Liquid heating apparatus

Abstract

A liquid heating apparatus has a first mode of operation in which a first volume of water can be heated and a second mode of operation in which a second, smaller volume of water can be heated and automatically dispensed. The first mode may be provided by a removable liquid heating vessel. The second mode may be provided by a second heating chamber comprising a heater arranged to heat liquid and dispense it through an outlet. The second heating chamber is filled with water from the removable liquid heating vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liquid heating apparatus having a first mode of operation in which a first volume of water can be heated and a second mode of operation in which a second, smaller volume of water can be heated and automatically dispensed. 
     
     
         2 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a common reservoir for the two modes of operation. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  arranged to heat all the water in the reservoir in the first mode of operation, or a smaller, predetermined amount of water from the reservoir in the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a removable reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  arranged such that water heated in the first mode of operation can be manually dispensed from the removable reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising independent heaters for the first and second mode of operation respectively. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein one or both heaters are arranged to heat water to boiling. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said heater for the first mode of operation comprises a heater plate with a resistance heating element formed on or mounted to the underside of the plate. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which water is arranged to be boiled in the second mode of operation and dispensed from the apparatus with the aid of steam pressure generated during boiling. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising a chamber in which the liquid is heated to the desired temperature and then dispensed for the second mode of operation. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising independent control arrangements to cease heating in the first and second modes respectively. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for heating liquid comprising a removable liquid heating vessel for heating liquid therein, the apparatus further comprising a second heating chamber comprising a heater arranged to heat liquid and dispense it through an outlet, wherein said second heating chamber is filled with liquid from the removable liquid heating vessel. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein said heater of the removable liquid heating vessel is arranged to close an opening in the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the removable liquid heating vessel comprises valve arrangement for selectively allowing liquid into the second heating chamber when the removable vessel is not removed and preventing leaking when it is removed. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said heater of the removable liquid heating vessel is arranged to close an opening in the base of the vessel and wherein the valve means is provided in the heater closing an opening in the base of the vessel. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  comprising a valve arrangement on the second heating chamber. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  wherein said valve arrangement is configured to close when there is a predetermined amount of water in the second heating chamber. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 16  comprising a float valve member. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the second heating chamber valve arrangement comprises a resilient collar against which the valve member is pressed by internal pressure in the second heating chamber. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 19  in which water is arranged to be boiled in the second heating chamber and dispensed from the apparatus with the aid of steam pressure generated during boiling. 
     
     
         21 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 12  comprising independent control arrangements to cease heating in the removable vessel and second heating chamber respectively. 
     
     
         22 . Apparatus as claimed in any of  claim 21  comprising independent heaters for the removable vessel and second heating chamber respectively. 
     
     
         23 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  wherein one or both heaters are arranged to heat water to boiling. 
     
     
         24 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 22  comprising a switching arrangement which only permits energization of one of said heaters at a time. 
     
     
         25 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 24  comprising a relay in series with the electrical supply to one of the heaters and arranged such that the contacts thereof are opened when power is supplied to the other heater. 
     
     
         26 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the arrangement is such as to cut off power to the removable liquid heating vessel when the heater of the second heating chamber is energized. 
     
     
         27 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  in which water is arranged to be boiled in the second heating chamber and dispensed from the apparatus with the aid of steam pressure generated during boiling. 
     
     
         28 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  comprising independent control arrangements to cease heating in the removable vessel and second heating chamber respectively. 
     
     
         29 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 28  comprising independent heaters for the removable vessel and second heating chamber respectively. 
     
     
         30 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 29  wherein one or both heaters are arranged to heat water to boiling. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 6  comprising a switching arrangement which only permits energization of one of said heaters at a time. 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  comprising a relay in series with the electrical supply to one of the heaters and arranged such that the contacts thereof are opened when power is supplied to the other heater. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the arrangement is such as to cut off power to the removable liquid heating vessel when the heater of the second heating chamber is energized.