Coffee Machine Dual Water Paths for Pressure and Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automatic coffee machines face challenges in achieving high pressure at low flow rates and low pressure at high flow rates efficiently, leading to the need for expensive vane pumps or compromises in flow rate with cheaper oscillating armature pumps.
Innovation Solution
The use of inexpensive oscillating armature pumps supported by a second pressurized water path, with an electromagnetic valve or non-return valve for flow rate regulation, allows for both high pressures at low flow rates and low pressures at high flow rates, enabling cost-effective operation and improved coffee quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If expensive vane pumps are used, then both high pressure at low flow rate and low pressure at high flow rate can be achieved, but device cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is segmented into two separate water paths: a first water path with an oscillating armature pump for high-pressure brewing, and a second water path for low-pressure high-flow operations. This segmentation allows each path to be optimized for its specific function, enabling the use of cheaper oscillating armature pumps instead of expensive vane pumps that must handle both pressure regimes.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device provides multi-functionality by selectively activating either the first water path, the second water path, or both simultaneously based on the brewing requirements. This universal control approach allows a single device configuration to achieve both high-pressure low-flow and low-pressure high-flow operations without requiring different pump types for each function.
2Ease of manufacture
If cheaper oscillating armature pumps are used, then device cost decreases, but flow rate at low pressure is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the output of the oscillating armature pump (first water path) with the direct water supply (second water path) at a common junction point. By combining these two water paths, the system achieves both the high pressure needed for brewing (from the pump) and the high flow rate (from the direct supply), overcoming the flow rate limitation of the oscillating armature pump at low pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control device acts as an intermediary that manages water flow distribution between the two water paths. It selectively opens or closes valves to direct water through the appropriate path based on the required pressure and flow rate conditions, enabling the cheap oscillating armature pump to achieve adequate flow rates when needed by coordinating with the direct water supply path.
3Device complexity
If a single water path with pump is used, then device complexity is reduced, but inability to provide both high pressure low flow and low pressure high flow
Solution Approach 1:
The water path configuration is made dynamic through the control device that can selectively activate different paths based on brewing requirements. The system transitions between different operational modes (first path only, second path only, or both paths simultaneously) to adapt to various brewing conditions, providing versatility while maintaining a relatively simple underlying structure of just two parallel water paths.
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 configuration allows for improved crema and coffee quality by switching pressurized water paths, reducing implementation effort and saving time in cleaning or descaling operations, while avoiding the flow rate limitations of cheaper pumps.
Implementation Method 1
a conveying device (5), in particular an oscillating armature pump, for conducting the water under pressure into the brewing unit (2)
Implementation Method 2
a flow rate regulator (6), in particular an electromagnetic valve or a non-return valve, for regulating a flow rate of the water in the second water path (4)
Implementation Method 3
a brewing unit (2) for forcing the water through the ground coffee (K)
Data Source
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AI summary
Device for preparing a beverage from a substance (K) through which water flows, in particular an electrically operated coffee machine, with a water inlet (1) through which water (W) can be supplied to the device and through which the supplied water (W) can be directed into a brewing unit (2) of the device, which has a brewing chamber (10) for receiving the substance (K) and for the water (W) to flow through it, characterized in that the water inlet (1) has a first water path (3) in which a conveying device (5), in particular a water pump, is provided, and a second water path (4) to which water can be supplied under pressure, wherein the first and the second water paths (3, 4) merge upstream of the brewing unit (2) (11) in order to be able to direct water (W) from both water paths (3, 4) into the brewing unit (2).