# US 2022/0265084 A1 · Continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater in a beverage vending machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0265084 A1 - Document ID: US20220265084A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/620,024 - Filed: 2020-06-18 - Published: 2022-08-25 - Earliest claimed: 2019-06-18 - Assignees: RHEAVENDORS SERVICES S.p.A - Applicants: Rheavendors Services S.P.A. - Inventors: Fabio BRUZZESE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220265084A1 ## CPC - A47J 31/542: {Continuous-flow heaters} - H05B 6/10: Induction heating apparatus, other than furnaces, for specific applications - H05B 6/36: Coil arrangements - A47J: KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater in a beverage vending machine. The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater comprises a tubular body internally defining at least one channel and including at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening; a heating element; and an electric winding wound directly in contact around an external surface of the tubular body and which can be electrically powered to generate an electromagnetic induction field and heat, in this manner, the heating element by the effect of the electromagnetic induction field. The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater further comprises an upstream fluid baffle, which is housed within the channel in a position fluidically downstream of the inlet opening and fluidically upstream of the heating element, and is shaped so as to reduce the hydrodynamic drag on said fluid between the inlet opening and the heating element. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater for a beverage vending machine; the continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater comprises: at least one tubular body internally defining at least one channel for a fluid and including at least one inlet opening through which the fluid to be heated is fed, in use, to said channel, and one outlet opening through which the heated fluid flows out, in use, from said channel; a heating element arranged, at least partially, inside said channel so as to be lapped, in use, by the fluid; and an electric winding wound directly in contact around an external surface of said tubular body and which can be electrically powered to generate an electromagnetic induction field and heat, in this manner, the heating element due to the effect of said electromagnetic induction field; the continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater further comprises an upstream fluid baffle, which is housed within said channel in a position fluidically downstream of said inlet opening and fluidically upstream of said heating element, with respect to the direction of the fluid from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, and is shaped so as to reduce the hydrodynamic drag on said fluid between said inlet opening and said heating element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upstream baffle is coupled to, or forms integrally part of, said heating element. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 2, wherein said upstream baffle is mounted at, or is defined by, a first end portion of said heating element arranged at said inlet opening. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 3, wherein said tubular body comprises a first shaped portion internally defining a first shaped section of said channel arranged fluidically downstream of said inlet opening and fluidically upstream of said heating element and facing said upstream baffle; said first shaped section having a profile that follows, at least partially, an external surface of said upstream baffle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 4, wherein said tubular body further comprises feeding channels arranged fluidically downstream of said upstream baffle for fluidically connecting said first shaped section to the remaining section of said channel downstream of said first shaped section and apt to distribute said fluid around said heating element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in any one of the preceding claim 1, further comprising a downstream fluid baffle, which is housed in said channel in a position fluidically downstream of said heating element and fluidically upstream of said outlet opening, with respect to the direction of the fluid from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, and is shaped so as to reduce the hydrodynamic drag on the fluid between said heating element and said outlet opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 6, wherein said downstream baffle is coupled to, or forms integrally part of, said heating element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 7, wherein said downstream baffle is mounted at, or is defined by, a second end portion of said heating element, opposite to said first end portion, and arranged at said outlet opening. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 6, wherein said tubular body comprises a second shaped portion internally defining a second shaped section of said channel arranged fluidically downstream of said heating element and fluidically upstream of said outlet opening and facing said downstream baffle; said second shaped section having a profile that follows, at least partially, an external surface of said downstream baffle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tubular body has a longitudinal axis; said inlet opening, said outlet opening and said upstream and downstream baffles are arranged coaxially to said axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upstream and downstream baffles have a substantially dome shape. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 1, wherein said heating element is selected from one of the following configurations: a bar element, in particular having a substantially circular-shaped cross-section; a plurality of bar elements, in particular having corresponding substantially circular-shaped cross-sections; and a plurality of thin wall sheets. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A beverage vending machine comprising: a continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater as claimed in claim 1; a fluid supply circuit fluidically connected to said continuous-flow electromagnetic-induction fluid heater for supplying it with a fluid; and an electric power supply circuit electrically connected to said electrical winding to electrically power it.