Coffee Machine Hot Water Bypass for Pressure Relief Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing coffee-making devices are inefficient in hot water use, complex due to the need for external drainage and excess pressure valves, and prone to energy losses, as they require separate systems for water collection and drainage to manage excess pressure.
Innovation Solution
A device with a by-pass line connecting the pressure pump's inlet and outlet, featuring a pressure-operated valve, which redirects excess pressure water back to the pump's suction side, eliminating the need for external drainage and allowing for a compact, energy-saving design by re-circulating hot water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If an excess pressure valve is used to release water to the surroundings, then excess pressure is reduced, but device complexity increases and energy loss occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the excess pressure relief function with the existing water circulation system by connecting the outlet of the excess pressure valve to the inlet of the pressure pump through a bypass line. This integration eliminates the need for separate drainage systems and external water collection devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining pressure control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the water released by the excess pressure valve to the surroundings, the patent redirects it back to the pump inlet. This converts the harmful effect of water loss and energy waste into a beneficial circulation loop, where the released water is reused, eliminating energy loss and unnecessary water drainage requirements.
2Stress or pressure
If water is drained to the surroundings, then excess pressure is managed, but hot water efficiency decreases and energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent recovers the water that would otherwise be discarded to the surroundings by redirecting it through a bypass line back to the pump inlet. This recovery mechanism ensures that hot water is not wasted, maintaining hot water efficiency and eliminating the energy loss associated with draining heated water to the environment.
3Quantity of substance
If a separate drainage system is added, then water collection is enabled, but device complexity and compactness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water collection and pressure management functions into the existing circulation system. The bypass line integrates the excess pressure valve outlet with the pump inlet, eliminating the need for separate drainage pipes, water collection reservoirs, and external drainage connections, thereby maintaining device compactness and simplicity.
4Temperature
If the heating pipe is made long to improve heat exchange, then heating efficiency increases, but device compactness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a compact heating pipe design where the heating pipe is coiled or nested within the water reservoir. This nesting arrangement allows the heating pipe to be positioned close to the water volume it needs to heat, maximizing heat exchange efficiency while occupying minimal space, thereby maintaining device compactness.
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 simplifies the device, reduces energy losses, and allows for a more compact design by eliminating the need for external drainage and excess pressure valves, while ensuring efficient hot water use and management.
Implementation Method 1
a heating element and water in the reservoir as a heat-exchange medium
Implementation Method 2
an outlet connected to a heating pipe, which is in heat-exchanging contact with a heating body
Implementation Method 3
forcing non-boiling water at a temperature of approximately 85° C. to 105° C. through a bed of ground coffee at a pressure of approximately 10 bars
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for preparing hot water provided with a pressure pump with a supply pipe for supplying relatively cold water to the pressure pump and an outlet connected to a heating pipe which is in heat-exchanging contact with a heating body, with an outlet valve in the heating pipe and a coffee holder, connected to the heating pipe, for accommodating a bed of coffee, whereby the heating body comprises a reservoir that is openly connected to the environment, with a heating element and water in the reservoir as a heat-exchange medium. A by-pass pipe (54) connects the inlet (57) and outlet (35) of the pressure pump (34) to each other, with a pressure-operated valve (56) in the by-pass pipe.