Beverage Outlet Venting Chamber for Uniform Hot Water Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage outlets for hot water dispensers often experience uneven jet patterns due to steam presence, leading to turbulent liquid flow and disrupted spray patterns, which existing solutions fail to fully address across varying volume flows and temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A beverage outlet design featuring an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe with a smaller cross-section, and an intermediate chamber with a connecting channel for vapor discharge, ensuring the outlet pipe functions solely as a liquid channel, and the intermediate chamber acts as a reservoir to calm the liquid flow and equalize pressure, independent of inlet flow rates and temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the outlet pipe has a larger flow cross section than the inlet pipe to relieve pressure, then pressure relief is improved, but the jet pattern becomes uneven due to dual function (liquid channel and ventilation channel)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the ventilation function from the liquid discharge function by providing a dedicated connecting channel for vapor discharge and a separate outlet pipe for liquid discharge. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between pressure relief and jet pattern uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation function is extracted from the outlet pipe and assigned to a separate connecting channel that opens into the intermediate chamber. This extraction allows the outlet pipe to focus solely on liquid discharge, ensuring uniform jet pattern while the connecting channel handles vapor removal for pressure relief.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If turbulence is introduced into the liquid in the intermediate chamber to expel vapor components, then vapor removal is improved, but the liquid flow becomes turbulent which adversely affects the jet pattern
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vapor removal process from the liquid flow path by providing a separate connecting channel that allows vapor to escape from the intermediate chamber without disturbing the liquid flow in the outlet pipe. This segmentation enables effective vapor removal while maintaining stable liquid flow for uniform jet pattern.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate chamber acts as an intermediary space where vapor components can be separated and removed through the connecting channel without directly affecting the liquid flow in the outlet pipe. This intermediary structure allows vapor removal while preserving liquid flow stability.
3Device complexity
If the outlet pipe serves as both liquid channel and ventilation channel, then device complexity is reduced, but the jet pattern becomes unstable at certain volume flows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the functions of liquid discharge and ventilation into separate channels - the outlet pipe for liquid and the connecting channel for vapor. This segmentation eliminates the interference between dual functions that causes jet pattern instability, while the overall structure remains relatively simple through integrated design.
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 achieves a uniform and stable jet pattern across different flow rates and temperatures by ensuring all vapor components are vented, preventing turbulence and maintaining a consistent liquid flow, resulting in a balanced and splash-free dispensing process.
Implementation Method 1
the intermediate chamber acts as a reservoir for the liquid, which on the one hand calms the liquid, since pressure fluctuations in the inflowing liquid are compensated for before the liquid runs out of the outlet pipe
Implementation Method 2
at least one connecting channel between the intermediate chamber and an external environment for discharging vapor components of the liquid from the intermediate chamber of the outlet pipe
Implementation Method 3
The pressure is relieved via the outlet pipe, which has a larger flow cross section than the inlet pipe. The outlet pipe thus has two functions. On the one hand, it serves as a liquid channel for the outflowing hot water. On the other hand, it acts as a ventilation channel.
Implementation Method 4
the collection basin function causes a continuous outlet volume flow, independent of an inlet volume flow. Furthermore, the function collection basin ensures that with a hot liquid all or almost the entire amount of steam can escape from the hot liquid, since this forms a standing amount of hot liquid with a large evaporation surface in the collection basin.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
Beverage outlet 1 for a beverage dispenser for guiding a liquid, with an inlet pipe 20 for connection to a device-internal liquid supply, an outlet pipe 22 for removing the liquid and with an intermediate chamber 32 arranged between the inlet pipe 20 and the outlet pipe 22 for calming a liquid flow, the outlet pipe 22 has a smaller flow cross-section than the inlet pipe 20, and wherein at least one connecting channel 24 is provided between the intermediate chamber 32 and an external environment 46 for discharging vapor portions 98 of the liquid from the intermediate chamber 32.