Mixing Chamber Beverage Preparation for Fast Low-Pressure Carbonation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for carbonating liquids, such as those used in beverage preparation, often require high pressures and specialized equipment, making them inefficient and user-unfriendly for producing highly carbonated beverages quickly and easily.

Innovation Solution

A beverage making machine that uses a cartridge system with a gas source, such as zeolite charged with carbon dioxide, which is activated by a precursor liquid to carbonate water efficiently, allowing for rapid production of highly carbonated beverages without the need for high pressures or specialized activation substances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If high pressure is used to carbonate liquids, then carbonation level is improved, but device complexity and safety requirements worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbonation levelVSAvoidequipment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical high-pressure carbonation systems with a chemical reaction system using bicarbonate and acid that generates CO2 in-situ. This eliminates the need for external high-pressure gas cylinders and complex pressure regulation equipment, achieving high carbonation levels through chemical rather than mechanical means.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces bicarbonate and acid as intermediary substances that react to produce CO2 gas. These intermediaries enable carbonation without requiring direct high-pressure CO2 gas supply, simplifying the overall system by using readily available household ingredients as mediators between the user and the carbonation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If traditional carbonation systems are used, then carbonation capability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to specialized equipment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbonation capabilityVSAvoiduser-friendliness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service carbonation by allowing users to simply add bicarbonate and acid to water in a sealed bottle, then shake it. The carbonation process occurs automatically through the chemical reaction and mechanical agitation, eliminating the need for users to operate complex carbonation equipment or handle pressurized gas systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs disposable sealed bottles containing pre-measured bicarbonate and acid packets. These single-use containers eliminate the need for cleaning and maintenance of carbonation equipment, and users simply replace the bottle when empty, greatly simplifying operation compared to reusable specialized carbonation systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If rapid carbonation is achieved through high pressure, then productivity is improved, but safety risks and energy consumption worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbonation speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves rapid carbonation through periodic action: the user shakes the bottle in brief intervals (typically 30 seconds to 2 minutes) to facilitate gas dissolution, then allows the reaction to proceed naturally. This periodic mechanical agitation combined with chemical reaction achieves fast carbonation without sustained high energy input or continuous high pressure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Enables the production of beverages with up to 3.5 volume carbonation levels in under 60 seconds at pressures below 80 psi, providing a convenient and efficient method for making carbonated drinks at home.

Implementation Method 1

a carbon dioxide or other gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate carbon dioxide or other gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCarbonation: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

A beverage making machine that uses a cartridge system with a gas source, such as zeolite charged with carbon dioxide, which is activated by a precursor liquid to carbonate water efficiently

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectZeolite gas release: Zeolite

Data Source

PatentUS10206535B2Method of preparing a beverage with mixing chamber

Publication Date: 2019.02.19 BEDFORD SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

A beverage making machine may employ a mixing chamber to mix a beverage medium with a precursor liquid, such as carbonated water. The mixing chamber may have a precursor liquid inlet coupled to a precursor liquid supply, a beverage medium chamber to receive a beverage medium into the beverage medium chamber, and a dispense outlet from which beverage medium and precursor liquid are dispensed, e.g., into a user's cup. The beverage medium chamber may include a chamber inlet coupled to the precursor liquid inlet, e.g., so precursor liquid can enter the chamber when a pressure is low in the beverage medium chamber, and a chamber outlet downstream of the chamber inlet that is coupled to the dispense outlet, e.g., so that beverage medium can exit the chamber.