Aeroplane drink dispenser

• US 7,592,084 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Westenberger, Andreas, Hoffjann, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOOD, JONATHAN K
• Application Number:
  US11/560,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20070119863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/129.3, 222/129.4, 222/146.1, 222/146.2, 222/146.5, 429/9, 429/12, 429/24, 429/26
• US Class Current: 429/468
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/04 Galleys
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2041/005 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0078 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2008/1095 Fuel cells with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/405 Cogeneration of heat or hot water
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04007 related to heat exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04201 Reactant storage and supply, e.g. means for feeding, pipes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04731 of other components of a fuel cell or fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/40 Weight reduction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/40 Application of hydrogen technology to transportation, e.g. using fuel cells

Abstract

A drink dispenser which is particularly suitable for use on board a passenger plane, comprises a drink preparation unit and a supply unit. The supply unit has a fuel cell system with a fuel cell and is configured to supply the drink preparation unit with water, electric energy, and thermal energy produced by the fuel cell.

Claims

1. Aeroplane drink dispenser (10) with

a drink preparation unit (12) comprising a mixing device (42) for preparing hot drinks by mixing a drink concentrate with water, and

a supply unit (14) comprising a fuel cell system (16) with a fuel cell (18) and a heat management arrangement (32), wherein the fuel cell (18) of the fuel cell system (16) is connected to the drink preparation unit (12) to supply the drink preparation unit (12) with water and electrical energy which are both produced by the fuel cell (18), the heat management arrangement (32) being connected to the mixing device (42) to supply the mixing device (42) with thermal energy which is produced by the fuel cell (18) and is necessary to produce hot drinks.

2. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the drink preparation unit (12) comprises a second mixing device (40) for producing cold drinks by mixing a drink concentrate with water.

3. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the drink preparation unit (12) comprises a storage container (36) for holding the water produced by the fuel cell (18).

4. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the drink preparation unit (12) comprises a dispensing device (52) for dispensing drinks prepared in the drink preparation unit (12) and a selection device (48, 50) for selecting the drink to be dispensed via the dispensing device (52).

5. Aeroplane drink dispenser according claim 1, characterised in that the drink preparation unit (12) comprises an energy storage means (54) for storing the energy produced by the fuel cell (18).

6. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the fuel cell (18) is a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell, in particular a high-temperature polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell.

7. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the fuel cell system (16) comprises a hydrogen tank (26) connected to an anode region (20) of the fuel cell (18) or a device, connected to the anode region (20) of the fuel cell (18), for producing hydrogen from a hydrogenous medium.

8. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the fuel cell system (16) comprises a device (28), connected to a cathode region (24) of the fuel cell (18), for feeding an oxygenic medium into the cathode region (24) of the fuel cell (18).

9. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the supply unit (14) comprises a condensation device (30) for condensing water issuing from the fuel cell (18).

10. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the heat management arrangement (32) is configured to control at least one of the operating temperature of the fuel cell (18) and the operating temperature of the condensation device (30).

11. Aeroplane drink dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that the drink preparation unit (12) and the supply unit (14) are configured as separate components which may be connected together or separated from each other as required.

12. Aeroplane drink dispenser system with a plurality of mobile drink preparation units (12) which each comprise a mixing device (42) for producing hot drinks by mixing a drink concentrate with water, and at least one stationary supply unit (14) which is connectable to the mobile drink preparation units (12) and comprises a fuel cell system (16) with a fuel cell (18) and a heat management arrangement (32), wherein the fuel cell (18) of the fuel cell system (16) is connectable to the mobile drink preparation units to supply the plurality of mobile drink preparation units (12) with water and electrical energy, both produced by the fuel cell (18), and wherein the heat management arrangement (32) is connectable to the mixing devices (42) in order to supply said mixing devices (42) with thermal energy produced by the fuel cell (18) and required for the preparation of hot drinks.