Steam wand

Abstract

A steam wand assembly for an espresso machine has features for preventing overheating of the tip of the steam wand. In a first aspect there is provided a steam wand device comprising a metallic main body tube, a steam hose that passes through the tube, the steam hose also passing through a flexible spacer that is within the tube. In a further aspect there is provided a steam wand device comprising a main body tube having a metallic primary tube and a metallic tip, the primary tube and the tip being attached to one another by a polymeric steam nozzle, the nozzle having a central bore that extends from an inlet adjacent to a lower end of a steam hose to an exit opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A seam wand device for beverages, comprising:
 a metallic main body tube;   a steam hose that passes through the tube;   the tube also passing through a flexible spacer that is within the tube.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the spacer extends along the entire of an internal extent of the hose.   
     
     
         3 . The device of either of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein:
 the spacer is a coil. 
 
     
     
         4 . The device of either of  claim 1  or  2 , wherein:
 the spacer is a polymeric sleeve. 
 
     
     
         5 . A steam wand device for beverages, comprising:
 a main body tube having a metallic primary tube and a metallic tip;   the primary tube and the tip being attached to one another by a polymeric steam nozzle;   the nozzle having a central bone that extends from an inlet adjacent to a lower end of a steam hose to an exit opening.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a lower end of the primary tube and an upper end of the tip are internally threaded to cooperate with external threads on the nozzle.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the external threads on the nozzle are formed between an inlet to the nozzle and the exit opening.   
     
     
         8 . The device of any one of  claims 5 - 7 , wherein:
 the nozzle protrudes beyond a lowest part of the tip.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the lower end of the stream hose is retained inside a tip connector that cooperates with a hollow rivet that is fitted to the lower end of the steam hose.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the tip connector is carried within a recess in a hose connector.   
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a lower part of the hose connector receives an upper part of the steam nozzle.   
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein:
 a seal is interposed between the upper part of the steam nozzle and the hose connector.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the nozzle cooperates with a hose connector that receives a tip connector that is attached to the hose;   the hose connector having a slot for accessing a “C” clip that retains a tip connector that is carried by the hose.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the nozzle has an external flange;   nozzle/seals being carried by grooves that are located on upper and a lower side of the flange.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 each groove is located between the flange and a threaded portion.