B/e Aerospace, Inc.

Justin D Herrmann

John H Beard

David R Howard

Christopher R Schroeder

A beverage maker device is disclosed. In embodiments, the device includes an external housing and a water tank coupled to a water supply via an inlet. The beverage maker includes a manifold within the housing, the manifold controlling the dispensing of the water into a server or through a faucet via solenoid valves. Within the inlet body connecting the tank to the water supply are plumbed two pressure transducers on either side (e.g., tank-side and coupling-side) of a restriction orifice. The tank-side and coupling-side pressure transducers sense flow pressure on their respective sides of the restriction orifice and generate tank-side and coupling-side flow pressure signals. Within the housing a process control board (PCB) includes control processors and control circuitry in communication with the solenoid valves. The PCB control processors determine a differential pressure associated with the water flow based on the received tank-side and coupling-side pressure signals.

Differential pressure flow meter for beverage maker

A beverage maker platen overflow sensing system is disclosed. The sensing system includes a process control board (PCB) in communication with solenoid valves of a manifold, the solenoid valves controlling the flow of hot water (e.g., for brewing coffee or tea) into a server positioned in a platen of the beverage maker. The PCB further includes an overflow detection circuit connected to the solenoid valves. Two signal probes are positioned near the forward edge of the platen. Similarly, ground probes are positioned in the platen below the signal probes and providing a ground path to the PCB. The overflow detection circuit generates an electrical signal between the signal probes and detects an overflow state when fluid in the platen grounds the signal between the signal probes and the ground probes. While the overflow persists, the overflow detection circuit ceases the water flow by electrically signaling the solenoid valves to close.

Beverage maker platen overflow sensing system

A beverage maker device is disclosed. In embodiments, the device includes an external housing and a water tank coupled to a water supply via an inlet. The beverage maker includes a manifold within the housing, the manifold controlling the dispensing of the water into a server or through a faucet via solenoid valves. The beverage maker includes a pressure transducer coupled to the inlet and capable of sensing a flow pressure of the water through the inlet, sending a pressure signal to the beverage maker control circuitry based on the determined flow pressure. The control circuitry receives the pressure signal and determines a flow volume of the water through the inlet based on the flow pressure; if the flow volume reaches a flow threshold, the control circuitry cuts off the flow of water via the solenoid valves.

Growing community of inventors

Lenexa, KS, United States of America

Justin D Herrmann