Beverage brewer with brewing temperature interlock
AssigneeBunn-O-Matic Corporation
InventorJohn T. Knepler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beverage brewer includes a water reservoir in which water is heated to a predetermined brewing temperature by a resistance heater element within the reservoir. To initiate a brewing cycle cold water is admitted to the reservoir for a predetermined time period through an electrically operated fill valve to displace a predetermined volume of heated water from the reservoir. The heated water flows through a beverage filter containing coffee or tea to a serving beaker. A temperature interlock circuit having a temperature sensing element in the reservoir prevents actuation of the fill valve when the reservoir temperature falls below a predetermined minimum level.
Claims11
A beverage brewing apparatus comprising:
- a hot water reservoir;
- inlet means for admitting cold water into said reservoir;
- a resistance heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating water in the reservoir;
- dispensing means including user-actuable solenoid valve for dispensing heated water from the reservoir;
- temperature sensing means for producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the water in said reservoir;
- and
- interlock circuit means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for inhibiting the operation of said valve when the temperature of the water in said reservoir falls below a predetermined minimum brewing temperature.
A beverage brewing apparatus comprising:
- a hot water reservoir;
- inlet means for admitting cold water into said reservoir;
- a resistance heating element within the reservoir operable from an applied electric current for heating water in the reservoir;
- dispensing means including user-actuable solenoid valve for dispensing heated water from the reservoir;
- said inlet means comprising a conduit for admitting cold water into said reservoir, and said solenoid valve is being disposed in line therein;
- temperature sensing means for producing a signal indicative of the temperature of the water in said reservoir;
- temperature control means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for controlling the application of current to said resistance heater to maintain the temperature of the water in said reservoir at a nominal temperature greater than said predetermined minimum brewing temperature;
- and
- interlock circuit means responsive to said temperature-indicative signal for inhibiting the operation of said valve when the temperature of the water in said reservoir falls below a predetermined minimum brewing temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.