Magnetic Coil Pump with Temperature Feedback for Drinks Machines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing pumping devices for drinks machines face inefficiencies and high power requirements, leading to variable performance and quality issues in dispensing beverages, particularly in maintaining consistent pressure and volume flow across different operating conditions.

Innovation Solution

A pumping device with a magnetic coil and a control/regulation unit that sets pump parameters based on various factors such as pressure, temperature, and beverage type, using open-loop and closed-loop control to maintain a target volume flow within a specific percentage of the maximum value, while optimizing coil wire mass and hydraulic power to reduce costs and enhance reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the pump operates at maximum power to maintain high flow rate, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases and reliability decreases due to coil overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume flow rateVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic operation of the pump by continuously adjusting the volume flow rate based on real-time temperature feedback from the magnetic coil. The control unit modifies the pump's operating parameters dynamically to maintain optimal performance while preventing overheating, transitioning from static maximum power operation to adaptive dynamic control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a feedback control mechanism where a temperature sensor monitors the magnetic coil temperature and feeds this information to the control unit. The control unit then adjusts the volume flow rate accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that automatically regulates power consumption and prevents thermal damage while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the pump operates at maximum power to maintain high flow rate, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to performance degradation from overheating

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume flow rateVSAvoidperformance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The temperature sensor and control unit create a feedback loop that continuously monitors coil temperature and adjusts the volume flow rate to prevent overheating. This ensures consistent pump performance across varying operating conditions by automatically reducing power when temperature thresholds are approached, preventing degradation and maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system proactively reduces power consumption before thermal damage can occur by monitoring temperature and adjusting the volume flow rate in advance. This preventive approach cushions against potential performance degradation and reliability issues by maintaining operation within safe thermal boundaries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Ease of manufacture

If coil wire mass is reduced to lower costs, then manufacturing cost is improved, but power handling capability and reliability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidpower handling capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the pump system by implementing temperature-based flow rate adjustment. This allows the use of lighter, less expensive coil wire while maintaining reliability through dynamic operation that prevents thermal overload, effectively decoupling cost reduction from performance compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

By implementing dynamic control that adjusts power consumption based on temperature feedback, the system enables the use of reduced coil wire mass. The dynamic operation prevents thermal accumulation that would otherwise require heavier, more expensive wire to handle sustained maximum power loads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Productivity

If the pump is designed for high power output, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional cooling and control systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevolume flow rateVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a relatively simple feedback mechanism with a temperature sensor and control unit that adjusts the volume flow rate. This approach achieves high productivity with minimal added complexity, avoiding the need for complex active cooling systems by using passive temperature-based regulatory control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 ensures efficient, reliable, and consistent beverage dispensing with reduced power consumption, maintaining high quality across a range of applications and voltages, and minimizing material and production costs, thus providing a cost-effective and user-friendly solution.

Implementation Method 1

a pump (14) having at least one magnetic coil (16)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3087881B1Pumping device
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 SYSKO
  • EP3087881B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3087881B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3087881B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention is based on a pumping device for a household appliance, in particular for a drinks machine (12a), with a pump (14a; 14b; 14c) which has at least one magnetic coil (16a; 16b; 16c) and with a control and/or or control unit (18a; 18b; 18c). It is proposed that the control and/or regulation unit (16a; 16b; 16c) be provided for setting at least one pump parameter as a function of at least one parameter.