B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Rockwell Collins, Inc.

Byron A Devlin

Keith R DeBald

John H Beard

Luke E Kelly

Mudar S Abu-Saymeh

Anthony D Serfling

Keevin P Stutheit

Brian P Mills

Kirsten Suzanne Frogley

Keith Debald

Derek J Taylor

Christopher J Painter

Jeb Stewart

Anthony Serfling

Mudar Abu-Saymeh

A beverage maker may comprise a heating system, a temperature sensor operably coupled the heating system, and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive a series of measured temperature signals from the temperature sensor, calculate a change in temperature using the series of measured temperature signals, and calculate an efficiency of the heating system based on the change in temperature. The controller may further estimate a scale buildup based on the efficiency of the heating system, and store at least one of the estimated scale buildup or the efficiency of the heating system in a heating system performance database.

Scale detection systems and methods for aircraft beverage makers

A froth heater can include an outer case defining an inner cavity, an inlet in fluid communication with the inner cavity, and an outlet in fluid communication with the inner cavity. The froth heater can include a heater core inserted into inner cavity and configured to form a flow path between an inner wall of the outer case and the heater core between the inlet and the outlet. The heater core can include a core cavity configured to receive a heater therein to heat the heater core.

Froth heaters

A vent valve flow fuse includes a valve cap with a valve cap cavity defined by one or more valve cap interior surfaces. The vent valve flow fuse includes a valve body with a valve body cavity defined by one or more valve body interior surfaces. The vent valve flow fuse includes a poppet configured to at least partially fit within the valve cap cavity and the valve body cavity. The vent valve flow fuse includes a spring configured to fit within the valve body cavity and to generate a resistive force against the poppet. The poppet is in a first position when fluid having a first amount of fluid pressure enters the valve cap cavity from a vent valve and engages the poppet. The poppet is in a second position when fluid having a second amount of fluid pressure enters the valve cap cavity and engages the poppet.

Vent valve flow fuse

A brew head assembly insertable within a brewing apparatus dimensioned to fit within a compartment in a galley of an aircraft may include an adjustable assembly and a brew cup. The adjustable assembly may include a brew head and a support member. The support member may define a first brew head cavity. The brew head may be at least partially inserted into the first brew head cavity. The adjustable assembly may be actuatable between an open position and at least one closed position. The brew cup may define a second brew head cavity. The brew head may be at least partially inserted into the second brew head cavity. A height between the brew head and the brew cup when the adjustable assembly is in the at least one closed position may be responsive to one or more parameters of a brew pod of a plurality of brew pods.

Brew head assembly

An adjustable brew head linkage includes a brew head linkage element, a handle linkage element, and an adjusting element between the brew head linkage element and the handle linkage element to smoothly increase and decrease the distance between the brew head linkage element and the handle linkage element to alter the size of a corresponding brew chamber to accommodate various brew pods. The brew head linkage element and/or handle linkage element may include a threaded portion to engage the adjusting element. Turning the adjusting element causes deflection. Threaded portions may have opposite handedness or different pitches. A secondary brew head linkage locking element provides friction to lock the adjusting element in place. The adjusting element increases and decreases the distance between the head linkage and the handle linkage in increments smaller than 0.178 millimeters ( 7/1000 inches).

Adjustable brew head linkage

A descaling module is disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the descaling module includes a container configured to receive a descaling fluid. The descaling module further includes at least one input port and at least one output port. The input port is configured to couple the container to a respective brew head of the beverage maker. The output port is configured to flow the descaling fluid through a fluid path of the beverage maker when pressurized fluid enters the container through the input port and forces the descaling fluid through the output port.

Descaling module

A brewing apparatus may include a chassis dimensioned to fit within a compartment of an aircraft galley. The chassis may include a front chassis section and one or more guide rails configured to engage one or more tracks in the aircraft galley compartment. The front chassis section may include a brew head assembly with one or more server restraints or one or more brew cup restraints and a brew cup panel assembly. The brew cup panel assembly may include a hinge assembly configured to engage the brew head assembly and a brew cup panel. The brew cup panel may be coupled to the hinge assembly and may be configured to adjust the brew head assembly in a selected direction via actuation of the hinge assembly.

Aircraft galley brewing apparatus

The solenoid valve may include a coil, a stem core tube, and a core. The coil may include one or more electrical leads configured to provide the coil with an electric current. The coil may be configured to convert the electric current to a magnetic field. At least a portion of the stem core tube may be insertable within a coil channel. At least a portion of the core may be insertable within an end of the stem core tube and may be moveable within the stem core tube via the magnetic field. At least one of the stem core tube or the core may be fabricated from 434 stainless steel and treated with one or more corrosion prevention processes. The solenoid valve may be couplable to one or more components of the brewing apparatus. The brewing apparatus may be dimensioned to fit within a compartment of the aircraft galley.

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Kansas City, MO, United States of America

Byron A Devlin