Multi-phase circuit flow-through heater for aerospace beverage maker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11083329-B2
Application number	US-201715401020-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2017
Priority date	Jul 3, 2014
Publication date	Aug 10, 2021
Grant date	Aug 10, 2021

Abstract

In an illustrative embodiment, a flow-through fluid heating unit includes an annular member, and a heating element deposited on an inner surface of the annular member, the heating element including three sub-heating elements, each sub-heating element being connected to a separate conduit for receiving a separate phase of a three phase electrical power source. The heating unit may include a baffle core including at least one channel providing a fluid flow path, the baffle core being disposed within the annular member and proximate to the heating element. First and second end fittings may be disposed at each end of the annular member, each end fitting including a fluid port for allowing the fluid to flow through the annular member. One of the end fittings may be releasably connected to the annular member to provide access for removal of the baffle core.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aircraft beverage making apparatus including at least two flow-through heating units for heating a fluid, the aircraft beverage making apparatus comprising:
a three way electrical conduit for conducting electrical power in three separate phases, wherein the three way electrical conduit includes three jacks with one jack for each phase, the electrical power enabling the aircraft beverage making apparatus to generate heated water and steam;
a first member, said first member being generally annular;
a second member, said second member being generally annular;
a third member mounted to the first member, the third member being a first coiled pipe, the third member defining a helical flow path without or around the first member;
a fourth member mounted to the second member, the fourth member being a second coiled pipe, the fourth member defining a helical flow path without or around the second member;
a first heating element disposed along substantially an entire length of the third member, said first heating element receiving three phases of a three phase power supply via the three way electrical conduit, wherein the first heating element comprises interleaved helixes of three separate first sub-heating elements, each first sub-heating element receiving a different phase of the three-phase power supply;
a second heating element disposed along substantially an entire length of the fourth member, said second heating element receiving three phases of the three-phase power supply via the three way electrical conduit, wherein the second heating element comprises interleaved helixes of three separate second sub-heating elements, each second sub-heating element receiving a different phase of the three-phase power supply;
a plurality of valves controlling flow of a first fluid through the third member and a flow of the second fluid through the fourth member in response to a control signal;
a fifth member, said fifth member being generally annular, said fifth member disposed around the first member, the third member, and the first heating element;
a sixth member, said sixth member being generally annular, said sixth member disposed around the second member, the fourth member, and the second heating element; and
first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors such that a temperature of the aircraft beverage making apparatus is directly monitorable, each of the first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors connected to a separate phase of power from the three way electrical conduit such that each of the three separate phases is separately monitorable, wherein the first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors are resistance temperature detectors (RTDs);
wherein each of the at least two flow-through heating units includes one of the first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors implemented as an over-temperature sensor.

2. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the third member is arranged in parallel to the fourth member such that the first fluid follows a different flow path than the second fluid.

3. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first member and the second member are not coaxial with one another.

4. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are disposed in a series fluid flow configuration.

5. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element and the second heating element are disposed in a parallel geometric configuration.

6. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first dispenser coupled to an outlet of the third member, the first dispenser configured to dispense the first fluid; and
a second dispenser coupled to an outlet of the fourth member, the second dispenser configured to dispense the second fluid.

7. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first check valve coupled to an inlet of the third member, the first check valve configured to prevent back flow of the first fluid through the third member; and
a second check valve coupled to an inlet of the fourth member, the second check valve configured to prevent back flow of the first fluid through the fourth member.

8. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one filter disposed at an inlet to the third member, the at least one filter configured to filter impurities from the first fluid entering the third member.

9. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first member is disposed around the first heating element and the second member is disposed around the second heating element.

10. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first heating element is disposed on or within the first member and the second heating element is disposed on or within the second member.

11. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves includes at least one inlet solenoid valve disposed at an inlet of the third member, the at least one inlet solenoid valve configured to control the flow of the first fluid into the inlet of the third member.

12. The beverage making apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of valves includes at least one outlet solenoid valve disposed at an outlet of the fourth member, the at least one outlet solenoid valve configured to control the flow of the second fluid from the outlet of the fourth member.

13. An aircraft beverage making apparatus comprising:
a three way electrical conduit for conducting electrical power in three separate phases, wherein the three way electrical conduit includes three jacks with one jack for each phase, the electrical power enabling the aircraft beverage making apparatus to generate heated water and steam;
first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors such that a temperature of the aircraft beverage making apparatus is directly monitorable, each of the first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors connected to a separate phase of power from the three way electrical conduit such that each of the three separate phases is separately monitorable, wherein the first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors are resistance temperature detectors (RTDs); and
a plurality of flow-through heating units for heating a fluid, each of the plurality of flow-through heating units comprising
a heating element for applying heat to the fluid in response to receiving electrical power from three phases of a three-phase power source via the three way electrical conduit, wherein the heating element comprises interleaved helixes of three separate sub-heating elements, each sub-heating element receiving a different phase of the three-phase power source, and
means for providing a flow path for the fluid proximate the heating element, wherein the means for providing the flow path for the fluid comprises a coiled pipe helically wrapped around an outer surface of the heating element;
means for controlling a flow of the fluid through the means for providing the flow path;
an annular member disposed around the heating element and the means for providing a flow path for the fluid proximate the heating element; and
one of the first, second, and third resettable temperature sensors implemented as an over-temperature sensor,

thereby controlling heat transfer between the heating element of each of the plurality of flow-through heating units and the fluid;
wherein each of the plurality of flow-through heating units is configured to be selectively removed from the beverage making apparatus, thereby enabling cleaning, repair, or replacement.

Assignees

• Be Aerospace Inc

Inventors

• Kelly Luke E
• Mills Brian P
• Rutherford Brian
• Dietz Stuart A

Classifications

• F24H1/101

  using electric energy supply · CPC title

• A47J31/542

  Continuous-flow heaters · CPC title

• F24H1/142

  using electric energy supply · CPC title

• A47J31/545 Primary

  Control or safety devices · CPC title