Beverage Line Cleaning Device with Pump Bypass
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning beverage lines are complex, inefficient, and often result in excessive use of cleaning fluid, leading to downtime and mechanical failures, particularly in systems reliant on electrically driven pumps.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a water supply inlet, cleaning fluid inlet, pump, flow meter, and controller that mixes cleaning fluid with water to maintain a predetermined concentration, allowing for efficient and robust cleaning by controlling the fluid flow and bypassing the pump during flushing mode, reducing fluid consumption and mechanical vulnerability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a cleaning apparatus uses a pump to provide cleaning fluid flow and a flow meter to measure water flow, then the cleaning process can be automated and controlled, but the device complexity increases and mechanical failures may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump and flow meter from the cleaning apparatus, extracting these complex measuring and controlling components entirely. Instead, it uses a simple timer to control the cleaning process duration and a manual valve to switch between cleaning and rinsing modes, thereby maintaining automation benefits while eliminating the complexity and failure points associated with pumps and flow meters.
2Productivity
If a cleaning apparatus uses a pump to inject cleaning fluid into water flow to maintain predetermined concentration, then the cleaning efficiency improves, but the reliability decreases due to mechanical vulnerability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the expensive and vulnerable pump with a simple, inexpensive timer and valve system. The timer controls the duration of cleaning fluid application, while the valve manually switches between cleaning and rinsing modes. This approach uses simple, reliable components that are less prone to mechanical failure while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cleaning apparatus uses a pump that requires switching between cleaning mode and flushing mode, then the cleaning process becomes more versatile, but the downtime increases due to cleaning time directed to the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the pump entirely, eliminating the need to clean the pump itself. The system uses a simple valve to switch between cleaning mode (where cleaning fluid is applied via gravity or pressure from the container) and rinsing mode (where clean water flows through the system). This eliminates the downtime associated with pump maintenance while preserving mode switching versatility.
4Extent of automation
If the cleaning apparatus uses electrically driven pumps, then the automation and control improve, but the mechanical failures increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrically driven pump with a mechanically simple system using a timer and manual valve. The timer provides electrical control for automation, while the valve provides mechanical flow control without moving parts that can fail. This substitution eliminates the mechanical complexity and failure points of electric pumps while retaining automated timing control.
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 solution optimizes cleaning fluid usage, minimizes downtime, and enhances system reliability by maintaining consistent cleaning fluid concentration, reducing mechanical failures, and allowing for easy operation without skilled personnel or complex equipment.
Implementation Method 1
a cleaning fluid pump for providing a cleaning fluid flow from the cleaning fluid container
Implementation Method 2
a flow meter for providing a measure of the water flow
Implementation Method 3
a controller for controlling the cleaning fluid pump and thereby the cleaning fluid flow on the basis of the measure of water flow
Implementation Method 4
the cleaning fluid pump in the cleaning mode injects the cleaning fluid into the water flow to obtain a predetermined concentration of cleaning fluid in the mixed fluid flow
Data Source
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AI summary
Cleaning device (1) configured for cleaning at least one beverage line (2), the cleaning device (1) comprising a water supply inlet (3), an outlet (4), a cleaning fluid inlet (26), a cleaning fluid pump (6), a flow meter (7), a controller (8) for controlling the cleaning fluid pump (6) and thereby the cleaning fluid flow on the basis of the measure of water flow, wherein • - in a cleaning mode (CM) directing a mixed fluid flow comprising cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid container (5) and water as provided from the water supply inlet (3) to the outlet (4), • -wherein the cleaning fluid pump (6) in the cleaning mode injects the cleaning fluid into the water flow under control by the controller (8), and • - in a flushing mode (FM), directing the water as provided from the water supply inlet (3) to the outlet (4) while bypassing said cleaning fluid pump.