Patent ID: 7891287

Claim:
A coffee maker assembly for use in an aircraft having a galley water supply reservoir and a rail, the assembly comprising: a rail water supply connection; means for connecting the rail water supply connection to the galley water supply reservoir; means, comprising a flow control valve configured as an electrically controlled solenoid valve, for controlling a flow of water from the galley water supply reservoir; a heater element configured to receive water from the flow control valve and to heat water flowing through either the heater element or a water conducting element extending generally coextensively with the heater element; wherein the flow control valve is located in a conduit between the galley water supply reservoir and the heater element; a conduit configured to receive heated water and to direct the heated water into contact with ground coffee; a receptacle configured to receive and hold liquid coffee produced by the contact of the heated water with the ground coffee; a return conduit distinct from a conduit in which the flow control valve is disposed, wherein water can be drained from the heater element and into the galley water supply reservoir through the return conduit; and a system drain check valve in the return conduit and configured to allow water to flow in a direction from the heater element toward the galley water supply reservoir, and to prevent the flow of water in a direction from the galley water supply reservoir toward the heater element.