Variable Speed Dispense Pump for Precise Beverage Brew Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial drip-type hot beverage brewers face challenges such as complex design, difficulty in varying brew dispense time, numerous components, and lack of fine control over flow rates and spray patterns, leading to inconsistent beverage quality.
Innovation Solution
A method for an electrical brewer that uses a variable speed pump and electronic controller to independently control flow rates and spray patterns, with a spray distribution dome directing hot water into individual streams, allowing for selective variation of flow rates and patterns to accommodate different beverage ingredients and varieties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a variable speed pump and electronic controller are used to independently control flow rates and spray patterns, then brewing precision and consistency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical flow control devices (orifice plates, flow discs, spray cutters) with an electronically controlled variable speed pump. This substitution allows for precise electronic control of flow rates and spray patterns through a microprocessor-based system, achieving brewing precision while reducing the number of mechanical components required for flow regulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a variable speed pump that can dynamically change operational parameters (flow rate, spray pattern, dispense time) through electronic control. The microprocessor controller adjusts pump speed and configuration to optimize brewing parameters for different beverage types, enabling precise control without requiring multiple fixed-configuration mechanical components.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple solenoid-controlled valves and flow control devices are employed to regulate water flow, then flow rate control is improved, but the number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple separate flow control devices (inlet fill valve, dispense valve, flow control regulators) into a single variable speed pump system. The pump integrates water intake, heating, and dispensing functions, eliminating the need for multiple solenoid valves and flow control devices while maintaining precise flow rate regulation through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable speed pump serves multiple functions: it controls water intake, regulates flow rate, adjusts spray patterns, and manages dispense timing. This multi-functional device replaces several specialized components, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining or improving flow control precision through a single programmable system.
3Device complexity
If fixed orifice plates and spray cutters are used to control water flow, then device simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different beverage ingredients is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic control system where the variable speed pump can adjust flow rates and spray patterns in real-time based on the selected beverage type. Unlike fixed orifice plates with static flow characteristics, the electronic control system dynamically modifies operational parameters to optimize brewing for different ingredients, maintaining simplicity while achieving high adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system stores multiple brew profiles in memory that define optimal flow rates, spray patterns, and dispense times for different beverage ingredients. The microprocessor controller selects and applies the appropriate parameter set based on user input, enabling the simple pump structure to adapt to various ingredients through programmable parameter changes rather than physical reconfiguration.
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 approach enables consistent and high-quality brewing by providing precise control over flow rates and spray patterns, ensuring repeatable results and accommodating various types and varieties of ingredients.
Implementation Method 1
A pump moves a selected flow rate of the hot water from the tank through a spray distribution head onto the ingredient
Implementation Method 2
A heating element heats a selected amount of water in the tank to a selected temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A method of brewing hot beverage with an electric hot beverage brewer (20) with a duty cycle modulated DC voltage dispense pump (44) with an inlet (46) connected to a de-aerator (24) and beneath a lower limit and an outlet (48) located above an upper limit the surface a hot water tank (22) is finely controlled by a high frequency pulse-width, modulated, square power input voltage (FIG. 2) with a duty cycle controlled in accordance with predetermined profiles stored within a controller (28) to selectively change the flow rate out of the pump onto a distribution dome (50) during a dispense period of a brew cycle to achieve optimum brewing of different types of beverage ingredients and varieties of the different types and to selectively change the spray pattern of hot water onto the ingredient (53) within the basket assembly (52) between vertical and acute angles including acute angles that pass hot water into a bypass gap (56).