Elastic Pump Mounting for Beverage Machine Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Beverage preparation machines experience vibrations from the pump, which are transmitted to the housing, affecting the quality and operational feel of the device and other components.

Innovation Solution

An elastic support member, such as a bellow-shaped or leaf spring, is used to resiliently mount the pump within the housing, absorbing vibrations and preventing their transmission to the housing. This support member allows movement in multiple degrees of freedom and can incorporate electric connection means for a space-saving and automatic assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the pump is rigidly mounted in the housing, then the pump is stable and secure, but vibrations are transmitted to the housing affecting quality and operational feel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump stabilityVSAvoidvibration transmission to housing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an elastic support member as an intermediary element between the pump and the housing. This elastic member acts as a mediator that connects the pump to the housing while simultaneously absorbing vibrations, thus preventing vibration transmission to the housing while maintaining pump stability and security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the mechanical properties of the support structure from rigid to elastic. By using an elastic support member instead of a rigid mounting, the system transforms the support characteristics to allow vibration absorption while maintaining structural integrity and pump stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the pump is rigidly mounted in the housing, then the pump is stable and secure, but other components housed within the housing are negatively affected by vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump stabilityVSAvoidvibrations affecting other components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic support member serves as an intermediary that isolates the pump's vibrations from other components within the housing. By positioning this elastic element between the pump and the housing structure, it absorbs and dampens vibrations before they can propagate to other sensitive components housed within the same enclosure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support structure's mechanical parameters are changed from rigid to elastic properties. This transformation enables the support to absorb vibrational energy through elastic deformation, thereby protecting other components within the housing from harmful vibrations while maintaining pump stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If an elastic support member is used to reduce vibrations, then vibration transmission is prevented, but the pump may become less stable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidpump stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the elastic properties of the support member to achieve a balance between vibration absorption and pump stability. By carefully selecting the elasticity parameters of the support member, the system achieves sufficient vibration isolation while maintaining adequate mechanical support and stability for the pump during operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 elastic support member effectively dampens and absorbs vibrations, enhancing pump performance by utilizing the oscillating movement to improve suction efficiency and preventing vibration transmission to the housing, thus improving the operational stability and efficiency of the beverage preparation device.

Implementation Method 1

vibrations occur due to an oscillating or rotational movement of a driven part

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

an elastic support member, in particular one or more leaf springs or a bellow-shaped elastic support member, for resiliently supporting the pump

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2502532B1Pump for liquid beverage preparation devices
Publication Date: 2015.04.29 NESTEC SA
  • EP2502532B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2502532B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2502532B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~4b

AI summary

A device for the preparation of a liquid food or beverage comprises a pre-suction chamber (14) connected to a liquid inlet (4a) of a pump (1) and being designed to intermittently provide liquid to said liquid inlet (4a).