阅读说明：本技术 感应水壶 (Induction kettle ) 是由 D·B·赫尔墨斯 S·J·麦克林 J·蒂 R·霍尔 于 2020-03-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于加热液体的器具(10),所述器具(10)包含：用于接收待加热液体的容器(12),所述容器(12)具有大体居中的竖直纵向轴线(24)、底壁(26)和从所述底壁(26)向上延伸的侧壁(28),所述底壁(26)和所述侧壁(28)至少部分地包围在其内加热所述液体的室(40),所述室(40)具有与所述底壁(26)轴向间隔开的上部区域(42)和定位于所述底壁(26)与所述上部区域(42)之间的下部区域(44)；定位于所述室(40)内以在其内进行相对移动的加热元件(50),所述元件(50)至少部分地由铁磁性材料形成；待相对于所述容器(12)的所述底壁(26)定位的加热器底座(14),所述加热器底座(14)包含感应线圈(18)的至少一部分；用于将交流电传递到所述感应线圈(18)以便将磁场传递到所述下部区域(44)的连接；并且其中所述元件(50)可相对于所述线圈(18)在工作位置与不工作位置之间移动,在所述工作位置时所述元件(50)定位于所述下部区域(44)内以便由所述磁场激励以引起所述元件(50)的加热,从而使得由所述元件(50)生成的热量可以经由传导传递到所述液体,在所述不工作位置时所述元件(50)定位于所述上部区域(42)中以便不再在所述感应线圈(18)上施加工作负载。(An appliance (10) for heating a liquid, the appliance (10) comprising: a container (12) for receiving a liquid to be heated, said container (12) having a generally central vertical longitudinal axis (24), a bottom wall (26) and a side wall (28) extending upwardly from said bottom wall (26), said bottom wall (26) and said side wall (28) at least partially enclosing a chamber (40) within which said liquid is heated, said chamber (40) having an upper region (42) axially spaced from said bottom wall (26) and a lower region (44) positioned between said bottom wall (26) and said upper region (42); a heating element (50) positioned within the chamber (40) for relative movement therein, the element (50) being formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material; a heater base (14) to be positioned relative to the bottom wall (26) of the container (12), the heater base (14) including at least a portion of an induction coil (18); a connection for transmitting alternating current to the induction coil (18) for transmitting a magnetic field to the lower region (44); and wherein the element (50) is movable relative to the coil (18) between an operative position in which the element (50) is positioned within the lower region (44) so as to be energised by the magnetic field to cause heating of the element (50) so that heat generated by the element (50) can be transferred to the liquid via conduction, and an inoperative position in which the element (50) is positioned in the upper region (42) so as to no longer exert an operative load on the induction coil (18).)

1. An appliance for heating a liquid, the appliance comprising:

a container for receiving a liquid to be heated, said container having a generally central vertical longitudinal axis, a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said side wall at least partially enclosing a chamber within which said liquid is heated, said chamber having an upper region axially spaced from said bottom wall and a lower region positioned between said bottom wall and said upper region;

a heating element positioned within the chamber for relative movement therein, the element being formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material;

a heater base to be positioned relative to the bottom wall of the container, the heater base including at least a portion of an induction coil;

a connection for transmitting alternating current to the induction coil for transmitting a magnetic field to the lower region; and wherein

The element is movable relative to the coil between an operative position in which the element is positioned in the lower region so as to be energized by the magnetic field to cause heating of the element so that heat generated by the element can be transferred to the liquid via conduction, and an inoperative position in which the element is positioned in the upper region so as to no longer exert an operative load on the induction coil.

2. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising a lid attached to the container so as to enclose the chamber with the bottom wall and the side wall, the lid comprising:

an opening extending through the cover and generally centrally positioned on an axis; and

a stopper at least partially sealingly positioned within the opening for movement along the axis relative to the opening between a retracted position and an extended position in which the stopper is spaced upwardly from the retracted position along the axis, wherein

Said element being connected to said stopper so as to move therewith, said retracted position corresponding to said active position and said extended position corresponding to said inactive position, and wherein

The stop is urged to move from the retracted position to the extended position when the chamber is subjected to a positive pressure relative to the outside of the chamber, so as to move the element from the active position to the inactive position.

3. The appliance of claim 2, further comprising a shaft generally aligned with the axis, one end of the shaft being attached to the element and the other end of the shaft being attached to the stopper.

4. An appliance according to claim 3, wherein the shaft has a predetermined length so as to locate the element in the lower region when the element is in the active position and in the upper region when the element is in the inactive position.

5. An appliance according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the element is in the form of a plate centrally located on the axis.

6. The appliance of claim 5, wherein the plate includes at least one bi-metallic member positioned on an underside of the plate, the member having at least two stable positions, each of the positions responsive to a threshold temperature.

7. The appliance of claim 6, wherein when the member is at a temperature below the threshold temperature, the member is in one of the stable positions in which the member is substantially coplanar with the underside of the plate, and wherein when the member is at a temperature above the threshold temperature, the member is configured to be driven to a second stable position in which at least a portion of the member engages the bottom wall to move the plate into the upper region.

8. The appliance of any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the plate is perforated.

9. A vessel for receiving a liquid to be heated by a heater base having an induction coil and a connection for transmitting alternating current to the induction coil for transmitting a magnetic field to the vessel, the vessel having a generally central vertical longitudinal axis, a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and side wall at least partially enclosing a chamber within which the liquid is heated, the chamber having an upper region axially spaced from the bottom wall and a lower region positioned between the bottom wall and the upper region;

a heating element positioned within the chamber for relative movement therein, the element being formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material;

wherein the element is movable relative to the bottom wall between an operative position in which the element is positioned in the lower region so as to be energized by the magnetic field to cause heating of the element so that heat generated by the element can be transferred to the liquid via conduction, and an inoperative position in which the element is positioned in the upper region so as to no longer exert an operative load on the induction coil.

10. The container of claim 9, further comprising a lid so as to enclose the chamber with the bottom wall and the side wall, the lid comprising:

an opening extending through the cover and generally centrally positioned on an axis; and

a stopper at least partially sealingly positioned within the opening for movement along the axis relative to the opening between a retracted position and an extended position in which the stopper is spaced upwardly from the retracted position along the axis, wherein

Said element being connected to said stopper so as to move therewith, said retracted position corresponding to said active position and said extended position corresponding to said inactive position, and wherein

The stop is urged to move from the retracted position to the extended position when the chamber is subjected to a positive pressure relative to the outside of the chamber, so as to move the element from the active position to the inactive position.

11. The container of claim 10, further comprising a shaft generally aligned with the axis, one end of the shaft being attached to the element and the other end of the shaft being attached to the stopper.

12. The container of claim 11, wherein the shaft has a predetermined length to position the element in the lower region when the element is in the active position and to position the element in the upper region when the element is in the inactive position.

13. A container according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the element is in the form of a plate centrally located on the axis.

14. The container of claim 13, wherein the plate includes at least one bi-metallic member positioned on an underside of the plate, the member having at least two stable positions, each of the positions being responsive to a threshold temperature.

15. The container of claim 14, wherein when the member is at a temperature below the threshold temperature, the member is in one of the stable positions in which the member is substantially coplanar with the underside of the plate, and wherein when the member is at a temperature above the threshold temperature, the member is configured to be driven to a second stable position in which at least a portion of the member engages the bottom wall to move the plate into the upper region.

16. The container of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the plate is perforated.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to appliances for heating liquids and more particularly, but not exclusively, to induction kettles.

Background

Kettles are well known devices for rapidly boiling water, for example, to brew tea, cook, and the like. Power from the mains power supply is delivered to an electric heating element which is typically located in the base of the kettle.

An induction kettle may be heated by heating the liquid in the kettle using an induction coil. The induction heating circuit uses the principle of magnetic induction to generate heat on a "load" (e.g., a ferromagnetic base of a kettle).

Disadvantageously, turning off the induction kettle may require manual operation or complex circuitry.

Purpose(s) to

It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages.

Disclosure of Invention

Disclosed herein is an appliance for heating a liquid, the appliance comprising:

a container for receiving a liquid to be heated, said container having a generally central vertical longitudinal axis, a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bottom wall and said side wall at least partially enclosing a chamber within which said liquid is heated, said chamber having an upper region axially spaced from said bottom wall and a lower region positioned between said bottom wall and said upper region;

a heating element positioned within the chamber for relative movement therein, the element being formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material;

a heater base to be positioned relative to the bottom wall of the container, the heater base including at least a portion of an induction coil;

a connection for transmitting alternating current to the induction coil for transmitting a magnetic field to the lower region; and wherein

The element is movable relative to the coil between an operative position in which the element is positioned in the lower region so as to be energized by the magnetic field to cause heating of the element so that heat generated by the element can be transferred to the liquid via conduction, and an inoperative position in which the element is positioned in the upper region so as to no longer exert an operative load on the induction coil.

Preferably, the appliance comprises a lid attached to the container so as to enclose the chamber with the bottom wall and the side wall, the lid comprising:

an opening extending through the cover and generally centrally positioned on an axis; and

a stopper at least partially sealingly positioned within the opening for movement along the axis relative to the opening between a retracted position and an extended position in which the stopper is spaced upwardly from the retracted position along the axis, wherein

Said element being connected to said stopper so as to move therewith, said retracted position corresponding to said active position and said extended position corresponding to said inactive position, and wherein

The stop is urged to move from the retracted position to the extended position when the chamber is subjected to a positive pressure relative to the outside of the chamber, so as to move the element from the active position to the inactive position.

Preferably, the implement comprises a shaft generally aligned with the axis, one end of the shaft being attached to the element and the other end of the shaft being attached to the stop.

Preferably, the shaft has a predetermined length so as to locate the element in the lower region when the element is in the active position and to locate the element in the upper region when the element is in the inactive position.

Preferably, the element is in the form of a plate centrally located on the axis.

Preferably, the plate includes at least one bimetallic member positioned on an underside of the plate, the member having at least two stable positions, each of which is responsive to a threshold temperature.

Preferably, when the member is at a temperature below the threshold temperature, the member is in one of the stable positions in which it is substantially coplanar with the underside of the plate, and when the member is at a temperature above the threshold temperature, the member is configured to be driven to a second stable position in which at least a portion of the member engages the bottom wall to move the plate into the upper region.

Preferably, the plate is perforated.

Also disclosed is a container for receiving a liquid to be heated by a heater base having an induction coil and a connection for delivering alternating current to the induction coil for delivering a magnetic field to the container, the container having a generally central vertical longitudinal axis, a bottom wall and a side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the bottom wall and the side wall at least partially enclosing a chamber within which the liquid is heated, the chamber having an upper region axially spaced from the bottom wall and a lower region positioned between the bottom wall and the upper region; and

a heating element positioned within the chamber for relative movement therein, the element being formed at least in part of a ferromagnetic material,

wherein the element is movable relative to the bottom wall between an operative position in which the element is positioned in the lower region so as to be energised by the magnetic field to cause heating of the element so that heat generated by the element can be transferred to the liquid via conduction, and an inoperative position in which the element is positioned in the upper region so as to no longer exert an operative load on the induction coil.

Preferably, the container further comprises a lid so as to enclose the chamber together with the bottom wall and the side wall, the lid comprising:

an opening extending through the cover and generally centrally positioned on an axis; and

a stopper at least partially sealingly positioned within the opening for movement along the axis relative to the opening between a retracted position and an extended position in which the stopper is spaced upwardly from the retracted position along the axis, wherein

Said element being connected to said stopper so as to move therewith, said retracted position corresponding to said active position and said extended position corresponding to said inactive position, and wherein

The stop is urged to move from the retracted position to the extended position when the chamber is subjected to a positive pressure relative to the outside of the chamber, so as to move the element from the active position to the inactive position.

Preferably, the container comprises a shaft generally aligned with the axis, one end of the shaft being attached to the element and the other end of the shaft being attached to the stopper.

Preferably, the shaft has a predetermined length so as to locate the element in the lower region when the element is in the active position and to locate the element in the upper region when the element is in the inactive position.

Preferably, the element is in the form of a plate centrally located on the axis.

Preferably, the plate includes at least one bimetallic member positioned on an underside of the plate, the member having at least two stable positions, each of which is responsive to a threshold temperature.

Preferably, when the member is at a temperature below the threshold temperature, the member is in one of the stable positions in which it is substantially coplanar with the underside of the plate, and wherein when the member is at a temperature above the threshold temperature, the member is configured to be driven to a second stable position in which at least a portion of the member engages the bottom wall to move the plate into the upper region.

Preferably, the plate is perforated.

Drawings

Preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic isometric view of an appliance according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the appliance of FIG. 1, showing an appliance plate positioned in a lower region of the appliance compartment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the appliance of FIG. 1, showing the appliance plate positioned in the upper region of the chamber;

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the appliance of FIG. 1, showing the plate with a plurality of bimetal members in an actuated position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic isometric view of the underside of the plate showing the bimetal member in a non-actuated position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic isometric view of the underside of the plate showing the bimetal member in the actuated position;

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional isometric view of the appliance of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a simplified sketch of the underside of the plate showing a plurality of different bimetal members in a non-actuated position;

FIG. 9 is a simplified cross-sectional schematic view of the chamber showing a pair of bimetal members engaging abutment surfaces of the appliance; and is

Fig. 10 is a flow chart showing an algorithm of the appliance of fig. 1.

Detailed Description

In the figures, an appliance for heating water is schematically depicted, preferably the appliance is a kettle 10. The kettle 10 includes a container or kettle 12 and a heater base 14 on which the kettle 12 rests. The base 14 transfers power to the plate 50, as discussed below. As an advantage of the preferred embodiment, the jug 12 is preferably made of glass for dishwasher washing, which may make the user experience relatively easier.

As shown in fig. 2-4 and 7, the base 14 houses a power supply 16 that is electrically coupled to an induction coil 18 also housed within the base 14. When the board 50 is placed on the base 14, the induction coil 18 is magnetically coupled to the board 50. In particular, the power source 16 is configured to deliver alternating current to the induction coil 18 so that the induction coil 18 can be used to deliver a magnetic field to the plate 50 to heat the water contained in the kettle 12.

The power supply 16 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a power inlet (not shown). Cooperating with the microprocessor is a user interface (not shown) for controlling the microprocessor. Signals from the user interface are passed to the microprocessor for control purposes.

A heat sink 20 having a surface 21 is attached to the electronic device positioned at the bottom of the housing. The heat sink 20 cools the electronic device by absorbing heat. A gap is provided between the heat sink 20 and the induction coil 18 to ensure that no short circuit is caused.

The jug 12 comprises a hollow body 22 providing a generally central vertical longitudinal axis 24. The body 22 includes a bottom wall 26 from which a side wall 28 extends upwardly. The hollow body 22 also includes a handle 30 attached to the sidewall 28. The side wall 28 provides a rim 32. The rim 32 surrounds an upper opening 34 which is closed by a lid or cover 36. The lid 36 provides a spout 37 and an opening in the form of a cylindrical passage 38 extending through the lid 36. The passage 38 is centrally located on the axis 24. The body 22 may be formed of glass or other suitable material.

The bottom wall 26, the side walls 28 and the lid 36 enclose a chamber 40 for receiving water to be heated. The chamber 40 has an upper region 42 axially spaced from the bottom wall 26 and a lower region 44 positioned between the bottom wall 26 and the upper region 42. The induction coil 18 is configured to deliver a magnetic field to the lower region 44. It should be appreciated that the longitudinal extent of the lower region 44 may vary based on the extent of the magnetic field.

To heat the water in the chamber 40, the kettle 12 is provided with a heater assembly 46. The assembly 46 includes a shaft 48 generally aligned with the axis 24. A heating element in the form of a circular plate 50 is attached at one end 51 of the shaft 48 proximate the bottom wall 26 and is centrally located on the axis 24. A purge cap or stopper 54 is attached at the other end 52 of the shaft 48. A stop 54 is sealingly positioned within the channel 38 for movement relative thereto along the axis 24 between a retracted position and an extended position in which the stop 54 is spaced upwardly along the axis 24 from the retracted position. One or more O-rings 56 may be secured to the outer circumference of the stopper 54 to provide sufficient clearance between the stopper 54 and the passage 38 to facilitate axial movement of the stopper 54 relative to the passage 38 as the stopper 54 moves in the axial direction. The O-ring 56 also provides a fluid seal to maintain any increase in pressure within the chamber 40 as the water is heated. The height dimension of the channel 38 is preferably equal to the height dimension of the stop 54, but it should be understood that the height dimensions of both the channel 38 and the stop 54 may vary.

The plate 50 is formed of a ferromagnetic material so as to be excited by the magnetic field of the induction coil 18, i.e.; so that an electric current can be induced in the plate 50 to cause heating of the plate 50, so that the heat generated by the plate 50 can be transferred to the water via conduction. The plate 50 is movable together with the stopper 54 by means of the shaft 48.

The shaft 48 has a predetermined length to position the plate 50 in the lower region 44 when the plate 50 is in the working position, as shown in fig. 2. In this operating position, the plate 50 is positioned within the magnetic field delivered by the induction coil 18 so as to induce a current in the plate 50 to cause heating of the plate 50. As the temperature of the plate 50 increases, heat from the plate 50 is transferred to the water via conduction. As the temperature of the water increases, the water will reach its boiling point as it changes phase to vapor. This vapor thus increases the pressure inside chamber 40 relative to the pressure outside chamber 40 to create a positive pressure relative to the pressure outside chamber 40. When the vapor is caused to escape into the low pressure environment outside of the chamber 40, the positive pressure causes the stopper 54 to move upward along the axis 24 relative to the passage 38. This in turn causes the plate 50 to move upwardly along the axis 24 to an inoperative position (as shown in fig. 3) in which the plate 50 is positioned in the upper region 42 so that the operational load is no longer applied to the induction coil 18, thereby causing an operational current to no longer be induced in the plate 50 to heat the plate 50. As shown in fig. 10, the microprocessor is programmed to run algorithm 68 to terminate power to induction coil 18 once the workload, i.e., board 50, no longer exists on induction coil 18. In this way, the microprocessor may be configured to operate in a 'keep warm' period in which the microprocessor cycles a predetermined number of periods before terminating power to the induction coil 18. During each cycle, the microprocessor is configured to detect whether a load, i.e., the plate 50, is present on the induction coil 18. If a load is detected, power to the induction coil 18 is maintained, otherwise power to the induction coil 18 is terminated after a predetermined number of cycles.

To address the 'dry-boiling' problem of heating the plate 50 in the absence of any fluid in the vessel, the plate 50 preferably comprises one or more thermally expanding bimetallic members 58 positioned on the underside 60 of the plate 50. The bimetal member 58 is formed of a bimetal material having two stable positions, each of which is responsive to a predetermined temperature. When the temperature of the component 58 is below the threshold temperature, the component 58 is in one of the stable positions, i.e., the position where the component 58 is substantially flat and integral with the underside 60 of the plate 50. When the temperature of the member 58 rises above the threshold temperature, the thermally responsive material of the member 58 drives or "snaps" into the second stable position and remains in that position if the temperature remains at or above the threshold temperature. In the second position, the portion 62 of the member 58 protrudes from the underside 60 of the plate 50 and engages the bottom wall 26 to move the plate 50 upwardly, as shown in fig. 4.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 8 and 9, the pitcher 12 provides one or more abutment surfaces 64 extending from the bottom wall 26 of the pitcher 12 into the chamber 40. One of the members 59, 61, 63 is positioned relative to the abutment surface 64 such that when the one of the members 59, 61, 63 is in the second position, the portion 62 of the one of the members 59, 61, 63 can engage and push against the abutment surface 64 to move the plate 50 upwardly along the axis 24. The members 59, 61, 63 have a predetermined length such that when driven, the members engaging the abutment surface 64 move the plate 50 upwardly into the upper region 42.

It will be appreciated that different bimetal members 59, 61, 63 may be arranged on the underside 60 of the plate 50, each of which may be driven at a different temperature. In one embodiment, the plate 50 includes a member 59 driven at a temperature of 70 ℃, a member 61 driven at a temperature of 80 ℃ and a member 63 driven at a temperature of 100 ℃. The user may position the plate 50, and thus the members 59, 61, 63, relative to the abutment surface 64 such that only the required members engage the abutment surface 64 to move the plate 50 upwardly when the required members are driven, and such that the other members engage water which does not provide effective resistance to these members. This will indicate the temperature of the water.

The bimetal members 58, 59, 61, 63 may also help to minimise "dry boiling", i.e. if no water is contained in the chamber 40 and the plate 50 is heated above its rated operating temperature, at least one of the members will drive causing the plate 50 to move up into the upper region 42 and out of the influence of the magnetic field.

The plate 50 is preferably perforated to facilitate movement of the plate 50 when immersed in water. By perforating the sheet 50, the vapor bubbles (vapor bubbles) formed on the sheet 50 can also be relatively uniformly distributed across the sheet 50 as the sheet 50 is heated. Due to the shape of the plate 50, the heat may be evenly distributed, which may minimize cavitation and noise associated with the heat, resulting in a relatively quiet kettle 10 during operation.

The plate 50 also preferably includes stabilizers in the form of flanges 66 projecting transverse to the plate 50 and extending around the circumference of the plate 50 that at least protect the plate 50 from bending or warping if, for example, the plate 50 expands or contracts due to different temperature gradients.

Item list

10 adjacent surface of kettle 64

12 kettle 66 flange

14 heater base 68 algorithm

16 power supply

18 induction coil

20 heat sink

21 surface of

22 hollow body

24 axes of rotation

26 bottom wall

28 side wall

30 handle

32 edge

34 upper opening

36 cover

37 spout

38 channel

40 chambers

42 upper region

44 lower region

46 heater assembly

48-shaft

50 board

51 one end

52 at the other end

54 stop

56O-ring

58. 59, 61, 63 bimetal member

60 lower side

Part 62