Interruption Valve for Carbonated Beverage Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In beverage dispensing systems using collapsible containers, gas from the head space enters the tapping line when the beverage space is empty, causing excessive frothing and aeration, leading to beverage loss, especially when exchanging containers, resulting in a 10% loss of carbonated beverages.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a beverage dispensing system with a pressure chamber and a collapsible container equipped with an interruption valve that opens when the pressure exceeds a specific non-zero reference and closes when it falls below, preventing gas from entering the tapping line by maintaining a first elevated pressure that crumples the container, ensuring precise end-of-dispensing control and minimizing waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a non-return valve and spring loaded lid are used to prevent beverage flowing backwards and dripping, then beverage loss is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the non-return valve function from a separate component and integrates it into the closure element itself. The closure element is designed with a valve mechanism that automatically prevents backward flow and dripping without requiring additional separate valves, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining beverage loss prevention
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element with integrated valve mechanism performs the non-return function automatically based on pressure differential. When beverage flows forward, the valve opens; when pressure reverses or stops, the valve closes automatically without external control, making the system self-regulating and reducing complexity
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the interruption valve closes when pressure falls below reference, then gas entry into tapping line is prevented, but beverage dispensing stops prematurely
Solution Approach 1:
The interruption valve is set to close at a specific pressure threshold that prevents gas from entering the tapping line. By closing before the beverage space is completely depleted, the system proactively prevents the harmful effect of gas contamination in the tapping line, ensuring subsequent dispensing operations start with a clean system
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pressure as a control parameter to automatically regulate the interruption valve. When pressure drops below a predetermined reference value, the valve closes; when pressure is restored, dispensing can resume. This parameter-based control optimizes the balance between preventing gas entry and maintaining productivity
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 solution significantly reduces beverage loss to a few percent, compared to several percent in prior art systems, by preventing gas from entering the tapping line and ensuring the first servings after container exchange are not foamy, thus conserving a vast amount of carbonated beverage.
Implementation Method 1
maintaining a first elevated pressure within the pressure chamber, the first elevated pressure acting on the collapsible beverage container so as to crumple the collapsible beverage container and thus establishing a second elevated pressure within the collapsible beverage container
Implementation Method 2
the interruption valve being in the open position when the second elevated pressure exceeds a specific non-zero pressure reference, the interruption valve being in the closed position when the second elevated pressure falls below said specific non-zero pressure reference
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2E
AI summary
A method of dispensing carbonated beverage comprises the step of providing a beverage dispensing system (12) comprising a pressure chamber (24), which chamber accommodates a collapsible beverage container (48) made of a flexible material. The collapsible beverage container includes a beverage space, a head space, a dispensing device (76), a tapping line (18), and an interruption valve (40). The method further comprises the step of maintaining a first elevated pressure within the pressure chamber (24), which acts on the collapsible beverage container (48) for crumpting the collapsible beverage container (48) at a container crumpling pressure and establishing a second elevated pressure, the first elevated pressure being equal to the sum of the second elevated pressure and the container crumpling pressure. The method still further comprises the step of operating the dispensing device (76) from the non-beverage dispensing position to the beverage dispensing position.