Refillable drinking vessel
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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 waste and 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 refilling is used, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision and measurement precision deteriorate due to inability to accurately control fluid level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical refilling operations with an automated fluid control system that uses electronic sensors and motorized pumps to measure and control fluid levels, thereby achieving precise measurement while automating the refilling process
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the beverage container to refill itself automatically through integrated sensors that detect fluid levels and trigger the pump mechanism to add fluid when needed, eliminating the need for manual intervention and achieving both precision and automation
2Productivity
If automated fluid control is implemented, then productivity is improved through automatic sensing and measurement, but device complexity increases due to additional control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The base plate structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the fluid control mechanisms, contains the pump system, and integrates the sensing elements, thereby achieving automated refilling while consolidating components to manage complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the fluid reservoir, pump mechanism, sensor system, and control electronics into an integrated base plate assembly that works as a unified system, improving refilling productivity while reducing the number of separate components
3Loss of substance
If fluid level monitoring is added, then loss of substance is reduced by preventing overfilling, but device complexity increases due to sensing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses fluid level sensors to continuously monitor the beverage level in the container and provides feedback to the control system, which automatically stops the pump when the predetermined level is reached, preventing overfilling and waste while using a relatively simple sensing mechanism
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.