Patent ID: 7415921
Filing Date: 2008-08-26
Classification: A47J,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for preparing at least one type of beverage suitable for consumption such as coffee or cocoa on the basis of a hot liquid such as water, provided with a storage tank which, in use, is filled with a liquid such as water, a heater and a three-way valve, wherein the three-way valve is provided with an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, a pump being in fluid communication with the storage tank and an inlet of the heater for pumping the liquid from the storage tank to the heater and wherein an outlet of the heater is in fluid communication with the inlet of the three-way valve, the first outlet of the three-way valve being in fluid communication via a first outflow path with the storage tank and/or an inlet of the pump for returning liquid from the three-way valve to the storage tank and/or the pump and wherein the second outlet of the three-way valve is in fluid communication via a second outflow path with a beverage preparing unit for preparing, on the basis of the hot liquid, the beverage suitable for consumption, the three-way valve being provided with a first member which is freely moveable, under the influence of a liquid flow from the inlet to the first outlet and/or the second outlet, between a first and second extreme position, wherein the first member can move, under the influence of the liquid flow from the inlet to the first outlet and/or the second outlet from the first extreme position towards the second extreme position and in the second extreme position closes off the first outlet, so that the liquid flow then extends from the inlet to the second outlet, characterized in that the three-way valve is further provided with a second member which is freely moveable, under the influence of a liquid flow from the inlet to the second outlet, between a third and a fourth extreme position, wherein the second member can move, under the influence of the liquid flow from the inlet to the second outlet, from the third extreme position towards the fourth extreme position, and in the third extreme position blocks a liquid flow from the second outlet in the direction of the inlet.