Beverage Maker Passive Valve Design for Accurate Dispense Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee makers are costly due to the use of expensive components like temperature sensors and pumps, and they often produce coffee with inconsistent temperatures, affecting the brewing process and taste.
Innovation Solution
A beverage maker with a chamber and heating/cooling means, featuring passive valve means that switch based on pressure changes caused by flow rate variations, allowing the extracting fluid to flow only when at the correct temperature, and controlling the flow rate to maintain optimal temperature for brewing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If temperature sensors, control devices, and water delivery counter means are used to control heating and pump operation, then the dispense temperature can be controlled, but the cost price of the beverage maker becomes relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the pump's own operating parameters (flow rate, pressure) as the control mechanism. The controller adjusts pump operation based on temperature sensor feedback, eliminating the need for separate temperature sensors at the dispense point and water delivery counter means. The pump serves both as a transport device and a control actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes unnecessary components (temperature sensor at dispense point, water delivery counter means) from the system while retaining the essential function of temperature control through simplified means (single temperature sensor upstream, pump operation adjustment).
2Temperature
If the pump is operated with alternating low deliveries and high deliveries to compensate for temperature variations, then the temperature control is attempted, but the user may doubt the proper operation due to random pump operation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-heats water to the target temperature before the brewing cycle begins. The temperature sensor detects when the water has reached the desired temperature, and only then does the pump start delivering water to the brew chamber. This ensures consistent temperature without random pump operation patterns during the actual brewing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor provides continuous feedback to the controller, which adjusts pump operation accordingly. The controller monitors temperature and maintains it within the desired range through consistent, predictable pump operation rather than alternating patterns.
3Temperature
If water that is actually too cold is used in the coffee making process, then the pump delivery is reduced or interrupted, but this limits the possibilities of temperature settings and may have a negative influence on the coffee brewing process and taste
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of water to the exact target temperature before the brewing cycle starts. The temperature sensor confirms when the desired temperature is reached, and the pump then delivers water at that precise temperature. This eliminates the need to reduce or interrupt delivery during brewing, allowing full adaptability of temperature settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical approach of adjusting pump delivery to compensate for temperature issues with a sensor-based control system. The temperature sensor and controller work together to ensure water is at the correct temperature before delivery, eliminating the need for compensatory pump adjustments that limited temperature settings.
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
This design ensures the extracting fluid is at the correct temperature for brewing, improving the quality of the beverage and reducing costs by eliminating the need for expensive components and inconsistent flow patterns.
Implementation Method 1
heating/cooling means for setting the temperature of the extracting fluid, arranged upstream of the chamber
Implementation Method 2
valve means which are passive valve means switchable under the influence of a change of pressure build-up in the device caused by a change of a flow rate of the extracting fluid
Data Source
AI summary
In a device (1) for making a beverage on the basis of interaction between a beverage extract and an extracting fluid, which comprises an openable and closeable chamber (50) for receiving and accommodating a quantity of the beverage extract, and heating/cooling means (30) for setting the temperature of the extracting fluid, arranged upstream of the chamber (50), a beverage making process can be performed with extracting fluid that is exactly at a desired temperature. During heat-up or cool-down phases of the heating/cooling means (30), the extracting fluid is transported to another position than the chamber (50) where the beverage making process is supposed to take place. For the purpose of determining an appropriate path of the extracting fluid in every possible situation, valve means (60) are applied, which are switchable under the influence of a change of the flow rate of the extracting fluid.