Communicating Vessel Liquid Volume Measurement for Refill Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing machines lack precise liquid volume measurement, often leading to unnecessary refills and potential pump dryness due to imprecise minimum level sensors, and current solutions are either costly or do not address the issue effectively.
Innovation Solution
A measurement device using two communicating vessels, a main vessel and a reference vessel with a smaller volume, where a pump extracts liquid from both until the reference vessel is empty, allowing a control unit to calculate the liquid volume based on the time it takes to empty the reference vessel and the pump's flow rate, using a simple and cost-effective minimum level sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional minimum level sensors are used, then the device can detect when the water tank is empty, but the measurement precision is poor and unnecessary refills are triggered
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the liquid volume measurement task into two parts: a reference vessel with known geometry that is emptied by the pump, and a main vessel whose volume is calculated based on the reference measurement. This segmentation allows precise measurement without complex sensors in the main vessel.
Solution Approach 2:
The reference vessel acts as a simplified copy or model system with known characteristics (smaller volume, regular geometry). By measuring the time to empty this reference copy, the system infers the volume in the main vessel through the communicating vessels relationship, avoiding direct complex measurement in the main vessel.
2Reliability
If minimum level sensors are located at the minimum liquid level for the largest drink, then the system prevents pump dryness, but it triggers unnecessary refill indications for smaller drinks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary measurement action by emptying the reference vessel and measuring the time required. This preliminary action provides accurate information about the current liquid volume, allowing the system to determine whether enough liquid remains for the selected drink size before brewing begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit receives feedback from the minimum level sensor in the reference vessel and uses the measured emptying time to calculate the current liquid volume in the main vessel. This feedback loop enables dynamic determination of whether sufficient liquid is available for the chosen recipe, preventing both unnecessary refill indications and pump dryness.
3Measurement precision
If sophisticated measurement devices are used to precisely measure water tank volume, then accurate volume detection is achieved, but manufacturing costs increase disproportionately
Solution Approach 1:
The reference vessel is designed as a simple, inexpensive component with regular geometry and known volume characteristics. Instead of using expensive sophisticated sensors in the main vessel, the system uses this cheap reference element that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex electronic volume measurement sensors with a simple mechanical/time-based measurement approach. By measuring the time required to pump out the reference vessel and using the known pump flow rate, the system calculates volume without requiring expensive electronic sensors or complex measurement devices in the main vessel.
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
Enables precise measurement of liquid volume in the main vessel, preventing unnecessary refills and pump dryness while being cost-effective, allowing accurate calculation of liquid volume using the reference time and flow rate, and can be integrated into various beverage dispensing machines.
Implementation Method 1
a reference vessel (14) which has a smaller volume than the main vessel (12), wherein the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) are fluidly connectable to each other as communicating vessels
Implementation Method 2
a pump (16) which is connected to the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) for extracting liquid from the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14)
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a measurement device (10) for measuring a volume of liquid contained in a vessel, comprising: —a main vessel (12) for receiving a liquid; —a reference vessel (14) which has a smaller volume than the main vessel (12), wherein the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) are fluidly connectable to each other as communicating vessels; —a pump (16) which is connected to the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) for extracting liquid from the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14); —a minimum level sensor (26) which is configured to send a reference signal if a minimum liquid level within the reference vessel (14) is reached; —a first valve (20, 20′) via which the reference vessel (14) is fluidly connected to the pump (16), wherein the first valve (20, 20′) is configured to be closed off if the minimum liquid level within the reference vessel (14) is reached; and —a control unit (30) which is connected to the minimum level sensor (26, 26′) and the pump (16) and configured to measure a reference time between an activation of the pump (16) and a receipt of the reference signal, wherein the control unit (30) is further configured to calculate, based on the reference time and a flow rate of the pump (16), a liquid volume within the main vessel (12) and/or a total liquid volume within the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) together.” has been deleted and —The present invention relates to a measurement device (10) for measuring a volume of liquid contained in a vessel, including: —a main vessel (12) for receiving a liquid; —a reference vessel (14) which has a smaller volume than the main vessel (12), wherein the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) are fluidly connectable to each other as communicating vessels; —a pump (16) which is connected to the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) for extracting liquid from the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14); —a minimum level sensor (26) which is configured to send a reference signal if a minimum liquid level within the reference vessel (14) is reached; —a first valve (20, 20′) via which the reference vessel (14) is fluidly connected to the pump (16), wherein the first valve (20, 20′) is configured to be closed off if the minimum liquid level within the reference vessel (14) is reached; and —a control unit (30) which is connected to the minimum level sensor (26, 26′) and the pump (16) and configured to measure a reference time between an activation of the pump (16) and a receipt of the reference signal, wherein the control unit (30) is further configured to calculate, based on the reference time and a flow rate of the pump (16), a liquid volume within the main vessel (12) and/or a total liquid volume within the main vessel (12) and the reference vessel (14) together.