Vent orifice and filter for beverage machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Beverage forming systems that use a liquid to create beverages face challenges in efficiently delivering heated liquid to a brew chamber while maintaining pressure and preventing contamination, particularly in systems with a heater tank that requires venting.
Innovation Solution
A beverage forming apparatus with a liquid supply system that includes a heater tank, an air pump to pressurize the system, a permanently open orifice for venting, and an air filter to ensure filtered air is delivered to the heater tank, allowing for efficient liquid delivery to the brew chamber while preventing contamination and maintaining pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heater tank is used to heat and pressurize liquid for delivery to the brew chamber, then liquid delivery efficiency is improved, but pressure control becomes difficult due to continuous venting through the orifice
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter serves as an intermediary component between the air pump and the heater tank, allowing air to be introduced for pressurization while filtering contaminants. The permanently open orifice acts as another intermediary by providing a controlled venting path that prevents pressure buildup while maintaining system operation. These intermediary elements resolve the contradiction by mediating between the need for pressurization and the need for pressure control.
2Productivity
If air is delivered to the heater tank to pressurize the liquid supply system, then liquid flow to the brew chamber is improved, but contamination risk increases without proper filtration
Solution Approach 1:
The air filter is positioned as an intermediary component in the air delivery path, intercepting and filtering contaminants from the air before it enters the heater tank and liquid supply system. This allows the system to benefit from air pressurization while protecting the liquid and system components from contamination by airborne particles.
3Reliability
If a permanently open orifice is used to vent pressure from the liquid supply system, then pressure buildup is prevented, but pressure control for efficient liquid delivery is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses air pressure as a copy or substitute for direct liquid pressure control. By introducing air into the heater tank, the system creates a gas pressure layer that pushes the liquid toward the brew chamber without requiring high liquid pressure, thus maintaining delivery efficiency while the orifice safely vents excess pressure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the air filter is positioned to filter all air passing through the system, then contamination is prevented, but air flow resistance increases reducing pressurization efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The air delivery system is segmented into different paths: filtered air path and unfiltered vent path. The air filter is positioned to filter air entering the heater tank from the air pump, while the permanently open orifice provides a separate path for air to escape without filtration. This segmentation allows filtration where contamination prevention is critical while avoiding energy loss from filtering air that will be vented anyway.
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 system effectively forces heated liquid to the brew chamber, ensuring efficient beverage formation while maintaining a controlled pressure and preventing contamination, even when the orifice continuously vents the heater tank.
Implementation Method 1
an air pump may be fluidly coupled to the liquid supply system to deliver air to the liquid supply system to pressurize at least a portion of the liquid supply system and move liquid in the fluid supply system to the liquid inlet
Implementation Method 2
A permanently open orifice may be fluidly coupled to the liquid supply system and arranged to vent pressure from a portion of the liquid supply system
Implementation Method 3
an air filter may be fluidly coupled to the orifice and to the air pump such that air delivered from the air pump passes through the air filter and to the liquid supply system
Implementation Method 4
the liquid supply system includes a heater tank in which liquid is heated
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for venting a liquid supply of a beverage machine, e.g., by permanently open orifice and/or pressure relief valve. The orifice may always vent a heater tank, even while liquid is delivered to the tank by a liquid pump and/or while the tank is pressurized by an air pump to deliver liquid from the tank. A filter may be positioned between a heater tank and orifice and/or air pump. The pressure relief valve may be positioned between the liquid pump and the inlet side of the heater tank, e.g., so relatively cool water is released by the pressure relief valve when open.