Dispensing Assembly Curved Valve Tip Beverage Drip Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing assemblies for beverages suffer from issues such as dripping after valve closure, suboptimal flow patterns leading to splattering, and complexity due to the use of metal springs for biasing the valve.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing assembly with a movable valve body relative to a valve seat, featuring a bullet-shaped design with an outwardly curved tip to guide the beverage flow and minimize dripping, and a chamber that aids in pressure equalization without the need for additional springs, utilizing a combination of rigid and flexible materials for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spout is provided connected to the valve for guiding beverage to a glass, then beverage can be dispensed to a holder, but beverage may be trapped inside the spout when the valve is closed and later drip out spilling inside a refrigerator or on a table top
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing assembly is divided into functional segments: the valve body for flow control, the outlet channel for beverage transport, and the curved surface for flow guidance. This segmentation allows each component to address specific issues independently, with the curved surface specifically designed to prevent beverage trapping while the valve body handles flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet channel is designed with a curved surface that guides beverage flow smoothly from the valve body to the outlet end. This curvature prevents sharp angles where beverage could be trapped, allowing gravity to naturally drain any remaining beverage away from the valve closure area, thus eliminating dripping after valve closure.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a complicated second valve mechanism is provided at the upper end of the spout to open air channel when beverage valve is closed, then dripping problem can be addressed, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the air equalization function from a separate complex valve mechanism and integrates it into the basic outlet channel geometry. The curved surface of the outlet channel itself performs the air equalization function by allowing air to enter behind the beverage, eliminating the need for additional valve components.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet channel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides beverage flow, provides air equalization through its curved geometry, and prevents beverage trapping. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Productivity
If the jet when leaving the outlet or dispensing opening is not straight and well defined, then beverage flow can be dispensed, but splattering occurs and drops of beverage are dispensed with directions different from the predominant direction
Solution Approach 1:
The curved surface of the outlet channel is specifically designed to shape the beverage jet as it exits the dispensing opening. This curvature focuses the flow into a straight, well-defined stream rather than allowing it to scatter, ensuring that beverage drops travel in a consistent direction and preventing splattering.
Solution Approach 2:
The outlet channel has different geometric characteristics at different locations: the curved surface guides flow smoothly while the outlet end is designed to produce a focused jet. This local variation in geometry optimizes both the flow rate and the jet definition, preventing splattering while maintaining good dispensing productivity.
4Ease of operation
If springs are used for biasing the valves in open or closed position, then valve operation can be controlled, but the device complexity and especially the necessity of using metal springs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the traditional metal spring-based biasing mechanism with a simpler system using flexible material and gravity. The flexible membrane or diaphragm provides the necessary biasing force through its elasticity and the gravitational force on the valve body, eliminating the need for complex metal spring mechanisms while maintaining valve control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve biasing mechanism transitions from rigid metal springs to flexible materials with different physical properties. This parameter change allows the system to achieve the same biasing function through material elasticity and gravity rather than mechanical spring force, reducing complexity and enabling easier manufacturing.
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 provides a concentrated, straight jet of beverage with minimized dripping and reduced complexity, ensuring easy construction and use, while eliminating the need for additional springs to bias the valve.
Implementation Method 1
The tip, between the base and the end, has an outwardly curved outer surface, such that beverage engaging the base can be guided from the base over the outer surface
Implementation Method 2
the valve body is movable relative to a valve seat, between a closed position in which the valve body rests against the seat and an open position in which the valve body is spaced apart from the seat
Implementation Method 3
providing an air inlet opening close to the valve, that is spaced apart from the outlet end of the spout, which opening is closed when dispensing and open when the valve is closed, for letting air into the spout, behind the beverage inside the spout and thus equalizing pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Dispensing assembly (10 for beverage from a container (1), comprising an outlet channel (12) for beverage and a valve body (16) operable to open and close said outlet channel (12), wherein the channel (12) defines a direction of flow of the beverage towards an outlet end (13), and wherein the valve body (16) is provided at or near the outlet end (13) of the outlet channel (12) and has a shape with a base (21) facing in a direction against the direction of flow and a tip (22) with an end (23) facing in the direction of flow, wherein the tip (22), between the base (21) and the end (23), has an outwardly curved outer surface (24), such that beverage engaging the base (21) can be guided from the base (21) over the outer surface (24) to the end 823) orming a beverage jet when leaving the surface at or near said end.