GB2253990A

GB2253990A - Kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2253990A
Application number: GB9106566A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Higgins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-03-27
Filing date: 1991-03-27
Publication date: 1992-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-27
Also published as: GB2253990B; GB9106566D0

Abstract

A kettle (1) comprises a base portion (5) having a fluid inlet (13) and outlet (14), and a receptacle locatable in a filling position in communicative engagement with the fluid outlet (14) of the base portion (15). The base portion (5) may be coupled to a mains water supply. Cooperating valves (7, 10) are provided on the receptacle and base respectively, these being selectively actuable between an open position in which, in the filling position, fluid may pass into the receptacle via the base portion (15), and a closed position in which passage of fluid into the receptacle is substantially inhibited. Typically, the valves (7, 10) will be set to the open position when the receptacle is initially placed in fluid communicative engagement with the base portion (5), and set to the closed position when the fluid in the receptacle reaches the position of the float limit (18). <IMAGE>

Description

KETTLE This invention relates to kettles.

According to the invention, there is provided a kettle comprising: (a) a base portion having fluid inlet means connected via a conduit to fluid outlet means, said fluid outlet means including first valve means arranged to be selectively closable to prevent passage of said fluid out of said outlet means; (b) a fluid receptacle locatable in a filling position adjacent to or contiguous with said base portion, in which position second valve means provided on said receptacle operatively co-operates with said first valve means, said first and second valve means being selectively operable between respective open conditions in which fluid may pass into said receptacle, and respective closed positions in which passage of said fluid into said receptacle is substantially inhibited; and (c) heating means for selectively raising the temperature of said fluid in said receptacle.

It is preferred that the receptacle is locatable on top of the base portion in the filling position. Preferably, in placing the receptacle on the base portion, the first and second valve means are set to their respective open conditions such that pressurised fluid may pass along the conduit and then, via the outlet means in the base portion, into the receptacle.

Advantageously, control means are provided for setting either of the first or second valve means (preferably both) to their closed position once the level of the fluid in the receptacle has reached a predetermined set value. In a preferred embodiment this may be achieved by means of a limit switch positioned at a desired location in the receptacle, which switch actuates either the first or second valve means when the fluid level has reached the set value.

Advantageously, the first valve means is electrically actuable and may be for example a solenoid valve, such that electrical energisation thereof when the receptacle is in the filling position sets the first valve means to its open condition. Preferably the limit means is electrically connected to the first valve means and arranged to set the first calve means to its closed position when the predetermined fluid level is reached.

It is particularly preferred that the second valve means is arranged to automatically be set in the closed position when the receptacle is removed from the base portion.

To this end, it is preferred that the second valve means is in the form of a non-return valve, preferably having a valve sealing member biased into sealing engagement with a valve seat such as the second valve member is normally closed. Typically the valve seating member is biased into engagement with the valve means by means of a resilient biasing member such as a coil spring or the like.

It is preferred that the inlet means in the base portion is adapted to be coupled with a fluid connection to a fluid supply source, such as for example a domestic water tank or mains.

Advantageously, the heating means is in the form of an electrical heating element which is preferably arranged to be connected to a mains electrical supply when the receptacle is located in the filling position. The heating element may be provided either in the base portion, in which case the lowermost portion of the receptacle will be of a thermally conducting material, or in the receptacle.

In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is provided in the receptacle, with electrical connection made via respective electrically conducting connections provided on the receptacle and base portion which are arranged to be in conducting contact when the receptacle is in the filling position located on the base portion. Typically, suitable electrical circuitry and respective conducting connections are provided on the base portion and receptacle such that where one or other of the first and second valve means are electrically actuable, they are also connectable to the mains electricity supply.

Electrical connection with the mains supply is then usually effected by means of. a suitable connecting cable arranged to extend from the base portion to a mains electrical socket.

It is further preferred that the receptacle is provided with a handle, which advantageously is hollow and defines a channel communicating at a first end thereof with the interior of the receptacle. Advantageously, the hollow handle defining the channel is open at a second end such that when the receptacle is in the filling position, the channel defined by the handle communicates at the second end remote from the first end with the end of an overflow duct provided in the base portion.

The invention will now be further described in a particular embodiment, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a schematic section through a kettle according to the invention.

The kettle generally designated 1 has a spout 2 and a hollow handle 3.

The kettle 1 is located by means of lugs 4 on a base plinth 5, the lugs 4 engaging complementary recesses provided in the base plinth 5. The kettle 1 has an internal housing column 6 which houses a non spring return valve comprising a conical valve member 7 located in a complementarily shaped valve sent 8, with the valve member 7 being biased against sent seven (in a closed condition) by compression spring 9.

The base plinth 5 is provided with a solenoid valve 10 having an "L shaped" bore 11 provided therethrough extending from a position sealed from and adjacent to one end 12 of a pressurised water inlet duct 13, to an exit port on an upwardly projecting portion 14 of the solenoid valve 10.

In use, an empty kettle 1 is placed on the plinth 5 with the lugs 4 received in respective recesses. The kettle is then rotated in the plinth 5 through an angle of approximately 5 to bring respective pairs of electrical contacts 14,15,16 provided on the plinth 5 and kettle 1 into contiguous relationship. Electrical contact 16.is connected to the mains electrical supply via an on/off switch 23 which is usually left in the on position. With the kettle 1 in position on the plinth (i.e. in its filling position), an electrical circuit is effected between the mains and the solenoid valve 10 which is energised and moves downwardly from its "closed" position as shown in the drawing to its "open" position with the "L shaped" bore 11 in communication with the end 12 of the water inlet duct 13.The inlet duct 13 is connected to the mains water supply, and pressurised water is thus able to flow through the "L shaped" bore in the solenoid valve 10 when in its "open" position. The force exerted on the conical valve member 7 by the pressurised mains water is such that the spring 9 is compressed as the valve member rises from the position shown in the diagram, away from the valve sent 8. The pressurised water is thus able to flow between the surface of the conical valve member and valve sent and enter the interior of the kettle 1 via outlet apertures 17 provided through the housing column 6.

The solenoid valve 10 remains in the "open" position and the kettle 1 continues to fill with water until the level of the water in the kettle reaches the position of the float limit 18 whereupon an electrical signal passes back to the solenoid valve via the electrical contacts 14, and the solenoid valve is returned to its "closed" position as shown in the diagram.

As the pressurised water supply through the solenoid valve 10 is cut off, the spring return valve is urged by the spring 9 back into its closed position (as shown in the diagram) with the conical valve member 7 located in sealing engagement with the valve sent 8 When the kettle 1 is in position on the base plinth 5, the electrical contact 16 also connects the heating element 19 to the mains electricity causing the water in the kettle to be heated.

In case the float/limit switch should fail to operate correctly, an overflow channel is defined from the interior of the kettle 1 down through the interior of the hollow handle 3 and overflow chamber 20 provided in the base which communicates with outlet duct 21. Seals 22 such as conventional rubber "0" ring seals are provided for the solenoid valve 10 to prevent leakage of water whilst the kettle is filling.

Once the kettle has been filled, and the water inside heated, the kettle 1 can be lifted off the base plinth 5 and used as desired without fear of leakage through the spring return valve.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A kettle comprising: (a) a base portion having fluid inlet means connected via a conduit to fluid outlet means, said fluid outlet means including first valve means arranged to be selectively closable to prevent passage of said fluid out of said outlet means; (b) a fluid receptacle locatable in a filling position adjacent to or contiguous with said base portion, in which position second valve means provided on said receptacle operatively co-operates with said first valve means, said first and second valve means being selectively operable between respective open conditions in which fluid may pass into said receptacle, and respective closed positions in which passage of said fluid into said receptacle is substantially inhibited; and (c) heating means for selectively raising the temperature of said fluid in said receptacle.

2. A kettle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is locatable on top of the base portion in the filling position.

3. A kettle according to claim 2, wherein the first and second valve means are arranged to be set to their respective open postions when the receptacle is placed on the base portion.

4. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein control means is provided for setting either of the first or second valve means to its respective closed position once the level of the fluid in the receptacle has reached a predetermined set value.

5. A kettle according to claim 4, wherein the control means is electrically connected to the first valve means and arranged to set the first valve means to its closed position when the predetermined fluid level is reached.

6. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the first valve means is electrically actuable.

7. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the second valve means is arranged to automatically be set in the closed position when the receptacle is removed from the base portion.

8. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the second valve means is in the form of a non-return valve.

9. A kettle according to claim 8, wherein said non-return valve comprises a valve sealing member biased into sealing engagement with a valve seat such that the second valve member is normally closed.

10. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the inlet means in the base portion is adapted to be coupled with a fluid connection to a fluid supply source.

11. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating means is in the form of an electrical heating element.

12. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating means is provided in the receptacle, with electrical connection made via respective electrically conducting connections provided on the receptacle and base portion which are arranged to be in conducting contact when the receptacle is in the filling position.

13. A kettle according to any preceding claim, wherein the receptacle is provided with a handle.

14. A kettle according to claim 13, wherein the handle is hollow and defines a channel communicating at a first end thereof with the interior of the receptacle.

15. A kettle according to claim 14, wherein the hollow handle defining the channel is open at a second end such that when the receptacle is in the filling position, the channel defined by the handle communicates at the second end remote from the first end with the end of an overflow duct provided in the base portion.

16. A kettle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.