Heated beverage system implementing matrixed valves for simultaneous control of temperature and either pressure or flow rate

1 . A system for controlling disbursement of a fluid to a brew material prior to dispensing of a brewed beverage, the system comprising:

a first fluid supply comprising:

a first proportional valve; and

a first storage reservoir of a first fluid that is at a first temperature, wherein the first proportional valve is in fluid communication with the first storage reservoir;

a second fluid supply comprising:

a second proportional valve; and

a second storage reservoir of a second fluid that is at a second temperature, wherein the second proportional valve is in fluid communication with the second storage reservoir;

a mix manifold disposed upstream of a brew head, the mix manifold configured to receive and combine the first fluid from the first storage reservoir and the second fluid from the second storage reservoir to generate a fluid that is directed through a delivery path to the brew head and applied to a brew material disposed therein;

a flow sensor disposed along the delivery path at a location between the mix manifold and the brew head, the flow sensor configured to measure a value of flow rate of the fluid after the second fluid have been combined by the mix manifold and before the fluid reaches the first fluid and the brew head;

a temperature sensor disposed along the delivery path at a location between the mix manifold and the brew head, the temperature sensor configured to measure a value of a temperature of the fluid after the first fluid and the second fluid have been combined by the mix manifold and before the fluid is applied to the brew material;

a pressure sensor disposed along the delivery path at a location between the mix manifold and the brew head, the pressure sensor configured to measure a value of a pressure of the fluid after the first fluid and the second fluid have been combined by the mix manifold and before the fluid is applied to the brew material;

a control in electrical communication with the first proportional valve, the second proportional valve, the flow sensor, the temperature sensor, and the pressure sensor, wherein based on the values of the flow rate of the fluid directed toward the brew head, the pressure of the fluid applied to the brew material, and the temperature of the fluid applied to the brew material, the following control process is performed:

simultaneously controlling temperature and a flow property of the fluid being directed toward the brew material, wherein the simultaneous controlling the temperature and the flow property is accomplished by simultaneously controlling the flow property of the first fluid via the first proportional valve and the flow property of the second fluid via the second proportional valve.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the brew material comprises coffee grounds.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow property is pressure.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the flow property is flow rate.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the temperature and the pressure of the fluid is measured and wherein the simultaneous controlling temperature and the flow property of the fluid is based on the measured temperature and the measured pressure.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the simultaneously controlling temperature and pressure of the fluid being directed toward the brew material is performed during a first period of time, wherein the simultaneous controlling the temperature and the flow property is accomplished by simultaneously controlling a first pressure of the first fluid via the first proportional valve and a second pressure of the second fluid via the second proportional valve; and

simultaneously controlling the temperature and a flow rate of the fluid being directed toward the brew material during a second period of time that follows the first period of time, wherein the simultaneous controlling the temperature and the flow rate is accomplished by simultaneously controlling a first flow rate of the first fluid via the first proportional valve and a second flow rate of the second fluid via the second proportional valve;

wherein transition from the simultaneous controlling the temperature and the first flow property to the simultaneous controlling the temperature and the second flow property is performed seamlessly, through a continuously-variable, non-binary, gradual transfer of control.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control controls the first proportional valve and the second proportional valve such that during the first time period a pressure of the fluid directed toward the brew material is at a predetermined pressure, and wherein the end of the first time period occurs when the flow rate of the fluid decreases toward a predetermined flow rate.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the predetermined pressure is approximately 50 psi.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control controls the first proportional valve and the second proportional valve such that during the second time period a flow rate of the fluid is constant at a predetermined flow rate.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined flow rate is approximately 1.5 ml/sec.

11 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the control controls the first proportional valve and the second proportional valve such that during the second time period a flow rate of the fluid is constant at a predetermined flow rate.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the predetermined pressure is approximately 50 psi and the predetermined flow rate is approximately 1.5 ml/sec.