Sensorized accessory for pumps, particularly for coffee machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coffee machines have complex hydraulic and electrical circuits with distributed pressure and flow sensors, making design, production, and maintenance challenging, and requiring significant space.
Innovation Solution
A sensorized accessory for pumps that includes flow, pressure, and temperature detection devices, integrated with a processing unit to provide closed-loop feedback control, simplifying the design and production of coffee machines while reducing their overall footprint and enhancing reliability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure and flow sensors are distributed inside the hydraulic circuit of the coffee machine, then the control unit can control and regulate the dispensing of the beverage, but the operating circuits become quite complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pump, flow sensor, pressure sensor, and control unit into an integrated pump assembly. The flow sensor and pressure sensor are positioned to directly measure parameters at the pump outlet, and the control unit is integrated within the assembly to process these measurements and control the pump motor. This merging eliminates the need for separate distributed sensors and control circuits throughout the hydraulic system, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable control and regulation of beverage dispensing.
2Reliability
If pressure and flow sensors are distributed inside the hydraulic circuit, then the beverage dispensing can be controlled and regulated, but the machine dimensions become important
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates all control components (pump, sensors, control unit) into a single compact assembly located at the pump station. This eliminates the need for distributed sensors throughout the hydraulic circuit, significantly reducing the overall machine volume required for control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated control unit performs multiple functions: it receives signals from both flow and pressure sensors, processes this information, and controls the pump motor operation. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate control systems into a single unit, reducing the space needed for control components.
3Measurement precision
If conventional pumps are sensorised with flow and pressure detection devices, then the pump can detect flow properties, but the pump footprint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow sensor and pressure sensor are nested within or directly integrated with the pump structure. The flow sensor is positioned in the flow path within the pump housing, and the pressure sensor is mounted on the pump outlet port. This nesting approach allows the sensors to be accommodated within the existing pump volume rather than adding external sensor assemblies, thereby maintaining compact pump dimensions while enabling precise flow property detection.
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 sensorized accessory allows for precise control of fluid flow, pressure, and temperature, simplifying the coffee machine's circuits, ensuring reliable operation, and reducing maintenance complexity while maintaining economic competitiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a detection device (7) for detecting the flow and/or pressure of a fluid flowing along said at least one sensorized outlet conduit (5) is associated to said at least one sensorized outlet conduit (5), said detection device (7) being adapted to generate signals indicative of the flow and/or pressure of the fluid
Implementation Method 2
a detection device (7) for detecting the flow and/or pressure of a fluid flowing along said at least one sensorized outlet conduit (5) is associated to said at least one sensorized outlet conduit (5), said detection device (7) being adapted to generate signals indicative of the flow and/or pressure of the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A sensorized accessory for pumps, particularly for coffee machines, includes an inlet fitting configured to be coupled to a delivery port of a pump and a body inside which the followings are realized: an inlet conduit configured to be placed in fluid communication with the delivery port of the pump by the inlet fitting; at least one sensorized outlet conduit, in fluid communication with the inlet conduit, a device for detecting the flow and/or pressure of a fluid flowing along the at least one sensorized outlet conduit being associated to the at least one sensorized outlet conduit, the detection device being adapted to generate signals indicative of the flow and/or pressure of the fluid.