Combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer
AssigneeAmir Armin
InventorAmir Armin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer. The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer includes a water heating section and a water storage section. The water heating section includes a boiler reservoir, a heating element, a first water discharge mechanism, and a second discharge mechanism. The water storage section includes a cold water reservoir and a hot water reservoir disposed above the boiler reservoir.
Claims20
1- A combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer, comprising:
- a water heating section, comprising:
- a boiler reservoir configured to receive and store water;
- a heating element disposed inside the boiler reservoir, the heating element configured to heat water inside the boiler reservoir;
- and
- a first water discharge mechanism configured to discharge water from the boiler reservoir, the first water discharge mechanism comprising:
- a first discharge faucet disposed under the boiler reservoir;
- a first discharge tube, a bottom end of the first discharge tube connected to the first discharge faucet, a top end of the first discharge tube disposed at a top end of the boiler reservoir, the first discharge faucet configured to allow water discharge from the top end of the boiler reservoir and through the first discharge tube;
- and
- a water storage section, comprising:
- a cold water reservoir configured to receive and store water, the cold water reservoir disposed above the boiler reservoir, the cold water reservoir in fluid communication with a bottom end of the boiler reservoir through a cold water tube;
- a hot water reservoir configured to receive and store water, the hot water reservoir in fluid communication with the top end of the boiler reservoir through a hot water inlet, the hot water reservoir disposed above the boiler reservoir.
2- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 1, wherein the water heating section further comprises a second water discharge mechanism configured to discharge water from the boiler reservoir, the water discharge mechanism comprising:
- a second discharge faucet disposed under the boiler reservoir;
- a second discharge tube, a bottom end of the second discharge tube attached to the second discharge faucet, a bottom end of the second discharge tube disposed at a top end of the boiler reservoir, the second discharge faucet configured to allow water discharge from the top end of the boiler reservoir and through the second discharge tube.
3- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 2, further comprising a delivery section disposed under the water heating section, the delivery section comprising:
- a beverage brewing section associated with the first water discharge mechanism, the beverage brewing section disposed under the first discharge faucet, the beverage brewing section comprising a beverage heating mechanism, the beverage heating mechanism configured to:
- receive a beverage container;
- secure the beverage container under the first discharge faucet;
- and
- heat the beverage container;
- wherein the first discharge faucet is configured to allow water discharge from the top end of the boiler reservoir and through the first discharge tube into the beverage container;
- and
- a hot water delivery section associated with the second water discharge mechanism, the hot water delivery section disposed under the second discharge faucet, the hot water delivery section comprising a water container holding member, the water container holding member configured to:
- receive a water container;
- store waste water;
- and
- secure the water container under the second discharge faucet;
- wherein the second discharge faucet is configured to allow water discharge from the top end of the boiler reservoir and through the second discharge tube into the water container.
4- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 3, wherein the cold water reservoir is configured to be mounted detachably onto the boiler reservoir utilizing a first connecting mechanism, the first connecting mechanism comprising:
- a first poppet valve mechanism provided at a bottom end of the cold water reservoir, the first poppet valve mechanism comprising:
- a first outlet hole provided at the bottom end of the cold water reservoir;
- a first plunger disposed slidably inside the first outlet hole, the first plunger comprising a first plunger disk at a top end of the first plunger along with a first flexible gasket attached to the first plunger disk and a first plunger rod at a bottom of the first plunger, the first plunger disk configured to:
- block the first outlet hole and prevent water discharge from the cold water reservoir and through the first outlet hole by blocking the first outlet hole;
- and
- unblock the first outlet hole and allow water discharge from the cold water reservoir and through the first outlet hole by unblocking the first outlet responsive to upward movement of the first plunger inside the first outlet hole;
- and
- a first spring disposed between the bottom end of the cold water reservoir and the bottom end of the first plunger rod, the first spring configured to urge the first plunger to move downward;
- a first retaining ring configured to connect the lower side of the first plunger rod to the lower end of the first spring;
- and
- a buoyancy valve mechanism provided at top end of the boiler reservoir, the buoyancy valve mechanism comprising:
- a first inlet hole provided at a top end of the boiler reservoir, the first inlet hole associated with the first outlet hole, a top end of the cold water tube connected to the first inlet hole, the first inlet hole and the first outlet hole configured to be aligned and sealed with each other using a first flexible gasket and, to thereby, allow water discharge from the cold water reservoir into the cold water tube responsive to mounting the cold water reservoir onto the boiler reservoir;
- and
- a first trigger rod attached to the top end of the boiler reservoir, the first trigger rod associated with the first plunger rod, the first trigger rod configured to push the first plunger rod upwardly and, to thereby, urge the first plunger to overcome the first spring force and move upwardly inside the first outlet hole responsive to mounting the cold water reservoir onto the boiler reservoir.
5- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 4, wherein the first connecting mechanism further comprises a floating valve disposed slidably inside the first inlet hole, the floating valve comprising:
- a valve disk at a top end of the floating valve;
- an empty cavity configured to store air;
- and
- a guide bushing at its inner side;
- wherein the floating valve is configured to:
- move downward and allow water discharge from an upper side of the first inlet hole to a lower side of the first inlet hole by moving the floating valve downward responsive to the absence of water inside the boiler reservoir and the first inlet hole;
- and
- move upward and, thereby, the valve disk blocking the first inlet hole and, to thereby, prevent water discharge from the lower side of the first inlet hole to the upper side of the first inlet hole responsive to the presence of water inside the boiler reservoir and the first inlet hole due to a buoyancy principle.
6- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 5, wherein the cold water tube comprises a helical tube, a top end of the helical tube connected to the first inlet hole, a bottom end of the helical tube disposed at the bottom end of the boiler reservoir.
7- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 6, wherein the heating element is disposed at the bottom end of the boiler reservoir.
8- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 7, wherein the water heating section further comprises an adjustable thermostat in electrical connection with the heating element, the adjustable thermostat configured to control water temperature by turning off the heating element responsive to the heating element's temperature being more than a threshold.
9- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 8 further comprising a first temperature sensor configured to send a first temperature feedback to the controller, the first temperature feedback associated with the water temperature inside the boiler reservoir, the controller configured to switch on and/or switch off the heating element based on the first temperature feedback to achieve a precise water temperature in the boiler reservoir on a closed-loop basis.
10- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 9 further comprising a second temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor configured to send a second temperature feedback to the controller, the second temperature feedback associated with the beverage heating mechanism, the controller configured to switch on and switch off the heating element based on the second temperature feedback so as to achieve a precise beverage temperature.
11- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 10, wherein the hot water reservoir is configured to be mounted detachably onto the boiler reservoir utilizing a second connecting mechanism, the second connecting mechanism comprising:
- a second poppet valve mechanism provided at a bottom end of the hot water reservoir, the second poppet valve mechanism comprising:
- a second outlet hole provided at the bottom end of the hot water reservoir;
- a second plunger disposed slidably inside the second outlet hole, the second plunger comprising a second plunger disk at a top end of the second plunger along with a second flexible gasket attached to the second plunger disk and a second plunger rod at a bottom end of the second plunger, the second plunger disk configured to:
- block the second outlet hole and, to thereby, prevent water discharge from the hot water reservoir and through the second outlet hole;
- and
- unblock the second outlet hole and, to thereby, allow water discharge from the hot water reservoir and through the second outlet hole responsive to upward movement of the second plunger inside the second outlet hole;
- and
- a second retaining spring disposed between the bottom end of the hot water reservoir and the bottom end of the second plunger rod, the second retaining spring configured to urge the second plunger to move downward;
- and
- a second retaining ring configured to connect the lower end of the second plunger rod to the lower end of the spring;
- and
- a trigger mechanism provided at a top end of the boiler reservoir, the trigger mechanism comprising:
- a second inlet hole provided at a top end of the boiler reservoir, the second inlet hole associated with the second outlet hole, the second inlet hole and the second outlet hole configured to be aligned and sealed with each other and, to thereby, allow water discharge from the hot water reservoir into the boiler reservoir responsive to mounting the hot water reservoir onto the boiler reservoir;
- and
- a second trigger rod attached to the top end of the boiler reservoir, the second trigger rod associated with the second plunger rod, the second trigger rod configured to push the second plunger rod upwardly and, to thereby, urge the second plunger to move upwardly inside the second outlet hole responsive to mounting the hot water reservoir onto the boiler reservoir.
12- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 11, wherein the hot water reservoir is detachably disposed inside the cold water reservoir and is fixed with a rotary multi key fastener.
13- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 12, wherein the first discharge faucet comprises a first pinch valve mechanism, the first pinch valve mechanism comprising:
- a first frame;
- a first magnetic part
- a first push member, the first push member configured to secure a first flexible tube between the first push member and the first frame;
- a first solenoid;
- a first solenoid frame;
- a first pinch plunger interconnected between the first push member and the first solenoid;
- the first solenoid configured to urge the first plunger to move;
- and
- a first pinch spring disposed between the first push member and the first solenoid frame;
- wherein:
- the first pinch spring is configured to push the first push member in a first direction and, to thereby, block the first flexible tube;
- the first solenoid is configured to urge the first plunger to move in a second direction and, to thereby, unblock the first flexible tube, the second direction being opposite to the first direction;
- the second discharge faucet comprises a second pinch valve mechanism, the second pinch valve mechanism comprising:
- a second frame;
- a second magnetic part;
- a second push member, the second push member configured to secure a second flexible tube between the second push member and the second frame;
- a second solenoid;
- a second solenoid frame;
- a second pinch plunger interconnected between the second push member and the second solenoid;
- the second solenoid configured to urge the second plunger to move;
- a second pinch spring disposed between the second push member and the second solenoid frame;
- the second pinch spring is configured to push the second push member in a third direction and, to thereby, block the second flexible tube;
- and
- the second solenoid is configured to urge the second plunger to move in a fourth direction and, to thereby, unblock the second flexible tube, the fourth direction being opposite to the third direction.
14- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 13, further comprising a controller in connection with the heating element, the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the first micro switch, the second micro switch, the beverage heating mechanism, the first discharge faucet, the second discharge faucet, the first light source, the second light source, the third light source, and the fourth light source along with an alarm, the controller configured to control the heating element, the beverage heating mechanism, the first discharge faucet, the second discharge faucet, the first light source, the second light source, the third light source, the fourth light source, and the alarm.
15- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 14, further comprising a user interface, the user interface configured to receive commands from a user and transmit control data to the controller and exhibit adjustments made by the user, wherein the controller is configured to control the heating element, the beverage heating mechanism, the first discharge faucet, the second discharge faucet, the first light source, the second light source, the third light source, and the fourth light source along with the alarm based on feedbacks received from the first temperature sensor, the second temperature sensor, the first micro switch, the second micro switch, and adjustments done by the user through the user interface.
16- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 14, further comprising a fully electronic user interface configured to switch on/off heaters, light sources, and the alarm using electronic devices and on a closed-loop basis making use of feedbacks received from temperature sensors and micro switches, the fully electronic user interface comprising:
- a screen configured to exhibit adjustments made by the user using numbers, figures, and icons;
- a first push button configured to select beverage type shown on a first section of the screen;
- a second push button configured to choose the water and brewing temperature, according to the user's desire shown on a second section of the screen;
- a third push button configured to choose brew time shown on a third section of the screen;
- a fourth push button configured to choose a volume of water used for brewing shown on a fourth section of the screen by cop icons or any other units and/or shapes, the controller configured to receive a number of required cups for steeping and open the first discharge faucet for a period of time during which desired volume of water is discharged into the beverage container;
- a fifth push button configured to mute the combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer and prevent the alarm from informing the user of the completion of brewing process;
- a first icon configured to indicate a silent mode;
- a sixth push button configured to select a water only mode, responsive to selecting the water only mode, the controller being prevented from triggering the first discharge faucet
- a second icon configured to indicate the water only mode;
- a seventh push button and an eighth push button configured to respectively adjust an hour and a minute for a timer to indicate the beginning of a brewing process shown on a section of the screen;
- and
- a ninth push button configured to trigger the second discharge faucet to permit hot water to be released into the water container.
17- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 14, further comprising an electromechanical user interface, the electromechanical user interface comprising:
- a rotary or linear switch installed on the user interface section, the rotary or linear switch configured to adjust water temperature;
- a selector configured to determine a number of brew cups;
- and
- a tenth push button configured to trigger the second discharge faucet to permit hot water to be released into the water container.
18- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 15, wherein the beverage brewing section further comprises:
- a first micro switch, the first micro switch configured to detect presence of the cold water reservoir mounted on the water heating section and transmit data to the controller based on the presence of the cold water reservoir;
- and
- a second micro switch mechanism, the second micro switch mechanism configured to detect presence of the beverage container on the beverage heating mechanism and transmit data to the controller based on the presence of the beverage container.
19- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 4, wherein the first connecting mechanism further comprises a first floating valve disposed slidably inside the first inlet hole, an inner surface of the first inlet hole configured to guide the first floating valve by utilizing a number of external ribs, the first floating valve comprising:
- a valve disk at a top end of the floating valve;
- a circular water passage way at an outer surface of the floating valve;
- and
- an empty cavity configured to store air;
- wherein the first floating valve is configured to:
- move downward and, to thereby, allow water discharge from an upper side of the first inlet hole to a lower side of the first inlet hole responsive to the absence of water inside the boiler reservoir and the first inlet hole;
- and
- move upward and, thereby, the valve disk blocking the first inlet hole and, to thereby, prevent water discharge from the lower side of the first inlet hole to the upper side of the first inlet hole responsive to the presence of water inside the boiler reservoir and the first inlet hole due to a buoyancy principle.
20- The combined hot water dispenser and beverage brewer of claim 4, wherein the first connecting mechanism further comprises a second floating valve disposed slidably inside the first inlet hole, the second floating valve comprising:
- a spherical member disposed inside the first inlet hole, the spherical member defining a water passage way between the spherical member and an inner surface of the first inlet hole;
- wherein the spherical member is configured to:
- move downward and, to thereby, allow water discharge from an upper side of the first inlet hole to a lower side of the first inlet hole responsive to the absence of water inside the boiler reservoir and the first inlet hole;
- and
- move upward and be attached to an inclined circular member and, thereby, the spherical member and the inclined circular member blocking the first inlet hole and, to thereby, prevent water discharge from the lower side of the first inlet hole to the upper side of the first inlet hole responsive to the presence of water inside the boiler reservoir and the first inlet hole due to a buoyancy principle.