Zexel USA Corporation

Bunn-o-matic Corporation

James I Miller

David E Bearint

Christopher W Rahn

A brewer, system, and method of use for producing and dispensing a beverage. The apparatus, system, and method of use includes a receiver for receiving a brewing substance container. The receiver receives the container, positions it for infusion with heated water, and then positions the container for removal from the receiver. The present apparatus, system, and method minimizes the drive mechanisms associated with the apparatus and improves the control and reliability of the apparatus. The apparatus facilitates collection and dispensing of beverage produced in the receiver and removal of the brewing substance container from the receiver.

Brewer including substance removal assembly

A variable capacity, vane-type compressor has a cylinder block with an oval rotor chamber. A plurality of vanes mounted in slots on a rotor rotate inside the rotor chamber on a shaft that is concentric with the minor diameter of the rotor chamber. Valves discharge refrigerant gas from the rotor chamber. The front nose block is located on the front side of the cylinder block and contains a bore for the rotor shaft and a set of needle roller bearings which supports the forward end of the shaft. A circular O-ring groove with an O-ring is located on the rearward side of the front nose block at its perimeter for sealing between the front nose block and the forward side of the cylinder block. The cylinder block has internal, weight-reducing voids located outboard of the rotor chamber. The lower voids serve as an oil sump and supply high pressure lubricant to the undervane pressurization manifolds. Like the front nose block groove, the cylinder block has a circular groove machined on a rearward side. The cylinder block groove contains an O-ring for sealing against the rear side block. The rear side block has a bore for the shaft and a needle roller bearing which supports the rearward end of the shaft. A circular O-ring groove is machined on the rearward side of the rear side block and holds an O-ring for sealing between the rear side block and the rear head. A lubricant transmitting passage is located in the blocks. The passage leads from the intake chamber at the rear of the compressor to the bore at the front radial bearing. Each of the components has bolt ears with threaded bolts for securing the components together. The bolt ears are located in the formerly wasted space at the four corners providing the compressor with a rectangular external configuration.

Compressor housing

A control valve for a variable rotary vane compressor is modular. The control operates an actuator to vary the position of a rotary valve plate located between the intake chamber and the compression chamber. The control valve locates in a cavity which has a suction pressure portion, a control pressure portion, and a discharge pressure portion. The control valve has an end cap and a valve seat member connected together by a sleeve. A valve element engages a seat in the valve seat member. The spring and a bias pin urge the valve element to the closed position. A bellows located within the sleeve has a stem that contacts the valve element to move it off of the seat. The sleeve allows the distance between the valve seat member and the end cap to be varied to preset the bellows prior to installation in the compressor.

Growing community of inventors

Decatur, IL, United States of America

James I Miller