Gas Infuser Capillary Flow Control for Consistent Gas Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas infusers fail to consistently regulate gas volume in forming gas-infused liquids due to pressure fluctuations, leading to inconsistent beverage quality.
Innovation Solution
A gas infuser with a gas-volume controller that includes a fitting and a capillary tube or plug, forming a circuitous path to control gas volume independently of pressure fluctuations, ensuring consistent gas flow into a mixing chamber for mixing with liquid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If gas is supplied directly into the mixing chamber without a circuitous path, then gas flow rate is high and responds quickly to pressure changes, but gas volume becomes inconsistent due to pressure fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a circuitous path with curved or coiled geometry instead of a straight line connection. This curved path increases the gas travel distance and creates flow resistance that dampens pressure fluctuations, thereby stabilizing gas volume delivery to the mixing chamber while maintaining a relatively simple component structure.
2Reliability
If a circuitous path is introduced to control gas volume, then gas volume consistency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the circuitous path directly into the gas-volume controller component itself, merging the flow control function with the path geometry. This consolidation allows the controller to regulate gas volume through its internal circuitous structure without requiring additional separate flow control devices, thereby achieving reliable gas volume regulation while minimizing overall device complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If pressure fluctuations are allowed to pass through, then gas flow responds dynamically to pressure changes, but gas-infused liquid quality becomes inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The circuitous path acts as an intermediary element between the gas source and the mixing chamber. It mediates the gas flow by dampening pressure fluctuations while still allowing gas to pass through, thus protecting the gas-infused liquid quality from pressure variations without completely blocking dynamic response, achieving a balance between consistency and responsiveness.
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 gas infuser provides a consistent gas flow, maximizing the consistency of the gas-infused liquid by regulating gas volume regardless of pressure fluctuations, allowing for precise control and easy replacement of gas-volume controllers.
Implementation Method 1
The gas-volume controller includes a fitting and a capillary tube. An inlet of the fitting is separated from an outlet of the fitting such that gas passes from the inlet through the capillary tube to the outlet. A circuitous path is formed through the capillary tube to control a volume of gas that passes from the inlet to the outlet of the fitting substantially independent of pressure fluctuations of the gas at the inlet.
Data Source
AI summary
A gas infuser includes a mixing chamber and a liquid injector. Gas is supplied into the mixing chamber and liquid flows through openings of the injector to mix with the gas in the mixing chamber and form a gas-infused liquid.