Waterway of coffee machine

Abstract

The utility model provides a waterway of a coffee machine, which relates to the technical field of coffee machines and comprises a water tank, an electromagnetic pump, a boiler and a coffee extractor which are sequentially connected. A pressure stabilizing tube is arranged between the electromagnetic pump and the boiler, the two ends of the pressure stabilizing tube are connected with a water outlet of the electromagnetic pump and a water inlet of the boiler respectively, and the pressure stabilizing tube is a silicone tube sleeved with a fiber woven structure. The pressure stabilizing pipe is arranged between the electromagnetic pump and the boiler, the pressure stabilizing pipe is the fiber-woven silicone pipe, the length, the inner diameter and the outer diameter of the pressure stabilizing pipe are specified, pressure fluctuation of water flow in a pipeline is remarkably reduced, shaking of a pointer of a pressure gauge is remarkably reduced, and more accurate pressure reference is provided for a coffee maker.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of coffee machines, in particular to a water channel of a coffee machine. Background Art

[0002] Coffee is a globally popular beverage, becoming an essential part of people's daily lives. As demand for coffee quality and flavor continues to rise, the technology behind coffee machines continues to evolve and innovate. These days, coffee machines are not only gaining popularity in homes, but also occupy a prominent place in commercial spaces like cafes and restaurants.

[0003] A coffee machine usually consists of a water tank, a water pump, a heater, a coffee extractor, and a pressure gauge, which work together to complete the water delivery, pressurization, heating, and coffee extraction processes. The internal water system of the coffee machine plays a key role in the entire operation process. When using a coffee machine to extract coffee, the barista will pay close attention to the pressure gauge reading to ensure that the pressure of the coffee during the extraction process can be stabilized at 9-10 atmospheres. However, because the water pump causes water pressure fluctuations in the process of pressurizing the water, the pressure gauge needle will shake violently. The violent shaking of the pressure gauge needle will interfere with the barista's judgment of the water pressure, affecting the stability and consistency of the coffee extracted by the barista, resulting in inconsistent quality of coffee each time.

[0004] Chinese utility model patent CN219645532U discloses a brewing chamber water channel structure and a coffee machine, wherein there are two technical solutions to solve the problem of the shaking of the pressure gauge needle: one is to use a shock-resistant pressure gauge, but the shock-resistant pressure gauge is expensive, resulting in a large economic cost for users, and is not reliable for long-term use; the other is to improve the water channel structure of the brewing chamber, but the improved brewing chamber structure is relatively complex, which greatly increases the difficulty of production.

[0005] Currently, the pipes connecting the water pump, heater, coffee extractor, and pressure gauge in a coffee machine's water system are typically made of Teflon or stainless steel tubing. Due to cost and durability concerns, these tubing materials are widely accepted and used throughout the design and operation of coffee machines. Utility Model Content

[0006] In response to the shortcomings of the existing technology, the utility model proposes a water circuit for a coffee machine, in which a voltage-stabilizing tube is arranged between the electromagnetic pump and the boiler, and the voltage-stabilizing tube is set as a fiber-braided silicone tube, and its length, inner diameter and outer diameter are specified, which significantly reduces the pressure fluctuation of the water flow in the pipeline, thereby significantly reducing the shaking of the pressure gauge needle, providing the barista with a more accurate pressure reference, ensuring the stability and consistency of each coffee extraction, and thus significantly improving the quality of the coffee.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solutions:

[0008] A water circuit of a coffee machine, comprising a water tank, an electromagnetic pump, a boiler, and a coffee extractor connected in sequence;

[0009] A voltage-stabilizing tube is provided between the electromagnetic pump and the boiler, and both ends of the voltage-stabilizing tube are connected to the water outlet of the electromagnetic pump and the water inlet of the boiler respectively. The voltage-stabilizing tube is a silicone tube with a fiber braided structure on its outer cover.

[0010] Preferably, the inner diameter of the voltage-stabilizing tube is 2 to 4 mm.

[0011] Preferably, the outer diameter of the voltage-stabilizing tube is 4 to 8 mm.

[0012] Preferably, the length of the voltage-stabilizing tube is 15 to 150 cm.

[0013] Preferably, the diameter of the water outlet of the electromagnetic pump is equal to the inner diameter of the voltage-stabilizing tube.

[0014] Preferably, the inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube is equal to the diameter of the boiler water inlet.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages.

[0016] 1. When an electromagnetic pump is operating, the electromagnetic action causes the piston to reciprocate, thereby achieving the purpose of pumping water. However, the reciprocating movement of the piston can cause unstable water pressure. Because the silicone tube is a flexible material, when the tube wall is subjected to water pressure, the silicone tube can release and neutralize the unstable water pressure through a certain degree of tension. Adding a fiber braided layer to the silicone tube can increase the stability of the silicone tube in withstanding the tension. Therefore, by using a fiber braided silicone tube as a pressure-stabilizing tube and specifying its length, inner diameter, and outer diameter, the pressure fluctuations of the water flow in the pipe are significantly reduced, thereby stabilizing the system pressure fluctuations and significantly reducing the shaking of the pressure gauge needle. This provides baristas with a more accurate pressure reference, helping them to precisely control the extraction process, ensuring the stability and consistency of each coffee extraction, and significantly improving the quality of the coffee.

[0017] 2. Setting the diameter of the electromagnetic pump outlet to be equal to the inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube, and setting the inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube to be equal to the diameter of the boiler water inlet, ensures the smooth transmission of water flow in the entire water system, avoids pressure mutations and instability caused by pipe diameter mismatch, and further stabilizes the system pressure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the water circuit of a coffee machine according to Example 1 of the present utility model.

[0020] Illustrations: 1. Water tank; 2. Electromagnetic pump; 3. Boiler; 4. Coffee extractor; 41. Extraction water inlet; 42. First extraction water outlet; 43. Second extraction water outlet; 5. Pressure gauge; 61. Water pipe; 62. Voltage-stabilizing tube; 63. Heating tube; 64. Pressure tube. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the embodiments described are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicating orientations or positional relationships, are based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are intended solely to facilitate the description of this utility model and simplify the description. They do not indicate or imply that the devices or components referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed, or operate in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0023] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they can refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; mechanical connections, electrical connections; direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediate medium, and internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0024] Example 1

[0025] See also Figure 1 The embodiment of the present utility model discloses a water circuit of a coffee machine, comprising a water tank 1, an electromagnetic pump 2, a boiler 3, a coffee extractor 4 and a pressure gauge 5 connected in sequence. A voltage-stabilizing tube 62 is provided between the electromagnetic pump 2 and the boiler 3. The two ends of the voltage-stabilizing tube 62 are respectively connected to the water outlet of the electromagnetic pump 2 and the water inlet of the boiler 3. The voltage-stabilizing tube 62 is a silicone tube with a fiber braided structure on the outer shell.

[0026] Specifically, the electromagnetic pump 2 is used to pressurize the water, the boiler 3 is used to heat the water, and the pressure gauge 5 is used to monitor the pressure in the coffee extractor 4. The water outlet of the water tank 1 is connected to a water pipe 61, the end of which, away from the water tank 1, is connected to the water inlet of the electromagnetic pump 2. The water outlet of the electromagnetic pump 2 is connected to a pressure-stabilizing tube 62, the end of which, away from the electromagnetic pump 2, is connected to the water inlet of the boiler 3. The coffee extractor 4 is provided with an extraction water inlet 41, a first extraction water outlet 42, and a second extraction water outlet 43. The water outlet of the boiler 3 is connected to a heating tube 63, the end of which, away from the boiler 3, is connected to the extraction water inlet 41. The second extraction water outlet 43 is connected to a pressure pipe 64, the end of which, away from the second extraction water outlet 43, is connected to the water inlet of the pressure gauge 5. The first extraction water outlet 42 of the coffee extractor 4 is used to release the coffee liquid. In this embodiment, both the heating tube 63 and the pressure pipe 64 are made of Teflon tubing. When the coffee machine is running, the electromagnetic pump 2 is turned on, and the water in the water tank 1 passes through the water pipe 61, the electromagnetic pump 2, the voltage-stabilizing tube 62, the boiler 3, and the heating tube 63 in sequence to enter the coffee extractor 4 to extract coffee. Part of the water in the coffee extractor 4 will enter the pressure gauge 5 through the pressure tube 64 to detect the water pressure in the coffee extractor 4.

[0027] The length of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 15 to 150 cm, the inner diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 2 to 4 mm, and the outer diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 4 to 8 mm. Preferably, in this embodiment, the voltage regulator tube 62 is 15 cm long, the inner diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 4 mm, the outer diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 8 mm, the wall thickness of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 2 mm, and the ratio of the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 1:2. Considering the installation space and cost of the coffee machine, as well as the durability of the fiber-braided silicone tube, setting the voltage regulator tube 62 to 15 cm long, the inner diameter to 4 mm, and the outer diameter to 8 mm is the preferred choice for this embodiment.

[0028] The diameter of the electromagnetic pump 2's water outlet is equal to the inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube 62. Setting the diameter of the electromagnetic pump 2's water outlet equal to the inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube 62 avoids pressure variations and water flow instability caused by the difference in pipe diameters. This ensures a smooth transition of water flow at the connection between the electromagnetic pump 2 and the pressure-stabilizing tube 62, reduces pressure fluctuations, and helps stabilize the needle of the pressure gauge 5.

[0029] The inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube 62 is equal to the diameter of the water inlet of the boiler 3. Setting the inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube 62 equal to the diameter of the water inlet of the boiler 3 prevents pressure loss and instability caused by the difference in pipe diameters, ensures stable pressure when the water enters the boiler 3, and further reduces the shaking of the needle of the pressure gauge 5.

[0030] Comparative Example 1

[0031] The difference from the first embodiment is that the voltage-stabilizing tube 62 is a Teflon tube.

[0032] Comparative Example 2

[0033] The difference from Example 1 is that the voltage-stabilizing tube 62 is a silicone tube.

[0034] Comparative Example 3

[0035] The difference from Example 1 is that the length of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 13 cm.

[0036] Comparative Example 4

[0037] The difference from Example 1 is that the heating tube 63 is a silicone tube with a fiber braided outer shell. The length of the heating tube 63 is 15 cm, the inner diameter of the heating tube 63 is 4 mm, the outer diameter of the heating tube 63 is 8 mm, and the wall thickness of the heating tube 63 is 2 mm. The water supply pipe 61, the voltage-stabilizing tube 62, and the pressure pipe 64 are Teflon tubes.

[0038] Comparative Example 5

[0039] The difference from Example 1 is that:

[0040] The pressure tube 64 is a silicone tube with a fiber braided outer shell. The length of the pressure tube 64 is 15 cm, the inner diameter of the pressure tube 64 is 4 mm, the outer diameter of the pressure tube 64 is 8 mm, and the wall thickness of the pressure tube 64 is 2 mm. The water supply pipe 61, the pressure regulating pipe 62, and the heating pipe 63 are Teflon tubes.

[0041] Comparative Example 6

[0042] The difference from Example 1 is that the inner diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 1 mm, the outer diameter of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 3 mm, and the wall thickness of the voltage regulator tube 62 is 1 mm.

[0043] Pressure gauge needle jitter detection:

[0044] The tester ground coffee and divided it into seven equal portions, each weighing 20g. These seven portions were used to extract coffee in the water system of the coffee machine according to Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-6. During the coffee extraction process, the tester observed the fluctuation of the pressure gauge needle in Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1-6, and recorded the observed pressure fluctuation range in Table 1. This step was repeated three times.

[0045] The extraction pressure in the water system of the coffee machines of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6 is 10 Bar, and the extraction time is set to 30 seconds.

[0046] When the tester observes that the pressure gauge needle shakes slightly, the pressure gauge needle fluctuates in the range of 0 to 0.5 Bar;

[0047] When the tester observes that the pressure gauge needle shakes obviously, the pressure gauge needle fluctuates in the range of 0.5 to 1 Bar;

[0048] When the tester observes that the pressure gauge needle shakes violently, the pressure fluctuation range of the pressure gauge needle is 1 to 3 Bar.

[0049] Table 1

[0050]

[0051] As shown in Table 1, the use of a fiber-braided silicone tube of specific length and specifications as the pressure-stabilizing tube 62 in Example 1 significantly reduces the fluctuation of the pressure gauge needle 5, providing an extremely stable pressure environment for the coffee machine's water system. This demonstrates that installing a suitable fiber-braided silicone tube pressure-stabilizing tube between the electromagnetic pump 2 and the boiler 3 can significantly reduce the impact of water pressure fluctuations on the pressure gauge needle.

[0052] In Comparative Example 1, Teflon tubing was used as the pressure-stabilizing tube 62. The water supply tube 61, pressure-stabilizing tube 62, heating tube 63, and pressure tube 64 were all conventionally designed. However, the needle on the pressure gauge 5 exhibited significant fluctuations, with a wide pressure range. This indicates that the Teflon tubing is ineffective in mitigating pressure fluctuations in the water system and cannot provide a stable pressure environment for coffee extraction.

[0053] In Comparative Example 2, a silicone tube was used as the voltage-stabilizing tube 62, and the needle of the pressure gauge 5 showed obvious shaking. Compared with Example 1, the ordinary silicone tube was obviously insufficient in pressure stability and could not achieve the pressure-stabilizing effect of the fiber-braided silicone tube.

[0054] In Comparative Example 3, simply shortening the length of the voltage-stabilizing tube 62 to 13 cm caused the needle of the pressure gauge 5 to experience noticeable wobbling. This clearly demonstrates that the length of the fiber-braided silicone tube is crucial for stabilizing pressure. Insufficient length reduces the pressure buffer space, making it impossible to fully smooth out pressure fluctuations in the water flow.

[0055] In Comparative Example 4, where the heating tube 63 was constructed of a fiber-braided silicone tube and the pressure-stabilizing tube 62 was constructed of Teflon, the needle of the pressure gauge 5 experienced significant oscillation. This demonstrates that the position of the pressure-stabilizing tube 62 plays a crucial role in maintaining pressure in the entire water system. Using a fiber-braided silicone tube for the heating tube 63 did not effectively reduce the oscillation of the pressure gauge needle.

[0056] In Comparative Example 5, where pressure tube 64 was constructed of a fiber-braided silicone tube and pressure-stabilizing tube 62 was constructed of Teflon, the needle of pressure gauge 5 also experienced significant oscillation, further emphasizing the crucial role of the location of pressure-stabilizing tube 62 in influencing pressure gauge needle oscillation. Specifically, placing the fiber-braided silicone tube between electromagnetic pump 2 and boiler 3 is crucial for stabilizing water pressure.

[0057] In Comparative Example 6, the inner and outer diameters of the voltage regulator tube 62 were changed to 4 mm, 6 mm, and 1 mm in thickness. However, the needle of the pressure gauge 5 began to shake violently. This demonstrates that the inner and outer diameters, as well as the wall thickness, of the voltage regulator tube 62 significantly influence pressure stability. A suitable ratio of inner to outer diameters and wall thickness can provide better pressure buffering and stabilization.

[0058] In summary, through analysis of Example 1 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6, it can be clearly seen that in the coffee machine's water system, placing the fiber-braided silicone tube between the electromagnetic pump 2 and the boiler 3, and limiting the length, inner diameter, and outer diameter of the fiber-braided silicone tube are key factors in achieving stable pressure in the water system and significantly reducing the wobble of the needle of the pressure gauge 5. The optimized combination of these parameters can provide the coffee machine with more stable and reliable operating performance, effectively reduce the wobble of the needle of the pressure gauge 5, and enable the barista to precisely control the water pressure, thereby making the coffee extraction process more stable and controllable. This provides a strong guarantee for producing coffee with stable quality and excellent taste, greatly reducing under-extraction or over-extraction caused by misjudgment of pressure, and ensuring that each brewed coffee reaches a high-quality standard with a rich, mellow body and unique flavor.

[0059] Placing the voltage-stabilizing tube 62 (i.e., a fiber-braided silicone tube) between the electromagnetic pump 2 and the boiler 3 is significantly better than placing it between other components in stabilizing the water pressure. The inventor speculates that the reason is: First, from the source of the pressure fluctuation, the electromagnetic pump 2 is the source of the pressure fluctuation. It pumps water through the reciprocating motion of the piston. This working method will cause the water pressure to be unstable. When water flows out of the electromagnetic pump 2, unstable pressure waves begin to propagate in the water system. If the voltage-stabilizing tube 62 is located between the electromagnetic pump 2 and the boiler 3, it can be adjusted immediately after the pressure fluctuation occurs, and stabilized before the pressure wave has a greater impact on subsequent components.

[0060] Secondly, consider the characteristics of boiler 3 and the need for pressure regulation. Boiler 3 heats water, and its internal pressure is crucial for pressure control throughout the coffee extraction process. Large fluctuations in the water pressure entering boiler 3 can affect the proper functioning of boiler 3 and also lead to unstable pressure in the subsequent coffee extractor 4. Installing a pressure regulator 62 between the electromagnetic pump 2 and boiler 3 adjusts the pressure before the water enters boiler 3, stabilizing the water pressure entering boiler 3. This, in turn, ensures a stable pressure for the hot water flowing from boiler 3 into coffee extractor 4, ultimately providing a stable pressure environment for coffee extraction. Conversely, installing a pressure regulator 62 between boiler 3 and coffee extractor 4 can provide a certain degree of pressure regulation for the water flowing out of boiler 3. However, the initial pressure fluctuations generated by electromagnetic pump 2 have already caused a series of destabilizing effects in the water path, potentially leading to pressure fluctuations within boiler 3. This post-installation pressure regulation cannot completely eliminate the impact of these initial pressure fluctuations on the entire system and cannot effectively stabilize the overall pressure of the system as would a pressure regulator installed between the electromagnetic pump 2 and boiler 3.

[0061] Furthermore, from the perspective of the pressure transmission path of the entire water system, the link from electromagnetic pump 2 to boiler 3 is the critical path where pressure fluctuations first, after they are generated, significantly impact the pressure states of subsequent components. Placing a pressure regulator 62 along this path can suppress pressure fluctuations at their earliest stages, preventing them from being further amplified and propagated in subsequent pipelines and components. However, placing pressure regulator 62 along other non-critical paths, such as stabilizing only the heating pipe 63 or pressure pipe 64, may have some impact on local pressures, but it cannot play the same critical role in stabilizing the overall system pressure as placing a pressure regulator 62 between electromagnetic pump 2 and boiler 3. This is because pressure fluctuations in these localized pipelines are only a partial reflection of overall system pressure fluctuations and fail to fundamentally address the pressure instability generated by electromagnetic pump 2 and affecting the entire system. Therefore, placing pressure regulator 62 between electromagnetic pump 2 and boiler 3 effectively controls pressure fluctuations at their source, suppressing their propagation along the critical pressure transmission path. Therefore, placing pressure regulator 62 (i.e., a fiber-braided silicone tube) between electromagnetic pump 2 and boiler 3 is significantly more effective in stabilizing water pressure than placing it between other components.

[0062] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water channel of a coffee machine, characterized in that: It comprises a water tank (1), an electromagnetic pump (2), a boiler (3), and a coffee extractor (4) which are connected in sequence; A voltage-stabilizing tube (62) is provided between the electromagnetic pump (2) and the boiler (3), and the two ends of the voltage-stabilizing tube (62) are respectively connected to the water outlet of the electromagnetic pump (2) and the water inlet of the boiler (3). The voltage-stabilizing tube (62) is a silicone tube with a fiber braided structure on the outer shell.

2. The water channel of the coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the voltage-stabilizing tube (62) is 2-4 mm.

3. The water channel of the coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer diameter of the voltage-stabilizing tube (62) is 4 to 8 mm.

4. The water channel of the coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The length of the voltage-stabilizing tube (62) is 15 to 150 cm.

5. The water channel of the coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the water outlet of the electromagnetic pump (2) is equal to the inner diameter of the voltage-stabilizing tube (62).

6. The water channel of the coffee machine according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner diameter of the pressure-stabilizing tube (62) is equal to the diameter of the water inlet of the boiler (3).

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