초록 ▼

A hot beverage brewing apparatus including a pressurized hot water delivery system to provide liquid under pressure within a range of acceptable infusion temperatures without a water pump. A fresh water tank is situated above a water heater in liquid communication to maintain the water heater filled

A hot beverage brewing apparatus including a pressurized hot water delivery system to provide liquid under pressure within a range of acceptable infusion temperatures without a water pump. A fresh water tank is situated above a water heater in liquid communication to maintain the water heater filled. Water in the water heater is kept at a pre-infusion temperature. When infusion process is to commence the user selects volume of water to be dispensed into infusion material, water is rapidly heated to infusion temperature and displaced from water heater by pressurised air from air pump. At the end of the brew cycle the air pump is stopped and a valve connects the water heater to atmospheric pressure to facilitate water flow from the fresh water tank into the water heater. After the infusion process an air valve may direct air from the air pump to the infusible material to dry it for ease of disposal.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hot beverage maker comprising: a fresh water tank vented to atmosphere;a water heater having an air inlet, a hot water outlet, a fresh water inlet in fluid communication with the fresh water tank to receive fresh water there-from for heating, an electric heating element for heating the received

1. A hot beverage maker comprising: a fresh water tank vented to atmosphere;a water heater having an air inlet, a hot water outlet, a fresh water inlet in fluid communication with the fresh water tank to receive fresh water there-from for heating, an electric heating element for heating the received water, one or more thermal sensors for evaluating one or more temperatures of the received water, a primary monitor and at least one secondary monitor for sensing two or more levels of the received water within the water heater;an infusion compartment for containing infusible material, the infusion compartment having an infused beverage outlet and a hot water inlet in fluid communication with the hot water outlet;an infused beverage container that receives infused beverage from the infused beverage outlet;an air pump with a pressurized air outlet;an air valve having a plurality of ports, the air valve selectably enabling one or more from a plurality of air flow paths between the plurality of ports; anda control circuit for receiving and processing signals from the primary and at least one secondary monitor wherebya first signal from the primary monitor indicates that the received water in the water heater is at a maximum level and causes the control circuit to enable the air pump and establish a first of the airflow paths to divert pressurized air from the air pump into the water heater to cause heated water from the water heater to flow through the hot water outlet to the hot water inlet of the infusion compartment to infuse the infusible material; and wherebya second signal from the at least one secondary monitor causes the control circuit to establish a second of the air flow paths that blocks pressurized air flow from the pump, thereby terminating water delivery from the water heater, and that connects the interior of the heater to atmosphere to allow water from the fresh water tank to flow through the fresh water inlet into the water heater. 2. A hot beverage maker according to claim 1 wherein the water heater comprises a side wall, a top, and a base establishing an interior volume for containing water to be heated. 3. A hot beverage maker according to claim 1 wherein the second of the air flow paths also enables pressurized air from the air pump to be diverted into the infusion compartment for drying the infusible material after of the infusible material has been infused. 4. A hot beverage maker according to claim 3 wherein the water heater comprises a base and the electric heating element and thermal sensors are in thermal communication with the water there-within and located at or near the base. 5. A hot beverage maker according to claim 2 wherein the water outlet extends inwardly into the interior volume and has a water inlet opening at or near to the base. 6. A hot beverage maker according to claim 5 wherein the water inlet extends inwardly into the interior volume and has an outlet opening at or near to the base. 7. A hot beverage maker according to claim 2 wherein the air inlet communicates with the interior volume near or at the top. 8. A hot beverage maker according to claim 1 further comprising a check valve for denying the fluid communication of the water inlet with the fresh water tank when a pressure within the water heater exceeds a predetermined pressure level. 9. A hot beverage maker according to claim 3 wherein the primary monitor and at least one secondary monitor comprise a buoyant magnet vertically movable with a vertically variable water level within the water heater and at least one switch located exterior of the water heater that is activated by proximity to the magnet. 10. A hot beverage maker according to claim 3 wherein the primary monitor and at least one secondary monitor comprise electric terminals which are in electrical communication through water within the water heater when the water is at or exceeds predetermined water levels, and which are not in electrical communication when the water is below the predetermined water levels. 11. A hot beverage maker according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of ports is three; a first of the three in communication with the air pump, a second of the three in communication with the water heater, and a third of the three in communication with atmosphere; whereby the air valve first enables a first from the plurality of air flow paths, enabling communication between the first and second ports to enable pressurized air from the air pump to cause flow of heated water from the water heater through the infusion compartment into the infused beverage container; andthe air valve then enables a second from the plurality of air flow paths, enabling communication between the second and third ports to enable escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater. 12. A hot beverage maker according to claim 11 wherein the air valve comprises: a hollow cylindrical body with the three ports;a spring;a seal within the hollow cylindrical body slideable between a first and a second position and biased by the spring towards the first position; whereinthe seal forms and sealingly separates first and second valve compartments within the hollow cylindrical body; whereinenergization of the air pump causes pressurized air there-from into the first port to force the seal to slide against the bias of the spring, such that the first valve compartment connects the first and second ports, allowing pressurized air from the air pump to cause the flow of heated water from the water heater through the infusion compartment into the infused beverage container; andde-energization of the air pump allows the bias of the spring to force the seal such that the second valve compartment connects the second and third ports, enabling the escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater. 13. A hot beverage maker according to claim 12 wherein the first compartment comprises a vent to allow air there-within to escape upon de-energization of the air pump so that the bias of the spring may force the seal to connect the second and third ports. 14. A hot beverage maker according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of ports is four; a first of the four in communication with the air pump, a second of the four in communication with the water heater, and a third of the four in communication with the infusion compartment, and a fourth of the four in communication with atmosphere; whereby the air valve first enables a first from the plurality of air flow paths, enabling communication between the first and second ports to enable pressurized air from the air pump to cause flow of heated water from the water heater through the infusion compartment into the infused beverage container; andthe air valve then enables second and third from the plurality of air flow paths, the second enabling communication between the second and fourth ports, to enable the escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater, and the third enabling communication between the first and third ports, to allow pressurized air from the air pump into the infusion compartment to dry the infusible material therein. 15. A hot beverage maker comprising: a fresh water tank vented to atmosphere;a water heater having an air inlet, a hot water outlet, and a fresh water inlet in fluid communication with the fresh water tank to receive fresh water there-from for heating;an infusion compartment for containing infusible material, the infusion compartment having an infused beverage outlet and a hot water inlet in fluid communication with the hot water outlet;an infused beverage container that receives infused beverage from the infused beverage outlet;an air pump with a pressurized air outlet; andan air valve having a plurality of ports, the air valve selectably enabling one or more from a plurality of air flow paths between the plurality of ports; wherebythe air valve enables a first airflow path to allow pressurized air from the air pump to cause heated water from the water heater to flow through the hot water outlet to the hot water inlet of the infusion compartment to infuse the infusible material; and thenthe air valve enables a second air flow path to allow water from the fresh water tank to flow through the fresh water inlet into the water heater;wherein the plurality of ports is four; a first of the four in communication with the air pump, a second of the four in communication with the water heater, and a third of the four in communication with the infusion compartment, and a fourth of the four in communication with atmosphere; whereby the air valve first enables a first from the plurality of air flow paths, enabling communication between the first and second ports to enable pressurized air from the air pump to cause flow of heated water from the water heater through the infusion compartment into the infused beverage container; andthe air valve then enables second and third from the plurality of air flow paths, the second enabling communication between the second and fourth ports, to enable the escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater, and the third enabling communication between the first and third ports, to allow pressurized air from the air pump into the infusion compartment to dry the infusible material therein; andwherein the valve comprises a hollow cylindrical body with the four ports, and two seals mounted on a rod to form a first valve compartment there-between and a second valve compartment there-beside;and wherein the seals and rod are slideable together within the hollow cylindrical body by influence of a solenoid to cause sliding of the first and second valve compartments within the hollow cylindrical body; and wherein the valve compartments have a first position when the solenoid is energized and a second position when the solenoid is de-energized; and wherein during the first position the first valve compartment connects the first port to the second port to allow pressurized air from the air pump to cause heated water to flow from the water heater to the infusion chamber; andduring the second position the first valve compartment connects the first port to the third port to allow pressurized air from the air pump into the infusion compartment to dry the infusible material therein, and the second valve compartment connects the second port to the fourth port to enable the escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater. 16. A hot beverage maker comprising: a fresh water tank vented to atmosphere;a water heater having an air inlet, a hot water outlet, and a fresh water inlet in fluid communication with the fresh water tank to receive fresh water there-from for heating;an infusion compartment for containing infusible material, the infusion compartment having an infused beverage outlet and a hot water inlet in fluid communication with the hot water outlet;an infused beverage container that receives infused beverage from the infused beverage outlet;an air pump with a pressurized air outlet; andan air valve having a plurality of ports, the air valve selectably enabling one or more from a plurality of air flow paths between the plurality of ports; wherebythe air valve enables a first airflow path to allow pressurized air from the air pump to cause heated water from the water heater to flow through the hot water outlet to the hot water inlet of the infusion compartment to infuse the infusible material; and thenthe air valve enables a second air flow path to allow water from the fresh water tank to flow through the fresh water inlet into the water heater;wherein the plurality of ports is four; a first of the four in communication with the air pump, a second of the four in communication with the water heater, and a third of the four in communication with the infusion compartment, and a fourth of the four in communication with atmosphere; whereby the air valve first enables a first from the plurality of air flow paths, enabling communication between the first and second ports to enable pressurized air from the air pump to cause flow of heated water from the water heater through the infusion compartment into the infused beverage container; andthe air valve then enables second and third from the plurality of air flow paths, the second enabling communication between the second and fourth ports, to enable the escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater, and the third enabling communication between the first and third ports, to allow pressurized air from the air pump into the infusion compartment to dry the infusible material therein; andwherein the air valve comprises: a hollow cylindrical body with the first, second, third, and fourth ports;a spring;a first seal within the hollow cylindrical body slideable between a first and a second position and biased by the spring towards the first position, wherein the seal forms and sealingly separates first and second valve compartments within the hollow cylindrical body; anda divider in said cylindrical body with an aperture that may be opened and closed by a second seal activated by a solenoid; whereinwhile said aperture is closed, energization of the air pump causes pressurized air there-from to force the first seal to slide against the bias of the spring, such that the first valve compartment connects the first and second ports, allowing pressurized air from the air pump to cause the flow of heated water from the water heater through the infusion compartment into the infused beverage container; and wherebysaid second seal causes said aperture to open, there-upon reducing pressure in said first valve compartment, resulting in the first port connecting to the third port to allow pressurized air from the air pump into the infusion compartment to dry the infusible material therein, and causing the first seal to be biased by said spring to connect the second port to the fourth port to enable escape of air from the water heater to thereby allow the flow of water from the fresh water tank into the water heater. 17. The hot beverage maker of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is manually programmable to allow selection only from the at least one secondary monitor from which the second airflow path is established.