Dual-Temperature Beverage Maker With Helical Cooling Brew Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage making devices are inefficient in brewing both hot and cold beverages, often resulting in dilution when converting hot beverages to iced versions, and require excessive coffee or energy to achieve desired temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A beverage maker with a housing containing a liquid reservoir, heating element, cooling unit, and a cold brewing unit featuring a double helical structure surrounded by coolant, allowing for selective brewing and temperature control between hot and cold settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If hot beverage is poured over ice to make iced beverage, then the beverage is cooled, but the beverage becomes diluted due to ice water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary cooling system using a heat exchanger and coolant circulation to cool the beverage without direct contact with ice. The coolant acts as a mediator that transfers heat from the beverage to the cooling system, achieving temperature reduction while preserving beverage concentration and flavor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical method of direct ice contact with a thermal exchange system. Instead of physically mixing beverage with ice water, the system uses a heat exchanger with circulating coolant to remove heat, substituting a thermal field-based approach for a mechanical mixing approach.
2Loss of substance
If coffee is brewed twice as strong to compensate for dilution, then the iced coffee has adequate strength, but more coffee is used increasing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system acts as an intermediary that allows standard-strength coffee to be cooled without dilution, eliminating the need to over-brew. This mediator enables the preservation of original beverage composition while achieving the desired cold temperature.
3Temperature
If toddy brewing method is used for iced beverage, then cold beverage is produced, but the brewing process takes at least twelve hours
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cooling action by circulating pre-chilled coolant through the heat exchanger before or during the brewing process. This allows the beverage to be cooled rapidly without requiring extended brewing time, as the cooling function is activated in advance and operates independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the time-intensive natural cooling process of toddy brewing with a mechanical cooling system using a heat exchanger and electrically-driven coolant circulation. This substitution enables rapid cooling in minutes rather than hours.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional beverage maker is used for hot beverage, then hot beverage is brewed, but the device cannot efficiently produce cold beverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal beverage maker that can efficiently produce both hot and cold beverages through a single device. The system includes a heating element for hot beverages and an integrated cooling system with heat exchanger for cold beverages, allowing the same device to perform multiple temperature-based functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between heating and cooling modes based on user selection. The coolant circulation system can be activated or deactivated independently of the heating element, allowing the device to adapt its thermal management strategy to produce either hot or cold beverages efficiently.
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 efficient and expeditious brewing of beverages at desired temperatures, preventing dilution and reducing coffee usage by continuously cycling coolant to maintain precise temperature control from hot to cold.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element contained within the housing, wherein the heating element is operably connected to the liquid reservoir
Implementation Method 2
a cooling unit contained within the housing
Implementation Method 3
a cold brewing unit contained within the housing, wherein the cold brewing unit has a double helical structure surrounded by coolant
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage maker to selectively brew hot or cold beverages employs both a heating unit and a cooling unit. The heating unit heats a liquid, typically water, and uses the heated liquid to hot brew a beverage. Using any of a number of touch sensitive buttons, a coolant can enter a cold brewing unit which subjects the hot brewed beverage to cooling via a helical structure. Further, there may be a resting plate for the container to receive the beverage that can be selectively cooled or heated. The end result is a quick and efficient way to brew either a hot or cold beverage.