# US 2013/0155804 A1 · Device for frothing a liquid

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- Number: US 2013/0155804 A1
- Document ID: US20130155804A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/818,710
- Filed: 2011-08-30
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-03
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
- Inventors: Joeke Noordhuis; Sipke Theo Douma
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155804A1

## CPC

- A47J 31/4485: {Nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk container, heated and foamed inside the device, and subsequently dispensed from the nozzle}
- A47J 31/4489: {Steam nozzles, e.g. for introducing into a milk container to heat and foam milk}
- A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES

## Abstract

Device (1) for frothing a liquid, comprising a chamber (10), which chamber comprises a supply tube (11) for supplying the liquid to be frothed and frothing gas, and comprises a substantially round outlet tube (12) provided at the bottom of the chamber. The outlet tube being arranged for letting out a mixture of the liquid and the frothing gas, i.e. the liquid in a frothed state, and for letting out excess frothing gas. The chamber (10) is cylinder-shaped and the supply tube (11) has a tangential arrangement with respect to the chamber (10) and is provided at a height h from the bottom of the chamber. The ratio of the value of the height (h) of the supply tube and the height (H) of the chamber is in a range between 0.2 to 0.7, and the ratio of the value of the diameter of the outlet tube (d) and the value of the diameter (D) of the chamber is in a range of 0.6 to 0.95. This device provides for a high quality of milk froth without excessive or insufficient foam formation or very coarse foam bubbles.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Device (1) for frothing a liquid, comprising a chamber (10), which chamber comprises a supply tube (11) for supplying the liquid to be frothed and frothing gas, and comprises a substantially round outlet tube (12) provided at the bottom of the chamber, the outlet tube being arranged for letting out a mixture of the liquid and the frothing gas, i.e. the liquid in a frothed state, and for letting out excess frothing gas, wherein the chamber (10) is cylinder-shaped, wherein the supply tube (11) has a tangential arrangement with respect to the chamber (10) and is provided at a height h from the bottom of the chamber, wherein the ratio of the value of the height (h) of the supply tube and the height (H) of the chamber is in a range between 0.2 to 0.7, and wherein the ratio of the value of the diameter of the outlet tube (d) and the value of the diameter (D) of the chamber is in a range of 0.6 to 0.95.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outlet tube (12) is concentrically arranged with respect to the bottom of the chamber (10).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outlet tube (12), is constituted by a central portion (12′) of the tube (12) for letting out excess frothing gas, whereas an outlet for letting out the mixture of the liquid and the frothing gas is constituted by another portion (12″) of the tube (12), which other portion (12″) surrounds the central portion (12′).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein there is a smooth transition between a wall of the chamber (10) comprising the outlet tube and an end of the outlet tube (12) where it is connected to said wall, and wherein the smooth transition comprises a rounded surface with a radius (R) which is in a range of 0 to 3 mm.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Assembly (20) for frothing a liquid, comprising a device (1) according to claim 1, and a liquid supply unit (30) having an upstream arrangement with respect to the device (1) as seen in a direction of a flow of the liquid to be frothed through the assembly (20), and having an outlet (37) for allowing content from that supply unit (30) to flow out of that supply unit (30), wherein the supply tube (11) of the device (1) are open to the liquid supply unit (30), and are separated from the outlet (37) of the liquid supply unit (30) by a free space (40) for containing the frothing gas and for allowing for a supply of the frothing gas to the supply tube (11) of the device (1) under the influence of a flow of liquid from the liquid supply unit (30) to the supply tube (11) of the device (1).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Assembly (20) according to claim 5, wherein the supply tube (11) of the device (1) have an open side (15) which faces the outlet (37) of the liquid supply unit (30).

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Appliance which is suitable to be used for making a beverage containing a frothed liquid, comprising a device (1) for frothing a liquid according to claim 1.

### Claim 8

Method for frothing a liquid, wherein a predetermined amount of the liquid to be frothed is supplied to a chamber (10), wherein a gas for frothing the liquid is supplied to the chamber (10) as well, in an amount that is higher than an amount that is needed for frothing the amount of the liquid to a predetermined extent, wherein, inside the chamber (10), the liquid is mixed with only a portion of the frothing gas, wherein a mixture of the liquid and the frothing gas, i.e. the liquid in a frothed state, is allowed to flow out of the chamber (10), and wherein the unused frothing gas is allowed to flow out of the chamber (10) as well.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

Method according to claim 8, wherein, inside the chamber (10), a process of cyclonic separation of the mixture of the liquid and the frothing gas that is obtained, from the excess frothing gas is performed.