BOILER FOR A MACHINE FOR MAKING HOT BEVERAGES

• US 20110174160A1
• Filed: 01/15/2009
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Compagnie Mediterraneenne Des Cafes
• Original Assignee: Compagnie Mediterraneenne Des Cafes
• Inventors: Goering, Alain, Blanc, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/288
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/542 Continuous-flow heaters
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 1/121 using electric energy supply
• CPC Class Codes: F24H 9/02 Casings; Cover lids; Ornamental panels
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/50 heating conductor arranged in metal tubes, the radiating surface having heat-conducting fins

Abstract

The present invention concerns a boiler for use in a machine for making hot beverages comprising a heat diffuser (32) with a first wall (33) destined to be placed in contact with the liquid to be heated and a second wall (34) opposite first wall (33), heating means (30) consisting of at least one serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31) arranged on second wall (34) of heat diffuser (32) and defining a pattern formed of at least one resistive track, a body which with first wall (33) of heat diffuser (32) defines a heating chamber (11) inside which the liquid is to be heated. It also includes a bearing means shaped to bear on second wall (34) of heat diffuser (32) on at least one zone, the resistive track(s) being arranged on either side of the said zone so that the bearing means receives at least part of the force transmitted by the liquid to heat diffuser (32) and resulting from the pressurizing of the liquid in the heating chamber (11).

Claims

1. Boiler for use on a machine for making hot beverages comprising

a heat diffuser (32) consisting of a first wall (33) for placing in contact with a liquid to be heated and a second wall (34) opposite the first wall (33),

heating means (30) consisting of at least one serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31) arranged on second wall (34) of heat diffuser (32) and forming a pattern consisting of at least one resistive track,

a body which, with first wall (33) of heat diffuser (32), defines a heating chamber (11) inside which the liquid is to be heated,

characterized in that it includes bearing means arranged to bear on at least one zone of second wall (34) of heat diffuser (32), the resistive track(s) being arranged on each side of the said zone so that the bearing means absorbs at least part of the force transmitted by the liquid to heat diffuser (32) and resulting from the pressurizing of the liquid in heating chamber (11).

2. Boiler according to claim 1 in which the shape of the said bearing means appreciably complements serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31) so as to come into contact with second wall (34) of heat diffuser (32) without interfering with the resistive tracks.

3. Boiler according to claim 1 in which the bearing means is arranged so that the zone(s) occupies(y) an area greater than 50% of the area of second wall (34) not occupied by the serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31).

4. Boiler according to claim 1 in which the bearing means is arranged so that the zone(s) occupies(y) an area of between 80% and 98% of the area of second wall (34) that is not occupied by the serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31).

5. Boiler according to claim 1 comprising a support that acts as a frame and receives the bearing means.

6. Boiler according to claim 4 in which the support and the bearing means constitute a single part.

7. Boiler according to claim 1 in which heating chamber (11) is placed on the periphery of heating means (30) and heating means (30) are placed on the periphery of the bearing means.

8. Boiler according to claim 1 in which heating means (30) are placed on the periphery of heating chamber (11) and the bearing means is placed on the periphery of heating means (30) so is to enclose the latter.

9. Boiler according to claim 1 wherein with heating means (30) having a roughly cylindrical shape.

10. Boiler according to claim 1 comprising at least two heat diffusers (32, 32) whose second walls (34, 34) are turned mutually towards one another and enclose the bearing means.

11. Boiler according to claim 1 in which the said boiler is symmetrical relative to a mid-plane.

12. Boiler according to claim 1 in which heat diffuser (32) is between 2 and 4 mm thick, the periphery around the pattern forming an area that is between 60% and 90% of the surface area of the heat diffuser and interaction between the bearing means and the body causes the pressure of the liquid in the boiler to build up to approximately 30 bars.

13. Boiler according to claim 1, arranged so that the forces generated by the pressure of the liquid are transmitted to the bearing means (20) and balance at the level of the bearing means (20).

14. Boiler according to claim 13 comprising two heat diffusers (32, 32) in which the bearing means (20) is inserted between the two walls (34, 34) of each heat diffuser (32, 32).

15. Machine for preparing hot beverages equipped with a boiler according to claim 1.

16. Boiler according to claim 2 in which the bearing means is arranged so that the zone(s) occupies(y) an area greater than 50% of the area of second wall (34) not occupied by the serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31).

17. Boiler according to claim 2 in which the bearing means is arranged so that the zone(s) occupies(y) an area of between 80% and 98% of the area of second wall (34) that is not occupied by the serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31).

18. Boiler according to claim 3 in which the bearing means is arranged so that the zone(s) occupies(y) an area of between 80% and 98% of the area of second wall (34) that is not occupied by the serigraphed or photo-engraved resistance (31).

19. Boiler according to claim 2 comprising a support that acts as a frame and receives the bearing means.

20. Boiler according to claim 3 comprising a support that acts as a frame and receives the bearing means.