Beverage Dispenser Vacuum Insulation Pressure Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverages like beer and craft beers lose carbonation and flavor quality due to exposure to atmospheric pressure and oxygen, leading to flatness and staleness, and temperature fluctuations affect their taste during storage and transport.
Innovation Solution
A beverage dispenser with a double-wall vacuum-insulated vessel and a regulator cap assembly that applies adjustable pressure to maintain carbonation and limit oxygen exposure, featuring a dispenser assembly with a liquid level gauge and a concentric-cylindrical construction to control pressure and flow, ensuring the beverage remains fresh and carbonated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional beverage dispensing systems are used, then beverage service is provided, but cross-contamination between different beverage types occurs and beverage quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the beverage dispensing function into separate dedicated dispensing heads for different beverage types (coffee, tea, hot water). Each dispensing head is isolated and can be independently controlled, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining reliable beverage quality for each type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the potential source of cross-contamination by implementing a system where different beverage types are dispensed through separate pathways and storage containers. The dispensing mechanism separates the flow paths for coffee, tea, and hot water, eliminating the harmful mixing effect.
2Productivity
If manual cleaning of beverage containers is required, then beverage dispensing is achieved, but cleaning time increases and beverage service is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-cleaning functionality where the beverage containers and dispensing mechanisms automatically clean themselves through integrated cleaning cycles. The system can flush and sanitize containers without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining high beverage service speed while eliminating cleaning time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous operation by implementing automatic cleaning cycles that occur during low-demand periods or between uses. The cleaning function is integrated into the operational cycle, allowing the system to maintain readiness for service without interrupting the overall beverage dispensing productivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beverage types are stored in separate containers, then beverage variety is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a universal control mechanism that manages multiple beverage types through a single integrated interface. The control system can selectively activate different dispensing heads and containers, providing versatile beverage options while maintaining a unified, manageable system architecture that does not proportionally increase complexity with each added beverage type.
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 dispenser effectively preserves the quality of beverages by maintaining carbonation, preventing oxygen exposure, and regulating temperature, ensuring the beverage remains fresh and flavorful during storage and transport.
Implementation Method 1
The vessel includes a double-wall construction with a vacuum space defined between an exterior wall of the vessel and an interior wall of the vessel
Implementation Method 2
The regulator cap assembly is configured to at least partially seal a mouth of the vessel and to regulate a pressure applied to a beverage retained in the internal volume. The pressure applied to the beverage forces the beverage into the riser volume and the gauge volume via the lower housing and provides a counter pressure to gauge volume at the upper housing.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
A beverage dispenser includes a vessel, a dispensing tap, a dispenser assembly, and a dispensing tube. The vessel defines an internal volume, a lower opening, and an upper opening. The dispensing tube couples the dispensing tap to the dispenser assembly. The dispenser assembly includes a liquid level gauge structure (gauge structure), a riser tube, a lower housing, and an upper housing. The riser tube is positioned within a gauge structure and defines a riser volume. A gauge volume is defined between the gauge structure and the riser tube. The lower housing is configured such that the riser volume and the gauge volume are in fluid communication with the internal volume. The upper housing is configured such that the internal volume is in fluid communication with only the gauge volume and the riser tube is in fluid communication with a volume defined by the dispensing tube.