Beverage Capsule Sealing Flange for Grooved Annular Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsule sealing systems face challenges in maintaining a fluid-tight seal at both low and high fluid pressures, particularly when the enclosing member has radially extending open grooves, which can lead to leakage issues and require complex mechanisms for initial and increased sealing forces.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a sealing member integral with the outwardly extending flange, comprising projections that exert radial force on the annular element, facilitating a satisfactory seal at low and high pressures without the need for complex mechanisms, and allowing easy manufacturing and environmental friendliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing member is used to provide fluid sealing contact with the enclosing member, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for complex mechanisms to apply initial and increased sealing forces
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed to automatically apply sealing force through its own elastic deformation. When the capsule is inserted into the enclosing member, the sealing member elastically deforms to contact the free contact end of the annular element, creating initial sealing. During fluid injection, the sealing member automatically increases sealing force in response to pressure changes without requiring external mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member utilizes changes in elastic deformation parameters to adapt to different sealing requirements. At low pressure, the sealing member maintains basic contact through elastic deformation. When fluid pressure increases during brewing, the sealing member's elastic properties enable it to automatically increase contact force, maintaining effective sealing across varying pressure conditions without mechanism changes.
2Ease of operation
If radially extending open grooves are provided on the free contact end of the annular element, then ease of operation is improved for capsule removal, but sealing reliability deteriorates due to potential leakage paths
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with differentiated local properties to address different functional requirements. The sealing surface provides continuous contact for reliable sealing, while the overall structure accommodates the grooves for easy removal. The sealing member's elastic deformation ensures contact across the grooved surface, maintaining sealing effectiveness while allowing the grooves to facilitate capsule ejection and removal.
3Reliability
If a sealing member requiring complex mechanisms for force application is used, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed as a self-contained elastic component that generates its own sealing force through material elasticity. This eliminates the need for complex external force application mechanisms, significantly simplifying the manufacturing process. The sealing member can be produced as a simple elastic element that automatically performs sealing through its inherent elastic properties when deformed during capsule insertion.
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
The solution achieves a leak rate of 0-6% of the total fluid, ensuring effective sealing at both low and high pressures, making it suitable for various beverage preparation devices and easy to manufacture and dispose of.
Implementation Method 1
the sealing member is arranged such that upon closing of the enclosing member by means of the closing member, the sealing member is elastically deformed to provide a fluid sealing contact between the outwardly extending flange of the capsule and the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Capsule containing a substance for the preparation of a potable beverage. The capsule comprises an aluminum capsule body having a side wall and an outwardly extending flange and a sealing member at the outwardly extending flange for providing a fluid sealing contact with an enclosing member of a beverage preparation device. The beverage preparation device comprises an annular element having a free contact end which may be provided with a plurality of radially extending open grooves. The sealing member is integral with the outwardly extending flange and comprises at least one projection projecting from the outwardly extending flange. The projection comprising a projection top and is configured such that its projection top exerts a radial force on the free contact end of the annular element if the capsule is positioned in the enclosing member of the beverage preparation device and the enclosing member is closed by means of a closing member of the beverage preparation device.