Froth generating device for producing a liquid froth as well as a froth dispensing device and a beverage dispensing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing froth producing devices for milk foam struggle to consistently produce stable and aerated froth, particularly at higher rotational speeds, leading to unstable foam formation and reduced froth quality.
Innovation Solution
The froth producing device features a rotor body with an externally decreasing active section and accidented surfaces, creating a narrowing gap between the rotor and chamber wall, which stabilizes froth production by reducing rotational speed and enhancing agitation, resulting in a finely distributed air bubble formation and increased froth yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotational speed of the rotor body is increased to enhance froth production, then the froth yield increases, but the froth stability deteriorates and becomes turbulent
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor body is designed with a variable geometry that changes along the axial direction, creating different gap widths at different positions. This dynamic geometric variation allows the system to maintain stable laminar flow at the inlet while progressively increasing agitation toward the outlet, resolving the contradiction between froth yield and stability
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the rotor body have different active section dimensions, creating locally optimized flow conditions. The externally decreasing active section creates a narrowing gap that progressively intensifies agitation, allowing stable froth formation in early sections and enhanced aeration in later sections
2Quantity of substance
If the gap between the rotor body and chamber wall is reduced to increase flow resistance and enhance agitation, then froth aeration improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor body is segmented along its axial length with different active section dimensions, creating multiple zones with progressively varying gap widths. This segmentation allows controlled progression from stable flow to intense agitation without requiring complex external control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor body features a conical or frustoconical shape with a narrowing gap, using geometric curvature to progressively intensify the shear rate and agitation. This curved geometry naturally creates the desired flow progression without mechanical complexity
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
This design achieves a stable, aerated, and voluminous froth with improved froth production efficiency, maintaining froth quality and volume retention, suitable for both cold and hot froth production, with optimal gap widths between 0.1 and 0.6 mm for enhanced flow resistance and froth stability.
Implementation Method 1
When the rotational speed is however increased beyond the threshold value, the liquid flow becomes unstable and eventually turbulent, and air bubbles are formed and trapped
Implementation Method 2
The liquid is therefore urged into this flow path, and entrains air herein
Implementation Method 3
In the narrow gap the liquid is subjected to a viscosity-induced resistance (drag)
Implementation Method 4
the chamber wall and the rotor body comprise at least substantially parallel active surfaces directed toward each other, at least one surface of which is accidented at least at the position of the gap
Data Source
AI summary
Device for producing a liquid froth from a liquid, particularly a milk-containing or at least milky liquid, comprising a frothing unit (300) with a frothing chamber (350) which is provided with a liquid inlet (310) and a froth outlet (320) which are spatially separated from each other. A rotor body (330) arranged for rotation about a rotation axis X is provided in the frothing chamber. The rotor body (330) leaves a gap (360) to a chamber wall (351, 352) of the frothing chamber clear all around. The liquid inlet (310) and the froth outlet (320) are connected via the gap. In the axial direction from the liquid inlet (310) to the froth outlet (320) the rotor body has externally a decreasing active section which particularly gradually narrows. The chamber wall (351, 352) and the rotor body (330) comprise at least substantially parallel active surfaces directed toward each other, at least one surface of which is accidented at least at the position of the gap (360). Such a froth producing device is particularly suitable for a froth dispensing device and/or a beverage dispensing device,