Keg Coupler Secondary Pressure Regulator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beer keg couplers lack user-friendly pressure regulation, requiring technical expertise for adjustments, and do not account for environmental factors like elevation and humidity, leading to inconsistent beer dispense quality.
Innovation Solution
A secondary pressure regulator that is preset for optimal output pressure between 27.5 kPa and 240 kPa, adjustable by professionals, and can be adjusted based on elevation, atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity, using a remote tool and sensors, to ensure consistent beer dispense.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pressure regulation is made adjustable by users, then ease of operation improves, but reliability deteriorates due to improper adjustments by unqualified persons
Solution Approach 1:
A secondary pressure regulator is introduced as an intermediary device between the primary regulator and the beer dispensing system. This secondary regulator includes a presettable output pressure mechanism that defaults to optimal settings, allowing unqualified users to benefit from pre-configured safe parameters while still enabling professional adjustment when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows dynamic changing of pressure parameters through presettable output pressure values. The secondary regulator can be configured with different pressure settings stored in memory, enabling adaptation to various beer types and dispensing conditions while maintaining reliability through controlled parameter modification rather than direct user adjustment of primary pressure.
2Reliability
If pressure regulator is fixed with preset values, then reliability improves, but adaptability deteriorates for different beer types and conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure regulation system transitions from static fixed values to dynamic adjustable presets. The secondary regulator incorporates memory storage that can hold multiple pressure settings, allowing the system to adapt to different beer types, elevations, and dispensing conditions while maintaining the reliability of pre-configured optimal values through controlled selection rather than random adjustment.
3Reliability
If professional adjustment tools are required, then reliability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure adjustment functionality is segmented into two distinct modes: normal operation with preset automatic pressure regulation that requires no user intervention, and professional adjustment mode accessible through specific mechanisms (such as removing protective caps or using special tools). This segmentation allows unqualified users to operate the system easily while preventing improper adjustments, and enables qualified professionals to make necessary modifications when needed.
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 provides a user-friendly, field-adjustable pressure regulation system that maintains optimal beer quality by accounting for environmental factors, ensuring consistent dispense pressure and reducing the risk of over-pressurization, thereby improving the freshness and flavor of draught beer.
Implementation Method 1
a compression spring, and a piston moveably disposed within the housing wherein the compression spring is disposed between the annular lip and the adjustment cap and the piston is formed to include the annular lip
Implementation Method 2
The regulated CO2 gas flows into a low pressure portion (740) of the secondary regulator wherein the constant pressure is maintained
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pressure regulator (500, 700) comprising a housing (510) formed to include a bore therein, a piston (760) moveably disposed within the bore wherein that piston comprises a first annular lip (762) adjacent a first end, a spring (720) disposed within said bore and comprising a first end and a second end, an adjustment cap (750) moveably disposed in the bore, wherein the first end of the spring (720) is in physical contact with the first annular lip (762) and the second end of the spring (720) is in physical contact with the adjustment cap (750).