Piston-Filter Beverage Brewer for Infusion and Solid Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage-making systems are inefficient in agitating and filtering mixtures of liquid and infusible solid particles, leading to incomplete infusion and potential spills, and lack effective mechanisms for spent solid particle removal and system cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A brewer system with a vertically displaceable piston and filter, driven by a mechanism that agitates the mixture by forcing air through it and separates the beverage from spent solids, accompanied by a dispensing mechanism and optional wiping mechanism for spent solids, and a cleaning mechanism using a fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a piston is used to agitate and filter the mixture, then infusion efficiency is improved, but the system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The piston integrates multiple functions into a single component: it acts as an agitator by forcing air through the mixture, serves as a filter by separating liquid beverage from spent solids, and functions as a dispensing mechanism. This merging of functions improves infusion efficiency while minimizing the addition of separate components, thus managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The piston is designed as a multi-functional element that performs agitation, filtration, and dispensing operations. By making the piston universal in its capabilities, the system achieves high productivity without proportionally increasing device complexity, as one component accomplishes what would otherwise require multiple separate mechanisms.
2Reliability
If spent solid particles are removed during brewing, then infusion quality is improved, but the brewing process time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston operates continuously through a cyclical motion that simultaneously performs agitation, filtration, and particle removal. The downward stroke agitates the mixture while the upward stroke filters and removes spent solids, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the brewing process. This eliminates idle time between infusion and particle removal, preserving brewing speed while ensuring infusion quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The brewing process employs periodic piston movement with alternating downward and upward strokes. The downward stroke performs agitation and infusion, while the upward stroke performs filtration and particle removal. This periodic action allows spent solid particles to be removed during the brewing cycle itself rather than requiring a separate step, maintaining both infusion quality and process efficiency.
3Productivity
If a wiping mechanism is added for spent solids, then particle removal efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston's upward movement automatically performs the wiping function by drawing the beverage layer through the filter, which naturally separates and removes spent solid particles. The system uses its own operational motion (the piston's upward stroke) to achieve particle removal without requiring an external wiping mechanism. This self-service approach improves particle removal efficiency while avoiding additional complexity.
4Reliability
If air is forced through the mixture, then infusion thoroughness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pneumatic action by forcing air through the mixture during the piston's downward stroke. This pneumatic mechanism provides thorough infusion by bubbling air through the liquid and particle mixture, ensuring complete contact and extraction. The use of compressed air is an efficient method for achieving thorough infusion without requiring excessive mechanical energy input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the phase transition of air from a gas to bubbles within the liquid mixture, and then back to gas as it escapes. This phase transition process during air forcing through the mixture enhances infusion thoroughness by creating turbulent mixing and maximizing contact between air, liquid, and particles, while the natural expansion and contraction of gas phases requires minimal energy input.
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 system ensures thorough infusion, reduces spills, efficiently separates beverage from solids, and allows for independent control of brewing and wiping cycles, enhancing maintenance through self-cleaning capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
displacing the piston downward within the chamber, thereby forcing air from the lower portion through the filter and into the upper portion so as to agitate the mixture
Implementation Method 2
displacing the piston upward within the chamber, thereby drawing the beverage from the upper portion through the filter and into the lower portion while spent solid particles remain above the filter
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for making a beverage from a mixture of liquid and solid particles are disclosed. The liquid and solid particles are introduced into a chamber so as to allow the liquid to infuse with the flavor or quality of the solid particles. A piston having an integrated filter is in sealed contact with the chamber, and can be vertically displaced within the chamber. When the piston is displaced downward, air is forced from below the filter and into the mixture sitting above the filter, agitating the mixture. When the piston is displaced upward, the mixture is drawn from above the filter. This separates the spent solid particles from the infused liquid, which collects in the chamber, thereby making the beverage. Also described are a driving mechanism for displacing the piston, a dispensing mechanism for releasing the beverage, and a wiping mechanism for wiping spent solid particles.