Nested Ice and Soda Water Tanks for Compact Water Dispensers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing water output devices typically lack separate tanks for ice water and soda water, requiring users to exchange between the two, which is inconvenient and limits their ability to obtain pure ice water or soda water.
Innovation Solution
A water output device with a housing mechanism, water purification mechanism, refrigeration mechanism, and a tank assembly that includes separate tanks for hot water, ice water, and soda water, where the soda water tank is located within the ice water tank, allowing for independent operation and simultaneous cooling, and featuring a water pump, cooling pipe, and solenoid valves for controlled water output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate tanks for ice water and soda water are provided, then users can obtain pure ice water or soda water, but the device volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The soda water tank is nested within the ice water tank, with the soda water tank positioned inside the ice water tank's volume. This nested configuration allows both tanks to occupy overlapping spatial volume, providing separate storage for ice water and soda water while maintaining a compact overall device footprint.
2Volume of moving object
If the soda water tank is located within the ice water tank, then the device size is reduced, but the complexity of water pumping and cooling control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water cooling system is segmented into separate cooling paths: a first water pump dedicated to the ice water tank and a second water pump dedicated to the soda water tank. The cooling system is also segmented with separate cooling pipes and control mechanisms for each tank, allowing independent control of ice water and soda water cooling processes despite the nested configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice water tank serves multiple functions: it stores ice water for direct dispensing and simultaneously acts as an outer containment structure for the nested soda water tank. The cooling system provides universal cooling capability that can be selectively applied to either tank or both tanks independently through the segmented pump and pipe configuration.
3Measurement precision
If independent cooling systems are used for ice water and soda water tanks, then cooling control precision is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system employs dynamic control through solenoid valves that can selectively open or close cooling paths based on real-time temperature sensor feedback. The first solenoid valve controls cooling to the ice water tank while the second solenoid valve controls cooling to the soda water tank, allowing the system to dynamically adjust cooling allocation and avoid unnecessary energy consumption when one tank already meets temperature requirements.
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 provision of hot, ice, and soda water in a compact device, allowing users to obtain pure ice or soda water while optimizing energy use by cooling the soda water tank synchronously with the ice water tank.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank; wherein the cooling pipe is connected to the compressor
Implementation Method 2
a water pump in communication with the ice water tank and the soda water tank respectively
Implementation Method 3
a refrigeration mechanism, which comprises a compressor located within the housing mechanism
Implementation Method 4
a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank; wherein the cooling pipe is connected to the compressor
Data Source
AI summary
A water output device is provided. The water output device comprises a housing mechanism; a water purification mechanism, which comprises a water purifier located within the housing mechanism; a refrigeration mechanism, which comprises a compressor located within the housing mechanism; a tank assembly, which comprises a first tank mechanism configured for providing hot water, and second tank mechanism configured for providing ice water and soda water; the first tank mechanism comprises a hot water tank in communication with the water purifier; the second tank mechanism comprises a ice water tank in communication with the water purifier, a soda water tank located within the ice water tank, a water pump in communication with the ice water tank and the soda water tank respectively, and a cooling pipe spirally extended into the ice water tank.