Capsule, a system for preparing a potable beverage from such a capsule and use of such a capsule in a beverage preparation device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsule sealing structures fail to maintain a reliable fluid-tight seal at both low and high fluid pressures, particularly when the enclosing member's annular end surface features radially extending open grooves, leading to potential leakage issues during brewing.
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.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the enclosing member's annular end surface features radially extending open grooves to facilitate capsule removal, then ease of operation is improved, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to potential leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring portion is made from a resilient material that can deform elastically to bridge across the radially extending open grooves on the annular end surface. This flexible sealing structure maintains fluid-tight contact while accommodating the grooved surface geometry, preventing leakage through the grooves during brewing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing structure utilizes changes in material properties under different pressure conditions. At low pressures, the resilient sealing ring maintains contact with the grooved surface. As fluid pressure increases during brewing, the sealing ring deforms to conform more closely to the surface, and the enclosing member's pressing force increases to enhance sealing effectiveness at high pressure.
2Reliability
If the sealing structure is designed to provide fluid-tight seal at high fluid pressure, then sealing reliability is improved, but the structure becomes complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing ring portion is formed as an integral resilient component that can be molded in a single manufacturing step. The material's inherent elasticity provides the necessary sealing capability without requiring complex multi-component assemblies or precision-machined sealing surfaces, simplifying fabrication while ensuring reliable fluid-tight seals at high pressures.
Solution Approach 2:
The capsule utilizes a composite structure combining a rigid flange made from metal or rigid plastic with a resilient sealing ring portion made from elastomeric material. This composite approach allows the rigid structure to provide structural integrity while the resilient material provides sealing functionality, achieving high-pressure sealing reliability through material selection rather than structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the sealing structure uses a resilient material to accommodate surface variations, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient sealing ring portion is designed with sufficient elasticity to accommodate variations in the annular end surface geometry, including the radially extending open grooves. The material's compliance allows it to conform to surface imperfections and dimensional tolerances, reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements for both the sealing ring and the mounting surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing ring's material properties, particularly its elastic modulus and durometer, are selected to provide optimal balance between compliance for surface accommodation and structural integrity for maintaining sealing force. This parameter optimization allows the sealing structure to adapt to surface variations while maintaining manufacturability within standard tolerance ranges.
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 design ensures a reliable and effective seal at both low and high fluid pressures, allowing up to 4% liquid leakage without compromising the beverage preparation process, and is cost-effective and environmentally friendly, facilitating easy recycling.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable sealing ring portion (28) of the flange (20), the sealing ring portion (28) being made from a resilient material and projecting axially from base portions (44, 45) of the flange
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.