IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0217909
(2002-08-13)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Food Equipment Technologies Company, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
19 인용 특허 :
6 |
초록
▼
A beverage apparatus (10) having a liquid holding member (12,14,16) with an operating apparatus (42) for performing a particular function, such as heating water to make a beverage, is selectively connected through an electronic switching device (36) to a source of electrical power (40) that is mount
A beverage apparatus (10) having a liquid holding member (12,14,16) with an operating apparatus (42) for performing a particular function, such as heating water to make a beverage, is selectively connected through an electronic switching device (36) to a source of electrical power (40) that is mounted to the liquid holding member (12,14, 16) to convey heat away from the electronic switching device (36) and into the liquid. A radiating heat sink with radiating member (45,47) protects the switching device against potential damaging physical contact is also connected to the switching device (36) and radiates heat generated by the device into the atmosphere for additional cooling of the switching device (36).
대표청구항
▼
1. In a beverage apparatus having a liquid and a liquid holding tank, an operating apparatus for performing an operation in associated with the beverage when energized from a source of electrical power, the improvement being a power application system, comprising:an electrical switching device inter
1. In a beverage apparatus having a liquid and a liquid holding tank, an operating apparatus for performing an operation in associated with the beverage when energized from a source of electrical power, the improvement being a power application system, comprising:an electrical switching device interconnected between the source of power and the operating apparatus to selectively energize the operating apparatus; a controller for selectively actuating and deactuating the electrical switching device; a thermal connector for thermally connecting the electrical switching device in heat passing relationship with the liquid; and a heat conductive radiant member connected to the heat conductive member and spaced from the electronic switching device to radiate heat from the heat conductive member into atmosphere. 2. In a beverage apparatus having a liquid and a liquid holding tank, an operating apparatus for performing an operation in associated with the beverage when energized from a source electrical power, the improvement being a power application system, comprising:an electrical switching device interconnected between the source of power and the operating apparatus to selectively energize the operating apparatus; a controller for selectively actuating and deactuating the electrical switching device; a thermal connector for thermally connecting the electrical switching device in heat passing relationship with the liquid; and in which the operating apparatus performs an operation of one of (a) agitating the liquid, (b) whipping the liquid, and (c)frothing the liquid. 3. The beverage apparatus of claim 2 in which the beverage apparatus has a hot water brewer with a plurality of water holding members through which the water passes including a hot water tank with an inlet pipe and a fill valve and an outlet pipe with a dispense valve and the electronic switching device is mounted in heat transferring relationship with at least one of the water holding members.4. The beverage apparatus of claim 3 in which the at least one of the water holding members to which the electronic switching device is mounted is made of metal.5. The beverage apparatus of claim 3 in which the at least one of the water holding members to which the electronic switching device is mounted is the hot water tank.6. The beverage apparatus of claim 3 in which the hot water tank has a bottom and the switching device is mounted to the bottom.7. The beverage apparatus of claim 3 in which the operating apparatus is an electrically powered heating element for heating the water in the hot water tank, the hot water tank has a bottom and side portions adjacent the bottom, and the electronic switching device is mounted to the side portions adjacent the bottom.8. The beverage apparatus of claim 2 in which the electronic switching device is one of (a) a triac, (b) a power transistor, (c) a diac, (d) a diode and (e) any electronic switching device like the devices (a), (b), (c) and (d) that is useful for switching sufficient amounts of electrical power to the temperature altering means to enable a change to the temperature.9. The beverage apparatus of claim 2 in which the electronic switching device is one of (a) a triac, (b) a power transistor, (c) a diac, (d) a diode and (e) any electronic switching device like the devices (a), (b), (c) and (d) that is useful for switching sufficient amounts of electrical power to the temperature altering means to enable a change to the temperature.10. The beverage apparatus of claim 2 in which the thermal connector includes a mounting fastener attached to the outside surface of a liquid holding member for releasably attaching the electronic switching device to the liquid holding member.11. The beverage apparatus of claim 2 in which the thermal connector includes a metal heat conductive member sandwiched between the electronic switching device and a liquid holding member for conveying heat from the electronic switching device to the liquid holding member.12. In a beverage maker having a water tank made of thermally conductive material and having an inside and an outside, and a temperature altering element for changing the temperature of the water and connectable to a source of electrical power, and means for passing water from the water tank through a beverage ingredient to make the beverage, the improvement being a heating power application system, comprising:an electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the temperature altering element to change the temperature of the water in the tank; and means for mounting the electronic switching apparatus directly to the outside of the water tank and in direct thermal communication with the water tank and any water in the water tank to draw heat by conduction away from the electronic switching device. including metal fasteners fixedly attached to the outside of the water tank for releasably attaching the electronic switching device to the water tank. 13. The beverage maker of claim 12 in which the electronic switching device is one of (a) a triac, (b) a power transistor, (c) a diac, (d) a diode and (c) any electronic switching device like the devices (a), (b), (c) and (d) that is useful for switching sufficient amounts of electrical power to the temperature altering means to enable a change to the temperature.14. The beverage maker of claim 12 including a radiating heat sink attached to the electronic switching device for radiating heat from the switching device into atmosphere.15. In a beverage maker having a water tank made of thermally conductive material and having an inside and an outside, and a temperature altering element for changing the temperature of the water and connectable to a source of electrical power, and means for passing water from the water tank through a beverage ingredient to make the beverage, the improvement being a heating power application system, comprising:an electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the temperature altering element to change the temperature of the water in the tank; and means for mounting the electronic switching apparatus directly to the outside of the water tank and in direct thermal communication with the water tank and any water in the water tank to draw heat by conduction away from the electronic switching device including a radiating heat sink attached to the electronic switching device for radiating heat from the switching device into atmosphere including an outwardly extending heat radiating member that is physically attached and in thermal communication with the water tank and the electronic switching device. 16. The beverage maker of claim 15 in which the outwardly extending heat radiating member extends outwardly from the water tank by an amount greater than that of the electronic switching device to protect the electronic switching device against accidental damage from physical contact with potentially damaging elements.17. The beverage maker of claim 16 in which the radiating heat sink has another outwardly extending heat radiating member that is spaced from the one outwardly extending heat radiating member and the electronic switching device is protectively contained between the one heat radiating member and the other heat radiating member.18. The beverage maker of claim 17 in which the radiating heat sink has a heat conductive base interconnecting the one heat radiating member and the other heat radiating member that is held against the outside surface of the water tank and sandwiched between the water tank and the switching device.19. In a beverage maker having a water tank made of thermally conductive material and having an inside and an outside, and a temperature altering element for changing the temperature of the water and connectable to a source of electrical power, and means for passing water from the water tank through a beverage ingredient to make the beverage, the improvement being a heating power application system, comprising:an electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the temperature altering element to change the temperature of the water in the tank; and means for mounting the electronic switching apparatus directly to the outside of the water tank and in direct thermal communication with the water tank and any water in the water tank to draw heat by conduction away from the electronic switching device including a radiating heat sink attached to the electronic switching device for radiating heat from the switching device into atmosphere and in which the radiating heat sink is fastened to the water tank by means of fasteners that are attached to the outside of the water tank and extend through aligned mounting holes in both the heat radiating member and the switching device. 20. The beverage maker of claim 19 in which the temperature altering element is an electrical heating element to raise the temperature of the water in the water tank.21. The beverage maker of claim 19 in which the temperature altering element is a cooling element to lower the temperature of the water in the tank when energized by the electronic switching device.22. In a beverage maker having a water tank made of thermally conductive material and having an inside and an outside, and a temperature altering element for changing the temperature of the water and connectable to a source of electrical power, and means for passing water from the water tank through a beverage ingredient to make the beverage, the improvement being a heating power application system, comprising:an electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the temperature altering element to change the temperature of the water in the tank; and means for mounting the electronic switching apparatus directly to the outside of the water tank and in direct thermal communication with the water tank and any water in the water tank to draw heat by conduction away from the electronic switching device and in which the water tank is a hot water tank with a bottom and a side wall and the mounting means attaches the electronic switching device to the side wall adjacent the bottom. 23. In a beverage maker having a water tank made of thermally conductive material and having an inside and an outside, and a temperature altering element for changing the temperature of the water and connectable to a source of electrical power, and means for passing water from the water tank through a beverage ingredient to make the beverage, the improvement being a heating power application system, comprising:an electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the temperature altering element to change the temperature of the water in the tank; means for mounting the electronic switching apparatus directly to the outside of the water tank and in direct thermal communication with the water tank and any water in the water tank to draw heat by conduction away from the electronic switching device; and another electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of power to the temperature altering element to change the temperature of the water in the tank; and another means for mounting the other electronic switching apparatus to the outside of the water tank and in direct thermal communication through the other mounting means with the water tank and any water in the water tank with the to draw heat by conduction away from the electronic switching device. 24. The beverage maker of claim 23 in which the thermally conductive material of the water tank is metal.25. The beverage maker of claim 23 in which the mounting means is made of metal.26. The beverage maker of claim 23 in which the temperature altering device is located within the water tank.27. The beverage maker of claim 23 in which the in which the beverage being made is one of (a) freshly brewed coffee, (b) freshly brewed ice tea.28. In a beverage apparatus having a liquid and a liquid holding tank, an operating apparatus for performing an operation in associated with the beverage when energized from a source of electrical power, the improvement being a method of applying power to the operating apparatus, comprising the steps of:selectively energizing the operating apparatus with an electronic switching device interconnected between the source of power and the operating apparatus; selectively actuating and deactuating the electrical switching device with a controller; thermally connecting the electrical switching device in substantial heat passing relationship with the liquid; and conveying heat from the electronic switching device to atmosphere through a heat conductive radiant member connected to the heat conductive member and spaced from the electronic switching device to radiate heat from the heat conductive member into atmosphere.29. The method of claim 28 including the step of protecting the electronic switching device against mechanical damage with the heat conductive radiant member.30. In a beverage apparatus having a liquid holding member and an operating apparatus for performing an operation and connectable to a source of electrical power, the improvement being an operating apparatus control circuit, comprising:an electronic switching device for selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the operating apparatus to energize the operating apparatus to perform the operation; and means for directly connecting the electronic device to the liquid holding member to cool the electronic device through conduction of heat through the liquid holding member and into any liquid contained within the holding member including a thermally conductive member with a portion that is sandwiched between the electronic switching device and the liquid holding member to convey heat from the electronic switching device directly to the liquid holding member and any liquid contained within the liquid holding member; and a radiating heat conductive arm in direct thermal contact with the thermally conductive member but spaced from the electronic switching device for radiating heat from the electronic switching device into atmosphere. 31. The beverage apparatus of claim 30 in which the beverage apparatus is a beverage maker and the liquid holding member is one of (a) an inlet water pipe connectable with a public source of water and a water holding tank, (b) a liquid holding tank for holding liquid to be mixed with a beverage ingredient to make a beverage, and (c) an outlet pipe for conveying water from the water tank to a beverage ingredient holder for making the beverage.32. The beverage apparatus of claim 30 in which the beverage apparatus is a beverage dispenser and the liquid holding member is one of (a) a beverage holding tank, (b) an outlet pipe for conveying beverage out of the beverage holding tank.33. The beverage apparatus of claim 30 in which the liquid operating apparatus operates on the liquid to achieve one of the operations of (a) heating the liquid, (b) cooling the liquid, (c) agitating the liquid, (d) whipping the liquid, (c) pumping the liquid, and (f) frothing the liquid when electrical power is applied by the electronic switching device.34. In a beverage apparatus having a liquid holding member and an operating apparatus for performing an operation on the liquid and connectable to a source of electrical power, the improvement being a method of controlling the operating apparatus, comprising the steps of:selectively connecting the source of electrical power to the tank operating apparatus with an electronic switching device to actuate the operating apparatus to perform an operation on the liquid with an electronic switching device; and cooling the electronic switching device by transferring heat though a thermally conductive connector directly connecting the electronic switching device to the liquid holding member and any liquid within the holding member; in which the thermally conductive member has and including the steps of conveying heat from the electronic switching device directly to the liquid holding member and any liquid contained within the liquid holding member through a base of the thermally conductive member that is sandwiched between the electronic switching device and the liquid holding member; and radiating heat from the electronic switching device into atmosphere through a radiating arm in direct thermal contact with the base of the thermally conductive member but spaced from the electronic switching device. 35. The beverage apparatus of claim 34 in which the beverage apparatus is a beverage maker and the liquid holding member is one of (a) an inlet water pipe connectable with a public source of water and a water tank, (b) a water tank for holding water to be mixed with a beverage ingredient to make a beverage, and (c) an outlet pipe for conveying water from the water tank to a beverage ingredient holder for making the beverage.36. The beverage apparatus of claim 34 in which the beverage apparatus is a beverage dispenser and the liquid holding member is one of (a) a beverage holding tank, (b) an outlet pipe for conveying beverage out of the beverage holding tank.37. The beverage apparatus of claim 34 in which the liquid operating apparatus operates on the liquid to achieve one of the operations of (a) heating the liquid, (b) cooling the liquid, (c) agitating the liquid, (d) whipping the liquid, (e) pumping the liquid, and (f) frothing the liquid when electrical power is applied by the electronic switching device.
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