Extractor Tube Protrusions for Cleaning Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extractor tubes for beverage containers are difficult to clean due to their complex structure, which prevents effective flushing and steaming inside the container.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an extractor tube element with a contact surface featuring protrusions that taper into a contact point, reducing the contact area between abutting elements and creating space for detergent flow during cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If extractor tubes are made up of many different parts that cooperate and move in relation to each other, then the functionality and reliability of the extractor tube are improved, but the difficulty of cleaning the inside of the beverage container increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefunctionality of extractor tubeVSAvoidnumber of parts in extractor tube

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is segmented by adding protrusions that divide the surface into multiple regions, creating channels for detergent flow while maintaining the overall structure of the extractor tube elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Protrusions are introduced as intermediary elements on the contact surfaces, acting as mediators that reduce direct contact area between extractor tube elements and enable detergent penetration into the joint spaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If extractor tubes have many parts that are movable in relation to each other, then the adaptability and operation of the extractor tube are improved, but the effectiveness of cleaning through flushing and steaming deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation of extractor tubeVSAvoidcleaning effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is modified with protrusions that create localized gaps and channels, allowing detergent to reach specific areas between movable parts that would otherwise be inaccessible during cleaning operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If the contact area between abutting extractor tube elements is large, then the structural stability and strength are improved, but the ability to clean between contact surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidcleanability of contact surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact surface is segmented by protrusions into contact points and non-contact areas, maintaining structural strength through distributed contact points while enabling cleaning access through the created gaps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions add a vertical dimension to the contact surface geometry, creating three-dimensional gaps between abutting elements that allow detergent flow while maintaining horizontal contact for structural stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS10112819B2Extractor tube

Publication Date: 2018.10.30 MICRO MATIC

AI summary

The present invention relates to an extractor tube element (6, 10, 14) for mounting as a part of an extractor tube (1) for a beverage container (16), comprising a contact surface (8) for abutment to another extractor tube element, wherein the contact surface (8) has a protrusion (9), the protrusion tapering into a contact point for reducing a contact area of the abutment to the other extractor tube element and for creating space between the abutting extractor tube elements. The present invention also relates to an extractor tube (1), a beverage container (16), a beverage dispensing system (100) and a cleaning method.