Hyperbolic Funnel Extraction System for Uniform Coffee and Tea Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current liquid extraction systems lack an efficient method for slowly pouring liquids through a layer of ground powders, such as coffee or tea, to effectively dissolve and transfer substances into a beverage, particularly in a controlled and uniform manner.
Innovation Solution
A liquid extraction system equipped with a gravitational funnel, a carafe, and accessories like a thermometer, graded regulating valve, and static mixer, which utilizes a hyperbolic funnel profile, Venturi effect, and toroidal carafe shape to ensure controlled pouring, oxygenation, and uniform mixing of liquids and essences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional extraction system is used, then the structure is simple, but the extraction efficiency and uniformity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into distinct functional modules: a gravitational funnel for controlled liquid distribution, a carafe for extraction, and a separate mixing chamber with static mixer. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its specific function, improving overall extraction efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The gravitational funnel employs a hyperbolic profile with curved surfaces that guide liquid flow in a spiral downward trajectory. This curvature ensures uniform distribution of liquid across the powder layer, significantly enhancing extraction efficiency and uniformity compared to conventional straight-walled funnels.
2Loss of time
If liquid is poured quickly through the powder layer, then the process is faster, but the extraction uniformity and completeness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The hyperbolic funnel profile creates a spiral flow path that naturally slows and distributes liquid uniformly across the powder layer. The curved geometry ensures that liquid does not rush through but instead makes contact with all areas of the powder, achieving both speed and uniformity in the extraction process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes hydraulic principles through the gravitational funnel design, where the hyperbolic shape creates a controlled flow regime. The funnel's geometry transforms the liquid flow into a uniform spiral pattern that maintains optimal contact time with the powder throughout the extraction process.
3Manufacturing precision
If a static mixer is added to achieve uniform mixing, then the mixing quality improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The static mixer replaces the need for mechanical stirring devices (motors, impellers, drives). Instead of active mechanical mixing, the system uses a passively designed static mixer structure that creates turbulent flow and molecular mixing through its geometric elements, achieving 90% molecular mixing without complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The mixing process utilizes hydraulic principles where the flowing liquid itself creates the mixing action. The static mixer elements are designed to generate turbulence and eddies in the flowing liquid, achieving thorough mixing through fluid dynamics rather than mechanical agitation.
4Reliability
If the carafe has a toroidal shape for oxygenation, then the organoleptic quality improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toroidal (doughnut-shaped) carafe design uses continuous curved surfaces that are ideal for glassblowing or mold-based manufacturing. The toroidal geometry naturally promotes oxygenation through its shape-driven flow patterns while maintaining manufacturability through standard rotational molding or glassblowing techniques.
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 system achieves efficient extraction and mixing of substances, allowing for a more complete expression of the aromatic bouquet and organoleptic complexity, with up to 90% molecular mixing and rapid extraction of flavors, ensuring a uniform concentration and temperature.
Implementation Method 1
Due to the graded regulating valve 15, placed on the dish 8 of the carafe 2, air is sucked inside a Venturi pipe 9 through a slit 11, in which air and fluid are joined, naturally oxygenating the obtained fluid.
Implementation Method 2
Internally, the funnel 3 is marked by ribs 5, which follow the hyperbole trajectory, which, allowing air to go out, creates a gravitational acceleration during the extraction.
Implementation Method 3
The two fluid currents which are channeled in the piping, together with the one created by the backwash of air and of other possible elements, meet these fixed elements 21 being subjected to sudden direction variations, mutually meeting and mixing.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A liquid extraction system (1) is described, equipped with a carafe/decanter (2), on whose top a gravitational funnel (3) with hyperbolic profile is placed, designed to receive a liquid, preferably hot or cold water, through a layer of ground food, preferably coffee or tea, placed in a filter, preferably made of paper, metal, cloth or other filtering material, inside the funnel (3), wherein, by leaching, the liquid dissolves the soluble substances contained in the food powder, transferring them in the beverage which will be served in the carafe (2). The system (1) can be sold complete of every part thereof, or separate, and parts of the system (1) can be assembled or disassembled also afterwards, or used with other objects designed in the future or possibly already on the market, thanks to suitable adapters.