A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly

Abstract

This utility model discloses a three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly, including a three-way valve body, a high-pressure hose connector, a mushroom-shaped nozzle, a spring, an internal Teflon steam pump connector, and a steam Teflon tube. The three-way valve body includes a high-pressure steam channel, an air channel, and a mixed gas channel. The high-pressure hose connector is located within the high-pressure steam channel, and the mushroom-shaped nozzle is in movable contact with the high-pressure hose connector. The spring is located on the mushroom-shaped nozzle. The steam Teflon tube is located within the mixed gas channel. A one-way valve is installed within the air channel, and the internal Teflon steam pump connector is located within the mixed gas channel. The beneficial effects of this utility model are: by setting up a high-pressure steam channel, an air channel, and a mixed gas channel, and by setting up a constricted high-pressure gas inlet, the volume of this application is smaller and the steam pressure is higher. Furthermore, by setting up an internal Teflon steam pump connector, the steam and air are mixed more thoroughly and stably, thereby resulting in better milk frothing.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of capsule coffee machine technology, specifically a three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing component. Background Technology

[0002] The three-way valve is a core component of the milk frothing system in a coffee machine. Its core function is to achieve precise mixing of high-pressure steam and air. This involves mixing high-pressure steam (1-1.5 MPa, 120-150℃) from the coffee machine's steam boiler with ambient air in a specific ratio, then injecting the mixture into the milk through a steam wand. The steam heats the milk, and the mixture forms dense milk foam through the air. Currently, most mainstream coffee machine three-way valves use a "T"-shaped design, consisting of independent steam inlet, air inlet, mixed air outlet, and external guide components. Furthermore, the vast majority of coffee machines with steam functions lack a dedicated structure for achieving dynamic and balanced mixing of steam and air, relying solely on passive contact through the basic passageway. The structural design and performance of the valve directly determine the quality of the milk foam, equipment safety, and ease of maintenance. The inherent limitations of existing structures are increasingly failing to meet market demands for high-quality milk foam.

[0003] 1. Imbalance in steam-air mixing: Poor milk frothing effect and undesirable bubble state.

[0004] Traditional three-way valves lack air pressure regulation and airflow direction guidance mechanisms, resulting in extremely uneven pressure in the mixed air. The contact between steam and air is merely disordered convection, preventing them from blending in the ideal proportion. This problem directly leads to serious defects in milk frothing: the generated bubbles vary significantly in size and exhibit the typical characteristics of being "large, numerous, and scattered"—the milk foam is filled with a large number of coarse bubbles, and obvious stratification occurs within 30 seconds of standing, with a loose cluster of bubbles on top and a thin layer of milk at the bottom, completely failing to meet the "velvety" milk foam requirements of lattes, cappuccinos, and other coffees. At the same time, the imbalance in mixing prevents the steam heat energy from being evenly transferred to the milk, easily leading to localized overheating and scorching or overall underheating.

[0005] 2. Extremely poor mixing stability: Product consistency cannot be guaranteed.

[0006] "Unstable mixing" is the most prominent shortcoming of the existing structure. Affected by factors such as the decrease in steam pressure and irregular changes in air intake during intermittent operation of the coffee machine, even the same machine under the same operating conditions often shows a mixing ratio deviation of more than 15% at different times, and even exceeding 20%. This instability manifests in actual use as follows: milk foam frothing in the morning may be barely acceptable, while in the afternoon, the drop in steam pressure causes a sudden increase in bubbles; the milk foam is thinner during cold starts, and after 10 minutes of continuous operation, the bubbles clump together due to the heating of the pipes. This has a fatal impact on the standardized output of commercial coffee shops and makes it difficult for home novices to master stable milk frothing techniques, seriously reducing the user experience.

[0007] 3. High dependence on steam temperature: both high operational threshold and high equipment cost.

[0008] Existing structures suffer from low mixing efficiency, requiring precise steam temperature control to compensate for this deficiency. Only when the steam temperature is strictly maintained within the 130-140℃ range can acceptable milk foam be produced; a temperature deviation exceeding ±5℃ will cause significant problems: excessively high temperatures denature milk proteins, resulting in a grainy texture in the milk foam; excessively low temperatures fail to fully activate the fat molecules in the milk, making it difficult for the foam to form and prone to defoaming. To meet these stringent temperature requirements, coffee machines need to be equipped with high-precision temperature control components, directly increasing manufacturing costs (by 15%-20% per unit). Simultaneously, users must frequently monitor and adjust the temperature, significantly raising the operational threshold, which is particularly unfriendly to the high-frequency milk frothing needs of commercial settings.

[0009] 4. Volume redundancy: Limits the freedom of coffee machine structural design.

[0010] To achieve basic flow guidance and mixing functions, traditional three-way valves require additional redundant components such as flow guides and pressure buffer chambers, resulting in a relatively large overall size (typically length × width × height ≥ 40 × 30 × 25 mm). As the coffee machine market upgrades towards "miniaturization" and "integration"—home users demand mini desktop coffee machines (body width often ≤ 200 mm), while commercial users need to integrate multiple modules such as extraction, frothing, and hot water within a limited internal space—the large size of traditional three-way valves becomes a design bottleneck: either compressing the installation space of other functional modules or forcing an increase in the overall size of the machine, which contradicts the market's demand for a "compact design."

[0011] 5. Residual residues and sealing hazards: Insufficient compatibility and safety

[0012] Traditional T-shaped airflow paths have significant dead zones, where residual milk stains and condensation from the mixing process easily adhere and are difficult to remove completely with regular cleaning. Long-term use can lead to bacterial growth, violating hygiene standards for food contact equipment. Furthermore, some low-priced models use a split-seal design for their three-way valves, which are prone to aging under prolonged exposure to high-temperature steam, resulting in steam leakage rates exceeding 1×10⁻⁶. -5 Pa·m 3 / s not only affects mixing efficiency, but also poses a safety risk of users being scalded by high-temperature steam during operation.

[0013] 6. Complex installation and maintenance: High operation and maintenance costs

[0014] Traditional three-way valves, with their multi-component structure, require multiple connectors to interface with the coffee machine's piping, resulting in a cumbersome installation process. Furthermore, the lack of standardized interface specifications means different brands of coffee machines need to be compatible with specific models, increasing manufacturers' inventory costs. In addition, frequent milk residue buildup and blockages lead to equipment failure rates as high as 30% per year, necessitating regular disassembly, cleaning, or component replacement, significantly increasing maintenance costs in commercial settings and raising the barrier to entry for home use. Utility Model Content

[0015] The purpose of this invention is to provide a three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly to solve the problems mentioned in the background art.

[0016] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides the following technical solution: a three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly, comprising a three-way valve body, a high-pressure hose connector, a mushroom-shaped head, a spring, an internal connector for a gas pump three-way valve, and a steam Teflon tube. The three-way valve body includes a high-pressure steam channel, an air channel, and a mixed gas channel. The high-pressure hose connector is located within the high-pressure steam channel. The mushroom-shaped head is in movable contact with the high-pressure hose connector. The spring is located on the mushroom-shaped head. The steam Teflon tube is located within the mixed gas channel. A one-way valve is provided within the air channel. The internal connector for the gas pump three-way valve is located within the mixed gas channel.

[0017] Preferably, the high-pressure steam channel is provided with a heat dissipation window.

[0018] Preferably, the high-pressure hose connector is provided with multiple fixing rings, and the high-pressure hose connector is connected to the high-pressure steam channel through the fixing rings.

[0019] Preferably, the high-pressure steam channel and the mixed gas channel are provided with a high-pressure gas inlet, one end of which is funnel-shaped and the funnel-shaped opening faces the mushroom head.

[0020] Preferably, the top of the air pump tee inner connector is provided with a step, and the step and the inner wall of the mixed gas channel form an air storage space.

[0021] Preferably, a one-way valve is provided at the bottom end of the air passage.

[0022] Preferably, a fixing plate and a Teflon tube sealing ring are provided between the Teflon tube and the mixed gas channel.

[0023] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this utility model are: by setting up a high-pressure steam channel, an air channel and a mixed gas channel, and setting up a shrinkable high-pressure gas inlet, this utility model makes the volume of the application smaller and the steam pressure greater. Furthermore, by setting up an internal connector for the air pump tee, the steam and air are mixed more fully and more stably, thereby achieving a better milk frothing effect. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0025] Figure 2 This is a side sectional view of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the high-pressure hose connector structure of this utility model.

[0027] In the diagram: 1. Three-way valve body; 11. High-pressure steam passage; 12. Air passage; 13. Mixed gas passage; 14. Heat dissipation window; 15. High-pressure gas inlet; 16. Gas storage space; 17. Teflon tube sealing ring; 18. Fixing ring plate; 2. High-pressure hose connector; 21. Fixing ring platform; 3. Mushroom head; 4. Spring; 5. Air pump three-way internal connector; 51. Step; 6. Steam Teflon tube. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the protection scope of the present utility model.

[0029] Please see Figure 1 This utility model provides a technical solution: a three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly, including a three-way valve body 1, a high-pressure hose connector 2, a mushroom head 3, a spring 4, an air pump three-way inner connector 5, and a steam Teflon tube 6. The three-way valve body 1 includes a high-pressure steam channel 11, an air channel 12, and a mixed gas channel 13. The high-pressure hose connector 2 is located in the high-pressure steam channel 11. The mushroom head 3 is in movable contact with the high-pressure hose connector 2. The spring 4 is located on the mushroom head 3. The steam Teflon tube 6 is located in the mixed gas channel 13. A one-way valve is provided in the air channel 12. The air pump three-way inner connector 5 is located in the mixed gas channel 13.

[0030] In this invention, the high-pressure steam channel 11 is provided with a heat dissipation window 14.

[0031] In this utility model, the high-pressure hose connector 2 is provided with multiple fixing rings 21, and the high-pressure hose connector 2 is connected to the high-pressure steam channel 11 through the fixing rings.

[0032] In this invention, the high-pressure steam channel 11 and the mixed gas channel 13 are provided with a high-pressure gas inlet 15. One end of the high-pressure gas inlet 15 is funnel-shaped, and the funnel-shaped opening faces the mushroom head 3. The high-pressure gas inlet 15 forms a contraction tube, increasing the pressure of the incoming steam.

[0033] In this utility model, the top end of the air pump tee inner connector 5 is provided with a step 51, and the step 51 and the inner wall of the mixed gas channel 13 form an air storage space 16.

[0034] In this invention, a one-way valve is provided at the bottom end of the air channel 12.

[0035] In this invention, a fixing plate 18 and a Teflon tube sealing ring 17 are provided between the Teflon tube and the mixed gas channel.

[0036] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly, characterized in that, The device includes a three-way valve body, a high-pressure hose connector, a mushroom-shaped head, a spring, an internal connector for an air pump three-way valve, and a steam Teflon tube. The three-way valve body includes a high-pressure steam channel, an air channel, and a mixed gas channel. The high-pressure hose connector is located in the high-pressure steam channel. The mushroom-shaped head is in movable contact with the high-pressure hose connector. The spring is located on the mushroom-shaped head. The steam Teflon tube is located in the mixed gas channel. A one-way valve is installed in the air channel. The internal connector for the air pump three-way valve is located in the mixed gas channel.

2. The three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that: The high-pressure steam channel is equipped with a heat dissipation window.

3. A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that: The high-pressure hose connector is provided with multiple fixed rings, and the high-pressure hose connector is connected to the high-pressure steam channel through the fixed rings.

4. A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that: The high-pressure steam channel and the mixed gas channel are provided with a high-pressure gas inlet. One end of the high-pressure gas inlet is funnel-shaped, and the funnel-shaped opening faces the mushroom head.

5. A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: The top of the air pump tee inner connector is provided with a step, and a gas storage space is formed between the step and the inner wall of the mixed gas channel.

6. A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that: A one-way valve is provided at the bottom of the air passage.

7. A three-way valve high-pressure gas mixing assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that: A fixing plate and a Teflon tube sealing ring are provided between the Teflon tube and the mixed gas channel.

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