Beverage Outlet Venting and Flow Guiding to Reduce Splashing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Beverage preparation machines, especially coffee machines, experience splashing and unrest in the beverage stream due to air inclusions, leading to soiling and undesirable effects like brown scattering spots on milk froth.

Innovation Solution

The beverage outlet features three or more incisions on the outlet pipe face side for lateral air discharge and a radially extending beverage guiding element with wings to calm and center the stream, reducing bubble formation and splashing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a beverage guiding element with a second section protruding from the outlet opening is used to calm the beverage stream, then the stream stability is improved, but air inclusions remain trapped causing splashing and turbulence

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeverage stream stabilityVSAvoidair inclusion splashing
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful air inclusions from the beverage stream by providing escape openings in the outlet pipe that allow air to exit laterally before reaching the beverage guiding element, preventing air bubbles from being carried into the calmed stream

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The outlet pipe is segmented into functional zones: a first section with escape openings for air discharge, and a second section containing the beverage guiding element for stream calibration, allowing independent optimization of air removal and stream stabilization functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If the outlet pipe has a larger inner diameter to calm the beverage stream, then the stream stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeverage stream stabilityVSAvoidoutlet pipe structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The outlet pipe is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously serves as the beverage conduit, the air escape pathway (through integrated escape openings), and the structural support for the beverage guiding element, eliminating the need for separate air venting mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The escape openings are directly formed in the outlet pipe wall, merging the air venting function into the existing outlet pipe structure rather than requiring a separate air vent component, thereby reducing overall device complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution effectively minimizes splashing and turbulence by allowing air to escape quickly, reducing bubble formation, and guiding the beverage stream to emerge smoothly, minimizing soiling and improving the presentation of beverages.

Implementation Method 1

The outlet pipe (110, 210) has three or more incisions (115, 215) extending on the face side from the end (112, 212) on the outlet opening side counter to the beverage dispensing direction D, wherein each of the incisions (115, 215) forms a through-opening between the inner and outer area of the outlet pipe (110, 210)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLateral air discharge through incisions: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

a beverage guiding element (220) having a central axis (M) coinciding with a central axis of the outlet pipe (210), the beverage guiding element (220) having three or more wings (223) extending radially outwards from the central axis (M) of the outlet pipe (210)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFlow calming and centering: Laminar Flow

Data Source

PatentEP3042593B1Drinks outlet for a beverage preparation machine
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 JURA ELEKTROAPPARATE AG
  • EP3042593B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3042593B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3042593B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a beverage outlet (1) for a beverage preparation machine, for example for a coffee machine, with an outlet pipe (210) which can be connected to the beverage preparation machine at one end and an outlet opening (211) at the other end (212) for dispensing a beverage from the beverage preparation machine having. Furthermore, the beverage outlet (1) has a beverage guide element (220) running coaxially to the outlet pipe (210), which is arranged with a first section (221) inside the outlet pipe (210) and with a second section (222) from the outlet opening (211 ) of the outlet pipe (210) protrudes. It is provided that the outlet tube (210) has at least one incision (215) extending on the face side from the end (212) of the outlet tube (210) on the outlet opening side in the opposite direction to the beverage dispensing direction (D) and which has a through-opening between the inner and outer area of ​​the outlet tube ( 210) forms.