GB2470723A

GB2470723A - Apparatus for the efficient use of a kettle

Info

Publication number: GB2470723A
Application number: GB0909361A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Salmon
Original assignee: ENAGY Ltd; GREENPOLLY Ltd
Current assignee: ENAGY Ltd; GREENPOLLY Ltd
Priority date: 2009-06-01
Filing date: 2009-06-01
Publication date: 2010-12-08
Also published as: GB0909361D0

Abstract

An apparatus for the efficient operation of a kettle is provided, the apparatus comprising means for determining the amount of water present in the kettle both before the water in the kettle is dispensed and after the heated water in the kettle is dispensed; means for determining the efficiency of the use of the kettle from the determined amounts of water; and means for indicating the determined efficiency to a user. A method for operating a kettle is also provided, the method comprising making a first determination of the amount of water in kettle at the kettle; heating the water in the kettle; making a second determination of the amount of water in the kettle after the heating cycle has been completed; and determining the efficiency of the use of the kettle to a user from the first and second determinations.

Description

APPARATUS FOR THE EFFICIENT OPERATION OF A KETTLE AND

METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the efficient operation of a kettle, in particular a kettle for domestic use, and to a method of operating the same.

Domestic kettles are used in large numbers to heat and boil water for a variety of uses, perhaps most commonly to provide hot water for beverages.

Typically, the kettle is filled with water indiscriminately by the user with little or no regard to the actual volume of water required for the number and size of the beverages being prepared. As a result, a significant volume of water is heated unnecessarily each time the kettle is used, in turning resulting in a waste of energy. Many kettles are provided with a means for indicating the volume of water in the kettle, typically comprising a transparent portion of the body of the S...

kettle or handle, allowing the level of water in the kettle to be viewed by the user. However, while such means are present in many modern domestic kettles, they are used very little to accurately regulate the volume of water being heated.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved kettle or other system to easily allow the user to control the volume of water being heated, with a view to reducing the heating of excess volumes of water and the consequent waste of energy.

GB 2 425 037 discloses a domestic kettle having means for determining the weight of water in the kettle and therefrom deriving an indication of the volume of water in a kettle. GB 2 425 037 proposes providing the kettle with a load cell or one or more strain gauges, connected to a suitable display for indicating the volume of water present in the kettle. It is mentioned in GB 2 425 037 that the volume of water may be indicated in terms of the actual volume of water in litres, or in terms of cups of water.

More recently, GB 2 444 329 proposes an energy-saving kettle system, in which a kettle is provided with a water supply tank and a pumping mechanism to deliver water from the tank into the kettle for heating. The weight of water in the kettle is determined and a microprocessor operates the pump to dispense the volume of water indicated as required by the user. The system may have a control panel that is calibrated in terms of cups of water, allowing the user to instruct the system to heat the required volume of water. It would appear that the system of GB 2 444 329 is very complex, in particular for use in a domestic location.

As a result, despite several attempts at reducing the operation of domestic kettles from wasting energy, there is a need for a simple system that allows the user to more accurately control the volume of water being heated. It * ** 20 would also be very useful if the system could be implemented with existing kettles, obviating the need for the user to replace an existing kettle that may still be in sound working order. * S. * S *

Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for the efficient operation of a kettle, the apparatus comprising: means for measuring the amount of water present in a kettle both before the water in the kettle is dispensed and after the heated water in the kettle is dispensed; means for determining the efficiency of the use of the kettle from the measurements; and means for indicating the determined efficiency to a user.

The apparatus of the invention provides the user with an indication of the efficiency of the heating cycle completed by the user. In particular, the S apparatus indicates to the user the extent to which the heated water has been used efficiently. It is commonly the case that users of kettles fill the kettle with more water than is required for the purpose at hand: In such cases, all the water contained in the kettle is heated, typically being heated to boiling, but only a portion of the thus heated water is actually dispensed and used. The remaining water is typically left in the kettle and allowed to cool, often significantly from boiling point to room or ambient temperature. The apparatus of the present invention provides the user with an indication of the extent to which the kettle has been used efficiently. This is achieved by comparing the amount of the water heated in the kettle during the heating cycle with the amount of water remaining in the kettle after the heated water has been dispensed. In this way, the user is provided with an indication of the level of efficiency of use of energy, most typically electricity, to heat the water.

*: The term heating cycle' as used herein is a reference to the operation of * heating a quantity of water in the kettle, as follows. Typically, but not * 20 necessarily, the cycle begins with water being provided to the kettle. The kettle is activated to provide energy to heat the water in the kettle. The water may be heated to any desired temperature. Most commonly, the water is heated to its boiling point or close thereto. Once the water has been heated to the desired temperature, water is typically dispensed from the kettle. This may leave the kettle empty of water or, commonly, the kettle will contain residual heated water. The heating cycle may then be repeated, as required, either using the water remaining in the kettle or with addition of further water to the kettle. On occasions, the heating cycle may be completed and no water dispensed from the kettle. This scenario is discussed in more detail below.

The means for measuring the amount of water may determine the amount in any suitable manner, for example by measuring the volume of water in the kettle. In one embodiment, the said means determines the amount of water by measuring the weight of water in the kettle. Suitable means for weighing the amount of water present in the kettle are known in the art and are commercially available.

The means for measuring the amount of water may be integral with a kettle. For example, the kettle may be provided with suitable means to measure the weight of water in the kettle at the appropriate points in the io heating cycle. Examples of suitable means include toad cells and the like, details of which are known in the art. The means for measuring the weight of water in the kettle may provided in the base of the kettle. Alternatively, the means may be provided in a base or stand, on which the kettle is placed in order to operate the heating cycle. Such designs of kettle are known in the art and available commercially.

If the means for determining the amount of water are separate from the kettle, the means preferably determine the amount of water by weighing. If separate from the kettle, the means will typically be arranged to respond both *::: to the weight of water in the kettle and the weight of the kettle itself. In such a case, the apparatus must be arranged to make a determination of the amount :.:e of water in the kettle by subtracting the weight of the kettle from the total weight of water and kettle. * **

: The means for determining the amount of water present in the kettle may be operable to determine the amount at the start of the heating cycle.

Alternatively, the means may be arranged to determine the amount of water once the water has been heated and before the water is dispensed. The means also makes a determination of the amount of water present in the kettle after the heating cycle, typically after heated water has been dispensed.

In one embodiment, the means for determining the amount of water in the kettle is operable continuously throughout the heating cycle. In this case, the means provides information relating to the amount of water continuously, to be used in the determination of the efficiency of the heating cycle.

The apparatus further comprises a means for determining the efficiency of the heating cycle, and hence the use made of the kettle by the user. The means may comprise any suitable processor for receiving data relating to the amount of water present in the kettle and determining the efficiency therefrom.

Suitable processors are known in the art and available commercially.

io The efficiency of the heating cycle is determined by comparing the amount of water in the kettle before heated water is dispensed and the amount of heated water remaining in the kettle after dispensing. At one extreme, the water in the kettle is heated and no water is dispensed, resulting in an efficiency of zero. At the other extreme, all the heated water in the kettle is dispensed, leaving the kettle empty, resulting in maximum efficiency, that is 100%.

The apparatus further comprises a means for indicating the efficiency to the user. The indication may be any suitable display operated by the processor to inform the user of the efficiency. The display may be any combination of ...2o audio and/or visual features. Suitable displays include one or more light displays, such as LED displays. Again, suitable display means are known in * ** * the art and are commercially available.

The efficiency of a heating cycle of the kettle may be determined as fotlows: The user begins the heating cycle with an amount of water A in the kettle. This may be water added to the kettle or water remaining in the kettle from the previous heating cycle. The kettle is activated to heat the water. The user dispenses heated water from the kettle, leaving an amount of water B in the kettle. The efficiency E of the heating cycle in percent may be calculated as follows: E = [(A-B)/A] x 100 s When using the above formula to determine the efficiency E, it will be noted that A and B must be the amount of water present in the kettle and the relevant times in the heating cycle and not the combination of water and kettle.

In one embodiment, the apparatus provides an indication of efficiency for each heating cycle to the user. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus provides both an indication of efficiency for each heating cycle, together with a indication of the cumulative efficiency over a plurality of successive heating cycles. In this case, the apparatus comprises a means for storing efficiency data from where data may be retrieved by the processor, as required. Suitable storage means are again known in the art and commercially available. By displaying a cumulative efficiency of a plurality of heating cycles, the user is encouraged to use the kettle in a more efficient manner.

The cumulative efficiency of a plurality of heating cycles may be 1) determined as follows: * *e * * * *S*S The amount of water present in the kettle at the beginning of a heating cycle n is A. As noted above, this amount of water may be remaining from the previous heating cycle A1 or may include water added to the kettle by the user for the heating cycle A. The heating cycle is completed and an amount of heated water dispensed in heating cycle n is B. The cumulative efficiency AE in percent of the kettle operation is determined as follows: AE = LIi..�A + . + A+A) -+ . + Bj)j x 100 (A1 + A2 + + A1 + A) s One potential problem with the determination of a cumulative efficiency arises in cases where the user reheats the water in the kettle without adding water to the kettle. This occurs, for example when a user pours heated water several times in succession over a short period of time, such that the water remains hot enough to use for the intended purpose and does not require reheating. In such a case, the apparatus is preferably arranged to wait a preset period of time after each occasion that water is poured from the kettle, as indicated by a reduction in the amount of water present in the kettle.

Alternatively, the apparatus may identify when the heating cycle has completed, for example when an electric kettle is switched off (either manually or automatically) and have the preset period of time begin at this point. If the amount of water in the kettle is reduced one or more further times before the preset period has elapsed, the system will determine the efficiency of the just completed heating cycle using the final amount of water present in the kettle at the end of the preset period. If the amount of water in the kettle is reduced :.::. 20 after the end of the preset period of time has elapsed, it may be assumed that the user will have reheated the water in the kettle and hence this will be treated as a further completed heating cycle and the efficiency determined accordingly.

A further problem arises when the user heats water in the kettle and does not dispense the heated water during the preset period of time. Again, to accommodate such a situation, the apparatus preferably determines the amount of water present in the kettle after a preset period of time has elapsed since the heating cycle, so as to allow the user an opportunity to dispense water. If no water is dispensed during the preset period of time, the amount of water determined to be present in the kettle at the end of the preset period will be the same as the initial determination. In such a case, the apparatus will calculate the efficiency of the heating cycle as being zero, with all the water present in the kettle before the heating cycle remaining in the kettle.

The preset period of time may be any suitable period of time that is typically the length of time a user takes to dispense heated water from a kettle without reheating the water. The preset period of time is preferably from 2 to minutes, more preferably from 3 to 8 minutes, with about 5 minutes being especially preferred.

As noted above, the preset period of time may start from the moment the heating cycle ends, such as when the kettle is switched off. In the case of an apparatus that is entirely separate from the kettle, the preset period of time may be started when there is determined to be a change in the amount of water present in the kettle, in particular an increase. This may arise because water is added to the kettle or the kettle is placed or replaced onto the apparatus, for example after being filled directly from a tap or the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to provide an indication of the amount of water present in the kettle during the heating cycle in terms of a number of receptacles being used by the user, in particular a number of cups or mugs. In this regard, the processor may be programmed to equate a given amount of water with a particular receptacle. Alternatively, and * more preferably, the processor may be arranged to be programmed by the :.: user, so as to relate the amount of water present in the kettle to one or more different receptacles actually being used by the user. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus is arranged to provide the user with an indication of the amount of water present in the kettle, in terms of the number of receptacles of water, at the start of the heating cycle, that is before the user adds water to the kettle. In this way, the user is encouraged to avoid overfilling the kettle, that is filling the kettle with more water than is required, and using the kettle in an inefficient manner.

It has been found that when a user is provided with both an indication of the efficiency of the heating cycles operated and/or a cumulative efficiency, together with an indication of the amount of water present in the kettle in terms of the numbers of receptacles actually used by the user, the user tends to use the kettle in a more efficient manner.

In one preferred embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention consists of a support base, on which a kettle may be stood, the support base being provided with the means for determining the amount of water present in the kettle, most preferably the weight of water, the means for determining the efficiency of a heating cycle, in particular a processor and, if required a data storage means, and the means for providing an indication to the user of the efficiency. Such a support base may be provided and sold separately from a kettle and may be used with existing kettles to provide the advantages of the present invention.

In one arrangement, the support base is a set of domestic scales, suitably adapted to provide the means for determining the efficiency of a * . . heating cycle of a kettle standing on the scales. In this embodiment, the scales :::. 20 are preferably provided with an override means, whereby the system may be deactivated and the scales allowed to operate in normal manner to provide an indication of the weight of items placed on the scales, in conventional manner.

With this embodiment of the invention, it is especially preferred that the support base, for example the scales, may be programmed by the user with the weight of the user's kettle when empty. As noted above, in this way, the support base can determine the amount of water in the kettle and determine an accurate efficiency of the heating cycle.

Most preferably, with the amount of water held by one or more different receptacles, such as cups and/or mugs, used by the user, may also be programmed into the support base.

In one embodiment, preferred for its safety feature, the system provides an indication when the amount of water present in the kettle is below the minimum amount of water required for safe operation of the kettle. The system may provide a visual and/or audible indication of a low water amount. In the case that the system comprises a support base separate from the kettle being employed, the system is preferably arranged to allow the user to program the io minimum water amount into the system. In this way, the system may be provided for use with a range of different kettles.

As noted above, the prior art apparatus consist of a kettle provided with means to indicate the amount of water in the kettle or to meter a selected amount of water into the kettle. However, the known apparatus are dedicated is to a particular kettle and cannot be used in conjunction with a pre-existing kettle.

Accordingly, in a further aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for assisting with the efficient operation of a kettle, the apparatus comprising a support base for holding a kettle, means for determining the ::::.2o amount of water present in a kettle held by the support base and means for indicating to a user the amount of water present in the kettle in terms of a number of receptacles for water.

The support base may indicate the amount of water in terms of a number of cups of water, mugs of water, or some other like receptacle.

It is most preferred that the means for indicating the amount of water present is programmable by the user to display the amount of water present in the kettle in terms of a receptacle actually used by the user.

As noted above, the apparatus most preferably comprises the aforementioned means for determining and indicating the efficiency of the heating cycle operated by the user of a kettle placed on the support base.

In a preferred embodiment, the means for indicating are adapted to provide the user with an indication that the amount of water present in the kettle is below the safe operating minimum. Again, it is preferred that the user is able to program the apparatus with the safe operating minimum amount of water of the user's kettle.

In a further embodiment, the apparatus of the present invention may be arranged to measure the amount of energy supplied to the kettle during operation, in particular the amount of electrical energy supplied to heat the water in the kettle. Suitable means for measuring the amount of electricity are known in the art and commercially available. In one embodiment, the supply of electricity to the kettle is routed through a suitable means to measure the amount of energy being supplied. In an alternative arrangement, for example when the apparatus of the present invention is in the form of a stand alone device, such as a suitably modified set of scales, for use with an existing kettle, :::: the means for measuring the electrical energy supplied are applied to the kettle, for example around the lead of the kettle.

::::.2o The apparatus of this embodiment operates to determine the amount of heated water used, by determining the amount of water in the kettle before and * after use, as hereinbefore described. The apparatus further determines the :.: amount of electrical energy used to heat the water in the kettle during the use.

The apparatus is provided with a display that provides the user with an indication of the efficiency of the use of the kettle on the basis of the amount of energy employed. In addition, the apparatus may also display the amount of energy consumed during the use. Further, as noted above, the apparatus may be arranged to provide the user with an indication of the cumulative efficiency and/or total energy usage over a plurality of uses of the kettle.

The operation of the apparatus when measuring the electrical energy consumed by the kettle in heating the water may operate as follows: The amount of water present in the kettle both before and after use is determined, for example by weighing the kettle. The amount of heated water dispensed and actually used by the user is the difference between the two measurements and is a weight W. The amount of electricity consumed during the heating cycle of the kettle is measured and is P. The amount of energy required to heat the water in the kettle will io depend, at least in part, on the temperature T of the water fed to the kettle.

The apparatus may be programmed with a preset value for this temperature that is applied to all uses of the apparatus. Alternatively, the apparatus may be arranged to allow the user to programme a feed temperature for water, allowing the user to account for seasonal variations in the temperature of the water is being obtained, for example, from a domestic cold water main.

The determination of the efficiency of the kettle will also require a value for the amount of energy H required to raise the temperature a unit of water by 1°C. For ease of use, it is preferably assumed that the kettle is fully efficient in : *. its consumption of the electrical energy and there is no heat loss from the S. *S kettle. In this case, the determination of the efficiency of the use of the kettle is made using the specific heat capacity of the water, that is 4.18 J/kg, as the value for H. Alternatively, the efficiency may be determined on the basis of the amount of energy required by the kettle to heat I unit of water by 1°C. This may mean that the value of H is greater than the specific heat capacity of water, as a result of energy losses in the kettle.

The efficiency E in percent of the use of the kettle may be determined using the following formula: E=[(100-T) x W x H x 100]/P The efficiency E determined using the above formula is displayed to the user by the apparatus, to provide an indication of the efficiency fo the energy usage. As noted above, the accuracy of the value of E determined will depend in part upon the accuracy of the value of T, that is the starting temperature of the water in the kettle immediately prior to being heated.

In order to have the determinations of the efficiency provided by the apparatus of the present invention more accurate, the apparatus may further include means to measure the temperature of the water in the kettle, in particular to determine the water temperature immediately before the kettle is activated to heat the water. In this way, each use of the kettle may be accurately assessed for efficiency, including those occasions in which the kettle is used to reboil water that is close to or at boiling point.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for operating a kettle, the method comprising making a first determination of the amount of water in kettle at the kettle; heating the water in the kettle; making a second determination of the amount of water in the kettle after the heating cycle has been completed; and determining the efficiency of the use of the kettle to a user from the first and second determinations. * **

The amount of water may be determined by measuring the weight of water in the kettle or the volume of water in the kettle. Most preferably, the amount is determined in terms of the weight of the water present.

The amount of water may be first determined before the heating cycle begins and, in any event, before heated water is dispensed from the kettle.

The second determination is made after the heating cycle has been completed, typically after heated water has been dispensed. The amount of water may be determined intermittently or continuously throughout the operation of the kettle.

The water in the kettle may be heated in any suitable manner. This will most typically be by the supply of electrical energy, that is most commonly applied to domestic kettles.

Once the heating cycle has been completed, the amount of water in the kettle is again determined. Typically, heated water is dispensed from the kettle by the user, in which case, the amount of water to be determined is that remaining in the kettle after water has been dispensed. The cases in which heated water is dispensed more than once following a heating cycle or no heated water is dispensed are discussed above. As noted above, to io accommodate these occurrences, the method may include waiting a preset period of time after the heating cycle has ended and determining the amount of water in the kettle after the preset period of time. Suitable and preferred periods of time are noted above.

The efficiency of the use of the kettle is determined in terms of the is efficiency of the use of the heated water and the energy used to heat the water, for example using the formulae set out above. As discussed above, the method may display the efficiency for each use of the kettle. More preferably, the method includes determining a cumulative efficiency for a plurality of successive uses of the kettle and displays an indication of the cumulative *. 20 efficiency for the user.

: *, For safety purposes, the method may include providing an indication to S...

the user of a low water level when the first determination of the amount of water is made. The indication may be visual and/or audible.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An apparatus for the efficient operation of a kettle, the apparatus comprising: means for determining the amount of water present in the kettle both before the water in the kettle is dispensed and after the heated water in the kettle is dispensed; means for determining the efficiency of the use of the kettle from the determined amounts of water; and means for indicating the determined efficiency to a user.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the means for determining the amount of water in the kettle weighs the water present in the kettle.
3. The apparatus according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the means for determining the amount of water in the kettle are integral with theSkettle. * * ****

* * 20
4. The apparatus according to either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the means for determining the amount of water in the kettle are separate from the kettle. * ** * * * S.. S
5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the said means are provided by a set of scales on which the kettle may be stood.
6. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for determining the amount of water in the kettle are operable continuously.
7. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for determining the efficiency of the efficiency of the use of the kettle are operable to determine the cumulative efficiency of a plurality of uses of the kettle.
8. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the means for displaying the efficiency comprise an audio and/or visual display.
9. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising io means whereby the user may program the apparatus with information relating an amount of water to one or more receptacles used by the user.
10. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for providing an alarm to the user when the amount of water present in the kettle is below a minimum amount.
11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the minimum amount may be programmed by the user into the apparatus. * * * ** *
12.An apparatus for assisting with the efficient operation of a kettle, the a...apparatus comprising a support base for holding a kettle, means for determining the amount of water present in a kettle held by the support base and means for indicating to a user the amount of water present in the kettle in terms of a number of receptacles for water.
13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the amount of water corresponding to one or more different receptacles may be programmed into the apparatus by the user.
14. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for measuring the amount of energy, in particular electrical energy, supplied to the kettle.
15.The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the efficiency of the kettle is determined using the result of determining the amount of energy supplied to the kettle.
16. The apparatus according to any preceding claim, further comprising means for measuring the temperature of the water in the kettle immediately prior to water in the kettle being heated.
17.A method for operating a kettle, the method comprising making a first determination of the amount of water in kettle at the kettle; heating the water in the kettle; making a second determination of the amount of water in the kettle after the heating cycle has been completed; and determining the efficiency of the use of the kettle to a user from the first and second determinations.
18.The method according to claim 17, wherein the amount of water present in the kettle is determined continuously.
19.The method according to either of claims 17 or 18, further comprising displaying an indication of the amount of water present in the kettle to * .25 the user at the start of the heating cycle. e.*
20.The method according to claim 19, wherein the indication is in terms of a number of receptacles.
21.The method according to any of claims 17 to 20, further comprising indicating to the user when the amount of water in the kettle is below a predetermined minimum level for safe operation of the kettle.
22.The method according to any of claims 17 to 21, wherein the second determination is made after a preset period of time has elapsed.
23.The method according to claim 22, wherein the preset period of time runs from the end of the heating cycle.
24.The method according to claim 22, wherein the preset period of time runs from a determination that the amount of water in the kettle has increased.
25.The method according to any of claims 17 to 24, wherein a cumulative efficiency over a plurality of successive uses of the kettle is determined and displayed to the user.
26.The method according to any of claims 17 to 25, wherein the kettle is placed on an apparatus, the apparatus being arranged to determine the amount of water present in the kettle, determine the efficiency of the heating cycle and display the same to the user. S... * S
27.An apparatus for the efficient operation of a kettle substantially as hereinbefore described.
28.A method for operating a kettle substantially as hereinbefore described.