초록 ▼

A kitchen appliance includes a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage and a hot water generator (‘HWG’) which has an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway therebetween. The inlet end of the HWG is connected to the first reservoir. Liquid from the first reservo

A kitchen appliance includes a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage and a hot water generator (‘HWG’) which has an inlet end, an outlet end and a passageway therebetween. The inlet end of the HWG is connected to the first reservoir. Liquid from the first reservoir flows into the HWG through the inlet end. A second reservoir is connected to the outlet end of the HWG. The second reservoir includes a discharge port. A fluid path connects the first and second reservoirs and bypasses the HWG. The kitchen appliance is operable for both pressurized brew/heat cycles and un-pressurized brew/heat cycles.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A kitchen appliance comprising: a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage;a hot water generator having an inlet end, an opposing outlet end and a passageway therebetween, the inlet end of the hot water generator being connected to the first reservoir, liquid fro

1. A kitchen appliance comprising: a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage;a hot water generator having an inlet end, an opposing outlet end and a passageway therebetween, the inlet end of the hot water generator being connected to the first reservoir, liquid from the first reservoir flowing into the hot water generator through the inlet end;a second reservoir connected to the outlet end of the hot water generator, the second reservoir including a discharge port and at least one of a pressure relief valve and a vacuum release valve;a check valve positioned in the second reservoir proximate the discharge port, a container being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the second reservoir, the check valve preventing liquid in the container from entering the second reservoir;a fluid path connecting the second reservoir to the first reservoir and bypassing the hot water generator; andthe container enclosing foodstuff for preparing a beverage, the container being connected to the discharge port of the second reservoir, a combination of at least the first reservoir, the hot water generator, the second reservoir, the fluid path and the container forming a closed system,wherein activation of the hot water generator increases a temperature of at least a portion of the liquid within the system and a plurality of pressure/vacuum cycles within the hot water generator increase the average pressure of fluid within the closed system above ambient pressure, the average pressure of fluid in the closed system sufficient to push the liquid through the discharge port and container to prepare a beverage. 2. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, wherein activation of the hot water generator is operable to increase pressure at both the inlet end and the outlet end of the hot water generator. 3. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a lid mountable to the first reservoir, the lid being movable between a first position for allowing liquid to be inserted into the first reservoir and a second position for sealing the first reservoir. 4. The kitchen appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a third reservoir fluidly connected to the first reservoir, liquid within the third reservoir being maintained at atmospheric pressure; anda check valve positioned between the first reservoir and the third reservoir, the check valve preventing liquid in the first reservoir from entering the third reservoir and maintaining the internal pressure within the system. 5. The kitchen appliance according to claim 4, further comprising: a fourth reservoir fluidly connected to the third reservoir, liquid within the fourth reservoir being maintained at atmospheric pressure. 6. The kitchen appliance according to claim 5, further comprising: a pump positioned between the fourth reservoir and the third reservoir. 7. A kitchen appliance comprising: a first reservoir for receiving a liquid to be used for preparing a beverage;a hot water generator having an inlet end, an opposing outlet end and a passageway therebetween, the inlet end of the hot water generator being connected to the first reservoir, liquid from the first reservoir flowing into the hot water generator through the inlet end;a second reservoir connected to the outlet end of the hot water generator, the second reservoir including a discharge port and at least one of a pressure relief valve and a vacuum release valve;an outlet check valve positioned between at least a portion of the hot water generator and the second reservoir, the outlet check valve preventing liquid in the second reservoir from entering the hot water generator from the second reservoir;an inlet check valve positioned between the first reservoir and the hot water generator, the inlet check valve preventing liquid in the hot water generator from entering the first reservoir from the hot water generator;a fluid path connecting the second reservoir to the first reservoir and bypassing the hot water generator;a third reservoir connected to the first reservoir, liquid within the third reservoir being maintained at atmospheric pressure; anda primary check valve positioned between the first reservoir and the third reservoir, the primary check valve preventing liquid in the first reservoir from entering the third reservoir from the first reservoir. 8. The kitchen appliance according to claim 7, wherein the fluid path includes a portion having a reduced cross-sectional area to reduce the amount of fluid flowing through the fluid path. 9. The kitchen appliance according to claim 7, further comprising: a container at least partially enclosing foodstuff for preparing a beverage, the container being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the second reservoir,wherein activation of the hot water generator causes liquid in the hot water generator to flow to the second reservoir, through the discharge port and into the container to prepare a beverage. 10. The kitchen appliance according to claim 9, further comprising: a discharge check valve positioned in the second reservoir proximate the discharge port, the discharge check valve preventing liquid in the container from entering the second reservoir through the discharge port. 11. The kitchen appliance according to claim 7, further comprising: a sump tube positioned within the second reservoir, the sump tube permitting liquid to move from a lower portion of the second reservoir to the discharge port. 12. The kitchen appliance according to claim 7, wherein the hot water generator is a U-shaped, tubular, aluminum extrusion heater.