Pump Mount Spring Structure for Beverage Machine Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vibrations from reciprocating piston pumps in beverage preparation machines negatively affect the quality and operational feel of the devices and other components, as existing solutions like suspension with spaced apart suspenders or elastic supports do not adequately address the issue of vibration transmission.

Innovation Solution

A beverage preparation machine design that incorporates a helicoidal dampening spring to mount the pump, allowing friction-free movement and reducing vibration transmission, combined with a plain bearing to guide the pump's movements, effectively isolating the pump from other machine components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the pump is mounted directly in the housing, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but vibrations are transmitted to other machine parts affecting quality and operational feel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting simplicityVSAvoidvibration transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A dampener is introduced as an intermediary element between the pump and the housing. The dampener comprises a spring element that mechanically couples the pump to the housing while absorbing and isolating vibrations, preventing their transmission to other machine parts while maintaining structural simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The dampener is pre-installed in the housing structure before pump mounting. This cushioning element is positioned in advance to absorb and mitigate vibrations generated by the pump during operation, protecting other machine parts from harmful vibration effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If spaced apart suspenders or elastic supports are used to suspend the pump, then vibration transmission is reduced, but the mounting structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidmounting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dampener integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides vibration damping, structural support, and mechanical coupling between the pump and housing. This merged design achieves vibration isolation without requiring multiple separate suspenders or supports, thereby reducing overall structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the pump is rigidly mounted to ensure stability, then positioning is precise, but vibrations are transmitted to the housing and other components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepump positioningVSAvoidvibrations
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The dampener changes the mechanical parameters of the pump mounting system by introducing elastic compliance through the spring element. This allows the pump to maintain a stable, precise position while the dampener absorbs vibrational energy, preventing its transmission to the housing and other components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This solution significantly reduces vibration transmission to other parts of the machine, enhancing the operational stability and quality of beverage preparation, facilitating easier assembly and maintenance by minimizing the need for complex connections.

Implementation Method 1

a dampener for preventing or reducing the transmission of vibrations from the pump to other machine parts. The dampener comprises a spring on which the pump is mounted in the housing, for example a helicoidal dampening spring

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3005915B1Pump mount in a beverage preparation machine
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 NESTEC SA
  • EP3005915B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3005915B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A beverage preparation machine comprises: a housing (1000); a pump (800) which vibrates during use and which is mounted in the housing; and a dampener for preventing or reducing the transmission of vibrations from the pump to other machine parts, characterised in that the dampener comprise a spring (850) on which the pump is mounted in the housing.