and is in f]u;d communication with the capillary tube 76 PS would be clear. Sensing ~59~ iO
tube 77 extends downwardly within the coils of the e]ement 29 and terrninates generally near the bottom thereof in a crimped end 79. The tube 77 tllereby extends for substantially the full height of the container 27 and renders the system 28 capab~e of detecting the mean temperature of substantially the entire volume of water within the tank. Existing capil]ary buib devices usually have an outer diameter of greater than 0.30 inches. Thus, a guide sleeve of greater diameter is required to surround the bulb end. In preferred form, the sensing tube 77 has an outside diameter less than 0.30 inches and therefore occupies a smaller space. It has been found that this thinner construction allows the oil therein to be quickly sensitive to the tempersture changes whereby the temperature detected st the thermostat 63 is closely reflective of the temperature f~uctuations within the tank. As a resu]t, the system 28 is capable of responding to temperature change in a range of from about
The present invention has been divided out of Canadian Patent Application Serial No. 480,291 filed April 29, 1985.
The invention re]ates to a beverage-making device uhich constitutes an improvement over the prior art, particularly directed to those devices ~vhich automatically brew coffee.
Jn such devices, a water supply line is in direct communication with sn inlet valve for on-demand admittance of cold water to a water-heating container in which Q constant source of hot water for brewing is avai]able. The inlet valve is electrically operated to open for a pre-set bre~ing cycle equal to the amount of time required to provide sur~icient liquid to fill a receiving decanter, such AS a coffee pot.
A running thermostat senses the temperature in the ~ater container and e]ectrically communicates with a coiled, or looped, heating e]ement so that the constant desired temperature is maintained.
~ 'ater systems for admitting cold ~ater to the container include inlet tube means for dispensing the incoming ~ater flt the bottom of the container. As the cold ~vater enters, displaced vo]umes Or hot water at the top Or the container are siphoned from the container to a brewing chamber, which is manually pr~iilled with a load of fresh ground coffee.
As incoming water reduces the ~vater temperature in the container, the running thermostat senses this lower temperature and activates the heating element. 'rhe heating element remains energized until the thermostat senses that the required water temperature has been reached. With high capacity electric heAting elements, a substantial temperature increase occurs over ~ short period of time. Should the running thermostat fail in the on position, a so-called "run away" condition i~ril] result whereby ~he heater will stay energized. Thereaî ter, the heating element will guick]y evaporate the ster and reach a dangerously high temperature.
In order to prevent overheating, conventionAI systems ;nc]ude high limit thermostats. A high ]imit thermostat serves to de-activate the heating c~emcnt when excessive temperatures are sensed. This safety feature is particular]y useful ~hen someone hss inadvertently fAiled to fill the water container prior to initiating a bre~ing cycle. I~ithout this feature the running thermostflt would b]ind]y sense thc ~mbient air ternperature inside the empty containcr. In response, the heating element wou~d continue to operate unti] reaching a dangerous "red-hot" condition.
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Customarily, the hot water container is provided with a hermetically sealed cover which supportive]y accomodates the aforesaid siphon, running and high limit thermostats, and inlet tube means, as well as the terminals for the heating element. ~ drawback to this typical arrangement is that only the temperature at the cover is sensed by the high ]imit thermostat. As a result, an excessively high temperature at ]ower portions of the container, localized near the heating element, can sometimes occur while the cover remains relatively cool. The remote disposition of a high limit thermostat at the container cover is inherently inefficient for detecting these temperature fluctuations at the bottom llalf of the container. A thermostat system which can immediately detect this dangerous condition, and promptly de-activate the heating element, would be a significant achievement.
Running thermostats are typically connected to an enlarged sensing bulb by means of a thin capillary tube. The bulb end is usually positioned at the lower half of the container. The capillary tube must therefore extend downwardly into the container to reach the bulb end. A long guide sleeve is used to hold the bulb in place. The guide sleeve is attached to the cover and extends downwardly into the ContAiner to surround and protect the capillary tube and the full length of the enlarged bulb end. Usually, guide sleeves are secured to the bottom of the heating coil so that the bulbs are fixed in the proper orientation. Deficiencies in this convention~t arrangement have been encountered. Firstly, the enlarged bulb end is limited to only sensing temperatures in the vicinity of the bottom hal~ or third of the container. Temperatures at the upper portions are not detected, and may in fact be sufficiently high to brew coffee without further activation of the heating coil. It would be considerably more advantageous to detect the mean temperature of the entire water volume. Secondly, conventional enlarged bulb thermostats have a temperaturç-sensing spread of about 6-8 F. Thereby, the henting element is not quickly activated when the water becomes too cool and, once activated, will unnecessarily remain on for a period of tirne after the ~ ater has reached the desired temperature. A thermostat arranaement that reacts to smaller temperature changes would be economically beneficia~, since the heater wo-~d be activated soon after the water falls 5~
below the l~sual brewing temperature of 205~F. and then de-sctivsted very shortly nfter this is attained.
The guide sleeve arrangements in the prior art have hindered maintenance procedures. In order to remove the thermostat and bulb for repair, the cover has had to be removed in order to disconnect the guide sleeve from the heating element. It wou]d be a great aid to repair personnel to eliminate the need for a guide sleeve and provide a running therrnostat, capillary tube and sensing tube that are completely disengageable from the device without requiring other components, such as the cover, to be disconnected or disturbed. A self-supporting sensing means would greatly advance the solution to this problem. Savings in maintenance time and repair costs would be made.
Automatic beverage-making devices have also inc~uded means for dispensing hot water for making tea, instant soup and the like. In the past thcse systems simply drained hot water directly from the water container. By extracting a volume of hot water from the container~ the brewing capability of the device is diminished. Should a contemporaneous brewing cycle be desired, the container must first be r~filled with co]der inlet u ater and then heated to elevate the ternperature of the water to the necessary brewing level. The re-filling step has usually been initisted by the provision of a float switch arranged in the upper portion of the container ~ hich detects the drop in the water level. The inlet valve is electrically controlled by the switch which signals it to open until the ~loat is satisfied. Due t~ lime build-up the switches can close and become inoperable. A hot water system that eliminates the need for a float switch would be a significant sdvance in the art. It wou~d also be a valuab]e improvement to provide a hot water system which does not borrow from the water in the container but still makes hot water instantaneously available for these other purposes.
ln order to distribute the siphoned hot water over the coffee grounds, typical beverage-making devices utilize resiliently biased spray means over which the siphoned uater is directed. The spray means is usu~]ly a flat, perforate disk. Other devices have used a sho~erhead type arrangement wherein a siphon tube nozzle fluidly communicates with a spray means that is concave rather than disk-shaped. Spray means, in either form, provide for sprinkling hot water over the coffee grounds, ~25~L~S~
which are disposed in the brewing basket, or chamber, therebelow. For effective brewing to take p]ace, a llazy drip from the spray means is preîerred for a uniform distribution of hot water over the ground coffee.
A common problem, particularly with flat spray disks, has been that the siphoned water is too forcefully emitted in streams through a series of disk orifices which create an equal number of holes bored into the mound of coffee grounds. Quite oppositely, the desired drip phenomenon is an even flow over the grounds. It ~ould therefore be of great value to provide a moderately paced gravity drip system which eliminates individual spray streams through the disk orifices onto the ground coffee. Spray disks also require cleaning due to the accumulation of lime deposits and other sediments found in water lines. As a result, the disks need to be removed for cleaning. The usual resilient connections between spray disks and associated mounting collars render the disks removable, but are inadequate for achieving a tight engagement therebetween. A tight seal between the periphery of the spray disk and mounting collar is highly desirable so that the siphoned hot w ater will not leak around the edges of the disk, but will be emitted only through the orifices.
Accordingly, a more effective interconnection between a spray disk and mounting col]ar ~ould be a significant improvement over the foregoing devices. A positively locking connection would avoid the disadvantages of the resilient connections found in the prior art. It would.also be beneficial to provide a tight sealed engagement that also snugly lodges a nexible gasket between the outer edge of the disk and the collar.
Thereby, edge ]eakage would be prevented and a random drip pattern attained for the preferred even distribution of hot water over the coffee grounds.
For standard size automatic beverage-making devices, the hot water container normally holds at least three tirnes the vo~ume of a conventional coffee pot and usually takes the form of cylinder having a greater height than width. Cleaning these relatively large containers is necessary for taste and sanitary reasons. In order to remove sedimentation, such as lirne deposits, the prevailing technique involves operating the beverage-m~king device for several cycles with a de-liming solution pumped through tile container. Often, sediments at the container bottom are not dissolved and must be manually removed. In a more rudimentary c]eaning method, ~25~
the container is simply tipped over to empty the water. The latter is clearly an awkward and undesirable technique. A
bottom drain, which allows the container to be fully emptied, would be preferable. Prior art devices have failed to provide a separate bottom draining system, probably due to the problems encountered with attaching drain tubes. The customary manner of affixing drains to metal containers is by welding. A dis-advantage to such fittings is that the welds corrode and result in leakage. Welding also creates a fixed drain connection which impedes removing the container for repair and otherwise generally limits access to other components inside the device.
It would accordingly be of significant value to provide a non-welded bottom drain system which avoids corrosion and leakage problems. In addition, it would be advantageous for the drain system to be disengageable to permit easy access to the interior of the device for the repair, or replacement, of mechanical and electrical components.
The present invention offers an improvement for beverage-making devices of the type described, which satisEies the needs set forth above.
An improved tap-off hot water system forms part of the invention. The system communicates with the incoming water supply upstream of the inlet control valve. The tapped-off water is directed into a water coil system arranged inside the container whereby the surrounding brewing water serves to heat the tapped-off water. When needed, the hot water is directed to flow through the coil to a hot water faucet located at the exterior of the device. The volume of hot water available for brewing coffee is therefore not reduced.
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Specifically, the invention provides in a beverage-making device of the type having a hot water container arranged with a removable cover means thereover and being in communication with inlet valve means associating with a source of cold water for admitting cold water into the container, means for heating water in the container, and outlet means for discharging hot water from the container, the improvement compri.sing a hot water system for heating and discharging hot water independently of the outlet means, said hot water system having means for receiving water from said source of cold water upstream of said inlet valve means, inlet pipe means fluidly communicating therewith for the conveyance of ~ said tapped-off water, water coil means arranged for being immersed in hot water in said con-tainer and being in fluid communication with said inlet pipe means, whereby said tapped-off water is heated therein, said hot water system further including outlet pipe means fluidly communicating with said water coil means to convey hot water therefrom, water faucet means arranged with said outlet pipe means to receive hot water therefrom, whereby said hot water system is capable o~ discharging the heated tapped-off water from said faucet means independently of the water discharging from said outlet means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The improved beverage-making device is described in conjunction with the ollowing figures in which like reference numerals are used throughout to i.dentify the same components, wherein:
Figure l is a perspective view of a beverage-making device having the improvements of the invention housed therein;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the entire water flow system for the beverage-making device of Figure 1, diagram-matically showi.ng the tap-off hot water system, spray disk assembly and bottom drain system;
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Figure 3 is a sectional view of the hot water container of the beverage-making device showing the safety thermostat arrangement, the sensing tube for l:he running thermostat system, the water coil for the tap~off hot water system, and the bottom drain system;
Figure 4 is a plan view of the hot water container cover assembly, including the improved running thermostat system associated therewith and the inlet and outlet openings for the water coil shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a front elevational view of the improved safety thermostat arrangement as shown in Figure 3;
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of Figure 4 showing the locking assembly for mounting the sensing tube of the running thermostat system to the container cover lS and a conventional bracket used for mounting a safety thermostat at the cover;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket for the running thermostat as shown in Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of Figure 4 showing thè outlet cap and baffle used for controlling the discharge of brewing water siphoned from the container into a siphon tube;
Figure 9 is a sectional view of a check valve provided Eor the hot water system as shown in Figure 2;
Figure lO is another schematic view of the entire water flow system of the beverage-making device, diagrammatically showing an alternative embodiment for the tap-off hot water system;
Figure 11 is a sectional view of an alternate combination check and relief valve provided for use in the hot water system shown in Figure lO;
Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the improved spray di$k assembly as shown in Figure 2;
Figure 13 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of the bottom drain system as shown in Figure 3;
Figure 14 is a side view of an alternate looped heating element usable in conjunction with the invention; and Figure 15 is a front view of the heating element as shown in Figure 14.
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DErAILED DESCRl~TION OP THE YRrFERl~ED E1~130DlMENT
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Introduction:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of n coffee-making device 10 which has a generally well-known design and includes an upper housing 11 and lower housing 12. A brewing chamber 13 is removably he]d by a conventional slide track means 14 in position for receiving hot ~ater siphoned from a heated tank disposed inside lower housing 12. A
decanter, or coffee pot 15, is stationed on a warmer 16 and collects incorning brewed coffee from the chamber. The warmer is activated in the usual way by a switch 17. To keep previously brewed portions of coffee warm, the upper housing 11 inc]udes two ~ armers 18 and 19. A
decanter 15 is filled with cofIee and is shown stationed flt warmer 18.
The coffee maker 10 may also employ an auxi]iary wArmer unit 16A of conventional design, shown in phantom lines in Figure 1.
The coffee maker 10 is operated by means of a control pflne] 20, which includes a main switch 21, a brewin~ cyc]e switch 22 and a ready light 23. The switch 21 activ~tes the electrical system of the coffee maker whereby a heating element and thermostat arrangement cause a stored volume of water to be heated to a desired brewîng ternperature, RS ~ l be hereinafter described. A ready light 23 is illuminated when the system is ready to provide hot water for brewing coffee. At that point, a brewing cycle may be initiated by depressing the switch 22, ~hereupon the hot water is siphoned onto coffee grounds conta;ned within the chamber 13. ll~armers 18 and 19 are operflted by the switches 24 and 25 located near the top of the panel 20.
The control panel 20 further inc~udes a hot ~- ater faucet 26 extending outwardly therefrom, which provides menns for dispensing water from the tap-off ~ater system of the invention, as will be described be]ow.
Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the internal components of the coffee maker 10. The upper housing 11 and lower housing 12 ~re shown in dashed ]ines. It will be understood that the e]ectrical circuitry for the device 10 is provided in a conventional manner, such as found in the ~Yiring system for I~Iodel Nos. 8714 and 8715 made by B]oomfield Industries, Inc., Chicago, Illinois. The relat;onships of the various components in the \~iring scheme, inc]uding the improved safety thermostat arrangement 4~:)S~
and the running thermostat system of the invention, are intended to be connected in the circuit in this known manner, and the circuitry therefore forms no part of the invention.
~ Yith reference to Figures 2-4, it will be seen that the coffee-making device 10 includes a hot waier container, or tank, 27 which is initially filled with a predetermined vo]ume of water. In the il]ustrative embodiment, the tank 27 ho]ds approximately one gallon when filled to the intended maximum level of about one-half inch below the top of the container. ~Yhen the s~vitch 21 is on, the temperature of the water inside the tank 27 is monitored by an ;mproved running thermostat system 28.
The required brewing temperature is in the range of from about 200 F.
to about 205 F. To facilitate heating the water, a sheathed electrical heating coil 29 is arranged within the tank and is in electrical communication with the running thermostat system 28. When the running thermostat system 28 detects that the water temperature has fallen below ,the desired range, the system closes a circuit and activates the heating coi] 29 until such time that proper brewing temperature is achieved within the container 27. The ready light 23 is electrically control]ed by the running thermost~t system and is not il]uminated until the heating elernent is de-activated.
As best viewed in Figures 3 and 4, a cover 30 closes the open top of the tank 27 and is hermetically sealed thereto by means of a gas~et 31 disposed between the upper rim of the tank and the peripheral lip of the cover in a known manner. The hot water is thereby safely sealed within the tank.
~ Vhen freshly brewed coffee is desired, the brewing basket, or chamber 13 is lined with filter paper and then manually loaded with a predetermined amount of ground coffee. The coffee pot 15, as shown in Figure 1, may then be placed onto the warmer 16 in position to receive brewed coffee from the chamber 13. Brewing cycle button 22 is then pushed to initiate the brewing sequence.
The water flow system for providing brewing water to the chamber 13 is best understood with reference to Figure 2, wherein a ater in]et pipe 32 is arranged at the bottom portion of the housing 12 and is connected to a water supply line tnot shown). The in]et pipe 32 is in fluid communication with a solenoid valve 33 which is operated by a s~
conventional timer means that begins its sequence when the button 22 Is activated. The timer is calibrated to open the valve 33 for the period of time required to admit a volume of water sufficient to fill the coffee pot 15. The valve 33 includes a cleanout 34 to enable it to be backf~ushed when lime deposits accumulate at the valve. The flow rate from the valve 33 is controlled by an internal flow control valve 35, which in the e~;emp]ary embodiment permits 0.75 gallons per minute to pass into an inlet pipe 36. The inlet pipe 36 directs the cold water up vardly into a basin 37 disposed within upper housing 11. The basin 37 is formed to have a drain sump 38 for draining incoming water into a tube 39. Tube 39 directs the water through an aperture 39 of cover 30 and terminates thereat to open into a funnel 40. Funnel 40 is affixed to the bottom of the cover around aperture 39. An in]et tube 41 is connected to the funnel ~0 and extends downwardly into the container 27 to discharge the cold water near the bottom of the container. The entering cold water disp~sces an equal volume of hot water near the top of the container 27 which flows into a siphon tube 42.
~ Vith reference to Figures 4 and 8, it will be noted that A raised annular shoulder 90 projects upwardly from the cover 30 and has a central aperture 42 into which the siphon tube 42 is attached to be in fluid communication with the hot water. An outlet cap 91 and a baffle 92 are welded at the undersurface of the shoulder 90 in a typical construction whereby the rising, displaced hot water is controlled in i ts passage upwardly through the aperture ~2 into the siphon tube. The siphon tube 42 slopes downwardly from the top of the container and discharges the hot water into a spray disk assembly 93, which distributes the water over the coffee grounds in brewing chamber 13.
Following the timed sequence, the valve 33 is closed, and the hea~ed water within the brewing chamber 13 bathes the coffee grounds therein, whereby brewed coffee seeps from the chamber, by gravity, into the decanter 15. It will be understood that the calibration of the timer means will preferably be made so that the portions of water absorbed by the grounds and lost in the form of steam are taken into account in order that the decanter is fil~ed to the necessary level.
In the event that pressure is built up within the container 27, a vent tube 44 is affixed to the cover 30 at the aperture 44 to communicate ~2~
interior]y of the container 27. The vent tube extends upwardly from the cover 30 to enter the basin 37 for discharge therein. Accordingly, excess water pressure will be relieved into the basin and be safely drained back into the container via the drain sump 38.
Since the cold inlet water decreases the tank water temperature, the running thermostat system 28 will activste the electrical heating e]ement 29, in the manner mentioned above. Fol]owing a brewing cycle, rapid heating sometimes occurs with certain high capacity heating elernents. If the running thermostat is faulty and sticks in the on position, a bacl~-up safety provision is needed to de-energize the heater before the water completely boils away and the clement overheats. In Figure 4, a typical arr~ngement for a safety thermostat 45 is shown in phantom lines and provides a means ior detecting an overheating o~ the cover 30.
A standard bracket 46, sho~vn in solid lines, offers the rnounting means for the safety thermostat 45. In coffee-making devices of the type described, the running thermostat and the safety thermostat are connected in series with the heating e]ement whereby tlle safety thermostat will override the running thermostat to de-activate the heating e]ement when the cover reaches these overheated temperatures. Generally safety thermostats are manuiactured to have an open temperature of about 226 F. This conventional arrangement has been satisfactory for heating elements of 1800 watts or less, such as the looped elements 118 and 118' shown in Figures 14 and 15, and therefore may be practiced with the other features of the invention herein described for these lower capacity elements. Therefore~ the cover 30 is preferably provided with a bracket 46 in the event that the coffee maker 10 is provided with the ]ower capacity heating elements. However, the arrangement of the thermostat 95 has been found to be inefficient for the higher cnpacity elements which can quickly overheat the lower portions of the container 27 long before the cover 30 becomes equally hot.
proved Sarety Thermostat Arrangement:
~ tith reference to Figures 3 and 5, an improved safety thermostat arrangement is shown for use with the high capacity heating elements and replaces the existing techniques, such as the thermostat 45 of Figure 4. In the preferred embodiment, the heating coil 29 is a 230 volt, 4800 ~2S~
watt, 11 loop coi]. Other high capncity heating e]ements, similar to the heating element 29, may alte~natively be provided, such ~s a 12û volt, 2000 watt coil having 5 loops, or a 230 volt, 3500 watt coil having 8 loops.
The top loop of the coils is connected to a conventional terminal assembly T by a vertical section of the heating element. The bottom ]oop of the coil is connected to a conventional terminal assembly T' by a vertical section of the element. Both of the terminal assemb]ies T and T' prov5de water t;ght connections with cover 30 at terminal openings 29A and 29B, as best viewed in Figures 3 and 4.
It will be observed that the loops of the coil 29 extend annularly near the side of the container 27. At these locations rapid increase in temperature can occur. In solution of the problems with prior ~rt s~stems, there is provided a manually resettable thermostat 47 per~erably mounted adjacent the container 27 at or below the mid-point thereof and generally close to the heating coil. The thermostat 47 has an exposed bi-metal disk 48 disposed against the side of the container. In the exemplnry embodiment, the thermostat 47 is an Essex Internstional Controls Division thermostat Model No. 904-58 having an open temperature of 226 ~
9 ~. The thermostat 47 includes terrninals 49 and 50 which are of the spade-type variety, whereby the thermostat 47 is wired to be in series ~vith the running thermostat system 28. The thermostat 47 includes a mounting plste 51 affixed to a housing 52 of the bi-metal disk 48. The p]ate 51 extends trsnsversely to the terminals 49 and 50 and has sidewardly-open notches 53 and 54 st opposite sides thereof. A
cooperative bracket 55 is disclosed for the positionin~ of the thermostat 47 at the desired location along the tank 27. The bracket 55 is preferably made of stainless spring steel and has a mounting foot 56 and an up~srdly extending long arm 57. The foot 56 is mechanica]ly fastened by screws S to the bottom of the housing 12 and is made whereby to form an angle of greater than 90 with arm 57 before sttachment in the coffee maker.
The a~fi~;ation of the foot 56 to housing 12 disposes the arm 57 at right ang]es to the foot 56 and thus arm 57is spring biased toward the container 27 in order to urge the therrnostst 47 against the container. A mechanical f~stening of the thermostat 47 to the brscket 55 is envisioned ~herein the upper end of the srm 57 is cut-out to form a sest 58 intermediate a pair of upstanding side ears 59 and 60. The ears 59 and 60 include ....... .. __ _~_. . . ~_.,_-- .___.. _ ___ .... _ ~5~
holes which~ as would be understood, are spaced to align with the notches 53 and 54 so that screw ~asteners S' may secure the mounting plate 51 to the bracket 55.
Preferably, the thermostat 47 is positioned so that the bi-metal disk 48 contacts the side of tank 27 just slightly above the upper loop of the heating coil 29 where rising heat from the coil wil] create the hottest SpGt. If temperatures exceeding the thermostat capacity are created at the bi-metal disk 48, as might occur when a defective or stuck running thermostat fails to switch off and continues to energize the heating element until finally all the water evaporates, the thermostat opens the circuit to de-activate the heater 29. The thermostat 47 is provided with a manual reset button 62, which requires the operator to make the necessary reset once the heater has been shut down. A manually resettflble thermostat is preferable for this safety system, but alternatively, a self-resetting thermostat may also be used. Access to the reset button 62 is provided by a removably-capped peek hole means 61 located in positional correspondence with the thermostat 47 along the front face of the housing 12, as shown in Figure 1. A small screwdriver, for example, m~y be used to push the button 62 and reset the thermostat for subsequent use.
Improv_d Running Thermostat System:
The running thermostat system 28, which heretofore has been generally discussed with regard to activating and de-activating the heating element 29, will now be described in greater detail with reference made to Figures 3, 4, 6 and 7. System 28 is an improvement over previously known arrangements, particularly because the mean temperature of the entire water volume is sensed. Also, temperature variation is sensed within a very narrow range. These are significant advances in the beverage-making art because the device 10 is thereby rendered considerably more efficient by only operating the heating element when necessary.
The improved running thermostat system 28 includes a thermostat 63 loc~ted at the cover 30. The thermostat 63 has an adjustable control shaft 64 that enables the thermostat setting, and thereby the brewing water temperflture, to be varied. Preferab]y, the thermostat 63 h~s the ~ 5~5CI
operating capacity of a ROBERTSHAW Controls Company thermostat No.
K-944-12, or equivalent. Other suitable devices will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The thermostat 63 is affixed with a mounting flange 6S hsvin~ a pair of engageable holes 66 and 67. A cooperative mounting bracket fi8, best shown in Figures 4 and 7, supports the mounting f]ange 6S, and thereby the thermostat 63, at cover 30. The bracket 68 comprises a ]ower p]ate 69 integrally formed with a vertical plate 70, which includes a vertica] s]ot .71, a hor;zontal s]ot 72, and a central, upwardly open notch 73. The s]ots 71 and 72 correspond to the spacing of the holes 66 arld 67 of the mounting flange 65. Screw fasteners 74 and 75 are provided to be received through the slots 71 and 72 and thereafter engaged within the ho]es 66 and 67 whereby to releasably hold the thermostat on the bracket. In this arrangement, the thermostat 63 is easily removable from the bracket 68 by partially unthreading the screws and thereafter simply moving the thermost~t first upwardly to disengage the fastener 74 from the s10t 71, and therearter sidewardly to remove the fastener 75 from the slot 72. This remov~bility is a significant advanlage for repair personnel since, unlike previous devices, these threaded fasteners need not be removed and therefore cannot become accidentally dropped within the housing of the coffee-making device during repair.
A short capillary tube 76 associates with the thermostat 63 in a conventional manner. However, the capillary tube 76 does not extend downwardly into the container 27 to meet a bulb end, such as found in the prior art. Instead, a unique elongate and self-supporting sensing tube 77, best viewed in Figures 3 and 6, extends downwardly from the cover.
The sensing tube 77 is joined to the capillary tube 76 interiorly of a fastening assembly 78, shown in the sectionfll view of Figure 6. The sensing tube 77 offers a great advance over the existing thermostat systems inasmuch as no guide sleeve is needed. Further, the sensing tube need not be attached to the heating coil, which is customary wilh known guide sleeve systems in order for the bulb to be maintained in the proper vertical orientation at a spccified depth within the hot water container.
The sensing tube 77 is hollow and is preferably made of stainless steel. A conventional oil is contained within the tube 77 and is in f]u;d communication with the capillary tube 76 PS would be clear. Sensing ~59~ iO
tube 77 extends downwardly within the coils of the e]ement 29 and terrninates generally near the bottom thereof in a crimped end 79. The tube 77 tllereby extends for substantially the full height of the container 27 and renders the system 28 capab~e of detecting the mean temperature of substantially the entire volume of water within the tank. Existing capil]ary buib devices usually have an outer diameter of greater than 0.30 inches. Thus, a guide sleeve of greater diameter is required to surround the bulb end. In preferred form, the sensing tube 77 has an outside diameter less than 0.30 inches and therefore occupies a smaller space. It has been found that this thinner construction allows the oil therein to be quickly sensitive to the tempersture changes whereby the temperature detected st the thermostat 63 is closely reflective of the temperature f~uctuations within the tank. As a resu]t, the system 28 is capable of responding to temperature change in a range of from about
2 to 3 F. spread and at least before a 6~ F. change has occurred.
Existing systems nre less precise and are responsive to spreads of about 6 to 8 ~., or rnore.
Reference is now made to the ]ocking means 78 shown in the sectional view of Figure 6. It will be seen that the capillary tube 76 is soldered to a tapering upper end of the sensing tube 77 generally denoted by reference numeral 80. A female fitting 81 is weld-connected within and around an aperture 82 extending through the cover 30. The fitting 81 incllldes a centrally threaded bore 83 which is thread engageable with a lock nut 8~. The lock nut 84 is hollow whereby to permit the capillary tube to pass therethrough and be joined with the tube 77 at the solder connection 80. At its lower end, the bore 83 includes an inwardly extending annular shoulder 85 forming a bearing seat within the fitting 81. A collar 86 is soldered around the upper end of the sensing tube 77 generally below the solder connection 80 and includes a peripheral shoulder 87. Between the peripheral shoulder 87 and the annular shoulder 85, a water tight sealing means is provided by a rubber gasket 88 and metal washer 89, which are compressed by the lock nut 8g as it threads do~n~:ardly into engagement with the bore 83. Lock nut 84 also securely fEIstens the collar 87 within the fitting 81 and thereby fixes the sensing tube 77 in the orientation illustrated in Figure 3 ~54~
It will be appreciated that the rllnning thermostat system 28 is comp1etely disengageab]e from the cover 30 without the removal or disturbance of any olher components. Specifically, the thermostat 63 can be disengaged from the bracket 68 as explained, and by untightening the ]ock nut 84, the sensing tube, with the capillary 76 attached thereto, may be drawn upwar~ly out of the sperture 82 in a facile manner. 1~hen the need to replace the thermostat 63 arises, repsir is therefore expedited and maintenance costs are reduced. It is contemplated that replacement of the thermostat 63 will not be required as often as with existing systems due to the capability of system 28 to sense the mean temperature of the water within a narrow temperature spread. By quickly reacting to the ~vater temperature changes, the heater is activated before the ternperature drops no more than 6 ~. below the usually desired bre~ing temperature o 205 F. Furthermore, the hesting element will not remsin sctivated as long, since as the temperature is raised, the system 28 will re~ct to de-activate the element at no greater than about 6 F. above the brewing temperature. This efficiency is critical with high capscity heaters becsuse they tend to deteriorate muc17 more quickly than the ]ower capacity elements. It will also be clear that the hot water is a]most always made available at the proper temperature for making coffee. The capability of the system 28 to minimize this activation time and keep the water at the desired temperature are significant benefits of the invention.
Tap Off Hot Water System:
The invention further provides a tap-off hot ~ater system which does not borrow from the water content within the container 27 and requires no float switch means. With reference to Figl~res 2, 3 and 9, it wiU be observed that the ta~off hot water system is generaUy denoted by reference numeral 93. A significant feature of the system 93 is thst it taps cold water from the inlet pipe 32 by means of a T-fitting 94 ~ocflted upstream of the inlet valve 33. A chcck valve 95 is connected to the T-fitting 94 by a suitab]e connecting pipe means whereby a minimum wflter pressure is required before water is introduced into the system. The check valve 95 hss a conventional constrlJction, as sho~n by the sectional view thereof in Figure 9, wherein a spring biased valve l7 ~ 5~
96 controls the passage of water from an inlet chamber 97 into an outlet charnber 98. In the preferred embodiment~ the check valve 95 requires 2 p.s.i. of pressure to open.
l~later conveyed through the eheck valve passes straight through a T-fitting 99 into a tube 100 which directs the cold water into a compression fitting 101 sealingly arranged within an aperture 101 at the cover 3 0.
The important characterizing feature of the tap-off hot water system is the arrangement of a water eoil 102 within the container ~7.
The water coil 102, in pre~erred form, is a hollow stainless steel tubing having about at least an 8 ounce espacity. The coil 102 is concentrically arranged above heating element 29 and spaced below the cover 30 as shown in Figure 3. Coil 102 ineludes an upright eold ~-ater receiving tube 103 communicating with the lowest loop of the eoil and a shorter upright hot water outlet tube 104 eornmunicating with the topmost loop of the coil. The tube 103 is conneeted to the eompression fitting 101 below the cover 30 to be in fluid communication with the tube 100.
Co]d water entering from the tube 100 tilereby circulates through the coil 102 and is quickly heated due to the constantly maintained ternperature of the water resulting from the on and off activation of the heating element 29, as described above.
It will be observed that in the preferred embodiment the ater coi~ 102 ineludes 14 loops arranged in a helical formation wherein adjacent ~oops are in contaet. No need for additional heating of the coil is required since it is placed generally at the upper half of the container 27 and is continuously surrounded by hotter rising water circulating past the individual Ioops. A second compress;on fitting 105 is sea]ingly arr~nged within an aperture 105 of the eover 30 and is connected to the outlet tube 104 below the cover 30 and to a hot ~ ater discharge tube 106 above the cover. The discharge tube 106 conveys hot water out Yardly of the container 27 to pass through a speed valve 107 associated therealong.
The speed valve 107 is manually operable to permit varying the water pressure therethrough, sueh as when there are changes in the -aler supply prcssure entering the inlet pipe 32. The outlet tube 106 e~:tends generally horizontally toward the control panel Z0 and is connected thereat with a ]ever-action faucet 26, as best viewed in Figures 1 and 2. The faucet ~%s~
26 is preferably a conventional 100 p.s.i. to 150 p.s.i. faucet, well known to those skilled in this art.
~ 'hen hot water is needed for making tea, instant soup, hot cocoa, etc., the faucet 26 is manually opened and cold water nows inwardly from the inlet 32 through the inlet tube lO0 into the coil 102 to force hot ~ater in the coil to be pressured outwardly thereof into the tube 106 and dispensed via the faucet 26. Due to the continuous heat transferred to the coil from the hot water in the container and the unique helical coil arrangement, by the time the cold water entering from the inlet tube 100 reaches the outlet tube 104, it is as substantially as hot as the brewing water within the container 27. Thus, a constant source of hot water is readily available without the need to borrow from the contents of container 27. It will be appreciated that there is no need to provide any float limit switches which are otherwise required in conventional hot water systems that simply drain the ~ater tank to obtain hot water.
Since the water heated within the coil 102 will naturally expand and increase the pressure in the system 93, the faucet 26 may experience pressures in excess of its capacity and leak. Relief for this pressure is provided by a pressure chamber 10~, which is connected to the transverse stem of the T-fitting 99 by a standard elbow 109, shown in Figure 2.
Any excess water pressure caused by expansion in the coil 102 will therefore be relieved through the tube lO0 into the chamber 108 and prevent leakage at the faucet 25, or for that matter, at any other components within system 93.
The placement of the pressure chamber 108 is envisioned to be vertically within the lower housing 12 of the coffee maker 10 generally at a corner thereof and spaced from the container 27. In conventional housing designs, the standard box-shaped lower housing affords room at either of its rear~ ard corners which provide sufficient space for stationing the pressure chamber 108.
An nlternate embodiment of a pressure relief means for the system 93 is disclosed in Figure 10. rhe same reference n~lmerals are used to denote the system 93 in both Figures 2 and lO, with the exception that in Figure 10 the inlet tube comprises two sections, denoted 1 OOA and 100B, and it will be observed that these A and B sections are created by 4~
re-positioning the T-fitting 99. In this alternative, the pressure chamber 108 is deleted and the T-fitting 99 is re-located upwardly along the inlet tube section 100A generally adjacent the cover 30. The stem of the T-fitting is oriented in the opposite direction with respect to that shown in Figure 2. In this embodimentJ the stem of the T-fitting is engaged with the inlet tube section lOOB, which directs the water f20w into the coil lQ2 as explained above. The other arm of the T--fitting is connected to a standard pressure relief valve 110. The relief valve 110 preferably has an open pressure capacity of about 100 p.s.i. to 110 p.s.i., so that it wil] open at a pressure level beIow the pressure capacity of the faucet 26, as would be c]ear.
Downstream of the pressure relief valve 110 a suitable elbow 111 con~ects the Yalve to an overflow tube 112. The overflow tube 112 extends to pass through the wall of the basin 37 for discharge of overf20w water into the basin. Thus, the system 93 will be relieved of excessive pressure by discharging it into the container 27 via the drain sump 38 in a similar manner to the action of the vent tube 44.
Figure 11 shows a twin valve assembly 113 alternatively usable in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10. The twin valve assembly 113 includes, in a single housing, a check valve 1] 4, a pressure relief valve 115, a T-fitting 116 and an elbow 117, which respectively replace the check valve 95, the pressure relief valve 110, the T-fitting 99 and the elbow 111, shown in Figure 10. The check valve 114 and the pressure relief valve 115 are provided to open at the same respective levels of water pressure as described for the check valve 95 and the pressure relief valve 110. Thus, incoming water from the inlet tube section lOOA
is directed into the section 100B through the T-fittin, 116. ~Yhen excess pressure is experienced by the system, the relief va]ve 115 opens and directs water through the elbow 117 into the overflow tube 112. It is envisioned that the twin valve assembly 113 would be arranged within the system 93 in substantially the same location as the T-fitting 99 shown in Figure 10.
In preferred form, the inlet and outlet pipe means for the system 93 comprises standard one-quarter inch copper tubing but, of course, they may have a larger or smaller size as needed.
2û
S~5~
While the hot water system 93 has been described in conjunction with A beverage-making device 10 having a high capacity heating coi] 29, it should be apparent that the unique design for the water coil 102 permits the system to be equally suited for use in devices having a variety of heater arrangements. For example, the system 93 may be provided in combination with lower capacity heaters, such as the elernents 118 and 118' (phantom lines) shown in Figures 14 and 15. The e]ements 118 and 118' each have a pair of terminals t and t' which are capable of being secured to a tank cover in substantially the same manner as the terrninals T and T' of the heating coil 29. The element 118 is a 100-120 volt single loop heater having a 1300-1500 ~att capacity, particularly useful for standard electrical circuits in the United States, Canada and Japan. The element 118' is a 22Q-240 volt single loop heater having an 1800 watt capacity for use in the standard electrical circuit systems found in Europe. Each heating element is formed to have a narrow elongate J-shape (Figure 14) which is adapted to be arranged within a hot water tank genera~ly at the centr~l long axis thereof. ]t will be understood that the coil 102 is capable of being disposed within the tank to circumscribe either heater element 118 or 118' whereby the system 93 operates in the same way as explained ab~ve.
Clearly, the coil 102 may be provided to have a different diameter and number of looped coils so to be appropriately sized for various cylinc3ric~1 tank dimensions. A wide variety of ]oop shapes are also intended to fall within the scope of the invention. It will be apparent that the water coil is not limited to a helical configuration and may be suitably shaped îor use in containers that are polygonal in cross-section.
Im roved S ra Disk Assembl~7O
e P Y ~ .-~ 7ith reference to Figures 2 and 12, the improved spray diskassembly of the invent;on is shown and is generally denoted by reference nurneral 43, previously mentioned above. Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly 43, which comprises a mounting collar ll9 associsting with a flexible g~qsket 120 and a spray disk 121. The mounting co~]ar 119 is affixed at an undersurfnce 122 of the upper housing 11 around an opening 123 therethrough, which communicates with the siphon tube 42. The col]ar 119 comprises a circular top p]ate 124 having ~Z54~5~
a central opening 125 arranged at the opening 123. In the exem- v embodiment the top plate 124 is welded to the undersurface 122 and has a depending periphera] side wall 125 formed therewith. The side wall 125 includes a pair of diametrically opposed bayonet slots 126 which downw~rdly open at 127 and upwardly terminate in horizcntal portions 128. The gasket 120 is provided with an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of side wall 125 and has a height slightly ]ess than the height of the side wall and sufficient to extend from the top plate 124 downwardly to meet the horizontal portions 128.
In the past a siphon tube simp]y discharged onto a spray disk which was resiliently held by a mounting collar. The improved assembly 43 provides rigid locking and tight sealing between the mounting collar 119 and the disk 121 ~hereby leakage about the periphery of the disk 121 is avoided. The disk 121 is best described as a generally circular p]ate hnving A diameter sized to snugly fit within the side ~vall 125 and includes a pair of oppositely extending radial tongues 128. The tongues 128 include a fl~t section 129 adjacent the disk edge and termin~te outwardly in U-shaped portions 13û. By grasping the U-shaped portions 130 the f]at sections 129 are engageable at the bayonet slots 126 by moving the disk 121 up~vardly to dispose the sections 129 within the openings 127.
Thereafter the disk is rotated in a clockwise direction to securely lodge the sections 129 within the horizontal portions 128. Thereby the gasket 120 is sealed against the top 12~ and the disk 121 whereby to prevent leakage between the disk and the side wall 125.
The disk 121 is provided with a series of orifices 131 which are flrranged to form a central imperforate portion 132. It~ater discharging from the container 27 through the siphon tube 42 drips onto this imperforate portion 131 and flows outwardly therefrom to randomly drip through the orifices 131. As previously described the flow control va]ve 35 preferably limits the inlet rate of water f]ow to the tank 27 to about 0.75 gallons per minute. As a Pesult water is siphoned from the tank 27 in a moderate pace whereby the water pressure emitted from the siphon tube 45 will be measured to be less than one inch of mercury.
The tight seal created by the ]ocking engagement of the tongues 128 ~dthin the bayonet s]ots 126 assures that the water is directed through the orifices and is prevented from leflking around the edges of disk 121.
~zs~
t~hen cleaning is required due to the accumulation of lime, or other sediments, the operator can easily disconnect the disk by grasping the U-shaped portions 130 and then twisting the disk 121 counterctockwise to disengage the sections 129 from the s]ots 128. This locking feature of the assemb]y 43 will thereby be appreciated as providing a rigid, but removable, securement between the disk 121 and the mounting collar 120, while compleeely eliminating any reliance upon resilient connections whi ch have proven unsuccessful heretofore.
Drain System:
A unique drain system 133 is provided for empty;ng the hot water container of the beverage-making device 10 and is best viewed with reference to Figures 3 and 13. The drain system 133 associates with a central drain hole 13g at the bottom 135 of the container 27. The system 133 includes a drain fitting 136 which has an open bore 137 for receiving drainage therethrough and an upper annul~r flanged seat 138 residing interiorly of the container 27. A threaded stem 139 is integrally formed with the seat 138 and extends downwardly through the drain hole 134. The bottom of the seat 138 is beveled at 140 and the container bottom 135 includes 8 cooperatively depressed annular bevel 140' around the drain hole 134 whereby the seat 138 can be flushly and tightly sealed at the bottom 135.
A coupling means comprising a female elbow 141 is provided for engagement with the extern~l threading of the fitting 136. In order for the elbow 141 to threadaMy engage the fitting 136, the drain hole 134 and the stem 139 have flat sides 142 and 143, respectively. Thereby, the bottom 135 is cooperative to act like a wrench and prevent the fitting 136 from rotating in order to facilitate the engagement, or disengagement, of the elbow 141.
The elbow 141 includes an upper annular seat 144 for the acccmmodation of an O-ring 145 therein. Upon thread engaging the elbow 141 to the drain fitting 136, the O-ring 145 is compressed to seal against the undersurface of the annual bevel 140' to prevent leakage therearound. A standard male coupling 146 engages the outlet side of the elbow 141, and at its opposite end engages ~ith a reducer coup~ing 147. A third coupling 198 engages the other side of the reducer coupling .. .. . _.. _ .. _.. .~ ... ,. _, .. .
~;2 59L~35~3 147. Lastly, a manually operable ~rain cock 149 engages the outlet end of the coupling 148. The coupling assembly 146-148 is of a sllfficient ]ength whereby to dis~ose a drain cock 1~9 adjacent the housing 12. An access cut-out (not shown) is provided through the housing so that the drain cock can be easily reached when needed. In Figure 3, a hose lSO, shown in phantom, is connected to the drain cock in order to drain the water from the tank 27 into a sink, paii, etc In conventional beverage-making devices, a removable rear panel is provided so that access to the internal components can be obtained for maintenance and repair. By the provision of the drain system 133, it will be clearly understood that the e2bow 141, the coup]ing assembly 146-148 and the drain cock 149 are fully removable as a un;t by simply disconnecting the elbow 141 from the drain fitting 136. Thus, not only can the system 133 be repaire~, if necessary, but other surrounding components within the device 10 may be easily reached by simply rernoving, and later easily rep]acing, the system.
The system 133 requires no welded conne~tion with the tan)~ 27, and therefore the corrosion problems inhers~nt in previously known welded fittings is totaUy e}iminated.
ACHrEVEMENTS
An improved beverage-making device has been disclosed which safely and efficiently controls the heating element for the hot water container by the provisions of an improved safety thermostat arrangement and an improved running thermostat system. Additionally, the invention includes a tap-off hot water system which dispenses hot water without borrowing from the hot water container. Further, the invention achieves the goal of providing an improved spray disk assembly that oîfers a tightly sealing locking means for the disk whereby the brewing water is evenly and moderately distributed over all the coffee grounds contained in the brewing chamber. Moreover, the invention provides for the complete draining of the hot water tank by means of a unique bottom drain system removably engaged at the bottom of the container in a tightly sealing non-corrosive connection.
~Z5~
-While the foregoing description of the invention has been directed toward a preferred embodiment therefor, it will be apparent to others that var;ous modifications and ~Iternative embodiments fall within the scope of this disclosure and the claims appended hereto.
Existing systems nre less precise and are responsive to spreads of about 6 to 8 ~., or rnore.
Reference is now made to the ]ocking means 78 shown in the sectional view of Figure 6. It will be seen that the capillary tube 76 is soldered to a tapering upper end of the sensing tube 77 generally denoted by reference numeral 80. A female fitting 81 is weld-connected within and around an aperture 82 extending through the cover 30. The fitting 81 incllldes a centrally threaded bore 83 which is thread engageable with a lock nut 8~. The lock nut 84 is hollow whereby to permit the capillary tube to pass therethrough and be joined with the tube 77 at the solder connection 80. At its lower end, the bore 83 includes an inwardly extending annular shoulder 85 forming a bearing seat within the fitting 81. A collar 86 is soldered around the upper end of the sensing tube 77 generally below the solder connection 80 and includes a peripheral shoulder 87. Between the peripheral shoulder 87 and the annular shoulder 85, a water tight sealing means is provided by a rubber gasket 88 and metal washer 89, which are compressed by the lock nut 8g as it threads do~n~:ardly into engagement with the bore 83. Lock nut 84 also securely fEIstens the collar 87 within the fitting 81 and thereby fixes the sensing tube 77 in the orientation illustrated in Figure 3 ~54~
It will be appreciated that the rllnning thermostat system 28 is comp1etely disengageab]e from the cover 30 without the removal or disturbance of any olher components. Specifically, the thermostat 63 can be disengaged from the bracket 68 as explained, and by untightening the ]ock nut 84, the sensing tube, with the capillary 76 attached thereto, may be drawn upwar~ly out of the sperture 82 in a facile manner. 1~hen the need to replace the thermostat 63 arises, repsir is therefore expedited and maintenance costs are reduced. It is contemplated that replacement of the thermostat 63 will not be required as often as with existing systems due to the capability of system 28 to sense the mean temperature of the water within a narrow temperature spread. By quickly reacting to the ~vater temperature changes, the heater is activated before the ternperature drops no more than 6 ~. below the usually desired bre~ing temperature o 205 F. Furthermore, the hesting element will not remsin sctivated as long, since as the temperature is raised, the system 28 will re~ct to de-activate the element at no greater than about 6 F. above the brewing temperature. This efficiency is critical with high capscity heaters becsuse they tend to deteriorate muc17 more quickly than the ]ower capacity elements. It will also be clear that the hot water is a]most always made available at the proper temperature for making coffee. The capability of the system 28 to minimize this activation time and keep the water at the desired temperature are significant benefits of the invention.
Tap Off Hot Water System:
The invention further provides a tap-off hot ~ater system which does not borrow from the water content within the container 27 and requires no float switch means. With reference to Figl~res 2, 3 and 9, it wiU be observed that the ta~off hot water system is generaUy denoted by reference numeral 93. A significant feature of the system 93 is thst it taps cold water from the inlet pipe 32 by means of a T-fitting 94 ~ocflted upstream of the inlet valve 33. A chcck valve 95 is connected to the T-fitting 94 by a suitab]e connecting pipe means whereby a minimum wflter pressure is required before water is introduced into the system. The check valve 95 hss a conventional constrlJction, as sho~n by the sectional view thereof in Figure 9, wherein a spring biased valve l7 ~ 5~
96 controls the passage of water from an inlet chamber 97 into an outlet charnber 98. In the preferred embodiment~ the check valve 95 requires 2 p.s.i. of pressure to open.
l~later conveyed through the eheck valve passes straight through a T-fitting 99 into a tube 100 which directs the cold water into a compression fitting 101 sealingly arranged within an aperture 101 at the cover 3 0.
The important characterizing feature of the tap-off hot water system is the arrangement of a water eoil 102 within the container ~7.
The water coil 102, in pre~erred form, is a hollow stainless steel tubing having about at least an 8 ounce espacity. The coil 102 is concentrically arranged above heating element 29 and spaced below the cover 30 as shown in Figure 3. Coil 102 ineludes an upright eold ~-ater receiving tube 103 communicating with the lowest loop of the eoil and a shorter upright hot water outlet tube 104 eornmunicating with the topmost loop of the coil. The tube 103 is conneeted to the eompression fitting 101 below the cover 30 to be in fluid communication with the tube 100.
Co]d water entering from the tube 100 tilereby circulates through the coil 102 and is quickly heated due to the constantly maintained ternperature of the water resulting from the on and off activation of the heating element 29, as described above.
It will be observed that in the preferred embodiment the ater coi~ 102 ineludes 14 loops arranged in a helical formation wherein adjacent ~oops are in contaet. No need for additional heating of the coil is required since it is placed generally at the upper half of the container 27 and is continuously surrounded by hotter rising water circulating past the individual Ioops. A second compress;on fitting 105 is sea]ingly arr~nged within an aperture 105 of the eover 30 and is connected to the outlet tube 104 below the cover 30 and to a hot ~ ater discharge tube 106 above the cover. The discharge tube 106 conveys hot water out Yardly of the container 27 to pass through a speed valve 107 associated therealong.
The speed valve 107 is manually operable to permit varying the water pressure therethrough, sueh as when there are changes in the -aler supply prcssure entering the inlet pipe 32. The outlet tube 106 e~:tends generally horizontally toward the control panel Z0 and is connected thereat with a ]ever-action faucet 26, as best viewed in Figures 1 and 2. The faucet ~%s~
26 is preferably a conventional 100 p.s.i. to 150 p.s.i. faucet, well known to those skilled in this art.
~ 'hen hot water is needed for making tea, instant soup, hot cocoa, etc., the faucet 26 is manually opened and cold water nows inwardly from the inlet 32 through the inlet tube lO0 into the coil 102 to force hot ~ater in the coil to be pressured outwardly thereof into the tube 106 and dispensed via the faucet 26. Due to the continuous heat transferred to the coil from the hot water in the container and the unique helical coil arrangement, by the time the cold water entering from the inlet tube 100 reaches the outlet tube 104, it is as substantially as hot as the brewing water within the container 27. Thus, a constant source of hot water is readily available without the need to borrow from the contents of container 27. It will be appreciated that there is no need to provide any float limit switches which are otherwise required in conventional hot water systems that simply drain the ~ater tank to obtain hot water.
Since the water heated within the coil 102 will naturally expand and increase the pressure in the system 93, the faucet 26 may experience pressures in excess of its capacity and leak. Relief for this pressure is provided by a pressure chamber 10~, which is connected to the transverse stem of the T-fitting 99 by a standard elbow 109, shown in Figure 2.
Any excess water pressure caused by expansion in the coil 102 will therefore be relieved through the tube lO0 into the chamber 108 and prevent leakage at the faucet 25, or for that matter, at any other components within system 93.
The placement of the pressure chamber 108 is envisioned to be vertically within the lower housing 12 of the coffee maker 10 generally at a corner thereof and spaced from the container 27. In conventional housing designs, the standard box-shaped lower housing affords room at either of its rear~ ard corners which provide sufficient space for stationing the pressure chamber 108.
An nlternate embodiment of a pressure relief means for the system 93 is disclosed in Figure 10. rhe same reference n~lmerals are used to denote the system 93 in both Figures 2 and lO, with the exception that in Figure 10 the inlet tube comprises two sections, denoted 1 OOA and 100B, and it will be observed that these A and B sections are created by 4~
re-positioning the T-fitting 99. In this alternative, the pressure chamber 108 is deleted and the T-fitting 99 is re-located upwardly along the inlet tube section 100A generally adjacent the cover 30. The stem of the T-fitting is oriented in the opposite direction with respect to that shown in Figure 2. In this embodimentJ the stem of the T-fitting is engaged with the inlet tube section lOOB, which directs the water f20w into the coil lQ2 as explained above. The other arm of the T--fitting is connected to a standard pressure relief valve 110. The relief valve 110 preferably has an open pressure capacity of about 100 p.s.i. to 110 p.s.i., so that it wil] open at a pressure level beIow the pressure capacity of the faucet 26, as would be c]ear.
Downstream of the pressure relief valve 110 a suitable elbow 111 con~ects the Yalve to an overflow tube 112. The overflow tube 112 extends to pass through the wall of the basin 37 for discharge of overf20w water into the basin. Thus, the system 93 will be relieved of excessive pressure by discharging it into the container 27 via the drain sump 38 in a similar manner to the action of the vent tube 44.
Figure 11 shows a twin valve assembly 113 alternatively usable in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 10. The twin valve assembly 113 includes, in a single housing, a check valve 1] 4, a pressure relief valve 115, a T-fitting 116 and an elbow 117, which respectively replace the check valve 95, the pressure relief valve 110, the T-fitting 99 and the elbow 111, shown in Figure 10. The check valve 114 and the pressure relief valve 115 are provided to open at the same respective levels of water pressure as described for the check valve 95 and the pressure relief valve 110. Thus, incoming water from the inlet tube section lOOA
is directed into the section 100B through the T-fittin, 116. ~Yhen excess pressure is experienced by the system, the relief va]ve 115 opens and directs water through the elbow 117 into the overflow tube 112. It is envisioned that the twin valve assembly 113 would be arranged within the system 93 in substantially the same location as the T-fitting 99 shown in Figure 10.
In preferred form, the inlet and outlet pipe means for the system 93 comprises standard one-quarter inch copper tubing but, of course, they may have a larger or smaller size as needed.
2û
S~5~
While the hot water system 93 has been described in conjunction with A beverage-making device 10 having a high capacity heating coi] 29, it should be apparent that the unique design for the water coil 102 permits the system to be equally suited for use in devices having a variety of heater arrangements. For example, the system 93 may be provided in combination with lower capacity heaters, such as the elernents 118 and 118' (phantom lines) shown in Figures 14 and 15. The e]ements 118 and 118' each have a pair of terminals t and t' which are capable of being secured to a tank cover in substantially the same manner as the terrninals T and T' of the heating coil 29. The element 118 is a 100-120 volt single loop heater having a 1300-1500 ~att capacity, particularly useful for standard electrical circuits in the United States, Canada and Japan. The element 118' is a 22Q-240 volt single loop heater having an 1800 watt capacity for use in the standard electrical circuit systems found in Europe. Each heating element is formed to have a narrow elongate J-shape (Figure 14) which is adapted to be arranged within a hot water tank genera~ly at the centr~l long axis thereof. ]t will be understood that the coil 102 is capable of being disposed within the tank to circumscribe either heater element 118 or 118' whereby the system 93 operates in the same way as explained ab~ve.
Clearly, the coil 102 may be provided to have a different diameter and number of looped coils so to be appropriately sized for various cylinc3ric~1 tank dimensions. A wide variety of ]oop shapes are also intended to fall within the scope of the invention. It will be apparent that the water coil is not limited to a helical configuration and may be suitably shaped îor use in containers that are polygonal in cross-section.
Im roved S ra Disk Assembl~7O
e P Y ~ .-~ 7ith reference to Figures 2 and 12, the improved spray diskassembly of the invent;on is shown and is generally denoted by reference nurneral 43, previously mentioned above. Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the assembly 43, which comprises a mounting collar ll9 associsting with a flexible g~qsket 120 and a spray disk 121. The mounting co~]ar 119 is affixed at an undersurfnce 122 of the upper housing 11 around an opening 123 therethrough, which communicates with the siphon tube 42. The col]ar 119 comprises a circular top p]ate 124 having ~Z54~5~
a central opening 125 arranged at the opening 123. In the exem- v embodiment the top plate 124 is welded to the undersurface 122 and has a depending periphera] side wall 125 formed therewith. The side wall 125 includes a pair of diametrically opposed bayonet slots 126 which downw~rdly open at 127 and upwardly terminate in horizcntal portions 128. The gasket 120 is provided with an outside diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of side wall 125 and has a height slightly ]ess than the height of the side wall and sufficient to extend from the top plate 124 downwardly to meet the horizontal portions 128.
In the past a siphon tube simp]y discharged onto a spray disk which was resiliently held by a mounting collar. The improved assembly 43 provides rigid locking and tight sealing between the mounting collar 119 and the disk 121 ~hereby leakage about the periphery of the disk 121 is avoided. The disk 121 is best described as a generally circular p]ate hnving A diameter sized to snugly fit within the side ~vall 125 and includes a pair of oppositely extending radial tongues 128. The tongues 128 include a fl~t section 129 adjacent the disk edge and termin~te outwardly in U-shaped portions 13û. By grasping the U-shaped portions 130 the f]at sections 129 are engageable at the bayonet slots 126 by moving the disk 121 up~vardly to dispose the sections 129 within the openings 127.
Thereafter the disk is rotated in a clockwise direction to securely lodge the sections 129 within the horizontal portions 128. Thereby the gasket 120 is sealed against the top 12~ and the disk 121 whereby to prevent leakage between the disk and the side wall 125.
The disk 121 is provided with a series of orifices 131 which are flrranged to form a central imperforate portion 132. It~ater discharging from the container 27 through the siphon tube 42 drips onto this imperforate portion 131 and flows outwardly therefrom to randomly drip through the orifices 131. As previously described the flow control va]ve 35 preferably limits the inlet rate of water f]ow to the tank 27 to about 0.75 gallons per minute. As a Pesult water is siphoned from the tank 27 in a moderate pace whereby the water pressure emitted from the siphon tube 45 will be measured to be less than one inch of mercury.
The tight seal created by the ]ocking engagement of the tongues 128 ~dthin the bayonet s]ots 126 assures that the water is directed through the orifices and is prevented from leflking around the edges of disk 121.
~zs~
t~hen cleaning is required due to the accumulation of lime, or other sediments, the operator can easily disconnect the disk by grasping the U-shaped portions 130 and then twisting the disk 121 counterctockwise to disengage the sections 129 from the s]ots 128. This locking feature of the assemb]y 43 will thereby be appreciated as providing a rigid, but removable, securement between the disk 121 and the mounting collar 120, while compleeely eliminating any reliance upon resilient connections whi ch have proven unsuccessful heretofore.
Drain System:
A unique drain system 133 is provided for empty;ng the hot water container of the beverage-making device 10 and is best viewed with reference to Figures 3 and 13. The drain system 133 associates with a central drain hole 13g at the bottom 135 of the container 27. The system 133 includes a drain fitting 136 which has an open bore 137 for receiving drainage therethrough and an upper annul~r flanged seat 138 residing interiorly of the container 27. A threaded stem 139 is integrally formed with the seat 138 and extends downwardly through the drain hole 134. The bottom of the seat 138 is beveled at 140 and the container bottom 135 includes 8 cooperatively depressed annular bevel 140' around the drain hole 134 whereby the seat 138 can be flushly and tightly sealed at the bottom 135.
A coupling means comprising a female elbow 141 is provided for engagement with the extern~l threading of the fitting 136. In order for the elbow 141 to threadaMy engage the fitting 136, the drain hole 134 and the stem 139 have flat sides 142 and 143, respectively. Thereby, the bottom 135 is cooperative to act like a wrench and prevent the fitting 136 from rotating in order to facilitate the engagement, or disengagement, of the elbow 141.
The elbow 141 includes an upper annular seat 144 for the acccmmodation of an O-ring 145 therein. Upon thread engaging the elbow 141 to the drain fitting 136, the O-ring 145 is compressed to seal against the undersurface of the annual bevel 140' to prevent leakage therearound. A standard male coupling 146 engages the outlet side of the elbow 141, and at its opposite end engages ~ith a reducer coup~ing 147. A third coupling 198 engages the other side of the reducer coupling .. .. . _.. _ .. _.. .~ ... ,. _, .. .
~;2 59L~35~3 147. Lastly, a manually operable ~rain cock 149 engages the outlet end of the coupling 148. The coupling assembly 146-148 is of a sllfficient ]ength whereby to dis~ose a drain cock 1~9 adjacent the housing 12. An access cut-out (not shown) is provided through the housing so that the drain cock can be easily reached when needed. In Figure 3, a hose lSO, shown in phantom, is connected to the drain cock in order to drain the water from the tank 27 into a sink, paii, etc In conventional beverage-making devices, a removable rear panel is provided so that access to the internal components can be obtained for maintenance and repair. By the provision of the drain system 133, it will be clearly understood that the e2bow 141, the coup]ing assembly 146-148 and the drain cock 149 are fully removable as a un;t by simply disconnecting the elbow 141 from the drain fitting 136. Thus, not only can the system 133 be repaire~, if necessary, but other surrounding components within the device 10 may be easily reached by simply rernoving, and later easily rep]acing, the system.
The system 133 requires no welded conne~tion with the tan)~ 27, and therefore the corrosion problems inhers~nt in previously known welded fittings is totaUy e}iminated.
ACHrEVEMENTS
An improved beverage-making device has been disclosed which safely and efficiently controls the heating element for the hot water container by the provisions of an improved safety thermostat arrangement and an improved running thermostat system. Additionally, the invention includes a tap-off hot water system which dispenses hot water without borrowing from the hot water container. Further, the invention achieves the goal of providing an improved spray disk assembly that oîfers a tightly sealing locking means for the disk whereby the brewing water is evenly and moderately distributed over all the coffee grounds contained in the brewing chamber. Moreover, the invention provides for the complete draining of the hot water tank by means of a unique bottom drain system removably engaged at the bottom of the container in a tightly sealing non-corrosive connection.
~Z5~
-While the foregoing description of the invention has been directed toward a preferred embodiment therefor, it will be apparent to others that var;ous modifications and ~Iternative embodiments fall within the scope of this disclosure and the claims appended hereto.
Claims (4)
1. In a beverage-making device of the type having a hot water container arranged with a removable cover means thereover and being in communication with inlet valve means associating with a source of cold water for admitting cold water into the container, means for heating water in the container, and outlet means for discharging hot water from the container, the improvement comprising a hot water system for heating and discharging hot water independently of the outlet means, said hot water system having means for receiving water from said source of cold water upstream of said inlet valve means, inlet pipe means fluidly communicating therewith for the conveyance of said tapped-off water, water coil means arranged for being immersed in hot water in said container and being in fluid communication with said inlet pipe means, whereby said tapped-off water is heated therein, said hot water system further including outlet pipe means fluidly communicating with said water coil means to convey hot water therefrom, water faucet means arranged with said outlet pipe means to receive hot water therefrom, whereby said hot water system is capable of discharging the heated tapped-off water from said faucet means independently of the water discharging from said outlet means and said hot water system including pressure relief means whereby to relieve pressure in the water coil means.
2. The improvement as in Claim 1 wherein the pressure relief means comprises chamber means fluidly communicating with the inlet pipe means.
3. The improvement as in Claim 1 wherein said pressure relief means comprises a pressure relief valve and an overflow tube, said pressure relief valve fluidly communicating with said inlet pipe means and said overflow tube arranged downstream of said pressure relief valve whereby to discharge water from said hot water system.
4. The improvement as in Claim 1 wherein said hot water system includes check valve means arranged along said inlet pipe means upstream of said source of cold water whereby a minimum water pressure is required for admission of cold water into said water coil means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000554419A CA1254050A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US633,417 | 1984-07-23 | ||
| US06/633,417 US4602145A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1984-07-23 | Tap-off hot water system for electric beverage making device |
| CA000480291A CA1241210A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-04-29 | Beverage making device |
| CA000554419A CA1254050A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000480291A Division CA1241210A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1985-04-29 | Beverage making device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1254050A true CA1254050A (en) | 1989-05-16 |
Family
ID=25670660
Family Applications (4)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000554420A Expired CA1254051A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
| CA000554419A Expired CA1254050A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
| CA000554427A Expired CA1254053A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
| CA000554426A Expired CA1254052A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000554420A Expired CA1254051A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
Family Applications After (2)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000554427A Expired CA1254053A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
| CA000554426A Expired CA1254052A (en) | 1984-07-23 | 1987-12-15 | Beverage making device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (4) | CA1254051A (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN112674609B (en) * | 2019-10-18 | 2023-04-21 | 佛山市顺德区美的饮水机制造有限公司 | Water tank assembly and water purification equipment |
-
1987
- 1987-12-15 CA CA000554420A patent/CA1254051A/en not_active Expired
- 1987-12-15 CA CA000554419A patent/CA1254050A/en not_active Expired
- 1987-12-15 CA CA000554427A patent/CA1254053A/en not_active Expired
- 1987-12-15 CA CA000554426A patent/CA1254052A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA1254051A (en) | 1989-05-16 |
| CA1254053A (en) | 1989-05-16 |
| CA1254052A (en) | 1989-05-16 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |