Inclined Pour-In Opening to Reduce Frozen Drink Slush Overflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing frozen drink makers, particularly residential units with smaller vessel capacities, face issues with liquid ingredient addition leading to slush overflow and spillage due to insufficient headspace and rapid ingredient expansion, as well as the risk of user injury from moving components during mixing.
Innovation Solution
A pour-in opening for frozen drink makers is designed with a radially inclined surface and aperture aligned with the dasher's rotation direction, featuring a cover and optional grate to control ingredient entry, minimizing overflow and preventing finger insertion, positioned to avoid interference with slush circulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If liquid ingredients are poured into the open top of the vessel, then the addition of ingredients is simple and quick, but slush overflow and spillage occur due to insufficient headspace and rapid ingredient expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is segmented into multiple functional zones: an inclined surface for directing flow, an aperture for controlled entry, and a cover with grate for safety. This segmentation allows the opening to simultaneously provide easy ingredient addition while preventing overflow through the inclined surface that channels liquids away from the aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined surface acts as an intermediary element between the pouring source and the vessel interior. It mediates the liquid flow by directing it along a controlled path toward the aperture, preventing direct impact with the slush and reducing expansion-related overflow.
2Ease of operation
If the opening is left open for easy access, then ingredient addition is convenient, but user injury risk increases from moving components
Solution Approach 1:
The cover serves as an intermediary safety barrier between the user and the moving dasher components. It can be opened to allow ingredient addition but remains a protective element that prevents direct access to hazardous moving parts, thus reducing injury risk while maintaining operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The grate is a simple, removable safety element that can be easily installed and removed. It provides continuous protection against moving components during operation while allowing easy access when needed, effectively addressing the safety-convenience contradiction with a low-cost solution.
3Ease of operation
If the opening is positioned to allow easy pouring, then ingredient addition is simplified, but interference with slush circulation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The opening is positioned asymmetrically on the vessel wall rather than at the center top. This asymmetric positioning allows easy pouring from the side while the inclined surface directs flow away from the central aperture, minimizing interference with the natural circulation patterns of the slush mixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the opening from a vertical top-center position to a side-positioned aperture with an inclined surface. This dimensional change allows pouring to occur from the side rather than directly into the vessel center, reducing disruption to slush circulation while maintaining pouring ease.
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 pour-in opening effectively reduces slush overflow and spillage while ensuring safe operation by directing ingredients into the mixing vessel in alignment with the dasher's rotation, enhancing user safety and maintaining consistent mixing.
Implementation Method 1
The pour-in opening includes a surface that inclines radially with respect to the center axis of the dasher... the surface may be sloped to direct fluids entering the mixing vessel
Implementation Method 2
The pour-in opening also includes an aperture positioned on the surface in fluid communication with an interior of the mixing vessel
Implementation Method 3
a dasher configured to rotate within a mixing vessel about a center axis
Implementation Method 4
cooling the drink product to a frozen or semi-frozen temperature... transforming the drink product from a pure liquid to a frozen or semi-frozen product
Implementation Method 5
a refrigeration system having a compressor, a condenser and an evaporator... for cooling the drink product during processing
Data Source
AI summary
A pour-in opening for a frozen drink maker is disclosed. The frozen drink maker includes a dasher configured to rotate within a mixing vessel about a center axis. The pour-in opening is positioned on a top rear portion of the mixing vessel. The pour-in opening includes a surface that inclines radially with respect to the center axis of the dasher and an aperture positioned on the surface in fluid communication with an interior of the mixing vessel.