Beverage brewer with brewing temperature interlock

• US 4,917,005 A
• Filed: 06/09/1989
• Issued: 04/17/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation 1400 Stevenson Drive Springfield IL
• Original Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
• Inventors: Knepler, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jenkins, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US07/364,974
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 99/280, 99/281, 99/282, 99/283, 99/285, 99/295, 99/300, 99/304, 99/307, 426/433, 219/297, 219/298, 219/312, 219/323
• US Class Current: 99/280
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/057 with water container separated from beverage container, the hot water passing the filter only once i.e. classical type of drip coffee makers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/52 Alarm-clock-controlled mechanisms for coffee- or tea-making apparatus ; Timers for coffee- or tea-making apparatus; Electronic control devices for coffee- or tea-making apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/56 having water-level controls; having temperature controls

Abstract

A beverage brewer includes a water reservoir in which water is heated to a predetermined brewing temperature by a resistance heater element within the reservoir. To initiate a brewing cycle cold water is admitted to the reservoir for a predetermined time period through an electrically operated fill valve to displace a predetermined volume of heated water from the reservoir. The heated water flows through a beverage filter containing coffee or tea to a serving beaker. A temperature interlock circuit having a temperature sensing element in the reservoir prevents actuation of the fill valve when the reservoir temperature falls below a predetermined minimum level.

Claims

1. A beverage brewing apparatus comprising:

a hot water reservoir;

inlet means for admitting cold water into said reservoir;

a resistance heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating water in the reservoir;

dispensing means including user-actuable solenoid valve for dispensing heated water from the reservoir;

temperature sensing means for producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the water in said reservoir; and

interlock circuit means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for inhibiting the operation of said valve when the temperature of the water in said reservoir falls below a predetermined minimum brewing temperature.

2. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet means comprise a conduit for admitting cold water into said reservoir, and said solenoid valve is disposed inline therein.

3. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 1 including temperature control means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for controlling the application of current to said resistance heater to maintain the temperature of the water in said reservoir at a nominal temperature greater than said predetermined minimum brewing temperature.

4. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said temperature sensing means comprise a thermistor.

5. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said thermistor is disposed within a segment of heat-conductive tubing disposed within said reservoir.

6. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said tubing segment is formed of a formable heat-conductive metal.

7. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet means admit cold water to a bottom portion of said reservoir, said outlet means discharge heated water from a top portion of said reservoir, and said temperature sensing means sense the temperature of the water in said reservoir at a central portion intermediate said top and bottom portions.

8. A beverage brewing apparatus comprising:

a hot water reservoir;

inlet means for admitting cold water into said reservoir;

a resistance heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating water in the reservoir;

dispensing means including user-actuable solenoid valve for dispensing heated water from the reservoir;

said inlet means comprising a conduit for admitting cold water into said reservoir, and said solenoid valve is being disposed in line therein;

temperature sensing means for producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the water in said reservoir;

temperature control means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for controlling the application of current to said resistance heater to maintain the temperature of the water in said reservoir at a nominal temperature greater than said predetermined minimum brewing temperature; and

interlock circuit means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for inhibiting the operation of said valve when the temperature of the water in said reservoir falls below a predetermined minimum brewing temperature.

9. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said temperature sensing means comprise a thermistor.

10. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said thermistor is disposed within a segment of heat-conductive tubing disposed within said reservoir.

11. A beverage brewing apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said tubing segment is formed of a formable heat-conductive metal.