Steam assembly and coffee machine
By connecting the steam cover and the fixed cover with elastic fastening components, the problem of unstable fixation of the steam rod assembly caused by thermal expansion and contraction in high-temperature environments is solved, achieving stable fixation and cost reduction.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202423313216.1
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-01-27
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-12-30
AI Technical Summary
In high-temperature environments, steam rod assemblies are prone to unstable fixation due to the thermal expansion and contraction of plastic parts, resulting in loosening and sagging.
The design employs a combination of a steam cap and a fixed cap, with the fixed cap and steam cap connected by an elastic fastening component. The elastic force maintains the tightness of the fixed part during thermal expansion and contraction, preventing loosening.
It effectively prevents loosening of the fixing due to thermal expansion and contraction, ensures stable fixing of the steam rod assembly, extends service life and reduces costs.
Smart Images
Figure CN223830850U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of coffee machine technology, specifically to a steam assembly and a coffee machine. Background Technology
[0002] The steam element is an indispensable component of a coffee machine. When in use, steam is ejected after passing through the steam wand assembly, which can froth milk in the coffee.
[0003] In some related technologies, the steam rod assembly is assembled and fixed with the metal assembly. Since the steam rod assembly is also made of metal, it is easy for the steam rod assembly to generate friction wear with the metal assembly when rotating. Moreover, the cost of the metal assembly is relatively high. Therefore, plastic parts are used to fix the steam rod assembly instead of the metal assembly. However, the steam assembly often works in a high-temperature environment. The dimensions of the plastic parts will inevitably change after thermal expansion and contraction, which will cause the steam rod assembly to loosen and droop. Utility Model Content
[0004] This application provides a steam assembly and a coffee machine that can solve the problem of unstable fixing of the steam wand assembly, which is prone to loosening and drooping.
[0005] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a steam assembly, comprising a steam rod assembly, a steam cap, a fixed cap, and an elastic fastening assembly. One end of the steam rod assembly has a fixing portion; the steam cap has a first limiting portion; the fixed cap has a second limiting portion disposed opposite to the first limiting portion, the first and second limiting portions respectively abutting opposite ends of the axial direction of the fixing portion, thereby limiting the steam cap and the fixed cap against the fixing portion axially; one end of the elastic fastening assembly is connected to the fixed cap, and the other end is connected to the steam cap, the elastic fastening assembly providing an elastic force that brings the fixed cap and the steam cap closer together, thereby keeping the steam cap and the fixed cap tightly abutting against the fixing portion.
[0006] In one embodiment, the elastic fastening assembly includes an elastic element and a fastener; the fastener is fixedly connected to the steam cover, one end of the elastic element is connected to the fastener, and the other end of the elastic element abuts against the side of the fixed cover away from the steam cover, so that the elastic force can cause the fixed cover to press against the fixing part in the direction of the steam cover.
[0007] In one embodiment, the steam cover includes a steam cover body and a connector. The steam cover body is provided with a first limiting part. A through hole is provided on the fixed cover. One end of the connector is fixedly connected to the steam cover body, and the other end of the connector passes through the through hole and is located on the side of the fixed cover away from the steam cover. The fastener is detachably connected to the connector, and an elastic element is sleeved on the outer periphery of the connector and the fastener.
[0008] In one embodiment, the elastic element is a spring, the initial length of which is greater than the length of the connector extending beyond the fixed cover away from the steam cover. The spring is in a compressed state, and its compressed length is equal to the length of the connector extending beyond the fixed cover away from the steam cover. The fastener is a threaded element, and the fastener is threadedly connected to the connector.
[0009] In one embodiment, the number of elastic elements, fasteners, and connectors is at least two, and each elastic element, fastener, and connector is evenly arranged along the circumferential direction of the fixing part.
[0010] In one embodiment, the fixing part is a rotating structure, so that the fixing part can rotate relative to the steam cover and the fixing cover along the axial direction of the fixing part.
[0011] In one embodiment, the first limiting part and the second limiting part are hole-like structures, and the first limiting part and the second limiting part cooperate to form a receiving cavity of the fixing part, and the axis of the hole-like structure coincides with the axis of the fixing part.
[0012] In one embodiment, the steam assembly further includes an actuating element and a switching element. The switching element is electrically connected to the main board to control the opening or closing of the steam generator. The actuating element has a locking portion, and the steam cover has a locking groove. The locking portion engages with the locking groove and is capable of reciprocating within the locking groove. The switching element is fixed to the side of the steam cover facing the actuating element, and the reciprocating rotation of the actuating element can open or close the switching element.
[0013] In one embodiment, the steam rod assembly includes a steam rod, a steam pipe, and a thermistor wire. At least a portion of the steam pipe is disposed inside the steam rod, and a steam channel is provided inside the steam pipe. An air outlet is provided on the steam rod. One end of the steam pipe passes through a fixing part and is connected to a steam generating device. The other end of the steam channel is connected to the air outlet. One end of the thermistor wire is spirally wound around the outer circumference of the steam pipe, and the other end passes through the fixing part and is used to connect to the main board.
[0014] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a coffee machine that includes the steam assembly described in any of the above embodiments.
[0015] This application provides a steam assembly, which includes a steam rod assembly, a steam cover, a fixing cover, and an elastic fastening assembly. One end of the steam rod assembly has a fixing portion; the steam cover has a first limiting portion; the fixing cover has a second limiting portion disposed opposite to the first limiting portion. The first and second limiting portions respectively abut against opposite ends of the fixing portion along its axial direction, thereby limiting the fixing portion along its axial direction. One end of the elastic fastening assembly is connected to the fixing cover, and the other end is connected to the steam cover. The elastic fastening assembly provides an elastic force that brings the fixing cover and the steam cover closer together, keeping them tightly pressed against the fixing portion. The steam assembly of this application uses a steam cover and a fixing cover to fix the fixing portion of the steam rod assembly. Since the steam cover and the fixing cover are prone to dimensional changes due to thermal expansion and contraction... Therefore, the steam assembly of this application also uses an elastic fastening component to connect the fixed cover and the steam cover. When the size of the fixed cover or the steam cover shrinks, the elastic force can bring the two closer to each other, so that the fixed cover and the steam cover always remain pressed against the fixed part of the steam rod assembly, preventing the problem of loosening of the fixed part due to the change of the size of the elastic material. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a steam assembly provided in one embodiment of this application;
[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the exploded structure;
[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 1 A sectional view;
[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the toggle element, switch element, and steam cover provided in an embodiment of this application;
[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 4 A structural diagram from another perspective.
[0021] Figure description: Steam rod assembly 10, fixing part 11, steam rod 12, vent 121, steam pipe 13, steam channel 131, thermistor wire 14, steam cover 20, first limiting part 21, steam cover body 22, connector 23, slot 24, fixing cover 30, second limiting part 31, through hole 32, elastic fastening assembly 40, elastic element 41, fastener 42, actuating element 50, snap-fit part 51, switch element 60. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The present application will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. Similar elements in different embodiments are referred to by related similar element reference numerals. In the following embodiments, many details are described to facilitate a better understanding of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that some features may be omitted in different situations, or may be replaced by other elements, materials, or methods. In some cases, certain operations related to the present application are not shown or described in the specification. This is to avoid obscuring the core parts of the present application with excessive description. For those skilled in the art, detailed description of these related operations is not necessary; they can fully understand the related operations based on the description in the specification and general technical knowledge in the art.
[0023] Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various embodiments, and the operational steps involved in each embodiment can also be rearranged or adjusted in a manner that is obvious to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the specification and drawings are only for clearly describing a particular embodiment and do not imply that they represent the necessary components and / or order.
[0024] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).
[0025] The terms "parallel" and "perpendicular," etc., are specific to the current technological level, not absolute mathematical definitions. Slight deviations are permissible; approximations of parallelism or perpendicularity are acceptable. For example, "A and B are parallel" means that A and B are parallel or approximately parallel, with the angle between A and B ranging from 0° to 10°. Similarly, "A and B are perpendicular" means that A and B are perpendicular or approximately perpendicular, with the angle between A and B ranging from 80° to 100°. The directional terms used in the embodiments of this application, such as "upper," "inner," "outer," and "side," are merely for reference to the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the embodiments of this application, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.
[0026] Please refer to Figure 1-3 This application provides a steam assembly that can be used in devices such as coffee machines and milk frothers that require milk frothing. The steam assembly includes a steam wand assembly 10, a steam cover 20, a fixing cover 30, and a flexible fastening assembly 40.
[0027] The steam wand assembly 10 is used to froth milk or other beverages when making coffee. Specifically, the coffee machine's steam generator heats water to produce high-temperature, high-pressure steam, which is then released through a small-diameter pipe in the steam wand assembly 10. During the release process, the steam cools and depressurizes, creating a mist-like gas that can be used to heat milk or other ingredients and froth them, enhancing the taste and appearance of the beverage.
[0028] One end of the steam rod assembly 10 has a fixing part 11. The fixing part 11 can be used to assemble the steam rod assembly 10 onto the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30. Specifically, the steam cover 20 is provided with a first limiting part 21, which can be a cavity or a hole-like structure. The fixing cover 30 is provided with a second limiting part 31, which can also be a cavity or a hole-like structure. The second receiving cavity is disposed opposite to the first receiving cavity. The first limiting part 21 and the second limiting part 31 respectively abut against opposite ends of the fixing part 11 in the axial direction. Specifically, one end of the fixing part 11 abuts against the first limiting part 21 in the axial direction, and the other end of the fixing part 11 abuts against the second limiting part 31 in the axial direction, so that the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 limit the fixing part 11 in the axial direction of the fixing part 11.
[0029] In one embodiment, when both the first limiting part 21 and the second limiting part 31 are perforated structures, the first limiting part 21 and the second limiting part 31 cooperate to form a receiving cavity for the fixing part 11. At least a portion of the fixing part 11 is disposed within the receiving cavity, and the fixing part 11 abuts against the cavity wall. The axis of the perforated structure of the first limiting part 21, the axis of the perforated structure of the second limiting part 31, and the axial direction of the fixing part 11 coincide. The shape of the receiving cavity is the same as the shape of at least a portion of the outer surface of the fixing part 11, and the diameter of the receiving cavity is almost equal to the diameter of the fixing part 11. Therefore, the receiving cavity prevents the fixing part 11 from moving in the axial direction of the fixing part 11.
[0030] In one embodiment, the fixing part 11 is a rotating structure, allowing it to rotate relative to the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 along its axis, so that the user can adjust the position of the steam rod assembly 10. The rotating structure can be, for example, a sphere. When the fixing part 11 is a sphere, the receiving cavity can be a spherical cavity, or it can be a portion of a sphere.
[0031] The fixing part 11 is made of a rigid material, such as metal. At least one of the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 is made of a material whose dimensions change with temperature, i.e., a material that expands and contracts with temperature. For example, at least one of the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 is made of an elastic material, such as plastic. Preferably, both the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 are made of plastic. Plastic parts are less expensive than metal parts, and making both the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 plastic makes the steam rod assembly 10 less prone to wear when rotating relative to the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30. If the steam cover 20, the fixing cover 30, and the fixing part 11 are all made of metal, the friction between metals will easily wear down the fixing part 11.
[0032] One end of the elastic fastening component 40 is connected to the fixing cover 30, and the other end is connected to the steam cover 20. The elastic fastening component 40 provides an elastic force that brings the fixing cover 30 and the steam cover 20 closer together, so that the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 are held tightly against the fixing part 11. Preferably, a certain gap can be provided between the fixing cover 30 and the steam cover 20. The steam assembly of this application uses the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 to fix the fixing part 11 of the steam rod assembly 10. Since the steam cover 20 and the fixing cover 30 are prone to dimensional changes after thermal expansion and contraction, the steam rod assembly 10 may become loose and droopy. Therefore, the steam assembly of this application also uses an elastic fastening component 40 to connect the fixed cover 30 and the steam cover 20. When the dimensions of the fixed cover 30 or the steam cover 20 change due to thermal expansion and contraction, the elastic force of the elastic fastening component 40 can bring the two closer to each other, so that the fixed cover 30 and the steam cover 20 always remain pressed against the fixing part 11 of the steam rod assembly 10, preventing the problem of the fixing part 11 from becoming loose due to the size change of the steam cover 20 and the fixed cover 30.
[0033] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1-3 As shown, the elastic fastening assembly 40 includes an elastic element 41 and a fastener 42. One end of the elastic element 41 is connected to the fastener 42, and the other end of the elastic element 41 abuts against the side of the fixing cover 30 away from the steam cover 20, providing an elastic force to the fixing cover 30 in the direction of the steam cover 20, so that the fixing cover 30 presses against the fixing part 11 in the direction of the steam cover 20, and the fastener 42 is fixedly connected to the steam cover 20. Thus, when the fixing cover 30 shrinks due to thermal expansion and contraction, the fixing cover 30 can move closer to the steam cover 20 under the action of the elastic element 41, so as to ensure that the steam cover 20 does not loosen or droop, and to ensure that the steam cover 20 presses against the fixing part 11 of the steam rod assembly 10, preventing the fixing part 11 from loosening. In other embodiments, the elastic element 41 and the fastener 42 can be combined into a single part.
[0034] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1-3As shown, the steam cover 20 includes a steam cover body 22 and a connector 23. The steam cover body 22 is provided with a first limiting part 21. The fixed cover 30 is provided with a through hole 32. One end of the connector 23 is fixedly connected to the steam cover body 22, and the other end of the connector 23 passes through the through hole 32 and is disposed on the side of the fixed cover 30 away from the steam cover 20. The connector 23 can specifically be a hexagonal copper post. The fastener 42 is detachably connected to the connector 23, and an elastic member 41 is sleeved on the outer periphery of the connector 23 and the fastener 42, and the elastic member 41 is disposed between the fixed cover 30 and the fastener 42. In other embodiments, the steam cover body 22 and the connector 23 can also be integrally formed. Figure 2 As shown, during assembly, first install the connector 23 on the steam cover body 22, then assemble the steam rod assembly 10 on the steam cover body 22, then assemble the fixing cover 30 on the steam cover body 22, with the connector 23 passing through the through hole 32 of the fixing cover 30, then put the elastic member 41 on the connector 23, and finally use the fastener 42 to lock the connector 23, thus completing the assembly of the steam assembly.
[0035] In one embodiment, the elastic element 41 is a spring, the initial length of which is greater than the length of the connecting member 23 extending beyond the fixed cover 30 away from the steam cover 20. The fastener 42 is a threaded element, such as a machine screw, and is threadedly connected to the connecting member 23. After the fastener 42 is threadedly connected to the connecting member 23, the spring is in a compressed state, and the length of the compressed spring is equal to the length of the connecting member 23 extending beyond the fixed cover 30 away from the steam cover 20. By reasonably adjusting the length of the compressed spring, the tightness of the steam cover 20 and the fixed cover 30 on the fixing part 11 can be adjusted, so that the steam rod assembly 10 can rotate relative to the steam cover 20 and the fixed cover 30, and can stably stop when rotated to any angle.
[0036] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the number of elastic elements 41, fasteners 42, and connectors 23 is at least two, for example, four, five, or six, and each elastic element 41, each fastener 42, and each connector 23 is evenly arranged along the circumferential direction of the fixing part 11. Preferably, the number of elastic elements 41, fasteners 42, and connectors 23 is the same and they are installed in a one-to-one correspondence. When each elastic element 41 is evenly distributed at equal intervals around the fixing part 11, the uniformity of the pressure exerted by the fixing cover 30 against the fixing part 11 can be ensured.
[0037] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5The steam assembly also includes an actuating element 50 and a switching element 60. The actuating element 50 and the switching element 60 are disposed on the steam cover 20. When the actuating element 50 is toggled, it can open or close the switching element 60. The switching element 60 is electrically connected to the main board to control the on / off state of the steam generator. The switching element 60 can be, for example, a microswitch. When the microswitch is activated, the main board can control the steam generator to start and open the control valve on the steam generator, allowing steam to flow to the steam rod assembly 10. By providing the actuating element 50 and the switching element 60, the user can manually toggle the actuating element 50 to control the on / off state of the steam assembly, facilitating user operation.
[0038] Furthermore, the actuating member 50 has a locking portion 51, and the steam cover 20 has a locking groove 24. The locking portion 51 engages with the locking groove 24, and the locking portion 51 can reciprocate within the locking groove 24. In other embodiments, the locking portion 51 can also reciprocate within the locking groove 24. The switching member 60 is fixed to the side of the steam cover 20 facing the actuating member 50, and the reciprocating rotation of the actuating member 50 can open or close the switching member 60. By providing the locking portion 51 and the locking groove 24, the movement of the actuating member 50 can be made more stable.
[0039] In one embodiment, the steam rod assembly 10 includes a steam rod 12, a steam pipe 13, and a thermistor wire 14. At least a portion of the steam pipe 13 is disposed within the steam rod 12, and a steam channel 131 is provided within the steam pipe 13. The steam rod 12 has an outlet 121. One end of the steam pipe 13 passes through the fixing part 11 and is disposed on the side of the fixing cover 30 away from the steam cover 20, so that one end of the steam channel 131 can connect to a steam generator. The other end of the steam channel 131 communicates with the outlet 121, allowing the steam rod assembly 10 to eject steam from the outlet 121. One end of the thermistor wire 14 is spirally wound around the outer circumference of the steam pipe 13, and the other end passes through the fixing part 11 and is used to connect to the main board. The thermistor wire 14 can detect the temperature of the steam rod 12. The thermistor wire 14 can be, for example, an NTC wire. The main board can adjust the heating power according to the type of NTC wire to ensure that the steam rod 12 operates at its optimal temperature.
[0040] This application also provides a coffee machine, wherein the coffee machine includes the steam component involved in any of the above embodiments. The steam component has the same or similar structure as the steam component of any of the above embodiments and performs the same or similar functions, which will not be described again here.
[0041] The above description uses specific examples to illustrate this application, which are only for the purpose of helping to understand the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of this application. Those skilled in the art to which this application pertains can make several simple deductions, modifications, or substitutions based on the concept of this application.
Claims
1. A steam assembly, characterized in that, include: A steam rod assembly, wherein one end of the steam rod assembly has a fixing part; A steam cover, wherein the steam cover is provided with a first limiting part; A fixed cover is provided with a second limiting part disposed opposite to the first limiting part. The first limiting part and the second limiting part respectively abut against opposite ends of the fixed part along the axial direction, so that the steam cover and the fixed cover limit the fixed part along the axial direction of the fixed part. And an elastic fastening component, one end of which is connected to the fixing cover and the other end of which is connected to the steam cover. The elastic fastening component can provide an elastic force that can bring the fixing cover and the steam cover closer together so that the steam cover and the fixing cover are held tightly against the fixing part.
2. The steam assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic fastening assembly includes an elastic element and a fastener; the fastener is fixedly connected to the steam cover, one end of the elastic element is connected to the fastener, and the other end of the elastic element abuts against the side of the fixed cover away from the steam cover, so that the elastic force can cause the fixed cover to press against the fixed part in the direction of the steam cover.
3. The steam assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that, The steam cover includes a steam cover body and a connector. The steam cover body is provided with the first limiting part. The fixed cover is provided with a through hole. One end of the connector is fixedly connected to the steam cover body. The other end of the connector passes through the through hole and is located on the side of the fixed cover away from the steam cover. The fastener is detachably connected to the connector. The elastic element is sleeved on the outer periphery of the connector and the fastener.
4. The steam assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The elastic element is a spring, the initial length of which is greater than the length of the connector extending beyond the fixed cover away from the steam cover. The spring is in a compressed state, and its compressed length is equal to the length of the connector extending beyond the fixed cover away from the steam cover. The fastener is a threaded element, and the fastener is threadedly connected to the connector.
5. The steam assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of each elastic element, fastener, and connector is at least two, and each elastic element, fastener, and connector is evenly arranged along the circumferential direction of the fixing part.
6. The steam assembly according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The fixing part is a rotating structure, so that the fixing part can rotate relative to the steam cover and the fixing cover along the axial direction of the fixing part.
7. The steam assembly according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The first limiting part and the second limiting part are hole-shaped structures. The first limiting part and the second limiting part cooperate to form the receiving cavity of the fixing part, and the axis of the hole-shaped structure coincides with the axis of the fixing part.
8. The steam assembly according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, It also includes a toggle and a switch. The switch is electrically connected to the main board to control the opening or closing of the steam generator. The toggle has a locking part, and the steam cover has a slot. The locking part is engaged with the slot and can reciprocate within the slot. The switch is fixed to the side of the steam cover facing the toggle, and the reciprocating rotation of the toggle can open or close the switch.
9. The steam assembly according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The steam rod assembly includes a steam rod, a steam pipe, and a thermistor wire. At least a portion of the steam pipe is disposed inside the steam rod, and the steam pipe has a steam channel. The steam rod has an air outlet. One end of the steam pipe passes through the fixing part and is connected to a steam generating device. The other end of the steam channel is connected to the air outlet. One end of the thermistor wire is spirally wound around the outer circumference of the steam pipe, and the other end passes through the fixing part and is used to connect to the main board.
10. A coffee machine, characterized in that, Includes the steam assembly as described in any one of claims 1-9.