GB2103469A - Beverage maker - Google Patents

Abstract

In a beverage maker of the pressure-type, Fig. 1 which comprises a tube (7) extending from low in a water vessel (4) and sealed into a container (6) for dry ingredients for making the beverage, steam pressure generated by heating water in the water vessel (4) forces the water through the ingredients in the container (6) and then to a beverage outlet (46) leading from the container. The outlet may discharge to a separate beverage-receiving vessel and/or pressure-sensitive means may be provided for controlling the flow of the water through the tube and the container comprising a pressure-relief valve (49) at the inlet to the tube or a shut-off valve (63), Fig. 4, in a vent (67) from the water vessel, both operative when the water nears or reaches boiling point. The shut-off valve (63) may also serve as a blow out safety valve. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Beverage maker This invention relates to beverage makers of the pressure type intended primarily for making coffee, then known as expresso coffee, but which can also be used for making tea and other beverages.

The present invention consists in a pressure-type beverage maker comprising a sealable water vessel a tube extending from an inlet end low in the water vessel to, and in pressure-tight relationship with, a container for dry ingredients for making a beverage and a beverage outlet leading from the container, the arrangement being such that in use of the beverage maker when the water in the water vessel boils the steam pressure generated forces water through the tube and under pressure through the ingredients in the container to the beverage outlet.

The container may be arranged above or in the upper part of the water vessel, the tube depending, usually vertically, from the container. This is not essential however and the container may be disposed e!sewhere provided the arrangement is such that water expelled from the water vessel will be passed through the container and its contents under pressure generated in the water vessel. For example, the container might be disposed alongside the water vessel, with the tube entering the top of the container so that the water would be forced down through the contents of the container.

Preferably, means is provided to switch off the heater when the bulk of the water has been discharged from the water vessel. This may take the form of a platform which tilts and operates an electric switch when relieved of the weight of the water in the water vessel or loaded with the weight of beverage in the beverage-receiving vessel. Alternatively the mains for switching off the heater may comprise atemperature-sensitive device, for example, responsive to the rise in temperature of the heater when it is no longer covered by water.

A beverage-receiving vessel may be disposed above the water vessel, for example, it may be secured as an upper vessel to the beverage maker.

Alternatively the beverage maker may be provided with an outlet adapted to discharge the beverage into a separate beverage-receiving vessel such as a jug or pot.

From the aspect the present invention also consists in a pressure-type beverage maker comprising a sealable water vessel, a tube extending from an inlet end low in the water vessel to, and in pressuretight relationship with, a container for dry ingredients for making a beverage and a beverage outlet extending from the container and adapted and arranged to discharge the beverage to a separate beverage-receiving vessel.

With such an arrangement in a beverage maker with a self-contained electric heater for the water vessel, means is preferably provided for preventing the energising of the heater unless the separate beverage-receiving vessel is present and in the correct position in relation to the beverage outlet.

The separate beverage-receiving vessel may be disposed alongside the water vessel or, alternatively, it may be disposed above or below the water vessel.

A disadvantage of known expresso coffee makers is that, because of the pressure developed in the water vessel while the water is being heated, water can be forced up the tube and into the coffee container before the water boils. This can spoil the flavour of the beverage. Flavour is also affected by the rate at which boiling water passes through the coffee and this can vary with the nature of the coffee, some coffees are more absorbent than others, and according to how finely the coffee is ground.

It is an object of a further feature of the present invention to provide a pressure-type beverage maker which offers an improvement in at least some of these respects.

According to this further feature of the present invention pressure-sensitive means is provided to control the passage of water through the tube and the container. The pressure-sensitive means may be provided instead of, or in combination with, any of the previously described features.

From this aspect the present invention also consists in a pressure-type beverage maker comprising a sealable water vessel, a tube extending from an inlet end low in the water vessel to, and in pressuretight relationship with, a container for dry ingredients for making a beverage, a beverage outlet leading from the container, and pressure-sensitive means provided to control the passage of water through the tube and the container.

The effect of the pressure sensitive means differs according to the nature of the means and its location in the beverage maker.

In one form the pressure-sensitive means comprises a pressu re-relief valve which is disposed in the tube or at the inlet of the tube. The water vessel may be adapted to be sealed before the water is heated or later, for example, when the water nears or reaches boiling point.

The pressure-relief valve is normally closed and is adapted to open only when a pre-determined pressure has been reached in the water vessel. This pressure may be such that it is reached only when the water in the water vessel is boiling. In this way water is prevented from making contact with the dry ingredients such as ground coffee before it has boiled. The pressu re-relief valve may be preset in manufacture to a pressure which will allow a suitable flow of boiling water for making a beverage from dry ingredients of a nature and grain size recommended by the manufacturer of the beverage maker. Alternatively the pressure-relief valve may be adjustable so that it can be preset in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations to produce pressures suitable for different dry ingredients or altered to suit the user's taste.

The pressu re-relief valve may be disposed within the tube itselfandbe readily removable for cleaning.

It may be a spring-loaded ball valve.

In another form the pressure-sensitive means comprises a pressure-sensitive shut-off valve which is normally open or is free to open and is disposed in a vent from the water vessel to atmosphere The pressure-sensitive means may comprise both a shut-off valve and a pressure-relief valve as previously described. The shut-off valve remains effectively open while the water is being heated until the restriction imposed by the shut-off valve upon the escape of water vapour through the vent causes a rise in pressure within the water vessel, usually when the water nears or reaches boiling point. This incipient rise in pressure causes the valve to close the vent and seal the water vessel with the result that the pressure increases markedly and forces water up the tube and through the dry ingredients.

If the pressure-sensitive means comprises a shutoff valve but does not include a pressure-relief valve, water vapour is not actually prevented from reaching the ingredients in the basket, as it would be if a pressure-relief valve were provided. However, the amount of water vapour reaching the ingredients is very much less than when the water vessel is sealed before the heating of the water is begun. The provision ofthe shut-off valve avoids the gradual increase in pressure which occurs in a sealed water vessel while the water is being heated. The pressure then begins to rise almost from the outset of heating.

The shut-off valve may be of very simple form which is inexpensive to make and may be adapted to serve also as a safety valve to relieve excessive pressure in the water vessel. This may be achieved, for example, by making the valve member of flexible material and of such a form that it will be ejected bodily from the vent.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is an elevation partly, in section, of a beverage maker according to the invention, Figure2 is an enlarged section of part of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of a detail of the beverage maker of Figure 1, Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to part of Figure 1 but on a larger scale of a modification, Figure 5 is a sectional view of a further modified component, Figure 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of a modified beverage maker according to the invention, Figure 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a plan view of the beverage maker of FigureS, and Figure 9 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 7.

The main components of the beverage maker shown in Figures 1 to 3 are a water vessel 4, a removable lid 5, a container 6 for dry ingredients for making a beverage, a tube 7 extending from low in the water vessel 4 to the container 6, an electric immersion heater 8 and a handle 9.

The water vessel 4 is made of sheet metal and has at the top a circular central opening surrounded by a narrow marginal portion 10 of the top wall and an external annular rib 11. The container 6 is also made of sheet metal. It has a cylindrical side wall 12 and a bottom wall 13 of shallow frusto-conical shape with a central bottom opening into which the upper end of the tube 7 is sealed. Where the frusto-conical bottom wall 13 meets the cylindrical side wall 12, the container has a perforate floor (not shown). The upper edge of the side wall 12 is turned outwards to form a peripheral lip 14 which rests on the marginal portion 10 and supports the container 6 in the top opening.

The handle 9 is a moulding of plastics material and is secured to the vessel 4 by a sheet metal bracket 15 secured, as by spot welding, to the vessel 4 and having at its upper end a hook formation 16 which engages over a nose 17 on the handle 9. Atthe lower end the bracket 15 is turned outwards to form a lug 18 which, when the handle 9 is offered up to the vessel 4, enters a recess 19 in the handle 9. A hole is provided in the bottom wall of the recess 19 for a screw 20 which engages a sheet metal nut 21 held captive on the lug 18.

The lid 5 is made as a die-casting in aluminium and is removably secured to the water vessel 4 by a fixed retainer 22 and a catch 23 at opposite ends of a diameter of the vessel 4. The fixed retainer 22 is formed by a U-shaped bracket secured at its base 24, as by spot-welding, to the top wall of the vessel 4 and having spaced limbs 25 with hook-shaped projections 26 extending from the edges of the limbs 25 outwards from the vessel 4. The projections 26 are engageable with an opening in a lug 27 depending from a continuous closed top wall 28 of the lid 5.

The catch 23 comprises a bracket 29, fixed to the vessel 4 and supporting a pin 30, and a movable member 31 hinged by a hinge pip 32 to the lid 5. A lever portion 33 of the movable member 31 is of J-section from the underside of which, close to the hinge pin 32, extends a sickle-shaped portion 34. The lid 5 is fitted to the vessel 4 by engaging the projections 26 with the hole in the lug 27 and then swinging the movable member 31 to insert the tip of the sickle-shaped portion 34 under the pin 30. As the lever portion 33 is moved the sickle-shape of the portion 34 causes the lid 5 to be drawn down towards the vessel 4. Towards the end of this movement the free end of the J-section of the lever portion passes over an upward projection 35 on the handle 9.

Mounted on this projection 35 is a locking spring 36 with a rib 37 which deflects to allow the tip of the free end of the lever portion 33 to pass and then behind it to hold the catch 23 in the engaged condition.

An annular wall 38 depends from the underside of the top wall 28 of the lid. When the lid 5 is secured to the vessel 4 as described in the previous paragraph the wall 38 is concentric with the opening in the top wall of the vessel 4. In the lower edge of the wall 28 is an annular recess which receives an annular sealing washer 39 of rubber or other suitable resilient material. The washer 39 fits its recess tightly enough to be held in place but is readily removable from the recess for cleaning purposes. A filter member 40 made of sheet metal and supported by the sealing washer has a domed perforate base 41, an upright side wall 42 and a peripheral flange 43 extending outwards from the upper end of the wall 42. When the filter member 40 is in position in the washer its side wall 42 fits the inside diameter of the washer and the flange 43 overlies the upper face of the washer. Ribs 44 project radially inwards from the wail 38. When the sealing washer 39, with the filter member 40 in place, is fitted in the recess in the wall 38, lower edges of the ribs 44 overlie the flange 43.

When the lid 5 is clamped on the vessel 4 the ribs 44 bear on the flange to retain the filter member in the sealing washer and support the sealing washer and filter assembly against fluid pressure on the underside. The sealing washer 39 is also clamped between the wail 38 and the annular rib 11 on the vessel 4 sealing the joint between the vessel and the lid 5. A cavity 45 in the lid 5 surrounded by the wall 38 forms a beverage collecting chamber and has an outlet opening (not shown) to receive a discharge pipe 46 which extends radially outwards from the beverage maker th rough the opening in the lug 27 engaged by the projections 26. When the lid is fitted to the vessel 4 the discharge pipe lies between the limbs 25 of the fixed retainer 22. The discharge pipe 46 is open at its outer end.

In use of the apparatus the dry ingredient, such a ground coffee, is put in the container 6 under the filter member 40. It is important in making expresso coffee that the ground coffee by closely packed in the container 6. In making the maximum quantity of coffee the full capacity qf the container is required and the ground coffee rests on the perforate floor of the container. To enable less than the full amount of coffee to be made a removable perforate platform disc 47 is provided. This rests on an internal rib 48 on the side wall 12 of the container 6. Ground coffee is then put on top of the disc 47 and can still be closely packed but in a space of smaller volume in the upper part only of the container 6. A corresponding water level may be indicated by a rib (not shown) on the wall of the vessel 4.

At the lower end of the tube 7 a pressure-relief valve 49 is provided. In the present instance this takes the form of a spring-loaded ball valve and is shown enlarged in Figure 2. A body 50 of the valve is hollow, tubular for most of its length and closed at one end by an end wall forming a peripheral flange 51 and an internal frusto-conical seating 52 and having a central port 52. A ball 54 is urged against the seating by a helical compression spring 55 the other end of which abuts a sleeve 56 inserted in the open end ofthe tubular part of the body 50 and retained, as indicated at 57, by swaging the wall of the body 50 into a circumferential groove in the sleeve 56. The valve 49 is slidably fitted into the open lower end of the tube 7. The valve is bodily removable for washing.The flange 51 abuts the end of the tube 7 to prevent the valve from going too far into the bore of the tube and forms a head to provide a grip for withdrawing the valve. An external circumferential groove in the body 50 holds an O-ring 58 to form a seal between the body 50 and the inner surface of the tube 7.

The immersion heater 8 is of known construction and has a mounting head 59 sealed in an opening in the side wall of the vessel 4 and retained by an insulating sleeve 60 which forms part of the appliance inlet 61 for connecting the immersion heater to the electricity supply.

A safety valve 62 (Figure 3) is fitted to the top of the vessel 4 and is arranged to open if the pressure within the vessel becomes excessive.

The beverage maker is prepared for making coffee, for example, by removing the lid 5 and the coffee container 6, putting appropriate amounts of water in the vessel 4 and ground coffee or other dry ingredients in the container 6, replacing the loaded container in the top opening of the vessel 4 and refitting and securing the lid 5. When the immersion heater 8 is energised, the water is heated and though the pressure in the vessel 4 may rise before the water boils, the valve 49 remains closed preventing water from rising up the tube into the container 6.

When the water does boil the increased pressure then occurring in the vessel 4 causes the valve 49 to open and water is forced up the tube 7 and through the ground coffee or other ingredients. Because the ground coffee is initially quite closely packed and also swells on contact with water, it imposes an appreciable resistance to the liquid flow which is therefore relatively slow, so allowing time for the coffee to infuse. Swelling also occurs with most dry ingredients for making other beverages. The infusion passes through the cavity 45 and out through the discharge pipe 46.

The valve 49 as described has no adjustment and the pressure at which it will open is pre-determined in manufacture. If pressure adjustment is required the abutment sleeve 56 for the spring 55, instead of being fixed, may beth readedly engaged with the bore of body 50 so allowing its axial position in the body to be varied and the spring loading and opening pressure to be altered.

When the beverage maker is to be used the discharge pipe 46 is arranged so that its open outer end will transfer the beverage into a separate beveragereceiving vessel such as a jug or coffee pot alongside. The beverage maker and beverage-receiving vessel may be used with apparatus with a tiltable platform to support the beverage maker and means to ensure that the beverage-receiving vessel is present and correctly located in relation to the discharge pipe. The tiltable platform is actuated only when there is water in the vessel 4. The immersion heater can be energised only when the tiltable platform is actuated and the receiving vessel is properly positioned. It is de-energised when the beverage has been made and transferred to the receiving vessel.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 4 is generally similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 except that instead of the safety valve 62 a combined pressure-sensitive shut-off and safety valve 63 is provided. The pressure-sensitive valve 49 may be retained or omitted, the lower end of the tube 7 then being open. The shut-off valve 63 is made of rubber or other suitable flexible material and is generally of diabolo shape with a disc-shaped head 64, a cylindrical stem 65 and a hollow frusto-conical tail 66. The valve is disposed in a vent opening 67 in the top wall of the water vessel 4 in a position which is covered by the top wall 28 of the lid 5. The vent opening 67 is larger in diameter than the stem 65 but appreciably smaller than the diameter of the head 64 and the maximum diameter of the tail 66 in the free state.

The valve is inserted in the vent 67 by squeezing the tail 66 to allow it to be pushed through the vent. The valve 63 is gravity loaded oniy and has some free dom of vertical movement in the vent. There is ann lar clearance between the stem and the vent. When the beverage maker is rot in use the head 64 rests on the top wall of the water vessel 4 and closes the vent 67. This condition remains at the start of water heating. Any pressure in the water vessel 4 de, eloped as heating continues lifts the head off the water vessel and relieves the pressure by allowing steam to escape through the vent clearance. When the water nears boiling point and the rate of evolution of steam becomes considerable the restriction on the escape of steam through the vent clearance is insufficient to relieve the pressure within the water vessel.The valve is lifted further until the tail 66 closes the vent.

Because of the shape of the tail there is no significant change of effective area of the valve when the valve closes. On closure of the valve pressure in the water vessel 4 rises to a level sufficient to force water up the tube and through the container 6 and its contents as in the previous embodiment. If the water vessel pressure rises excessively, the valve 63 is forced bodily out through the vent opening the whole area of the vent opening then being available for the escape of steam. The expelled valve 63 is retained within the appliance by the presence of the top wail 28 of the lid 5 and prevented from being projected dangerously therefrom.

Figure 5 shows a valve 63' of slightly different shape from the valve 63 of Figure 4. The stem portion 65' is longer than the stem 65 of the valve in Figure 4 and the tail 66' in the free state is dished and upwardly concave. The operation of the valve of Figure 5 is generally like that of the valve in Figure 4 but when the valve 63' is lifted the upper peripheral edge of the tail 66' is the first part of the tail to engage the top wall of the water vessel 4. The effect of this is that once the valve has closed its tail becomes flattened against the wall surface of the water vessel surrounding the vent 67' so that its effective area is increased and the valve will not re-open until the pressure in the water vessel has fallen very much below that at which the valve closed.

In the event of excess pressure developing in the water vessel the complete valve 63' is expelled as in the embodiment of Figure 4, the tail 66' turning "inside out" to enable it to pass through the vent.

The modified beverage maker shown in Figures 6 to 9 is similar to the beverage maker of Figures 1 to 3 and corresponding reference numerals have been applied to corresponding parts.

The water vessel 4 is of oval shape in section and is incorporated in a casing 69forthe beverage maker. The casing 69 is made of plastics material.

The vessel 4 itself does not have a top wall as in Figures 1 to 3, instead the upper edge of the side wall is turned outwardly to form a peripheral lip 70 and there is a filling cone 71, also made of plastics material, which forms a top wall of the vessel 4.

The filling cone 71 comprises a central cylindrical portion 72 defining a well in the base of which is a circular opening, an inclined portion 73 extending outwardly and upwardly from the cylindrical portion 72 and a peripheral rectangular portion 74 which is secured to the casing 69 by a fixing screw (not shown) at each corner of the rectangular portion 74.

A rubber gasket 75 which receives the peripheral lip 70 is clamped between a shoulder 76 on the casing 69 and the lower surface of the peripheral rectangular potion 74 to seal the joint between the vessel 4 and the filling cone 71.

The lower end of the cylindrical portion 72 of the filling cone 71 is turned inwardly to form a flange 77 which has an annular rib 78. The container 6 for dry ingredients for making a beverage is supported in the circular opening in the filling cone 71 by its peripheral lip 14 which rests on the flange 77 which forms a marginal portion of the top wall around the opening.

The removable lid 5 differs from the lid of the beverage maker of Figures 1 to 3 in that it comprises a screw cap 79 of plastics material. The screw cap 79 comprises an upper cup-shaped portion which has a continuous closed bottom wall 80 and an externally threaded cylindrical side wall 81. An annular wall 82 depends from the underside of the bottom wall 80 of the cup-shaped portion. In the lower edge of the wall 82 is an annular recess which receives the annular sealing washer 39. The screw cap 79 is fitted to the filling cone 71 by screwing the cup-shaped portion down into the well defined by the cylindrical portion 72 of the cone 71, the upper end of the cylindrical portion 72 being internally threaded to receive the threaded side wall 81 of the cup-shaped portion.The sealing washer 39 is clamped between the annular wall 82 and the annular rib 78 on the flange 77 when the screw cap 79 is fully screwed into the circular opening. A diametrical web 83 integral with the cup-shaped portion is provided as a finger grip to facilitate the fitting of the screw cap 79.

When the screw cap 79 is fitted to the filling cone 71, radial passages 84 in the annular wall 82 provide communication between a beverage collecting chamber formed by a cavity 45 in the lid 5 surrounded by the wall 82 and a manifold formed by an annular space 85 defined between the wall 82 and the cylindrical portion 72. An 'O'-ring seal 86 is provided in the screw th read of the cup-shaped portion to seal the annular space 85 from the exterior of the vessel.

The annular space 85 is open to a beverage outlet which comprises a connecting bush 87 of moulded plastics material permanently sealed into an opening 88 in the wall of the cylindrical portion 72. The bush 87 extends to the side wall of the vessel 4 where a threaded portion 89 extends through an opening in the wall. The bush 87 has an open-ended bore 90 extending through the whole of its length, one end of which opens out into the annular space 85. A discharge pipe 46 is pushed into the other end of the bore 90 and extends radially outwardly to the exterior of the vessel 4 where it leads to a beverage receiving vessel (not shown). The bush 87 is secured to the side wall of the vessel 4 by a threaded nut 91 also of moulded plastics material which screws onto the threaded portion 89 of the bush 87. As the nut 91 is screwed onto the threaded portion 90 a sealing washer 92 is clamped between a shoulder 93 on the bush 87 and the side wall of the vessel surrounding the opening. An 'O'-ring seal 94 is provided in a recess in the bush 87 to seal the discharge tube in the bore 90.

Alternatively, instead of being permanently sealed in the opening 88, the bush 87 may be detachably secured in the opening 88 with sealing means being provided to seal the interior of the bore 90 from the interior of the vessel 4.

The container 6 and tube 7 are substantially the same as described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 except that certain modifications have been made to facilitate removal of the container and insertion and removal of the removable platform 47 for filling and cleaning purposes.

The filter member 40 differs from the filter member shown in Figure 1 in that it has a flat perforate base 41 as opposed to a domed perforate base.

Also, secured to upper surface of the base 41 is a hollow cylindrical knob 95 having radial projections 95' which are provided to enable the filter member 40 to be easily lifted off the container 6 for filling or cleaning the container.

Secured to the perforate floor 96 of the container 6 is an upwardly extending cylindrical rod 99. The rod 99 is provided to enable the container S to be easily lifted out of the circular opening in the filling cone 71 forming the top wall of the vessel 4. When the filter member 40 is placed to cover the container S with its flange 43 overlying the upper face of the sealing washer 39, the rod 99 extends upwardly through an opening 98 in the filter member 40 and into the hollow knob 95.

In use of the apparatus the dry ingredient, such a ground coffee, is put in the container 6 under the filter member 40. It is important in making expresso coffee that the ground coffee be closely packed in the container 6. In making the maximum quantity of coffee the full capacity of the container is required and the ground coffee rests on the perforate floor of the container.

When less than the full amount of coffee is to be made the removable perforate platform disc 47 is inserted into the container 6 and this rests on an internal rib 48 on the side wall 12 of the container 6.

Secured in an opening in the disc 47 is an upwardly extending tubular sleeve 97 the bore of which is of greater diameter than the diameter of the rod 99. The rod 99 forms a guide for the sleeve 97 for insertion of the disc 47, the rod 99 extending upwardly through the bore of the sleeve 97 when the disc 47 is inserted into the container 6. Ground coffee is then put on top of the disc 47 and can still be closely packed but in a space of smaller volume in the upper part only of the container 6. A corresponding water level may be indicated by a rib (not shown) on the wall of the vessel 4. The hollow knob 95 covers the upper ends of the sleeve 97 and the rod 99 and seals the interior of the container 6 so that water cannot by-pass the ingredients in the container 6 by passing up the gap between the sleeve 97 and the rod.

When the container 6 is to be removed for cleaning and re-filling, firstly the filter member 40 is lifted off the container by lifing the knob 95. The container 6 can then usually be removed from the beverage maker by lifting the sleeve 97 because the ingredients will have swollen sufficiently to grip the walls of the container. If the disc 47 comes out of the container however the container can be removed by lifting the rod 99.

Alternatively, the rod 99 can be arranged to extend above the top of the sleeve 97 when the perforate disc 47 and the perforate floor 96 are in their operative positions so that the container 6 can be removed bodily from the beverage maker and then taken apart for cleaning.

The sheath of the immersion heater 8 (not shown in Figure 6) has an intermediate loop portion 101 which surrounds the pipe and two end portions 102 which each have a mounting head 103 sealed in an opening in the side wall of the vessel 4. The end portions 102 are disposed below a step 104 in the side wall and cold leads from the resistance element of the heater are connected through the openings in the wall to terminals 105 for connection to the electricity supply.

Athermal sensing means 106 (Figure 9) of known construction is mounted in contact with the outer wall of the vessel 4 at the step 104. The thermal sensing means 106 is arranged to actuate a cut-out switch to interrupt the supply of electric current to the immersion heater when there is no water left in the vessel 4.

In the bottom wall of the vessel 4 there is a small recess 107 directly below the tube 7 extending downwardly from the container 6. The tube 7 is arranged so that its bottom end is disposed just above the recess 107 and substantially level with the rest of the bottom wall of the vessel. This ensures that almost all of the boiling water in the vessel 4 rises up the tube 7 into the container 6.

A safety valve (not shown) similar two the safety valve 62 shown in Figure 3 is fitted to the top of the vessel 4 and is arranged to open if the pressure within the vessel becomes excessive.

The beverage maker is prepared for making a beverage in the same manner, and the beverage operates in the same way, as described above with reference to the beverage maker of Figures 1 to 3.

When the beverage maker is to be used the discharge pipe 46 is arranged so that its open outer end will transfer the beverage into a separate receiving vessel such as a jug or coffee pot alongside. The beverage maker and receiving vessel are preferably used with apparatus which includes means to ensure that the receiving vessel is present and correctly located in relation to the discharge pipe. The immersion heater can be energised only when the receiving vessel is properly positioned. It is deenergised when the beverage has been made and transferred to the receiving vessel.

The pressure-sensitive means may be a pressurerelief valve like the valve 49 of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, or a shut-off valve, for example like the combined pressure-sensitive and safety valve 63 of Figure 4 or 63' of Figure 5. Alternatively the pressure-sensitive means may comprise both a combined pressure-sensitive shut-off and safety valve and a pressu re-relief valve in the lower end of the tube 7.

Claims (34)

1. A pressure-type beverage maker comprising a sealable water vessel a tube extending from an inlet end low in the water vessel to, and in pressure-tig' relationship with, a container for dry ingredients for making a beverage and a beverage outlet leading from the container, the arrangerrent being such that in use of the beverage maker when the water in the water vessel boils the steam pressure generated forces water through the tube and under pressure through the ingredients in the container to the beverage outlet.

2. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 1 wherein the container for dry ingredients is disposed above or in an upper part of the water vessel.

3. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 1 wherein the container for dry ingredients is disposed alongside the water vessel.

4. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 3 wherein the tube enters the upper part of the container and the beverage outlet leads from a lower part of the container, the arrangement being such that, in use, water expelled from the water vessel is forced down through the contents of the container.

5. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any preceding claim and comprising an electric heater for heating water in the water vessel wherein means is provided for de-energising the heater when the bulk of the water has been discharged from the water vessel.

6. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 5 wherein the means for de-energising the heater comprises a temperature-sensitive device responsive to a rise in temperature due to the absence of water in the water vessel.

7. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any preceding claim wherein the beverage outlet extends from the container and is disposed and arranged to discharge the beverage to a separate beverage-receiving vessel.

8. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 7 and comprising an electric heater for heating water in the water vessel wherein means is provided for preventing the energising of the heater uless the separate beverage-receiving vessel is present and in correct position in relation to the beverage outlet.

9. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claims 5 and 7 or claims 5 and 8 wherein the means for de-energising the heater comprises a platform adapted to tilt and to operate an electric switch when relieved of the weight of water in the water vessel or loaded with the weight of beverage in the beveragereceiving vessel.

10. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims 7 to 9 wherein the separate beverage-receiving vessel is disposed alongside the water vessel.

11. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims 7 to 9 wherein the separate beverage-receiving vessel is disposed above or below the water vessel.

12. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any preceding claim wherein pressure-sensitive means is provided to control the passage of water through the tube and the container.

13. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 12 wherein the pressure-sensitive means comprises a pressure relie' valve disposed in the tube or at the inlet of the tube, the valve being nor maiiy closed and adapted to open only when a predetermined pressure in the water vessel has been reached.

14. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 13 wherein the pressure relief valve is such that the pre-determined pressure is reached only when the water in the water vessel boils.

15. A pressure-type beverage maker according ta claim 13 wherein the pressure relief valve is adjustable.

16. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims 12 to 15 wherein the pressurereliefvalve is removable from thetube.

17. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims 12 to 16 wherein the pressure relief valve is a spring-loaded ball valve.

18. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims 12 to 17 wherein the pressure-sensitive means comprises a pressuresensitive shut-off valve which is normally effectively open and is disposed in a vent from the water vessel to atmosphere, the arrangement being such that, in use, the shut-off valve remains effectively open while the water is being heated until the restriction imposed by the shut-offvalve upon the escape of water vapourthrough the vent causes a rise in pressure within the water vessel sufficient to cause the shut-off valve to close the vent.

19. Apressure-type beverage maker according to claim 18 wherein the shut-off valve comprises a valve member which has a stem extending through, and smaller in cross-section than, the vent and, within the water vessel a frusto-conical tail tapering towards the stem and having a maximum crosssection greater than that of the vent.

20. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 18 wherein the shut-off valve comprises a valve member which has a stem extending through, and smaller in cross-section than, the vent and within the water vessel a tail which is dished and concave on the side towards the vent.

21. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of claims 18 to 20 wherein a or the valve member ofthe shut-off valve is made of flexible material.

22. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 21 wherein the shut-off valve serves also as a safety valve to relieve excessive pressure in the water vessel, the valve member being so formed that, in use, excessive pressure in the water vessel will cause the valve memberto be expelled bodily through the vent.

23. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims 1 to 6 orto any one of preceding claims 12 to 22 as appendantto any one of preceding claims 1 to 6 wherein a beverage receiving vessel is secured as an upper vessel to the beverage maker.

24. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claims 2 and 7 or any one of claims 8 to 10 or 12 to 22 as appendent to claims 2 and 7 wherein the container is supported in an opening in a top wall of the water vessel, the beverage maker including a filter member covering the container, a sealing member engageable with the marginal portion of the top wall around the opening, a removable hollow lid adapted to be secured to the water vessel and tightenable upon the sealing member to form a sealed joint between the water vessel and the filter member, the interior of the hollow lid forming a beverage collecting chamber from which leads the beverage outlet.

25. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 24 wherein the lid is removably secured to the water vessel by a fixed retainer and a releasable catch on opposite sides of the opening in the top wall of the water vessel.

26. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 24 wherein the top wall of the water vessel comprises a portion defining a well in the base of which is the opening in which the container is supported, a hollow lid releasably securable in the well and adapted to form a pressure-tight closure of the mouth of the well, the lid and the wall of the well defining a manifold open to the beverage collecting chamber and to a beverage outlet in the wall of the well.

27. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 26 wherein the well is cylindrical and the hollow lid where it is received in the well is of complementary shape, the lid being releasably secured to the water vessel by a joint engageable and disengageable by relative rotary movement.

28. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 27 wherein the joint is a screw-threaded joint.

29. A pressure-type beverage maker according to claim 27 or 28 wherein a rotary seal between the lid and the wall of the well forms the pressure tight closure of the mouth of the well.

30. A pressure-type beverage maker according to any one of preceding claims wherein the beverage outlet comprises a bush connecting the wall of the well to the wall of the water vessel and having a bore one end of which is open to the interior of the well and the other end open to the exterior of the water vessel, the said other end of the bore being extended by a discharge pipe.

31. A pressure-type beverage maker substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

32. A pressure-type beverage maker substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

33. A pressure-type beverage maker substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figures 1 to 3 as modified by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

34. A pressure-type beverage maker substantially as described herein with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.