Machine for preparing beverages provided with an improved boiler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic coffee machines face challenges in accurately measuring the temperature of water due to the placement of temperature sensors near the heating element, leading to unreliable temperature readings for infused beverages.
Innovation Solution
The temperature sensor is strategically positioned in a zone free from the heating element, surrounded by a peripheral circular area, allowing it to measure the water temperature with minimal influence from the heating element's emissions, and is arranged close to the water conduit for accurate readings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the temperature sensor is positioned close to the heating element for compact design, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature measurement precision deteriorates due to interference from the heating element's thermal emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a peripheral circular area as an intermediary zone between the heating element and the temperature sensor. This zone acts as a thermal buffer that blocks direct thermal radiation from the heating element, allowing the sensor to be positioned close to the heating element for compact design while still achieving accurate temperature measurements by preventing thermal interference.
2Measurement precision
If the temperature sensor is positioned far from the heating element to avoid thermal interference, then the temperature measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases due to more complex sensor placement requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a specific peripheral circular area with diameter D greater than diameter DC around the temperature sensor. This localized zone provides thermal protection specifically where the sensor is positioned, rather than requiring the entire device to be redesigned. The selective creation of this protected zone allows accurate temperature measurement without excessive device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the peripheral circular area diameter D is increased to further shield the temperature sensor, then the temperature measurement precision improves, but the boiler body volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses partial action by creating a peripheral circular area with diameter D that is deliberately made larger than the heating element's diameter DC. This excessive sizing provides sufficient thermal shielding to block radiation paths from the heating element to the sensor, ensuring accurate temperature measurement. The increase in volume is minimal and localized only to the peripheral area, not the entire boiler body, thus achieving the balance between measurement precision and compact design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration ensures reliable temperature measurement of the water, resulting in consistently prepared infused beverages with improved operational efficiency and a simple, economical design.
Implementation Method 1
The boiler has a cylindrical body incorporating an electric heating element
Implementation Method 2
the heating element is evenly distributed across the body's outer surface
Implementation Method 3
the temperature sensor would therefore be positioned close to it. Thus, it would be more influenced by the temperature emitted by the heating element
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a machine for preparing infused beverages (1) comprising means for pumping (3) water from a reservoir (2) to send it through an instant boiler (10) into an infusion chamber (15) containing a product to be infused, then evacuating it as an infusion outside said infusion chamber (15), said boiler (10) comprising a cylindrical body (11) integrating an electric heating element (30) and a water conduit (20), said water conduit (20) forming a helix inscribed in a cylinder of diameter DC, wound around and along a longitudinal axis (V) of the body (11), said heating element (30) being formed around a surface of revolution with longitudinal axis (V), said surface of revolution being arranged around the water conduit (20).According to the invention, it comprises a temperature sensor (9) arranged opposite a water outlet end tube (22) of the water conduit (20) which opens into a bottom (16) of the infusion chamber (15) and the temperature sensor (9) is surrounded by a peripheral circular area (8) of diameter D free of heating element (30), the diameter D being greater than 1/2 DC, preferably greater than 3/4 DC.