Filter vessel, apparatus and method for preparing a filtrate

Abstract

A filter vessel for preparing a filtrate, in particular of coffee or tea, comprises a cylindrical chamber with a filling opening at the upper end and a base having a filter region at the lower end. During a filtration process, the filter vessel can be placed onto a receiving container. The contact region between the filter vessel and the receiving container is hermetically sealed in an air-tight manner. A negative pressure can be generated in the receiving container by an evacuation device. The filter vessel comprises, on its underside, a recess surrounding the filter region. The recess receives the rim of an opening of the receiving container. A seal is situated in the recess. An air duct has a first duct opening located on the underside of the filter vessel inside the seal, and a second duct opening, which is suitable for connection to the evacuation device.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A filter vessel (1) for preparing a filtrate (44), in particular of coffee or tea, the filter vessel comprising: a chamber (2), which comprises a filling opening (3) at an upper end and a base (4) with a filter region (5) at a lower end; a seal (8) surrounding the filter region (5), the seal having a flat lower surface; and an air duct (9) arranged in the filter vessel (1), the air duct (9) having a first duct opening (10), which is located on the underside (6) of the filter vessel (1) inside the seal (8), and a second duct opening (11), which is suitable for connection to an evacuation device (30), wherein, during a filtration process, the filter vessel (1) can be placed onto a receiving container (20), wherein a contact region between the filter vessel (1) and the receiving container (20) is hermetically sealed in an airtight manner, and wherein a negative pressure can be generated in the receiving container (20) by the evacuation device (30), and wherein the flat lower surface of the seal (8) is designed to be placed onto a rim (21) of an opening of the receiving container (20).

12. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the filter vessel (1) has, on the underside (6), a stand (12) that surrounds the filter region (5) and has at least one stand surface (13).

13. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 12, wherein the stand (12) extends downwardly below the filter region (5).

14. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the filter vessel (1) is made of plastic.

15. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the seal (8) is supported within a recess (7) of the chamber (2).

16. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the second duct opening (11) is arranged on an outer wall (14) of the filter vessel (1).

17. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the filter region (5) extends over 30% of the base (4) of the filter vessel (1).

18. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the filter vessel (1) is a single piece made of a single material.

19. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the filter vessel (1) is configured to accommodate receiving containers having different sizes.

20. The filter vessel (1) according to claim 11, wherein the chamber (2) is cylindrical or cone-shaped.

21. An apparatus for preparing aroma extracts, in particular of coffee or tea, comprising: a filter vessel (1), comprising a cylindrical or cone-shaped chamber (2), which comprises a filling opening (3) at an upper end and a base (4) with a filter region (5) at a lower end, a recess (7) surrounding the filter region (5) arranged at an underside (6) of the filter vessel (1); a seal (8) surrounding the filter region (5); and an air duct (9) arranged in the filter vessel (1), the air duct (9) having a first duct opening (10), which is located on the underside (6) of the filter vessel (1) inside the seal (8), and a second duct opening (11), which is suitable for connection to an evacuation device (30); and a receiving container (20) for a finished filtrate (44), wherein the filter vessel (1) is seated on a rim of the receiving container (20) during a filtration process, wherein a contact region between the filter vessel (1) and the receiving container (20) is hermetically sealed in an airtight manner, and wherein a negative pressure can be generated in the receiving container (20) by the evacuation device (30)

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the filter vessel (1) is configured to accommodate receiving containers having different sizes.

23. A method for preparing a filtrate (44), in particular of coffee or tea, comprising: introducing a mixture to be separated into a filter vessel (1) according to claim 11; seating the filter vessel (1) on a receiving container (20); connecting an evacuation device (30) to the filter vessel (1); generating a negative pressure in the receiving container (20) by the evacuation device (30); and discharging the filtrate (44) from the filter region (5) directly into the receiving container (20).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Expedient embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to figures of drawings:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a highly simplified sectional view of a filter vessel;

[0043] FIG. 2a, FIG. 2b, FIG. 2c, and FIG. 2d are partial illustrations of different designs of the filter vessel;

[0044] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3 b are highly simplified illustrations of the filter vessel in a top view and a bottom view;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a highly simplified schematic illustration of an apparatus consisting of a filter vessel and a receiving container; and

[0046] FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b are highly simplified schematic illustrations of a filtration process by means of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] In FIG. 1, a filter vessel 1 is shown in a sectional view. The filter vessel 1 consists of a cylindrical chamber 2, which comprises a filling opening 3 at the upper end and a base 4 at the lower end. A filter region 5 is arranged in the base 4. On the underside 6 of the filter vessel 1, there is a recess 7 surrounding the filter region 5. A seal 8 is arranged in the recess 7, which seal surrounds the filter region 5, in order to ensure an airtight seal when placed on a receiving container 20. Here, the section of the illustration runs parallel with the air duct 9, which has a first duct opening 10 and a second duct opening 11. The first duct opening 10 is located on the underside 6 inside the seal 8 and the second duct opening 11 is located on the outer side or on the outer wall 14, as the case may be, of the filter vessel 1.

[0048] FIG. 2a to FIG. 2d show partial illustrations of different embodiments of the filter vessel 1. FIG. 2a shows an embodiment of a filter vessel 1 with a stand 12. The stand 12 comprises a stand surface 13 on which the filter vessel 1 can be placed. Furthermore, three planes Ito III are shown in FIG. 2a. Plane I shows the plane of the seal 8, wherein plane II shows the plane of the filter region 5. Plane III runs through the stand surface 13 of the stand 12. The embodiment shown in FIG. 2b has a first duct opening 10 of the air duct 9, which is located at the filter plane 5. The recess 7 in FIG. 2c has a depth of the same order of magnitude as the height of the seal 8. Thereby, the seal 8 and the filter region 5 are on the same plane. FIG. 2d shows a recess 7, which has only one side wall. Thereby, such side wall of the recess 7 can simultaneously form a stand 12.

[0049] FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b show illustrations of a filter vessel 1 in a top view and in a bottom view from below. The top view in FIG. 3a shows the filter vessel 1, which has a cylindrical chamber 2 with a filling opening 3. The base 4 includes a filter region 5 in a central arrangement. The bottom view in FIG. 3b shows the underside 6 of the filter vessel 1. The filter region 5 is arranged in a central position with a circumferential recess 7. The seal 8 is located in the recess 7. The first duct opening 10 of the air duct 9 is located in the recess 7 inside the seal 8. The seal 8 has a small recess for the first duct opening 10.

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus consisting of a filter vessel 1 and a receiving container 20. The filter vessel 1 is located on the rim 21 of the receiving container 20 when in place. The upper rim 21 of the receiving container 20 is thereby received by the recess 7. The contact region between the filter vessel 1 and the receiving container 20 is hermetically sealed in an air-tight manner by the seal 8. The underside 6 of the filter region 5 projects into the opening of the receiving container 20.

[0051] The first duct opening 10 of the air duct 9 is connected to the interior of the receiving container 20.

[0052] FIG. 5a to FIG. 5b show a filtration process by means of the apparatus. In FIG. 5a, a filter 40 is inserted into the filter region 5 of the filter vessel 1. The filter 40 is expediently designed as a horizontal and/or disk-shaped filter. Coffee powder 41 is placed onto the filter 40. Water 42 has been added from above to the coffee powder 41 in the filter vessel 1. In addition, a vacuum hose 31 is connected to the second duct opening 11, which connects the air duct 9 to an evacuation device 30. In FIG. 5b, a negative pressure −p is generated in the receiving container 20 by means of the evacuation device 30. This results in a suction effect on the suspension 43 in the filter vessel 1. The suspension 43 is thereby sucked through the filter 40 into the receiving container 20. The filtrate 44 is collected in the receiving container 20.

[0053] The content of the disclosure also expressly covers individual combinations of features (sub-combinations) along with possible combinations of individual features of different design forms not shown in the drawing figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0054] 1 Filter vessel [0055] 2 Chamber [0056] 3 Filling opening [0057] 4 Base [0058] 5 Filter region [0059] 6 Underside [0060] 7 Recess [0061] 8 Seal [0062] 9 Air duct [0063] 10 First air duct opening [0064] 11 Second air duct opening [0065] 12 Stand [0066] 13 Stand surface [0067] 14 Outer wall [0068] 20 Receiving opening [0069] 21 Rim of the receiving container opening [0070] 30 Evacuation device [0071] 31 Vacuum hose [0072] 40 Filter [0073] 41 Coffee powder [0074] 42 Water [0075] 43 Suspension [0076] 44 Filtrate