Two-Vessel Milk Frothing Layout for Stable Milk Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk frothing devices in coffee machines suffer from variable milk flow as the milk level decreases, leading to inconsistent proportions of milk, steam, and air in the mixing chamber, which affects proper frothing.
Innovation Solution
A milk frothing device design featuring a containment body with two separate and distinct vessels, where the milk supply conduit is connected to an open-top vessel separate from the air supply conduit, ensuring a constant milk level through real-time refilling, maintaining a consistent proportion of steam, air, and milk in the mixing chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single vessel is used for milk containment, then the device structure is simple, but the milk flow varies greatly as the milk level decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The containment body is divided into two separate vessels: a first open-top vessel for milk supply and a second closed vessel for real-time refilling. This segmentation allows the system to maintain constant milk level in the first vessel while simplifying the overall structure compared to complex single-vessel level control mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If the milk level in the containment body decreases, then the available milk volume increases, but the suction head required increases causing variable milk flow
Solution Approach 1:
The second vessel pre-fills the first vessel through connection opening (11) before and during the milk suction process. This preliminary action maintains the milk level in the first vessel at a constant height, ensuring consistent suction head and stable milk flow to the mixing chamber throughout the frothing operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single vessel design is used, then the device is easier to manufacture, but the proportion of milk in the mixture becomes variable
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates milk containment (first vessel) from milk refilling (second vessel), allowing each component to be manufactured independently with simple geometries while achieving the complex function of constant proportion mixing through their coordinated operation.
4Productivity
If the milk containment body is emptied, then more milk can be processed, but the suction head increases reducing milk flow
Solution Approach 1:
The second vessel continuously refills the first vessel through connection opening (11) during the entire frothing process. This continuous refilling action maintains constant milk level and stable milk flow throughout the processing of the entire milk quantity in the containment body, enabling sustained productivity without flow instability.
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
This design ensures a constant milk level in the frothing device, preventing fluctuations in milk flow and maintaining a consistent proportion of milk, steam, and air, resulting in proper frothing of milk.
Implementation Method 1
When the flow of steam is dispensed, thanks to the depression created in the mixing chamber, the milk supply conduit sucks the milk from the milk containment body below
Implementation Method 2
The mixing body in turn comprises a Venturi-shaped mixing chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
The frothing device for milk (1) comprises a containment body (2) for the milk and a mixing body (3) in turn comprising a mixing chamber (4), a conduit (5) for supplying the milk to the mixing chamber (4), a conduit (6) for supplying steam to the mixing chamber (4), a conduit (7) for supplying air to the mixing chamber (4), and an outlet conduit (8) for the milk mixed with air and steam from the mixing chamber (4), the milk containment body (2) comprising a first open top vessel (9) in which one end of the milk supply conduit (5) is positioned and a second vessel (10) having a closing ceiling (10a) communicating with the first vessel (9) through a connection opening (11) positioned at a distance from the ceiling (10a).