Infusion Assembly with Rotary Actuation for Precise Steeping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional infusion devices for tea and similar beverages are inefficient, inconvenient, and lack precision in controlling infusion time, leading to potential contamination and undesirable bitterness when used on-the-go or for multiple infusions.
Innovation Solution
An infusion system with inner and outer components that can be moved relative to each other to align or misalign holes, allowing for selective control of the infusion process, enabling precise adjustment of infusion time and preventing further infusion once desired steeping is achieved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a steep basket is used for tea infusion, then the tea can be infused, but the basket must be removed to stop infusion which is inconvenient when traveling
Solution Approach 1:
The infusion system employs a dynamic plunger mechanism that can be moved vertically to control the infusion process. The plunger transitions from a static basket to a dynamically adjustable system where the user can push the plunger down to stop infusion or pull it up to resume, enabling on-the-fly control without removing the basket.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the user to control the infusion process themselves through the plunger mechanism. The user can independently adjust the infusion time by pushing or pulling the plunger as needed, eliminating the need to remove the basket for control and enabling self-service infusion management.
2Measurement precision
If the plunger is pressed to stop infusion, then infusion is reduced, but water continues to contact tea leaves through the sieve causing continued steeping
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the tea leaves from direct contact with water by pushing the plunger down, which compresses the leaves against the bottom of the infuser and separates them from the bulk water. This physical extraction stops the infusion process effectively by removing the tea leaves from the water contact zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The plunger creates a dynamic seal that adjusts the contact between water and tea leaves. When pushed down, the plunger dynamically blocks water flow to the leaves and compresses them against the sieve, providing precise control over the infusion process and preventing over-steeping.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the infusion basket is removed and refilled for multiple infusions, then new tea can be used, but the process may contaminate subsequent infusions
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger mechanism enables multiple infusions by allowing the user to push the plunger down to stop the first infusion, then pull it back up to resume or start a new infusion with the same tea leaves. This dynamic control maintains infusion purity by preventing contamination that would occur with basket removal and refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system recovers the tea leaves for multiple uses by keeping them contained in the infuser. Instead of discarding the basket and refilling, the plunger allows the same leaves to be reused for multiple infusions, maintaining reliability by avoiding contamination from external handling.
4Ease of operation
If a turning mechanism is used to control infusion, then some adjustability is achieved, but the mechanism does not lock securely allowing continued steeping
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger provides dynamic control where the user can push down to stop infusion and hold it in place, or pull up to resume. This linear dynamic mechanism offers both adjustability for timing and reliable locking when pressed down, unlike insecure turning mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The infusion control is segmented into distinct states: infusion active (plunger up) and infusion stopped (plunger down). This segmentation provides clear, reliable control positions with the plunger, ensuring the infusion is completely stopped when needed rather than partially controlled.
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 allows for efficient, precise, and adjustable infusion control, preventing over-steeping and contamination, enabling multiple infusions without compromising taste, and is designed for convenient use in various containment vessels.
Implementation Method 1
one of the infusion components being moveable with respect to one another, so as to allow the infusion system be operable between an active mode, where a hole of the outer infusion component is aligned with a corresponding hole of the inner infusion component in order to define a fluid passage
Data Source
AI summary
A containment vessel (1) with integrated infusion capability for infusing a solid substance with a liquid. The containment vessel (1) includes a main containment body (3), a dispensing assembly (5), an infusion assembly (9), a transmission assembly (15), and an actuating assembly (17), the actuating assembly (17) being operatively connectable to the transmission assembly (15) for displacing one of inner and outer infusion components (11,13) with respect to the other via the transmission assembly (15), so as to in turn selectively operate the infusion assembly (9) between active and inactive modes, the actuating assembly (17) being manually operated and having at least one actuating component (17a), such an actuating ring (27), for example, being provided about a peripheral surface of the containment vessel (1).