Removable Flavor Funnel Vortex Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional beverage dispensing systems struggle to harmoniously blend carbonated water with flavor additives, often resulting in loss of carbon dioxide and prolonged drainage, leading to dripping and mess.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of funnels with curved mixing chambers and ribs that direct fluid toward the outlet, creating a vortex to efficiently blend and retain carbonation, while minimizing post-dispense dripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If vigorous mixing is used to blend carbonated water with additive, then flavor fusion is improved, but carbon dioxide loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel incorporates a curved mixing chamber that guides fluid flow in a controlled vortex pattern. This curvature enables gentle yet effective mixing of carbonated water with flavor additive, achieving flavor fusion while preserving carbonation by avoiding violent turbulence that would escape CO2 gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles by positioning the primary outlet tangential to the funnel curve to naturally generate a vortex flow. This vortex creates a low-pressure zone that draws in the additive while maintaining controlled mixing, reducing carbonation loss compared to conventional vigorous mixing methods.
2Device complexity
If traditional dispensing funnel is used, then structure is simple, but drainage time is prolonged causing dripping
Solution Approach 1:
The funnel outlet is divided into multiple segments (three openings arranged in a triangle) rather than a single opening. This segmentation accelerates the drainage process by creating multiple flow paths, reducing drainage time and preventing post-dispense dripping while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved geometry of the mixing chamber and outlet design creates a vortex that accelerates fluid movement toward the outlet. This curvature-induced flow pattern reduces the time required for complete drainage and eliminates lingering drips that occur with traditional straight-outlet funnels.
3Ease of manufacture
If primary outlet is positioned perpendicular to funnel outlet, then alignment is simple, but vortex formation is insufficient for efficient blending
Solution Approach 1:
The primary outlet is positioned tangential to the curve of the funnel rather than perpendicular to it, creating an asymmetric arrangement that generates a strong vortex flow. This asymmetric positioning is crucial for efficient blending of carbonated water with additive, while the tangential orientation remains straightforward to manufacture and align with the funnel geometry.
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 combines beverage components while maximizing carbonation retention and reducing post-dispense dripping, enhancing the quality and convenience of beverage dispensing.
Implementation Method 1
the primary outlet can be positioned substantially tangential to a curve of the funnel such that a fluid vortex is formed in the mixing chamber
Implementation Method 2
The mixing chamber can include a plurality of ribs configured to direct the combined fluid toward a funnel outlet
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a beverage system is provided and includes a beverage dispenser and a funnel removably coupled to the mounting ring. The funnel can be configured to receive a primary fluid and an additive, and the funnel can include a mixing chamber configured to combine the primary fluid and the additive into a combined fluid. The mixing chamber can include a plurality of ribs configured to direct the combined fluid toward a funnel outlet. The funnel can further be configured to receive the primary fluid through a primary outlet of the beverage dispenser, and the primary outlet can be positioned substantially tangential to a curve of the funnel such that a fluid vortex is formed in the mixing chamber. Additionally, the funnel can be configured to receive the additive from at least one secondary outlet of the beverage dispenser.