Patent ID: 8225961

Claim:
An apparatus for dispensing hot water at at least one user selected volume and at at least one user selected temperature, the apparatus comprising: an input device for input of a user selected dispense temperature and a user selected dispense volume of water; a controller for controllably operating at least a portion of the apparatus to control the apparatus to dispense water at a user selected dispense temperature and a user selected dispense volume, the controller being coupled to the input device; a first controlled temperature water source including a first tank operatively coupled to the controller, a heater for heating water in the first tank, the first controlled temperature water source having a first valve communicating with the first tank for controllable dispensing from the first controlled temperature water source, the first valve communicating with and controlled by the controller in response to the user selected dispense temperature and user selected dispense volume; a second controlled temperature water source including a second tank operatively coupled to the controller, a heater for heating water in the second tank, the second controlled temperature water source having a second valve communicating with the second tank for controllable dispensing from the second controlled temperature water source, the second valve communicating with and controlled by the controller in response to the user selected dispense temperature and user selected dispense volume; a common passage connected to an outlet of the first valve of the first controlled temperature water source and an outlet of the second valve of the second controlled temperature water source; a temperature sensor positioned to sense a temperature of water in the common passage, the temperature sensor coupled to the controller for providing feedback to the controller for controlling the first and second valves to achieve a user selected dispense temperature; a mixing valve along the common passage for receiving water flow from each of the outlets of the first and second valves, the mixing valve being in communication with and controlled by the controller for controllably dispensing water from the common passage; and a dispensing tube connected to the common passage.