GB2425037A

GB2425037A - Indicating the amount of water in a kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2425037A
Application number: GB0503275A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Shane Allen Carr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-16
Filing date: 2005-02-16
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: GB0503275D0

Abstract

A domestic kettle includes means for determining the weight of water in the kettle and deriving therefrom an indication of the volume of water. For example, the weight may be determined by a load cell 105 in the handle (or lower portion) of the kettle and the volume displayed by an indicator 106. Alternatively, one or more strain gauges may be incorporated in the kettle, eg in its handle or base. The indication of volume may be visual, audible or both.

Description

WATER GAUGES FOR KEFLES

The present invention relates to domestic kettles and more specifically to kettles in which water is heated electrically.

In the interests both of economy and the production of greenhouse gases, it is desirable to minimise the use of fossil fuels, either directly, or indirectly, in the form of electricity.

One way of doing this is to reduce the amount of water heated in domestic kettles - ideally only to that which actually is required at any given time. To facilitate this, kettles of the jug type, which have a generally cylindrical shape, often are provided with calibrated sight gauges.

However, usually these are provided one side of the kettle only and often are the source of a leak. Also, these water gauges are difficult to view when actually filling the kettle.

Therefore, such devices are not entirely satisfactory.

it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and means for determining the amount of water in a domestic kettle.

According to the invention, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of water in a domestic kettle, comprising the operations of determining the weight of water present in the kettle and deriving therefrom an indication of the volume of water in the kettle.

According to the invention in second aspect, there is provided a domestic kettle including means for determining the weight of water in the kettle and means responsive thereto to provide an indication of the volume of water in the kettle.

The weight of water in the kettle may be determined directly by means of a load cell incorporated in the structure of the handle or lower portion of the kettle or by means of one or more strain gauges incorporated in the structure of the kettle, for example, in its handle or its base.

As the density of water is. for all practical purposes, constant, a measurement of the weight of water in the kettle is a direct measure of the volume of water in the kettle.

The indication of the volume of water in the kettle may be visual, audible, or both.

The invention will now be described, by way of example Ofliy, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic representation of one type of kettle embodying the invention, and Figure 2 shows alternative weight sensors for use in the type of kettle shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a second type of kettle embodying the invention.

Referring to Figure i of the drawings, a portion of an electric kettle 100 of the so-called jug type is shown. The kettle 100 has a water chamber 101 which is extended vertically, so that a relatively small amount of water is required initially to cover an electric heating element (not shown in the drawing) which is incorporated in the bottom of chamber 101 of the kettle 100. As is normal practice, the heating element may be energised via a removable lead, or via a plug and socket connection in a separate base unit. As the power supply connection to the heating element does not form part of the invention, neither form of power supply connection is illustrated. Extending along one side of the chamber 101 of the kettle 100 is an handle 102. Surrounding the handle 102 is a movable sleeve 103 at the upper end of which is a collar 104. The collar 104 bears against a weight sensor including a load cell 105, which is fixed in relation to the handle 102. The load cell 105 produces an electrical signal which is a direct ftmction of the weight of water in the kettle 100. The output signal from the load cell 105 is applied to an indicator unit 106 incorporated in the top of the handle 102 of the kettle 100. The indicator unit 106 is adapted to transform the output signal from the load cell into a corresponding indication of the volume of water in the kettle, which is displayed in alpha-numeric characters in terms of litres Alternatively, the volume of water in the kettle 100 can be displayed in terms of cups of water. Other forms of indication of the volume of the water in the kettle 100 which may be used are a series of light-emitting diodes which light up sequentially or consecutively as the volume of water in the kettle increases, and/or an audible signal to facilitate the use of kettles incorporating the invention by people with impaired vision.

Figure 2 shows examples of a second way in which the weight, and hence the volume, of water in a kettle can be determined. In this case, pressure sensors 20C) are used which respond to reaction forces between the handle 201 of a jug-type kettle 202 and the hand of a user of the kettle. There are shown three possible positions for such a sensor, labelled A, B and C. Positioned at position A, the sensor 200 measures the reaction forces between the handle 201 of the kettle 202 and the index finger of a person holding the kettle 202; at position B the sensor 207 measures the total gripping force of the hand of the user of the kettle 202 and at position C the sensor 200 measures the reaction forces between the handle 201 of the kettle and the heel of the palm of the hand of the user of the kettle 201.

As an alternative to measuring the weight of water in the kettle by means of load or pressure sensors, one or more strain gauges can be incorporated in the structure of the is kettle to measure distortions of the structure of the kettle as it is filled.

Figure 3 shows a kettle of a more traditional shape, which may be electrically heated or have a flat base so that it may be heated externally.

The kettle 300 shown in figure 3 has an approximately hemispherically shaped water chamber 301 with a handle 302 which is cantilevered over the water chamber 301 of the kettle 300. The part of the handle 302 which is above the centre of gravity of the chamber 301 of the kettle 300 is provided with a sleeve 303 which can move vertically with relation to the handle 302 of the kettle 300. Interposed between the handle 302 of the kettle 300 and the sleeve 303 is a load cell (not visible in the drawing). As before, a visual, audible or both, water volume indicator 304, is provided.

This fbrm of the invention is applicable equally to traditionally shaped kettles in which the handle forms a complete loop over the top of the kettle.

In this form of the invention, the sleeve 303 and load cell may be replaced by a strain gauge positioned to measure distortions of the handle 302 of the kettle 300 as the weight of water increases.

When an audible indication of the volume of water in the kettle is used, the nature of the sound emitted by the indicator unit can be made to be a function of the volume of water in the kettle.. For example, the pitch or amplitude of the sound can be made to increase with the volume of water in the kettle.

Also, provision may be made for the inclusion of an alarm which can be set to sound when a predetermined volume of water is in the kettle.

Claims

L

A method of measuring the amount of water in a domestic kettle, comprising the operations of determining the weight water present in the kettle and deriving therefrom an indication of the volume of water in the kettle.
2. A domestic kettle including means for determining the weight of water in the kettle and means responsive thereto to provide an indication of the volume of water in the kettle.
3. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the kettle has a substantially vertically orientated handle and the means for determining the weight of water in the kettle comprises an abutment forming part of the handle of the kettle, a sleeve surrounding a portion of the handle and adapted to move vertically in relation thereto so as to bear on a load cell associated with the said abutment, the load cell being adapted to produce an output signal related to the weight of the water in the kettle.
4. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the kettle has a substantially vertically oriented handle and the means for determining the weight of water in the kettle comprises a load cell adapted to determine reaction forces between the handle of the kettle and the hand of a person filling the kettle with water and produce an output signal related to the weight of water in the kettle
5. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the kettle has a handle, a portion of which is substantially horizontally oriented and the means for determining the weight of water in the kettle comprises a sleeve encompassing the substantially horizontally oriented portion of the kettle and adapted to move vertically in relation thereto and a load cell interposed between the said sleeve and the substantially horizontal portion of the handle of the kettle and adapted to produce an output signal related to the weight of water in the kettle.
6. A kettle according to claim 2 wherein the means for determining the weight of water in the kettle comprises a strain gauge incorporated in the structure of the kettle and adapted to measure distortions of the structure of the kettle due to the weight of water in the kettle and adapted to produce an output signal related thereto.
7. A kettle according to any of claims 2 to 6 wherein the means for mdicating the volume of water in the kettle is adapted to indicate the volume of water visually.
8. A kettle according to claim 7 wherein the volume of water in the kettle is indicated in SI units.

I
9. A kettle according to claim 7 wherein the volume of water in the kettle is indicated symbolically.
10. A kettle according to any of claims 2 to 9 wherein the volume of water in the kettle is indicated aurally.
11. A method of determining the volume of water in a kettle substantially as hereinbefore described.
12. A kettle including means for determining the volume of water in the kettle substantially as herembefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.