Beverage Dispenser Nozzle Flow Splitter for Syrup Water Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current beverage dispenser nozzles lack an effective method to accurately split and measure the flow ratio of syrup and water or diluent streams, which is essential for ensuring the proper beverage composition, especially in modular dispenser configurations.
Innovation Solution
A flow splitter device with an inner and outer chamber, featuring an internal vent and drain for the water stream and a steeply angled floor with outlet holes for the syrup stream, allowing for separate collection and drainage of both fluids, enabling precise ratio determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flow splitter device is introduced to split and measure the flow ratio of syrup and water streams, then the measurement precision of the syrup to water ratio is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for separate inner and outer chambers with drainage systems
Solution Approach 1:
The flow splitter device is divided into separate functional chambers: an inner chamber for collecting the syrup stream with an inner drain, and an outer chamber for collecting the water stream with an outer drain. This segmentation allows independent measurement and drainage of each fluid stream, enabling accurate ratio determination while maintaining manageable structural complexity through modular design.
2Productivity
If separate collection and drainage systems are implemented for syrup and water streams, then the productivity of ratio assessment is improved by enabling faster measurements, but the device complexity increases due to multiple chambers and drainage components
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the collection system into separate inner and outer chambers with independent drainage paths, the device enables simultaneous collection and measurement of both syrup and water streams. This parallel processing capability significantly speeds up the ratio assessment process compared to sequential measurement methods, while the modular chamber design keeps the overall system manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled floors in both chambers automatically direct fluids toward the drainage openings, enabling passive self-draining without requiring additional pumps or complex control mechanisms. This self-service drainage system maintains high productivity while minimizing the complexity of active drainage components.
3Reliability
If the inner chamber includes an angled floor and outlet holes for drainage, then the completeness of syrup drainage is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the need for precise angle and hole placement
Solution Approach 1:
The inner chamber features a localized angled floor configuration specifically positioned to guide syrup flow toward the drainage opening, rather than requiring the entire chamber to meet high precision standards. This localized quality approach ensures complete drainage while reducing the overall manufacturing precision burden to specific critical areas only.
Solution Approach 2:
The angled floor is designed with a sufficient angle (e.g., 45 degrees) that exceeds the minimum required for drainage, ensuring that even with normal manufacturing tolerances, the syrup will reliably drain completely. This excessive action approach provides a safety margin that compensates for typical manufacturing variations without requiring ultra-precise fabrication.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the flow splitter is designed to adapt to modular dispenser nozzle configurations, then the adaptability of the device is improved, but the device complexity increases to accommodate various nozzle types and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The flow splitter device incorporates a universal connection interface and modular chamber design that can accommodate different modular dispenser nozzle configurations. The standardized connection mechanism allows the same basic device structure to work with various nozzle types, maintaining adaptability while avoiding the need for multiple specialized device variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The device employs adjustable or flexible connection elements that can adapt to different nozzle positions and configurations, allowing the flow splitter to dynamically adjust to various modular dispenser setups without requiring a completely different device design for each configuration.
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
The flow splitter ensures complete drainage and accurate measurement of the syrup to water ratio, facilitating faster and more precise ratio assessments, compatible with various nozzle configurations, including modular dispensers.
Implementation Method 1
said inner chamber comprising an internal vent to vent air into said inner chamber
Implementation Method 2
The outer chamber may include an angled floor. The angle may be about a forty-five degree angle (45°). The outer chamber may include one or more outlet holes so as to drain the outer chamber.
Implementation Method 3
one or more outlet holes so as to drain the inner chamber. The outlet holes may lead to the inner drain
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 8~9
AI summary
A flow splitter (100) for use with a dispensing nozzle (10). The dispensing nozzle dispenses a first fluid and a second fluid. The flow splitter includes an inner chamber (110) for collecting the first fluid and an outer chamber (120) for collecting the second fluid. The inner chamber includes an internal vent (150) so as to vent air into the inner chamber (110).