Hot beverage preparation device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hot beverage preparation devices cannot efficiently process both prefabricated extraction portions like coffee capsules and loose materials like coffee powder under varying pressure conditions, as they lack the necessary adaptability and sealing mechanisms to accommodate different types of brewing requirements.
Innovation Solution
A two-part brewing chamber design with an elastically prestressed piston and fluidic delay means ensures a reliable seal and pressure distribution, allowing for the use of interchangeable adapters and portafilters, enabling the preparation of drinks from 0-19 bar pressure without requiring increased closing forces, thus accommodating both prefabricated and loose materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional brewing chamber design is used, then the device can process prefabricated extraction portions, but it cannot process loose materials like coffee powder
Solution Approach 1:
The brewing chamber is designed with a removable lower part that can accommodate different adapters (capsule adapters and portafilters) to process both prefabricated extraction portions and loose materials like coffee powder or tea leaves, making the device universal for multiple brewing types
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing chamber is divided into an upper part and a removable lower part, allowing the lower part to be exchanged or configured differently to accommodate various brewing materials and adapter types
2Stress or pressure
If the brewing chamber is designed for high pressure operation, then espresso can be prepared, but the closing force required to seal the chamber increases
Solution Approach 1:
An elastically prestressed piston acts as an intermediary between the upper and lower brewing chamber parts. The piston's elastic prestressing provides a reliable initial seal that maintains sealing effectiveness across different pressure conditions without requiring proportionally higher closing forces
Solution Approach 2:
The piston's elastic prestressing force is optimized to provide adequate sealing at both low pressure (brewed coffee) and high pressure (espresso) operating conditions, allowing the same closing force to suffice across the full pressure range
3Reliability
If the piston is made larger to improve sealing, then sealing reliability increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston diameter is dimensioned larger than the inner diameter of the largest adapter to ensure that the elastic prestressing force is distributed over a sufficient area, guaranteeing reliable sealing with all adapter sizes and capsule dimensions
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 allows for easy operation across different brewing pressures, ensuring a consistent and reliable seal, making it possible to prepare a wide range of hot beverages with minimal user effort, from espresso to brewed coffee, without the need for different actuation steps.
Implementation Method 1
an elastically mounted piston which is elastically pretensioned in a direction towards the lower part of the brewing head
Implementation Method 2
fluidic delay means are arranged in a line path for brewing water between the water inlet and the water passage, so that during operation in the upper part of the brewing head between it and the piston there is at least initially a significantly higher pressure
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a hot beverage preparation device, in particular for household purposes, with a brewing chamber comprising - a lower part (2) of a brewing head with a water outlet (25) and with a receptacle for a number of exchangeable adapters (21), - an upper part (1) of a brewing head with a water inlet (13) , with a piston (3) elastically pretensioned towards the brew head base (2), and with a water passage (34) on an underside (33) of the piston (3) facing the brew head base (2), - a sealing device (4), which between the upper part of the brewing head (1) and the adapter (21), fluid delay means (38) being arranged in a line path for brewing water between the water inlet (13) and the water passage (34), so that during operation in the upper part of the brewing head (1) at least initially there is a higher pressure than in the group head base (2).