Nozzle Insert Baffle Swirls Carbonated Liquid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sanitary fittings fail to produce carbonated liquids with high enough CO2 concentration and desirable jet patterns.

Innovation Solution

A sanitary fitting with a nozzle insert having a guide channel and baffle wall that swirls and expands the carbonated liquid, creating a high CO2 concentration and attractive jet pattern through an outlet opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a conventional nozzle design is used, then the device structure is simple, but the CO2 concentration in the dispensed liquid is insufficient and the spray pattern quality is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO2 concentrationVSAvoidnozzle structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is divided into separate functional components: a guide channel section and a baffle section. The guide channel directs the liquid flow, while the baffle creates turbulence and enhances CO2 retention. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, achieving high CO2 concentration without excessive overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The baffle element introduces a new spatial dimension to the flow path by creating a perpendicular obstruction. This dimensional change forces the liquid to swirl and creates turbulence, which enhances CO2 concentration retention and spray pattern quality without simply increasing the size of existing components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the nozzle insert is fixed in the housing, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the device cannot be disassembled for cleaning or maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecleanabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is designed as a separable insert that can be removed from the housing. This segmentation allows the nozzle to be detached for cleaning and maintenance while keeping the housing structure relatively simple. The insert can be easily reinserted without complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nozzle insert is extracted as a separate removable component from the housing. This extraction enables independent cleaning and maintenance of the nozzle without disassembling the entire device, improving ease of operation while maintaining simple manufacturing processes for both the housing and the insert.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 dispensing of carbonated liquids with enhanced CO2 concentration and an appealing spray pattern, improving both quality and aesthetics.

Implementation Method 1

the nozzle insert has a guide channel with a first diameter, with which the carbonated liquid can be guided to a baffle wall of the nozzle insert, so that the carbonated liquid can be swirled by the baffle wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSwirling flow: Vortex Ring

Implementation Method 2

an expansion chamber which is arranged downstream of the nozzle insert, wherein the expansion chamber has a second diameter which is larger than the first diameter of the guide channel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid expansion: Pressure Drop

Data Source

PatentEP3546421B1Dispensing device comprising a nozzle insert with a baffle
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 GROHE AG
  • EP3546421B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546421B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3546421B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Dispensing device (1) comprising: - a valve body (2) with at least one first line (3) for a carbonated liquid, - a nozzle insert (4) arranged in the at least one first line (3), wherein the nozzle insert (4) has a guide channel (5) with a first diameter (13) by which the carbonated liquid can be guided to a baffle wall (6) of the nozzle insert (4) so ​​that the carbonated liquid can be swirled through the baffle wall (6), - an expansion chamber (19) arranged downstream of the nozzle insert (4), wherein the expansion chamber (19) has a second diameter (22) which is larger than the first diameter (13) of the guide channel (5), and - an outlet opening (7) arranged downstream of the expansion chamber (19) through which the swirled carbonated liquid can exit the dispensing device (1).Furthermore, the use of a nozzle insert for guiding a carbonated liquid in a dispensing device is proposed.