Brew Chamber Lid-Triggered Water Delivery for Fresh Beverage Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage forming devices, such as coffee brewers, often require users to provide water at the time of use, limiting control over the volume and type of liquid used, and may result in stale water being left in the machine between uses, affecting beverage quality.
Innovation Solution
A beverage formation device with a reservoir for holding beverage precursor liquid, where the user can pour in the desired liquid, and a valve system that automatically transfers the liquid to a heating tank when the brew chamber is opened, ensuring precise control over the liquid volume and freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If water is pre-filled in the brewer's internal tank, then the device is ready for immediate use, but the user cannot control the volume and type of liquid used
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into two separate containers: a removable user-supplied water container and an internal heater tank. This segmentation allows the user to control the type and volume of water by selecting different containers, while the internal tank remains dedicated to heating, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and adaptability.
2Productivity
If the brewer maintains water in the internal tank between uses, then heating is ready for quick brewing, but stale water remains in the machine affecting beverage quality
Solution Approach 1:
The fresh water is extracted from the user-supplied container and transferred only when needed for brewing, rather than storing water in the internal tank between uses. This extraction approach allows the internal heater tank to remain empty or contain only heating elements, eliminating stale water while maintaining quick brewing capability through rapid heating of fresh water.
Solution Approach 2:
The user prepares fresh water in advance in the removable container, and the system is designed to transfer this pre-prepared water to the heater tank only when brewing is initiated. This preliminary preparation allows quick brewing without maintaining water in the internal tank during idle periods.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user must manually transfer water from the container to the heating tank, then precise control is achieved, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service water transfer through a valve mechanism that automatically opens when the brew chamber lid is opened, allowing water to flow from the user container to the heater tank without manual intervention. This automated transfer maintains precise control over water delivery while eliminating complex manual operations.
4Ease of operation
If a valve system is added to automate water transfer, then operation is simplified, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve control mechanism is merged with the existing brew chamber lid opening action. The same mechanical motion that opens the brew chamber also opens the water transfer valve, combining two functions into one action. This integration simplifies operation while minimizing additional complexity by utilizing existing moving parts.
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
Enables users to precisely control the volume and type of liquid used, maintaining the device empty between uses, which helps in producing a higher quality beverage by ensuring fresh water is used for each brewing cycle.
Implementation Method 1
the reservoir may be positioned over the heating tank, and when the valve is opened, the liquid may flow under the force of gravity into the heating tank
Data Source
AI summary
A apparatus for forming a beverage using a beverage formation device. Opening of a brew chamber may automatically enable the provision of beverage precursor liquid from a reservoir to a heating tank that is used (heated or not) to form a beverage. For example, opening of the brew chamber may cause a valve to be opened or otherwise permit flow of beverage precursor liquid from the reservoir to the heating tank. The valve may open simultaneously and automatically with a brew chamber lid, and may close when the brew chamber lid is closed.