Dual Heater Coffee Maker for Brewing Temperature Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee makers, particularly drip-style models, suffer from temperature loss of heated water before it reaches the brewing chamber, resulting in brewed coffee that is often not hot enough to meet user preferences.
Innovation Solution
A coffee maker with a dual heating system comprising a primary heater in the base and a secondary heater along the water supply conduit, controlled by a processor to maintain or increase water temperature through various operational modes, including cycling the secondary heater on and off during brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a single heating element is used to heat water, then the device complexity is low, but the water temperature decreases before reaching the brewing chamber due to heat losses
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into two separate heating elements: a primary heating element that heats water from the reservoir, and a secondary heating element positioned downstream that reheats the water after it has cooled during transport. This segmentation allows each element to perform a specific function, ensuring the water reaches brewing temperature despite heat losses during transit.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary heating element is positioned downstream from the primary heating element to provide preliminary reheating of the water before it reaches the brewing chamber. This preliminary action compensates for heat losses that occur during water transport through the dispensing system.
2Productivity
If the water is heated and transported through a conduit, then the brewing process can proceed, but heat losses to the surrounding area cause temperature decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acknowledges that heat loss during water transport is an inevitable harmful effect, but converts this situation into a benefit by positioning a secondary heating element downstream to specifically target and compensate for these heat losses. The secondary element uses the temperature drop caused by transport as an opportunity to reheat the water to the optimal brewing temperature.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a dual heating element system is implemented, then coffee can be produced at various temperatures according to user preference, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically manages the operation of the two heating elements based on user-selected temperature preferences. The controller can operate the primary and secondary heating elements in various combinations and durations to achieve different final water temperatures, providing adaptability while managing complexity through intelligent control logic.
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
Enables the production of coffee at a range of temperatures according to user preference, ensuring the coffee is sufficiently hot by compensating for heat losses during the brewing process.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating element for heating water from the water reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a second heating element located downstream from the first heating element
Data Source
AI summary
The coffee maker of the present invention includes a housing, a water reservoir disposed in the housing and a shower head in fluid communication with the water reservoir. The coffee maker also include a first heating element for heating water from the water reservoir and being controllable between and ON state and an OFF state, and a second heating element located downstream from the first heating element and being controllable between an ON state and an OFF state. The first and second heating elements are operable in at least a first mode and a second mode, the second mode being different from the first mode.