Abstract:
A sous-vide circulator cooker for home or small restaurant sous-vide cooking. The sous-vide circulator cooker is particularly suited for use in home kitchens and on small countertops. The sous-vide circulator cooker can be fully submersed into water and not be adversely affected. The sous-vide circulator cooker includes a detachable skirt which allows for cleaning the skirt itself and cleaning of a heater and ring clamp that can adjust the optimum output location of the pump and account for shallow pots. In at least one embodiment, the sous-vide circulator also contains electrodes that can detect water level.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 61/880,714, filed on Sep. 20, 2014, the contents of which are entirely incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates generally to food cooking devices, and more specifically, to precision temperature control water heater and water circulator appliance for cooking food in water baths. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Sous-vide is a method of cooking food sealed in airtight plastic bags in a water bath for longer than normal cooking times at an accurately regulated temperature much lower than normally used for cooking, typically around 55° C. (131° F.) to 60° C. (140° F.) for meats and higher for vegetables. Current sous-vide circulators tend to be designed like scientific equipment consisting of an AC motor above the water and shaft attached to a submersed impeller that agitates or pump water. The problem with this type of design is that the entire motor mechanism must stay above water and the integrity of the system is susceptible to accidental drops into the water much like a dropping a hair dryer into the sink. Additionally, AC motors require extensive venting cooling to prevent overheating of the system and is susceptible to steam. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, the traditional scientific design leads to restricted configurations that attempt to keep vapors and steam from entering the interior of the circulator device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    In order to describe a manner in which features of the disclosure can be obtained, reference is made to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Based on an understanding that these drawings depict only example embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting of scope, the principles herein are described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  illustrates a fluidic temperature control device in accordance with an example embodiment; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  illustrates a fluidic temperature control device in accordance with another example embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  illustrates a fluidic temperature control device in accordance with another example embodiment; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  illustrates a fluidic temperature control device in accordance with another example embodiment; and 
           [0010]      FIGS. 5-6  illustrates a clamping mechanism for a fluidic temperature control device in accordance with an example embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Various embodiments of the disclosure are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0012]    Several definitions that apply throughout this document will now be presented. “Circulating” means agitating, blending or mixing of one or more fluids. Hence a “circulator” is a device which can be configured to agitate, blend or mix a fluid. Fluids will be understood to comprise liquids. “Coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly or indirectly through intervening components and is not necessarily limited to physical connections. Coupled devices are devices which are in signal communication with one another. “Connected” means directly connected or indirectly connected. “Sealed” can mean hermetically sealed, mechanically sealed or to make imperious to air and water. 
         [0013]    Broadly speaking, this disclosure relates to a sous-vide circulator cooker for home sous-vide cooking. The disclosed devices are particularly suited for use in home kitchens and some limited commercial use in smaller kitchens. 
         [0014]    In at least one embodiment, a sous-vide circulator cooker has a turnable or rotatable information display. The display is located on the top and is configured to keep electronics housed therein away from steam and to enable easy viewing from different angles. 
         [0015]    In at least one embodiment, a sous-vide circulator cooker includes a detachable skirt which allows for cleaning the skirt itself and cleaning of a heater and pump covered by the skirt. In at least one embodiment, the sous-vide circulator cooker&#39;s removable skirt also exposes the water pump impellers allow users to clean out food and debris. 
         [0016]    In at least embodiment a sous-vide circulator cooker has a water proof submersible pump where the motor may be located under water, at the water line or above water with inflow and outflow lines. In at least one embodiment of this disclosure, the submersible pump can also be opened without tools for cleaning. 
         [0017]    In another embodiment, the entire circulator system is sealed and can be submersed into water whether purposely or by accident. 
         [0018]    According to one aspect of this disclosure, a sous-vide circulator cooker has a ring clamp that allows operators to turn the entire system to vector the pump output or to turn the system for better display viewing angle. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates an example embodiment of a fluidic temperature control device. The temperature control device comprises a head portion  130 , a middle portion  120  and a lower portion  118 . The head portion  130  can include a display device  132  which can display information such as the temperature of the fluid in which the lower portion  118  is at least partially immersed or the speed at which an impeller housed within the lower portion is spinning. The head portion  130  can also include an input device  132  such as one or more buttons or controls which can enable a user to select a temperature for the water in which the lower portion is immersed. The lower portion  118  can be configured with openings  118  through which the heated water can be drawn by an impeller or other agitation device located within the lower portion  118 . 
         [0020]      FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the different components of the embodiment of a fluidic temperature control device. The device can include a removable, tool-less screw or clamp-on circulator pump housing  118 . The pump housing  118  can be composed of stainless steel or other suitable materials. The pump housing can be a removable clamp-on on skirt  118 . The device can also include a liquid ejection (flow-out) opening  102  at the bottom of the device  10  through which fluid can pass. The skirt  118  can be configured with one or more liquid intake (flow-in) openings  118 . The middle portion  120  can comprise a ring clamp  112  attached to the remainder of  120 , with control electronics connected to electric heaters  125 . Atop the device  10  is a display head  130 . The display head  130  can include a LCD display  132  with touch controls. As illustrated, the device is sealed against water/air and can be fully submersed for periods of time in the cooking vessel containing the fluid being heated by the device. Also as illustrated, the device has a submersible pump  104  with removable covers  101  and has a fluid ejection port  100 . 
         [0021]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of an example clamp  112 .  FIG. 6 . illustrates an assembled view of an example clamp  112 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, portions of the sous-vide circulator cooker dynamically changes color depending on operational state of the device. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, a sous-vide circulator cooker includes a housing that defines the shape or form of the device. The housing also encloses and supports internally various electrical components (including motors, fans, and electronics). The housing and shape can also be various shapes rather than cylindrical in appearance. 
         [0024]    In one or more embodiments, there is disclosed herein a fluidic temperature control device for sous-vide cooking which includes an upper portion including a controller, a display device and an input device coupled to the controller; a middle portion connected to the upper portion, the middle portion housing a motor coupled to the controller; a lower portion connected to the middle portion, the lower portion housing a fluid agitation device coupled to the motor, a heating element coupled to the controller, and the lower portion configured for at least partial immersion in a fluid. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments, the upper portion of the fluidic temperature control is configured to protect the controller, display device and input device from steam during use. In some embodiments, the agitation device is an impeller, or a rotatable blade. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the lower portion the fluidic temperature control device wherein is composed of at least stainless steel. Additionally, the lower portion can contain slits or openings running along at least a portion of a length of the lower portion. In some embodiments, the lower portion is removable from the middle portion and removal of the middle portion exposes the agitation device. In some embodiments, the upper portion of the fluidic temperature control device is rotatable with respect to the middle portion. 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the heating element is proximate the agitation device. Additionally, the heating element can be housed substantially within the agitation device. In some embodiments, the controller is configurable to control the temperature of the heating element. In some embodiments, the controller is configurable to receive data inputs inputted via the input device, the inputs comprising control commands to control the temperature of the heating element. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments the stainless steel skirt can be removed without tools. Additionally, in some embodiments, removal of the stainless steel skirt exposes pump impellers. 
         [0029]    At least one embodiment of a fluidic temperature control device for sous-vide cooking can include: an upper portion including a turnable display and an input device coupled to the microprocessor controller; a middle portion connected to the upper portion, the middle portion housing a temperature controller controlled by the microprocessor; and a lower portion connected to the middle portion. The lower portion can house or encase a submersible fluid agitation device including impellers and motor, and a heating element coupled to the temperature controller, the lower portion configured for at least partial immersion in a fluid. 
         [0030]    In at least one embodiment, the upper portion and middle portion are sealed, thereby preventing water entry, thereby protecting electronics, the display and other electrical devices within the fluidic temperature control device. 
         [0031]    In at least one embodiment, the agitation device can be wholly or partially submersible. The agitation device can include a pump system having a motor and an impeller. The agitation device can also comprise a rotatable impeller blade. 
         [0032]    In at least one embodiment, the lower portion housing is composed of at least stainless steel, aluminum or plastic, and is removable without tools. In at least one embodiment, the lower portion contains slits or openings running along at least a portion of a length of the lower portion. 
         [0033]    In at least one embodiment, the lower portion can be configured to be removable from the middle portion such that removal of the lower portion exposes the agitation device and heaters. 
         [0034]    In at least one embodiment, the middle portion has two adjustable electrodes that act as a water level sensing mechanism. In at least one embodiment, the heating element is located proximate the agitation device. 
         [0035]    In at least one embodiment, the lengths of the electrodes are adjustable to allow detection of different water levels. In at least one embodiment, the temperature controller is configurable to control the temperature of the heating element. 
         [0036]    In at least one embodiment, the microprocessor controller is configurable to receive data inputs inputted via the input device, the inputs comprising control commands to control the temperature of the heating element. 
         [0037]    At least one embodiment of a sous-vide circulator cooker within this disclosure comprises: a controller located in a sealed housing; a submersible pump connected to the sealed controller; an adjustable electrodes to detect water level; and a ring clamp enabling the device to be turned. 
         [0038]    In at least one embodiment, the entire device can be run submersed in water without negatively impacting operation of the system. In at least one embodiment, the submersible pump can be opened without tools to expose the impeller blades. In at least one embodiment, the electrodes are configurable with attachments that enable adjustment of a length of the electrodes. 
         [0039]    In at least one embodiment, the ring clamp adjustable to adjust how deeply at least a portion of the device is submersed into water. In at least one embodiment, the portions of the sealed housing are configured to can change color to provide information regarding an operational state of the device. In at least one embodiment, the submersible pump can include a barb located on the pump outlet containing a tube receiver. 
         [0040]    It will be understood that modifications and changes that may be made using the principles described herein without departing from the scope of the disclosure or the following claims.