# US 2021/0331908 A1 · Hot liquid supply apparatus and method for controlling same

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- Number: US 2021/0331908 A1
- Document ID: US20210331908A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/259,697
- Filed: 2019-05-31
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Myounghoon LEE; Sangki WOO
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210331908A1

## CPC

- B67D 1/1202: {Flow control, e.g. for controlling total amount or mixture ratio of liquids to be dispensed}
- B67D 1/0014: {the beverage being supplied from water mains}
- B67D 1/0858: {using compression systems}
- B67D 1/0869: {using solid state elements, e.g. Peltier cells}
- B67D 1/0884: {Means for controlling the parameters of the state of the liquid to be dispensed, e.g. temperature, pressure}
- B67D 1/0888: {Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)}
- B67D 1/0895: {Heating arrangements}
- B67D 1/1206: {Flow detectors}
- B67D 1/1218: {modulating the opening of a valve}
- B67D 2210/0001: for liquid
- B67D 2210/00118: Heating and cooling
- B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F)

## Abstract

The present invention provides a method for controlling a hot water supply apparatus, the method comprising: a first step of receiving a hot water exhalent signal; a second step of determining whether a cup is a first cup or a recurring cup; and a third step of, when the cup is the first cup, providing hot water to a user by using a first cup providing algorithm, and when the cup is the recurring cup, providing hot water to the user by using a recurring cup providing algorithm, wherein in the third step, the amount of water supplied to a heating module for heating water is adjusted in stages.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling an apparatus to supply a hot liquid, the method comprising:
determining whether the apparatus is performing a first dispensing of the hot liquid during a time period; and
providing a user with the hot liquid using a first algorithm when the apparatus is performing the first dispensing of the hot liquid during the time period and using a second algorithm when the apparatus is not performing the first dispensing of the hot liquid during the time period,
wherein the apparatus includes a heater configured to heat the liquid, and a flow rate of the liquid supplied to the heater is adjusted in stages during each of the first algorithm and the second algorithm.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the apparatus is performing the first dispensing includes determining that the apparatus is performing the first dispensing when a temperature of the liquid supplied to the heater is lower than a set temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the apparatus is performing the first dispensing includes determining that the apparatus is performing the first dispensing when a temperature of the liquid measured at the heater is lower than a set temperature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the apparatus is performing the first dispensing includes determining that the apparatus is performing the first dispensing when the heater has been turned off for at least a set time since a prior activation of the heater.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first algorithm includes:
supplying the liquid to the heater during a first time period;
supplying the liquid to the heater during a second time period after the first time period; and
supplying the liquid to the heater during a third time period after the second time period,
wherein the liquid is supplied to the heater at a different value for the flow rate during each of the first, second, and third time periods.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the value for the flow rate during the first time period is less than the values for the flow rate during the second period and the third time period.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the value for the flow rate during the second time period is greater than the values for the flow rate during the first period and the third time period.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the values for the flow rates during the second time period and the third time period vary depending on a temperature of the liquid supplied to the heater.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first algorithm includes:
a preheating operation that includes driving the heater while not dispensing the liquid to the user via a hot liquid dispensing valve; and
a drain operation that includes draining a flow passage between the heater and the hot liquid dispensing valve without supplying the liquid to the user.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second algorithm includes:
a preheating operation that includes driving the heater while not dispensing the liquid to the user.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second algorithm includes:
supplying the liquid to the heater during a first time period;
supplying the liquid to the heater during a second time period after the first time period; and
supplying the liquid to the heater during a third time period after the second time period,
wherein the liquid is supplied to the heater at a different value for the flow rate during each of the first, second, and third time periods.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the value for the flow rate during the second time period and the third time period are controlled to vary depending on whether a set time has elapsed from a time when the hot liquid was previously dispensed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the value for the flow rate in the second supply time period is higher than the value for the flow rate in the third time period.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second algorithm includes:
a first recurring dispensing supply operation when a set time has not elapsed from a time when hot liquid was previously dispensed, the first recurring dispensing supply operation including closing a flow passage of a hot liquid dispensing valve so that the liquid is not dispensed to the user, and driving the heater for a first specific time.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein, in the first recurring dispensing supply operation, a drain valve provided between the heater and the hot liquid dispensing valve is opened, and the liquid passing through the heater is discharged to the drain valve and is not supplied to the user.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second algorithm includes:
a second recurring dispensing supply operation when a second set time has elapsed from a time when hot liquid was previously dispensed, the second recurring dispensing supply operation including closing a flow passage of a hot liquid dispensing valve and driving the heater for a second specific time.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein, in the second recurring dispensing supply operation, the heater is driven with the flow passage of the hot liquid dispensing valve closed, and a temperature of the liquid at the hot liquid dispensing valve is measured during the second specific time.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein, when the measured temperature of the liquid is higher than or equal to a third set temperature, the flow passage of the hot liquid dispensing valve is opened to supply the hot liquid to the user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein, when the measured temperature of the liquid is less than or equal to a third set temperature, a drain valve provided between the heater and the hot liquid dispensing valve is opened for a third specific time to discharge the liquid passing through the heater to the drain valve and is not supplied to the user.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein, when the third specific time elapses, the flow passage of the hot liquid dispensing valve is opened to supply the hot liquid to the user.