Beverage forming apparatus with centrifugal pump
US8151694B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 1, 2008 |
| Grant date | Apr 10, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 4, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47J31/469
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A beverage forming apparatus includes a storage tank, and a centrifugal pump having an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit. The centrifugal pump may include a priming vent located below a full level of the storage tank and permit air to vent as liquid primes the pump. A metering tank may have an inlet connected to the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet connected to a brew chamber that forms a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank. In one embodiment, a flow control valve, such as a check valve, may be provided in the pump conduit to allow flow from the pump to the metering tank, but resist flow in reverse. In another embodiment, a vent valve in the pump conduit may be arranged to vent at least a portion of the pump conduit, e.g., to ambient air pressure.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.