Refillable Bottle with Automated Fluid Level Sensing and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refillable drinking vessels lack an efficient and automated system for monitoring and controlling the fluid level, leading to potential overfilling or underfilling, which can result in suboptimal usage and user inconvenience.
Innovation Solution
A refillable drinking vessel system comprising a bottle, a bottle fitting structure, a base plate, and a fluid control structure that forms a fluidic connection with a pressurized fluid source, allowing automatic sensing and measurement of the fluid level within the bottle, controlling the flow of fluid to maintain a predetermined volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual monitoring and refilling is used, then device complexity is reduced, but fluid level control precision deteriorates leading to overfilling or underfilling
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic fluid level monitoring and control without requiring manual intervention. The sensor detects fluid levels and the controller automatically activates the fluid source to refill the container when needed, allowing the system to serve itself and eliminate human involvement in the monitoring and refilling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical monitoring with an automated sensing system. A sensor detects fluid levels and transmits signals to a controller, which then manages the refilling process. This substitution of mechanical/manual operations with sensor-based detection and electronic control achieves precise fluid level measurement while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular design.
2Productivity
If automatic fluid control is implemented, then productivity is improved through automated refilling, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors fluid levels and initiates refilling operations without human intervention. The sensor continuously detects fluid levels and the controller autonomously activates the fluid source when refilling is needed, enabling the system to service itself and significantly improving refilling productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control loop where the sensor continuously monitors fluid levels and transmits information to the controller. The controller processes this feedback and adjusts the refilling operation accordingly, activating the fluid source when levels are low and stopping when the desired level is reached. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic refilling while maintaining controlled complexity through systematic signal processing.
3Loss of substance
If precise fluid level measurement is achieved, then loss of substance is reduced by preventing overfilling, but measurement precision requirements increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor provides continuous feedback on fluid levels to the controller, enabling precise detection of when the fluid reaches critical levels. This feedback mechanism allows the system to stop refilling at the optimal point, preventing overfilling and reducing fluid waste while maintaining manageable measurement precision requirements through appropriate sensor selection and control logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces imprecise manual level assessment with sensor-based detection that provides accurate, objective measurement of fluid levels. This substitution enables reliable detection of fluid level thresholds, ensuring consistent prevention of overfilling and reducing fluid waste through automated, precise measurement rather than human judgment.
Data Source
AI summary
The refillable drinking vessel comprises a bottle, a bottle fitting structure, a base plate, and a fluid control structure. The base plate forms a fluidic connection between the bottle fitting structure and a pressurized fluid source. The bottle fitting structure forms a fluidic connection between the bottle and the base plate. The fluid control structure automatically controls the flow of fluid from the pressurized fluid source through the base plate and the bottle fitting structure into the bottle. The fluid control structure senses when the bottle is near the base plate. The fluid control structure measures and controls the amount of fluid contained in the bottle.