Beverage maker flow detection logic

Abstract

The water heating flow detection system for a beverage maker includes a heater control logic circuit that controls heating in response to temperature and flow conditions in the beverage maker. A heater control logic circuit receives a temperature detection signal and a flow detection signal, and generates a water heater control signal for controlling operation of one or more water heaters. A flow detection device may be connected to the hot water outlet conduit or the cold water inlet conduit, and may include a magnetic flow detection device. A faucet lever position detection device may also be used to indicate flow through a faucet outlet valve.

1 . A water heating flow detection system for a beverage maker, said beverage maker including a water tank having an interior chamber, a cold water inlet conduit connected in fluid communication with the interior chamber for supplying water to the water tank, a hot water outlet conduit connected in fluid communication with the interior chamber for supplying heated water from the water tank, the hot water outlet conduit including a manual hot water faucet outlet valve having a faucet lever movable between a faucet outlet valve open position and a faucet outlet valve closed position, the water heating flow detection system comprising:
 at least one water heater associated with said water tank for heating water in said water tank;   a temperature measuring device associated with said water tank for measuring a temperature of water in the water tank and generating a temperature detection signal;   a flow detection device operatively connected to said beverage maker for detecting flow in at least a portion of the beverage maker and generating a flow detection signal; and   a heater control logic circuit operatively connected to said temperature measuring device and said outlet flow detection device for receiving said temperature detection signal and said flow detection signal, said heater control logic circuit operatively connected to said at least one water heater and generating a water heater control signal for controlling operation of said at least one water heater responsive to said temperature detection signal and said flow detection signal.   
   
   
       2 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow detection device comprises an outlet flow detection device connected to the hot water outlet conduit for detecting flow in the hot water outlet conduit. 
   
   
       3 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 2 , wherein said outlet flow detection device comprises a magnetic flow detection device. 
   
   
       4 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 3 , wherein said magnetic flow detection device comprises:
 a flow switch sensor housing including a flow sensor chamber operatively connected to the hot water outlet conduit;   a magnet retained in said flow sensor chamber and movable within said flow sensor chamber between a non-flow sensing position at a first end of the flow sensor chamber and a flow sensing position at a second end of the flow sensor chamber, said magnet moving to said flow sensing position responsive to flow within said flow sensor chamber;   a return spring disposed in said flow sensor chamber operative to bias said magnet toward said non-flow sensing position in the absence of flow within said flow sensor chamber; and   a magnetic detection sensor disposed adjacent to said second end of the flow sensor chamber for detecting said magnet and generating said flow detection signal when said magnet is in said flow sensing position.   
   
   
       5 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow detection device comprises an inlet flow detection device connected to the cold water inlet conduit for detecting flow in the cold water inlet conduit. 
   
   
       6 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 5 , wherein said inlet flow detection device comprises a magnetic flow detection device. 
   
   
       7 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 6 , wherein said magnetic flow detection device comprises:
 a flow switch sensor housing including a flow sensor chamber operatively connected to the cold water inlet conduit;   a magnet retained in said flow sensor chamber and movable within said flow sensor chamber between a non-flow sensing position at a first end of the flow sensor chamber and a flow sensing position at a second end of the flow sensor chamber, said magnet moving to said flow sensing position responsive to flow within said flow sensor chamber;   a return spring disposed in said flow sensor chamber operative to bias said magnet toward said non-flow sensing position in the absence of flow within said flow sensor chamber; and   a magnetic detection sensor disposed adjacent to said second end of the flow sensor chamber for detecting said magnet and generating said flow detection signal when said magnet is in said flow sensing position.   
   
   
       8 . The water heating flow detection system of  claim 1 , wherein said flow detection device comprises a faucet lever position detection device connected to the faucet lever for detecting whether the faucet outlet valve is in the open position or the closed position, and generating a faucet lever position signal indicating flow through the faucet outlet valve when the faucet outlet valve is in the open position. 
   
   
       9 . In combination with a beverage maker including a water tank having an interior chamber, a cold water inlet conduit connected in fluid communication with the interior chamber for supplying water to the water tank, a hot water outlet conduit connected in fluid communication with the interior chamber for supplying heated water from the water tank, the hot water outlet conduit including a manual hot water faucet outlet valve having a faucet lever movable between a faucet outlet valve open position and a faucet outlet valve closed position, at least one water heater associated with said water tank for heating water in said water tank, a temperature measuring device associated with said water tank for generating a temperature detection signal, a water heating flow detection system comprising:
 a flow detection device operatively connected to said beverage maker for detecting flow in at least a portion of the beverage maker for generating a flow detection signal; and   a heater control logic circuit operatively connected to said temperature measuring device and said outlet flow detection device for receiving said temperature detection signal and said flow detection signal, and said heater control logic circuit operatively connected to said at least one water heater and generating a water heater control signal for controlling operation of said at least one water heater responsive to said temperature detection signal and said flow detection signal.   
   
   
       10 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said flow detection device comprises an outlet flow detection device connected to the hot water outlet conduit for detecting flow in the hot water outlet conduit. 
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein said outlet flow detection device comprises a magnetic flow detection device. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 11 , wherein said magnetic flow detection device comprises:
 a flow switch sensor housing including a flow sensor chamber operatively connected to the hot water outlet conduit;   a magnet retained in said flow sensor chamber and movable within said flow sensor chamber between a non-flow sensing position at a first end of the flow sensor chamber and a flow sensing position at a second end of the flow sensor chamber, said magnet moving to said flow sensing position responsive to flow within said flow sensor chamber;   a return spring disposed in said flow sensor chamber operative to bias said magnet toward said non-flow sensing position in the absence of flow within said flow sensor chamber; and   a magnetic detection sensor disposed adjacent to said second end of the flow sensor chamber for detecting said magnet and generating said flow detection signal when said magnet is in said flow sensing position.   
   
   
       13 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said flow detection device comprises an inlet flow detection device connected to the cold water inlet conduit for detecting flow in the cold water inlet conduit. 
   
   
       14 . The combination of  claim 13 , wherein said inlet flow detection device comprises a magnetic flow detection device. 
   
   
       15 . The combination of  claim 14 , wherein said magnetic flow detection device comprises:
 a flow switch sensor housing including a flow sensor chamber operatively connected to the cold water inlet conduit;   a magnet retained in said flow sensor chamber and movable within said flow sensor chamber between a non-flow sensing position at a first end of the flow sensor chamber and a flow sensing position at a second end of the flow sensor chamber, said magnet moving to said flow sensing position responsive to flow within said flow sensor chamber;   a return spring disposed in said flow sensor chamber operative to bias said magnet toward said non-flow sensing position in the absence of flow within said flow sensor chamber; and   a magnetic detection sensor disposed adjacent to said second end of the flow sensor chamber for detecting said magnet and generating said flow detection signal when said magnet is in said flow sensing position.   
   
   
       16 . The combination of  claim 9 , wherein said flow detection device comprises a faucet lever position detection device connected to the faucet lever for detecting whether the faucet outlet valve is in the open position or the closed position, and generating a faucet lever position signal indicating flow through the faucet outlet valve when the faucet outlet valve is in the open position.