GB1583877A

GB1583877A - Coffee brewer with means for dispensing controlled quantities of hot water

Info

Publication number: GB1583877A
Application number: GB21178/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-02-28
Filing date: 1977-05-19
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: NL7705513A; SE431607B; DE2740249A1; SE7706530L; JPS53109779A; JPS6043122B2; CA1065818A

Description

(54) A COFFEE BREWER WITH MEANS FOR DISPENSING CONTROLLED QUANTITiES OF HOT WATER (71) We, EDWARD LERNER of 3 Marshall Street, Irvington, New Jersey 07111, United States of America, and JOHN AN THONY VENTURE of 32 Jefferson Street, Nutley, New Jersey 07110, United States of America, both citizens of the United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement.

The invention relates to a coffee brewer with means for dispensing controlled quantities of hot water.

Many coffee brewers are known in the art. One such device comprises a housing for a water tank, the tank having an inlet in the top thereof connected to a receiving tray. The tank is also provided with a siphon extending generally from the top thereof outwardly terminating in a spray head located above a funnel having coffee grounds supported therein on a filter paper.

Another well known form of coffee brewing device substitutes a water overflow tube for the siphon, the tube being connected to the aforesaid spray head.

In operation, water is added to the tank up to the level of the discharge conduit whether it be a siphon or an overflow tube and the heater energized until the water in the tank reaches the desired coffee brewing temperature. The coffee brewer is now in condition to be employed to brew coffee.

In order to brew coffee, cold make-up water is poured into the receiving tray from whence it passes gravitationally downwardly through an anti-diffusion tube to the bottom of the tank thereby forcing the preheated water therein upwardly by displacement with little mixing of hot and cold water. As the level of the preheated water rises in the tank, it passes into the siphon or overflow tube and from thence to a spray head over a funnel containing ground coffee supported on a filter.

The volume of water discharged through the spray head is equal to the volume of cold make-up water added to the tank provided that the water level in the tank initially is immediately beneath the entrance to the siphon or overflow tube.

Such coffee brewers are generally arranged for the discharge of only relatively large quantities of water sufficient to make a full pot of fresh coffee. They are not arranged for the discharge of smaller, controlled quantities of hot water for use as make-up for tea, soups, hot chocolate or other beverages or liquid foods.

Moreover, if the heated water in the tank remains unused for more than a few hours, evaporation lowers the water level in the tank. Consequently, the volume of hot water discharged through the spray head is less than the volume of cold make-up water added which adversely effects the quality of the coffee brewed. The level of the water in the tank is not visible from outside of the tank. Therefore, one can never be certain as to whether or not a sufficient quantity of cold make-up water has been added to achieve the desired amount of coffee.

Additionally, if an excessive quantity of cold make-up water is required to compensate for evaporation, the mean temperature of the water discharged for brewing may be lower than that desired.

There is consequently need in the art for a coffee brewer which provides means for dispensing relatively smafl limited but controlled quantities of hot water without adversely affecting the volume of hot water immediately available for brewing purposes and well as means for continuously replacing water lost through evaporation.

The present invention accordingly provides a coffee brewer with means for dispensing controlled quantities of hot water, the coffee brewer comprising a water inlet means and a water discharge conduit both connected to a first tank, the discharge of water through the discharge conduit being responsive to the water level in the first tank; a second tank positioned for gravity feed of water therefrom to the first tank; conduit means connecting the first and second tanks, the normal operational position of the discharge end of the conduit means being such that water normally covers the end before water reaches a level in the first tank sufficient for continuous flow through the water discharge conduit; the second tank being closed except for the conduit means when in the normal operating position for discharge into the first tank; and valve-controlled water discharge means connected to the first tank and communicating therewith at a level beneath the level of the discharge end of the conduit means.

Preferably the coffee brewer has closure means normally blocking the gravity feed of water from the second tank; and opening means arranged to open the closure means when the second tank is located in the normal operational position for gravity feed of water therefrom to the first tank.

The invention will be further explained below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevational cross-sectional view of a first coffee brewer embodying the invention Fig. 2 is an end elevational cross-sectional view of the coffee brewer shown in Fig. 1 taken along the lines 2-2 therein; Fig. 3 is a side elevational cross-sectional view illustrating details of closure means and opening means associated with a separate water reservoir included in the coffee brewer Fig. 4 is a top view of a grate included in the closure means shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a side elevational cross-sectional view similar to that of Fig. 2 of a second coffee brewer embodying the invention.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 in detail, the illustrated coffee brewer comprises a housing 11 on a pedestal 12. A first tank in the form of a water tank 13 is mounted within the housing 11 on the pedestal 12.

The water tank 13 is provided with a top cover 14 through which water inlet means comprising a water inlet conduit 15 extends depending downwardly toward the bottom of the tank 13, the conduit 15 functioning as an anti-diffusion means. The water inlet conduit 15 extends upwardly through the top cover 14 of the tank 13 communicating with the bottom 16 of a water receiving tray 17 which is positioned above the water tank 13. The tray 17 is provided with a cover 18 which functions as a cover for the housing 11. The cover 18 is provided with an opening 19, preferably an open grill, for the introduction of water into the tray 17 and from thence downwardly through conduit 15 into the water tank 13.

A siphon 20 constituting a water discharge conduit for the tank 13 is connected to the tank through its top cover 14. A spray head 21 functioning as a discharge end to the siphon 20 is positioned at a level beneath the inlet end 22 thereof. The spray head 21 of the siphon 20 depends beneath a horizontally extending arm 23 on the housing 11 and above a portion of the pedestal 12 containing an electrically energized heating plate 24.

The water tank 13 is also provided with electrical heating means, preferably an immersion heater 25 as shown. Additionally a heat sensing probe 26 is positioned within water tank 13 and is electrically connected to either a preset or manually set control 27 which energizes and de-energizes the heater 25 to maintain a desired temperature.

In operation, water introduced through opening 19 flows into tray 17 and from thence through conduit 15 into the bottom most portion of water tank 13. The level of water in tank 13 rises until the crest of the siphon 20 is reached whereupon a siphoning action ensues with water passing through siphon 20 and spray head 21 to a column of ground coffee in a funnel supported on a filter. Coffee is brewed by passing through the coffee grounds. Because of the siphoning action, the quantity of water discharged from the tank 13 will be equal to the quantity of water introduced into the tray assuming of course that the water level in tank 13 is initially immediately beneath inlet end 22 of siphon 20. When the level of water falls below the inlet end 22 of the siphon 20, the siphoning action is broken and the flow of water ceases.

Because fresh water introduced into the tray 17 is discharged through conduit 15 near the bottom of the tank 13, the hot water in tank 13 will be displaced upwardly with little mixing so that water discharged through siphon 20 will be generally at a temperature substantially equal to the ambient temperature of the water in the tank 13. The tank 13 is dimensioned with respect to the usual quantity of water necessary to brew a pot of coffee such that the mean temperature of water discharged therefrom is proper for brewing.

Although the siphon system has been shown and described, an overflow tube system may be employed in a coffee brewer embodying the present invention. Such an overflow tube functions to substantially the same effect as the siphon.

In order to provide means for the discharge of controlled but limited quantities of hot water without resort to the siphon 20 (or overflow tube), a separate, closed second tank or water reservoir 28 in the form of a removable bottle is mounted on the cover 18 over the tray 17. A discharge conduit 29 depends from the bottom of the reservoir 28 downwardly through the top 14 of the water tank 13. A pair of telescopic conduits 30 and 31 together with-the conduit 29 form conduit means connecting together the tank 13 and the reservoir 28.

The pair of conduits 30, 31 extends through the top 14 of the water tank 13 and together with the bottom 16 of the tray 17 is employed to discharge the water from the reservoir 28 at the bottom most portion of the tank 13. A small opening in the top of conduit 30 at the neck 32 of the reservoir 28 provides an air escape means for air relief from conduits 30 and 31.

The bottom or discharge end of conduit 29 connected to the reservoir 28 is positioned at a level beneath that of the end 22 of the siphon 20. In the case of an overflow tube, the said discharge end of conduit 29 is positioned at a level beneath the top most end of the overflow tube.

Valve controlled water discharge means for the tank 13 is constituted by a hot water discharge conduit 33 connected to the side 34 of the tank 13 and extending outwardly through the housing 11 to a manually oper ate spigot or valve 35. The valve 35 is manually operated by lever 36 for the withdrawal of desired quantities of hot water.

In operation, the reservoir 28 is filled with water and positioned as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 with the discharge conduit 29 extending downwardly into the tank 13.

This is the normal operational position of the reservoir 28 and its associated elements including conduit 29. When the level of the water in tank 13 covers the bottom end of the discharge conduit 29, the flow of water from the reservoir terminates because of an air lock, the reservoir 28 being closed. Because of the level of the bottom end of conduit 29 is beneath the level of the inlet end 22 of the siphon 20, under normal operating conditions no water passes from reservoir 28 to tank 13 through the siphon 20 to spray head 22. The same may be said of an overflow tube system. However, when valve 35 is open to withdraw water from the tank 13, the level therein drops beneath the bottom of the discharge conduit 29 connected to reservoir 28 resulting in a flow of water from reservoir 28 equal in volume to the volume of water withdrawn through conduit 33.When valve 35 is closed, water will cease passing from reservoir 28 into tank 13 when the level of the water in tank 13 rises sufficiently to cover the bottom end of discharge conduit 29.

Preferably the conduit 33 is positioned at a level generally proximal to the top of the tank 13 so as to ensure the withdrawal of hot water. Cold water from the reservoir 28 first passes downwardly into the bottom most portion of water tank 13 through conduit 31 displacing hot water upwardly thus ensuring that the cold water will not tend to pass outwardly through conduit 33. The bottom of conduit 31 should be sufficiently far beneath the level of conduit 33 to ensure that the mean temperature of water withdrawn through conduit 33 is near the ambient temperature of the water in tank 13.

Referring now in particular to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the discharge conduit 29 may be removably connected and disconnected to the neck or water discharge end 32 of the water reservoir 28 and the discharge conduit 29 may be further provided with closure means 40 normally blocking the gravitational discharge of water from the water reservoir 28 through the discharge end 32 thereof before and until the water reservoir 28 is placed in its normal operational position above the water tank 13.

As will be understood by those skilled in the coffee brewer arts, the water reservoir 28 is typically filled from a water bottle or tap water while the water reservoir 28 is removed from the coffee brewer and is inverted into a position opposite that shown in the drawings. For filling, the discharge conduit 29 is threadably disengaged from the water reservoir 28 and the water reservoir is filled with water. Then, the discharge conduit 29 is threadably reconnected to the water reservoir 28 and the closure means 40 prevents unwanted discharge of water from the water reservoir 28 as it is being inverted into the position shown in the drawings and placed into its normal operational position over water tank 13.

The closure means 40 particularly illustrated comprise a solid spheroid or ball 42 of magnetic material which upon inversion of the water reservoir 28 engages under the influence of gravity an inwardly extending annular rib 44 provided internally of the discharge conduit 29. The discharge conduit 29 is provided with a chamber 45 for receiving the spheroid 42 and the chamber is formed by a generally cylindrical side wall which translates into a converging curved portion at the bottom thereof which terminates in the annular rib 44 and provides a water outlet 47 smaller in diameter than the spheroid 42. When the spheroid of magnetic material 42 engages the inwardly extending annular rib 44, the outlet 47 is blocked and thus the water discharge end 32 of the water reservoir 28 is blocked and discharge of water from the water reservoir is prevented.

The top of the chamber 45 is provided with a generally circular grate 48 best illustrated in Fig. 4, for retaining the spheroid 42 in the chamber 45 upon the water reservoir 28 and the discharge conduit 2 9 being inverted. The grate 48 is provided with openings 49 for allowing water from the reservoir 28 to flow'into the water tank 13 upon the spheroid being moved out of engagement with the annular rib 44 in accordance with the present invention and as taught below. The openings 49 are sufficiently small to prevent the spheroid 42 from passing therethrough. The grate 48.

may be suitably secured in position to the discharge conduit 29 such as by a suitable adhesive or by mechanical press fit. The discharge conduit 29 and the grate 48 may be made of any suitable plastic and preferably of nonmagnetic material. The dis charge conduit 29 may also be made integrally or in two pieces as illustrated which are suitably secured together such as by a suitably plastics adhesive or bonding material. Since, of course, water must be discharged from the water reservoir 28 in accordance with tbe foregoing teachings of the present invention, the coffee brewer is provided with opening means 50 best shown in Fig. 3 for opening the closure means 40 as the water reservoir 28 is placed in its normal operational position above the water tank 13 thereby permitting discharge of water from the water reservoir 28 into the water tank 13.

More specifically, the opening means 50 may be comprised of magnetic means for magnetically attracting the spheroid of magnetic material 42 out of its blocking position, i.e. for attracting the spheroid 42 upwardly to the side as shown in Fig. 3 in solid lines and thus away from or out of blocking engagement with the inwardly extending annular rib 44 as shown in Fig. 3 in broken lines. As the closure means 40 moves downwardly past the stationary open ing means 50 as the reservoir 28 is being placed in its normal operational position above water tank 13, the spheroid 42 moves out of blocking position and thereby permits the flow of water from reservoir 28 to tank 13.

The magnetic opening means 50 may be comprised of an annular array of magnets 54 and 56 as illustrated in Fig. 3 which magnets may be suitably imbedded or secured mechanically in an annular supporting ring 57. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the magnetic opening means 50 may be suitably positioned on a fitting lying over the cover 18 of the coffee brewer. In such position, the opening means surround the opening through which the discharge conduit 29 extends to connect the water reservoir 28 with the tank 13 as taught above.

In summary, it will be understood that the closure means 40 and opening means 50 of the present invention prevent unwanted discharge of water from the water reservoir 28 and provide for the automatic opening of the closure means 40 as the water reservoir 28 is being inverted and being placed into its normal operational position above water tank 13. Thus unintended discharge of water from the water reservoir 28 is prevented and the coffee brewer according to the present invention is permitted to act in accordance with the present invention as taught above.

Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown an alternative embodiment of the present invention which is particularly useful in the practice of the invention in the modification of an existing coffee brewer.

As is known to those skilled in the coffee brewer arts, installed coffee brewers typically have much equipment mounted at the top thereof and also typically have considerable auxiliary and peripheral equipment mounted on the top of the tank 13. Accordingly, positioning the water reservoir 28 above the tank 13 can be undesirably difficult in requiring the cutting of various intermediate structures. Hence the alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in Fig. 5 can be preferable.

In the invention embodiment shown in Fig. 5, the water reservoir 28 is supported laterally of the water tank 13 with the discharge end 32 of discharge conduit 29 depending from the reservoir 28 being located laterally at a level beneath the level of the inlet end 22 of siphon 20 in water tank 13, and in the case of an overflow system, beneath the level of the top most opening in the overflow tube.

A conduit 60 in lieu of the telescopic conduits 30 and 31 of Fig. 2 extends laterally of the water tank 13 adjacent to the top thereof and interconnects the water reservoir 28 with the water tank 13 for the gravity discharge of water from the reservoir 28 into the tank 13 through an interconnecting vertical conduit 61 which receives discharge conduit 29. A baffle 64 is positioned in the tank 13 by being suitably secured as shown to the wall of the tank 13 and the baffle 64 extends downwardly a predetermined distance as illustrated so as to deflect water received in the water tank 13 from the reservoir 28 downwardly and deeply into the tank 13, the baffle 64 functioning therefore as an anti-diffusion means.

It will be further understood that the vertical conduit 61 passes through and is supported by a mounting block 62 attached to the housing 11. The block 62 suitably supports the closure means 50 shown in detail in Fig. 3 and in turn, reservoir 28. It will be further understood that the discharge conduit 29 of the water reservoir 28 is provided with the closure means 40 shown in detail in Fig. 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 at the top of conduit 30. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig 5, air relief is provided intermediate the top of block 62 and the closure means 50 by virtue of less than airtight interengagement. Moreover, air relief is provided through the passage 63 in the closure means 50 through which conduit 29 depends.

Claims

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A coffee brewer with means for dispensing controlled quantities of hot water, the coffee brewer comprising a water inlet means and a water discharge conduit both connected to a first tank, the discharge of water through the discharge conduit being responsive to the water level in the first tank; a second tank positioned for gravity feed of water therefrom to the first tank; conduit means connecting the first and second tanks, the normal operational position of the discharge end of the conduit means being such that water normally covers the end before water reaches a level in the first tank sufficient for continuous flow through the water discharge conduit; the second tank being closed except for the conduit means when in the normal operating position for discharge into the first tank; and valve-controlled water discharge means connected to the first tank and communicating therewith at a level beneath the level of the discharge end of the conduit means.

2. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 1 having closure means normally blocking the gravity feed of water from the second tank; and opening means arranged to open the closure means when the second tank is located in the normal operational position for gravity feed of water therefrom to the first tank.

3. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 2 in which the closure means comprises a netically influencable member normally closing the conduit means against the gravitational discharge of water from the second tank, and the opening means comprises magnetically influencing means arranged to influence the member to move sufficiently to open the conduit means for the gravity feed of water when the second tank is in the normal operational position.

4. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 3 in which the member is of ferromagnetic material and the magnetically influencing means is a magnet.

5. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which the member is a ball.

6. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5 having means to support the second water tank for the gravity feed of water to the first tank, the opening means being carried by the support means.

7. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 6 in which the support means has an opening to receive the conduit means and the closure means when the second tank is in the normal operational position.

8. A coffee brewer as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 7 having a generally vertically extending conduit communicating with a generally laterally extending conduit communicating with the first tank, the conduit means depending downwardly through the vertically extending conduit with the second tank located above the vertically extending conduit.

9. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 8 having air escape means communicating with the generally vertically extending conduit above the highest level of water in the discharge conduit during discharge of water therethrough.

10. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 8 or 9 having a housing for the first tank, and in which the housing has a top, the closure means is positioned at the top of the vertically extending conduit, and the second tank is positioned on top of the closure means, at least a portion of the second tank extending above the top of the housing.

11. A coffee brewer as claimed in claim 10 in which the normal operational position of the second tank is wholly above the top of the housing.

12. A coffee brewer substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 or Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings.