Cold brewed coffee system in a refrigerator appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cold brewing coffee systems require manual water refilling and lack a means to maintain cold water temperatures, resulting in unsatisfactory coffee steeping and warming of brewed coffee, which is inconvenient for users.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator appliance with a built-in cold brewed coffee system featuring a chilled chamber, a water reservoir, a coffee reservoir, a water level sensing system, and an inlet valve that automatically controls water flow to steep coffee grounds in chilled water, producing cold brewed coffee directly within the chilled environment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dedicated cold brewing coffee system is placed on the kitchen countertop, then cold brewed coffee can be prepared, but it takes up valuable countertop space and requires constant manual water refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cold brewing coffee system with the refrigerator appliance, merging two separate functions (coffee brewing and food/beverage storage) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for a separate countertop device and leverages the refrigerator's existing water supply and chilled environment to provide automatic operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a water level sensing system that automatically detects when water is needed and activates an inlet valve to refill the water reservoir from the refrigerator's water supply. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual water refilling by the user.
2Reliability
If conventional cold brewed coffee systems are used without cooling means, then the brewing process is simpler, but the coffee grounds are not steeped in cold water as desired producing unsatisfactory coffee
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the refrigerator's chilled chamber environment to serve dual purposes: storing beverages/food and providing the cold temperature necessary for proper coffee steeping. This eliminates the need for a dedicated cooling system within the coffee maker, as the refrigerator's cooling function is leveraged for both its primary purpose and coffee brewing.
3Ease of operation
If conventional cold brewing systems produce coffee at room temperature, then the brewing process is faster, but the produced coffee is relatively warm and not chilled as desired requiring transport to a chilled chamber
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the cold brewing system within the refrigerator's chilled chamber, the patent combines the brewing process with the chilling environment. The coffee is steeped in cold water and remains chilled throughout the process, eliminating the need for separate post-brew chilling steps and ensuring ready-to-drink cold coffee.
4Extent of automation
If manual water refilling is required for cold brewing systems, then the system structure is simpler, but it requires constant user intervention and is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a water level sensing system that continuously monitors the water level in the reservoir and provides feedback to the control mechanism. When the water level drops below a threshold, the sensor triggers the inlet valve to open and refill the reservoir, creating a closed-loop automatic control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic refilling mechanism allows the system to service itself by detecting low water levels and autonomously refilling from the refrigerator's water supply without requiring user intervention. The water level sensing system and inlet valve work together to maintain adequate water levels automatically.
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 system ensures coffee grounds are steeped in chilled water, and the brewed coffee is maintained at a chilled temperature, eliminating the need for post-brew chilling and saving countertop space by integrating the brewing process within a refrigerator.
Implementation Method 1
a water level sensing system operable to detect when water within the water reservoir has reached a predetermined water level
Implementation Method 2
an inlet valve positioned along the inlet supply conduit and movable between an open position and a closed position, the inlet valve configured for selectively allowing water to flow from the water supply to the water reservoir
Implementation Method 3
a refrigerator appliance defining a vertical direction is provided. The refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet defining a fresh food chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance having a cold brewed coffee system positioned within a chilled chamber of the refrigerator appliance is provided. In one example aspect, the system includes a housing defining a water reservoir and a coffee reservoir. The water reservoir is in fluid communication with a water supply via an inlet supply conduit. An inlet valve is positioned along the inlet supply conduit and selectively allows water into the water reservoir. The water within the water reservoir drips into the coffee reservoir where the water mixes with coffee materials received therein. Cold brewed coffee is produced within the coffee reservoir and may slowly drip into a coffee container positioned or docked beneath the housing.