Patent GB-618676-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for making infusions and dispensing beverages
IPC: A47J31/56
Filed: 1946-04-08
Abstract: 618,676. Tea and coffee. MINIMAX, Ltd., YOUNG, A., and YOUNG, E. F., April 8, 1946, No. 10819. [Class 129] [Also in Group XXXVII] Apparatus for making infusions of coffee, tea or the like comprises a water boiler, an infuser, containers or urns for the infusion, and means operated by a rise of liquid in the containers or urns to cut off the flow of water from the boiler to the infuser. Water heated in a boiler 30, Figs. 2, 4, passes by way of piping 39 to an infuser 31, Figs. 2, 6, 13, and is cooled a desired amount below the boiling point by means of cold water passing through a jacket 38 on its way to the boiler. The infuser comprises a removable cylinder 63 of heat-resisting glass clamped between discs 64, 66. Perforated plates 71, 72, on which may be mounted filter papers, are removable by means of a central rod 135. The coffee grounds or tea leaves are soaked or moistened with cold water for a period which may be from 3 to 5 minutes, prior to the application of hot water. Infusion passes through an outlet 65 to a threeway cock 73, Fig. 2, from which it can be passed to either of the urns 32, 33 or directly out. Each urn 32, 33 is provided with a mercury switch 80, Fig. 15, which is moved by a hand lever 138 into the "on" position, and is subsequently returned to the " off " position by a pivoted float 76 when the urn has been filled with infusion. The mercury switch is connected in series with an electromagnetic valve 81, Figs. 4, 6, which controls the supply of hot water to the infuser. A byepass 82 controlled by a hand-operated valve 83 can be used if the automatic control fails. Electrical indicating means such as a red light may be used to indicate when the infuser is operating. Urns 34, 35 are provided for milk, cocoa or other heated drink. Steam from the boiler may be passed into an annular space 85, Fig. 19, within each urn 32, 33, 34, 35 to maintain the temperature of the contents of the inner tank 84. The supply of steam for this purpose is controlled by a thermostat 86, Fig. 20, in which a ball valve 89 is actuated by a bellows 90. The temperature at which the valve shuts is predetermined by moving the ball 89 and bellows 90 bodily towards or away from the valve seat 88 by means of a handwheel 91. The predetermined temperature may be read off a scale 92. Steam may be drawn off directly from the boiler through a delivery tube 94, Fig. 2, and a mixture of steam and boiling water through a delivery tube 95A, Figs. 2, 21. The mixture of steam and water passes through a nozzle 97 to an inner cylinder 95, where the water is slowed down by a baffle 150, thereby allowing the steam to separate out and pass through holes 99 to the space between the inner and outer walls. The steam and water pass out as concentric streams through nozzles 151, 98 respectively. The supply of cold water to the boiler is controlled by a valve 42, Figs. 4, 6, 8, which is actuated by a float 43. In addition a hand regulator 126 is provided. The gas supply for the boiler enters a control member 50, Fig. 11, at 50a and passes through a valve 53 and then by way of a cock 59 to the main gas jets. The opening of the valve 53 is controlled in accordance with the steam pressure within the boiler by means of a bellows 51 which communicates with the interior of the boiler through a connection 49. The valve 53 is byepassed by a passage leading to a cock 56 to permit a continuous supply of gas to a pilot jet 57. Specifications 618,761 and 618,762, [Group XXIX], are referred to.