Beverage Capsule Multi-Seal Design for Pressure-Adaptive Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage preparation systems face challenges in ensuring a reliable fluid sealing contact between capsules and enclosing members across varying fluid pressures, leading to potential leakage issues and compatibility problems with different beverage preparation devices.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a multi-seal capsule system with a sealing member integral to the outwardly extending flange, featuring projections and a plateau, which provides a fluid sealing contact at both low and high fluid pressures, and an alternative second capsule with additional sealing portions or members for compatibility with multiple beverage preparation devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sealing member is designed to provide fluid sealing at high pressure, then sealing reliability at high pressure is improved, but sealing capability at low pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into multiple sealing portions (first sealing portion and second sealing portion) positioned at different locations. The first sealing portion provides sealing at low pressure while the second sealing portion provides sealing at high pressure, allowing the system to maintain reliable sealing across varying pressure conditions without compromising adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the sealing member are designed with different sealing characteristics suitable for different pressure conditions. The first sealing portion has properties optimized for low pressure sealing while the second sealing portion has properties optimized for high pressure sealing, enabling the sealing member to adapt to various pressure ranges effectively
2Reliability
If the enclosing member applies high force on the sealing member, then sealing at high pressure is improved, but initial sealing contact at low pressure deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first sealing portion is positioned to make initial contact with the enclosing member before the second sealing portion. This preliminary action ensures that sealing contact is established at low pressure before high force is applied, preventing leakage while maintaining the ability to seal at high pressure when force increases
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
This solution ensures a reliable fluid sealing contact across a wide range of pressures, reducing leakage and enhancing interoperability between capsules and beverage preparation devices, allowing for compatibility with different devices.
Implementation Method 1
The sealing member is arranged such that upon reaching the maximum fluid pressure in the enclosing member the sealing member should still provide a fluid sealing contact between the enclosing member and the capsule
Data Source
AI summary
System for preparing a potable beverage. The system may include a first capsule and an alternative second capsule, a first beverage preparation device and a second beverage preparation device, each arranged for receiving either the first capsule or the alternative second capsule. The first capsule and the alternative second capsule each include a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with the first enclosing member if the capsule is used in the first beverage preparation device. There is no sealing interface between the first capsule and the second enclosing member for providing a fluid sealing during use, and there is a sealing interface between the alternative second capsule and the second enclosing member for providing a fluid sealing contact during use.