Method of making a manifold system for beverage dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage dispensers often experience wasteful and messy dripping of beverage components due to long tubes and distant flow control valves, leading to contamination and loss of carbonation, especially in self-service settings like convenience stores.
Innovation Solution
A manifold system with multiple layers and valve bores is introduced, where solenoid valves are placed close to the nozzle to control the flow of beverage components, reducing the distance between valves and the nozzle, and a diffuser block distributes fluids to separate orifices to minimize contamination and dripping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If beverage tubes are made long to reach remote containers, then beverage components can be stored in remote locations, but beverage components drip from the nozzle when not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the beverage delivery path by placing multiple shutoff valves at different locations along the beverage tubes. This allows isolation of specific tube sections, enabling drainage of beverage components from remote portions of the system while maintaining supply to the nozzle, thereby preventing wastage while preserving storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Drainage ports and drainage mechanisms are introduced as intermediary elements between the remote beverage containers and the nozzle. These intermediaries provide dedicated pathways for beverage components to drain from the tubes when not in use, preventing dripping at the nozzle while maintaining the ability to store beverages remotely.
2Device complexity
If flow control valves are placed distant from the nozzle, then system layout is simplified, but beverage components continue to drip and carbonation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple shutoff valves positioned at different locations to segment the beverage flow control. This allows valves to be placed at convenient locations for system layout while still providing effective flow control near the nozzle through the segmented valve arrangement, maintaining both simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage ports provide an additional dimensional pathway for beverage component management. Instead of relying solely on valve positioning, the system adds a vertical or lateral drainage dimension that allows beverage components to be removed from the tubes independently of valve location, solving the reliability issue without compromising layout simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple beverage components are dispensed simultaneously, then variety of beverages can be served, but contamination and foaming increase
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser block segments the mixed beverage components into separate flow paths before they reach the nozzle. This segmentation prevents direct mixing and contamination between different beverage components while still allowing simultaneous dispensing of multiple beverages, maintaining versatility while reducing harmful interactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potential harm of simultaneous beverage mixing into a benefit by using the diffuser block to control and separate the flows. The controlled mixing environment in the diffuser block prevents uncontrolled foaming and contamination, transforming what could be a harmful interaction into a managed process that maintains beverage quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A manifold for a liquid dispensing system has at least two layers. The first layer has multiple through holes along its thickness direction, and one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The second layer has one or more through holes along its thickness direction, each communicating with one of the through holes of the first layer. The second layer also has one or more fluid channels perpendicular to the thickness direction. The fluid channels each have an inlet at the edge of the respective layer and an outlet at one of the through holes. The second layer also has one or more holes defining valve bores. A valve in each of the valve bores controls flow of a liquid to a respective one of the fluid channels of the second layer. Also provided are a liquid dispensing system and a method of manufacturing a manifold.