Modular Beverage Dispensing Assembly With Corrugated Pressure Container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beer dispensing systems, such as those using cylindrical plastic containers, are not suitable for high-pressure applications and suffer from mechanical breakage when pressurized beyond 1 bar, and metal containers are economically unfeasible due to increased manufacturing costs and weight.
Innovation Solution
A modular beverage dispensing assembly with a corrugated lateral wall pressure container, made of low-cost materials like plastic, that can withstand higher pressures by distributing mechanical stress evenly, using bell-shaped monolithic shells with projecting annular ribs to increase the nominal thickness of the lateral walls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the overpressure inside the pressure container is increased to deliver beverage to a remote dispenser, then the beverage can be delivered to remote locations, but the container suffers mechanical breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies corrugation (curved ridges) to the lateral wall of the pressure container. This corrugated structure distributes mechanical stress evenly across the container wall, allowing the container to withstand higher internal pressures (4-5 bars) without deformation or breakage, thus enabling remote beverage dispensing while maintaining container integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining plastic material with corrugated reinforcement. The corrugated lateral wall creates a composite effect where the ridges and grooves work together to distribute stress, achieving metal-like pressure resistance in a plastic container, thereby enabling high-pressure operation without using expensive metal materials
2Strength
If the thickness of the lateral wall is increased to improve stress resistance, then the container can withstand higher pressure, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing wall thickness uniformly, the patent uses corrugation (curved ridges) on the lateral wall. This approach provides stress distribution and high-pressure resistance while maintaining thinner overall walls, making the container more manufacturable and cost-effective compared to uniformly thick walls or metal construction
Solution Approach 2:
The corrugated structure provides localized reinforcement at critical stress points along the lateral wall. The ridges and grooves create zones of enhanced strength where needed, rather than uniformly thickening the entire wall, thereby reducing material usage and manufacturing cost while achieving the required stress resistance
3Strength
If metal pressure containers are used to withstand high pressure, then the container can deliver beverage to remote dispensers, but the manufacturing cost and weight double
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated plastic container achieves metal-like pressure resistance without the weight penalty of metal construction. The corrugated structure distributes stress effectively, allowing the container to handle 4-5 bars pressure while remaining lightweight, thus solving the contradiction between strength and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses plastic material with corrugated reinforcement rather than solid metal. This composite approach provides sufficient pressure withstanding capability through the corrugated structure while maintaining the low weight advantage of plastic, avoiding the doubled weight and cost associated with metal containers
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 modular design allows for pressures up to 4-5 bars without deformation, maintaining structural integrity and reducing costs compared to metal containers, while being adaptable to various bar sizes and configurations.
Implementation Method 1
When the compressor pressurizes the air inside the pressure container, the difference in pressure deforms the collapsible container, so the liquid inside (beer or other beverage) is forced to flow under pressure along the outflow hose
Data Source
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AI summary
A modular beverage dispensing assembly (1) having a number of beverage storage units (2), each for supplying a pressurized beverage and in turn having an airtight pressure container (3) housing a collapsible removable cartridge (4) containing the beverage; and an electric compressor (5) for feeding pressurized gas into the pressure container (3) of each beverage storage unit (2), to crush the removable cartridge (4) inside the pressure container; the pressure container (3) having two bell-shaped monolithic shells (15, 16) made of plastic material, aligned along the same longitudinal axis (L) with their concavities facing, and which rest one on the other to form a closed shell; and each bell-shaped monolithic shell (15, 16) having a substantially cylindrical, externally corrugated lateral wall (15a, 16a).