Device for heating a liquid with steam

• US 7,489,860 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WMF Group Gmbh (SEB SA)
• Original Assignee: WMF Wã¼Rttembergische Metallwarenfabrik AG
• Inventors: Startz, Armin
• Primary Examiner(s): Campbell; Thor S
• Application Number:
  US11/643,326
• Publication Number:
  US 20070196081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 392/478, 222/146.4
• US Class Current: 392/478
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/41 of liquid ingredients

Abstract

A device for heating a liquid food with steam, having a liquid-transporting and a steam-transporting pipe (5, 7), where in order to effect the connection of both pipes for the purpose of heating the liquid directly in the pipe in a constructively simple manner, a coupling device (4) for connecting the pipes (5, 7) is provided, which contains at least one perforating needle (11), which is connected to one of the pipes (7, 5) and can pierce a perforable wall section (5a) on the other pipe (5, 7).

Claims

1. Device for heating a liquid food with steam, comprising a liquid-transporting pipe (5), a steam-transporting pipe (7), and a coupling device (4) for connecting the liquid-transporting pipe (5) and the steam-transporting pipe (7), the coupling device (4) containing at least one perforating needle (11) which is connected to one of the liquid-transporting and steam-transporting pipes (7, 5) and can pierce a perforable wall section (5a) on the other of the liquid-transporting and steam-transporting pipes (5, 7).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the perforating needle (11) is accommodated in a housing (15).

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) comprises a movement device (22) for piercing the perforating needle (11) into the perforable wall section (5a).

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) comprises a locking device (22) for the perforating needle (11) in the position penetrating the perforable wall section (5a).

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) contains a locating face (16b) for the one of the liquid-transporting and the steam-transporting pipes (5) that is provided with the perforable wall section (5a).

6. Device according to claim 1, further comprising a cleaning device for the perforating needle (11).

7. Device according to claim 6, and one of a wiping device (17) for mechanically cleaning the perforating needle (11), a device for applying steam to the perforable wall section (5a), where the perforating needle (11) is provided for sterilization.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) contains a housing (15) with a locating face (16b) for accepting and supporting one of the liquid-transporting and steam-transporting pipes (5) and a holder (12) for the perforating needle (11), to which the other of the liquid-transporting and steam transporting pipes (7) is connected, wherein the locating face (16b) and the holder (12) can be moved relative to one another for piercing the perforating needle (11) into the perforable wall section (5a).

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) comprises a holder (16) which is provided with a locating face (16b) for the perforable wall section (5a).

10. Device according to claim 8 wherein between the pipe (5) contacting the locating face (16b) and the perforating needle (11) a further locating face (16a), provided with an opening (17), is arranged, wherein the diameter of the opening (17) is one of equally large or only negligibly larger than the outer diameter of the perforating needle (11) so that the opening (17) acts as a wiping device for the perforating needle (11).

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) comprises a cam control (19, 20, 21) which moves the perforating needle (11) and the perforable wall section (5a) relative to one another.

12. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (4) contains a thrust piece (22), which contains a cam control (19, 20, 21), which moves the perforating needle (11) and the perforable wall section (5a) relative to one another, and a locking device, which locks the perforating needle (11) in a position penetrating the wall section (5a).

13. Device according to claim 1, wherein the perforating needle (11) is connected to the steam-transporting pipe (7).

14. Drink dispensing device (1) comprising a device according to claim 1.

15. Drink dispensing device according to claim 14, wherein the perforable wall section (5a) is part of a disposable discharge hose (5).

16. Device according to claim 9, wherein between the pipe contacting the locating face and the perforating needle a further locating face, provided with an opening, is arranged, wherein the diameter of the opening is one of equally large or only negligibly larger than the outer diameter of the perforating needle so that the opening acts as wiping device for the perforating needle.