Steam outlet tube assembly for making beverages
First Claim
1. A steam outlet tube assembly for preparing beverages, comprising(a) a steam tube having a terminal length portion including an outlet end;
- said steam tube being adapted to guide steam therein and eject the steam through said outlet end of said steam tube;
in operation said outlet end of said steam tube being submerged in a liquid;
(b) a first conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end;
said outlet end of said first conduit being located at said length portion of said steam tube;
in operation said inlet end of said first conduit being submerged in the liquid;
(c) a second conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end;
said outlet end of said second conduit being located at said terminal length portion of said steam tube;
in operation said inlet end of said second conduit being in communication with air; and
(d) a sleeve surrounding said steam tube and being movably supported for displacement relative to said steam tube;
said sleeve having a sleeve portion forming part of said second conduit;
said sleeve having a first position in which said sleeve portion laterally closes said second conduit, whereby during operation the steam passing through said steam tube draws liquid through said first conduit and draws air through said second conduit to effect a discharge of a steam/liquid/air mixture through said outlet end of said steam tube;
said sleeve having a second position in which said sleeve portion laterally opens said second conduit, whereby during operation the steam passing through said steam tube draws liquid through said first conduit, while said second conduit is blocked by liquid, to effect a discharge of solely a steam/liquid mixture through said outlet end of said steam tube.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steam outlet tube assembly for preparing beverages includes a steam tube having a terminal length portion including an outlet end. The outlet end of the first conduit is located at the terminal length portion of the steam tube. There is further provided a second conduit having an outlet end communicating with the steam tube at the terminal length portion thereof; and a mechanism for selectively placing the second conduit into an unblocked position and into a blocked position. In the unblocked position the steam passing through the steam tube draws liquid through the first conduit and draws air through the second conduit to effect a discharge of a steam/liquid/air mixture through the outlet end of the steam tube. In the blocked position the steam passing through the steam tube draws liquid through the first conduit, to effect a discharge of solely a steam/liquid mixture through the outlet end of the steam tube.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A steam outlet tube assembly for preparing beverages, comprising
(a) a steam tube having a terminal length portion including an outlet end; - said steam tube being adapted to guide steam therein and eject the steam through said outlet end of said steam tube;
in operation said outlet end of said steam tube being submerged in a liquid;(b) a first conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end;
said outlet end of said first conduit being located at said length portion of said steam tube;
in operation said inlet end of said first conduit being submerged in the liquid;(c) a second conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end;
said outlet end of said second conduit being located at said terminal length portion of said steam tube;
in operation said inlet end of said second conduit being in communication with air; and(d) a sleeve surrounding said steam tube and being movably supported for displacement relative to said steam tube;
said sleeve having a sleeve portion forming part of said second conduit;
said sleeve having a first position in which said sleeve portion laterally closes said second conduit, whereby during operation the steam passing through said steam tube draws liquid through said first conduit and draws air through said second conduit to effect a discharge of a steam/liquid/air mixture through said outlet end of said steam tube;
said sleeve having a second position in which said sleeve portion laterally opens said second conduit, whereby during operation the steam passing through said steam tube draws liquid through said first conduit, while said second conduit is blocked by liquid, to effect a discharge of solely a steam/liquid mixture through said outlet end of said steam tube. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- said steam tube being adapted to guide steam therein and eject the steam through said outlet end of said steam tube;
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11. A steam outlet tube assembly for preparing beverages, comprising
(a) a steam tube having a terminal length portion including an outlet end; - said steam tube being adapted to guide steam therein and eject the steam through said outlet end of said steam tube;
in operation said outlet end of said steam tube being submerged in a liquid;(b) a first conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end;
said outlet end of said first conduit being located at said terminal length portion of said steam tube;
in operation said inlet end of said first conduit being submerged in the liquid;(c) a second conduit having an inlet end and an outlet end;
said outlet end of said second conduit being located at said terminal length portion of said steam tube;
in operation said inlet end of said second conduit being in communication with air; and(d) means for selectively placing said second conduit into an unblocked position and into a blocked position;
in said unblocked position the steam passing through said steam tube draws liquid through said first conduit and draws air through said second conduit to effect a discharge of a steam/liquid/air mixture through said outlet end of said steam tube;
in said blocked position the steam passing through said steam tube draws liquid through said first conduit, to effect a discharge of solely a steam/liquid mixture through said outlet end of said steam tube.
- said steam tube being adapted to guide steam therein and eject the steam through said outlet end of said steam tube;
Specification