Low-foam keg tap

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(Design Documentation)
(Design Analysis)
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| align="center"|21.1
 
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| align="center"|Handle
 
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| align="center"|Allows the user to start and stop the flow of beer
 
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| align="center"|Deform/Break
 
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| align="center"|Beer would not be allowed to come out the nozzle
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Pushing the handle past where it should be
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|Use thick enough plastic
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Sell spare parts
 
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| align="center"|21.2
 
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| align="center"|White Plastic Center
 
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| align="center"|Connects nozzle handle to cap seal
 
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| align="center"|Connection point to nozzle handle breaks
 
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| align="center"|Beer can not come out of nozzle
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Pushing the handle past where it should be
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|Test to make sure it operates the way it should
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Sell spare parts, look for a possible redesign
 
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| align="center"|21.3
 
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| align="center"|Spring
 
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| align="center"|Apply extra force to keep the pressurized beer from coming out of the keg
 
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| align="center"|No foreseen failure modes
 
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| align="center"|---
 
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| align="center"|---
 
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| align="center"|---
 
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| align="center"|21.4
 
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| align="center"|Hard Plastic Cap
 
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| align="center"|Connects the Handle to the nozzle
 
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| align="center"|Fracture
 
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| align="center"|Nozzle/Handle would not be able to function
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Over tightening the cap onto the nozzle
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|Tighten cap enough so users do not have to
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Sell spare parts
 
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| align="center"|22
 
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| align="center"|Nozzle Seal
 
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| align="center"|Blocks the flow from leaving the hose
 
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| align="center"|Surface fatigue wear
 
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| align="center"|Beer would leak through and leave the nozzle
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Repeated use
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|Make sure the rubber used can withstand many cycles
 
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| align="center"|1
 
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| align="center"|7
 
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| align="center"|Sell spare parts
 
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Revision as of 14:15, 5 December 2009

Contents

Executive Summary

Provide a brief executive summary summarizing your findings and conclusions. In particular, summarize

  1. Findings from market research justifying need for the new product: Survey distributed; found that users desire a lower foam output, easier pumping mechanism, and more intuitive tap design
  2. The product's main features, advantages over competitors, and target market: center cylinder redesigned to eliminate 90 degree bend in liquid output (straight tube means less foam), final product will include pressure gauge to prevent overpumping; competing products create more foam; target market is beer distributors and college students
  3. The most important findings from your product analyses that justify design choices and support your case for the new product.

Market Analysis

Make the case that there exists a market need for your product using market research findings, illustrative pictures, benchmarking against competitors, and identifying your target market. Estimate a ballpark expected price and production volume for the product and compare against expected cost. Determine if the product has high likelihood to be profitable or unprofitable or if more information is needed to determine. Is there enough potential to justify investment in further market research and testing?

Design Documentation

Include assembly drawings with all components labeled as well as a bill of materials defining each component with quantity, material, etc. Include a fully dimensioned CAD drawing for each custom component and a company and part number for each purchased component.

Whether or not the base is cast or bought depends on the production volume. As of now, the assumption is that the number of taps produced will not make it worth it to make the part. The individual component can be purchased at ____ for $xx.


Part Number Name QTY Weight (oz) Function Material Manufacturing Process Image CAD drawing
1 Handle 1 1 Grip for pumping Plastic Injection molding - -
2 Plunger 2 4.3 Forces air into casing Stainless Steel Extrusion, machined threads Image:KegTap_Plunger.jpg -
2.1 Plunger Disc 2 0.5 Air tight Brass Extrusion, drilled holes -- -
3 Plunger O-Ring 2 0.05 Seal Rubber Injection molding
-
4 Cylindrical Plunger Casing 2 6.3 Pressure for pumping Stainless Steel Extrusion, machined threads Image:KegTap_CylindricalPlungerCasing.jpg -
5 Cylindrical Casing O-Ring 2 0.05 Seal Rubber Injection Molding
-
6 Cylindrical Top 2 1.7 Encloses plunger in casing Stainless Steel Extrusion, lathe, machined threads
-
7 Plunger Spring 2 0.1 Prevents plunger from getting stuck Stainless Steel Extrusion, coiled Image:KepTap_Spring.jpg -
8 Center Cylinder 1 - Separates air input from beer output Stainless Steel Extrusion, mill, lathe, drilled holes, machined threads - -
9 Center Cylinder O-Ring 1 0.05 Seal Rubber Injection molding
-
10 Lever 1 4.1 Attaches tap to keg Steel Cast, machined threads Image:KegTap_Lever.jpg -
11 Lever Casing 1 0.5 Provides grip for user to pull lever up Plastic Injection molding Image:KegTap_LeverCasing.jpg -
12 White Cap 1 0.1 Prevents nut from potentially falling off Plastic Injection molding
-
13 Lever spring 1 0.1 Provides compression that enables lever to lock in place Stainless steel Extrusion, coiled Image:KegTap_LeverSpring1.jpg -
14 Center Rod 1 0.5 Locks lever into machined groove on base Brass Extrusion, machined threads Image:KegTap_CenterRod.jpg -
15 Nut 1 0.05 Attaches center rod to lever casing Steel Machined
-
16 Washer 1 0.05 Distributes force of nut Steel Stamped
-
17 Lever Pin 1 0.2 Holds lever on base Steel Extrusion, machined Image:KegTap_LeverPin.jpg -
18 Base 1 7.2 Attaches to keg Steel (Sand) cast Image:KegTap_Base.jpg -
19 Base O-Ring 1 0.1 Seal Rubber Injection molding
-
20 Main Block 1 -- Channels air into the center cylinder and provides a straight outlet for the beer Stainless steel Thermoforming - -

House of Quality

Provide a complete house of quality table to summarize your design choices, targets, relationships, and benchmarking against the competition. Highlight major findings and conclusions.

Image:HOQ.JPG

Design Analysis

Report on conclusions and recommendations from your DFMA, FMEA, and DFE findings for your product, and benchmark against the competition. Highlight major findings in the report and provide data in the appendix.

  • DFE

Our DFE conclusions from the tap design in use currently, showed that our group should work to reduce the amount of foam created. The foam was the largest component of greenhouse gas emissions associated with our product. Therefore reducing the foam created would be a great way to reduce the impact our product has on the environment. See Keg tap Section 8.

Due to the number and types of changes we have made to the original tap to create our foam-reducing tap, the DFE for our product would be identical to the original tap, with one major change: the amount of foam created by our product is less. The reduced foam creation in our tap means our product will have a reduced impact on the environment.

  • FMEA

The following FMEA is very identical to the FMEA done on the current tap design due to multiple parts being the same. The key differences that should be highlighted are the changes in the handle, the changes in the center cylinder. and the addition of the main block.

The new handle may cause a few new problems, such as improper taping and binding. The old tap design inadvertently forced the user to tap the keg the proper way by grabbing the plastic handle near the base and twisting. Now that our handle for pumping is larger the user may try taping the keg with that part, which may tighten/loosen some of the threaded parts instead of taping the keg. The other problem of binding was cause for concern before the prototype was actually completed. It was thought that having the double barrel may cause the plungers to bind, no allowing the user to pump the tap easily. After completing the prototype and testing multiple times this does not seem to be a problem.

The FMEA done on the original tap led our group to make changes on the center cylinder. It was this part that received the highest RPN (49) the first time around. It received that number due to the flow path it made the beer follow. The testing and mechanical analysis we have done shows that more foam is created when the beer has to go around a 90 degree bend. With that in mind our group decided to redesign this piece so that there were no bends in it, allowing for the least amount of foam to be created in it, ultimately lowering its RPN.

Lastly the main block is a new part added to our re-design. Just as the new handle is a place to tap the keg improperly, the main block could give the user a place to make the same mistake. If tapped by twisting the main block, threaded parts may be tightened or loosened instead of the keg being properly tapped. One way to combat this problem would be to put warning signs on the tap, or to make the handle by the base bigger so the user will want to use that to tap the keg.


Part # Item Function Failure Mode Effects of Failure S Cause of Failure O Design Controls D RPN Recommended Actions
1 Handle Grip for Pumping Could bind while trying to pump Rough pumping 7 Poor Design 1 Design it to function smoothly 1 7 Had no trouble with this in prototype
2 Plungers Force Air into Keg Could be snapped off while locked into keg Unusable 7 Unaware Users 1 Increase diameter 1 7 Even more less likely now
2.1 Plunger Disc Air Tight This part is very robust. Cannot foresee any failure modes. --- - --- - --- - - ---
3 Plunger O-Ring Seal O-ring becomes hardened Loss of air tight seal for pressurizing keg 3 Repeated use and time 2 Oil the o-ring 5 30 Sell spare parts
4 Cylindrical Plunger Casing Supply Keg with Pressure Dent in the casing, burs, scratches, rust on the inside of the casing Plunger cannot be moved inside the case, o-ring gets torn up 7 Misuse, Dropping the tap 1 All these pieces are robust enough 1 7 None
5 Cylindrical Casing O-Ring Seal O-ring becomes hardened Loss of air tight seal for pressurizing keg 3 Repeated use and time 2 Oil the o-ring 5 30 Sell spare parts
6 Cylindrical Top Encloses Plunger in Casing Top comes unscrewed Cannot pressurize keg 1 Human tampering 4 Check that it is screwed on tightly 2 8 None, gluing these threads makes disassembly harder
7 Plunger Spring Prevents Plunger from Getting Stuck Breaks Plunger, though unlikely, may get stuck at top of casing 7 Misuse or fatigue 1 Make sure spring can handle forces 1 7 Sell spare parts
8 Center Cylinder Separates Air Input from Beer Output 1)Leaks beer at the connection point with hose

2)Creates turbulence in beer flow

1)Loss of beer

2)Foamy beer

7 1)Sealant on threads is old

2)Manufacturing

7 1)Check that their are no leaks

2)Their Design

1 49 1)None

2)Look into some other way to transition into tubing

9 Center Cylinder O-Ring Seal O-ring becomes hardened Loss of air tight seal for pressurizing keg 3 Repeated use and time 2 Oil the o-ring 5 30 Sell spare parts
10 Lever Attaches Tap and Keg allowing the flow of beer This part is very robust. Cannot foresee any failure modes. --- - --- - --- - - ---
11 Lever Casing Grip for user Breaks Unable to attach tap to keg 7 Ridiculous Misuse 2 Make sure the part is strong enough 1 14 None
12 White Cap Aesthetics Could break or get lost None 1 Misuse or overuse 2 Check this fit 1 2 None
13 Lever Spring Helps lock tap in two certain positions Impact fatigue Unable to lock tap into open position on keg 7 User misuse 1 Make sure spring can handle forces 2 14 Brainstorm new ways to lock tap
14 Center Rod Helps hold handle together This part is very robust. Cannot foresee any failure modes. --- - --- - --- - - ---
15 Nut Helps hold handle together Could come unscrewed Unable to use tap 7 Repeated use 1 Make sure it is screwed on the whole way 1 7 None
16 Washer Helps hold handle together Cannot foresee any failure modes --- - --- - --- - - ---
17 Lever Pin Attaches the lever to the base and acts as a pivot point for the lever No foreseen failure modes. --- - --- - --- - - ---
18 Base Attaches to Keg Threads become crooked Unable to connect tap to keg 7 Terrible misuse 1 Threads are very robust 2 14 Sell spare parts
19 Base O-Ring Seal O-ring becomes hardened Loss of air tight seal for pressurizing keg 3 Repeated use and time 2 Oil the o-ring 5 30 Sell spare parts
20 Hose Transfers Beer from Tap to Cup 1)Hole

2)Kink

1)Beer is lost

2)Beer cannot reach its destination

7 1)Not taking care of tap

2)Jokes

1 Make sure the tubing is the right kind 2 14 None
21 Main Block

Sub-assembly

Releases Beer from Hose Failures will follow from individual parts --- - --- - --- - - ---
  • DFMA

Mechanical Analysis

Clearly state the purpose of the analysis, methods and assumptions. Define all symbols, and provide a free body diagram, if applicable. Summarize conclusions and implications for you design, and explain how the analysis serves to justify your design choices.

Prototype Documentation

Document your final prototype, explain what it demonstrates about your design, and clearly identify differences between your prototype and final design intended for mass production. Summarize findings from user testing and user feedback.

Design Process

Include a short section documenting your team design process for scheduling, coordinating, and completing tasks. Identify individual team member roles, responsibilities, and contributions. Assess the state of the product. Is the design ready for production? If not, what are the next steps (eg. more testing, quantitative market research)?

Appendix

Include Design analysis data here.

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