Liquid Dispensing Chamber With Air Back Pressure for Faster Brewing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single serving beverage brewing machines have long brew times, often exceeding 31 seconds for 10 Oz of liquid, leading to over-extraction of coffee grinds and poor quality coffee due to inadequate water pressure and volume control.
Innovation Solution
A liquid dispensing apparatus with a heating and dispensing chamber, air pump assembly, and liquid pump that pumps air into the chamber to create back pressure, enhancing water flow while maintaining a controlled liquid volume, utilizing a pulsating pump for efficient liquid delivery and air-assisted pulsating pumping to reduce brewing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the brewing machine uses a simple liquid delivery system without air pressure assistance, then the device complexity is low, but the brewing time is long and water pressure is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pneumatic principles by introducing an air pump assembly that pumps air into the heating and dispensing chamber to create back pressure. This air pressure assistance accelerates liquid flow through the cartridge, reducing brewing time from 40-45 seconds to under 31 seconds while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action through the pulsating liquid pump that delivers liquid in controlled pulses rather than continuous flow. This pulsating mechanism, combined with air pressure cycles, optimizes extraction efficiency and reduces total brewing time while preventing over-extraction that causes bitterness.
2Productivity
If the liquid pump delivers high volume quickly, then the productivity is high, but the water pressure control becomes inaccurate causing over-extraction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control through a controller that monitors and adjusts the liquid pump operation based on predetermined parameters. The controller regulates the pulsating pump to deliver precise liquid volumes at controlled rates, ensuring consistent extraction without over-extraction while maintaining high productivity through optimized delivery cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by using a pulsating liquid pump with variable delivery characteristics rather than a simple continuous flow pump. The pump's pulsating action allows dynamic adjustment of liquid flow rates, enabling rapid delivery when needed while maintaining precise control to prevent over-extraction, thus achieving both high productivity and accurate volume control.
3Quantity of substance
If the brewing time is extended to ensure thorough extraction, then the extraction completeness improves, but the brewing time exceeds 31 seconds causing over-extraction and bitter taste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by simultaneously adjusting multiple brewing parameters: liquid temperature, pressure, flow rate, and contact time. The air pump assembly creates back pressure that increases extraction efficiency, allowing complete extraction to be achieved in under 31 seconds. The pulsating pump delivers liquid in optimized pulses that maximize extraction while minimizing total contact time, preventing over-extraction and bitter taste.
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 reduces brewing time while ensuring consistent liquid delivery at desired pressure, improving coffee quality by minimizing over-extraction and bitterness, and aids in purging the system to dry the cartridge contents.
Implementation Method 1
pumping air into the chamber to create back pressure, enhancing water flow
Implementation Method 2
a liquid pump connected to the liquid discharge conduit for pumping liquid out of the heating and dispensing chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid dispensing apparatus for use in a beverage brewing machine, the liquid dispensing apparatus, includes a dispensing chamber, a liquid delivery and venting arrangement in communication with an interior of the dispensing chamber for delivery of liquid thereto and for venting air therefrom, an air pump assembly in communication with the interior of the heating and dispensing chamber for pumping air into the dispensing chamber, a liquid discharge conduit in communication with the interior of the heating and dispensing chamber for discharging liquid therefrom, an end of the discharge conduit located at a predetermined level of the dispensing chamber, and a liquid pump connected to the liquid discharge conduit for pumping liquid out of the heating and dispensing chamber. During liquid dispensing, the liquid delivery and venting arrangement is closed.