Fluid texturing device
A fluid texturing device is provided for use with a beverage brewing apparatus. In one embodiment, the fluid texturing device can include a housing a housing extending between a first end and a second end. The fluid texturing device can also include a hollow driveshaft arranged within the housing and having an air path extending from the first end to the second end of the housing. The hollow driveshaft can include a coupling arranged therein and axially movable within the hollow driveshaft such that the coupling can variably block the air path to prevent a flow of air through the air path. The fluid texturing device can also include a whisk assembly removably coupled to the second end of the housing and including a whisk mated to the driveshaft such that the driveshaft can rotate the whisk.
1 . A beverage brewing apparatus, comprising:
a primary housing having a mounting arm with a connecting feature thereon; and
a fluid texturing device comprising
a hollow secondary housing having a mating portion configured to removably engage with the connecting feature on the primary housing for removably mating the fluid texturing device to the primary housing,
a driveshaft having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the driveshaft extending from the mating portion and through the hollow secondary body and having a whisk mounted on the second end thereof, the driveshaft including an air path extending from the first end to the second end of the driveshaft; and
a coupling arranged within the driveshaft and axially movable within the driveshaft such that the coupling variably blocks the air path to prevent a flow of air through the air path.
2 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a steam injection tube extending from the mating portion and through the hollow secondary body and having an outlet configured to eject steam, wherein the steam injection tube is spaced apart from the driveshaft such that the outlet is spaced from the whisk.
3 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first electrical terminal on the connecting feature of the primary housing is configured to contact a second electrical terminal on the mating portion of the hollow secondary housing.
4 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the primary housing has a fluid reservoir, a fluid outlet, and at least one heater configured to heat fluid flowing from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet.
5 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a controller is configured to detect attachment of the removable fluid texturing device to the primary housing.
6 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a user interface operably coupled to the controller, the user interface configured to receive an input corresponding to a fluid texturing process parameter associated with a revolution per minute setting of the whisk and a rotational direction of the whisk.
7 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the fluid texturing process parameter further defines a target temperature of a fluid textured via the fluid texturing device, the target temperature being adjustable via the user interface.
8 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the coupling includes at least one post movably arranged within a slot in the driveshaft such that rotation of the driveshaft in a first rotational direction moves the coupling in a first axial direction relative to the driveshaft, and rotation of the driveshaft in a second rotational direction moves the coupling in a second axial direction relative to the driveshaft.
9 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the slot is positioned at a first end of the drive shaft and comprises an angular or spiral shape extending around at least a portion of a circumference of the driveshaft.
10 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a first end of the primary housing has at least one connecting feature configured to removably couple the primary housing to a beverage brewing apparatus.
11 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the whisk is removably coupled to the second end of the driveshaft.
12 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the whisk includes a second air path fluidly coupled to the air path of the driveshaft, and at least one mixing arm arranged perpendicular to the driveshaft, the mixing arm including the second air path and an air outlet arranged at a distal end of the mixing arm.
13 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a steam injection tube extending through the housing and having a first end coupled to a first end of the hollow secondary housing and configured to couple to a steam source, and a second end adjacent to a second end of the hollow secondary housing and having an outlet for ejecting steam therefrom, the steam injection tube being spaced from the driveshaft such that the outlet is spaced from the whisk.
14 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the outlet of the steam injection tube is positioned vertically above the whisk.
15 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the steam injection tube passes through an aperture within a whisk cover positioned around the whisk.
16 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the whisk cover comprises a plurality of tabs positioned circumferentially therearound and a plurality of apertures therein, the whisk cover having a frustoconical shape and including the whisk positioned therein.
17 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a temperature sensor extending through at least one first aperture of the whisk cover and positioned radially from the whisk.
18 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein at least one second aperture of the whisk cover is positioned superior to the whisk relative to a longitudinal axis extending through the driveshaft, the at least one second aperture configured to allow air to contact the whisk.
19 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the whisk cover includes a first plurality of magnets configured to releasably couple the whisk cover with a second plurality of magnets positioned in the second end of the housing.
20 . The beverage brewing apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the mounting arm comprises at least one air inlet fluidically coupled with coupling via the air path extending from the first end to the second end of the driveshaft.