Boiler control system with steam sensor thermally isolated from a water reservoir

A boiling water dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a water reservoir, said reservoir having a top portion thereof defining a first and second section, an inlet communicating with said reservoir for admitting water into said reservoir, and an outlet communicating with said reservoir for dispensing water from said reservoir;
• means for heating water operatively associated with said water reservoir;
• means for detecting steam from said reservoir responsive to the presence of steam and producing a control signal indicative thereof, said steam detecting means being generally thermally isolated from said water reservoir;
• a primary steam vent having a first end communicating with said first section of said reservoir and a second end positioned relative to said steam detecting means for delivering steam from said first section of said reservoir to said steam detection means;
• an air vent depending from and communicating with said primary steam vent being positioned between said first and second ends of said primary steam vent for exhausting heated air from said primary steam vent;
• and
• means for controlling said boiling water dispensing apparatus, said control means coupled with said water heating means and responsive to said control signal for activating and deactivating said water heating means to maintain water in said reservoir in a substantially boiling condition.

A boiling water control system for use with a boiling water dispensing apparatus, said dispensing apparatus having a water reservoir defining an upper surface of water in said reservoir, said reservoir having top means segregating at least one reduced surface area section from the remainder of said upper surface of water in said reservoir, an inlet for admitting water into said reservoir, an outlet for dispensing water from said reservoir and water heating means operatively associated with said water reservoir for heating water retained in said reservoir;

• said boiling water control system comprising:
• steam detecting means producing a control signal in the presence of steam, said steam detecting means being generally thermally isolated from said reservoir;
• a steam vent communicating with said at least one reduced surface area section of said reservoir and positioned for delivering steam from said reduced surface area section to said steam detection means;
• and means for controlling said boiling water dispensing apparatus coupled with said water heating means and responsive to said control signal for activating and deactivating said water heating means to maintain water in said reservoir in a substantially boiling condition.

A boiling water dispensing apparatus, said dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a water reservoir, said reservoir having a top portion defining a first reduced surface area section segregated from a second surface area section;
• an inlet for admitting water into said reservoir;
• an outlet for dispensing water from said reservoir;
• water heating means operatively associated with said water reservoir for heating water retained in said reservoir;
• steam detecting means producing a control signal in the presence of steam, said steam detecting means being generally thermally isolated from said reservoir;
• a first steam vent communicating with said first surface area section of said reservoir and positioned for delivering steam from said first surface area section to said steam detection means;
• and means for controlling said boiling water dispensing apparatus coupled with said water heating means and responsive to said control signal for activating and deactivating said water heating means to maintain water in said reservoir in a substantially boiling condition;
• and a second steam vent communicating with said second surface area section.