GB2407478A

GB2407478A - Electronically-controlled domestic kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2407478A
Application number: GB0325111A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tarquin Andrew Richard Stehle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-10-28
Filing date: 2003-10-28
Publication date: 2005-05-04
Anticipated expiration: 2023-10-28
Also published as: GB2407478B; GB0325111D0

Abstract

A domestic kettle having a body 1 to contain water has electronic control means including a temperature sensing means 3 to detect the temperature of the kettle or water therein. The sensing means has its own low voltage electrical power supply within the kettle. The temperature sensing means may be of positive and negative electrical junction type. The temperature may be displayed at 4, eg digitally by a liquid crystal quartz display. The control means may include an electronic latch and a triac for switching on or off of the kettle's heating element 2. There may also be an electrical button switch. An electronic alarm may sound when the water boils. The temperature sensing means may comprise a thermocouple.

Description

Domestic Electronic kettle This invention relates to a domestic electronic

kettle.

Domestic kettles for boiling water, normally used in kitchens in the home are well known. Cold water is put in to them and the kettle plugged into the electricity supply and switched on. An electrical heating element in the kettle heats up till the water boils and a bi-metallic strip bends in the heat and pulls apart electrical contacts to switch off the kettle's heater element, thus stopping the water from continuing to boil. When this happens a person near the kettle can normally hear a click as the bimetallic heat sensitive switch operates the kettles power switch, in most kettles the bi-metallic strip is connected to the kettle's (mains electrical kettle power on/off switch) that controls the kettle's operation.

The kettle's on/off power switch being manually reset to the off position by the bi-metallic strip bending. The kettle on/opower switch being reset to the (kettle off position) to control the temperature of the kettle and stop the water from boiling by mechanical means.

As with many mechanical devices however they are prone to wear, and eventual wear out, and failure.

It would be nice to provide an electronic solution.

to this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a domestic electronic kettle consisting of;- an electronic thermostat, positive / negative (p.n.) junction or thermocouple, temperature sensor, or electrical or electronic thermometer and thermometer power supply using low voltage (not shown). Using electronics the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the kettle in advancing or decreasing increments and switches off the kettles heater element by means of an electric or electronic switch. When the water temperature in the kettle reaches the boiling point of water and sounds an alarm when the water in the kettle boils, the temperature of the kettles is displayed on the kettle using a digital temperature read out display.

The invention may use transformers, electronic gates, counters, timers, display drivers, triacs, (L.C.D) displays, an on/off button switch, rectifier, smoothing capacitors, timers, regulators and an opto isolator.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows the kettles heater, temperature gauge and thermostat, (p.n.) junction, thermocouple heat sensor or thermometer.

Figure 2 shows the kettles heat sensor or thermostat, driver and liquid crystal quartz temperature display.

Figure 3 shows the temperature sensor alarm driver and alarm Figure 4 shows the temperature sensor on /off latch, electrical switch or triac, on/off button and kettle heater element.

Referring to the drawings the electronic kettle comprises of a kettle water container or body 1, kettle heater element 2, heat thermostat, temperature gauge, (p.n.) junction or electrical or electronic thermometer 3, temperature display 4, display driver 6, alarm 7, alarm driver 5, on/off latch 8, and electronic heater switch or triac 9.

The heat sensor 3, positive negative (p.n.) junction or thermocouple or electrical or electronic thermometer measure the temperature of the kettle or water in increments and display's on liquid crystal quartz (L.C. D.) display 4,the temperature and also connects to alarm driver 6, alarm 7, and heater cut out or on switch triac 9, to switch clothe kettle's heater element 2, when the water boils and sound an electronic alarm. The the heat sensor 3, latches a latch or gate provided 8, to control the heater eleniem - status switching heater element 2, using a triac 9, and water boiling alarm or kettle off alarm 7, as no mechanical water boiled kettle off sound is heard.

When the kettle is switched on the water temperature read out is displayed on a L.C.D.

display 4, of the kettle. When the water boils an electronic alarm sounds and the kettle switches off Using the electronic heater off /on switch or triac switch,9 and electronic gate and or latch 8, The kettle can be switched on and Effusing a normal electrical button switch 10. and contains a low power electrical power supply housed in the kettle to run the thermometer.

Claims

Claims 1 A domestic electronic kettle comprising a kettle body in the form

of a water container for holding water the body being adapted to contain a electrical or electronic thermometer for temperature sensing of the kettle's water temperature or kettle's temperature containing the thermometer's own low voltage electrical power supply within the kettle.

2 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature of the kettle or kettle's water temperature is measured in increasing increments.

3 A domestic electric kettle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the temperature is measured in decreasing increments.

4 A domestic electric kettle as claimed in claim Iwherein a temperature display read out is housed on the kettle A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 where an electronic alarm sounds when the water reaches boiling point.

6 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 where an electronic latch or gate is used to switch off the kettles heater element.

7 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 wherein a triac is used to switch on and off the kettles electrical heater element.

8 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 wherein an electrical button switch is used to operate the kettle.

9 A domestic electronic kettle substantially as described herein with reference to figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. -at

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1 A domestic electronic kettle comprising a kettle body for holding water, a heater element for heating the water, a thermocouple temperature sensor for sensing the temperature of the kettle or water therein, the sensor having its own low voltage power supply, an electronic temperature display operated in response to a signal from the sensor, an electronic latch and push button for operating the electronic latch to switch the power supply to the heater element on and off, the electronic latch also being operated to switch off the power supply to the heater element in response to a signal from the sensor.

2 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electronic temperature display is a liquid crystal quartz display.

3 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 or 2 also comprising an electronic alarm to sound when the water reaches boiling point.

4 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim in any preceding claim wherein a triac is used to switch on or off the power supply to the heater element.

A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in any of my preceding claims where in the temperature is measured in increasing or decreasing increments.

-

6 A domestic electronic kettle as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as described herein with reference to figures lto 4 of the accompanying drawings.