Multi-function Valve for Sealed Beverage Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for extracting beverages from sealed containers, such as wine bottles, often introduce air or damage the closure, leading to quality issues and difficulty in repeated extraction without compromising the seal.
Innovation Solution
A beverage extraction device with a movable needle and valve system that allows pressurized gas to be introduced into the container, enabling beverage extraction without removing the closure, while maintaining the seal and preventing gas or liquid ingress, using a clamp mechanism to secure the device to the bottle and a 3-way valve to control gas and beverage flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a needle is inserted through a closure to extract beverage, then beverage extraction is enabled, but the closure seal is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates gas introduction and beverage extraction into distinct functional paths. Gas is introduced through one needle while beverage is extracted through another needle, allowing both functions to occur simultaneously without compromising the closure seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses needles as intermediaries that pass through the closure without removing it. The closure remains in place as an intermediary barrier that maintains the seal while allowing controlled passage of gas and beverage through the needle lumens.
2Productivity
If pressurized gas is introduced to enable beverage flow, then extraction speed increases, but gas may contaminate the beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the gas introduction path and beverage extraction path into separate needles. This prevents direct mixing of gas and beverage while allowing pressurized gas to drive beverage flow through the separate extraction needle.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an inert or non-reactive pressurized gas (such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide) to displace air from the container headspace. This inert gas atmosphere prevents oxidation and contamination of the beverage during extraction.
3Device complexity
If a single valve controls both gas and beverage flow, then device complexity is reduced, but flow control precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
A single multi-position valve is designed to perform multiple functions: controlling gas flow to the first needle, controlling beverage flow from the second needle, and coordinating both flows. This universal valve reduces the number of components while maintaining precise flow control through its multiple positions.
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 multiple extractions from a sealed container without affecting beverage quality, as the closure remains intact, and the device allows for convenient operation by a user without manual control of gas input, ensuring minimal oxidation and storage integrity.
Implementation Method 1
A gas source may be mounted to the body, be fluidly coupled to the needle and arranged to deliver pressurized gas to the at least one lumen at the proximal end of the needle
Data Source
AI summary
Devices and methods for extracting a beverage from a container, such as a wine bottle. Beverage can be extracted from a container by inserting a needle through a container closure, such as a cork, delivering pressurized gas into the container via the needle, and dispensing beverage from the container via the needle. A single valve can control flow of gas into the container, flow of beverage from the container, and stop all flow.