Beverage forming apparatus with centrifugal pump
First Claim
1. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
- a storage tank to hold a supply of liquid, the liquid having a full level when the storage tank is full of liquid;
a centrifugal pump having a pump body, a priming vent at the pump body, an outlet, and an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit, the priming vent being located below the full level of the storage tank and permitting air in the centrifugal pump to vent as liquid from the storage tank fills the pump;
a metering tank having an inlet connected to the outlet of the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet;
a metering tank vent connected between the metering tank and the storage tank and arranged to allow fluid flow from the metering tank to the storage tank during filling of the metering tank by the centrifugal pump;
a pump conduit vent downstream of the centrifugal pump and arranged at a point above a top fluid level in the metering tank to break a siphon in the pump conduit; and
a brew chamber connected to the outlet of the metering tank by a metering tank conduit and for forming a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage forming apparatus includes a storage tank, and a centrifugal pump having an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit. The centrifugal pump may include a priming vent located below a full level of the storage tank and permit air to vent as liquid primes the pump. A metering tank may have an inlet connected to the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet connected to a brew chamber that forms a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank. In one embodiment, a flow control valve, such as a check valve, may be provided in the pump conduit to allow flow from the pump to the metering tank, but resist flow in reverse. In another embodiment, a vent valve in the pump conduit may be arranged to vent at least a portion of the pump conduit, e.g., to ambient air pressure.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
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a storage tank to hold a supply of liquid, the liquid having a full level when the storage tank is full of liquid; a centrifugal pump having a pump body, a priming vent at the pump body, an outlet, and an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit, the priming vent being located below the full level of the storage tank and permitting air in the centrifugal pump to vent as liquid from the storage tank fills the pump; a metering tank having an inlet connected to the outlet of the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet; a metering tank vent connected between the metering tank and the storage tank and arranged to allow fluid flow from the metering tank to the storage tank during filling of the metering tank by the centrifugal pump; a pump conduit vent downstream of the centrifugal pump and arranged at a point above a top fluid level in the metering tank to break a siphon in the pump conduit; and a brew chamber connected to the outlet of the metering tank by a metering tank conduit and for forming a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23)
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11. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
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a storage tank to hold a supply of liquid, the liquid having a full level when the storage tank is full of liquid; a centrifugal pump having a pump body, a priming vent at the pump body, an outlet, and an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit, the priming vent being located below the full level of the storage tank and permitting air in the centrifugal pump to vent as liquid from the storage tank fills the pump; a metering tank having an inlet connected to the outlet of the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet; a metering tank vent arranged to allow fluid flow from the metering tank during filling of the metering tank by the centrifugal pump; a flow control valve in the pump conduit that allows flow from the centrifugal pump to the metering tank and resists flow from the metering tank to the centrifugal pump; a pump conduit vent downstream of the flow control valve arranged at a point above a top fluid level in the metering tank to break a siphon in the pump conduit; and a brew chamber connected to the metering tank by a metering tank conduit and for forming a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
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a storage tank to hold a supply of liquid, the liquid having a full level when the storage tank is full of liquid; a centrifugal pump having a pump body, a priming vent at the pump body, an outlet, and an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit, the priming vent being located below the full level of the storage tank and permitting air in the pump to vent as liquid from the storage tank fills the pump; a metering tank having an inlet connected to the outlet of the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet; a metering tank vent arranged to allow fluid flow from the metering tank during filling of the metering tank by the centrifugal pump; a vent valve in the pump conduit arranged at a point above a top fluid level in the metering tank to vent at least a portion of the pump conduit to a pressure different from a pressure in the pump conduit to break a siphon in the pump conduit; and a brew chamber connected to the metering tank by a metering tank conduit and for forming a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A beverage forming apparatus, comprising:
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a storage tank to hold a supply of liquid, the liquid having a full level when the storage tank is full of liquid; a centrifugal pump having a pump body, a priming vent at the pump body, an outlet, and an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit, the priming vent being located below the full level of the storage tank and permitting air in the pump to vent as liquid from the storage tank fills the pump; a metering tank having an inlet connected to the outlet of the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet; a metering tank vent arranged to allow fluid flow from the metering tank during filling of the metering tank by the centrifugal pump; a vent valve connected to the pump conduit at a point downstream from the centrifugal pump outlet and upstream from the metering tank inlet and arranged at a point above a top fluid level in the metering tank to vent at least a portion of the pump conduit to a pressure different from a pressure in the pump conduit, wherein the vent valve allows fluid to flow from the centrifugal pump to the metering tank when the vent valve is closed; and a brew chamber connected to the metering tank by a metering tank conduit and for forming a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank.
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Specification