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US 2015/0104548 A1Published application
Milk steamer
AssigneeG. E. W. International Corporation Limited
InventorThomas Chung Lik Yip
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a milk steamer, a changeover valve and a vent valve are connected to the inlet and the outlet of a steam-generating thermoblock to provide ready draining of water, and to mitigate condensation of steam that draws milk into the steam nozzle. In an automatic milk steamer, the height of the steam nozzle above the milk level is automatically set by interaction between a drive mechanism and a liquid level sensor.
Claims18
A milk steamer comprising:
- a water reservoir;
- a supply line connected to the water reservoir;
- a pump connected in the supply line for generating a water flow;
- a thermoblock for generating steam;
- a changeover valve for selectively connecting an inlet of the thermoblock to the supply line;
- a steam outlet, the steam outlet being supplied, during use of the milk steamer, with steam from an outlet of the thermoblock;
- and
- a vent valve for alternately connecting a steam nozzle to either the outlet of the thermoblock or an evacuation outlet.
5 more elements
An automatic milk steamer for use with a vessel positioned on a support, comprising:
- a steam generator;
- a steam nozzle in communication with the steam generator;
- a drive mechanism for raising and lowering one of the steam nozzle and the support with respect to the other of the steam nozzle and the support;
- a sensing probe connected to the nozzle and including
- a level sensor for sensing level of a liquid in the vessel and providing a liquid level signal, and
- a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the liquid in the vessel and providing a liquid temperature signal;
- and
- a controller for controlling the drive mechanism in response to the liquid level signal to position the steam nozzle at a height relative to the level of the liquid in the vessel.
5 more elements
A milk steamer, comprising:
- a steam generator;
- a steam nozzle in communication with the steam generator;
- a sensing probe connected to the steam nozzle and including
- a level sensor for sensing level of a liquid and providing a liquid level signal, and
- a temperature sensor for sensing temperature of the liquid and providing a liquid temperature signal;
- a controller for receiving the liquid level signal;
- and
- an indicator operatively coupled to the controller and responsive to the liquid level signal for providing an indication to a user of the milk steamer that the steam nozzle is disposed at a predetermined position relative to the level of the liquid.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.