Beverage Dispensing Valve Upstream Additive Injection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage dispensing devices face challenges in achieving homogeneity of mixed drinks, particularly with alcoholic beverages, as post-mix distribution leads to foam production and requires specific taps that complicate cleaning protocols, and existing solutions can only deliver a single mixed drink.

Innovation Solution

A beverage dispensing device with a dispensing valve coupled to a main supply circuit and a secondary supply circuit for additives, featuring selective coupling means that allow controlled injection of additives upstream of the valve, including a solenoid valve and controlled pump, enabling the selection of additive injection based on tap actuation and flow rate, ensuring homogeneity and efficient cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If post-mix distribution is used to increase beverage variety, then the number of different beverages dispensed is improved, but homogeneity of the final drink is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of different beverages dispensedVSAvoidhomogeneity of the final drink

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by injecting the additive into the main liquid stream upstream of the dispensing valve, allowing mixing to occur before dispensing. This pre-mixing approach ensures homogeneous distribution of the additive throughout the beverage stream, resolving the homogeneity issue while maintaining beverage variety through selective additive injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If post-mix distribution is used to increase beverage variety, then the number of different beverages dispensed is improved, but foam production is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of different beverages dispensedVSAvoidfoam production

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs the mixing action upstream of the dispensing valve rather than at the outlet. By injecting the additive into the pressurized main liquid stream before it reaches the valve, mixing occurs in a controlled environment away from air contact, preventing foam formation while still enabling beverage variety through selective additive addition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If specific taps are used to enable mixing at the outlet nozzle, then mixing capability is improved, but ease of cleaning is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemixing capabilityVSAvoidease of cleaning

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs mixing upstream of the dispensing valve in the main liquid stream, allowing the use of standard dispensing taps without modification. This approach maintains compatibility with conventional cleaning procedures using spherical sponges, as the tap structure remains unchanged, while still achieving additive mixing through upstream injection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Manufacturing precision

If upstream mixing is implemented to improve homogeneity, then homogeneity of the final drink is improved, but device complexity is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehomogeneity of the final drinkVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the existing pressurized liquid flow in the main supply circuit to transport the additive from the injection point upstream to the dispensing valve. The hydraulic flow naturally carries the additive through the system, eliminating the need for additional pumps or complex mechanical mixing devices, thus achieving homogeneity without significant complexity increase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

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 device allows for the production of homogeneous beverages with various aromas using existing taps, reduces foam production, and facilitates efficient cleaning by enabling conditional additive injection and precise flow control, ensuring no residual additive remains in the system.

Implementation Method 1

a solenoid valve mounted on the secondary supply circuit between the pump and the main supply circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolenoid: Solenoid

Implementation Method 2

a controlled pump able to generate a secondary flow of additive towards the main supply circuit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPump: Pump

Implementation Method 3

making it possible to obtain a homogeneous resulting drink which may have different aromas

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMixing:

Data Source

PatentEP2891622B1Device for dispensing a beverage allowing the injection of at least one additive into the dispensed beverage

Publication Date: 2018.12.19 HEINEKEN ENTREPRISE

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Figure 4~5

AI summary

The beverage dispensing device comprises a dispensing tap (1) coupled to at least one main supply circuit (4, 41, 42, 43, 44) capable of conveying a main liquid, and at least one secondary supply circuit (6, 6a, 6b, 6c) capable of conveying an additive miscible with the main liquid and coupled upstream of the dispensing tap (1) to said main supply circuit (4, 41, 42, 43, 44). The device includes selective coupling means capable of controlling the injection of at least one additive into the main liquid flow delivered to the dispensing tap (1) by said main supply circuit (4, 41, 42, 43, 44).