Beverage Dispensing Appliance Cooling Unit Top Third Keg Zone
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Solution Overview
Problem
Counter-top beverage dispensing appliances struggle to rapidly cool beverage kegs from ambient temperature to the desired dispensing temperature of 3-5°C due to their compact size and limited cooling capabilities, often requiring prior cooling or taking 12 hours without it, which is inefficient for impulsive home use or low-consumption establishments.
Innovation Solution
A compact beverage dispensing appliance with a cooling unit that directs a stream of cooled fluid to a specific 'cold area' on the keg's outer surface, typically the top third portion, creating a convection stream that efficiently cools the beverage, using a fluid gun or a peltier element, and maintaining a narrow distance between the keg and the housing to enhance cooling velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a compact cooling unit is used in counter-top dispensing appliances, then the appliance size is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but the cooling speed and temperature uniformity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing the cooling fluid specifically to the top third portion of the keg where permanent contact points are located, rather than cooling the entire keg surface uniformly. This localized cooling approach allows the compact appliance to achieve effective cooling results without requiring a large cooling unit, thus resolving the contradiction between compact size and cooling speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the cooling process by dividing the keg surface into different zones, with the top third portion being the primary cooling target. The cooling fluid is directed only to this specific segment rather than the entire keg surface, which improves cooling efficiency within the compact appliance design.
2Temperature
If prior cooling of the keg is required, then the beverage can be dispensed at the desired temperature, but the loss of time and reduced ease of operation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates preliminary action by providing permanent contact points between the inner bag and outer container that are pre-positioned to optimize heat transfer. These contact points are designed in advance to work effectively with the directed cooling fluid, enabling rapid cooling without requiring prior refrigeration of the keg before loading it into the appliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the cooling fluid as an intermediary substance that facilitates rapid heat transfer from the keg to the environment. The cooling fluid acts as a mediator between the cooling unit and the keg, enabling efficient temperature reduction within 1-2 hours without requiring the keg to be pre-cooled.
3Loss of time
If the keg is cooled rapidly without prior refrigeration, then the loss of time is reduced, but maintaining temperature uniformity throughout the keg becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By concentrating the cooling effect on the top third portion of the keg where permanent contact points are located, the patent creates an efficient heat transfer zone that rapidly removes heat from the beverage. The specific location of cooling is optimized to produce convection currents that naturally distribute temperature uniformly throughout the keg, resolving the contradiction between rapid cooling and temperature uniformity.
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 allows for rapid cooling of the beverage to the desired temperature within 1-2 hours, maintaining minimal temperature differences throughout the keg, making it suitable for dispensing from a bag-in-container type keg without the need for prior cooling.
Implementation Method 1
directs a stream of cooled fluid to a specific 'cold area' on the keg's outer surface, typically the top third portion, creating a convection stream that efficiently cools the beverage
Implementation Method 2
using a fluid gun or a peltier element
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
An appliance (1) for dispensing a beverage, the appliance comprising: a housing defining an inner space (Γ) wherein a beverage keg (2) is accommodated, the keg extending along a gravitational direction, X1, parallel to the gravity field, from a top position X1,t, to a bottom position XI, b, wherein XI, t is higher in the gravity field than X1,b when the appliance is in use; a pressure unit (6) for pressurising the interior of the keg; a tap unit (7) enabling dispensing beverage from said keg driven by pressure; a cooling unit for cooling the beverage in said keg, the cooling unit suitable for cooling a specific cold area of the keg's outer wall to a temperature lower than any other point of the keg, characterised in that the cold area of the keg is located i the top third portion of the keg according to the X1 direction.