Beverage Capsule Deformable Sealing Ring for Grooved Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsule sealing structures fail to maintain a reliable fluid-tight seal at varying fluid pressures, particularly when the enclosing member's annular end surface features radially extending open grooves, leading to potential leakage and inadequate pressure transfer for effective beverage preparation.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design with a deformable sealing ring portion integrated into the flange, featuring a bridge portion with a reduced wall thickness and textured surface, allowing for effective sealing even at low clamping pressures and accommodating the shape of the enclosing member's annular end surface with radially extending grooves, ensuring a reliable seal across different pressure ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the enclosing member's annular end surface is provided with radially extending open grooves to facilitate capsule removal, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to potential leakage paths
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure comprises a deformable sealing ring portion made of elastic material that can flexibly deform to bridge across the radially extending grooves on the annular end surface. This flexible sealing ring maintains fluid-tight sealing contact even when the enclosing member has grooves for easy capsule removal, as the elastic material conforms to the grooved surface while preventing leakage paths.
2Reliability
If the sealing structure is made rigid to maintain seal at high pressure, then sealing reliability at high pressure is improved, but adaptability to varying pressure conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing structure is designed with a deformable sealing ring portion made of elastic material that dynamically adapts its degree of deformation based on fluid pressure conditions. At low pressure, the sealing ring maintains contact through its natural elasticity. At high pressure, the increased force causes greater deformation of the elastic material, enhancing the sealing contact force to prevent leakage while automatically adapting to the pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure utilizes changes in the physical state and deformation characteristics of the elastic material in response to pressure parameter changes. The elastic material's deformation degree, contact pressure, and conformability to the enclosing member surface all change dynamically with fluid pressure, enabling the seal to maintain effectiveness across varying pressure conditions without requiring rigid structural modifications.
3Strength
If the sealing ring portion is made thick to provide structural strength, then strength is improved, but ease of deformation for sealing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring portion is designed with non-uniform wall thickness, featuring a reduced wall thickness in the bridge portion compared to other sections. This local thinning creates a specific deformation zone that is easier to deform under clamping pressure, enabling the sealing ring to effectively conform to the enclosing member's annular end surface while the thicker portions maintain overall structural strength and integrity of the capsule body.
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
The deformable sealing structure provides a consistent and effective seal at both low and high fluid pressures, allowing up to 4% liquid leakage without compromising beverage preparation, making it suitable for efficient and cost-effective manufacturing and recycling.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable sealing ring portion (128) of the flange (20)... allowing for effective sealing even at low clamping pressures and accommodating the shape of the enclosing member's annular end surface
Implementation Method 2
a bridge portion (48) interconnecting the inner wall portion (46) and the outer wall portion (47)... with a reduced wall thickness
Implementation Method 3
textured surface... providing a consistent and effective seal at both low and high fluid pressures
Data Source
AI summary
A capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a beverage has an aluminum capsule body and a cover sheet hermetically closing off the capsule. The capsule body has a flange with a deformable sealing ring portion with an inner wall portion extending from and contiguous with an inner base portion of the flange, an outer wall portion extending from and contiguous with an outer base portion of the flange and a bridge portion interconnecting the inner wall portion and the outer wall portion. The bridge portion is located axially spaced from the base portions of the flange. In radial cross-sectional view, a top of the bridge portion axially most remote from the base portions of the flange is flat or has a center plane curved with a radius of curvature larger than two times a wall thickness of the top of the bridge portion.