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WO2011070365A1 - Appareils de génération de vapeur - Google Patents

Appareils de génération de vapeur Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2011070365A1
WO2011070365A1 PCT/GB2010/052061 GB2010052061W WO2011070365A1 WO 2011070365 A1 WO2011070365 A1 WO 2011070365A1 GB 2010052061 W GB2010052061 W GB 2010052061W WO 2011070365 A1 WO2011070365 A1 WO 2011070365A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
steam
boiler
appliance
water
steam generating
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2010/052061
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Marc Gibson Collinson
Nicholas Edward Gibbs
Steven Anthony Ashton
Original Assignee
Strix Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Strix Limited filed Critical Strix Limited
Publication of WO2011070365A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011070365A1/fr

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J31/00—Apparatus for making beverages
    • A47J31/44—Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus
    • A47J31/4489—Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F22—STEAM GENERATION
    • F22B—METHODS OF STEAM GENERATION; STEAM BOILERS
    • F22B1/00—Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method
    • F22B1/28—Methods of steam generation characterised by form of heating method in boilers heated electrically
    • F22B1/288—Instantaneous electrical steam generators built-up from heat-exchange elements arranged within a confined chamber having heat-retaining walls

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to steam generating appliances for domestic use, in particular to appliances for heating milk and other liquids or foodstuffs using steam.
  • Hot frothy milk is used to make coffee drinks such as cappuccino and other beverages such as hot chocolate.
  • steam is typically delivered to the nozzle from the water heating unit which also supplies the heated water used to make beverages.
  • a dedicated delivery pipe capable of withstanding pressurised steam may be needed to supply the steam nozzle.
  • Steam generating appliances are available that do not heat a bulk volume of water to create steam. Such appliances typically pump water continuously through a flow heater comprising a heated pipe or a duct in a thermo block.
  • flow heaters take time to heat up to a temperature high enough to evaporate water as it passes through the flow heater pipe or duct.
  • Thermo blocks typically have a high thermal capacity resulting in a long heating up time. It is therefore necessary to switch on the flow heater and wait for a period of time before starting to pump water through to the steam nozzle, otherwise hot water will initially be ejected from the nozzle.
  • a user display may be provided to indicate when the heater has reached its operating temperature.
  • US 6,561 ,079 proposes a milk frothing device that uses a continuous flow heater with an intermediate tank disposed between the pump and the heater to accumulate water until the flow heater has reached its operating temperature necessary for steam generation, so that the pump and heater can be turned on simultaneously.
  • the pump and heater can be turned on simultaneously.
  • conventional beverage making machines typically only provide a steam nozzle as an auxiliary component and the functionality of the nozzle is usually minimal.
  • the barista making a beverage that requires frothed milk such as a cappuccino, must employ skill and judgment in moving a container of milk up and down and around the steam nozzle so as to achieve thorough heating and a layer of foam on top of the milk.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an improved steam generating appliance, e.g. for making frothed milk, and according to a first aspect the invention provides a steam generating appliance comprising: a water boiler comprising a water inlet, an electrically heated evaporation chamber and a steam outlet; a pump arranged to deliver water to the inlet of the boiler on demand; and a steam delivery nozzle connected to the steam outlet of the boiler.
  • a water boiler that only generates steam when water is supplied to it specifically for that purpose. As the chamber is initially heated dry, it can readily reach a high temperature when the boiler is turned on. Furthermore the boiler comprises an evaporation chamber arranged for the express purpose of heating and evaporating water to create steam. Accordingly steam may be generated more quickly in a water boiler according to the invention than it can, for example, in a hot water reservoir or flow pipe which already contains a volume of water and which is designed for bulk heating as well as steam generation.
  • a water boiler comprising an evaporation chamber designed solely for the purpose of steam generation can provide several advantages over a continuous flow heater.
  • water is pumped to the inlet of the boiler but preferably thereafter it is steam pressure in the evaporation chamber which pushes steam through the outlet and along the steam nozzle.
  • steam pressure in the evaporation chamber which pushes steam through the outlet and along the steam nozzle.
  • the Applicant has appreciated that there is an advantage in allowing the boiler to generate steam on demand (i.e. when water is pumped to the boiler) but in its own time (i.e. without a forced flow through the boiler).
  • the evaporation chamber As the evaporation chamber is heated and water is pumped therein, it will take a little time for the water first introduced to boil and evaporate and for the steam pressure to build up.
  • the output of steam from the nozzle is gentle to start with and then increases to a steady discharge rate.
  • the slow build up of the steam discharge rate has been found to be desirable, especially when using the nozzle to heat liquids and foodstuffs, as it can avoid any surprising initial spurts of steam which may cause the foodstuff in contact with the nozzle to spray out.
  • the user can adjust the depth of the nozzle in the foodstuff or liquid as the steam discharge increases to ensure there is no splashing.
  • a continuous flow heater is designed to produce a pressurised steam supply from the offset.
  • a further advantage of the invention is that steam can be generated continuously by the boiler for as long as water is pumped to the inlet. This allows the nozzle to be put to multiple uses. For example, to heat a cup of milk steam delivery may only be required for 20-30s whereas to heat a bowl of soup steam delivery may be required for a minute or more. It will be appreciated that such a continuous delivery of steam on demand is different to the steam delivery provided by cordless devices such as steam irons, where a relatively short burst of steam may be provided by a charge of water supplied to a boiler from a pressure accumulator chamber. Once the pressurised supply has been exhausted, however, it must be replenished before another burst of steam can be generated.
  • a steam delivery nozzle in accordance with the invention is an outlet tube or spout for ejecting steam.
  • the nozzle is designed to heat a liquid or foodstuff when submerged therein.
  • the steam outlets in the sole plate of an iron, on the other hand, are not nozzles.
  • the nozzle may provide a diffuse steam delivery, preferably the nozzle is arranged to eject a jet of pressurised steam. Further preferably the nozzle is arranged to increase the steam velocity before it is discharged, for example using a throttling mechanism.
  • One or more steam discharge outlets may be provided.
  • Such a nozzle typically comprises a compression portion and an expansion portion, or at least a cross-sectional constriction, so as to speed the flow of steam as it is discharged from the outlet(s).
  • the nozzle may be submerged for steam heating of liquid or foodstuffs, and may also be held at a liquid surface to obtain a three-phase boundary of air, steam and liquid which will aerate the liquid and form a foam.
  • water is pumped to the inlet of the boiler on demand and then steam generated in the evaporation chamber is delivered to the steam nozzle.
  • water can not generally leave the boiler until it has evaporated. This may be aided by preferably arranging the water inlet at the bottom of the boiler and the steam outlet at the top of the boiler.
  • the boiler and pump are arranged to be switched on
  • thermosensitive control means may be arranged to provide an electrical connection to the pump only when it is detected that the operating temperature has been reached.
  • a timer could be
  • the pump and the electric heating means of the boiler are connected electrically in parallel so that they may be controlled by a common on/off switch. This still provides the advantage of a simple "one button” operation of the appliance, while also ensuring that the boiler is hot enough when water is pumped into it that steam generation starts rapidly.
  • start-up time may be reduced.
  • the boiler can preferably heat and evaporate water to generate steam without a substantial time delay as it provides a dedicated evaporation chamber.
  • Steam may be delivered to the nozzle within around 45 seconds of water being pumped into the boiler, as opposed to the two minutes or more that is typical in a pressurised steam generator system. Rapid steam generation may be promoted by pre-heating the boiler to a predetermined operating temperature before water is pumped in.
  • the boiler has several preferred features which can contribute to its improved steam generating performance, and these are described in more detail below.
  • the boiler comprises a water inlet, an electric heater, a steam outlet and an evaporation space bounded by at least one surface in thermal contact with the heater.
  • the evaporation space is configured to present an expanding cross-sectional area in a direction away from the water inlet. This corresponds to an increasing internal volume in the evaporation space and a corresponding increase in surface area during the advancement, and a
  • the evaporation space can start off relatively small to give good intimate contact between the water and the heated surface(s) of the evaporation space to give efficient evaporation of the water, whilst at the same time allowing the steam so generated to expand into the increasing volume as it flows away from the water inlet e.g. to the steam outlet.
  • the evaporation space has a constant, preferably shallow height. This can maximise the surface area over which the water is spread to enhance the efficiency of steam generation.
  • an expanding cross-section may be provided by an increasing width to give an increase in the cross-sectional area of the evaporation space in a direction away from the water inlet.
  • the evaporation surface is convex, concave or conical.
  • Other substantially two or three dimensional forms such as fans, deltas, hemispheres, parabolas, prisms, pyramids and other suitable forms can be employed to provide the required increasing volume and surface area.
  • other, more complex, shapes could be used to give the same effect, both internally to enhance surface area and so evaporation efficiency and externally to minimise the space required for the boiler in the appliance.
  • the heated surface bounding the evaporation space (hereinafter referred to as "the evaporation surface") is preferably non-planar. This facilitates maximising the surface area available in a given volume occupied by the boiler within the appliance.
  • the surface area of the evaporation surface (measured prior to the application of any surface enhancing coating) is more than 1 .5 times the maximum planar projection of the surface (i.e. the footprint), more preferably greater than 1 .75 times, more preferably greater than twice.
  • the evaporation surface is hydrophilic. This might be a natural characteristic of the material used for the evaporation surface, it might be achieved or enhanced by a suitable surface treatment and/or it might be achieved or enhanced by a suitable heat resistant coating material.
  • the boiler is configured to produce superheated steam.
  • the boiler has a temperature of between 100 and 500 Q C, preferably between 105 and 380 Q C, and more preferably between 200 and 280 Q C.
  • the internal steam pressure generated within the boiler should not be greater than that of the water pressure entering it, else water will be prevented from entering the device, resulting in a subsequent drop in steam flow rate and unwanted fluctuation in steam output.
  • the boiler comprises means for collecting the steam. This allows it, for example, to be channelled into one or more steam outlet(s) for delivering it to the steam nozzle of the appliance.
  • the means for collecting steam comprises means for trapping unevaporated droplets of water.
  • this might be a protruding outlet tube encouraging steam channelled by the walls of the chamber to undergo a change of direction leading to expulsion of entrained droplets.
  • the useable energy which the boiler is adapted to store that is the amount of heat energy available to generate steam, is more than 20 kilojoules, more preferably greater than 35 kilojoules and more preferably greater than 50 kilojoules.
  • the boiler may represent a relatively large thermal mass. It preferably comprises a die cast unit with a heating element preferably embedded in the cast body of the evaporation chamber.
  • the direct pumping of water into the boiler also means that steam delivery can be interrupted and resumed on demand. If the time interval between steam delivery cycles is relatively short, in comparison with the thermal storage capacity of the boiler, then the boiler may maintain a temperature sufficient to evaporate water even when it is first pumped into the boiler at the start of a new delivery cycle. The appliance may therefore provide for consistent steam delivery from one cycle of use to the next.
  • a boiler in accordance with the preferred features set out above is particularly beneficial where steam is required on demand, for example to rapidly heat a vessel of milk, since the features described above allow for the very rapid production of steam from when water first enters the water inlet as compared, for example, with a more traditional boiler unit in which a heating element is used to heat a body of water.
  • An important factor in achieving this effect is to supply water to the boiler under pressure and thus in a particularly preferred set of embodiments the pump is arranged to supply pressurised water to the water inlet of the boiler.
  • the pressure of the water supply to the boiler is preferably greater than 0.5 bar, e.g. more than 1 bar, and might be up to 3 bar or more.
  • the pump is preferably arranged to provide water to the boiler at a steady rate. This simplifies the appliance and is particularly beneficial when there is provided a single switch to connect the electrical supply to both the pump and the heating element of the boiler.
  • the pump rate could be user variable, for example by providing an adjustable valve to throttle the flow of water to the boiler. This may be desirable where different rates of steam discharge are preferred e.g. for heating different foodstuffs.
  • the pump may be connected to an external water supply.
  • the appliance comprises its own water reservoir to supply the pump.
  • the water reservoir should be designed to hold a sufficient volume of water to provide steam for several cycles of operation before it is necessary for it to be refilled.
  • the water reservoir may be provided anywhere in the appliance, in a preferred set of embodiments the water reservoir comprises a tank provided in the base of the appliance. This can advantageously add to the stability of the appliance, for example on a counter-top in a domestic setting.
  • Means are provided to access the reservoir for refilling.
  • a water level gauge and/or refill indicator may be provided.
  • the appliance can be used to generate steam and heat many different kinds and amounts of liquid or foodstuffs.
  • the steam nozzle In order to allow the steam nozzle to access a large range of vessel sizes and shapes it preferably extends down freely from a head portion of the appliance.
  • the head portion may be connected to a base portion of the appliance by a stem. Apart from the stem, there is preferably free space all around the nozzle to allow for access.
  • This is an improvement over steam nozzle attachments that are often provided on the side of a beverage machine as an auxiliary component and that are only accessible e.g. by relatively small cylindrical vessels such as milk jugs.
  • the appliance comprises a base portion arranged to receive a vessel in use.
  • the vessel may contain any liquid or foodstuff to be injected with steam.
  • the vessel can rest safely on the base portion while the steam nozzle is being used and the user does not have to hold the vessel.
  • a user can hold or move the vessel while operating the steam nozzle if desired.
  • the base portion or at least the vessel receiving part of the base, is located substantially below the steam nozzle at least during use.
  • the steam nozzle may be connected to a part of the head portion that is tiltable or rotatable so as to enable the nozzle to be swung out of the way when a vessel is placed down on the base.
  • the Applicant has appreciated that when a base portion is provided to receive a vessel of liquid to be heated, there may be a problem when different vessel sizes and/or different liquid levels are used. If there is a fixed distance between the discharge end of the steam nozzle and the base portion, in use, then the nozzle will not penetrate to the same depth in all vessels. The nozzle may not always reach into the liquid to be heated. It is therefore preferred that the steam nozzle is moveable between a range of vertical positions. Although the steam nozzle itself may be made extendable and retractable, it is preferred that the steam nozzle has a fixed length and that the head portion of the appliance is moveable relative to the base portion so as to change the vertical height of the steam nozzle above the base.
  • the head portion could be hingedly connected to a stem extending from the base portion. But it is preferred that the head portion is fixed in a horizontal position, aligned above the base portion, so that the nozzle is always pointing down in use.
  • the head portion is preferably connected to the base portion by a linear actuator arranged to effect movement of the head portion relative to the base portion.
  • the linear actuator may be provided in a vertically extendable and retractable stem. The head and base portions then stay in alignment with the stem providing for changes in their relative vertical separation. Movement of the head portion may be achieved by any suitable means, for example using a sliding guide with friction fit, a hydraulic arm, a screw spindle, a linear motor, etc. as a linear actuator.
  • Movement of the linear actuator, and hence movement of the head and steam nozzle may be automated.
  • the head is manually movable, and thus the height of the steam nozzle manually adjustable, for ease of use.
  • a user may therefore position a vessel with contents to be heated on the base portion below the steam nozzle, and then manually move the head portion down until the steam nozzle is at the desired height in the vessel.
  • the stem may be provided with means to lock the head at a particular vertical height. The could help to ensure that the steam nozzle is fixed at a height so as to stay immersed in the contents of a vessel while steam is being generated.
  • the Applicant has appreciated that users will often wish to move the steam nozzle up and down in a vessel while steam is being generated, to help heat the liquid or foodstuff evenly and as quickly as possible. It is therefore preferred that the head portion is free to move during use, although lock means may also be provided.
  • lock means may also be provided.
  • the head portion is preferably biased to move up relative to the base portion to its maximum vertical displacement.
  • a steam generating appliance comprising a base portion, a head portion comprising a steam delivery nozzle extending down towards the base portion, and a linear actuator arranged to effect movement of the head portion relative to the base portion, wherein the linear actuator is biased to move the head portion to a position of maximum displacement from the base portion.
  • the head portion and steam nozzle will automatically be moved away from the base portion when there is no force applied to the linear actuator to overcome the bias force.
  • the linear actuator it is preferable for the linear actuator to be manually movable against the bias force so as to allow a user flexibility in moving the steam nozzle to and away from the base portion. Controlled movement of the steam nozzle is facilitated by the biased actuator as it means that a user only has to apply and release a force in one direction. If the linear actuator were not biased then a user would have to pull the head up to move it away from the base. This may not be easy when the head portion includes the weight of the steam nozzle and potentially also the weight of the boiler. This feature is therefore particularly preferred where the boiler is provided in the head portion of the appliance.
  • This further aspect of the invention may find use in all kinds of steam generating appliances comprising a steam delivery nozzle, and not just those having a boiler of the type described above with respect to the first aspect of the invention.
  • the other preferred features described above are generally applicable to an appliance according to both aspects of the invention.
  • the linear actuator is preferably biased by a spring.
  • movement of the linear actuator is preferably damped.
  • the damping may be arranged to provide a delay in the biased movement of the head when a counter force is removed, so that the head does not move suddenly and the steam nozzle does not come up out the liquid it is heating while steam is still being released. This can help to prevent liquid from being accidentally sprayed out of the vessel if the head is accidentally released during steam delivery.
  • the steam nozzle can take any suitable form. Steam nozzles are known that comprise both steam outlets and air inlets so that liquid is both heated and frothed.
  • the steam discharge means of the nozzle is preferably arranged to minimise the noise produced by the nozzle.
  • the boiler delivers pressurised steam to the nozzle and the steam velocity is increased in the nozzle. This is different to the atmospheric venting of steam that takes place at the sole plate of a steam iron. For ease of cleaning, it is preferred that the steam nozzle is removable.
  • a steam pipe may connect the steam outlet(s) of the boiler to the steam nozzle.
  • the invention also extends to a domestic steam generating appliance comprising: a water boiler comprising a water inlet, an electrically heated
  • a pump arranged to deliver water to the inlet of the boiler on demand; and a steam delivery nozzle connected to the steam outlet to discharge one or more pressurised jets of steam for heating liquids or foodstuffs.
  • Figure 1 a is a perspective view of a steam wand appliance according to the preferred embodiment
  • Figure 1 b in a perspective view of the steam wand appliance according to the preferred embodiment with a cup of liquid to be heated in position below the nozzle;
  • Figure 2 is another perspective of the steam wand appliance according to the preferred embodiment with the drip tray removed;
  • Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the steam wand appliance according to the preferred embodiment with the steam nozzle in a raised position;
  • Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the steam wand appliance according to the preferred embodiment with the steam nozzle in a lowered position;
  • Figure 5 is an schematic circuit diagram showing some of the main electrical components of the appliance.
  • a steam wand appliance 1 generally comprising a base portion 2, a retractable stem 4 and a head portion 6.
  • the base portion 2 rests on a counter-top and receives a vessel 8 in use, as is shown in Figure 1 b.
  • the vessel 8 is placed on a drip tray 10. Apertures 12 in the drip tray 10 allow any spilled liquid to drain into a cavity below.
  • the drip tray 10 is removable.
  • FIG. 2 shows the appliance with the drip tray 10 removed from the base 2. It can be seen that a water reservoir tank 14 is accommodated in the base 2, beneath the drip tray 10. An inlet to the tank 14 is fitted with a sealing cap 16. The drip tray 10 can be removed to allow access to the cap 16 when it is desired to refill the tank 14. The drip tray 10 is then placed back over the tank 14 so as to cover and protect the cap 16.
  • the fill cap 16 does not necessarily have to be located below the drip tray 10 and could instead be accessible e.g. on a side of the base 2.
  • a water pipe (not shown) is connected to an outlet from the reservoir tank 14 and exits the base portion 2 through an opening 18 seen in Figure 1 .
  • the water pipe runs on the outside of the appliance 1 and enters the head portion 6 via a pipe section 20 also seen in Figure 1 .
  • the water pipe may be made of a plastics material and stiffened with steel wire so as to form a "lazy loop" between the opening 18 and the end section 20, in the form of an umbilical cord. Sufficient length of pipe is provided to account for movement of the head 6 relative to the base 2.
  • the water pipe is preferably run on the outside of the stem 4 so as not to interfere with the movement mechanism inside the stem (described below).
  • a mains electrical lead (not shown) may be threaded through a guide 22 formed on the side of the stem 4 near the base 2. This helps to ensure that the flex runs from a mains socket to the appliance 1 at counter-top level. The lead then runs from the guide 22 up the side of the stem 4 and enters the head portion 6 through an opening 24 seen in Figure 1 .
  • all of the electrically-powered components of the appliance are conveniently located together in the head portion 6, where they are safe from leakage from the drip tray 10 or water tank 14.
  • the head portion 6 comprises an electric pump 26, an electrically heated boiler unit 28, a steam delivery pipe 30 and a steam discharge nozzle 32.
  • the pump 26 is connected to the water tank 14 via the water pipe and supplies water to the boiler 28.
  • Both the pump 26 and the boiler 28 are connected to the electrical supply provided by the flex entering the head 6 through the opening 24.
  • the electrical and water connections between the pump 26 and the boiler 28 are not shown.
  • a demineralising filter may be provided between the water tank 14 and the pump 26, for example in the base 2 at the connection between the water tank and the water pipe.
  • the filter may comprise a sodium-, potassium- or hydrogen-based ion exchange resin. This can prevent scale build-up in the boiler 28.
  • the boiler 28 generally comprises a die- cast metal unit comprising upper and lower body members clamped together with a heat-resistant seal therebetween. Inside the boiler 28, the lower body member defines a conical evaporation chamber. An electrical heating element is embedded into the lower body member of the boiler 28 during manufacture. The embedded element is helically arranged so that it wraps around the conical evaporation chamber formed by the boiler body. The ensures an even heat distribution.
  • a temperature regulator 34 is provided in thermal contact with the side of the boiler 28.
  • the temperature regulator 34 may be a bimetallic actuator.
  • the regulator 34 forms part of a thermally sensitive control for the electrical supply to the pump 26. Only when the regulator 34 senses that the boiler 28 has reached a predetermined minimum operating temperature, for example 120-160 °C, does it operate to connect power to the pump 26. This ensures that the boiler 28 has already started to heat up when water is pumped into it, so that evaporation and steam generation starts to take place straightaway. This avoids long start-up times when the appliance is first switched on, and helps to ensure that there are no unevaporated water droplets in the discharged steam.
  • one or more indicator lights of other form of indication might be provided to a user to indicate that the boiler 28 has reached its predetermined temperature.
  • the temperature regulator 34 may be omitted but if water is pumped to the cold boiler straightaway then it will take longer to heat up and generate steam.
  • a timer delay system may be used instead.
  • the boiler 28 is provided with a water inlet (not shown) which fluidly communicates with the lowest point of the conical evaporation chamber.
  • a steam outlet 36 is fluidly connected with the top of the evaporation chamber.
  • the steam outlet 36 is connected to the steam delivery pipe 30, which passes down past the boiler 28 and exits through the bottom of the head 6.
  • the steam delivery pipe 30 extends down below the head 6 and is terminated by the steam nozzle 32.
  • the steam nozzle 32 is removably attached to a lower end of the steam pipe 30.
  • a connector 38 is provided with a lever to turn and loosen the connector 38 when it is desired to remove the nozzle 32 for cleaning, and then to turn and tighten the connector 38 when the nozzle 32 is replaced. Once the steam nozzle 32 is fixed in position it cannot move relative to the head portion 6.
  • a linear actuator 42 provided in the stem 4 of the appliance.
  • the stem 4 is made up of a lower section 4a and an upper section 4b that telescopes inside the lower section 4a.
  • the upper section 4b is fixedly connected to the head portion 6 while the lower section 4a is fixedly connected to the base portion 2.
  • the linear actuator 42 in the stem 4 comprises a movable cylinder 44 attached in the upper section 4b of the stem and a fixed rod 46 attached in the lower section 4a of the stem.
  • the cylinder 44 is slidably mounted on the rod 46 and connected thereto by a helical spring 48.
  • the spring 48 biases the cylinder 44 and the upper section 4b of the stem to an uppermost position.
  • the stem 4 is shown in such an extended position in Figure 3.
  • a user presses down on the head 6 to push the upper stem section 4b and its cylinder 44 down against the spring 48 so that the rod 46 slides inside the cylinder 44.
  • the spring 48 will push the cylinder 44 and upper stem section 4b back up to a raised position.
  • the spring force is chosen so as to provide for a slow, damped motion.
  • a steam button 40 is provided on the head portion 6.
  • the button 40 is arranged to act on a momentary switch which connects the electrical supply to the pump 26 whenever it is pressed and held down.
  • the pump 26 and boiler 28 are arranged electrically in parallel so that they are energised simultaneously, or at least once the temperature regulator 34 allows the connection to the pump 26 to be completed.
  • a user only has to press and hold one button 40 for water to be pumped up to the heated boiler 28 and for steam to be generated. Once the user releases the button 40 the pump 26 ceases operation and steam generation is over as soon as the water left in the boiler 28 evaporates. Steam discharge will therefore halt within only a few seconds.
  • the momentary switch could be replaced with a regular switch so that instead a user presses the button 40 once to start the pump 26 and then presses the button 40 once again to stop the pump 26.
  • the circuit diagram of Figure 5 shows schematically how the heating element of the boiler 28 and the pump 26 may be electrically connected in parallel to the mains power supply V.
  • S1 represents the main on/off switch and this could either be the on/off switch at the wall socket or a dedicated switch on the appliance.
  • S2 represents the momentary action switch which is operated by the steam button 40 described above. An advantage of the momentary switch S2 is that the pump 26 cannot be left on if the appliance is left unattended.
  • S3, S4 and S5 are switches internal to the appliance.
  • S3 represents a switch that is controlled by the temperature regulator 34. This switch S3 is open until the boiler 28 reaches a predetermined minimum temperature, e.g. in the range 120-160 °C. Once the boiler 28 has reached the predetermined temperature the switch S3 remains closed.
  • S4 represents a switch that is controlled by a thermostatic control T1 for the boiler 28. The thermostatic control T1 responds to the temperature of the boiler 28 and disconnects the power supply if the boiler 28 starts to overheat beyond its normal operating range, e.g. 180-240 °C.
  • the thermostatic switch S4 is normally closed, but may cycle on/off to maintain the boiler 28 within the desired temperature range.
  • S5 represents a switch controlled by a thermal fuse T2.
  • the thermal fuse T2 is designed to rupture and open the switch S5 only in the event of a serious overheat condition, for example due to a fault in the thermostat T1 , and therefore provides a safety back-up.
  • switches S1 , S3, S4 and S5 will all be closed and it is only the momentary switch S2 that is opened and closed depending on user operation of the steam button 40.
  • the head 6 When the appliance 1 is in its rest position ( Figure 3) the head 6 is raised to its maximum height from the base 2 and there is therefore plenty of space beneath the steam nozzle 32 to allow a user to place a vessel down on the base 2.
  • the vessel could have many different sizes and shapes.
  • the user When the user is ready to heat the contents of the vessel, he or she presses down on the head portion 6 of the appliance to push the steam nozzle 32 down into the liquid or other foodstuff in the vessel.
  • the upper stem portion 4b telescopes into the lower stem portion 4a until the head 6 reaches the desired height.
  • the button 40 As the button 40 is positioned on top of the head portion 6, it is convenient for a user to press the button 40 while also pushing down on the head 6 with the same hand. Single-handed operation is therefore provided.
  • the user may use his or her other hand to hold the vessel and swirl it during the heating process if desired.
  • the user may press the button 40 at the same time as pushing the head 6 down to the desired height.
  • the boiler 28 will start to fill with water while the user is positioning the nozzle 32.
  • the boiler inlet may pass through the heated die cast body of the boiler 28 and thus water will be preheated so that when it enters the evaporation chamber its temperature is raised significantly above ambient (but below boiling). The water enters the bottom of the conical chamber.
  • the cross sectional area of the evaporation space increases in a direction away from the inlet as the water travels up the cone. This increasing volume allows for expansion of the steam created during the evaporation process and so limits the tendency for a build up in pressure to reduce the inflow rate of water.
  • the pressure of the steam produced in the evaporation chamber forces it out of the steam outlet 36 and down the steam discharge pipe 30.
  • the outlet pipe 36 may project slightly into the evaporation chamber to help trap any small droplets of water entrained in the steam so that these fall back into the boiler to be evaporated.
  • the steam exiting the boiler 28 is superheated.
  • the die cast boiler 28 has a high thermal capacity which allows a significant amount of thermal energy to be stored as a result of the high operating temperatures (typically 200-280 °C).
  • the head 6 is released completely. Due to the bias of the spring 48 on the cylinder 44 in the linear actuator 42 mechanism, the upper part 4b of the stem 4 telescopes up out of the lower part 4a until it reaches its maximum height. The spring force is selected to damp this motion so that the head 6 moves up slowly rather than jolting. Once the head 6 is raised up the vessel can be lifted from the base 2.
  • the steam nozzle 32 can be removed from the steam pipe 30 by turning a lever to loosen the connector 38.
  • the steam nozzle 32 can be washed, by hand or in a dishwasher, and then replaced on the steam pipe 30.
  • the connector 38 is turned to tighten its grip on the nozzle 32.
  • the water tank 14 As the water tank 14 is provided in the base 2, it does not contribute to the weight of the movable head 6 and can be made relatively large. Certainly it can be designed to hold a sufficient volume of water to generate several minutes worth of steam. The appliance may therefore be used several times over before it is necessary to replenish the tank 14. The weight of the water tank 14 can in fact help to stabilise the base 2.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Cookers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un appareil de génération de vapeur (1) comprenant une chaudière (28) présentant un orifice d'admission d'eau, une chambre d'évaporation chauffée électriquement et une sortie de vapeur (36). Une pompe (26) est agencée de manière à fournir de l'eau à l'orifice d'admission de la chaudière (28) sur demande. Une buse de distribution de vapeur (32) est reliée à la sortie de vapeur (36) de la chaudière (28). La buse de distribution de vapeur (32) s'étend vers le bas depuis une partie tête (6) de l'appareil (1). La partie tête (6) et la buse de distribution de vapeur (32) peuvent être déplacées manuellement vers le haut et vers le bas dans une plage de positions verticales par rapport à la partie de base (2). Un actionneur linéaire (42) agencé dans la tige (4) de l'appareil (1) peut permettre le déplacement vertical de la partie tête (6) et de la buse de vapeur (32).
PCT/GB2010/052061 2009-12-09 2010-12-09 Appareils de génération de vapeur WO2011070365A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0921558.3 2009-12-09
GB0921558A GB2476066A (en) 2009-12-09 2009-12-09 Steam generating appliances

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011070365A1 true WO2011070365A1 (fr) 2011-06-16

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GB (1) GB2476066A (fr)
WO (1) WO2011070365A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

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WO2014165911A3 (fr) * 2013-04-10 2014-12-18 William Westmore Purton Mousseur à lait expresso
JP2017534405A (ja) * 2014-11-19 2017-11-24 スクイレンブルグ・エン・フェー スチームを介して液体を処理するための装置
WO2018132119A1 (fr) * 2017-01-16 2018-07-19 A.J. Antunes & Co. Appareil de cuisson d'aliments à l'aide de vapeur à très haute température, destiné à la cuisson ou au chauffage de divers produits alimentaires disposés à l'intérieur d'un cuiseur à récipient
KR101886406B1 (ko) * 2017-02-14 2018-08-09 그래메디스 주식회사 수소 커피 제조장치
KR101993620B1 (ko) * 2018-11-27 2019-06-27 정찬목 다중 드립 커피머신
CN110099592A (zh) * 2016-11-07 2019-08-06 咖世家快运有限公司 过滤系统

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WO2013098710A2 (fr) * 2011-12-29 2013-07-04 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Appareil manuel pour faire mousser le lait dans la tasse
DE102013211199B4 (de) * 2013-06-14 2016-04-28 BSH Hausgeräte GmbH Milchaufschäumer
US10258191B2 (en) 2015-09-18 2019-04-16 Starbucks Corporation Beverage dispensing systems and methods
US10531761B2 (en) * 2015-09-18 2020-01-14 Starbucks Corporation Beverage preparation systems and methods
DE102018200890A1 (de) * 2018-01-19 2019-07-25 Scraegg Gmbh Vorrichtung zur fettfreien Zubereitung portionierter Mengen an Rührei
DE102019203587A1 (de) * 2019-03-15 2020-09-17 Scraegg Gmbh Vorrichtung zur vorzugsweise fettfreien Zubereitung portionierter Mengen an Lebensmitteln
CN113455902B (zh) * 2020-03-31 2022-05-17 宁波方太厨具有限公司 奶泡打发装置及包含其的咖啡机

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EP0575762A1 (fr) * 1992-06-26 1993-12-29 Eugster/Frismag AG Dispositif à préparer du lait émulsifié pour cappuccino
EP0607759A1 (fr) * 1993-01-19 1994-07-27 C.G.F. S.r.l. Dispositif pour faire mousser de la vapeur, en particulier pour préparer des boissons chaudes
US6293187B1 (en) * 1999-05-08 2001-09-25 Braun Gmbh Milk frothing device
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EP1388313A2 (fr) * 2002-08-06 2004-02-11 Strix Limited Récipient électrique à confectionner des breuvages
EP1833339A1 (fr) * 2004-12-21 2007-09-19 Seb Sa Machine a cafe munie d'une buse vapeur
DE102004062747A1 (de) * 2004-12-27 2006-07-06 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Brühgetränkemaschine
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Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014165911A3 (fr) * 2013-04-10 2014-12-18 William Westmore Purton Mousseur à lait expresso
RU2680647C2 (ru) * 2013-04-10 2019-02-25 Уильям Вестмор ПЕРТОН Вспениватель молока для кофе эспрессо
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JP2017534405A (ja) * 2014-11-19 2017-11-24 スクイレンブルグ・エン・フェー スチームを介して液体を処理するための装置
CN110099592A (zh) * 2016-11-07 2019-08-06 咖世家快运有限公司 过滤系统
CN110099592B (zh) * 2016-11-07 2021-06-01 咖世家快运有限公司 过滤系统
WO2018132119A1 (fr) * 2017-01-16 2018-07-19 A.J. Antunes & Co. Appareil de cuisson d'aliments à l'aide de vapeur à très haute température, destiné à la cuisson ou au chauffage de divers produits alimentaires disposés à l'intérieur d'un cuiseur à récipient
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KR101886406B1 (ko) * 2017-02-14 2018-08-09 그래메디스 주식회사 수소 커피 제조장치
KR101993620B1 (ko) * 2018-11-27 2019-06-27 정찬목 다중 드립 커피머신

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Publication number Publication date
GB0921558D0 (en) 2010-01-27
GB2476066A (en) 2011-06-15

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