Gear Pump Controller Prevents Syrup Cross-Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas-driven diaphragm pumps used in post-mix beverage dispensers suffer from flavor cross-contamination due to rubber diaphragms absorbing syrup flavors and leaking compressed gases, which pose an asphyxiation hazard.
Innovation Solution
A gear pump and controller system that eliminates the use of gas-driven diaphragm pumps by utilizing a gear pumping mechanism and a programmable microcontroller to manage pressure and prevent leakage, ensuring the syrup does not come into contact with rubber components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a gas-driven diaphragm pump is used to pump syrup, then the pump can move viscous fluid effectively, but the rubber diaphragm absorbs syrup flavors causing cross-contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the diaphragm component entirely from the pumping system. Instead of using a diaphragm pump where the syrup contacts rubber, the patent employs a gear pump mechanism where syrup is pumped through gear teeth engagement without contacting any flexible membrane, thereby eliminating flavor absorption and cross-contamination while maintaining effective pumping capability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the pneumatic-mechanical diaphragm actuation system with a direct mechanical gear pumping system. The gear pump uses intermeshing gears to trap and transport syrup through the housing, substituting the complex diaphragm-gas system with a simpler, syrup-compatible mechanical system that eliminates the harmful rubber-syrup interaction
2Ease of operation
If compressed carbon dioxide gas is used to drive the diaphragm pump, then the pump operates effectively, but gas leakage creates an asphyxiation hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the pneumatic drive system (compressed CO2 gas) with an electric motor-driven gear pump system. The electric motor directly rotates the drive gear, eliminating the need for compressed gas storage tanks, regulators, and delivery lines, thereby removing the source of gas leakage and asphyxiation hazards while maintaining effective pump operation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention eliminates the pneumatic system entirely and uses direct electrical-mechanical actuation. The electric motor converts electrical energy directly to mechanical rotation of the gear pump, removing the intermediate pneumatic transmission stage that was responsible for gas leakage and safety hazards
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a diaphragm pump is dedicated to a single syrup flavor, then flavor cross-contamination is prevented, but the pump lacks versatility for different beverages
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the diaphragm component that caused flavor absorption, the gear pump housing and internal components become syrup-inert surfaces that do not absorb or retain flavors. This allows the same pump to be safely repurposed for different syrup flavors by simply replacing the syrup supply, eliminating the need to dedicate pumps to specific flavors while maintaining flavor purity
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 prevents flavor cross-contamination by avoiding rubber contact and eliminates the risk of gas leaks, thereby ensuring safe and flavor-pure operation of post-mix beverage dispensers.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure transducer which is in contact with a quantity of the fluid at the second pressure and which generates an electrical signal based upon the second pressure
Data Source
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AI summary
A beverage syrup pump system is disclosed including a pump housing having an internal pumping chamber, a pump motor, and a pumping mechanism driven by the motor within the pumping chamber. The pumping mechanism receives a syrup fluid at a first pressure and discharges the fluid at a second pressure which is greater than the first pressure, A pressure transducer adjacent a sensor port and in contact with a quantity of the fluid at the second pressure generates an electrical signal based upon the second pressure. A programmable micro controller receives the electrical signal from the pressure transducer and is capable of starting and stopping the pump motor. The micro controller will immediately stop the pump motor if the second pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure level. The micro controller will also stop the pump motor if the second pressure falls and remains below a predetermined minimum pressure level for a predetermined first time interval.