# US 10,368,688 B2 · Device and method for heating water in a machine for making and dispensing drinks

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- Number: US 10,368,688 B2
- Document ID: US10368688B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/032,641
- Filed: 2014-10-28
- Published: 2016-10-06
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-10-29
- Assignees: RHEAVENDORS SERVICES S.p.A
- Applicants: RHEAVENDORS SERVICES S.p.A.
- Inventors: Carlo Doglioni Majer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10368688B2

## CPC

- A47J 31/542: {Continuous-flow heaters}
- A47J 31/60: Cleaning devices
- F24H 1/121: {using electric energy supply}
- F24H 9/1818: Arrangement or mounting of electric heating means
- F24H 9/2028: {Continuous-flow heaters}
- F24H 15/174: Supplying heated water with desired temperature or desired range of temperature
- F24H 15/20: characterised by control inputs
- F24H 15/215: before heating
- F24H 15/219: after heating
- F24H 15/32: of switching valves (for by-passing F24H15/325)
- F24H 15/34: Control of the speed of pumps
- F24H 15/37: of electric heaters
- G05D 23/1931: {to control the temperature of one space}
- H05B 6/108: {for heating a fluid}
- F24H 15/238: Flow rate
- F24H 2250/08: Induction
- H05B 2206/022: Special supports for the induction coils
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
- F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A device for heating water in a machine for making and dispensing beverages is provided. The device includes at least one heating metallic duct and a winding of electromagnetic induction. The device is part of a heating and feeding assembly wherein, by a logical unit, it is possible to carry out a method in which, for every beverage type the machine can dispense, the temperature of heated water is led to a specific temperature value that can be selected by the user.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages,
said machine including a device for heating water, said device comprising at least one metal duct for water flow between a duct inlet and a duct outlet and at least one winding of electromagnetic induction, wherein loops of said winding are wound around a spool made of an electrically insulating material having a cavity inside which said metal duct is housed, and wherein an outer surface of said metal duct and an inner surface of said spool are separated by an air gap inside said cavity, said air gap extending uninterrupted from said outer surface of said metal duct to said inner surface of said spool.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metal duct has a spiral shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metal duct is made of ferromagnetic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said duct inlet and said duct outlet for the water flow are placed on the same end of said at least one metal duct.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electric power supply circuit applying an AC voltage at a frequency higher than 20 kHz between the terminals of said winding of electromagnetic induction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said at least one metal duct has a spiral shape, is made of ferromagnetic material, and said duct inlet and said duct outlet are disposed on the same end of said at least one metal duct.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said machine further comprises a logical unit that determines water flow rate through said at least one metal duct based on a beverage type selected.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the logical unit further maintains a temperature of said water based on a temperature value selected by a user.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said machine further comprises a pump and the logical unit controls the water flow rate by controlling the pump.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising at least one separating chamber with at least one chamber inlet and one chamber outlet for the water, said at least one chamber outlet in fluid communication with said duct inlet.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

An assembly for supplying and heating water in a machine for preparing beverages, comprising at least one pump with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a duct for the water supply and an outlet duct, the assembly characterized by comprising the apparatus for heating water according to claim 1.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The assembly according to claim 11, further comprising at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate said duct outlet.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The assembly according to claim 12, further comprising a logical unit for controlling an electric power supply circuit, wherein said logical unit is further adapted to control the pump and to acquire temperature values measured by said at least one temperature sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The assembly according to claim 13, wherein said logical unit is further adapted to switching said three-way electrovalve for opening and/or closing at least one of said first and second electrovalve outlets.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The assembly according to claim 11, further comprising a logical unit for controlling an electric power supply circuit, wherein said logical unit is further adapted to control the pump and to acquire temperature values measured by at least one temperature sensor disposed proximate said duct outlet.

### Claim 16

An assembly for supplying and heating water in a machine for preparing beverages, comprising at least one pump with a pump inlet and a pump outlet, a duct for water supply and an outlet duct, the assembly characterized by comprising a device for heating water in said machine, said device comprising at least one metal duct for water flow between a duct inlet and a duct outlet and at least one winding of electromagnetic induction, characterized in that loops of said winding are wound around a spool made of an electrically insulating material having a cavity inside which said metal duct is housed and in that said metal duct and said spool are at least partially separated by a gap inside said cavity,
further comprising at least one separating chamber with at least one chamber inlet and one chamber outlet for the water, wherein said pump inlet is hydraulically connected with said chamber outlet and said pump outlet is hydraulically connected with said duct inlet.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The assembly according to claim 16, further comprising a three-way electrovalve with an electrovalve inlet, a first electrovalve outlet and a second electrovalve outlet, wherein said duct outlet is hydraulically connected with said electrovalve inlet of said electrovalve, said three-way electrovalve being adapted to divert selectively water flow from the duct outlet of said device towards said at least one chamber inlet of said separating chamber or towards said outlet duct.

### Claim 18

An apparatus comprising a machine for preparing and dispensing beverages, said machine including a device for heating water and a recirculation system,
said device comprising at least one metal duct for water flow between a duct inlet and a duct outlet and at least one winding of electromagnetic induction, wherein loops of said winding are wound around a spool made of an electrically insulating material having a cavity inside which said metal duct is housed and said metal duct and said spool are at least partially separated by an air gap inside said cavity that extends uninterrupted from said metal duct to said spool,
said recirculating system including a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of water exiting said duct outlet and a three way valve for directing said water exiting said duct outlet, to a separating chamber upstream from said at least one metal duct.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein said recirculating system includes a logical unit that maintains a temperature of said water in said separating chamber at a determined pre-heating temperature.