Volumetric Mixture Maker With Calibrated Solute Cups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for preparing mixtures of solutes and solvents require complex calculations and the use of weighing scales, leading to measurement errors and inaccuracies, especially in home cooking and laboratory settings.
Innovation Solution
A universal volumetric instrument with calibrated indicia columns on solute and solvent containers allows for visual measurement and alignment of surface levels to determine the correct amounts of solutes and solvents without the need for calculations, using a mechanical and visual approach to achieve desired concentration levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If weighing scales and analytic formulae are used for measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical weighing scale system with a volumetric cup system that uses visual level alignment. Instead of measuring mass with scales and calculating required volumes through analytic formulae, the system uses pre-calibrated volumetric cups with indicia that directly indicate the required volume of each ingredient to achieve target concentrations, eliminating complex calculations and weighing equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces volumetric cups with calibrated indicia as an intermediary device between the ingredients and the mixing process. These cups serve as mechanical calculators that embed the concentration calculations within their design, allowing users to simply pour ingredients to the indicated level rather than performing calculations manually
2Measurement precision
If weighing scales and analytic formulae are used for measurement, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the operationally complex system of weighing and calculating with a simple visual alignment operation. Users align the liquid level in one cup with the level in another cup based on pre-marked indicia, eliminating the need to read scales, perform calculations, and convert between units
Solution Approach 2:
The volumetric cups are designed to be self-calibrating through visual level alignment. The system performs its own measurement function by comparing liquid levels between cups with different calibrated indicia, requiring no external measurement tools or calculation assistance
3Ease of operation
If visual measurement with fixed-shaped containers is used, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different calibration qualities to different parts of the system. Each volumetric cup is calibrated with specific indicia patterns (concentric circles, radial lines, numerical values) optimized for its specific volume and concentration requirements, allowing precise visual alignment tailored to each measurement task
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses visual indicators on the cups (indicia patterns that may include color-coded markings or contrasting visual elements) to enhance the visibility of liquid levels and alignment references, making it easier to achieve precise measurements through visual observation
Data Source
AI summary
A volumetric instrument serving as a universal mixture maker. The instrument comprises fixed-shape solute cups that can be submerged in and fastened to solvent containers. The design allows a human operator to run an iterative method which finds a solution to a set of multivariate equations that would otherwise require situation-specific analytical calculations and the use of weighing scales. The iterative method can solve for one or more variables including solute volume, solvent volume, final mixture volume, and final solute concentration level. Cups and containers act as a mechanical calculator with a single parameter for the operator to manually adjust: how much of a solute cup to submerge in a solvent container. The mechanical calculator reduces mixture equations down to two markings for the operator to visually align: an output mixture marking on a cup, and a volumetric marking on a container.