Capsule Inner Cup Sealing Under Hydraulic Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee capsules face issues with undesirable extraction behavior due to swirling of substances when liquid is injected under pressure, and existing solutions like permeable intermediate walls or complex seals are costly or difficult to produce.
Innovation Solution
A two-part capsule design with a rotationally symmetrical body and a separate inner cup that forms a tight seal with the base under hydraulic pressure, ensuring that the liquid flows only through the inner cup and outlet opening, using a collar with perforations for enhanced sealing and pressure balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate inner cup is used to reduce substance volume and prevent swirling, then beverage quality improves, but production cost and complexity increase due to complex sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The capsule is divided into two main parts: an outer capsule body and an inner cup. The inner cup is a separate component that can be inserted into the capsule body, allowing for modular assembly and simplified production. This segmentation enables the inner cup to be manufactured independently using cost-effective methods while maintaining the overall capsule functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing function is extracted from the assembly process and integrated into the capsule body design. The base of the capsule body includes a pre-formed sealing surface that automatically seals with the inner cup upon insertion, eliminating the need for complex external sealing mechanisms or assembly steps.
2Ease of manufacture
If snap-in connections are used to hold the inner cup, then assembly is simplified, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to play in the connection
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is localized to a specific sealing surface on the base of the capsule body, while the snap-in connection provides general positioning and retention. This separation of functions allows the sealing area to be optimized for tightness while the overall connection remains simple and easy to assemble.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing surface acts as an intermediary element between the snap-in connection and the inner cup. While the snap-in connection provides mechanical retention, the sealing surface ensures fluid-tight sealing by creating a dedicated contact area that compensates for any play in the connection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the inner cup is held above the base without tight sealing, then assembly is easier, but liquid leakage occurs without passing through the substance
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing function is extracted from the assembly process and integrated into the capsule body design. The base includes a pre-formed sealing surface that automatically engages with the inner cup upon insertion, ensuring liquid-tight sealing without requiring complex assembly steps or additional components.
4Reliability
If permeable intermediate walls are used to control liquid flow, then extraction behavior improves, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inner cup is designed as a simple, disposable component that can be manufactured using cost-effective methods such as injection molding. Instead of using complex permeable intermediate walls, the inner cup itself serves as a simple barrier that controls liquid flow through its bottom structure, which can be easily manufactured and discarded after use.
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 prevents leakage and ensures high-quality beverage preparation by maintaining internal pressure and flow resistance, preventing deformation of the inner cup and ensuring efficient liquid flow without complex seals or high production costs.
Implementation Method 1
When hydraulic pressure is applied in the inner cup, the base and the inner cup have sealing surfaces that correspond to one another and can be pressed against one another. This creates a seal between the inner cup and the base
Implementation Method 2
The substance present in the inner cup will automatically create a flow resistance, so that an internal pressure builds up. This internal pressure or hydraulic pressure results in a force by which the inner cup is pressed with its sealing surface onto the sealing surface of the base
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
Capsule (1) with a preferably rotationally symmetrical capsule body (2) with a side wall (3), with a base (4) and with a cover (5), which covers the capsule body (2), to form at least one chamber (6), wherein, in order to guide a liquid through the chamber (6), the cover (5) forms an inlet side and the base (4) forms an outlet side with an outlet opening (8), wherein a separate inner cup (9) which covers the outlet opening (8) and through which the liquid can flow is held in the capsule (1) above the base (4) and contains a substance (7) for the preparation of a liquid food, wherein the base (4) and the inner cup (9) each have sealing surfaces (13, 14) which correspond to one another, wherein the two sealing surfaces (13, 14) can be pressed against one another when a hydraulic pressure is applied in the inner cup (9).