Beverage Dispense Temperature Control With Passive Flow-Switched Valves
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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, especially when dealing with water that is too cold or during start-up and cool-down phases.
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 diverting it to another path during temperature deviations or non-brewing phases, using pumping and temperature measurement controls to optimize flow rates.
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 predetermined dispense temperature can be achieved, but the cost price of the beverage maker becomes relatively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the temperature sensor and water delivery counter means from the system, keeping only the essential pump and heating element. The control device is simplified to operate without these expensive sensing components, thereby reducing cost while maintaining functional capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the pump's own operation characteristics and the heating element's thermal response to self-regulate temperature. The pump delivers water at varying rates based on system pressure and heating status, and the heating element naturally maintains temperature through continuous low-level heating during pump operation, eliminating the need for external temperature sensing and control.
2Temperature
If the pump is operated with alternating low deliveries and high deliveries, or even interruptions, to compensate for cold water, then the predetermined temperature can be maintained, but the user may doubt the proper operation of the beverage maker
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates in periodic cycles with distinct phases: a first period with low delivery rate for heating, and a second period with high delivery rate for brewing. This regular periodic operation creates predictable water flow patterns that reassure users the system is functioning properly, eliminating the random alternating deliveries that cause doubt.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary heating action during the first period before the brewing period begins. Water is heated in advance during the low-delivery phase, so when the high-delivery brewing phase starts, the water is already at the correct temperature, ensuring consistent brewing temperature without needing random interruptions.
3Temperature
If the use of water that is actually too cold is compensated for by adjusting pump operation, then some temperature control is achieved, but the possibilities of temperature settings are limited and the coffee brewing process may be negatively influenced
Solution Approach 1:
The control device changes operational parameters including pump delivery rate, heating element power level, and the timing/duration of heating versus brewing periods. By varying these parameters, the system can adapt to different water temperatures and provide multiple temperature settings for different brewing preferences, overcoming the limitation of only compensating for cold water.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the ratio of heating period to brewing period, and adjusts pump delivery rate and heating power in real-time. This dynamic operation allows the system to accommodate a wide range of initial water temperatures and provide versatile temperature control for different coffee brewing requirements.
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 allows for accurate temperature control of the extracting fluid, ensuring optimal beverage quality by only using fluid at the correct temperature during brewing, reducing costs and eliminating the negative impacts of temperature fluctuations during start-up and cool-down phases.
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 and are 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
Implementation Method 3
pumping means for realizing a flow of the extracting fluid by exerting pressure on the extracting fluid
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
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.