Beverage Dispensing Head with Pressure-Reducing Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing systems require multiple heads to offer a variety of blended beverages, leading to space constraints and inefficiencies in providing different carbonation levels and supplemental flavors, with cumbersome baffle configurations causing carbonation breakout and increased complexity in assembly.
Innovation Solution
A single dispensing head with separate valves for each liquid stream allows for simultaneous discharge of multiple beverage-forming liquids, including non-carbonated and carbonated water, and different concentrate blends, featuring a nozzle design that minimizes carbonation breakout and is easy to assemble and maintain.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple dispensing heads are used to provide a variety of blended beverages, then beverage variety is improved, but counter space occupied increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beverage dispensing functions into a single dispensing head by integrating multiple concentrate dispensing mechanisms and a multi-stream water delivery system. This allows one head to dispense multiple different blended beverages by selectively activating different concentrate streams and mixing them with carbonated or non-carbonated water, thereby reducing the number of heads needed while maintaining beverage variety
Solution Approach 2:
The dispensing head is designed with universal functionality to handle multiple beverage types through a single unit. It includes multiple concentrate reservoirs, separate carbonated and non-carbonated water supplies, and a control system that can mix different concentrates with different water types to create various beverage formulations, making one head perform the work of multiple specialized heads
2Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional baffle arrangements are used to reduce carbonated water pressure, then carbonation breakout is reduced, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex multi-disc baffle arrangement entirely and replaces it with a simplified pressure reduction mechanism. Instead of using multiple spaced discs with aligned apertures to gradually depressurize the carbonated water, the invention employs a single integrated nozzle design with internal flow channels that achieve pressure reduction in one stage, eliminating the need for complex assembly of multiple components
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using baffles to gradually reduce pressure through multiple stages, the invention inverts the approach by designing the nozzle internal geometry to create controlled turbulence and expansion zones that achieve pressure reduction and mixing simultaneously. The nozzle structure itself becomes the pressure management mechanism rather than adding separate baffle components
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
Enables the provision of multiple beverage options from a single head, reducing space requirements and minimizing carbonation breakout, while allowing for easy installation and maintenance, thus enhancing operational efficiency and customer choice.
Implementation Method 1
The streamlined configuration of the nozzle assembly minimizes the pressure of carbonated water discharged from the beverage forming and dispensing system, thereby reducing carbonation breakout.
Implementation Method 2
A mixing chamber is provided below the nozzle assembly where the streams are blended to form a beverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage dispensing system includes a base to which a dispensing head is removably attached without additional fasteners. Beverage-forming liquids are supplied through a plurality of separate conduits in the base. Each base conduit has a normally closed valve that normally blocks fluid flow. The dispensing head has at least one passageway that receives liquid from an associated one of the base conduits. A projection associated with each dispensing head passageway opens the associated conduit valve to allow fluid flow from the base to the head. Dispensing valves in the dispensing head regulate the dispensing of the beverage. By selectively opening the dispensing valves, a plurality of beverages are formed from combinations of one or more liquids. A dispensing head includes an inlet opening and an outlet opening at each end of a passage extending through a body, the inlet opening having a smaller cross-sectional area than the outlet opening.