Beverage Server Gate Valve Segmentation for Wine Preservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing beverage server systems expose wine to outside air when detached from the bottle, leading to quality deterioration and storage inconvenience due to bulkiness.

Innovation Solution

A beverage server system with a gate valve attached to a through-screw portion passing through the cork stopper, utilizing a food additive gas to prevent air exposure by opening and closing the valve during pouring and storage, and including a detachable design for compact storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the beverage server system is kept attached to the bottle to prevent outside air exposure, then the beverage quality is maintained, but the system cannot be used in another bottle during interruption and storage space is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage quality maintenanceVSAvoidreusability in another bottle

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The beverage server system is divided into detachable components: the through-screw portion remains attached to the bottle while the pouring portion can be removed and attached to another bottle, enabling reuse without compromising the seal integrity of the original bottle

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gate valve acts as an intermediary mechanism that controls the opening and closing of the beverage flow path. When the pouring portion is detached, the gate valve automatically closes to prevent outside air from entering the bottle, thus maintaining beverage quality while allowing the pouring portion to be reused

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the beverage server system is kept attached to the bottle to prevent outside air exposure, then the beverage quality is maintained, but the system becomes bulky and difficult to store

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage quality maintenanceVSAvoidstorage space requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the system into a stationary through-screw portion and a movable pouring portion, the pouring portion can be detached and stored separately in a compact state, significantly reducing the storage space required while maintaining the seal through the gate valve mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pouring portion is extracted as a separate detachable component from the through-screw portion. This allows the pouring portion to be removed when not in use, reducing the overall volume occupied during storage while the gate valve ensures beverage quality is maintained when detached

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If a through portion passes completely through the cork to enable beverage pouring, then beverage flow is achieved, but outside air enters the bottle when the server is detached

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage pouring capabilityVSAvoidoutside air exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gate valve serves as an intermediary control mechanism within the through-screw portion that opens to allow beverage flow during pouring and automatically closes when the pouring portion is detached, preventing outside air from entering through the through-hole while maintaining pouring functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The gate valve is designed to dynamically change its state between open and closed positions based on whether the pouring portion is attached or detached. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain beverage pouring capability when needed while preventing outside air exposure when the server is detached

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Prevents wine exposure to outside air during pouring and storage, maintaining quality and allowing for compact storage by using a flexible gate valve and detachable components.

Implementation Method 1

the food additive gas supplied to the internal space exerts a pressing force that causes the beverage to flow to the inside of the pouring portion through the beverage supply hole, open the check valve, and be poured through an orifice of the pouring portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS11964861B2Beverage server, beverage server kit, and beverage-pouring method

Publication Date: 2024.04.23 NITTOKU CO LTD

AI summary

A beverage server for pouring a beverage includes tubular through-screw portion 4, gas supply tube 2, gas supply device 3, gate valve 43, tubular pouring portion 5, and check valve 51. The gate valve is configured to be opened and closed with the pouring portion. The pouring portion has beverage supply hole 53 formed at a lower end portion thereof. Food additive gas supplied from the gas supply device is supplied from the gas supply tube to the through-screw portion and supplied to internal space S through a space between an outer wall of the pouring portion and an inner wall of the through-screw portion. The food additive gas exerts a pressing force that causes the beverage to flow to the inside of the pouring portion through the beverage supply hole, open the check valve, and be poured through an orifice of the pouring portion.