WO2006015524A1

WO2006015524A1 - The steam generator and the double function coffee machine employing the same

Info

Publication number: WO2006015524A1
Application number: PCT/CN2004/001438
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jiangang Guo
Original assignee: Shunde Xinbao Electrical Equipments Co., Ltd. Foshan City
Priority date: 2004-08-13
Filing date: 2004-12-13
Publication date: 2006-02-16

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steam generator. Its body includes: a upper part (31), a middle part (32) and a lower part (33). Temperature control apparatus (4) and (5), a pressure release valve (6), a water inlet (332) and a steam exit (331) are mounted in the lower part (33). A heat pipe composed of a water pipe (34) and a heat device (35) is mounted between the upper part (31) and the middle part (32). The water pipe (34) integrates with the heat device (35) closely. A flume (321) is mounted between the middle part (32) and the lower pert (33). The steam generator could produce hot water and steam without using any water pumps. And because the steam generator has two individual heating channels instead of a complex fluid dividing system, it has a simple structure. The present invention also relates to a double function coffee machine which includes: a coffee machine body, a water tank, a turning valve, a pressure release conduit and the steam generator said above. The double function coffee machine could produce both common coffee and foamable coffee.

Description

Steam generator and dual-purpose coffee machine using the same

The present invention relates to a steam generating device and a coffee machine using the same, and more particularly to a steam generator for generating hot water and steam, and a steam generator A dual-purpose coffee machine that can prepare ordinary coffee and make foamed coffee. Background technique

Existing steam generators can be broadly divided into two types: boiler steam generators and trickle steam generators. The boiler type steam generator comprises a large heating vessel, a heating pipe, a water outlet passage and a steam passage. The water enters the heating vessel from the water inlet hole of the heating vessel, and the water is heated to boiling and vaporized into water vapor, and then heated. The water outlet or steam passage at the top of the vessel is discharged. The trickle steam generator mainly comprises a heater, a heating pipe and a shunting system, wherein the heating pipe is installed in the heater, the heater is internally provided with an elongated water tank, and the water enters the elongated water tank from the water inlet, and flows through the water tank It is vaporized into water vapor, which enters the diversion system from the end of the trough. The diversion system has water passages and steam passages for the hot water and steam. The common feature of these two steam generators is that they need a water pump to supply water, that is, to provide a certain water pressure; hot water and steam share the same heating channel, and then the hot water and steam passages are passed through complicated switching devices. Separate, so its knot The structure is more complicated, the processing and production process is more complicated, and the price is more expensive.

Existing coffee machines can generally be divided into two types: ordinary drip coffee machines and pressure steam coffee machines. A conventional drip coffee machine is generally composed of a water tank, a heating pipe, a funnel, a sieve, a heat insulating plate, and the like, wherein a sieve containing coffee powder is placed in a funnel. Since the water tank is located higher than the heat pipe, the water in the water tank can automatically flow into the heat pipe and be heated by the heating pipe; after some of the water is heated to water vapor, the pressure in the heating pipe is increased. The water flows into the screen through the riser in the form of a steam-water mixture of water vapor and non-vaporized hot water, and is then escaping from the funnel under gravity to be served for drinking. This type of coffee machine has a simple structure and a relatively simple function, but it does not satisfy the user's need for foamed coffee. The pressure steam coffee machine is generally composed of a water tank, a steam generator assembly, a water pump, a steam conduit and the like, and a relatively complicated circuit. Because the steam generator of such a coffee machine is generally located higher than the water tank, the water in the water tank cannot automatically flow into the steam. In the generator, it is generally necessary to use a water pump to pump the water in the water tank to the steam generator and provide a certain back pressure to prevent backflow of steam in the steam generator. After the water is heated into a high-temperature and high-pressure steam in the steam generator, the steam is quickly ejected outward through the steam conduit, and the steam ejected at a high speed is rapidly ejected at the outlet of the steam conduit due to the rapid cooling and pressure. The soda mixture, thereby forming the source of the preparation of the milk coffee or foamed milk. Although the coffee machine can make foamed coffee, its structure is complicated, bulky, and its price is several times higher than that of a conventional drip coffee machine.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop a structural unit, low cost, and can prepare hot water. It is also possible to prepare a steam generator for steam and a dual-purpose coffee machine which can prepare ordinary coffee and foam coffee by using the steam generator. Summary of the invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a steam generator which is simple in structure, low in cost, safe and convenient, and which can prepare hot water and prepare steam without using a water pump.

The casing of the steam generator of the present invention is composed of an upper cover, a middle cover and a lower cover, wherein the lower cover is provided with a temperature controller, a pressure relief valve, a water inlet and a steam outlet; and a cover is provided between the upper cover and the middle cover The heating pipe is composed of a water pipe and a heating element, and the water pipe and the heating body are fitted together; a water tank is arranged between the middle cover and the lower cover.

The water pipe and the heating element disposed between the upper cover and the middle cover may be a water pipe embedded in the upper cover, and the heating element is embedded in the middle cover. When the upper cover and the middle cover are connected, the water pipe and the heating element are ensured. It can be closely attached; it can also be that the water pipe and the heating element are embedded in the upper cover, and the heating element is fitted to the middle cover. Preferably, in the first solution, the upper cover is provided with an opening groove through which the water pipe is embedded in the upper cover, and the side of the middle cover that is in contact with the upper cover is also provided with an opening groove through which the heating element passes. The groove is embedded in the middle cover. In the above second embodiment, preferably, the upper cover is provided with an opening recess through which the water pipe and the heat generating body are respectively embedded in the upper cover. Further, in order to ensure close contact between the upper cover and the middle cover, preferably, the joint surface between the upper cover and the middle cover is designed as a smooth surface.

Preferably, a fitting groove or a fitting step is installed between the middle cover and the lower cover, and a sealing ring is arranged in the groove or the step to prevent high pressure steam from leaking The role.

Preferably, the upper cover, the middle cover and the lower cover are bolted to ensure that the three are tightly coupled to enhance the heat transfer capability between each other.

The lower cover can also be provided with a water inlet and a steam outlet. Preferably, the water inlet is provided on the side of the lower cover, and the steam outlet, the thermostat and the pressure relief are disposed on the bottom surface of the lower cover.

Preferably, two steam controllers are provided on the steam generator for controlling the operating temperature of the steam generator when preparing ordinary coffee and foamed coffee, respectively, to prevent the temperature from exceeding the safe use range of the product.

The grooves, water tubes and heat generating bodies of the steam generator of the present invention preferably have a uniform shape, and they may be U-shaped, V-shaped, ω-shaped or Ω-shaped, preferably U-shaped. Further, the shape of the water tank of the steam generator of the present invention is preferably annular.

To manufacture the steam generator of the above structure, the following methods can be used:

1. The upper cover and the water pipe are directly integrated into the casting, and the surface of the water pipe is flush with the surface of the upper cover; the middle cover and the heating body are integrated by casting, and the surface of the heating element is flush with the surface of the middle cover;

2. The upper cover, the water pipe and the heating element are directly cast into one body, and the water pipe and the heating body are closely fitted, and the surface of the heating body is flush with the surface of the upper cover;

3. The upper cover is provided with a groove, and the water pipe is die-cast in the groove through a pressure casting machine, the surface of the water pipe is flush with the surface of the upper cover; the middle cover is also provided with a groove, and the heating body is die-cast by the pressure casting machine. In the groove, the surface of the heating element is flush with the surface of the middle cover;

4. There is a groove in the upper cover to press the water pipe and the heating element through the pressure casting machine. Cast in the groove, the surface of the heating element is flush with the surface of the upper cover.

The steam generator of the invention has simple and reasonable structure, does not need to use a water pump, and the heating channels of hot water and steam are independent of each other, and the complicated shunting system is omitted, so the volume is small, the processing is simple, the cost is low, and the use is small. Safe and convenient, easy to operate, both hot water and steam.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dual-purpose coffee machine which has a structural unit, does not require the use of a water pump, is small in size, low in cost, and can prepare both ordinary coffee and foamed coffee.

The dual-purpose coffee machine of the present invention comprises a coffee machine casing, a water tank and a steam generator of the present invention.

Preferably, the dual-purpose coffee machine further includes a reversing valve and a riser for converting the flow of the water; wherein the reversing valve is provided with a water inlet and two water outlets, and the water inlet is connected to the water tank through the water pipe, one out The water inlet is connected to the water inlet of the steam generator lower cover through the water pipe, and the other water outlet is connected to the inlet of the water pipe of the heat pipe through the water pipe; the outlet of the water pipe on the heat pipe is connected to the riser through the water pipe.

The dual-purpose coffee machine described above may further comprise a dual-use coffee machine further comprising a pressure relief conduit, the pressure relief conduit being connected at one end to a pressure relief valve on the lower cover of the steam generator and the other end to the exterior of the coffee machine housing.

The dual-purpose coffee machine described above may further include a steam conduit; the steam conduit is connected to the steam outlet on the lower cover of the steam generator through a water pipe.

Preferably, the steam generator is placed in the pedestal of the dual-use coffee machine housing in which the coffee cup body is placed. More preferably, the upper cover surface of the dual-purpose coffee machine is protruded from the pedestal Surface, the upper cover is used directly as a countertop for placing a coffee cup or coffee maker. Further, it is preferred to apply a non-stick coating to the surface of the upper cover, such as a Teflon, and the upper cover surface of the dual-purpose coffee machine is smooth and smooth. 'The purpose of this design is to enable the coffee cup and coffee pot placed on the surface of the steam generator to use the heat generated by the steam generator to achieve the effect of heat preservation.

The dual-purpose coffee machine of the invention has the advantages of simple structure, low volume, low cost, and can prepare ordinary coffee and foamed coffee, and effectively solves the problems of complicated structure and high cost of the existing dual-purpose coffee machine.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a schematic exploded view of the steam generator of the present invention.

2 is a schematic structural view of a dual-purpose coffee machine of the present invention.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the combined structure of the upper cover of the steam generator of the present invention. Figure 4 is a schematic view showing the combined structure of the steam generator lower cover facing upwards of the present invention. Figure 5 is a schematic view of the structure of the upper cover.

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of Figure 5;

Figure Ί is a schematic view of the structure of the middle cover.

Figure 8 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of Figure 7; detailed description

Example 1, the housing of the steam generator of the present invention, the upper lid 31, the lid 32 and the lower composition cap ^33, the upper cover 31 is provided with a U-shaped recess ³¹¹ opening, respectively, embedded within the recess 311 U The water tube 4 and the U-shaped heating element 35, the heating element 35 and the middle cover 32 are attached, the portion of the middle cover 32 that is in contact with the heating element 35 is a flat surface, and the other side of the middle cover 32 is provided with an elongated annular water tank 321 . A seal ring 36 for preventing leakage of high pressure steam is further disposed between the lower cover 33 and the middle cover 32. The lower cover 33 is connected to the annular water tank 321 in a plane, and the water inlet 332 is disposed on the side of the lower cover 33, and the steam outlet 331, the temperature controllers 4 and 5, and the pressure relief valve 6 are respectively disposed on the bottom surface. The thermostats 4 and 5 are respectively used to control the operating temperature of the steam generator when preparing ordinary coffee and foamed coffee, and prevent the temperature from exceeding the safe use range of the product. The pressure relief valve 6 communicates with the end of the annular water tank 321 on the middle cover 32. The lower cover 33 is further provided with a water inlet 332 and a steam outlet 331. The position of the water inlet 332 corresponds to the initial section of the annular water tank 321 on the middle cover 32, and has a small hole communicating therewith. The position of the steam outlet 331 corresponds to the end of the annular water tank 321 on the middle cover 32, and has a small hole communicating therewith. The upper cover 31, the middle cover 32 and the lower cover 33 are connected by bolts to ensure close integration between the three and enhance the heat transfer capability of each other.

When it is desired to prepare hot water, the water flows from one end of the water pipe 34, and 7 is heated to flow out from the other end of the water pipe 34. When steam is required to be prepared, water is heated from the water inlet 332 of the lower cover 33 into the annular water tank 321 between the middle cover 32 and the lower cover 33, and is vaporized into water vapor and then ejected from the steam outlet 331.

As shown in FIG. 2, a water tank is disposed in the casing 1 of the dual-purpose coffee machine of the present invention, and the water tank is connected to the reversing valve 2 disposed under the water pipe through a water pipe, and water flows from the water inlet 21 of the reversing valve 1 to the water outlet thereof. 22, 23, a steam generator 3 is arranged in the lower part of the water tank, and the steam generator 3 includes The upper cover 31, the middle cover 32, and the lower cover 33. The other side of the lower cover 33 is provided with a pressure relief valve 6 and temperature controllers 4 and 5. The pressure relief valve 6 is connected to the pressure relief conduit 61, and the other end of the pressure relief conduit 61 is directly connected to the outside of the housing 1.

When preparing ordinary coffee, the direction of the water flow of the reversing width 2 is selected, <the water of the reversing width 2 flows from the water tank into the water outlet 23, and the water flows from the inlet of one end of the water pipe 34 of the heat pipe into the upper cover of the steam generator 3. 31. After being heated in the heat pipe in the upper cover 31, it flows out from the other outlet of the water pipe 34 on the heat pipe, and then enters the water pipe 24, and sequentially flows into the funnel through the riser and the water nozzle to carry out the coffee powder. Soaking, that is, the preparation of ordinary coffee.

When preparing the foamed coffee, the direction of the water flow of the reversing valve 2 is selected, so that the water of the reversing valve 2 flows from the water tank into the water outlet 22, and the water enters the annular water tank 321 of the middle cover 32, and is heated to a water vapor by the high temperature. The water tube 25 is ejected from the steam conduit 26 at a high speed to prepare the foamed coffee.

As shown in Fig. 3, the surface 313 of the upper cover 31 of the steam generator 3 is flat and smooth, and the upper cover surface 313 is coated with a non-stick coating Teflon.

The steam generator 3 is placed in the pedestal 11 in which the coffee cup is placed in the casing 1. The upper cover surface 313 protrudes from the surface of the pedestal 11, and a coffee cup or a coffee pot can be placed thereon. Since it is a part of the steam generator 3, it has a good heat preservation effect.

As shown in Fig. 4, the bottom surface of the lower cover 33 of the steam generator 3 is provided with a steam outlet 331, a temperature controller 4, 5 and a pressure relief valve 6, and a water inlet 332 is provided on the side of the lower cover 33.

As shown in Fig. 5, a U-shaped opening groove 311 is embedded in the upper cover 31. Its cross-sectional structure is shown in Figure 6. .

As shown in FIG. 7, an annular water tank 321 is provided on one of the faces of the middle cover 32, which The cross-sectional structure is shown in Figure 8.

Claims

Rights request

1. A steam generator (3), the housing of the steam generator by a cover (31), the cover ⁽³²⁾ and a lower cover ^(33), wherein the lower cover (33) is provided with temperature Controller

, (4, 5), the pressure relief valve (6) inlet (332) and a steam outlet (331); disposed between ⁽³²⁾ the cover () and are bonded together with a cover pipe (34) and the back surface is provided with the water tank (321), the heat generating element (35) and the tank (3) between the heating member ^(35), the cover ⁽³²⁾ and the lower cover (33) in contact.

The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the water pipe (34) is embedded in the upper cover (31), and the heating element (35) is embedded in the Inside the cover (32).

The steam generator according to claim 2, wherein the upper cover ( ) is provided with an opening groove ( 311 ), and the water pipe ( 3 ⁴ ) is embedded by the groove ( ³ 11 ) in the upper cover (n-); in the cover ⁽³²⁾ and the cover ⁽³¹⁾ adjoining a recess is also provided with an opening, said heating element (35) is embedded in the recess by Inside the cover (32).

The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein the water pipe (34) and the heat generating body (35) are embedded in the upper cover (31), and the heat generating body (with One side of the cover (3 ² ) fits together, and the sink (321) is set Place it on the other side of the middle cover ( 3 ² ).

5. The steam generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein said upper lid (31) is provided with an opening recess (311), said pipe ⁽³⁴⁾ and the heat generating element

(35) are respectively embedded in the groove (311).

6. The steam generator according to claim 2, wherein the upper cover (31) and the water pipe (34) are of a unitary structure, and the surface of the water pipe (34) The corresponding surface of the upper cover (31) is flush; the middle cover (32) and the heating element (35) are of a unitary structure, and the surface of the heating element (35) and the middle cover ( 32) The corresponding surface is flush.

The steam generator according to claim 4, wherein the upper cover (31), the water pipe (34) and the heating element (35) are of a unitary structure, and the heating element (35) The surface is flush with the corresponding surface of the middle cover (32).

The steam generator according to claim 3 or 5, wherein the groove (311), the water pipe (34) and the heating element (35) have the same shape, and their shapes are U-shaped, V-shaped. Shape, ω or Ω shape.

The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein said water inlet (332) is provided at a side of a lower cover (33), said steam outlet (331), The thermostat (4, 5) and the pressure relief valve (6) are located on the underside of the lower cover (33).

The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein said water tank (36) has a ring shape.

The steam generator according to claim 1, wherein a seal ring (36) is disposed between the lower cover (33) and the middle cover (32).

12. A dual-purpose coffee machine comprising a coffee machine casing (1), a water tank, characterized in that the dual-purpose coffee machine further comprises a steam generator according to any one of claims 1-11 (3) .

The dual-purpose coffee machine according to claim 12, wherein the dual-purpose coffee machine further comprises a reversing valve (2) for converting a flow of water and a riser, wherein the commutation is wide (1) There is a water inlet (21) and two water outlets (22, 23); wherein the water inlet (21) is connected with the water tank, and the water inlet (22) and the water inlet (332) on the lower cover (33) are provided. In connection, the water outlet (23) is connected to the inlet of the upper pipe (34) of the heating pipe; the outlet of the upper pipe (34) of the heating pipe is connected to the riser through the water pipe (24).

The dual-purpose coffee machine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the dual-purpose coffee machine further comprises a pressure relief conduit (61), and the pressure relief conduit (61) One end is connected to the pressure relief valve (6) on the lower cover (33), and the other end is directly connected to the outside of the coffee machine housing (1).

The dual-purpose coffee machine according to claim 14, wherein the dual-purpose coffee machine further comprises a steam conduit (26); the steam conduit (26) passes through the water pipe (25) and the lower cover ( 33) The steam outlet ( 331 ) is connected.

16. A dual-purpose coffee machine according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that said steam generator (3) is arranged in a pedestal (11) of the coffee machine casing in which the coffee cup body is placed.