Centrifugal Pump Priming Venting for Quiet Beverage Brewers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solenoid-operated pumps in beverage forming machines can be noisy and are not self-priming, making them unsuitable for machines with removable water storage tanks, as they can become air-bound and fail to pump water when reconnected, rendering the brewer useless.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a centrifugal pump with a priming vent that remains open to allow water to flow and prime the pump, along with a check valve or backflow preventer to ensure one-way flow, and a vent in the conduit to prevent backflow and siphoning, allowing the pump to operate effectively even with a removable storage tank.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solenoid-operated pump is used, then the pump is self-priming, but the pump generates excessive noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the solenoid-operated pump with a centrifugal pump that uses a priming vent and backflow preventer system. The centrifugal pump uses gravitational force and pressure differential instead of solenoid mechanical operation, eliminating the noisy solenoid mechanism while maintaining self-priming capability through the vent system.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a non-self-priming centrifugal pump is used, then noise is reduced, but the pump becomes air-bound and fails when the storage tank is reconnected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a priming vent as an intermediary component that allows air to escape from the pump chamber. This vent acts as a mediator between the pump system and the atmosphere, enabling the centrifugal pump to prime itself by allowing air displacement without requiring a self-priming mechanism, thus maintaining reliability while using a quieter pump type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the centrifugal pump system by introducing a priming vent that modifies the pressure and air content parameters within the pump chamber. This parameter change allows the pump to transition from an air-bound state to a water-filled operational state, enabling reliable operation after storage tank reconnection.
3Reliability
If a check valve is added to prevent backflow, then one-way flow is ensured, but the pump priming process is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the priming vent and backflow preventer (check valve) into a coordinated system where both components work together through passive pressure differential control. The vent allows air escape during priming while the check valve prevents water backflow, and both functions are achieved without active control mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity despite adding components.
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 enables the use of non-self-priming centrifugal pumps in beverage forming machines, preventing air-binding and ensuring reliable operation by allowing gravity-fed priming and venting, while maintaining pressure for brewing, thus addressing noise and functionality issues.
Implementation Method 1
The priming vent may be positioned below a full level of the storage tank where a top level of water in the tank is located when the storage tank is full. This may help gravity-fed water to flow into the pump for priming.
Implementation Method 2
a centrifugal pump including a priming vent and an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit
Implementation Method 3
a check valve or other backflow preventer downstream of the pump that opens to allow one-way flow when there is a suitable pressure difference across the device
Implementation Method 4
a vent is provided to relieve pressure in the conduit downstream of the backflow preventer, thereby helping to resist unwanted backflow of liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A beverage forming apparatus includes a storage tank, and a centrifugal pump having an inlet connected to the storage tank by a supply conduit. The centrifugal pump may include a priming vent located below a full level of the storage tank and permit air to vent as liquid primes the pump. A metering tank may have an inlet connected to the centrifugal pump by a pump conduit, and an outlet connected to a brew chamber that forms a beverage using liquid received from the metering tank. In one embodiment, a flow control valve, such as a check valve, may be provided in the pump conduit to allow flow from the pump to the metering tank, but resist flow in reverse. In another embodiment, a vent valve in the pump conduit may be arranged to vent at least a portion of the pump conduit, e.g., to ambient air pressure.