Funnel assembly for making powdered beverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beverage preparation equipment is limited in producing beverages from non-brewed substances like powdered juices, as they require hot water and mechanical mixing, which is not suitable for chilled or non-whipped beverages.
Innovation Solution
A beverage making system that utilizes a powdered beverage insert within a brewing funnel assembly, allowing for the mixing of powdered or granular substances with water at ambient or reduced temperatures without mechanical whipping, using existing brewing equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional brewing equipment is used to produce beverages from powdered substances, then hot water and mechanical mixing are required, but this is not suitable for chilled or non-whipped beverages
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing funnel assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: an upper mixing chamber for combining powdered substance with water, and a lower draining chamber separated by a filter screen. This segmentation allows the system to handle powdered substances without requiring mechanical mixing mechanisms, as the draining action itself provides mixing and separation functions.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using mechanical whipping devices to mix powdered beverages as in conventional equipment, this invention inverts the approach by using gravity-driven draining through a filter screen to achieve both mixing and separation. The liquid flows downward through the powder bed, naturally mixing and filtering without mechanical intervention.
2Temperature
If powdered beverage substances are mixed with hot water in conventional brewers, then dissolution is achieved, but this is not suitable for chilled or reduced temperature beverages
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the key parameter from hot water temperature to ambient or reduced temperature water. The filter screen design and draining mechanism are optimized to work effectively at lower temperatures, where the draining action and gravity-driven flow provide sufficient mixing and dissolution without requiring thermal energy.
3Productivity
If existing brewing equipment is used for powdered substances, then beverage production is possible, but flavor crossover and organism growth occur due to particle retention
Solution Approach 1:
The filter screen extracts and removes retained particles from the beverage flow path. By positioning the screen at the drain opening, it continuously removes powder particles that would otherwise be retained in the brewing chamber, preventing flavor crossover to subsequent beverages and reducing organic material available for organism growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards retained particles through the filter screen into the drain, separating them from the beverage flow. This continuous removal of retained material prevents contamination and flavor crossover, while the filtered beverage is recovered and dispensed.
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 the production of beverages like lemonade and other chilled fruit-based drinks using existing brewing equipment, preventing flavor crossover and maintaining hygiene by minimizing particle retention and organism growth.
Implementation Method 1
An upwardly-extending projection is positioned along a bottom wall of the funnel assembly. The projection is configured to direct flow of powdered substance and liquid into channels formed between the projection and an inner surface of the funnel wall.
Implementation Method 2
The angled walls are configured to be angled with respect to the bottom of the funnel assembly in order to increase velocity of liquid as it runs down the walls and into the channels
Implementation Method 3
A mesh or other flow-restricting material is positioned over the drain opening in the insert
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for a funnel assembly for use in a beverage brewing apparatus. The funnel assembly may include an insert that is retained in the funnel assembly to contain a powdered or other similar substance for mixing with liquid within the insert. The insert is configured to extend within a cavity of the funnel assembly and is configured to permit mixing of the substance with the liquid before dispensing the mixture into a portion of the funnel assembly. The insert may include a rim or liquid shield, with at least a portion of the rim or liquid shield engaging a portion of the funnel assembly to retain the insert within the funnel assembly. The insert may further include a flow guide adjacent a drainage aperture, the flow guide at least partially directing the flow of mixture from the insert into a portion of the funnel assembly. The funnel assembly may alternatively itself be formed to contain a powdered or similar substance and permit mixing of the substance with liquid before dispensing.