Automatic distribution device

Abstract

An automatic dispensing device for dispensing a volatile substance, the automatic dispensing device comprising: a fan configured to generate an air flow and dispense the volatile substance from the automatic dispensing device; a drive device having at least one electromagnetic coil capable of being connected to a drive circuit; wherein the fan includes at least one magnet positioned along an arc of the fan, and the electromagnetic coil is configured to attract or repel the at least one magnet; wherein the drive circuit is configured to switch the direction of current in the electromagnetic coil to sequentially attract and then repel the at least one magnet as the fan rotates.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an automatic dispensing device, and more particularly to a device for dispensing volatile substances. The volatile substances may include air fresheners and insecticides. Background Art

[0002] Generally, the rate at which an automatic dispensing device dispenses volatile substances can be changed by altering the air flow. For example, the movement of a fan element can be used to increase the flow of the volatile substances and increase the distribution of the volatile substances. It is also beneficial to increase the air flow leaving the dispensing device such that the volatile substances are distributed more widely and further away from the dispensing device.

[0003] The increased air flow can be energy intensive. The effective distribution of the volatile substances can result in high battery capacity requirements, which can make it difficult to use renewable energy as a power supply. The device described in the present disclosure provides a more efficient drive mechanism to generate an air flow that allows the volatile substances to be distributed using lower energy requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect, there is provided an automatic dispensing device for dispensing volatile substances, the automatic dispensing device comprising:

[0005] a fan configured to generate an air flow and dispense the volatile substances from the automatic dispensing device;

[0006] a drive device having at least one electromagnetic coil capable of being connected to a drive circuit;

[0007] wherein the fan includes at least one magnet positioned along an arc of the fan, and the electromagnetic coil is configured to attract or repel the at least one magnet;

[0008] wherein the drive circuit is configured to switch the direction of the current in the electromagnetic coil to sequentially attract and then repel the at least one magnet as the fan rotates. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, aspects of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 a schematic diagram of the automatic dispensing device is shown;

[0011] Figure 2 shows Figure 1 the components of the automatic dispensing device of

[0012] Figure 3 is a top view of the automatic dispensing device showing the fan and the drive mechanism;

[0013] Figure 4 An example of how to change the current through an electromagnet to drive the fan of an automatic dispensing device is shown;

[0014] Figure 5 is an example of a circuit that can be used to drive the fan element of an automatic dispensing device; and

[0015] Figure 6 Another example of how to change the current through an electromagnet to drive the fan of an automatic dispensing device is shown. Detailed Description

[0016] Figure 1 An example of the automatic dispensing device 2 is shown. Figure 1 The automatic dispensing device 2 includes a solar panel 4, a drive circuit 6, an electromagnet 8, a fan 10, at least one magnet 14, and a reservoir 12 containing a volatile substance.

[0017] The solar panel 4 is coupled to the drive circuit 6 which is connected to the electromagnet 8. The fan 10 is coupled to at least one magnet 14. The fan 10 is positioned close to the electromagnet 8 such that the magnetic field generated by the electromagnet is strong enough to attract or repel at least one magnet 14. The fan 10 is positioned close to the reservoir 12 such that the fan increases the air flow and increases the distribution of the volatile substance.

[0018] In Figure 1 the example shown, the drive circuit is configured to receive power from the solar panel 4. The drive circuit can use, for example, a battery to store the power received from the solar panel. The power received from the solar panel 4 is used to drive the electromagnet 8, and the current driven through the electromagnet generates a magnetic field. The magnetic field can be changed by changing the magnitude and direction of the current. For example, the poles of the electromagnet 8 can be switched by changing the direction of the current.

[0019] Figure 2 An example of a drive mechanism that can be used with the Figure 1 device is shown. Figure 2 The illustration in shows the solar panel 4 connected to the drive circuit 6 which is in turn connected to the electromagnet 8. In Figure 2 the example shown, the electromagnet 8 is positioned above one of the at least one magnet 14 attached to the fan 10. In Figure 2 the example shown, there are 4 magnets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d attached to the fan. Figure 3 Shows a top view of the Figure 2 drive mechanism. The top view shows the relative positions of the electromagnet 8, the magnets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d, and the fan 10. In Figure 2 and Figure 3In the example shown, the magnets on the fan are positioned equidistant from each other, i.e., at 90-degree intervals on the top surface of the fan. In this example, the magnetic poles of each magnet are oriented in the same direction. For example, north-north-north-north or south-south-south-south.

[0020] Figure 4 A diagram is shown of how the current can be changed by the electromagnet 8 and the position of the four magnets relative to the electromagnet over time. As shown, the current in the electromagnet changes over time and switches from a positive current to a negative current or from a negative current to a positive current as each magnet 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d passes by the electromagnet and when it is equidistant between two magnets, e.g., equidistant from magnet 14a and magnet 14b.

[0021] In this example, in order to generate a north pole and a south pole from the electromagnet, the electromagnet includes a coil that is wound such that a positive current generates a south pole and a negative current generates a north pole. The electromagnet is positioned close to the magnets such that magnetic energy is converted into kinetic energy in the fan via the magnetic interaction between the electromagnet 8 and the magnets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d.

[0022] As Figure 4 shown, at time t0, the electromagnet has a positive current and attracts magnet 14a. At time t1, magnet 14a passes by the coil. The current flowing through the electromagnet is switched to a negative current such that the electromagnet repels magnet 14a. At time t2, the electromagnet is equidistant from magnet 14a and magnet 14b, and the current in the electromagnet switches from negative to positive such that magnet 14b is attracted towards the electromagnet. At time t3, magnet 14b passes by the coil. The current flowing through the electromagnet is switched to a negative current such that the electromagnet repels magnet 14b. At time t4, the electromagnet is equidistant from magnet 14b and magnet 14c, and the current in the electromagnet switches from negative to positive such that magnet 14c is attracted towards the electromagnet. At time t5, magnet 14c passes by the coil. The current flowing through the electromagnet is switched to a negative current such that the electromagnet repels magnet 14c. At time t6, the electromagnet is equidistant from magnet 14c and magnet 14d, and the current in the electromagnet switches from negative to positive such that magnet 14d is attracted towards the electromagnet. At time t7, magnet 14d passes by the coil. The current flowing through the electromagnet is switched to a negative current such that the electromagnet repels magnet 14d. At time t8, the electromagnet is equidistant from magnet 14d and magnet 14a, and the current in the electromagnet switches from negative to positive such that magnet 14a is attracted towards the electromagnet.

[0023] The switching of the current in the electromagnet described above provides an effective mechanism for converting electrical energy into kinetic energy in the fan using magnetic attraction and repulsion between the electromagnet 8 and the magnets 14 coupled to the fan 10.

[0024] The circuit can be selected to provide an oscillating current to the electromagnet. In the above example, the electromagnet includes a single coil and a circuit selected to provide the oscillating current. The circuit can be, for example, a Schmitt trigger that provides an oscillating current to the coil. In other examples, a physical switch can be used to switch the direction of the current. In another example, a logic integrated circuit (IC) can be used.

[0025] In another example, the electromagnet includes a first coil 8a and a second coil 8b. The first coil 8a is positioned close to the second coil 8b. In this example, the fan is driven electromagnetically by applying a current flowing through the first coil 8a in one direction and a current in the opposite direction in the second coil 8b. This causes the first coil 8a to have a magnetic pole with a direction exactly opposite to that of the magnetic pole of the second coil 8b.

[0026] Figure 5 An example of a circuit that can be used to provide a current that oscillates between flowing through the first coil 8a and flowing through the second coil 8b is shown. In this example, the first coil 8a and the second coil 8b are connected in the circuit such that the direction of the current in the first coil 8a is opposite to the direction of the current in the second coil 8b.

[0027] In the above example, the fan includes four magnets 14. In other examples, the fan can include a different number of magnets 14. For example, the fan can include 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, or 8 magnets. The number of magnets 14 can depend on the size of the fan 10. For example, it may be advantageous to use a larger number of magnets 14 for a larger fan 10.

[0028] Figure 6 Represents an alternative arrangement where the magnetic poles of the magnets alternate. In this example, the magnetic poles of the magnets will be oriented such that the magnetic poles facing the top surface of each magnet alternate along the arc of the fan, i.e., consecutive magnets in the clockwise direction on the fan will have opposite magnetic pole directions. In the example where 4 magnets are on the fan, the magnets are arranged north - south - north - south.

[0029] This graphical representation shows how the current can pass through the electromagnet and how the positions of the four magnets relative to the electromagnet change over time. As shown, the current in the electromagnet changes over time and switches from a positive current to a negative current or from a negative current to a positive current as each magnet 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d passes by the electromagnet. In this example, to generate a north pole and a south pole from the electromagnet, the electromagnet includes a coil that is wound such that a positive current generates a south pole and a negative current generates a north pole. The electromagnet is positioned close to the magnets such that magnetic energy is converted into kinetic energy in the fan via the magnetic interaction between the electromagnet 8 and the magnets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d.

[0030] AsFigure 6 As shown, at time t0, the electromagnet has a positive current and attracts magnet 14a. At time t1, magnet 14a passes through the coil. The current flowing through the electromagnet is switched to a negative current so that the electromagnet repels magnet 14a and attracts magnet 14b. At time t2, the electromagnet is switched to a positive current to repel magnet 14b and attract magnet 14c. At time t3, the current in the electromagnet is reversed to negative again, and repels magnet 14c and attracts magnet 14d. At time t4, the current in the electromagnet is switched to positive to repel magnet 14d and attract magnet 14a.

[0031] In the above example, magnet 14 is a neodymium magnet. In other examples, one or more magnets can be ferrite magnets and / or other rare earth magnets.

[0032] The electromagnet can be a coil made of copper, such as enameled copper coil wire. In one example, the copper wire can have a thickness (or gauge) between 0.04 mm and 0.05 mm. In one example, the electromagnet can have between 1000 and 8000 turns of wire, such as between 2000 and 7000 turns, such as between 3000 and 6000 turns, such as between 4000 and 5000 turns.

[0033] In the above example, the automatic dispensing device includes a solar panel. In other examples, the dispensing device can be powered by a power storage unit (such as a battery power source) and / or connected to an external power source (such as a power grid).

[0034] In the above example, electromagnet 8 interacts with at least one magnet 14 coupled to fan 10. Electromagnet 8 can also interact with at least one magnet 14 coupled to a blade or agitator configured to move within the volatile substance to create an air current within the volatile substance.

[0035] Further modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described herein.

Claims

1. An automatic dispensing device for dispensing a volatile substance, the automatic dispensing device comprising: A fan configured to generate an air flow and dispense the volatile substance from the automatic dispensing device; A drive circuit; And A drive device having at least one electromagnetic coil connected to the drive circuit; Wherein the fan includes two or more magnets positioned along an arc of the fan, and the electromagnetic coil is configured to attract or repel the two or more magnets; Wherein the drive circuit is configured to switch the direction of current in the electromagnetic coil to sequentially attract and then repel the two or more magnets as the fan rotates; Wherein the magnetic poles of each magnet are oriented in the same direction; and Wherein the drive circuit is configured to switch the direction of the current when each magnet passes by the electromagnetic coil and when the electromagnetic coil is equidistant between two adjacent magnets.

2. The automatic distribution device according to claim 1, wherein, The electromagnetic coil includes a first electromagnetic coil and a second electromagnetic coil, and the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil are positioned close to each other.

3. The automatic allocation device according to claim 2, wherein, The drive circuit causes current to flow sequentially through the first electromagnetic coil and then through the second electromagnetic coil.

4. The automatic distribution device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, The drive circuit is configured such that the current flowing through the first electromagnetic coil generates a magnetic pole in a direction opposite to the magnetic pole generated by causing current to flow through the second electromagnetic coil.

5. The automatic allocation device according to claim 4, wherein When each magnet passes by the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil and when the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil are equidistant between two adjacent magnets, the drive circuit switches the current between the first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil.

6. The automatic distribution device according to claim 5, wherein, The first electromagnetic coil and the second electromagnetic coil are coaxially positioned.

7. The automatic allocation device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein The drive circuit includes an astable multivibrator circuit.

8. The automatic allocation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The two or more magnets include neodymium magnets.

9. The automatic allocation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The two or more magnets include four magnets positioned at 90-degree intervals on the fan.

10. The automatic distribution device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The drive device is configured to receive power from a solar panel.

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