NL2019217B1

NL2019217B1 - Beverage apparatus provided with a beverage preparation unit for providing a beverage

Info

Publication number: NL2019217B1
Application number: NL2019217A
Authority: NL
Inventors: STANDAAR Koen; Saxton Paul; Cornelis Nieuwlaat Johannes; Lutz Hellwig Felix; Mikael Gee Alex; John Geernaert Adam; Noordhuis Joeke; Zwart Bartjan; Van Toor Johan
Original assignee: Douwe Egberts Bv; Koninklijke Philips Nv
Priority date: 2017-07-10
Filing date: 2017-07-10
Publication date: 2019-01-16
Also published as: WO2019013622A2; WO2019013622A3

Description

NL B1 2019217

Octrooicentrum Nederland © Aanvraagnummer: 2019217 © Aanvraag ingediend: 10 juli 2017 © Aanvraag ingeschreven:

januari 2019 © Aanvraag gepubliceerd:

januari 2019 © Octrooischrift uitgegeven:

A47J 31/06 (2018.01) A47J 31/44 (2018.01) A47J

31/46 (2018.01) © Octrooihouder(s):

Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. te Utrecht. Koninklijke Philips N.V. te Eindhoven.

Koen Standaar te Utrecht.

Paul Saxton te Utrecht.

Johannes Cornells Nieuwlaat te Utrecht. Felix Lutz Hellwig te Utrecht.

Alex Mikael Gee te Utrecht.

Adam John Geernaert te Utrecht.

Joeke Noordhuis te Eindhoven. Bartjan Zwart te Eindhoven. Johan van Toor te Eindhoven.

ir. C.M. Jansen c.s. te Den Haag.

Beverage apparatus provided with a beverage preparation unit for providing a beverage

Beverage apparatus provided with a beverage preparation unit for providing a beverage, at least two spouts for supplying the coffee beverage into at least one cup and a fluid flow path extending from the beverage preparation unit to the at least two spouts. Each spout comprises a tubular body at least substantially extending in a vertical direction and being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening Around the inlet opening of each tubular body an upstanding fluid flow regulation wall is provided, wherein the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall is provided with at least one through flow opening.

Dit octrooi is verleend ongeacht het bijgevoegde resultaat van het onderzoek naar de stand van de techniek en schriftelijke opinie. Het octrooischrift komt overeen met de oorspronkelijk ingediende stukken.

P114776NL00

Title: Beverage apparatus provided with a beverage preparation unit for providing a beverage

The invention relates to a beverage apparatus provided with a beverage preparation unit for providing a beverage, at least one and in particular at least two spouts for supplying the beverage into at least one cup and a fluid flow path extending from the beverage preparation unit to the at least one spout. Each spout comprises a tubular body at least substantially extending in a vertical direction and being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening

In existing beverage apparatuses, such as coffee apparatuses, a beverage is provided by a beverage preparation unit. The beverage commonly follows a fluid flow path which extends from a beverage preparation unit to a spout for dispensing. In order to facilitate dispensing into two separate beverage receptacles the fluid flow path often extends to two separate spouts. A spout will, in use, dispense an outlet stream into a beverage receptacle. Such an outlet stream stretches from the spout to the beverage receptacle, in particular the liquid surface in the beverage receptacle. When the beverage is a coffee, a foam, also known as the crema layer, is formed on top of the dispensed beverage. This foam has a fine foam texture.

A problem is that beverage apparatuses sometimes experience unsteady, oscillating outlet streams. A result of such an outlet stream may be the moving about of a point of impact of the outlet stream into a receptacle (cup) in a horizontal plane, or more specifically, with regard to the surface of the beverage that is collecting in the receptacle. Sometimes drops are formed in an unsteady outlet stream or drops grow as a swelling in a stream. Drops may also form in an outlet stream if the flowrate through a spout is relatively low.

When a beverage apparatus experiences an unsteady outlet stream the stream produces impact bubbles when dispensing into a beverage receptacle. Impact bubbles may occur when an apparatus dispenses coffee, milk, chocolate milk, tea, water and other known water-based beverages. Impact bubbles are undesirable as they make the surface texture of the dispensed beverage less homogenous. In coffee apparatuses impact bubbles are generally larger than the bubbles responsible for the fine foam texture. The prevalence of impact bubbles in the foam is as such undesirable as this reduces the fine foam texture quality of the foam. The unsteady stream may further wash color out of a part of the foam. This also creates an inconsistent coloration of the foam.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to propose a beverage apparatus which prevents unsteady outlet streams. In a more general sense it is thus an object of the invention to overcome or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art. It is also an object of the present invention to provide alternative solutions which are less cumbersome in assembly and operation and which moreover can be made relatively inexpensively. Alternatively it is an object of the invention to at least provide a useful alternative for current practices.

To this end the invention provides a beverage apparatus as defined in one or more of the appended claims. The beverage apparatus may be a beverage apparatus for preparing a beverage such as coffee, milk, chocolate milk, tea, or water.

According to the invention there is provided a beverage apparatus, such as a coffee apparatus, which comprises a beverage preparation unit, such as a coffee preparation unit, for providing a beverage, such as coffee. The beverage apparatus further comprises at least two spouts for supplying the beverage into at least one cup and a fluid flow path extending from the beverage preparation unit to the at least two spouts. Each spout comprises a tubular body at least substantially extending in a vertical direction and being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening. In conjunction with each spout an upstanding fluid flow regulation wall is provided which extends upwardly relative to the inlet opening and extends around the inlet opening. The upstanding fluid flow regulation wall is provided with at least one through flow opening so that beverage can flow from a position outside the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall through the at least one through flow opening into the tubular body via the inlet opening of the tubular body. This prevents the forming of unsteady outlet streams. The fluid flow path extends from a position outside the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall, through the at least one through flow opening, via a space surrounded by the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall, to the inlet opening of the tubular body.

Optionally the beverage apparatus is arranged such that, when the beverage apparatus is provided with a beverage receptacle for receiving the beverage from the at least one spout, the distance between that spout and a bottom of the beverage receptacle is 8 - 20 cm. Optionally, the fluid flow regulation wall can be provided on top of an upper rim of the tubular body. Optionally the at least one through flow opening extends from a height level of the inlet opening upwards.

Optionally the at least one through flow opening extends from a height level of the inlet opening upwards to an upper portion of the fluid flow regulation wall, in particular to an upper edge of the fluid flow regulation wall. It can be understood that the bottom of the fluid flow regulation wall may be at the height level of the inlet opening of the tubular body. A benefit is that fluids are prevented from becoming stagnant in the fluid flow path, in particular around the spouts. This improves hygiene.

Optionally a plurality of through flow openings is provided in the fluid flow regulation wall which are separated relative to each other in a tangential direction and relative to an axial direction of the tubular body. A benefit is that this reduces perturbation that could give rise to droplet formation in the outlet stream. Optionally, the plurality of through flow openings is distributed rotationally symmetrical around the axial direction of the tubular body. This prevents the formation of preferential flow paths around a spout and allows beverage to evenly and symmetrically enter the spout. This prevents uneven movement of fluids through the spout, which could give rise to droplet formation in the outlet stream.

Optionally at least three through flow openings are provided in the fluid flow regulation wall, preferably distributed rotationally symmetrical around the axial direction of the tubular body. This prevents any swirling of beverage around the fluid flow regulation wall.

Optionally the surface area of the through flow openings in the fluid flow regulation wall cover 10 - 50%. of the total surface area of the fluid flow regulation wall including the through flow openings. Preferably the fluid flow regulation wall covers 28 - 38% of the total surface area of the fluid flow regulation wall including the through flow openings. A benefit is that this prevents that the spout dispenses a fluid faster than can be supplied thereto, thus steadying the outlet stream from the spout.

Optionally the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall has the shape of a cylinder having an internal diameter which is at least substantially the same as an internal diameter of an associated tubular body at the inlet opening thereof. This lowers the risk of disturbances, resulting from immediate surface transitions, from entering an outlet stream. Optionally an inner diameter of the tubular body narrows from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a continuous or stepped fashion. Optionally, at the inlet opening side the internal diameter of the tubular body is 2 - 7 mm, and preferably 3.5 - 5 mm, even more preferably about 5 mm and gradually transitions, or is stepped, towards a diameter which is optionally 0 - 50% smaller than the diameter at the inlet opening. Optionally, the tubular body has a length of 5 - 10 mm.

Optionally in the outlet opening at least one vane is provided. Preferably in the outlet opening a plurality of vanes is provided. The at least one vane extends in an axial direction of the tubular body.. A benefit is that fluid flowing through separate flow through openings formed by the at least one vane is more readily concentrated into a single outlet stream.

Optionally the at least one vane extends in a radial direction of the tubular body.

Optionally the at least one vane, alone or in combination, as seen in the axial direction of the tubular body form a shape of a star. A star can be formed by a plurality of vanes that extend outwardly from a common center point. From a top view the star can have a C_n symmetry in which n is an integer in the range of 3 - 10. Optionally, a star with C_n symmetry also has n amount of vanes. A benefit is that this allows drops to be guided and to collect at the star shape for dispensing. This prevents fluids from remaining in the tubular body.

It will be clear that aforementioned at least one vane may also advantageously be applied in other beverage apparatuses, without the limitations of present claim 1. Thus, according to an aspect of the invention, a beverage apparatus may be provided, having a beverage preparation unit for providing a beverage, at least one and preferably at least two spouts for supplying the beverage into at least one cup and a fluid flow path extending from the beverage preparation unit to the at least one spout, wherein each spout comprises a tubular body at least substantially extending in a vertical direction and being provided with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, wherein in or to the outlet opening at least one vane is provided, wherein the at least one vane extends in an axial direction of the tubular body and/or that an inner diameter of the tubular body narrows from the inlet opening to the outlet opening in a continuous or stepped fashion

Optionally the apparatus is designed such that, in use, flowrate in the fluid flow path is in the range of 1 - 35 ml/s, preferably 1-6 ml/s.

Optionally the apparatus is designed such that, in use, flowrate through a tubular body is in the range of 0.5 - 18 ml/s preferably 0.5 - 3 ml/s. More preferably, the average flowrate in time through a tubular body is 10 - 30% less than the average flowrate in time in the fluid flow path divided by the number of spouts. The average flowrate can be the flowrate taken over the duration of the act of dispensing a beverage. A benefit, is that there is an accumulation of beverage in the fluid flow path which promotes an even outflow through the spouts in time.

Optionally, the fluid flow path comprises a fluid collection compartment comprising a bottom and an upstanding compartment wall which provide boundaries of the compartment wherein the compartment is located upstream of the tubular bodies. The inlet openings of the tubular bodies are provided in the bottom of the compartment. The upstanding fluid flow walls are located within the compartment. A benefit is that this allows for further local build up of beverage around the inlet openings of the tubular bodies, thus steadying the supply of fluid into the tubular body.

Optionally the fluid flow path comprises a fluid flow common sub path extending from the beverage preparation unit to the fluid collection compartment and which is fluidly connected to the compartment in a central area of the compartment. The tubular bodies are preferably evenly distributed over the bottom relative to the central area, more specifically evenly distributed over the bottom relative to the central area on two opposite sites of the central area. A benefit is that this allows a fluid flow to be spread evenly over a compartment area. This may reduce local perturbations in the fluid flow near the spouts. Optionally, the bottom of the fluid collection compartment is sloped downwards towards each tubular body.

Optionally the fluid flow path is arranged such that, in use, a fluid column is formed in the fluid collection compartment.

Optionally the fluid flow path is branched into a plurality of fluid flow sub paths, each of which extends towards one of the tubular bodies. Optionally the fluid flow path is branching within the fluid collection compartment, into the plurality of fluid flow sub paths. This may allow for the even and steady distribution of beverage to each spout.

Optionally the fluid flow path is connected to the surrounding of the beverage apparatus so that, in use, a preliminary atmospheric pressure exists in the fluid flow path. This allows a beverage, such as coffee, in the fluid flow to release volatile aromas to the surrounding environment prior to dispensing, and may result in a steady flow of beverage towards the at least one spout.

Optionally the fluid flow path extends downwards from the beverage preparation unit to the tubular bodies so that, in use, the beverage flows by gravity from the beverage preparation unit into the tubular bodies via the at least one through flow opening in the fluid flow regulation wall. This also promotes a steady flow of the beverage towards the at least one spout.

Optionally the beverage preparation unit is a coffee preparation unit arranged to receive a coffee pad for brewing coffee at a pressure of about 0.7 - 3 bar above atmospheric pressure or that the coffee preparation unit is arranged to receive a coffee capsule for brewing coffee at a pressure with about 1-20 bar above atmospheric pressure.

Optionally, the fluid flow regulation wall is lower than the bottom of a collection compartment at its highest point. This helps to evenly distribute beverage directed towards spouts. Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Optionally, the fluid flow path and the at least one spout are integrally formed by a common structure. Preferably the common structure is formed of a food grade plastic such as PET, HDPE, LDPE, PS or PP or any other food grade polymer or composite of food grade polymers. Optionally this common structure is a thermally molded structure.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a beverage apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a dispensing part of a beverage apparatus according to the invention ;

Fig. 3 shows a top view of the dispensing part according to Figure 2;

Fig. 4 shows a detailed perspective view of a lower part of the dispensing part according to Figures 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 shows another perspective view of the dispensing part of the beverage apparatus according to Figures 2, 3 and 4;

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of another dispensing part of the beverage apparatus according to the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the dispensing part of Figure 6; and

Fig. 8 shows a top view of the dispensing part of Figures 6 and 7.

Fig. 9 shows a modified embodiment of the apparatus according to figure 1.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a beverage apparatus 3, such as a coffee apparatus, according to the invention. The beverage apparatus 3 is provided with a beverage preparation unit 4, such as a coffee preparation unit, for supplying a beverage, such as a coffee. The beverage apparatus 3 is further provided with two spouts 5.1, 5.2 for supplying beverage to a beverage receptacle (not shown, but customary), such as a cup. The beverage apparatus 3 is further provided with a fluid flow path 2 that extends from the beverage preparation unit 3 to the two spouts 5.1, 5.2. The fluid flow path 2 and the spouts 5.1, 5.2 are further collectively called a dispensing part 1 of the beverage apparatus 3. Each spout 5.1, 5.2 has a tubular body 13 which extends in a vertical direction 6. The tubular body 13 is provided with an inlet opening 15 at a top of the tubular body 13 and an outlet opening 17 at a bottom of the tubular body 13. The inlet opening 15 is defined as an inlet surface of the tubular body 13 at the top of the tubular body 13. The outlet opening 17 is defined as an outlet surface of the tubular body 13 at the bottom of the tubular body 13. Around the inlet opening 15 an upstanding fluid flow regulation wall 19 is provided. The fluid flow regulation wall 19 is provided with at least one through flow opening 21 (such as shown in Figure 4). The beverage preparation unit 4 can be a customary beverage preparation unit that is arranged to receive a coffee pad (not shown, but customary) for brewing coffee at a pressure that is about 0.7 - 3 bar above atmospheric pressure, or the beverage preparation unit 4 can be arranged to receive a coffee capsule for brewing coffee at a pressure that is about 1-20 bar above atmospheric pressure.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a dispensing part 1 of the beverage apparatus according to Figure 1. The dispensing part 1 can also be provided differently, such as shown in Figure 6. In the example of Figure 2 the fluid flow path 2 and the spouts 5.1, 5.2 are integrally formed. In this example the dispensing part 1 is provided as a single food grade plastic structure. This plastic structure can be made of PET, HDPE, LDPE, PS or PP or any other food grade polymer or composite of food grade polymers. This is however entirely optional.

Figure 3 shows a top view of the dispensing part 1 according to Figure 2. The fluid flow path 2 is, from upstream to downstream, formed by a common sub path 7, and a fluid collection compartment 11. A flowrate in the fluid flow path 2 is, in use, in the range of 3 - 15 ml per second. The common sub path 7 is here provided as a downwards sloping gutter, also known as a curved chute. The fluid collection compartment 11 is arranged to branch the fluid flow path 2 into two separate sub paths 2A, 2B. The fluid collection compartment 11 is in this example provided with a first collection sub compartment 11.1 in which sub path 2A extends downstream to the first spout 5.1. The fluid collection compartment 11 is in this example also provided with a second collection sub compartment 11.2 in which sub path 2B extends downstream to the second spout 5.2. The fluid flow path 2 is provided as open to the surrounding atmosphere. More in particular, the common sub path 7, and the fluid collection compartment 11 are open at the top. This allows beverage to flow from the beverage preparation unit 4 to the first and second spout 5.1, 5.2 under the influence of gravity alone. This also allows the beverage, such as coffee, to release volatile aromas to the surrounding atmosphere during its flow from the beverage preparation unit 4 to the first and second spout 5.1, 5.2. The fluid collection compartment 11 has a bottom 12 (shown in Figure 4) and an upstanding compartment wall (shown in Figure 4). This provides boundaries of the collection compartment 11 and allows beverage to form a fluid column, in the fluid collection compartment 11, such as in the first and second sub compartments 11.1, 11.2. This prevents fluctuations in the flowrate of the beverage downstream of the fluid collection compartment 11, such as in the spout.

Figure 4 shows a detailed perspective view of a lower part of the dispensing part 1 according to Figures 2 and 3. Each spout 5.1, 5.2 has a tubular body 13, which extends in a vertical direction. The tubular body 13 extends through the bottom 12 of the collection compartment 11 at its respective collection sub compartment 11.1, 11.2. Around the inlet opening an upstanding fluid flow regulation wall 19 is provided. In this example the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall 19 extends upwards from the top of the tubular body 13 and is integral with the tubular body 13. The top of the tubular body is here at a same height level as the lowest part of the bottom 12 of the collection compartment 11. The top of the tubular body also defined the inlet opening of the tubular body. Thus the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall extends upwardly relative to the inlet opening and extends around the inlet opening. The beverage can flow from a position outside the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall through the at least one through flow opening into the tubular body via the inlet opening of the tubular body. The upstanding fluid flow regulation wall 19 has the shape of a cylinder with an internal diameter which is the same as the internal diameter of the tubular body 13. The fluid flow regulation wall 19 has a maximum height chosen such that it does not extend above a minimum height of the upstanding compartment wall 14. Optionally, the fluid flow regulation wall 19 is lower than the bottom of a collection compartment 11 at its highest point. This prevents an overflow of the collection compartment

11. The internal diameter of the tubular body is in the range of 2 - 9 mm, in this example 6 mm. The fluid flow regulation wall 19 is provided with three through flow openings 21 therein. The through flow openings 21 extend from a bottom 25 of the fluid flow regulation wall 19 upwards to an upper portion 23 of the fluid flow regulation wall 19. The upper portion 23 is in this example the upstanding edge of the fluid flow regulation wall 19. The bottom 25 of the fluid flow regulation wall 19 is at a same height level as the inlet opening 15. The through flow openings 21 are separated relative to each other in a tangential direction relative to an axial direction of the tubular body 13. The through flow openings 21 are provided such that the fluid flow regulation wall 19 is rotationally symmetrical along the axial direction of the tubular body 13. The inner surface area of the through flow openings 21 in the fluid flow regulation wall 19 covers 30 - 35% of the total surface area of the fluid flow regulation wall 19 including the through flow openings 21. This reduces the average flowrate of a beverage over a time that it flows through the tubular body 13 to less than half of the average flowrate of the same beverage over a time that it flows into the fluid flow path 2 from the beverage preparation unit 4. Optionally in the outlet opening 17 three vanes 27 are provided. Each of the vanes 27 extends from an inner wall of the tubular body 13 radially downwards at an angle of 40 50 degrees. This is more properly seen in Figure 5. The vanes 27 combine along a longitudinal axis of the tubular body 13 to form a star-shape when seen in the axial direction of the tubular body 13. The vanes 27 are separated relative to each other in a tangential direction relative to an axial direction of the tubular body 13. The vanes 27 are provided such that the tubular body 13 is rotationally symmetrical along the axial direction thereof. The vanes 27 are integral with the tubular body 13. The vanes 27 are provided such that the spaces 29 between the vanes 27 are vertically aligned with the through flow openings 21.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of a dispensing part 1’ of the beverage apparatus according to Figure 1. In the preceding Figures and Figure 6 corresponding elements are provided with the same reference number. Hereafter only differences between the dispensing part 1 of Figure 2 and the dispensing part l’of Figure 6 are discussed. In Figure 6 the upstanding fluid flow regulation walls 19 are provided with reinforcement elements 31 which are integral with the upstanding fluid flow regulation wall 19. The reinforcement elements 31 are rod-shaped and extend from the upper portion 19 to the bottom 25 of the fluid flow regulation wall 19. The reinforcement elements 31 are provided to the fluid flow regulation wall 19 there where the fluid flow regulation wall 19 is furthest from a through flow opening 21.

Figure 7 shows a further perspective view of the dispensing part 1’ of Figure 6. Around an outlet side of each tubular body 13, a further upstanding wall 33 is provided. The further upstanding wall 33 extends from an outer surface 38 of the collection chamber 11 downwardly. A space between the tubular body 13 and the further upstanding wall 33 is not fluidly connected with the flow path 2. The further upstanding wall 33 is provided with a through flow opening 35 for air, such that air may be drawn from the space between the tubular body 13 and the further upstanding wall 33 during dispensing. The tubular body 13 extends in a downward direction past a bottom part 37 of the further upstanding wall 33. In the outlet opening 17 no vanes are provided. Optionally, the tubular body 13 can be angled at the outlet opening 17 to prevent the bridging of beverage to the further upstanding wall 33 or other structures in close proximity to the tubular body 13.

Figure 8 shows a further perspective view of the dispensing part 1’ of Figures 6 and 7. The tubular body 13 is arranged to narrow from the inlet 15 opening towards the outlet opening 17. In this example the inner diameter of the tubular body 13 is 5 mm at the inlet opening 15 and narrows to 3.5mm at the outlet opening 17. The narrowing of the tubular body 13 can be continuous or stepped.

The invention is not limited to the above referred to embodiments. A through flow opening may for example extend from a level of the inlet opening of a tubular body to a level below an upper edge of the upstanding flow regulation wall. This is indicated with arrow P. This is schematically shown as an example in figure 9 wherein parts of figure 4 and 9 which correspond with each other are provided with the same reference signs.

For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate embodiments, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described throughout the application. It will be clear to the skilled person that the invention is not limited to any embodiment herein described and that modifications are possible which may be considered within the scope of the appended claims. Additions, deletions, and modifications within the purview of the skilled person may generally be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as determined by the claims.

Claims

Conclusies

1. Drankapparaat voorzien van een drankbereidingseenheid voor het verschaffen van een drank, ten minste één en bij voorkeur ten minste twee mondstukken voor het toevoeren van de drank in ten minste één beker en een fluïdumstroompad dat zich uitstrekt van de drankbereidingseenheid naar het ten minste ene mondstuk, waarbij elk mondstuk een buisvormig lichaam omvat dat zich ten minste hoofdzakelijk in een verticale richting uitstrekt en voorzien is van een inlaatopening en een uitlaatopening, met het kenmerk dat, in samenhang met elk mondstuk een opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand is voorzien die zich opwaarts uitstrekt ten opzichte van de inlaatopening en zich uitstrekt rondom de inlaatopening, waarbij de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand is voorzien van ten minste één doorstroomopening zodat drank van een positie buiten de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand door de ten minste ene doorstroomopening het buisvormige lichaam in kan stromen via de inlaatopening van het buisvormige lichaam.
2. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 1, met het kenmerk dat, de ten minste ene doorstroomopening zich opwaarts uitstrekt vanaf een hoogteniveau van de inlaatopening.
3. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 2, met het kenmerk dat, de ten minste ene doorstroomopening zich opwaarts uitstrekt vanaf een hoogteniveau van de inlaatopening naar een bovendeel van de fluïdumstroomregelingswand, in het bijzonder naar een bovenrand van de fluïdumstroomregelingswand.
4. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 1, 2 of 3, met het kenmerk dat, een veelvoud van doorstroomopeningen zijn voorzien in de fluïdumstroomregelingswand welke relatief ten opzichte van elkaar gescheiden zijn in een tangentiële richting ten opzichte van een axiale richting van het buisvormige lichaam.
5. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 4, met het kenmerk dat, ten minste drie doorstroomopeningen zijn voorzien in de fluïdumstroomregelingswand.
6. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het oppervlaktegebied van de doorstroomopeningen in de fluïdumstroomregelingswand gezamenlijk 10-50%, bij voorkeur 28-38%, beslaat van het totale oppervlaktegebied van de fluïdumregelingswand met inbegrip van de doorstroomopeningen.
7. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand de vorm van een cilinder heeft met een interne diameter die ten minste hoofdzakelijk hetzelfde is als een interne diameter van een geassocieerd buisvormig lichaam aan de inlaatopening.
8. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, in de uitlaatopening ten minste één lamel is voorzien, waarbij de ten minste ene lamel zich in een axiale richting van het buisvormige lichaam uitstrekt en/of dat een binnendiameter van het buisvormige lichaam vernauwd van de inlaatopening naar de uitlaatopening in een doorlopende of getrapte wijze.
9. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 8, met het kenmerk dat, de ten minste ene lamel zich in een radiale richting van het buisvormige lichaam uitstrekt.
10. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 9, met het kenmerk dat, de ten minste ene lamel een veelvoud aan lamellen in combinatie is als gezien in de axiale richting van het buisvormige lichaam, welke veelvoud aan lamellen een ster vormt.
11. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het apparaat zodanig is ontworpen dat, in gebruik, een stromingssnelheid in het fluïdumstroompad in het bereik van 1-35 ml/s ligt, bij voorkeur 1-6 ml/s.
12. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het apparaat zodanig is ontworpen dat, in gebruik, een stromingssnelheid door een buisvormig lichaam in het bereik van 0.5-18 m/s ligt, bij voorkeur 0.5-3 ml/s.
13. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad een fluïdum-opvangcompartiment omvat dat een bodem en een opstaande compartimentwand omvat welke grenzen aan het compartiment verschaffen, waarbij het compartiment zich stroomopwaarts bevindt van het ten minste ene mondstuk, en waarbij in de bodem van het compartiment de inlaatopening van het buisvormige lichaam van het ten minste ene mondstuk is voorzien, en waarbij de opstaande fluïdunistroomwanden zich binnen in het compartiment bevinden.
14. Drankapparaat volgens conclusie 13, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad een fluïdumstroomgemeenschappelijk-sub-pad omvat dat zich uitstrekt van de drankbereidingseenheid naar het fluïdum opvangcompartiment en welke in fluïdumverbinding staat met het fluïdum opvangcompartiment in een centraal gebied van het compartiment, waarbij de buisvormige lichamen van de ten minste twee mondstukken gelijkmatig verdeeld over de bodem liggen ten opzichte van een centraal gebied, meer in het bijzonder gelijkmatig verdeeld over de bodem ten opzichte van het centrale gebied op twee tegenover elkaar gelegen zijden van het centrale gebied.
15. Drankapparaat volgens ten minste conclusie 13 of 14, met het kenmerk dat, het apparaat zodanig is ingericht dat, in gebruik, een fluïdumkolom gevormd wordt in het fluïdum-opvangcompartiment.
16. Drankapparaat volgens ten minste conclusie 15, met het kenmerk dat, het apparaat zodanig is ingericht dat, in bedoeld gebruik, de kolom lager blijft dan de hoogte van de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand zodat de drank het opvangcompartiment enkel verlaat door ten minste één doorstroomopening van de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand.
17. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies 14-16, met het kenmerk dat, de opstaande compartimentwand een minimale hoogte heeft die hoger is dan de maximale hoogte van de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand.
18. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad vertakt is in een veelvoud aan fluïdumstroom-sub-paden, waarvan elk zich uitstrekt naar één van de buisvormige lichamen.
19. Drankapparaat volgens ten minste conclusie 13 en conclusie 18, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad vertakt is binnen het fluïduniopvangcompartiment in de veelvoud aan fluïdumstroom-sub-paden.
20. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad verbonden is met de omgeving van het drankapparaat zodat, in gebruik, een preliminaire atmosferische druk bestaat in het fluïdumstroompad.
21. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad zich uitstrekt van een positie buiten de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand door de ten minste ene doorstroomopening via een ruimte omgeven door de opstaande fluïdumstroomregelingswand naar de inlaatopening van het buisvormige lichaam.
22. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, het fluïdumstroompad zich neerwaarts uitstrekt van de drankbereidingseenheid naar de buisvormige lichamen zodat, in gebruik, de drank door zwaartekracht van de drankbereidingseenheid het buisvormige lichaam van het ten minste ene mondstuk in stroomt via de ten minste ene doorstroomopening in de fluïdumstroomregelingswand.
23. Drankapparaat volgens één of meer der voorgaande conclusies, met het kenmerk dat, de drankbereidingseenheid is ingericht om een koffiepad te ontvangen voor het brouwen van koffie bij een druk van ongeveer 0.7-3 bar boven atmosferische druk of dat de drankbereidingseenheid is ingericht 5 om een koffiecapsule te ontvangen voor het brouwen van koffie bij een druk van ongeveer 1-20 bar boven atmosferische druk.