Abstract:
The 12 Volts DC powered cooker to be installed by the vehicle&#39;s manufacturers or the vehicle&#39;s owner. The unit will heat liquid temperature to 100° C. and will switch off at temperature greater than 100° C. The switching and temperature monitoring is controlled by an electronic unit. The electronic controlled unit that switches on the heating glow plug to heat liquid to 100° C. and switches off when the liquid is above 100 C. A safety switch also turn the heating glow plug off when the temperature exceeds 200 C. or when the unit is not in an upright position.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of the application filed by Nghia Ngo Vu having the Ser. No. 10/612,509, and the filing date of Jul. 3, 2003 now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   Every automobile has one battery with a capacity from 600 amperes to 1000 amperes which are stored in the form of chemical energy in battery&#39;s cells. This chemical energy will be covert to electrical energy to supply current for a starter to crank its engine and supply current to electric components to operate the vehicle. When vehicle is operating, an alternator is power by the engine pulley. The alternator will generate a current at a rate 40 of amperes to 150 amperes to supply current for all electric components in the vehicle and recharge electrical energy back to the battery. Every automobile has an electrical energy source that can be used to help driver to make a cup of hot water to prepare instant coffee, to warm up food and or heat 16 oz of water. To help drivers, the automotive coffee maker relates to a 12 volts DC electric cooker which being installed in vehicle by vehicle&#39;s manufacture or vehicle&#39;s owner. The power source of the unit being connected to negative polarity and positive polarity of the battery. This automotive coffee cooker is used to convert electrical energy from battery and alternator to electrical power. This electrical power is used to boil a small amount 16 ounces of liquid or food in a removable stainless steel cup. 
   2. Discription of the Prior Art 
   Various devices have been produced for making coffee in automobile such as device is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,517. This unit comprised of a housing chamber, an electrical heating element and wires with alligator clips. 
   The new automobile coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,509) has its own surface housing cooker with a removable stainless steel cup, and two glow plugs which operates as electrical heating elements and an electronic control unit. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,581 which is comprised of a base plate constituting, a water tank and the electrical resistance wire worked as electrical heating element. This new patent application is not taught by the present invention. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,143, filed by Helen G. Frye comprised of a container with three heating elements. It has a simple circuit and a mechanical timer-switch. A battery at the bottom of the container make its weight to be 60 pounds resulting in a large and heavy unit. 
   The new automotive coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,509) has two electrical heating elements which had U.S. Pat. No. 6,667,463. The electrical heating elements name Ceramic sheathed element glow plug, (CSEGP) have been mounted on diesel engine to support the combustion in the combustion chamber of diesel engine. 
   This (CSEGP) has a pellet with power heating element can carry high current without thermal destroy. In 8 second the temperature of the glow plug will be at 800° C. and will be at 1200° C. after 60 seconds. The new automotive coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,509) also has a new electronic control unit, its electronic components are fabricated on a PC board. The electronic control unit automatically control two glow plugs on and off to maintain the surface housing cooker at a temperature of 100° C. 
   Advantage of this Invention. 
   1. The new automotive coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,509) has two glow plugs which can draw a maximum 40 Amperes when glow plugs are cold or it can draw 30 Amperes when glow plugs are hot.
 
P=V I with V=12 volts, I=30 Amperes or
 
P=(12)(30)=360 Watts.
 
Where
     P is power in unit of Watts.   I is current in unit of Amperes.   V is voltage in unit of volts.
 
According to formula, two glow plugs will generate 360 Watts, the surface housing cooker will conduct heat to the stainless steel cup, to raise the temperature of liquid in stainless steel to 100° C. in five minutes.
   

   2. The new automotive coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,509) has an integrated circuit LM 555N, manufactured by National semiconductor, the circuit LM555N includes 23 transistors, 2 diodes, and 16 resistors are fabricated on a silicon chip. Installed in a 8-pin mini dual-in-line package. It can be pre-program for generating accurate time delay from microseconds through hours by one external resistor and capacitor. 
   3. The new automotive coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,509) has an integrated circuit IFR 510, manufactured of International Rectifier. It contain a metal-oxide-semiconductor with three pins name Gate, Source, Drain. 
   This 12 volts DC electric cooker making the invention a safer device, very efficient, sealable unit, high-tech to serve driver. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The new automotive coffee maker (application Ser. No. 10/612,5090) provides a high-tech 12 volts DC electric cooker, with a power source being connected direct to the battery terminals by the vehicle&#39;s manufacture or vehicle&#39;s owner. 
   Heating elements are two glow plugs produced by draws more current to convert electrical energy to electrical power, in a shorter time. 
   The electronic control unit has pre-programmed functions that switches the time delay on, when time is expired it turn off the relay. Automatically, which remove current from two glow plugs. The electronic control unit automatically turn off the relay move the current from two glow plugs when the unit is heated to 200° C. or when the vehicle is not in operational mode. 
   The surface housing cooker, with a greater surface area, is wrapped around the stainless steel cup, resulting in a greater rate at which heat is conducted to the stainless steel cup. This result in a shorter cooking time. The stainless steel cup works as a cooking pot and a cup to serve. Its small size and low weight of four pounds provide a safe and suitable unit to be install near the driver seat. 
   The electric cooker is used to boil 16 oz. of water to prepare coffee and/or to heat food or to cook a small amount of food. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood by five figures. 
       FIG. 1 . Shows the electric cooker unit with the top cap open, the stainless steel cup, and the surface housing cooker which is located inside a metal container. 
       FIG. 2 . The main schematic illustration of all electronic components. 
       FIG. 3 . The top view of the circuit scheme for connection of the surface cooker and the PC board. 
       FIG. 4 . Shows the housing cooker unit with 2 female fittings of glow plugs and 2 female fittings of temperature switches. 
       FIG. 5 . The unit electric cooker with the cup in its housing cooker. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The electric cooker unit with its components in  FIG. 1 . The unit comprised a small metal container, its size: 5 inches wide, 6 inches high, and 7 inches length, with four side covers and a bottom cover  13  in  FIG. 1 . 
   A safety cap cover  14  in  FIG. 1  is on the top side of the whole unit, this metal container has a surface housing cooker unit  1  in  FIG. 1  being mounted inside the metal container, the base of surface housing cooker will be mounted on the bottom side of the metal container with four ceramic stands to prevent heat transfer to metal container. The surface housing cooker  1  in  FIG. 1  is made of die-cast aluminum alloy. It has a square bottom and cylindrical wall, which is wrapped around the stainless steel cup  9  in  FIG. 1 . The bottom and the wall form one unit, the bottom is 0.65 inch thick, on the front side, it has two female pre-thread holes which hold two glow plugs  2  in  FIG. 4  in place, on other side, it has two female pre-thread holes which hold two temperature switches  3  in  FIG. 4 , one temperature switch  3   a  in  FIG. 2  is 100° C. temperature switch which is used for maintaining surface cooker at 100° C. by self closing its contacts if the surface housing cooker under 100° C. and open its contacts if the surface housing cooker above 100° C., this temperature switch  3   a  in  FIG. 2  has its contacts are normal closed, its two terminals connect in series with safety door switch  8  in  FIG. 2  and the coil of 12 volts SPST relay  25  in  FIG. 2 . 
   Another temperature switch  3   b  in  FIG. 2  is 200° C. temperature switch which has its contacts are normal open and one end terminal of temperature switch connects to pin reset or pin number  4  of IC LM 555N  23  in  FIG. 2  and other end terminal of temperature switch connects to ground, its contacts will closed when the temperature is over heat at 200° C., IC LM555N  25  automatically turn off two glow plugs for the safety. 
   A rolling switch  4  in  FIG. 2  is a liquid mercury switch; its contacts are normally in the open position and are mounted at bottom of the metal container, if vehicle is rolled over, IC LM555N  25  turn off two glow plugs. 
   A PC board  5  in  FIG. 1  is mounted under the main control penal, electrical components are fabricated on a PC board  5  in the PC board has a voltage regulator IC 78L08  22  in  FIG. 2 . 
   A timer IC LM555N  23  in  FIG. 2 . 
   A N channel Mosfet IC IRF 510  24  in  FIG. 2 . 
   8 resistors in  FIG. 2 : R 1 =0.5 K ohm, R 2 =0.5 k ohm, R 3 =20M ohm, R 4 =7M ohm, R 5 =3M ohm, R 6 =2M ohm, R 7 =2M ohm, R 8 =10K ohm. 
   Two LEDs  16  in  FIG. 3 , one in green color  16   a  in  FIG. 3  another in red color  16   b  in  FIG. 3 . 
   Two diodes 1N914  38  and  39  in  FIG. 2  used to protect circuit. 
   Four capacitors: C 1   26  in  FIG. 2  is electrolytic capacitor, its value is 1.00 uF, C 2   27  in  FIG. 2  is electrolytic capacitor its value is 0.01 uF, C 3   29  in  FIG. 2  is monolithic ceramic capacitor, its value is 0.01 uF, C 4   28  in  FIG. 2  is tantalum capacitor its value is 80 uF. 
   A 12 volts SPST relay  25  in  FIG. 2 . 
   Main switch  6  in  FIG. 2  has two positions, on and off. 
   Timer switch  18  in  FIG. 2  is used for to select three pre-program time to cook. 
   Trigger switch  17  in  FIG. 2  is a momentary switch, press the switch down then release, unit will start to cook. 
   A fuse  21  in  FIG. 2  has a value is 40 Amperes. 
   The cap of the stainless steel cup  7  in  FIG. 1  is to prevent spilling liquid in cup  9  in  FIG. 1 . 
   The cap is made by plastic with can endure high temperature, it has pre-screw to screw in top the stainless steel cup  9  in  FIG. 1 . 
   Safety door switch  8  in  FIG. 1  is mounted under safety cap cover  14  in  FIG. 1 . 
   The safety door switch  8  in  FIG. 2  is used to turn off the coil of relay  25  in  FIG. 2 , disconnect current from two glow plugs if the safety cap cover of the unit is opened. 
   A stainless steel cup  9  in  FIG. 1  is used to conduct heat from the surface housing cooker  1  in  FIG. 1  then continuous conduct heat to liquid or food in the cup  9  in  FIG. 1 . 
   On top the cap  7  in  FIG. 1  has a small hole  10  in  FIG. 1  is used for to drink and a small hole  11  in  FIG. 1  used for to release steam from hot water. 
   A plastic handle  12  in  FIG. 1  is located on a side of the stainless steel cup  9  in  FIG. 1 . 
   One cover side of the container  13  in  FIG. 1  has a female DC 12 volts plug  15  in  FIG. 1 , it is used for quick install power to the unit from battery. 
   In  FIG. 2  is the main schematic of the electric cooker unit which includes all electronic components they are connected together and function as they were designed and pre-program. The electronic controller is IC LM555N  22 , it takes order by Trigger switch  17 , when pin Trigger goes logic low or 0 volt, the IC LM555N  25  will start its functions by set logic high or 8 volts at pin Output, at the same time positive electrons will charge to C 3   28 , when voltage in C 3   28  is reach ⅔ of 8 volts, the IC LM555N  25  will finish its function and set pin Output back to logic low or 0 volt. 
   During pin Output is logic high or 8 volts if rolling switch  4  or temperature switch  3   b  one or both being self connected to ground line, pin Reset of IC LM555N  23  goes logic low or 0 volt, the IC LM555N  25  will stop its functions by set logic low or 0 volt at pin Output. 
   Time can be set for delay cooking time by timer switch  18 . 
   First selection, positive electrons will charge to C 3  through R 3   31 . 
   This first selection will last for 7 minutes. 
   Second selection, positive electrons will charge to C 3  through R 3 +R 4   32 . 
   This second selection will last for 12 minutes. 
   Third selection, positive electrons will charge to C 3  through R 3 +R 4 +R 5   33 . 
   This third selection will last for 15 minutes. 
   The IC IRF 510  24 , has three pin: Gate, Source, Drain Pin Source is connected to ground line, pin Gate is connected to pin Output of IC LM555N  25 . 
   There is a temperature switch  3   a  and safety door switch  8  connect in series with pin Drain of IC IRF 510  24  and one coil terminal of relay  25 . 
   There are two wires are connected to battery&#39;s terminals  20  one for positive polarity one for negative polarity, a main fuse 40 amperes  21  is connected in series with positive main line to protect shorting. 
   A main switch  6  is used for turn on power for PC board or the electronic control unit. 
   A voltage regulator IC 78L08  22  has three pins: IN pin, OUT pin, COM pin which are used to reduce 12 volts to 8 volts for electric control unit. 
   The IC LM555N  23  is a main IC of electronic controller unit in PC board, it has 8 pins: pin number  1  is Ground, pin number  2  is pin Trigger, pin number  3  is pin Output, pin number  4  is pin Reset, pin number  5  is pin Voltage control, pin number  6  is pin Threshold, pin number  7  is pin Discharge, pin number  8  is pin Voltage supply, its main function is automatically set pin Output logic high or 8 volts, when pin Trigger goes to logic low or 0 volt and this pin Output return to logic low or 0 volt when time is expired. 
   Relay 12 volt SPST  25  has four terminals, first terminal connects to alive 12 volts positive polarity, second terminal connects in series with temperature switch  3   a  in  FIG. 2 , third terminal connects to alive 12 volts positive polarity, fourth connects in series with two glow plugs. 
   In  FIG. 3  is present more detailed of PC board  5 , wirings are connected two glow plugs, two temperature switches  3   a  and  3   b , safety door switch  8  rolling switch  4  ground line to the surface housing cooker and battery  20 . 
   Green LED  16   a  in  FIG. 2  will be on when main switch  6  is closed. Red LED  16   b  in  FIG. 2  will be on when IC LM555N  25  starts its functions and self off when time is expired 
   There is a fuse  40  Amperes  21  to protect short in unit. 
   Two glow plugs  2  in  FIG. 2  have positive line connect to relay  25 .