Summary of the invention
According to an aspect of the present invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, and this liquid heater tool comprises the bottom electrically Heated liquid container, be installed in or removablely be installed in the upper liquid container on this bottom container and be set to heat the lower liquid container and upper liquid container or the heater of one of them.Preferably, this heater is a pharoid, for example halogen heater.
The radiation that pharoid produces can comprise the light from the electromagnetic spectrum visible part, and pharoid can be arranged in visible light is introduced in the upper container, so that the user can distinguish the liquid level in the upper container.Visible light can be introduced in the space between the inner and outer wall of upper container, and/or introduces in the liquid in the upper container.Upper container can comprise at least one transparent or semitransparent part, the user this at least one transparent or semitransparent part is set so that can see visible light, bootable visible light selectively or additionally enters in the bottom container, it comprises at least one transparent or semitransparent part, this transparent or semitransparent part is set so that the user can see visible light.Selectively, visible light is also provided by the light source as heater not.
Pharoid can be positioned on the base of bottom container or sidewall.Can provide a plurality of and be arranged in pharoid on the sidewall with different respectively height.The alternative conversion of this pharoid thinks that bottom container provides the heat energy of variation.Selectively, along with the heater that is immersed in by those in liquid heats liquid with controlling, the fuel factor of the pharoid on the liquid in the bottom container can change automatically according to fluid level.
Pharoid selectively or additionally be arranged in around the top of bottom container or among, and can be configured to radiant heat is incorporated in the bottom container with downward direction.Upper container can be set to and the pharoid thermo-contact, so that heat by heat conduction wherein.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, this liquid heater tool comprises bottom electrically Heated liquid container, installation or is installed in upper liquid container on this bottom container removably, and be arranged on boundary between this upper liquid container and the lower liquid container, in order to the heater of heating lower liquid container and upper liquid container.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, this liquid heater tool comprises lower liquid container and installation or the removable upper liquid container that is installed on this bottom container, this lower liquid container comprises first electric heater of the liquid of heating in this bottom container, and this upper container is configured to second electric heater heating by separating with first electric heater.Preferably, second electric heater be set to when upper container when bottom container is removed, be cut off or have a lower-wattage.
Second electric heater can have the rated power that is lower than first electric heater.Second electric heater can be self-rugulating heater, for example ptc heater.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, comprise lower liquid container and installation or be installed in upper liquid container on the bottom container removably that the lower liquid container comprises and a plurality ofly is arranged in heater in the bottom container with different levels separately.Heater can be a self-rugulating heater, and high heating power is provided when it is set to submergence, and low heating power is provided when not having submergence.Can monitor the power level of this heater so that the level indication is provided.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, comprise lower liquid container and installation or be installed in upper liquid container on the bottom container removably, the lower liquid container comprises the inductance heater coil, and but upper container comprises the inductance heating material, it is set to be heated by the inductance heater coil when upper container is installed on the bottom container.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, comprise bottom electrically Heated liquid container and installation or the removable upper liquid container that has thermo-contact with it that is installed on the bottom container, wherein upper container is arranged so that the hot gas from bottom container keeps contacting with the sidewall of upper container.
In one embodiment, at least a portion of upper container is assemblied in the bottom container, makes at least a portion of sidewall of upper container be positioned at bottom container.In another embodiment, upper container comprises the hollow channel of opening to bottom container, make the gas that rises from bottom container be limited in the contacted hollow channel of upper container in.Upper container can have outer wall and inwall, and hollow channel is formed between two walls.
According to a further aspect in the invention, a kind of liquid heater tool is provided, comprise bottom electrically Heated liquid container and installation or the removable upper liquid container that has thermo-contact with it that is installed on this bottom container, wherein bottom container comprises the handle that engages with upper container, so that the upper and lower container is kept together.
The specific embodiment
The tea cooking machine structure
Among first embodiment, a kind of Turkey tea cooking machine comprises kettle 1, and it is removably mounted on the power source base 2 of powering into kettle 1, for example by the wireless electric connector (not shown) for the power supply of the element (not shown) in the kettle 1, perhaps inductance heating element heater.Preferably, cordless connector is 360 ° of cordless connectors, allows the kettle 1 on the pedestal 2 freely to rotate.With teapot 3 be set to be installed in kettle 1 top (referring to Fig. 1 a) on, in order to pour out tea, teapot can take off (Fig. 1 b) from kettle.
Shown in Fig. 1 c, teapot 3 has double-walled construction: tea is contained in the container 6 with inwall 7, is provided with the outer wall 8 of teapot around container 6.Hollow space 9 with the bottom of opening is formed between two walls, so that hot gas and/or steam 5 heat or that the liquid that boils 4 rises flow in the hollow spaces 9 from kettle, and thus to inwall 7 heating of teapot.Fig. 1 d shows the sectional stereogram of this set, and in order to compare, Fig. 1 e shows complete stereogram.
Among second embodiment, teapot 3 is the single-wall structures that only have inwall 7.In this embodiment, teapot 3 is assemblied within the kettle 1, therefore forms outer wall effectively.As shown in Figure 1a, teapot 3 has the top edge 10 with the top adjacency of kettle 1, forms the lid of kettle effectively.This set makes kettle compacter and more stable with combining of teapot.
Shown in Fig. 2 c, hot gas and/or steam 5 are raised up within the space 9 ' between the top of wall of teapot wall 7 and kettle 1, thereby make teapot 3 insulations.
In the variant of second embodiment, according to relative gyrobearing, with teapot 3 be configured such that its can remain on the kettle or within.This can realize that by non-circular opening is set the shape of this opening only matches with teapot 3 on one or more relative orientation in kettle top, for example square openings is suitable for cuboidal teapot.
Among the 3rd embodiment, kettle 1 has the handle 11 that is formed by two and half 11a of, 11b, and it can be flatly folding downwards in each side of kettle top, shown in Fig. 3 a to 3c.Kettle 1 has the lid 12 that can remove and can be replaced by the teapot 3 that is assemblied on the kettle, shown in Fig. 3 d.Then, the halves of handle 11 is folding vertically upward so that teapot 3 is remained on therebetween, shown in Fig. 3 e and 3f.Especially, the handle 13 of teapot 3 and delivery port 14 can remain between halves 11a, the 11b of handle 13, it can lock together by hook or other locking device (not shown), and like this, teapot 3 firmly remains on the top of kettle 1 and makes tea cooking machine be easy to betransported.Teapot also can have folding handles.
The feature of different embodiment can combine, and for example, the kettle 1 of first or second embodiment can be provided with as the handle among the 3rd embodiment 11, so that teapot 3 is fixed on the kettle 1.
Heating means-pharoid
In the first heating embodiment of the present invention, but heating power is provided by one or more halogen heaters or other the preferred also pharoid of visible emitting.
Among the embodiment as shown in Figure 4, halogen heater 22 is located in the base part 20 of kettle 1, so that utilize infrared radiation heating water 4.Some infra-red radiations are through water 4 and incide the tea insulation that makes on the inwall 7 of teapot 3 in the container 6.Like this, the heating of teapot 3 does not rely on the convection current from the hot gas or the steam of kettle 1.As another advantage, when water 4 was heated to boiling, halogen heater 22 can preheat teapot 3.
The advantage of halogen heater is that they produce visible light and infrared ray; Visible light is used to illuminate water 4 so that the indication of the water level of the water 4 that is easy to see is provided, and for example can see by the window in the sidewall of kettle 1.In the present embodiment, visible light also can illuminate teapot 3.For example, under the appropriate section of at least a portion of inwall 7 and outer wall 8 was transparent or semitransparent situation, the tea position can easily be seen in the teapot 3.A kind of illuminating effect that has superiority especially can realize by the space of illuminating between inwall 7 and the outer wall 89 by this way that wherein teapot is set to as shown in the embodiment of Fig. 1.The substrate of container 6 can be transparent or semitransparent, so that visible light enters among the tea, thereby produces the illuminating effect that can see by the transparent or semitransparent sidewall sections or the delivery port of teapot 3.This illuminating effect is not pure and beautiful sight, but in order to distinguish the concentration of tea.
Selectively, halogen heater 22 can be positioned among the sidewall of kettle 1 or on so that shine contents from the side.In optional embodiment as shown in Figure 5, a plurality of halogen heater 22a-n install in this way, are mounted to the array that extends above sidewall along the direction of perpendicular.
Selectively or independently advance to switch halogen heater 22a-n.In an example, for basic all heater 22a-n power to be used for heating mode, still only be that some heating installation power supply is to be used for the insulation pattern.When needs kept the insulation pattern, owing to some water will be poured in the teapot 3, the water level of water 4 was lower usually, so only give the heating installation power supply of bottom.In another example, the water level switching heater 22a-n according to detected water 4 only gives the heating installation power supply that is lower than water level.Selectively, can only provide 22, two heaters of two halogen heaters all to switch to heating mode and have only lower heater to be switched to the insulation pattern.
Selectively, halogen heater 22a-n only is switched as group.In the case, owing to lack the cooling of water 4, the heater that is not submerged will radiant heat, and still, when radiation was less than heater hot of submergence, heater can reach an equilibrium temperature.The madial wall of kettle can reflect so that infrared radiation drawn to be got back in heater and/or the water 4.
Selectively, halogen heater can locate and be set to infrared radiation is guided to downwards in the water 4 towards the top of kettle.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 a, heater 22 is arranged in the bottom surface of teapot 3 or the lid of kettle, and wherein when teapot 3 was installed on the kettle 1, lid can not be removed.Waste heat from heater 22 is conducted in the container 6 of teapot, thereby to 4 insulations of the water in tea in the teapot 3 and the kettle 1.Heater 22 is positioned on the basal surface of lid, and lid can be provided with the heat dish, can container rather than the teapot 3 such as the coffee kettle on it be incubated with this heat dish.Lid also allows kettle 1 to work when teapot 3 is removed.
The energy output of heater 22 can change automatically according to the water level of detected water 4 and/or tea.The voltage that offers heater 22 can drop to low-voltage such as 12V from supply voltage.Advantageously, low-voltage can for example conduct to the top of kettle safely by the electrical connection in sidewall or the handle.
In the optional embodiment shown in Fig. 6 b, halogen heater 22 is provided with towards kettle 1 top, so that guide heat downwards with the angle that tilts.The infra-red radiation that impacts the kettle sidewall can be to the bottom reflection of kettle 1.Sidewall can reflecting surface be arranged so that infrared reflecting.The lower surface of kettle 1 and/or the bottom of sidewall can have the INFRARED ABSORPTION surface.Like this, heater 22 adds bottom or the bottom that thermal effect is directed into kettle 1.
Selectively or additionally, halogen heater 22 can be configured to upwards towards sidewall guiding infra-red radiation, and this sidewall makes 3 reflections of radiation direction teapot.The lower surface of teapot can have and absorbs radiation or with the material of radiation reflected back kettle 1.
Another can be selected in the example, can provide heater 22 separately for kettle 1 and teapot 3.In embodiment as shown in Figure 7, primary heater 22a is provided, it is arranged in the base portion 20 of kettle 1; Shown in the embodiment of Fig. 4 and secondary heater 22b, it is positioned on the lower surface of teapot 3 or in the lid of kettle 1 and be set to radiation or conduction thermal steering to teapot 3 and/or the container 6 of teapot 3.But when being lower than boiling, it is controlled so that the tea insulation in the container 6 that secondary heater 22b is independent of primary heater 22a.The power grade of secondary heater 22b can according to detected water level and or container 6 in the tea temperature control.Locate when heater 22 is set in the teapot 3, electrically contact between kettle 1 and the teapot 3 during installation.Can provide around the edge of kettle 1 to electrically contact track, this makes and contacts with the contact site of kettle and do not consider the relative bearing of teapot 3 and kettle 1.That is to say, between kettle 1 and teapot 3, can provide low pressure 360 ° of connectors.
As the replacement of halogen heater 22, can provide the light and heat source of another kind of electronic combination, such as the high-energy LED array.
Heating means one self-rugulating heater
In the second heating embodiment of the present invention, heater comprises one or more self-rugulating heaters.In a preferred embodiment, heater or many heaters comprise one or more PTC (positive temperature coefficient) resistance, and especially, resistance presents the impedance of rapid increase under critical-temperature.Critical-temperature is selected consistent with the heating liquid that just is lower than boiling point.
In specific embodiment as shown in Figure 8, the tea time in the second ptc heater 22b heating container 6, the first ptc heater 22a adds the water 4 in the hot-water bottle 1.The first ptc heater 22a can be heated to boiling with water 4, therefore reach critical-temperature, and the first ptc heater 22a is as muff heater work.Selectively, can provide another conventional heater that water 4 is heated to boiling; Advantageously: the high energy ptc heater can not be provided as the first ptc heater 22a.
The second ptc heater 22b is positioned so that conduct heat in the container 6, and can make the tea insulation in the container 6.The second ptc heater 22b can be arranged on kettle 1 top around.Alternatively, the second ptc heater 22b can be arranged in the teapot 3, makes like this to electrically contact with kettle 1 in this case, is used for aforesaid example.
In another specific embodiments as shown in Figure 9, the water in the kettle 14 is heated by a plurality of ptc heater 22a-n that arrange along kettle 1 sidewall with varying level.When those ptc heaters that do not immerse reached their critical-temperature fast and low thermal output is provided, the ptc heater of those immersions was cooled to it below critical-temperature, and therefore provides high thermal output to reach boiling point up to water 4 at least.Like this, the combination heat energy of PTC resistance 22a-n can be regulated automatically according to the water level of water 4.
In this embodiment, PTC resistance 22a-n is used as level sensor, and passes through PTC resistance in its detection more than critical-temperature, and for example by measuring the pressure drop of each resistance, this effect can be used for providing the water level that is used in Electronic Control or dipperstick output.
Can in container 6, provide similar PTC resistance to arrange, alternatively, single PTC resistance can be set, shown in the embodiment of Fig. 8 below the container bottom.
As selectable ptc heater, can provide can or cannot self-regulating track heating electric wire.
Heating means one inductive heater
In the 3rd heating embodiment of the present invention, provide heat energy by one or more inductive heaters.In embodiment as shown in figure 10, inductance coil 22 is arranged on around the edge of kettle 1; Inductance coil 22 is connected to the AC frequency converter (not shown) that is used for AC power supplies is converted to the appropriate frequency that is used for the inductance heating.At least a portion of container 6 comprises the heatable material of inductance, such as ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, preferably such as stainless iron or steel.The bottom of container 6 and/or sidewall can have the core such as the heatable material of inductance, and this core has one or more anticorrosive top layers or coating, to allow from the core to the container heat conduction in 6 simultaneously.Preferably, the inductance heatable section of teapot 3 is assemblied in and makes among the inductance coil high inductive is provided.When teapot 3 when kettle is removed, the inductance heating effect is eliminated automatically.
Alternatively, but the inductance heating material can be arranged on the top of kettle, for example can place the heat dish of teapot 3 or other container on it.
The power grade of inductive heater can be controlled according to the tea temperature in the detected container 6.Alternatively, when the contents in the container reach desired temperature, but the inductance heating material can be selected to and has Curie temperature.In the case, heating power self-regulation.
Reduce the friction teapot
Inductance coil 22 can be used as electromagnet, and teapot 3 can comprise diamagnetism or conductive material, makes electromagnet apply power upwards on teapot 3, so that reduce the effective weight of teapot 3, and therefore reduce the friction that relative kettle 1 produces.Advantageously, this can reduce the frictional force between teapot 3 and the kettle 1, allows teapot 3 to rotate more freely with respect to kettle 1.If for coil provides enough energy, teapot 3 is levitated from kettle 1, this depends on the weight of teapot 3; This can provide the vision how much tea is arranged in teapot indication.Can be provided for stablizing the device of teapot 3; Stabilising arrangement can be magnetic, electro permanent magnetic or mechanical.This have or do not provide the stabilising arrangement of active force upwards to can be used for making teapot 3 relative kettles 1 to be arranged on the center.Active force upwards can be provided by the electromagnet as inductance coil not.
Additional heating characteristics
In above-mentioned arbitrary embodiment, teapot is direct-fired by its oneself heater 22, and heat is to conduct to teapot 3 from kettle 1 by the mode of thermal bridge.Thermal bridge can with water 4 thermo-contacts in the heater 22 of kettle 1 and/or the kettle 1.Therefore, replace depending on hot gas or steam convection current and make teapot 3 insulations, by thermal bridge conduction heat.
Kettle 1 and/or teapot 3 can be insulated so that realize the thermal balance of expection when muff heater (many heaters) is powered.For example, kettle 1 can be heat insulation so that hotly mainly from teapot 3, release, or vice versa.Like this, single heater 22 can make the temperature that water 4 and tea remain on to be needed.In a specific example, water 4 be by with the mode of the heater 22 of teapot 3 thermo-contacts, utilize heat insulation and/or being provided with of heater of kettle 1 or teapot 3 to be incubated, for example as shown in Figure 6.
Teapot can comprise the heat dissipation plate in the basal part of container 6, is used to guarantee the even heating of tea and avoids tea smell is produced the local boiling of infringement.
Add thermal control
In the embodiment of above-mentioned arbitrary non-self-regulation heating, the power output of heater (many heaters) can be controlled according to the water of heating or the water level of tea.Water level can detect by the level sensor of describing among for example application GB0709164.8 before us and the GB0711752.6, and its content combines at this as a reference.Especially, the power output that is used for heat insulation function can be controlled according to detected water level.
After heating mode finishes, for example in response to the detection of seething with excitement, kettle 1 enterable insulation pattern.Alternatively, insulation pattern can be independent of heating mode conversion.Heating under the insulation pattern can be regulated by the power grade of control heater, perhaps by utilizing the load cycle pulsation ground switch heater that changes to realize the expection average rank that heats.Periodically, for example at all after dates of predetermined number, can enter heating mode once more and make water get back to fluidized state and then enter the insulation pattern once more.
Provide among the embodiment of muff heater for teapot 3 at those, when teapot 3 when kettle is removed, muff heater can cut off, or reduces power grade.This can pass through on the lid 12 or contact-making switch is on every side realized, perhaps realizes by above-mentioned other method.
Can be provided with controller on kettle 1, this controller detects when water 4 reaches simmer (simmer) and/or boiling fully; Can enter the insulation pattern then, heating is stopped together.Under the insulation pattern, counter can be set make periodically, for example entered heating mode in per 2 minutes, so that make water reach boiling point or inferior boiling point.This controller monitors the stirring of water, and this stirs expression simmer state.Preferably, in case enter the insulation pattern, when detecting simmer, controller continues to monitor the stirring of water, and reduces or stop the insulation heating.
Under this mode, vapor sensor no longer is essential; Because can avoid the condensation of controller, and there is not the cost of vapor sensor, so this is favourable.When also can provide thermostat to detect water cooling to being lower than minimum threshold, thereby need enter the insulation pattern.Yet the heat input during the preferably insulation pattern changes, and with the heat radiation of coupling water 4, therefore can avoid the circulation of thermostat.
In one embodiment, monitor stirring by level switch, this level switch is sensed because water becomes water level rapid fluctuations less when occurring stirring.In another embodiment, the acoustic sensor supervision stirring of the sound characteristic when reaching boiling point, for example caused reduction that adds thermal noise of the minimizing of the collision of the steam steam bubble in the water when water reaches boiling point by detecting water.
As shown in figure 11, level sensor example is the distance measuring equipment 23 around being positioned at kettle 1 top or top.This equipment can be laser or ultrasonic distance measurement device.Equipment 23 accurately measures the fluctuation at the absolute distance place of the water surface, and when the controller detection fluctuates above predetermined water level.Predetermined water level changes based on the water yield in the container, also can determine by this equipment according to the absolute distance to the water surface.
As shown in figure 11, distance measuring equipment 23 can be located substantially on the central vertical shaft of kettle 1, and the accuracy that makes water level accurately measure does not rely on vertical kettle.Alternatively, can a plurality of distance measuring equipments be set, so that the angle of compensation kettle 1 at diverse location.When kettle 1 suitably remained on an angle, distance measuring equipment (a plurality of distance measuring equipment) can be used for accurately measuring the water level during tap is filled with water.Selectively, distance measuring equipment can be positioned at the cistern outside of kettle, and can be directed to the water surface by window.
Another example of level sensor is included in around the kettle 1, in cistern or the condenser type level sensor array of location, the outside.This array also can be used for measuring water level when kettle 1 is in certain angle.
Power supply such as battery or electric capacity can be arranged in the kettle 1, when power source base 2 is removed, is the level sensor power supply with convenient kettle 1.Preferably, power supply is chargeable and is recharged when kettle body 1 is connected on the power source base 2.
Liquid level or the amount of liquid in tracer liquid heating container when several at least in liquid level sensor or the sensing technology are used in heating operation and begin as mentioned above or before, it is above and/or below the predetermined minimum level to be used to determine whether liquid level is in predetermined maximum level; If not, heating operation can be under an embargo, and perhaps indicates to the user.Like this, can prevent the dangerous operation of container.
Several at least in aforesaid liquid level sensor or the aforesaid sensing technology can be used for liquid level or the amount of liquid in the tracer liquid heating container when container is filled with.When surpassing predetermined maximum level, can warn indication to the user.Under the described in the above tea cooking machine situation, kettle 1 can comprise rechargable power supplies, can carry out water level detecting with convenient kettle 1 controller when pedestal 2 is removed.Predetermined water level can be provided with by the user, for example passes through user interface.Preferably, even also can be changed when kettle 1 this setting when pedestal 2 is removed.If surpass predetermined water level, user interface 11 can be selected to the user, to change to higher level and to continue water-filling, perhaps outwells some water up to reaching current water level.If water level is higher or lower than predetermined water level,, can stop kettle 1 heating if perhaps kettle 1 is on the inclined-plane.
Above-mentioned any constructed embodiment can make up with any heating embodiment, except they obviously do not match.
The foregoing description is that explanation of the present invention is not limited the present invention, obviously still can drop within protection scope of the present invention according to stating the bright optional embodiment that draws in study.