Hot beverage brewing apparatus

摘要

A hot beverage brewing apparatus. A pressurized hot liquid delivery system provides liquid under pressure within a range of acceptable brewing temperatures without any mechanical pump. Water is apportioned into sealable tank volumes, one of which is heated to boil the liquid and produce steam under pressure. The pressurized steam displaces the liquid from the tank volumes in proportion and at a temperature that is within the acceptable brewing range. The hot liquid under pressure is directed to a capsule receiving station to infuse a material in a capsule. The capsule dispenses the brewed beverage without contacting the brewing apparatus.

主权项

1. Apparatus for brewing a hot beverage by infusing a material with hot water under pressure above atmospheric pressure at an acceptable brewing temperature, said apparatus including tank structure for forming first and second tank volumes with a port network for enabling water flow between the first and second tank volumes, a brewing chamber for containing the material and having an inlet and an outlet, and a conveyor for conveying water from said first and second tank volumes to the inlet of said brewing chamber, said tank structure further including:
a selectively sealable, inlet to said tank structure and sealing structure selectively operable between first and second positions to selectively open and close the inlet to the tank structure, said inlet with the sealing structure in said first position being open to open said tank structure to the atmosphere and allow water at an input temperature below said acceptable brewing temperature to be directed at atmospheric pressure through said inlet into said first and second tank volumes of said tank structure to a respective first water level in each respective first and second tank volume via said port network for enabling water flow between said first and second tank volumes, said first water levels being respectively lower than the inlet to the tank structure, said water in each of said first and second tank volumes being at atmospheric pressure with the sealing structure in said first position opening the inlet to the tank structure, said sealing structure in said second position closing and sealing the inlet and the tank structure including the first and second tank volumes in said tank structure from the atmosphere, hydraulic communication structure between said first and second tank volumes extending above the respective first water level in each respective first and second tank volume, said port network for enabling water flow between said first and second tank volumes further enabling water flow among said first and second tank volumes and said conveyor, and a heater for boiling the water in said first tank volume when said sealing structure is in said second position closing and sealing the inlet to the tank structure and closing and sealing the tank structure including the first and second tank volumes from the atmosphere to produce steam under pressure above atmospheric pressure in said first tank volume while the water in said second tank volume remains substantially at the input temperature, said steam pressure above atmospheric pressure in said first tank volume via the hydraulic communication structure between said first and second tank volumes above said respective first water level in each respective first and second tank volume driving water from each of said first and second tank volumes via said port network into said conveyor and on to the inlet of the brewing chamber.