Beverage Machine Liquid Level Measurement Using Gas Volume Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage forming machines require dedicated sensors to detect the volume of base liquids, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A beverage machine design that uses a liquid supply tank, conduit, pump, and controller to determine liquid levels or volumes based on gas volume in the conduit or pump operation time, eliminating the need for a dedicated sensor by employing a sensor to differentiate between liquid and gas pumping and using lookup tables or algorithms for accurate volume measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a dedicated sensor is used to detect the volume of base liquid in the liquid supply tank, then the measurement precision of liquid volume is improved, but the manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gas volume measurement in the conduit as an intermediary parameter to indirectly determine the liquid volume in the tank. By measuring the gas volume that displaces the liquid in the conduit, the system infers the liquid level in the tank without direct contact with the liquid, thus avoiding the need for dedicated liquid level sensors in the tank.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based measurement system with a pump operation time-based measurement system. Instead of using sensors to detect liquid volume, the system uses the time required for the pump to move a known volume of gas as a substitute measurement method, which can be implemented using simple timing circuits rather than complex sensor assemblies.
2Reliability
If a dedicated sensor is installed in the liquid supply tank to detect liquid volume, then the reliability of liquid level detection is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses gas volume measurement in the conduit as an intermediary to reliably determine liquid levels in the tank. This indirect measurement method provides reliable detection information without requiring physical sensors to be installed in the liquid supply tank, thereby maintaining reliability while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the pump's own operation characteristics (time to move gas volume) to provide measurement information. The pump serves both its primary function of moving liquid/gas and simultaneously provides measurement data through its operation time, eliminating the need for separate sensing components.
3Device complexity
If conventional pump operation time measurement is used to determine gas volume, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision may be affected by variable pump speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the controller monitors pump operation time and uses this information to determine gas volume. The system continuously measures the time required for the pump to move gas through the conduit and uses this feedback to calculate the gas volume, allowing for dynamic adjustment and accurate measurement even when pump speeds vary.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from direct volume measurement to time-based measurement. By measuring the time required for the pump to move a known volume of gas, the system converts a spatial measurement problem into a temporal measurement problem, which can be more accurately and simply measured using timing circuits while accounting for variable pump speeds.
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 accurate determination of liquid levels or volumes without a dedicated sensor, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The pump is fluidly coupled to an outlet of the conduit, and is configured to pump liquid and gas (e.g., from the conduit)
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems of determining the amount of liquid in a liquid supply tank of a beverage forming machine without a dedicated sensor are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the beverage forming machine includes a controller capable of determining the amount of liquid in the liquid supply tank based on a gas volume in a reference vessel, such as a conduit, in fluid communication with the liquid supply tank.