Frustoconical Liquid Dispenser for Sequential Tastant Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid dispensing technologies fail to effectively enhance taste perception of tastants like sugar and salt, making it difficult to achieve equivalent taste impressions with reduced levels of addition, particularly in line with health recommendations.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing apparatus featuring a frustoconical-shaped container that separates and sequentially dispenses liquids with differing tastant concentrations, ensuring the first liquid with a higher concentration of a tastant is dispensed before the second, allowing for a single continuous sip with enhanced taste perception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If higher concentrations of tastants like sugar and salt are used to enhance taste perception, then equivalent taste impressions can be achieved, but this contradicts health recommendations to reduce intake of salt and sugar
Solution Approach 1:
The beverage is segmented into two separate liquid phases with distinct tastant concentrations. The first liquid contains higher tastant concentration while the second liquid contains lower tastant concentration, allowing sequential delivery to achieve enhanced taste perception without requiring high overall concentration in the entire beverage
Solution Approach 2:
The apparatus is designed to preliminarily position the first liquid (with higher tastant concentration) to be dispensed first, creating an initial intense taste impression that enhances overall perception without requiring high concentrations throughout the entire beverage volume
2Measurement precision
If multiple liquids with different tastant concentrations are dispensed sequentially, then enhanced taste perception can be achieved, but the device complexity increases compared to single-container designs
Solution Approach 1:
The frustoconical-shaped second container is nested inside the first container, with the second container's lateral surface attached to the inner lateral surface of the first container. This nested configuration allows two separate liquid compartments to coexist in a compact arrangement without requiring separate dispensing mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The frustoconical shape of the second container introduces a dimensional variation, with its smaller cross-sectional area at the frustum creating a specific flow dynamics dimension that enables sequential dispensing through the shared opening without complex mechanical controls
3Speed
If the frustoconical-shaped container has a smaller cross-sectional area at the frustum, then the first liquid can exit before the second liquid, but this creates challenges in ensuring proper liquid flow separation
Solution Approach 1:
The frustoconical shape creates an asymmetric flow path where the smaller cross-sectional area at the frustum of the second container restricts its liquid flow relative to the first container. This asymmetric geometry ensures that the first liquid (from the larger container) exits before the second liquid (from the smaller frustoconical container), achieving reliable sequential dispensing without additional control mechanisms
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 approach allows for reduced sucrose and caffeine content while maintaining perceived sweetness and bitterness levels, enabling a single sip experience that is as intense as a homogenous sample with higher concentrations, thus aiding in health-conscious beverage formulation.
Implementation Method 1
The frustum of the frustoconical-shaped container has an opening. The frustum of the frustoconical-shaped container is proximate to the end of the first container and the opening in the frustoconical-shaped container has a smaller cross-sectional area than the opening in the first container.
Implementation Method 2
When the first and the second liquids are poured from the apparatus, the first liquid flows through the opening in the first container, the second liquid flows through the opening in the frustoconical-shaped container and the opening in the first container, such that the first liquid begins to exit the opening in the first container before the second liquid begins to exit the opening in the first container.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispensing apparatus, may include a first container configured to hold a first liquid. The first container can have an opening in an end of the first container. The liquid dispensing apparatus may further comprise a frustoconical-shaped container inside and attached to the first container. The frustoconical-shaped container is configured to hold a second liquid. A frustum of the frustoconical-shaped container has an opening. The frustum of the frustoconical-shaped container is proximate to the end of the first container and the opening in the frustoconical-shaped container may have a smaller cross-sectional area than the opening in the first container. The frustoconical-shaped container separates the first liquid from the second liquid. When the first and the second liquids are poured from the apparatus, the first liquid flows through the opening in the first container, the second liquid flows through the opening in the frustoconical-shaped container and the opening in the first container, such that the first liquid begins to exit the opening in the first container before the second liquid begins to exit the opening in the first container.