Transversal Seal Orientation for Capsule Pressure Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing beverage capsule systems experience a rapid drop in pressure after the seal breaks, leading to poor interaction between coffee and water, and high-velocity flow that can result in splashes, due to the orientation of the breakable seal directing the flow straight out of the capsule.
Innovation Solution
A capsule design featuring a delivery wall with an inner and outer layer, where the seal portion is arranged transversely to break under pressure, creating a tortuous flow path and maintaining pressure by delaying the flow's direction change, ensuring a sustained pressure within the capsule.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the seal is oriented to break under pressure directing flow straight out of the capsule, then the seal breaks reliably under pressure, but the pressure drops rapidly and flow velocity becomes too high causing splashes
Solution Approach 1:
The seal is reoriented from a longitudinal orientation (parallel to flow direction) to a transversal orientation (perpendicular to flow direction). This dimensional change in seal orientation forces the beverage flow to change direction abruptly after breaking the seal, creating a tortuous flow path that maintains pressure while still allowing reliable seal breakdown under pressure
2Productivity
If the seal breaks under pressure, then beverage flow is enabled, but the interaction between coffee and water becomes poor due to pressure drop
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the seal orientation to transversal, the flow path becomes tortuous rather than direct. This maintains elevated pressure during beverage release, ensuring thorough interaction between water and coffee ingredients for high extraction quality, while still enabling complete beverage flow through the broken seal
3Productivity
If the seal breaks under pressure, then beverage is released, but splashes occur due to high velocity flow
Solution Approach 1:
The transversal seal orientation creates a tortuous flow path that redirects the beverage flow after seal breakdown. This reduces flow velocity and prevents direct high-speed ejection, eliminating splashes while maintaining effective beverage release through the broken seal
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 design maintains elevated pressure during beverage release, improving the interaction between water and coffee ingredients, reducing splashes, and ensuring a more controlled flow, suitable for preparing coffee types like ristretto, espresso, or lungo.
Implementation Method 1
the seal portion is arranged in the transversal direction to delaminate or break under a sufficient pressure of beverage liquid against said seal portion
Data Source
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AI summary
Capsule for preparation of a beverage in a beverage production machine comprising a body and a delivery wall forming a chamber containing ground coffee, said delivery wall comprising at least one outlet, wherein the delivery wall comprises an inner layer and an outer layer forming respectively first and second layers at least partially connected together by at least one seal portion which delaminates or breaks under the pressure of coffee liquid against said seal portion, wherein the seal portion extends in a direction (P) which differs from the direction (A) of the outlet.