Method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher

Abstract

A steaming pitcher comprising a flow receiving surface adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at a substantially oblique angle provides enhanced control of fluid flow inside the steaming pitcher to enhance mixing and heating of the fluid by the incoming steam. The steaming pitcher may also comprise flow directing and launching surfaces to assist in control of fluid flow patterns. A flow control kit with a flow receiving surface may be installed in an existing flat-bottom steaming pitcher to provide aspects of fluid flow control. The flow receiving, flow directing and launching surfaces of the steaming pitcher may be substantially smooth, faceted, or a combination thereof.

1 . A steaming pitcher with a bottom connected to a sidewall surface defining a top opening and an open internal cavity, comprising:
 a flow receiving surface, at least a portion of which is adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at a substantially oblique angle.   
   
   
       2 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a flow directing surface. 
   
   
       3 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 1  additionally comprising a launching surface adapted to launch a flow of fluid moving substantially tangentially to the launching surface inside the steaming container. 
   
   
       4 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 2  additionally comprising a launching surface adapted to launch a flow of fluid moving substantially tangentially to the launching surface inside the steaming container. 
   
   
       5 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 2  wherein the flow receiving and flow directing surfaces each comprise at least one of:
 a substantially smooth curved surface and a substantially planar surface.   
   
   
       6 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 3  wherein the launching surface is substantially smooth. 
   
   
       7 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 2  wherein at least one of the flow receiving surface and flow directing surface comprises two or more facets. 
   
   
       8 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 7  wherein an internal angle between the flow receiving surface and flow directing surface is an obtuse angle. 
   
   
       9 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 8  wherein the internal angle between the flow receiving surface and the flow directing surface is greater than 135 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 7  wherein an internal angle between two adjoining facets of the flow directing surface is an obtuse angle. 
   
   
       11 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 10  wherein the internal angle between adjoining facets of the flow directing surface is greater than 135 degrees. 
   
   
       12 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 1  wherein the flow receiving surface comprises a two sided ridge oriented along a line passing through the center of the bottom of the steaming pitcher. 
   
   
       13 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 1  wherein the flow receiving surface is substantially conical and is centered on the center of the bottom of the steaming pitcher. 
   
   
       14 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 2  wherein the flow directing surface is substantially toroidal and is centered on the center of the bottom of the steaming pitcher. 
   
   
       15 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 1  wherein the flow receiving surface is substantially pyramidal, comprising three or more facets, and is centered on the center of the bottom surface of the steaming pitcher. 
   
   
       16 . The steaming pitcher according to  claim 1  wherein the flow receiving surface is structurally separate from the bottom surface of the steaming pitcher. 
   
   
       17 . A method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher wherein the steaming pitcher comprises a bottom connected to a sidewall surface defining a top opening and an open internal cavity and a flow receiving surface, at least a portion of which is adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at substantially oblique angle, the method comprising:
 providing a volume of fluid to be steamed within the steaming pitcher;   directing the incoming flow of steam into the volume of fluid such that a combined flow of fluid and steam is incident upon the flow receiving surface;   adjusting at least one of the volumetric rate and location of the incoming flow of steam such that the combined flow of fluid and steam circulates within the steaming pitcher in a substantially positionally stable flow pattern relative to the pitcher.   
   
   
       18 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 17 , wherein the steaming pitcher additionally comprises a flow directing surface. 
   
   
       19 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 18 , wherein the steaming pitcher additionally comprises a launching surface adapted to launch a flow of fluid moving substantially tangentially to the launching surface inside the steaming container. 
   
   
       20 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 19  wherein the flow receiving and flow directing surfaces each comprise at least one of:
 a substantially smooth curved surface and a substantially planar surface.   
   
   
       21 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 20 , wherein the flow pattern comprises flow originating from the flow receiving surface, passing across the flow directing surface to the launching surface where the flow leaves the launching surface and falls substantially towards the flow receiving surface. 
   
   
       22 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 17  wherein the volume of fluid to be steamed comprises milk. 
   
   
       23 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 17  wherein the substantially positionally stable flow pattern is visible to a user looking into the steaming pitcher through the top opening. 
   
   
       24 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 23  wherein the substantially positionally stable flow pattern is visually distinct to the user, and indicates that the flow of steam is incident on the flow receiving surface. 
   
   
       25 . The method of controlling fluid flow in a steaming pitcher according to  claim 17  wherein the volume of fluid to be steamed additionally comprises solid matter which may be dissolved in the fluid. 
   
   
       26 . A steaming pitcher flow control kit comprising a flow control feature having a flow receiving surface at least a portion of which is adapted to receive an incoming flow of steam at a substantially oblique angle, wherein the flow control feature is adapted for insertion in a steaming pitcher comprising a substantially flat bottom surface. 
   
   
       27 . The steaming pitcher flow control kit according to  claim 26  additionally comprising instructions for inserting the flow control feature and attaching the flow control feature to the substantially flat bottom of the steaming pitcher.