Fluid delivery system for generating pressure pulses to make beverages

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb under elevated pressure to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• pressure pulse generator capable of generating at least one pressure pulse, each comprising pressurized hot water and steam, said pulse generator comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to or through said chamber, said amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and pressurized steam as a pressure pulse through the flavor-containing materials in said container, thereby extracting the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulse;
• and
• a valve for relieving the pressure in said container after the pressure therein has decreased as a result of the hot water and steam being forced out of said chamber and through the flavor-containing materials in said container to a predetermined pressure, at which predetermined pressure hot water and steam in the pressure pulse have been forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herbs under pressure to make flavor-containing liquid, comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• chamber for receiving an amount of water from said reservoir;
• a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat the water and generate hot water and steam pressure therein;
• a fluid delivery system comprising an outlet for said chamber for allowing the steam pressure to force the hot water and steam out of said chamber as a pressure pulse and a fluid passageway having a first end connected to said outlet and a second end connected to said container to allow the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the steam pressure;
• and
• a valve for controlling the communication between said chamber and at least one of said reservoir or atmosphere, said valve being configured to relieve the pressure in said chamber after the pressure in said chamber decreases as a result of the hot water and steam being forced out of said chamber and through the flavor-containing materials in said container to a predetermined pressure, at which predetermined pressure hot water and steam in the pressure pulse have been forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container, and to establish the communication between said chamber and said reservoir thereby introducing a next amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber.

A method for making flavor-containing liquid by extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herbs with a plurality of pressure pulses, comprising:

• generating and delivering a first pressure pulse, comprising a pulse of pressurized hot water and a pulse of pressurized hot steam, to and through the flavor-containing materials in a container, wherein the flavor-containing materials being extracted by the pulse of pressurized hot water under the pressure of the first pressure pulse and being dried or potentially re-roasted by the pulse of pressurized hot steam;
• generating and delivering a second pressure pulse, comprising a pulse of pressurized hot water and a pulse of pressurized hot steam, to and through the flavor-containing materials in a container, wherein the flavor-containing materials being extracted by the pulse of pressurized hot water under the pressure of the second pressure pulse and being dried or potentially re-roasted by the pulse of pressurized hot steam;
• and
• repeating the above step of generating and delivering pressure pulses to and through the flavor-containing materials in a container until a desired amount of flavor-containing liquid has been prepared.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse,
• wherein said pump mechanism comprises a first valve for controlling the communication between said chamber and said reservoir, a second valve for controlling the communication between said chamber and atmosphere or said reservoir, and an outlet near the lowest portion of said chamber for the pressurized steam therein to force the hot water and steam out of said chamber as a pressure pulse to said container, said second valve being configured to relieve the pressure in said chamber after the pressure therein declines to a predetermined pressure, at which pressure hot water in the hot water pulse and the steam in the steam pulse of the pressure pulse have been forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container, thereby causing said first valve to open and introduce a next amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse,
• wherein said pump mechanism comprises a mechanical pump for introducing the amount of water to said chamber from said reservoir, a direction valve for allowing the flow from said mechanical pump to said chamber but preventing the reverse flow, and an outlet located near the lowest portion of said chamber for the pressurized steam generated by said heater to force the hot water in said chamber as the water pulse and the steam itself as the steam pulse of a pressure pulse out of said chamber and to said container.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse,
• wherein said pump mechanism comprises a mechanical pump for introducing the amount of water to and through said chamber from said reservoir, a direction valve for allowing the water flow from said mechanical pump to said chamber but preventing the reverse fluid flow, and a heating channel having a channel inlet leading to said chamber and a channel outlet leading to said container, a first portion of the amount of water being delivered under pressure through said chamber and heating channel as the hot water pulse of a pressure pulse by said mechanical pump while a second portion of the amount of water being forced out of said channel outlet as steam pulse of the pressure pulse by the pressurized steam downstream of said direction valve to said container.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse,
• wherein said pump mechanism comprises a mechanical pump for introducing the amount of water to and through said chamber from said reservoir and a heating channel also in heat conducting relationship with said heater having a channel inlet leading to said chamber and a channel outlet leading to said container, said mechanical pump delivering under pressure a first portion of the amount of water as the hot water pulse and the second portion of the amount of water as the steam pulse of a pressure pulse through said chamber and heating channel to said container.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse;
• and
• a residual pressure relief valve for relieving the pressure in said chamber after the pressure in said chamber declines to a predetermined pressure, at which pressure hot water and steam in the pressure pulse has been forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse,
• wherein said pump mechanism comprises a valve for controlling the communication between said chamber and said reservoir and an outlet located near the lowest portion of said chamber for the pressurized steam therein to force the hot water and steam out of said chamber as a pressure pulse, said valve being configured to establish the communication and open the passageway between said chamber and said reservoir when the pressure in said chamber declines to a predetermined pressure, at which pressure hot water and steam in the pressure pulse has been forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container, thereby introducing a next amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse;
• wherein said container comprises a filter paper chamber for receiving a disposable filter paper in which the flavor-containing materials can be disposed, a support member for supporting a first part of the filter paper through which part the extraction is filtered and for collecting the extraction from the first part of the filter paper, an outlet for discharging the extraction from the first part of the filter paper, and a filter paper seal for forming a substantially water-tight seal with a second part of the filter paper that surrounds the first part of the filter paper, thereby preventing loss of pressure and allowing the flavor-containing materials to be extracted under the pressure of the pressure pulses.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse;
• and
• a steam delivery system for delivering pressurized steam to a steam utilization device, said steam delivery system comprising a steam passage having a steam inlet port located at the upper portion of said chamber and a steam outlet connected to said steam utilization device, and a water preventer for preventing the flow of water out of said steam outlet but without significantly restricting the flow of steam out of said steam outlet.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating a plurality of pressure pulses, each pressure pulse comprising a hot water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the plurality of pressure pulses through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulses, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water and produce steam, a pump mechanism for introducing an amount of water from said reservoir to said chamber, the amount of water being heated by said heater to generate hot water and pressurized steam, and for delivering the hot water and steam as one of the plurality of pressure pulses to said container, and a fluid passage connected to said container to allow substantially all the hot water and steam in the pressure pulse to be forced through the flavor-containing materials in said container by the pressure of the pressure pulse,
• wherein said fluid passage comprises a brew head adapted to connect in a water-tight manner to said container, said brew head comprising a first end rotationally attached to said apparatus, a second end adapted to be lifted up to make said container accessible to the users and to be pushed down to seal to said container, and a lock for maintaining the water-tight seal between said brew head and container.

Apparatus for extracting flavor-containing materials such as coffee, tea or herb to make flavor-containing liquid comprising:

• a water reservoir for receiving a supply of water;
• a container for containing an amount of the flavor-containing materials and for allowing the extraction of the flavor-containing materials under pressure therein;
• and
• a fluid delivery system for generating at least one pressure pulse, each said pressure pulse comprising a water pulse and a steam pulse, and for delivering the pressure pulse through the flavor-containing materials in said container, therefore extracting useful compounds out of the flavor-containing materials under the pressure of the pressure pulse, said fluid delivery system comprising a chamber, a heater in heat conducting relation with said chamber to heat water, a mechanical pump for delivering water from said reservoir to or through said chamber, fluid passage for connecting said chamber to said container to direct water and steam in the pressure pulse to the flavor-containing materials in said container, and a direction valve located downstream of said mechanical pump, said direction valve being adapted to allow water flow from said mechanical pump to said chamber but to prevent reverse flow of steam in the pressure pulse to said mechanical pump, thereby causing the steam in the steam pulse of the pressure pulse to flow through the wet flavor-containing materials in said container and dry the wet flavor-containing materials after the water pulse in the pressure pulse.