Beverage brewing assembly for a refrigerator appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold brew coffee systems require manual water refilling, occupy valuable countertop space, and fail to maintain the brewing water at a cooled temperature, resulting in unsatisfactory coffee and the need for post-brew chilling.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator appliance with a brewing assembly that includes a chilled chamber, a dispensing assembly for controlled water flow, and a brew module with canisters for slow water infusion, allowing for automated cold brew coffee production while maintaining the beverage at a chilled temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional cold brew coffee systems are used, then the brewing process can be performed without hot water, but the brewing water temperature cannot be maintained and the system occupies countertop space
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing assembly is integrated into the refrigerator appliance, merging the brewing function with the existing chilled chamber. This combination eliminates the need for separate dedicated cold brew systems on countertops and utilizes the refrigerator's existing cooling capability to maintain brewing water temperature throughout the brewing process
Solution Approach 2:
The chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance serves multiple functions: it stores food articles and simultaneously houses the brewing assembly to maintain cold brewing water temperature. The dispensing assembly also provides both water dispensing and automatic refilling to the brewing assembly
2Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated cold brew coffee systems are used, then cold brewing can be performed, but they require constant manual water refilling and occupy valuable countertop space
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing assembly is integrated into the refrigerator appliance structure, combining what were previously separate functions (refrigeration and brewing) into a single unified system. This eliminates the need for dedicated countertop brewing units while maintaining cold brewing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The refrigerator appliance serves dual purposes: food storage in the chilled chamber and beverage brewing through the integrated brewing assembly. The dispensing assembly provides multiple functions including water dispensing and automatic refilling of the brewing assembly
3Productivity
If conventional cold brew systems are used, then brewing can proceed without hot water, but the produced coffee becomes relatively warm requiring transfer to a chilled chamber
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing assembly is positioned within the chilled chamber, merging the brewing process with the cold environment. This ensures that brewed coffee remains chilled throughout the brewing process and is ready for consumption immediately, eliminating the need for post-brew chilling or transfer to another container
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing assembly is pre-positioned within the chilled chamber before brewing begins. This preliminary placement ensures that the brewing process occurs in a pre-cooled environment, maintaining cold temperature throughout brewing and eliminating the need for subsequent cooling steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Facilitates a simplified brewing process with chilled water, eliminating the need for post-brew chilling and dedicated coffee systems, saving space and improving coffee quality by maintaining the brewed coffee at a desired temperature.
Implementation Method 1
a refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chilled chamber for receipt of food articles for storage
Implementation Method 2
a dispensing assembly including an outlet for selectively dispensing a flow of water
Implementation Method 3
a brew module positioned within the pitcher and including one or more canisters for receiving brewing contents and the flow of water from the dispensing assembly to create a brewed beverage
Data Source
AI summary
A brewing assembly for a refrigerator appliance includes a dispensing assembly for selectively dispensing a flow of water within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance. A pitcher is removably positioned below the dispensing assembly and includes an upper reservoir for receiving, storing, and slowly distributing the flow of water into a brew module positioned below the upper reservoir and comprising a plurality of canisters for receiving brewing contents and the flow of water to create a brewed beverage. A lower reservoir is positioned below the brew module for receiving the brewed beverage from the plurality of canisters.