Water path system of coffee machine and coffee machine
By introducing a switching design between the first and second refrigerant lines in the coffee machine and the internal and external circulation of the ice chamber device, the problem of pipe blockage when the compressor is working continuously is solved, ensuring the long-term normal operation of the equipment and the user experience.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2025/084105
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-08-06
- Filing Date
- 2025-03-21
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-12
AI Technical Summary
In existing coffee machines, the pipes connected to the heat exchanger are prone to blockage when the compressor is running continuously, resulting in a poor user experience, and the compressor takes a long time to restart after stopping.
The compressor assembly, which includes a first refrigerant line and a second refrigerant line, can switch the refrigerant flow to the ice chamber device or radiator without stopping the machine, thus avoiding prolonged refrigerant supply to the heat exchanger. The refrigerant flow path can be quickly switched through a solenoid valve. Combined with the inner and outer cavity design of the ice chamber device and the circulation pump, the evaporator tube is prevented from freezing.
This allows the compressor to operate normally for extended periods without clogging the heat exchanger pipes, improving the user experience, preventing pipe icing, and enhancing the reliability and efficiency of the equipment.
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Figure CN2025084105_12022026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Waterway system of coffee machine and coffee machine TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of waterway of coffee machine, and in particular to a waterway system of coffee machine and coffee machine. BACKGROUND
[0002] At present, the products on the market with a compressor to make ice water are first cooled to ice water for a long time before use, and it is even less to make water from 25℃ to 99℃ cold. After the compressor stops, it takes 3-5 minutes to start the compressor again. For the instant cold product, the starting time is too long, and the user experience is poor; if the compressor does not stop for a long time, the heat exchanger temperature is too low, which is easy to cause icing and block the channel connected with the heat exchanger.
[0003] For example, the Chinese invention with the publication number CN118021149A discloses a coffee cooling device, which provides cooling medium for the heat exchanger through the compressor to cool the coffee liquid and then make cold coffee. If the compressor works continuously, and the heat exchanger cools the coffee liquid intermittently, the pipeline connected with the heat exchanger may be iced and blocked. SUMMARY
[0004] The purpose of the embodiment of the present application is to provide a waterway system of coffee machine and coffee machine, which is used to solve the problem of pipeline blockage connected with the heat exchanger when the compressor works continuously.
[0005] The embodiment of the present application adopts the following technical scheme: a waterway system of coffee machine, the coffee machine comprising a brewing device and a water outlet nozzle, the waterway system comprising:
[0006] a water tank;
[0007] a water pump, the water inlet of which is in communication with the water tank;
[0008] a coffee boiler, the water inlet of which is in communication with the water outlet of the water pump, and the water outlet of the coffee boiler is in communication with the water inlet of the brewing device through a hot water pipeline;
[0009] a compressor assembly comprising a first refrigerant pipeline and a second refrigerant pipeline, for providing refrigerant; the liquid outlet of the brewing device is in communication with the water outlet nozzle through a first coffee pipeline; a heat exchanger is arranged on the first coffee pipeline, the heat exchanger is in communication with the first refrigerant pipeline and receives refrigerant from the compressor assembly to cool the hot coffee from the brewing device and then provide ice coffee into the water outlet nozzle;
[0010] The ice tank device has a water inlet and a water outlet, and further comprises an evaporation pipe in communication with the second refrigerant pipeline and receiving refrigerant from the compressor assembly to cool water in the ice tank device; the water inlet of the ice tank device is in communication with the water outlet of the water pump, and the water outlet of the ice tank device is in communication with the water outlet nozzle through an ice water pipeline to provide ice water from the water tank after cooling.
[0011] The compressor assembly comprises a first refrigerant pipeline and a second refrigerant pipeline, and in the case that the compressor assembly does not stop, the refrigerant can be switched to the evaporation pipe of the ice tank device to cool water in the ice tank device, and the refrigerant can also be switched to the radiator, so that the compressor can work normally for a long time, the heat exchanger is not supplied with refrigerant for a long time, the pipes connected with the heat exchanger are prevented from being frozen, and the user experience effect is good.
[0012] In some embodiments, the compressor assembly further comprises:
[0013] a compressor;
[0014] a condenser, an air inlet of which is in communication with an air outlet of the compressor;
[0015] a capillary tube, an air inlet of which is in communication with an air outlet of the condenser;
[0016] a solenoid valve, an air inlet of which is in communication with an air outlet of the capillary tube; an air outlet of the solenoid valve is in communication with a refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger through the first refrigerant pipeline to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger; the air outlet of the solenoid valve is also in communication with a refrigerant inlet of the evaporation pipe through the second refrigerant pipeline to provide refrigerant for the evaporation pipe; a refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger and a refrigerant outlet of the evaporation pipe are respectively in communication with a return air inlet of the compressor.
[0017] The refrigerant flow path can be quickly switched through the solenoid valve pipe, and the pipes connected with the heat exchanger are prevented from being frozen and blocked due to the continuous supply of refrigerant to the heat exchanger in the case that the compressor does not stop.
[0018] In some embodiments, the solenoid valve comprises a three-way solenoid valve;
[0019] a first pipe of the three-way solenoid valve is in communication with the air outlet of the capillary tube; a second pipe of the three-way solenoid valve is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger through the first refrigerant pipeline to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger; and a third pipe of the three-way solenoid valve is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the evaporation pipe through the second refrigerant pipeline to provide refrigerant for the evaporation pipe.
[0020] The first refrigerant pipeline and the second refrigerant pipeline can be switched quickly through a three-way electromagnetic valve, and the flow direction of the refrigerant of the compressor assembly can be adjusted quickly.
[0021] In some embodiments, the electromagnetic valve comprises a first two-way electromagnetic valve and a second two-way electromagnetic valve;
[0022] The first port of the first two-way electromagnetic valve is in communication with the gas outlet of the capillary tube, and the second port of the first two-way electromagnetic valve is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger through the first refrigerant pipeline to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger.
[0023] The first port of the second two-way electromagnetic valve is in communication with the gas outlet of the capillary tube, and the second port of the second two-way electromagnetic valve is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the evaporating tube through the second refrigerant pipeline to provide refrigerant for the evaporating tube.
[0024] The first refrigerant pipeline and the second refrigerant pipeline can be switched quickly through the first two-way electromagnetic valve and the second two-way electromagnetic valve, and the flow direction of the refrigerant of the compressor assembly can be adjusted quickly.
[0025] In some embodiments, the ice tank device further comprises:
[0026] a lower ice tank body having a lower cavity;
[0027] an upper ice tank body disposed on the lower ice tank body, the upper ice tank body having an upper cavity, the upper cavity comprising an inner cavity and an outer cavity, a top portion of the inner cavity having an open mouth to allow water in the inner cavity to flow into the outer cavity through the open mouth after the inner cavity is filled with water, the inner cavity having a liquid return hole in communication with the lower cavity to keep the water in the inner cavity flowing into the lower cavity to avoid the water in the inner cavity from freezing on the evaporating tube, the outer cavity having an overflow hole in communication with the lower cavity; the evaporating tube is disposed in the inner cavity to cool the water in the inner cavity; the water in the outer cavity can flow into the lower cavity through the overflow hole to keep the water in the outer cavity flowing into the lower cavity when the inner cavity is filled with water.
[0028] The water in the inner cavity can keep flowing into the lower cavity through the liquid return hole to avoid the water in the inner cavity from freezing on the evaporating tube.
[0029] In some embodiments, the lower ice tank body is provided with a circulating water outlet and the water outlet, and the upper ice tank body is provided with a circulating water inlet and the water inlet;
[0030] The water inlet is connected to the water pump to deliver water in the water tank to the inner cavity.
[0031] The circulating water outlet and the circulating water inlet are connected with a circulating pump respectively to circulate the water in the lower cavity to the inner cavity; the water in the inner cavity flows to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole at a first speed, and the water in the lower cavity is delivered to the inner cavity by the circulating pump at a second speed, the first speed being less than the second speed; when the circulating pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity keeps flowing to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole, so as to keep the water in the inner cavity in a flowing state.
[0032] The water is pumped from the lower cavity to the inner cavity by the circulating pump, and flows back to the lower cavity after being full, so as to form a water flow circulation. The bottom of the inner cavity is provided with one or more small holes, and the backflow speed of the water through the small holes is less than the water inlet speed of the circulating pump. When the circulating pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity flows back to the lower cavity through the small holes, so as to prevent ice from forming at the evaporative tube when the evaporative tube works for a long time.
[0033] In some embodiments, the ice tank device further comprises a water float and a position sensor.
[0034] The inner wall of the lower cavity is provided with a limiting groove, the limiting groove being in communication with the lower cavity, so that the water level in the limiting groove is consistent with the water level in the lower cavity; the water float is arranged in the limiting groove, and the water float rises and falls in the limiting groove with the change of the water level in the limiting groove.
[0035] The upper part and the lower part of the limiting groove are respectively provided with a position sensor for detecting the position of the water float. When the position sensor at the upper part of the limiting groove detects the water float, the water pump stops delivering water to the inner cavity; when the position sensor at the lower part of the limiting groove detects the water float, the water pump starts to deliver the water in the water tank to the inner cavity.
[0036] The water level in the lower cavity is detected by the water float and the position sensor. When the position sensor at the upper part of the limiting groove detects the water float, the water pump can stop delivering water to the inner cavity.
[0037] In some embodiments, a partition is arranged in the upper cavity, the height of the partition being less than the height of the upper cavity; the partition divides the upper cavity into the inner cavity and the outer cavity surrounding the inner cavity, or,
[0038] The partition divides the upper cavity into the inner cavity, the first outer cavity and the second outer cavity, the first outer cavity and the second outer cavity being respectively located outside the inner cavity.
[0039] The bottom cavity wall of the inner cavity is provided with the liquid return hole, and the bottom cavity wall of the outer cavity is provided with the overflow port.
[0040] According to the need, the upper cavity is divided into an inner cavity and an outer cavity in different structural forms, water in the lower cavity or the water tank enters the inner cavity from the top of the inner cavity, the flow rate of the liquid return hole at the bottom of the inner cavity is small, and the inner cavity can be quickly filled with water, the water in the inner cavity can completely soak the evaporation pipe to quickly cool the water in the inner cavity, and after the inner cavity is filled with water, the water overflows to the outer cavity and then returns to the lower cavity through the overflow port, thereby forming a rapid circulation effect, and when the circulation pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity returns to the lower cavity through the return hole, so that the compressor can work for a long time without causing the water in the ice tank device to freeze.
[0041] In some embodiments, the waterway system further comprises an air pump and a one-way valve;
[0042] The air outlet of the air pump is in communication with the first pipe opening of the one-way valve, and the second pipe opening of the one-way valve is in communication with the first coffee pipe, so that the coffee in the first coffee pipe is discharged through the water outlet nozzle after the ice coffee made through the first coffee pipe is finished.
[0043] After the ice coffee is finished, a certain amount of coffee liquid remains in the first coffee pipe, which is discharged through the air pump, thereby avoiding the influence of the coffee liquid on the taste of the coffee made next time and avoiding the coffee liquid from freezing and blocking the first coffee pipe, thereby affecting the liquid outlet of the heat exchanger.
[0044] The embodiments of the present application also provide a coffee machine comprising the waterway system of the coffee machine according to any one of the above embodiments. The coffee machine adopts the waterway system, so that the compressor can continuously work, the problem of pipe freezing is avoided, and the user experience is improved.
[0045] The embodiments of the present application have the following beneficial effects:
[0046] By arranging the compressor assembly to comprise the first refrigerant pipe and the second refrigerant pipe, the evaporation pipe of the ice tank device can be switched to the compressor assembly without stopping, the water in the ice tank device can be cooled, the refrigerant can be switched to the heat sink, the compressor can normally work for a long time, the refrigerant is not supplied to the heat exchanger for a long time, the pipe connected with the heat exchanger is prevented from freezing, and the user experience effect is good. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0047] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the related art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or related art descriptions. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments described in the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained without creative labor.
[0048] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the water circuit system of the coffee machine of the present application;
[0049] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the ice tank device of the present application when water is being replenished;
[0050] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the ice tank device of the present application when water is being circulated;
[0051] Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of the water circuit system of the present application when ice coffee is being made;
[0052] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of the water circuit system of the present application when ice water is being made;
[0053] Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the water circuit system of the present application when hot coffee is being made;
[0054] Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram of the water circuit system of the present application when hot water is being made;
[0055] Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram of the compressor assembly, heat exchanger and evaporating pipe when the first refrigerant pipe is connected and the compressor assembly includes a three-way electromagnetic valve;
[0056] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the compressor assembly, heat exchanger and evaporating pipe when the second refrigerant pipe is connected and the compressor assembly includes a three-way electromagnetic valve;
[0057] Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram of the compressor assembly, heat exchanger and evaporating pipe when the first refrigerant pipe is connected and the compressor assembly includes a first two-way electromagnetic valve and a second two-way electromagnetic valve;
[0058] Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram of the compressor assembly, heat exchanger and evaporating pipe when the second refrigerant pipe is connected and the compressor assembly includes a first two-way electromagnetic valve and a second two-way electromagnetic valve;
[0059] Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram of the ice tank device of the present application;
[0060] Fig. 13 is an exploded view of the ice tank device of the present application;
[0061] Fig. 14 is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of the ice tank device of the present application;
[0062] Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of the upper ice tank body of the present application;
[0063] Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of the lower ice tank body of the present application;
[0064] Fig. 17 is a schematic diagram of the upper cover of the present application.
[0065] Reference signs: 1, water tank; 2, flow meter; 3, water pump; 4, protection valve; 5, first coffee pipeline; 6, coffee boiler; 8, second coffee pipeline; 9, steam boiler; 10, brewer; 11, three-way electromagnetic valve; 12, one-way valve; 13, heat exchanger; 14, ice tank device; 1401, upper cover; 140101, water inlet; 140102, exhaust hole; 140103, circulating water inlet; 1403, sealing ring; 1405, upper ice tank body; 140501, liquid return hole; 140502, liquid overflow port; 140503, outer cavity; 140504, inner cavity; 1407, lower ice tank body; 140701, limiting groove; 140702, circulating water outlet; 140703, water outlet; 15, evaporation pipe; 16, circulating water pump; 17, temperature sensor; 18, water float; 19, proximity switch; 21, water outlet nozzle; 22, hot water supply pipeline; 23, air pump; 101, compressor; 102, condenser; 103, dryer; 104, capillary; 105, three-way electromagnetic valve; 106, first two-way electromagnetic valve; 107, second two-way electromagnetic valve; 108, first refrigerant pipeline; 109, second refrigerant pipeline. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0066] Various aspects and features of the present application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0067] It is to be understood that various alterations and modifications can be made to the embodiments disclosed herein. Therefore, the above description should not be deemed as limiting, but merely as an example. Other modifications within the scope and spirit of the application will occur to those skilled in the art.
[0068] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate embodiments of the present application and, together with the general description of the application given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the present application.
[0069] These and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following description, given with reference to the attached drawings, which are given as non-limiting examples only, wherein:
[0070] It is also to be understood that even though a number of examples have been described above, many other equivalents will occur to one skilled in the art in the light of the above description.
[0071] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of non-limiting examples only.
[0072] Specific embodiments of the application are described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be understood that the application is not limited to the embodiments specifically disclosed, but can be carried out in various ways. Well-known and / or repetitive functions and structures are not described in detail to avoid obscuring the application unnecessarily. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, but are merely representative of the application as a basis and representative for the claims and for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the application in virtually any appropriate detailed structure.
[0073] The specification can use phrases such as "in one embodiment", "in another embodiment", "in yet another embodiment", or "in other embodiments", which can refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments of the application.
[0074] To solve the problems in the background art, the embodiments of the application provide a waterway system of a coffee machine, which comprises a brewing device 10 and a water outlet 21. The water outlet of the brewing device 10 is in communication with the water outlet 21.
[0075] Specifically, in combination with FIGS. 1 to 7, the waterway system comprises a water tank 1, a water pump 3, a coffee boiler 6, a compressor assembly and an ice tank device 14.
[0076] The water tank 1 is used to store drinking water, and the drinking water in the water tank 1 is at room temperature. The water in the water tank 1 can be delivered to the ice tank device 14 for cooling or to the coffee boiler 6 for heating according to needs, and then delivered to the brewing device 10 for brewing coffee. The ice water cooled by the ice tank device 14 can be directly provided to the user through the water outlet 21. The heated water can be used to brew hot coffee or provided to the user through the water outlet 21.
[0077] The water inlet of the water pump 3 is in communication with the water tank 1, so as to pump the water in the water tank 1 to the ice tank device 14 for cooling or to the coffee boiler 6 for heating according to needs. A flow meter 2 can also be arranged on the connecting pipeline between the water pump 3 and the water tank 1 according to needs, for detecting the water volume pumped by the water pump 3. In addition, a protection valve 4 can also be arranged at the water outlet of the water pump 3, which is used to limit the flow and pressure of water, so as to prevent the pipeline or equipment from being damaged or exploded due to excessive flow and high pressure. At the same time, the protection valve 4 can also be automatically opened in an emergency to rapidly reduce the pressure of the pipeline or equipment, thereby improving the safety of the waterway system.
[0078] The water inlet of the coffee boiler 6 is in communication with the water outlet of the water pump 3, and the water outlet of the coffee boiler 6 is in communication with the water inlet of the brewing device 10 through a hot water pipeline, so as to deliver the heated hot water to the brewing device 10 for brewing hot coffee.
[0079] The compressor assembly comprises a first refrigerant pipeline 108 and a second refrigerant pipeline 109, and is configured to provide refrigerant and deliver the refrigerant to the heat exchanger 13 or the ice tank device 14 through the first refrigerant pipeline 108 and the second refrigerant pipeline 109.
[0080] The liquid outlet of the brewing device 10 is communicated with the water outlet nozzle 21 through the first coffee pipeline 5, and the first coffee pipeline 5 is provided with the heat exchanger 13, which is communicated with the first refrigerant pipeline 108 and receives refrigerant from the compressor assembly to cool the hot coffee from the brewing device 10 and provide ice coffee into the water outlet nozzle 21. The water outlet of the brewing device 10 delivers hot coffee to the heat medium channel of the heat exchanger 13 through the first coffee pipeline 5, and the refrigerant from the compressor assembly is delivered to the refrigerant pipeline of the heat exchanger 13 through the first refrigerant pipeline 108, and the hot coffee in the heat medium pipeline is cooled by the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipeline, so that the hot coffee is cooled to ice coffee, which enters the water outlet nozzle 21.
[0081] The water outlet of the brewing device 10 can also provide hot coffee to the water outlet nozzle 21 through the second coffee pipeline 8, that is, the hot coffee brewed by the brewing device 10 directly enters the water outlet nozzle 21 through the second coffee pipeline 8. The first coffee pipeline 5 and the second coffee pipeline 8 can be connected through a three-way electromagnetic valve 11 to switch the first coffee pipeline 5 and the second coffee pipeline 8 according to needs.
[0082] The ice tank device 14 has a water inlet 140101 and a water outlet 140703, and further comprises an evaporation pipe 15, which is communicated with the second refrigerant pipeline 109 and receives refrigerant from the compressor assembly through the second refrigerant pipeline 109 to cool the water in the ice tank device 14. When ice coffee is not needed, the first refrigerant pipeline 108 can be cut off, so that the refrigerant of the compressor assembly can be delivered to the ice tank device 14 through the second refrigerant pipeline 109 to cool the water in the ice tank, and at the same time, the refrigerant cannot supply the heat exchanger 13, so as to avoid the freezing of the pipeline connected with the heat exchanger 13. The water inlet 140101 of the ice tank device 14 is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump 3, and the water outlet 140703 of the ice tank device 14 is communicated with the water outlet nozzle 21 through an ice water pipeline to cool the water from the water tank 1 and provide ice water into the water outlet nozzle 21.
[0083] According to the embodiment of the present application, the compressor assembly is provided with the first refrigerant pipeline 108 and the second refrigerant pipeline 109, so that the refrigerant can be switched to the evaporation pipe 15 of the ice tank device 14 to cool the water in the ice tank device 14, or the refrigerant can be switched to the radiator, so that the compressor 101 can work normally for a long time, and the refrigerant cannot supply the heat exchanger 13 for a long time, so as to avoid the freezing of the pipeline connected with the heat exchanger 13, and the user experience effect is good.
[0084] In some embodiments, the compressor assembly further comprises a compressor 101, a condenser 102, a capillary tube 104 and a solenoid valve.
[0085] The gas outlet of the compressor 101 is connected to the gas inlet of the condenser 102, so that the gas from the compressor 101 is condensed.
[0086] The gas outlet of the condenser 102 is connected to the gas inlet of the capillary tube 104. The capillary tube 104 can be a thin copper tube with an inner diameter of 0.6-2.0 mm and a length of about 800-2000 mm. Its main function is to throttle the high-pressure freon refrigerant from the condenser 102 to low-pressure freon refrigerant.
[0087] A dryer 103 can also be provided between the capillary tube 104 and the condenser 102 to dry the refrigerant.
[0088] The gas outlet of the solenoid valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger 13 through the first refrigerant pipeline 108 to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger 13 to cool the hot coffee and make iced coffee. The gas outlet of the solenoid valve is also connected to the refrigerant inlet of the evaporation tube 15 through the second refrigerant pipeline 109 to provide refrigerant for the evaporation tube 15 to cool the water in the ice tank device 14 and make iced water. The refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger 13 and the refrigerant outlet of the evaporation tube 15 are respectively connected to the gas return port of the compressor 101 to realize the circulation of the refrigerant. The refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger 13 and the refrigerant outlet of the evaporation tube 15 can be connected to the gas return port of the compressor 101 through a gas return pipeline, and a three-way pipe is provided on the gas return pipeline for connection of the refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger 13 and the refrigerant outlet of the evaporation tube 15.
[0089] By switching the solenoid valve pipe, the refrigerant flow path can be quickly switched, avoiding the situation that the compressor 101 cannot be stopped and only the heat exchanger 13 is continuously supplied with cold, causing the pipeline connected to the heat exchanger 13 to freeze and block.
[0090] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the solenoid valve comprises a three-way solenoid valve 105, and one three-way solenoid valve 105 can be provided.
[0091] The first port of the three-way electromagnetic valve 105 is in communication with the outlet of the capillary tube 104, the second port of the three-way electromagnetic valve 105 is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger 13 through the first refrigerant pipeline 108 to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger 13, and the third port of the three-way electromagnetic valve 105 is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the evaporating tube 15 through the second refrigerant pipeline 109 to provide refrigerant for the evaporating tube 15. When ice coffee is needed to be made, the second port of the three-way electromagnetic valve 105 can be opened, and when ice water is needed to be made, the third port of the three-way electromagnetic valve 105 can be opened.
[0092] The first refrigerant pipeline 108 and the second refrigerant pipeline 109 can be quickly switched through the three-way electromagnetic valve 105, and the flow direction of the refrigerant of the compressor assembly can be quickly adjusted.
[0093] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the electromagnetic valve includes a first two-way electromagnetic valve 106 and a second two-way electromagnetic valve 107.
[0094] The first port of the first two-way electromagnetic valve 106 is in communication with the outlet of the capillary tube 104, and the second port of the first two-way electromagnetic valve 106 is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger 13 through the first refrigerant pipeline 108 to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger 13.
[0095] The first port of the second two-way electromagnetic valve 107 is in communication with the outlet of the capillary tube 104, and the second port of the second two-way electromagnetic valve 107 is in communication with the refrigerant inlet of the evaporating tube 15 through the second refrigerant pipeline 109 to provide refrigerant for the evaporating tube 15.
[0096] When ice coffee is needed to be made, the first two-way electromagnetic valve 106 can be opened to make the refrigerant enter the heat exchanger 13 through the first two-way electromagnetic valve 106, and when ice water is needed to be made, the second two-way electromagnetic valve 107 can be opened to make the refrigerant enter the evaporating tube 15 through the second two-way electromagnetic valve 107.
[0097] The first refrigerant pipeline 108 and the second refrigerant pipeline 109 can be quickly switched through the first two-way electromagnetic valve 106 and the second two-way electromagnetic valve 107, and the flow direction of the refrigerant of the compressor assembly can be quickly adjusted.
[0098] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 17, the ice tank device 14 further includes:
[0099] A lower ice tank body 1407 has a lower cavity.
[0100] The upper ice tank 1405 is arranged on the lower ice tank 1407, and the upper ice tank 1405 and the lower ice tank 1407 can be sealingly connected by the sealing ring 1403 to avoid water leakage. The upper ice tank 1405 has an upper cavity, which includes an inner cavity 140504 and an outer cavity 140503. The top of the inner cavity 140504 is open, so that after the inner cavity 140504 is filled with water, the water in the inner cavity 140504 can flow into the outer cavity 140503 through the opening. The inner cavity 140504 has a liquid return hole 140501 that communicates with the lower cavity, so that the water in the inner cavity 140504 can keep flowing into the lower cavity through the liquid return hole 140501 to avoid the water in the inner cavity 140504 freezing on the evaporation pipe 15. The outer cavity 140503 has an overflow port 140502 that communicates with the lower cavity, so that the water in the outer cavity 140503 can flow back to the lower cavity through the overflow port 140502. The evaporation pipe 15 is arranged in the inner cavity 140504 and used to cool the water in the inner cavity 140504. The water in the outer cavity 140503 can flow into the lower cavity through the overflow port 140502, so that when the inner cavity 140504 is filled with water, the water in the outer cavity 140503 can keep flowing into the lower cavity, thereby enabling the water in the entire ice tank device 14 to keep flowing and avoiding ice formation at the evaporation pipe 15.
[0101] The liquid return hole 140501 is arranged on the inner cavity 140504, so that the water in the inner cavity 140504 can keep flowing into the lower cavity through the liquid return hole 140501 to avoid the water in the inner cavity 140504 freezing on the evaporation pipe 15.
[0102] In some embodiments, the lower ice tank 1407 is provided with a circulating water outlet 140702 and a water outlet 140703, and the upper ice tank 1405 is provided with a circulating water inlet 140103 and a water inlet 140101. The upper ice tank 1405 can further include an upper cover 1401, which is sealingly arranged on the top of the upper cavity. The circulating water inlet 140103 and the water inlet 140101 can be arranged on the upper cover 1401. The upper cover 1401 can further be provided with an air exhaust hole 140102 to exhaust air in the upper ice tank 1405.
[0103] The water inlet 140101 of the upper ice tank 1405 is connected to the water pump 3 to deliver the water in the water tank 1 to the inner cavity 140504.
[0104] The circulating water outlet 140702 and the circulating water inlet 140103 are connected with the circulating pump respectively to circulate the water in the lower cavity to the inner cavity 140504, so as to keep the water in the ice tank device 14 in a circulating flow state. The water in the inner cavity 140504 flows to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole 140501 at a first speed, and the water in the lower cavity is delivered to the inner cavity 140504 by the circulating pump at a second speed, wherein the first speed is less than the second speed. That is, the speed of the water in the lower cavity delivered to the inner cavity 140504 by the circulating pump is greater than the speed of the water returned to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole 140501. The liquid return hole 140501 can be one or more. The liquid return hole 140501 has a small aperture, so it can keep the water in the inner cavity 140504 delivered to the lower cavity, but the delivery speed is small. When the circulating pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity 140504 keeps flowing to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole 140501 at the first speed, so as to keep the water in the inner cavity 140504 in a flowing state, and prevent the surface of the evaporation tube 15 in the inner cavity 140504 from icing.
[0105] The water is pumped from the lower cavity to the inner cavity 140504 by the circulating pump, and then returned to the lower cavity after being full, so as to form a water flow circulation. The bottom of the inner cavity 140504 is provided with one or more small holes, and the return water speed of the small holes is less than the water inlet speed of the circulating pump. When the circulating pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity 140504 returns to the lower cavity through the small holes, which can prevent the evaporation tube 15 from icing when the evaporation tube 15 works for a long time.
[0106] In some embodiments, in combination with FIG. 1, the ice tank device 14 further comprises a water float 18 and a position sensor, wherein the position sensor can be a contact switch.
[0107] The inner wall of the lower cavity is provided with a limiting groove 140701, which communicates with the lower cavity, so that the water level in the limiting groove 140701 is consistent with the water level in the lower cavity. The water float 18 is arranged in the limiting groove 140701, and the water float 18 rises and falls in the limiting groove 140701 with the change of the water level in the limiting groove 140701, that is, the water level height in the limiting groove 140701 can accurately reflect the water level height in the lower cavity, and the water float 18 can freely rise and fall in the limiting groove 140701 with the change of the water level in the limiting groove 140701. When the water level in the lower cavity rises, the water float 18 rises in the limiting groove 140701, and when the water level in the lower cavity falls, the water float 18 falls in the limiting groove 140701.
[0108] The upper and lower portions of the limiting groove 140701 are respectively provided with position sensors for detecting the position of the water float 18. When the position sensor at the upper portion of the limiting groove 140701 detects the water float 18, it indicates that the water level in the lower cavity has risen to a certain height. At this time, the water pump 3 stops delivering water to the inner cavity 140504 to avoid the water in the inner cavity 140504 flowing back to the lower cavity through the overflow port, causing the water level in the lower cavity to be too high. When the position sensor at the lower portion of the limiting groove 140701 detects the water float 18, the water pump 3 starts to deliver the water in the water tank 1 to the inner cavity 140504, and after the inner cavity 140504 is full, the water overflows to the outer cavity 140503 and flows into the lower cavity through the overflow port.
[0109] The water level in the lower cavity is detected by the water float 18 and the position sensor. When the position sensor at the upper portion of the limiting groove 140701 detects the water float 18, the water pump 3 can stop delivering water to the inner cavity 140504.
[0110] In combination with FIG. 1 and FIG. 14, a temperature sensor 17 (NTC) can also be provided in the lower cavity to detect the temperature of the water in the lower cavity.
[0111] In some embodiments, in combination with FIG. 15, a partition is provided in the upper cavity, and the height of the partition is less than the height of the upper cavity. The partition divides the upper cavity into an inner cavity 140504 and an outer cavity 140503 surrounding the inner cavity 140504, for example, the partition is an annular plate arranged at the center of the upper cavity. Alternatively, the partition divides the upper cavity into an inner cavity 140504, a first outer cavity 140503, and a second outer cavity 140503, and the first outer cavity 140503 and the second outer cavity 140503 are respectively located outside the inner cavity 140504. For example, the partition includes two partitions arranged at intervals, and the two ends of the two partitions respectively contact the inner side wall of the upper cavity. Of course, it can be understood that the upper cavity can also be divided into other forms in other ways. This is only an example and does not limit the scope of protection of the claims.
[0112] In combination with FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, a liquid return hole 140501 is provided on the bottom wall of the inner cavity 140504, and an overflow port 140502 is provided on the bottom wall of the outer cavity 140503. The diameter of the overflow port 140502 is larger than the diameter of the liquid return hole 140501, at least, so that the water in the outer cavity 140503 can quickly fall back into the lower cavity, maintaining the rapid circulation of water between the upper cavity and the lower cavity.
[0113] According to the need, the upper cavity is divided into the inner cavity 140504 and the outer cavity 140503 in different structural forms, water in the lower cavity or the water tank 1 enters the inner cavity 140504 from the top of the inner cavity 140504, the flow rate of the liquid return hole 140501 at the bottom of the inner cavity 140504 is small, and the inner cavity 140504 can be quickly filled with water. The water in the inner cavity 140504 can completely soak the evaporation pipe 15 to quickly cool the water in the inner cavity 140504. After the inner cavity 140504 is filled with water, the water overflows to the outer cavity 140503 and then returns to the lower cavity through the overflow port, thereby forming a rapid circulation effect. When the circulation pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity 140504 returns to the lower cavity through the return hole, so that the compressor 101 can work for a long time without causing the water in the ice tank device 14 to freeze.
[0114] In some embodiments, referring again to FIG. 1, the water system further includes the air pump 23 and the one-way valve 12.
[0115] The air outlet of the air pump 23 is in communication with the first pipe port of the one-way valve 12, and the second pipe port of the one-way valve 12 is in communication with the first coffee pipe 5. Here, the first coffee pipe 5 refers to the portion between the heat exchanger 13 and the brewer 10, so that the coffee in the first coffee pipe 5 is discharged through the water outlet nozzle 21 after the ice coffee made through the first coffee pipe 5 is finished. After the ice coffee is finished, a certain amount of coffee liquid remains in the first coffee pipe 5, which is discharged from the water outlet nozzle 21 through the air pump 23, thereby avoiding the influence of the coffee liquid on the taste of the coffee made next time and avoiding the coffee liquid from freezing and blocking the first coffee pipe 5.
[0116] The embodiments of the present application also provide a coffee machine including the water system of the coffee machine as described in any of the above embodiments. The coffee machine using the above water system can keep the compressor 101 working continuously and avoid the problem of pipe freezing, thereby improving the user experience.
[0117] Here, referring to FIG. 1, the coffee machine can further include the hot water supply pipe 22, one end of the hot water supply pipe 22 is in communication with the water outlet of the coffee boiler 6, and the other end is in communication with the water outlet nozzle 21. The steam boiler 9 can be arranged on the hot water supply pipe 22 to further heat the hot water from the coffee boiler 6. The coffee boiler 6 is in communication with the water outlet nozzle 21 through the hot water supply pipe 22 to provide hot water for the water outlet nozzle 21.
[0118] The above describes the embodiments of the present application in detail, but the present application is not limited to these specific embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various modifications and embodiments on the basis of the concept of the present application, and these modifications and embodiments shall fall within the scope of the present application.
Claims
1. Water circuit system of a coffee machine, said coffee machine comprising a brewer (10) and a water outlet spout (21), characterized in that, The water system comprises: a water tank (1); a water pump (3) having a water inlet communicated with the water tank (1); a coffee boiler (6) having a water inlet communicated with a water outlet of the water pump (3), and having a water outlet communicated with a water inlet of the brewer (10) through a hot water pipeline; a compressor (101) assembly comprising a first refrigerant pipeline (108) and a second refrigerant pipeline (109) for providing refrigerant; a liquid outlet of the brewer (10) is communicated with the water outlet nozzle (21) through a first coffee pipeline (5); a heat exchanger (13) is arranged on the first coffee pipeline (5) and communicated with the first refrigerant pipeline (108) to receive refrigerant from the compressor assembly to cool hot coffee from the brewer (10) and then provide iced coffee into the water outlet nozzle (21); an ice tank device (14) having a water inlet (140101) and a water outlet (140703), the ice tank device (14) further comprising an evaporation pipe (15) communicated with the second refrigerant pipeline (109) to receive refrigerant from the compressor assembly to cool water in the ice tank device (14); the water inlet (140101) of the ice tank device (14) is communicated with the water outlet of the water pump (3), and the water outlet (140703) of the ice tank device (14) is communicated with the water outlet nozzle (21) through an ice water pipeline to cool water from the water tank (1) and then provide ice water into the water outlet nozzle (21).
2. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The compressor assembly further comprises: a compressor (101); a condenser (102) having an air inlet communicated with an air outlet of the compressor (101); a capillary tube (104) having an air inlet communicated with an air outlet of the condenser (102); a solenoid valve having an air inlet communicated with an air outlet of the capillary tube (104); an air outlet of the solenoid valve is communicated with a refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger (13) through a first refrigerant pipeline (108) to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger (13); the air outlet of the solenoid valve is also communicated with a refrigerant inlet of the evaporation pipe (15) through a second refrigerant pipeline (109) to provide refrigerant for the evaporation pipe (15); a refrigerant outlet of the heat exchanger (13) and a refrigerant outlet of the evaporation pipe (15) are respectively communicated with a back air inlet of the compressor (101).
3. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The solenoid valve comprises a three-way solenoid valve (105); a first pipe opening of the three-way solenoid valve (105) is communicated with the air outlet of the capillary tube (104); a second pipe opening of the three-way solenoid valve (105) is communicated with the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger (13) through the first refrigerant pipeline (108) to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger (13); a third pipe opening of the three-way solenoid valve (105) is communicated with the refrigerant inlet of the evaporation pipe (15) through the second refrigerant pipeline (109) to provide refrigerant for the evaporation pipe (15).
4. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electromagnetic valve comprises a first two-way electromagnetic valve (106) and a second two-way electromagnetic valve (107); The first port of the first two-way electromagnetic valve (106) is communicated with the gas outlet of the capillary tube (104), and the second port of the first two-way electromagnetic valve (106) is communicated with the refrigerant inlet of the heat exchanger (13) through the first refrigerant pipeline (108) to provide refrigerant for the heat exchanger (13); The first port of the second two-way electromagnetic valve (107) is communicated with the gas outlet of the capillary tube (104), and the second port of the second two-way electromagnetic valve (107) is communicated with the refrigerant inlet of the evaporation tube (15) through the second refrigerant pipeline (109) to provide refrigerant for the evaporation tube (15).
5. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ice tank device (14) further comprises: a lower ice tank body (1407) having a lower cavity; an upper ice tank body (1405) arranged on the lower ice tank body (1407), the upper ice tank body (1405) having an upper cavity, the upper cavity comprising an inner cavity (140504) and an outer cavity (140503), the top of the inner cavity (140504) having an open mouth, so that the water in the inner cavity (140504) can flow into the outer cavity (140503) through the open mouth after the inner cavity (140504) is filled with water; and the inner cavity (140504) has a liquid return hole (140501) communicated with the lower cavity, so that the water in the inner cavity (140504) can keep flowing into the lower cavity through the liquid return hole (140501) to avoid the water in the inner cavity (140504) from freezing on the evaporation tube (15), and the outer cavity (140503) has an overflow port (140502) communicated with the lower cavity; the evaporation tube (15) is arranged in the inner cavity (140504) to cool the water in the inner cavity (140504); and the water in the outer cavity (140503) can flow into the lower cavity through the overflow port (140502) to keep flowing into the lower cavity when the inner cavity (140504) is filled with water.
6. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 5, characterized in that, The lower ice tank body (1407) is provided with a circulating water outlet (140702) and the water outlet (140703), and the upper ice tank body (1405) is provided with a circulating water inlet (140103) and the water inlet (140101); The water inlet (140101) is connected with the water pump (3) to deliver the water in the water tank (1) to the inner cavity (140504); The circulating water outlet (140702) and the circulating water inlet (140103) are connected with a circulating pump respectively to circulate the water in the lower cavity to the inner cavity (140504); the water in the inner cavity (140504) flows to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole (140501) at a first speed, and the water in the lower cavity is delivered to the inner cavity (140504) by the circulating pump at a second speed, the first speed being less than the second speed; when the circulating pump stops working, the water in the inner cavity (140504) keeps flowing to the lower cavity through the liquid return hole (140501) at the first speed, so that the water in the inner cavity (140504) keeps in a flowing state.
7. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 6, characterized in that, The ice gall device (14) further comprises a water float (18) and a position sensor; A limiting groove (140701) is arranged on the inner wall of the lower cavity, the limiting groove (140701) communicates with the lower cavity, so that the water level in the limiting groove (140701) is consistent with the water level of the lower cavity; the water float (18) is arranged in the limiting groove (140701), and the water float (18) rises and falls in the limiting groove (140701) with the change of the water level in the limiting groove (140701); The upper part and the lower part of the limiting groove (140701) are respectively provided with a position sensor for detecting the position of the water float (18); when the position sensor at the upper part of the limiting groove (140701) detects the water float (18), the water pump (3) stops delivering water to the inner cavity (140504); when the position sensor at the lower part of the limiting groove (140701) detects the water float (18), the water pump (3) starts to deliver the water in the water tank (1) to the inner cavity (140504).
8. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 5, characterized in that, A partition is arranged in the upper cavity, the height of the partition is less than the height of the upper cavity; the partition divides the upper cavity into an inner cavity (140504) and an outer cavity (140503) surrounding the inner cavity (140504), or The partition divides the upper cavity into an inner cavity (140504), a first outer cavity (140503) and a second outer cavity (140503), the first outer cavity (140503) and the second outer cavity (140503) are respectively located outside the inner cavity (140504); The bottom wall of the inner cavity (140504) is provided with the liquid return hole (140501), and the bottom wall of the outer cavity (140503) is provided with the overflow port (140502).
9. The waterway system of the coffee maker according to claim 1, characterized in that, The water system further comprises an air pump (23) and a one-way valve (12); The air outlet of the air pump (23) communicates with the first pipe port of the one-way valve (12), the second pipe port of the one-way valve (12) communicates with the first coffee pipeline (5), so that the coffee in the first coffee pipeline (5) is discharged through the water outlet nozzle (21) after the ice coffee made through the first coffee pipeline (5) is finished.
10. A coffee maker characterized in that, A water circuit for a coffee machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9. A water circuit for a coffee machine as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9.
Citation Information
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