Dispensing Nozzle Static Mixer for Beverage Brix Stratification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current beverage dispensing nozzle assemblies face challenges in accommodating fluids with varying viscosities, flow rates, and mixing ratios, leading to brix stratification and inefficient mixing, particularly with thicker syrups resisting proper mixing, resulting in beverages with sugar concentration variations across the drink.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing nozzle assembly featuring a target assembly with fins and channels, a twisted static mixer, and a diluent/sweetener module with projections, designed to enhance mixing by incorporating angled macro-ingredient and micro-ingredient outlet tubes, and a static mixer positioned beneath the target assembly to improve fluid interaction and reduce carryover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single nozzle design is used for multiple beverages, then device complexity is reduced, but mixing performance deteriorates due to varying fluid viscosities and flow rates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle design varietyVSAvoidmixing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle assembly incorporates a selectable array of ingredient outlet tubes with different sizes and configurations. The system dynamically adapts to different beverage types by selecting the appropriate tube combination, allowing the same physical nozzle structure to optimize mixing performance across varying fluid viscosities and flow rates without requiring multiple fixed nozzle designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes physical parameters of the ingredient delivery system by providing outlet tubes with varying diameters, lengths, and configurations. This allows adjustment of flow characteristics to match different ingredient viscosities, enabling a single nozzle assembly to maintain optimal mixing performance across multiple beverage types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If thicker syrups are used, then beverage variety is improved, but mixing performance deteriorates due to brix stratification

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage varietyVSAvoidsugar distribution uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The ingredient outlet system is segmented into multiple tubes with different characteristics (sizes, shapes, configurations). This segmentation allows selection of the most appropriate tube for specific thick or viscous ingredients, preventing brix stratification by ensuring proper flow and mixing characteristics for each ingredient type

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different outlet tubes are assigned to different ingredient positions within the nozzle assembly. Each tube is optimized for specific viscosity ranges or ingredient types, creating local quality variations that ensure proper mixing performance for thick syrups while maintaining versatility for various beverage formulations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple ingredient streams are used, then beverage variety is improved, but carryover between pours increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeverage varietyVSAvoidcarryover between pours

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The ingredient outlet tubes are designed as separate, removable components that can be individually extracted and cleaned. This extraction capability allows thorough cleaning of each tube to remove residue between different beverage pours, preventing carryover while maintaining the ability to handle multiple ingredient streams for varied beverages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle assembly facilitates easy discarding of residue through accessible cleaning ports and removable tube components. The design allows complete evacuation and cleaning of ingredient streams between uses, recovering the system's readiness for the next beverage type without cross-contamination

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 effectively mixes diverse beverage ingredients, reducing brix stratification and ensuring consistent sugar distribution across the beverage, accommodating a wide range of fluid types and flow characteristics while facilitating easy cleaning and reduced carryover.

Implementation Method 1

a static mixer positioned about the fins... designed to enhance mixing by incorporating... a static mixer positioned beneath the target assembly to improve fluid interaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTurbulence: Turbulence

Data Source

PatentUS11214473B2Dispensing nozzle assemblies with static mixers

Publication Date: 2022.01.04 THE COCA COLA CO

AI summary

The present application provides a dispensing nozzle assembly for mixing a first fluid and a second fluid. The dispensing nozzle assembly may include a target assembly with a number of fins and a number of channels and a static mixer positioned about the fins.