Manifold Backblock with Rotatable Spindles for Beverage Fluid Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage dispensing machines lack efficient mechanisms for selectively routing and mixing plain water, carbonated water, and syrup fluids to dispense a variety of beverages, leading to complexity and potential fluid flow interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A backblock design with rotatable spindles and latching assemblies that allow for selective alignment of fluid paths between inlets and outlets, enabling fluid flow control and secure connection to dispensing valves, allowing for the mixing of different beverage components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional backblocks are used to connect beverage dispensing valves, then the structure is simple, but the system lacks efficient fluid routing control and reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by incorporating rotatable spindles that can change position between different orientations. These spindles dynamically adjust the fluid pathway connections between inlets and outlets, allowing the backblock to switch between different beverage dispensing configurations (plain water, carbonated water, syrup, mixed beverages) rather than requiring multiple static backblocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing a single backblock structure that can perform multiple functions through the spindle mechanism. The same backblock body can route different fluid combinations by rotating the spindles to different positions, making one component serve multiple beverage dispensing purposes instead of needing separate dedicated backblocks for each beverage type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple fluid paths are integrated into a single backblock, then versatility is improved, but the risk of fluid flow interruptions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the fluid control function into separate rotatable spindles, each independently controlling specific fluid pathways. This segmentation allows individual spindles to be adjusted or maintained without affecting other fluid paths, reducing the risk that a single point of failure will interrupt all fluid flow. Each spindle acts as an independent control element within the unified backblock structure.
3Ease of operation
If rotatable spindles are added to control fluid paths, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action through the latching mechanism that pre-positions the spindles into defined operational orientations. The latching feature ensures that when a spindle is rotated, it automatically snaps into predetermined positions that correspond to correct fluid pathway alignments. This eliminates the need for precise manual positioning during operation, making the system easier to use despite the added mechanical complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A backblock (20) includes a body (21) with a cavity (26, 27) connected to an inlet (23, 24, 25) and an outlet (33, 34). A spindle (61, 62) is positioned with a first end within the cavity and a second end with a tab (66) exterior of the body. A latching plate (41, 42) is configured for translative movement relative to the body. The latching plate includes a keyhole (47) with a bore (58) and a channel (49). The bore is dimensioned to receive the spindle and the channel is dimensioned to receive the tab. The latching plate has a first latch position proximate to the body and a second latch position spaced apart from the body. When the tab is in alignment with the channel, the latching plate can translate to the second latch position about the tab. When the tab is out of alignment with the channel, the tab retains the latching plate in the first latch position.