SYSTEM FOR PRECISE TEMPERATURE CONTROL OF LIQUIDS IN CONSUMER PRODUCTS

• US 20130167730A1
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Published: 07/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph Behm
• Original Assignee: Joseph Behm
• Inventors: Behm, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,905,278 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 99/281
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21083 with variable operating parameters, e.g. temperature or boiling period
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1919 characterised by the type of controller

Abstract

Systems to allow temperature control more precise and accurate than the current state of the art for consumer products that heat liquids such as, without limitation, coffee makers, tea makers, electric kettles and espresso machines. One feature of such systems may include the ability to calibrate the system with reference to a known temperature point. Another feature of such system may allow reduction in the rate of water heating to allow the temperature of the water to approach a target temperature in a gradual manner.

Claims

1. A system for improving the precise and accurate temperature control of a water heating consumer appliance comprising:

a reservoir for holding a liquid;

at least one heating element located to heat said liquid;

at least one temperature sensor that generates a signal representative of a sensed temperature located to sense the temperature of said liquid;

at least one control component;

said at least one control component connected to said at least one temperature sensor to receive said signal;

means to indicate to said at least one control component that said signal represents a reference signal; and

said at least one control component being capable of comparing future signals from said at least one temperature sensor with said reference signal.

2. The system of claim 1 in which the reference signal is the boiling point of said liquid.

3. The system of claim 1 in which the means to indicate to said at least one control component that said signal represents a reference signal comprises a manual input that must be activated by a user of the system.

4. The system of claim 1 in which the means to indicate to said at least one control component that said signal represents a reference signal comprises means for automatically detecting that said liquid is boiling.

5. A system for improving the precise and accurate temperature control of a water heating consumer appliance comprising:

a reservoir for holding a liquid;

at least one heating element located to heat said liquid;

at least one temperature sensor that generates a signal representative of a sensed temperature located to sense the temperature of said liquid;

at least one control component;

said at least one control component connected to said at least one temperature sensor to receive said signal;

said at least one control component connected to said at least one heating element to control the rate at which said at least one heating element heats a liquid; and

said at least one control component interacting with said at least one heating element to reduce the rate at which a liquid is heated as said signal approaches a predetermined level indicative of a predetermined temperature.

6. The system of claim 5 in which said at least one control component reduces the rate at which said at least one heating element heats a liquid by reducing the power supplied to said at least one heating element.

7. The system of claim 5 in which said at least one control component reduces the rate at which said at least one heating element heats a liquid by cycling the power supplied to said at least one heating element on and off.

8. A system for improving the precise and accurate temperature control of a water heating consumer appliance comprising:

a reservoir for holding a liquid;

at least one heating element located to heat said liquid;

at least one temperature sensor that generates a signal representative of a sensed temperature located to sense the temperature of said liquid;

at least one control component;

said at least one control component connected to said at least one temperature sensor to receive said signal;

means to indicate to said at least one control component that said signal represents a reference signal;

said at least one control component being capable of comparing future signals from said at least one temperature sensor with said reference signal;

said at least one control component connected to said at least one heating element to control the rate at which said at least one heating element heats a liquid; and

said at least one control component interacting with said at least one heating element to reduce the rate at which a liquid is heated as said signal approaches a predetermined level indicative of a predetermined temperature.

9. The system of claim 8 in which the reference signal is the boiling point of said liquid.

10. The system of claim 8 in which the means to indicate to said at least one control component that said signal represents a reference signal comprises a manual input that must be activated by a user of the system.

11. The system of claim 8 in which the means to indicate to said at least one control component that said signal represents a reference signal comprises means for automatically detecting that said liquid is boiling.

12. The system of claim 8 in which said at least one control component reduces the rate at which said at least one heating element heats a liquid by reducing the power supplied to said at least one heating element.

13. The system of claim 8 in which said at least one control component reduces the rate at which said at least one heating element heats a liquid by cycling the power supplied to said at least one heating element on and off.

14. The system of claim 8 in which said consumer appliance comprises a coffee maker.

15. The system of claim 8 in which said consumer appliance comprises a tea maker.

16. The system of claim 8 in which said consumer appliance comprises an electric kettle.

17. The system of claim 8 in which said consumer appliance comprises an espresso machine.