Vacuum Blender Air Evacuation Using Fan-Driven Venturi Suction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vacuum blenders require costly structural additions and increased footprint to evacuate air from the mixing vessel, which is not feasible for nutrient extractors with an inverted vessel configuration, and they often need a separate vacuum pump, increasing bulk and cost.
Innovation Solution
A conduit system within the blender's existing space uses the motor's fan to create suction for air evacuation through a Venturi effect, eliminating the need for a separate vacuum pump and maintaining the blender's compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate vacuum pump is added to evacuate air from the mixing vessel, then air removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity and footprint increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vacuum pump function with the existing motor assembly by integrating a diaphragm pump driven by the motor's drive shaft. This merging eliminates the need for a separate vacuum pump unit, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective air removal capability to prevent nutrient oxidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor assembly is designed to serve dual functions: driving the blade for blending and driving the diaphragm pump for vacuum creation. This multi-functionality allows the same motor to perform both mixing and air evacuation tasks, simplifying the overall device structure without compromising either function's effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a separate vacuum pump is added to evacuate air from the mixing vessel, then air removal effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vacuum pump function with the existing motor assembly by integrating a diaphragm pump driven by the motor's drive shaft. This merging eliminates the need for a separate vacuum pump unit, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective air removal capability to prevent nutrient oxidation.
3Productivity
If the vessel configuration is inverted for nutrient extraction, then blending performance is improved, but vacuum connection capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an upwardly extending conduit that projects from the inverted vessel's downward-facing surface. This vertical extension creates a new dimensional interface for vacuum connection, allowing the inverted nutrient extractor vessel to maintain vacuum capability while preserving its optimized blending configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The upwardly extending conduit acts as an intermediary element that bridges the inverted vessel structure with the vacuum system. It provides a connection interface without requiring modification to the vessel's inverted configuration, enabling vacuum functionality to be maintained through this mediating structural element.
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 effectively evacuates air from the vessel without increasing the blender's footprint, reducing manufacturing costs and energy consumption, and integrates seamlessly with existing motor systems, enhancing the functionality of both traditional and nutrient extractor blenders.
Implementation Method 1
uses the motor's fan to create suction for air evacuation through a Venturi effect
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum blender having a vessel, a motor base containing a motor having a motor drive shaft, the motor base containing a vacuum pump, the motor drive shaft adapted to drive the vacuum pump, a blade holder having a blade with a blade shaft for engaging the motor drive shaft, and a fan connected to the motor drive shaft. The blender includes a conduit system for the passage of air from the vessel to the ambient environment. The fan and blade are capable of being selectively actuated using a gear or clutch system, preferably operated by firmware. The vacuum pump may also be selectively actuated using a solenoid to disengage the motor drive shaft from the vacuum pump or by closing the conduit system from the vessel to the vacuum pump. The invention is capable of evacuating air from the vessel before blending of the food contents occurs.