CN101317740A - Espresso machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an espresso machine comprising: a water heater for heating a water source; valve means in fluid communication with the water heater; a brewing head in fluid communication with the valve means via a brewing water conduit; a water/steam outlet in fluid communication with the valve means via a hot water/steam conduit; a pump for pumping water from the water source through the valve means to at least one of the brewing head and the hot water/steam outlet; a controller, It is used to control the operation of the valve means to selectively direct fluid flow from the water source to either the brewing water line or the hot water/steam line. The espresso machine also includes a pressure relief valve for relieving pressure in the hot water/steam line via an overflow outlet independently of the controller.

Description

Espresso machine

technical field

The present invention relates to an espresso coffee machine of steam pressure brewing type, and in particular to an espresso coffee machine.

Background technique

Coffee is a very popular beverage in today's society. One of the most popular forms of coffee is espresso. Espresso is made by heating water and using pressure to force the heated water through finely ground coffee beans.

Modern espresso machines typically serve at least two functions. The first function is that it can make espresso itself. As mentioned above, this is done by heating the water to produce hot water and then creating pressure to force the hot water through the ground coffee beans in the brew head. A second function provided by many espresso machines is the generation and release of steam to heat and/or froth milk that may be added to the espresso (eg, to create a cappuccino or latte).

Espresso machines are also often operable to dispense hot or boiling water for addition to espresso (eg, diluted espresso) or for making a pot of tea or other hot beverage.

To provide these functions, a beverage machine typically includes: a fill port, a pressure pump, a heating block, and various outlets through which espresso, steam, and water can flow. A drip spout is also usually provided to allow excess water or steam to exit the beverage machine in the event of servicing the beverage machine or excessive pressure buildup.

Reliably controlling and managing the flow of water and/or steam through the beverage machine from the fill port or tank to the appropriate outlet at the proper time under conditions of high temperature and pressure is one aspect that makes espresso machines rather expensive to manufacture.

Contents of the invention

In one aspect, the present invention provides an espresso machine comprising:

a water heater for heating a water source;

a valve arrangement in fluid communication with the water heater;

a brewing head in fluid communication with the valve means via a brewing water conduit;

a hot water/steam outlet in fluid communication with the valve means via a hot water/steam conduit;

a pump for pumping water from the water source via the valve means to at least one of the brewing head and the hot water/steam outlet;

a controller for controlling operation of the valve means to selectively direct fluid flow from the water source to either the brewing water conduit or the hot water/steam conduit; and

Pressure relief valve for relieving the pressure in the hot water/steam line via an overflow outlet independently of the controller.

Preferably, the pressure relief valve responds directly to pressure increases in the hot water/steam line.

The valve means may comprise a multi-way valve, preferably a three-way valve.

Conveniently, a first manual control valve is located downstream of the pressure relief valve, the manual control valve being arranged to control the flow of hot water/steam through the hot water/steam outlet.

The espresso machine optionally includes: a hot water outlet in fluid communication with the hot water/steam conduit; and a second manual control valve configured to control the flow of hot water through the hot water outlet.

Preferably, the espresso machine is operable as follows:

brewing mode, in which hot water is supplied under pressure via the valve means through the brewing water conduit to the brewing head;

hot water/steam delivery mode, in which hot water/steam is supplied to the hot water/steam outlet through the hot water/steam pipe via the valve arrangement and the manual control valve; and

Pressure reducing mode, in which the pressure reducing valve opens in response to pressure increase in the hot water/steam line, the open pressure reducing valve allows the water/steam to flow to the overflow outlet.

The decompression mode may follow the brew mode, where the valve means redirects water from the brew water line to the hot water/steam line.

Description of drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show various embodiments of an espresso machine according to the invention. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the features of the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the internal components of an espresso machine according to a first embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a second embodiment of the espresso machine shown in FIG. 1 .

Detailed ways

As shown in FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment hot beverage machine 10 includes: a water source in the form of a tank 12 ; a pump 14 ; a water heater 16 ; a high pressure water outlet 18 ; an overflow outlet 20 and a hot water/steam outlet 22 . These parts are connected by a series of pipes through which water or steam flows. The pump 14 and water heater 16 settings are controlled by the beverage machine's microprocessor-based controller 90 via output signals 90A and 90B. The water tank may be provided with a water level sensor (not shown) which provides an input signal 12A to the controller. At least one temperature sensor (not shown) located at the water heater provides one or more temperature input signals 16A to the controller.

In an alternate embodiment, the positions of the pump 14 and the water heater 16 may be reversed.

The high-pressure water outlet 18 is provided with a bayonet-type receiving seat 18A, and the coffee holder 19 is detachably attached to the receiving seat 18A. The coffee holder 19 has a brew head with a filter that packs finely ground coffee beans and when pressurized water flows from the high pressure outlet 18 and through the brew head, an espresso is made .

The overflow outlet 20 leads to a water collecting container, in this case a drip tray 21 . The hot water/steam outlet 22 is used to deliver steam and/or water. Conveniently, the wand 23 is attached to the hot water/steam outlet 22 and can be placed into a kettle or the like for easy delivery of steam and/or hot water.

When espresso machine 10 is in use, water from tank 12 is pumped by pump 14 through water heater 16 . If steam is required, the pump 14 pumps water through the water heater 16 at a relatively slow rate, eg, 0.5 ml/sec, and the temperature of the water heater 16 is relatively high, eg, 170°C. If hot water is required instead, the pump 14 pumps water through the water heater 16 at a relatively fast rate, eg, 2.0 ml/sec, and the temperature of the water heater 16 is relatively low, eg, 110°C.

To direct the flow of water and/or steam flowing through the water heater 16 to one of the water outlets 18, 20 or 22, a series of valves are used. These valves include a multi-way valve 24 , a pressure relief valve 26 and a needle valve 28 . The multi-way valve 24 is controlled by the beverage machine controller 90 via the output signal 90C, and in the preferred embodiment is a solenoid valve. In an alternative embodiment, the flow direction in the espresso machine may be controlled by an alternative valve arrangement which may include one or more The valve of the coffee machine.

The multi-way valve 24 has a multi-way valve inlet 30 for water/steam flowing through the water heater 16, a high-pressure valve outlet 32 leading to the brewing water pipe 15 and the high-pressure water outlet 18, and a hot water/steam pipe 17 and the low pressure valve outlet 34 of the hot water/steam outlet 22 (via pressure reducing valve 26).

Multi-way valve 24 is operable by beverage machine controller 90 to direct fluid flow through brewing water conduit 15 to high pressure outlet 18 (in which case high pressure valve outlet 32 is open and low pressure valve outlet 34 is open). In this case, the multi-way valve 24 is considered to be open.

Alternatively, the multi-way valve 24 may be operated by the beverage machine controller 90 to direct fluid flow through the hot water/steam line 17 to the pressure relief valve 26 (in which case the low pressure valve outlet 34 is open and the high pressure valve outlet 32 is open) . In this case, the multi-way valve 24 is considered open, which is the "natural" state of the multi-way valve 24 (ie when the beverage machine is switched off or when the user has not selected any control options).

The pressure reducing valve 26 is located on the hot water/steam pipeline 17 between the multi-way valve 24 and the needle valve 28 . The relief valve 26 has a relief valve inlet 36 for fluid flowing through the low pressure valve outlet 34 of the multiway valve 24 , a relief outlet 38 leading to the relief outlet 20 , and an unblocking outlet 40 leading to the needle valve 28 . The unblocked outlet 40 in the relief valve 26 is always open, allowing fluid to flow to the needle valve 28 .

Unlike the multi-way valve 24 which requires operation from the beverage machine controller 90, the pressure relief valve 26 responds directly to the pressure within the beverage machine 10 and does not require specific commands or input signals from the beverage machine controller 90 to operate , The pressure reducing valve 26 is not connected with the beverage machine controller 90. In this manner, pressure relief valve 26 mechanically senses and responds to increased pressure within beverage maker 10 , specifically within hot water/steam line 17 upstream of needle valve 28 and low pressure outlet 22 .

The reduced pressure outlet 38 is biased open and only opens when pressure is increased sufficiently to overcome this bias. This pressure is called the threshold pressure of the pressure reducing valve 26 . For example, the pressure relief outlet 38 may be configured as a ball and spring closure, the resistance of the spring causing the ball to block the pressure relief outlet 38 until a critical pressure is reached within the beverage machine 10 . If this critical pressure is reached, the spring deforms and the ball moves away from the relief outlet 38 and allows fluid to flow through the relief outlet 38 to the overflow outlet 20 . Of course, other known mechanisms can also be used to create a suitable pressure relief valve.

The threshold pressure required for the pressure relief valve 26 to open may be set at a lower setting such as 2 bar, but is more often set at 3.5-4 bar. Conveniently, the relief valve 26 may be provided with adjustment means in the form of an adjusting screw or the like (not shown), which may be used to adjust the critical pressure at which the relief valve 26 will open. Usually this is set by the manufacturer.

The branch 17A of the hot water/steam line 17 downstream of the pressure reducing valve 26 is optionally equipped with a separate hot water line 17B equipped with a tap 17C and having a hot water outlet 22A. Clearly, the relief valve 26 only operates when the tap is closed.

Referring to FIG. 2 , a two-way pressure relief valve 26A fits into a tee fitting 27 in the conduit 17 . This allows the use of a two-way pressure relief valve (rather than the three-way pressure relief valve of the previous embodiment). In this embodiment, one branch of the T-shaped fitting 27 leads to the needle valve inlet 42 and the second branch of the T-shaped fitting 27 leads to the pressure reducing valve inlet 36A of the two-way pressure reducing valve 26A. The pressure relief outlet 38A of the two-way pressure relief valve 26A is connected to the relief outlet 20 and operates as previously described.

Returning to FIG. 1 , the needle valve 28 has a needle valve inlet 42 for fluid flowing through the unblocked outlet 40 of the pressure relief valve 26 , and a needle valve outlet 44 leading to the hot water/steam outlet 22 . Needle valve 28 may be manually opened or disconnected by a user of beverage machine 10 , for example by turning knob 29 . If the needle valve is open, the needle valve outlet 44 is open and fluid can flow to the hot water/steam outlet 22 . If the needle valve is open, the needle valve outlet 44 is open and fluid cannot flow to the hot water/steam outlet 22 .

The operation of beverage maker 10 is most conveniently described with reference to the control options available to the user. These options are selectable through activation buttons on the control panel 80 , including an on/off button 82 , a steam button 84 , a hot water button 86 , and a coffee button 88 . Each of these buttons sends commands to the beverage machine controller 90, which controls the pump 14, water heater 16, and multi-way valve 24 to achieve the desired operation.

Operation of the beverage machine with the "Steam" option selected

If the user selects the steam button 84 , the controller 90 activates the components of the beverage maker 10 to emit steam from the hot water/steam outlet 22 . This steam can be used to heat and/or froth the milk.

To provide steam to the hot water/steam outlet 22, the controller 90 operates the pressure pump 14 at a relatively slow rate, eg, 0.4 ml/sec, to pump water from the water tank 12 through the water heater 16. The controller 90 also sets the temperature of the water heater 16 to a relatively high temperature such as 170°C.

When steam is to be released at the hot water/steam outlet 22, the controller 90 sends a signal to open the multi-way solenoid valve 24 (to open the high pressure valve outlet 32 and open the low pressure valve outlet 34). The user can then open the needle valve 28 to allow steam to flow through the needle valve outlet 44 to the hot water/steam outlet 22 .

If the user selects the steam button 84 and does not open the needle valve 28 , a pressure increase will occur in the hot water/steam line 17 upstream of the needle valve 28 and the hot water/steam outlet 22 . If the pressure increases enough to overcome the bias of the pressure relief valve 26, for example if the pressure reaches 3.5 to 4 bar, the pressure relief valve 26 will automatically open to allow steam to flow to the overflow outlet 20 and relieve the increase in the pipe 17 pressure.

Operation of the beverage machine when the "hot water" option is selected

If the user selects the hot water button 86, the controller 90 activates the components of the beverage maker 10 to dispense hot water from the hot water/steam outlet 22 or from the hot water outlet 22A, if available. This hot water can be used for adding to coffee, for making tea or even for general cleaning/sterilizing purposes.

To provide hot water to hot water/steam outlet 22 or hot water outlet 22A, controller 90 operates pressure pump 14 at a relatively fast rate of, for example, 2.0 ml/sec to pump water from tank 12 through water heater 16 . The controller 90 also sets the temperature of the water heater 16 to a relatively low temperature, for example 110°C.

Except for changes to the operation of the pump and water heater 16, the flow of hot water through the system to the hot water/steam outlet 22/22A is the same as the flow of steam through the beverage maker 10 previously described.

Operation of the beverage machine when the "Coffee" option is selected

If the user selects the coffee button 88, the controller 90 activates the components of the beverage machine 10 to dispense water from the high pressure outlet 18 at a relatively high pressure, for example up to about 9 bar. This part of water then passes through the coffee holder 19 to make espresso.

To provide hot water to high pressure water outlet 18 , controller 90 operates pressure pump 14 at a relatively high rate, eg, 2.0 ml/sec, to pump water from tank 12 through water heater 16 . The controller 90 also sets the temperature of the water heater 16 to a relatively low temperature, for example 110°C.

When water is to be released at the high pressure outlet 18, the controller 90 sends a signal to the multi-way valve 24 so that the low pressure valve outlet 34 is opened and the high pressure valve outlet 32 is opened. The multi-way valve 24 thus directs water to the high pressure outlet 18 while preventing any water from flowing through the low pressure valve outlet 34 to the pressure relief valve 26 .

Beverage machine operation with ON/OFF option selected or with no option selected

If the beverage maker 10 is off, and the user chooses to press the on/off button 82, the beverage maker 10 will be turned on.

If the beverage machine 10 is powered on and the user chooses to shut down the beverage machine 10 by using the on/off button 82, or if no option is selected from the control panel 80, the power to the pump 14, water heater 16, and multi-way valve 24 is cut off. supply.

In the case of no power supply, the multi-way valve 24 is disconnected, ie configured so that the high-pressure valve outlet 32 is disconnected. Water/steam remaining in the beverage maker 10 (thinking that the pump is no longer operable and not actively pumping water/steam) therefore passes through the low pressure valve outlet 34 of the multi-way valve 24 and flows into the hot water/steam line 17 .

If the needle valve 28 and spigot 17C—if applicable—has been disconnected by the user after power has been cut off, leaving enough residual steam/water flow through the beverage maker 10, there may be a An increase in pressure occurs. If this pressure reaches a critical level at which the relief valve 26 opens, eg 3.5 bar, the relief valve 26 will open allowing steam/water to flow through the relief valve outlet 38 to the overflow outlet 20 .

The table below summarizes the various beverage dispenser functions:

Function pump flow rate heating block Multi-way valve Needle valve/faucet Pressure reducing valve steam slow 170℃ Disconnect Open Open or break according to pressure increase hot water quick 110°C Disconnect Open Open or break according to pressure increase coffee quick 110°C Open Disconnect Disconnect Off/No option selected shutdown shutdown Disconnect Disconnect Open or break according to pressure increase

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification covers all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features which are known or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

Claims (10)

1. espresso machine comprises:

Water heater, it is used to add the thermal water source;

Valve gear, it is communicated with described water heater fluid;

Brew head, it is communicated with described valve gear fluid via brewing waterpipe;

Hot water/steam (vapor) outlet, it is communicated with described valve gear fluid via hot water/jet chimney;

Pump, it is used for water from described water source being pumped into via described valve gear described brew head and described hot water/steam (vapor) outlet at least one;

Controller, it is used to control the operation of described valve gear, so that fluid is flow to described waterpipe or the described hot water/jet chimney of brewing from the ground guiding of described choosing source; And

Pressure-reducing valve, it is used to be independent of described controller and discharges pressure in described hot water/jet chimney via overflow outlet.

2. espresso machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein, described pressure-reducing valve directly responds the pressure increase in described hot water/jet chimney.

3. espresso machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein, described valve gear comprises banked direction control valves.

4. espresso machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein, described banked direction control valves is a triple valve.

5. each described espresso machine in the claim as described above, it comprises the first-hand brake control valve in the downstream that is positioned at described pressure-reducing valve in addition.

6. espresso machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein, described first-hand brake control valve is arranged to control hot water/steam flowing by first hot water/steam (vapor) outlet.

7. as claim 5 or 6 described espresso machines, it comprises: hot water outlet, and it is communicated with described hot water/jet chimney fluid; And second-hand's brake control valve, it is arranged to control hot water flowing by described hot water outlet.

8. each described espresso machine in the claim as described above, wherein, described espresso function brews in the pattern described to brew the pattern operation, and hot water is fed to described brew head via described valve gear by the described waterpipe that brews under pressure.

9. each described espresso machine in the claim as described above, wherein, described espresso function is with hot water/steam transport model operation, in described hot water/steam transport model, hot water/steam is fed to described hot water/steam (vapor) outlet via described valve gear and described hand control valve by described hot water/jet chimney.

10. each described espresso machine in the claim as described above, wherein, described espresso function is operated with pressure reducing mode, in described pressure reducing mode, described pressure-reducing valve is opened in response to the pressure in described hot water/jet chimney increases, and the described pressure-reducing valve of opening allows that water/steam flows to described overflow outlet.

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