Coffee Machine Heating Plate Cooling Duct to Prevent Overflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Turkish coffee machines fail to completely prevent heat transfer from the heating plate to the brewing pot after the brewing process is completed, leading to continued heating of the coffee mixture and potential overflow, which affects the taste and quality of the coffee.
Innovation Solution
A coffee machine design that incorporates a heating plate with a water duct system, where cooling water is circulated through the duct upon completion of the brewing procedure to instantly discontinue heat transfer from the heating plate to the brewing pot, using a sensor to detect the completion of the brewing process and activate the cooling water pump.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heating plate is physically separated from the brewing pot by moving parts, then heat transfer is interrupted, but the device complexity increases and the separation distance is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical separation system (moving parts to physically separate heating plate from brewing pot) with a thermal management system using cooling channels. The cooling channels circulate coolant through the heating plate to rapidly reduce its temperature and interrupt heat transfer, eliminating the need for complex mechanical movement while achieving the same thermal interruption goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces cooling channels with circulating coolant as an intermediary system between the heating plate and the brewing pot. This intermediary cooling mechanism acts as a thermal barrier, absorbing excess heat from the heating plate and preventing it from transferring to the brewing pot, thereby controlling the brewing temperature without direct mechanical contact or separation.
2Volume of moving object
If the heating plate is kept close to the brewing pot for compact design, then the overall size is reduced, but heat transfer continues after brewing completion causing overflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical separation approach with a thermal control approach using cooling channels. This allows the heating plate to remain in close contact with the brewing pot for compact design while the cooling system actively manages heat transfer by circulating coolant to interrupt heating at the precise moment brewing is complete, preventing overflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes the thermal parameters of the heating plate by introducing cooling channels that circulate coolant. This allows rapid change in the heating plate's temperature state from heating mode to cooling mode, enabling precise control of the brewing process while maintaining compact dimensions through continuous thermal parameter adjustment rather than physical separation.
3Speed
If cooling water is circulated through the heating plate, then heat transfer is instantly interrupted, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the cooling channels within the structure of the heating plate itself, making the heating plate serve dual functions: heating during brewing and cooling after brewing. The circulating arrangement for cooling water is incorporated into the overall device architecture, allowing the same thermal management system to handle both heating and cooling operations, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving rapid heat transfer interruption.
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
Effectively interrupts the brewing process at the correct instance, preventing further heat transfer and ensuring the quality and taste of the coffee by maintaining the ideal brewing temperature, thus preventing overflow and improving the overall brewing performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heating plate (2) realised to make contact with a lower surface or underside of a brewing pot (3)
Implementation Method 2
circulating a quantity of cooling water through the water duct (6) upon completion of the coffee brewing procedure to interrupt heat transfer from the heating plate (2) to the brewing pot (3)
Implementation Method 3
a circulating arrangement which comprises a supply hose (60A) arranged between the water tank (5) and the heating plate (2), and a return hose (60B) arranged between the heating plate (2) and the water tank (5) realised to circulate a quantity of cooling water through the water duct (6)
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention describes a coffee machine (1) comprising at least a heating plate (2) realized to make contact with a lower surface (30) of a brewing pot (3) of the coffee machine (1); and a control arrangement (4) realized to activate the heating plate (2) to initiate a coffee brewing procedure and to deactivate the heating plate (2) upon completion of the coffee brewing procedure; characterized by a water duct (6) arranged in the body of the heating plate (2); and a circulating arrangement (60A, 60B, 61) realized to circulate a quantity of cooling water (W) through the water duct (6) upon completion of the coffee brewing procedure to interrupt heat transfer from the heating plate (2) to the brewing pot (3).