Diffuser device for vapour dispersion of substance in liquid or solid state at room temperature into air

Abstract

The diffuser device (1) comprises:-a porous body (30, 30A) having an evaporation surface (33); -a reservoir intended to contain a substance-said substance, and-a heating device (90) for controlling the flow of substance through the porous body, comprising an inductor (L) and an electrically conductive heating element (92) configured to heat the porous body as it is inductively heated by the inductor, the substance having a viscosity that varies as a function of temperature, the material flows through the porous body at a first temperature such that the material does not flow through the porous body at any ambient temperature lower than the first temperature, the first temperature being higher than 0 DEG C, and the material flows through the porous body at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of diffusion devices designed to disperse substances that are liquid or solid at room temperature into the air in a vapor state.

[0002] The present invention also relates to the field of removable components that can be used in such diffusion devices. Background Technology

[0003] Diffuser devices of the aforementioned type are known, for example, from WO 2019 / 243734 A1 or WO 2020 / 254733 A1. Heating elements heat the porous body to control the flow of material through the porous body.

[0004] In the implementation examples described in these documents, the heating element is a resistor. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One idea upon which this invention is based is to propose a method for improving the heating of porous materials.

[0006] According to one embodiment, and according to a first variation, the present invention provides a diffuser device for dispersing a substance that is liquid or solid at ambient temperature into air in a vapor state, the diffuser device comprising: - A porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; and - A heating device for controlling the flow of material through the porous body. The heating device includes a conductive heating element and an inductor, the inductor being configured to heat the heating element by induction, and the heating element being configured to heat the porous body when the heating element is induced to be heated by the inductor.

[0007] The heating device allows for the simple control of the flow of material through the porous body by heating or not heating it. The physical principles underlying this control of the flow of material through the porous body have been described in the previously mentioned WO 2019 / 243734 A1 and WO2020 / 254733 A1.

[0008] Because the heating element is heated by induction, the porous body can be heated without contact with the heating element (such as a resistor). Therefore, the design of porous bodies is more flexible, as they are no longer limited by considerations such as contact and the resulting differences in thermal shrinkage, especially in terms of manufacturing tolerances. Consequently, the design of porous bodies can be improved in other ways, such as the design of the evaporation surface, to increase the amount of evaporated material.

[0009] According to certain implementations, such diffuser devices may include one or more of the following features.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the porous body includes pores forming microchannels that open onto the evaporation surface. The term "microchannel" refers to a channel with a cross-sectional area of ​​10... -4 Up to 10 6 Channels between µm². According to one embodiment, the pores have a diameter between 0.01 and 10 µm.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the porous body is made of wood, fabric, ceramic, polymer, or porous metal material obtained by sintering metal powder or metal alloy powder.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the porous body has a uniform porosity.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the diffuser device further includes a storage container for containing the substance, the porous body being connected to the storage container, and the evaporation surface being located outside the storage container.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the porous body has an internal surface in contact with the substance, the evaporation surface is separated from the internal surface by a thickness portion of the porous body, and the internal surface has a concave shape defining an internal volume within the porous body that contains the substance, which is liquid at ambient temperature. According to one embodiment, in this case, a heating element is arranged within the internal volume.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the diffuser element further includes a sealing element attached in a hermetically sealed manner to the porous body, the porous body and the sealing element together forming a closed envelope for containing substance. The term "closed envelope for containing substance" means that a liquid substance cannot escape from the closed envelope by outflow at room temperature.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the sealing element is made of wood, fabric, ceramic, polymer, or a porous metallic material obtained by sintering metal powder or metal alloy powder. In one embodiment, the sealing element is made of the same material as the porous body.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the sealing envelope is a rigid sealing envelope. This can be achieved by ensuring that the porous body and the sealing element are rigid. According to another embodiment, the sealing element includes a rigid portion attached to the porous body in a hermetically sealed manner and a flexible portion retained on the rigid portion. The flexible portion, the rigid portion, and the porous body then together constitute a partially non-rigid sealing envelope for containing the substance.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the porous body includes a flange surrounding an opening in the internal volume, and a sealing element covers the flange.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a sealing seal is disposed between a flange and a closure element. According to one embodiment, the sealing seal is a flat seal. According to one embodiment, the sealing seal is received within a recess in the closure element, the recess facing the flange.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the porous body has a U-shaped cross-section to have a flat outer surface opposite to the flange.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the internal volume is a first internal volume, the thickness portion is a first thickness portion, and the porous body includes a second inner surface having a concave shape that defines a second internal volume in the porous body, the second inner surface being separated from the first inner surface by a second thickness portion of the porous body.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the inductor is arranged inside a housing that is integrated with the diffuser device.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the heating element is placed directly on the surface of the porous body.

[0024] According to one embodiment, the porous body includes a recess, and the surface of the porous body includes at least a portion of the inner surface of the recess.

[0025] In one embodiment, the heating element is integrated with the porous body. In another embodiment, the shell is located away from the porous body. This tends to simplify the manufacture of the diffuser device because it eliminates the need to impose stringent manufacturing tolerances to ensure contact between the porous body and the heating element (such as a resistor).

[0026] According to another embodiment, the heating element is integrated with the housing.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the diffuser device further includes an air inlet, at least one air outlet, and at least one fan for driving an airflow from the air inlet to the at least one air outlet, such that the airflow circulates around the evaporation surface of the porous body.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the diffuser device further includes a control device configured to control the power supply to the inductor based on the nominal temperature of the porous body.

[0029] According to one embodiment, the diffuser device further includes at least one temperature sensor connected to a control device, and the control device is configured to control the heating element based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the control device is also configured to control the fan.

[0031] In particular, according to one embodiment, a diffuser device for dispersing a substance that is liquid or solid at ambient temperature into air in a vapor state includes: - A porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; - A container, the container being designed to contain the substance and adapted to allow the substance to flow toward the evaporation surface of the porous body; - The substance contained in the container. and - A heating device for controlling the flow of material through the porous body. The heating device includes a conductive heating element and an inductor. The inductor is configured to heat the heating element by induction, and the heating element is configured to heat the porous body when it is induced to be heated by the inductor. The substance has a viscosity that varies with temperature, such that the substance does not flow through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) at any ambient temperature below a first temperature above 0°C, and the substance flows through the porous body at a second temperature above the first temperature.

[0032] The container may include a storage container that is different from the porous body, or it may include the porous body itself.

[0033] The heating element can be permanently mounted in the diffuser device. Alternatively, the heating element can be formed as part of a removable component that can be detached from the diffuser device. Therefore, according to one embodiment, and according to a first variation, the invention also provides a removable component for a diffuser device designed to disperse substances that are liquid or solid at ambient temperature into the air in a vapor state. The removable component includes a porous body with an evaporation surface for evaporating substances into ambient air. The removable component includes a conductive heating element configured to heat the porous body when passed through an induction heating element.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the removable component further includes a storage container for containing the substance, the porous body being connected to the storage container, and the evaporation surface being located outside the storage container.

[0035] According to one embodiment, the removable assembly further includes a housing in which an inductor is disposed, the heating element being integral with the housing, and the removable assembly also includes an electrical contact associated with the inductor and intended to be electrically connected to a fixed portion of the diffuser device.

[0036] It goes without saying that the features described above that relate to the diffuser device according to the first variant also apply to the removable component according to the first variant, and vice versa.

[0037] According to one embodiment, and according to a second variation, the present invention provides a diffuser device for dispersing a substance that is liquid or solid at room temperature into air in a vapor state, the diffuser device comprising: - A porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; and - A heating device for controlling the flow of material through the porous body. The porous body is made of a conductive porous metal material, and the heating device includes an inductor configured to heat the porous body by induction.

[0038] As in the first variant, the design of porous bodies is therefore more flexible because it is no longer limited by considerations such as contact and the resulting differences in thermal shrinkage, particularly in terms of manufacturing tolerances. Therefore, the design of porous bodies can be improved in other ways, such as the design of the evaporation surface, to increase the amount of evaporated material.

[0039] Furthermore, unlike the first variant, the heating of the porous body does not depend on heat conduction between the heating element and the porous body.

[0040] According to one embodiment, porous metal materials are obtained by sintering metal powder or metal alloy powder.

[0041] It should be noted that the features described above related to the diffuser device according to the first variant also apply to the diffuser device according to the second variant.

[0042] According to one embodiment, and according to a second variation, the invention also provides a removable component for a diffuser device designed to disperse substances that are liquid or solid at ambient temperatures into the air in a vapor state. The removable component includes a porous body with an evaporation surface for evaporating substances into ambient air. The porous body is made of a porous metal material that is conductive, allowing the porous body to be heated by induction.

[0043] It should be understood that the features described above related to the diffuser device according to the second variant also apply to the removable component according to the second variant, and vice versa.

[0044] Specifically, diffuser devices for dispersing substances that are liquid or solid at room temperature into air in a vapor state include: - A porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; - A container, the container being designed to contain the substance and adapted to allow the substance to flow toward the evaporation surface of the porous body; - The substance contained in the container. and - A heating device for controlling the flow of material through the porous body. The porous body is made of a conductive porous metallic material, and the diffuser device further includes an inductor configured to inductively heat the porous body. The substance has a viscosity that varies with temperature, such that the substance does not flow through the porous body at any ambient temperature below a first temperature above 0°C, and the substance flows through the porous body at a second temperature above the first temperature.

[0045] The container may include a storage container that is different from the porous body, or it may include the porous body itself.

[0046] According to one embodiment, the substance comprises at least one compound selected from chemical information molecules, pheromones, ego-inducing molecules, altruistic molecules, and mutualistic molecules from natural or synthetic sources.

[0047] According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution containing at least one sex pheromone or non-sex pheromone, egoist, mutualist, or altruist intended to elicit a positive or negative response in a target species, the behavioral outcome of which may be sexual confusion, other-natured confusion, sexual attraction, other-natured attraction, or any-natured repulsion in arthropods (including arachnids or hexapods, particularly insects, including harmful insects).

[0048] According to one implementation, the substance is a solution containing at least one pheromone or sex pheromone, egoist, mutualist, or altruist intended to elicit a positive or negative response in a target species, the behavioral outcome of which may be calming, relaxing, euphoric, or intimidating, particularly in mammals and birds.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the substance includes a solvent selected from isopropyl myristate, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and isoparaffins, such as L, P, N, or V isoparaffins.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the substance comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: odorants, chemical pheromones, cosmetic agents, essential oils, fragrances, disinfectants, odor neutralizers, plant protectants, and agricultural agents that can be used on humans or animals. According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution comprising at least one compound selected from this group.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the substance comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of odorants, cosmetics, essential oils, fragrances, disinfectants, and odor neutralizers suitable for human use. According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution comprising at least one compound selected from this group.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the odorant that can be used on animals is selected from fatty acids or esterified forms of said fatty acids, such as methyl oleate, methyl palmitate, dimethyl azelaate, and dimethyl pimecroate.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the liquid substance has a viscosity greater than 1 cPa.s at 25°C, for example greater than 8 cPa.s at 25°C, and less than 1 cPa.s at 60°C.

[0054] These viscosity values ​​are dynamic viscosity values, which characterize the resistance of a fluid to laminar flow at a given temperature.

[0055] These physicochemical data can be found in the safety data sheets of the chemical products that can make up the substance.

[0056] According to one embodiment, the substance has a viscosity that varies with temperature, such that the substance does not flow through the thickness portion of the porous body at any ambient temperature below a first temperature above 0°C, and the substance flows through the thickness portion of the porous body at a second temperature above the first temperature.

[0057] The first temperature can be set within different ranges. If the diffuser device is intended for outdoor use, the first temperature will be specifically selected based on local climate data. According to some implementations, the first temperature is, for example, between 1°C and 50°C, or between 5°C and 40°C, or between 10°C and 35°C, or between 15°C and 25°C.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the substance has a boiling point between 30°C and 400°C under atmospheric pressure.

[0059] According to one embodiment, the substance is liquid at room temperature. For example, the substance may have a melting point between -70°C and 0°C under atmospheric pressure.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the substance is solid at room temperature. For example, the substance may have a melting point above 30°C, such as between 30°C and 40°C, under atmospheric pressure. Attached Figure Description

[0061] The invention will be better understood in the following description of several specific embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereto will become more apparent. These descriptions are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way.

[0062] [ Figure 1 ] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a diffuser device and a removable component according to one embodiment.

[0063] [ Figure 2 ] Figure 2 It is a functional block diagram of various components in inductor and diffuser devices.

[0064] [ Figure 3 ] Figure 3 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation.

[0065] [ Figure 4 ] Figure 4 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation.

[0066] [ Figure 5 ] Figure 5 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation.

[0067] [ Figure 6 ] Figure 6 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation.

[0068] [ Figure 7 ] Figure 7 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation.

[0069] [ Figure 8 ] Figure 8 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation.

[0070] [ Figure 9 ] Figure 9 It is similar to Figure 1 A cross-sectional schematic diagram shows another implementation. Detailed Implementation

[0071] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a diffuser device used to disperse a substance that is liquid at ambient temperature into the air in a vapor state. The diffuser device is labeled 1 in the figure; for convenience, it will be referred to hereinafter as "Device 1".

[0072] Device 1 includes a fixed part generally designated as 2.

[0073] The fixed part 2 includes a wall 3. The wall 3 defines an internal space 4 of the fixed part 2. As described below, various components of the device 1 are housed in this internal space 4.

[0074] Figure 1 As not shown, wall 3 may form part of a shell or other suitable rigid container, which forms part of the fixed part 2. This rigid shell or container may house various components of device 1, particularly a power socket and / or battery, one or more indicator lights for the user of device 1, one or more buttons for the user of device 1, etc.

[0075] Figure 1 A removable component 50 was also demonstrated. The removable component 50 is designed to be partially or fully inserted into the internal space 4. The removable component 50 includes a storage container 60 and a core 30. The storage container 60 differs from the core 30. Specifically, the storage container 60 is made of a non-porous material.

[0076] The core 30 and the storage container 60 are integrated, allowing the removable component 50 to be inserted as a single unit into the internal space 4 by holding it.

[0077] The core 30 extends along the vertical QQ axis. The vertical QQ axis extends along the vertical QQ axis. Figure 1 The thick mixed line is used as an indicator.

[0078] In the remainder of this description, the vertical direction QQ is specified as the upward direction A and the downward direction D, which is opposite to the upward direction A. Figure 1 The arrows indicate the upward direction (A) and the downward direction (D). Expressions such as "lower than" and "downward" should be understood relative to the downward direction (D) along the vertical axis (QQ). Expressions such as "higher than" and "upward" should be understood relative to the upward direction (A) along the vertical axis (QQ).

[0079] Figure 1 The display shows that device 1 can be used in a working position, in which the downward direction D is downward and the upward direction A is upward relative to the gravitational acceleration G. The direction and orientation of the gravitational acceleration G are determined by... Figure 1 The arrow in the text indicates this. More specifically, as... Figure 1 As shown, in the working position, the longitudinal direction QQ is parallel to the direction of gravitational acceleration G. Other orientations are also possible as variations.

[0080] The core 30 includes a central recess 40 (hereinafter referred to as "recess 40") and an outer peripheral surface 33 spaced apart from the recess 40.

[0081] The core 30 is made partly or entirely of a porous material, such as wood, fabric, ceramic, or polymer.

[0082] For example, core 30 is made of ceramic (e.g., alumina), with or without a pore-forming agent (e.g., starch). As a variant, the core is made of mullite, which is a mixture of kaolin or clay with alumina and silica.

[0083] The properties of the alumina used and the addition of pore-forming agents can affect the porosity and pore size of ceramics.

[0084] Ceramics are obtained through a sintering process, which also affects the core's pore size and porosity.

[0085] Commercially available alumina ceramics are available from companies such as Nabaltec® (trade names Granalox® and Nabalox®).

[0086] In a simple implementation example, core 30 is made entirely of the same porous material and has a uniform porosity. This simplifies the manufacturing of core 30.

[0087] As a variation, the core 30 may use a non-uniform porosity and / or be made of several of the aforementioned porous materials.

[0088] Core 30 can be selected from various cross-sections.

[0089] For example, the cross-section can be annular, meaning the outer peripheral surface 33 and the wall defining the recess 40 are concentric cylinders. Such a cross-section further simplifies the manufacture of the core 30.

[0090] As a variation, the cross section can be such that the outer peripheral surface 33 and / or the wall defining the recess 40 are concentric cylinders with polygonal bases, particularly regular polygonal bases, and more particularly regular hexagonal bases.

[0091] In the example shown, the recess 40 has a constant cross-section. As a variation, the recess 40 may have a non-constant cross-section, such as a conical or truncated conical cross-section.

[0092] The storage container (60) contains the liquid substance. As will be described in detail below, the core 30 is connected to the storage container 60.

[0093] Figure 1 It is also shown that device 1 includes a heating element 90. The heating element 90 is configured as a heating core 30.

[0094] Heating device 90 performs electromagnetic induction heating, or induction heating. Now refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The heating device 90 is described below. Figure 2 This is a functional block diagram showing the various components of device 1. Figure 2 In the diagram, dotted lines indicate the connections between the shown components.

[0095] Heating device 90 includes inductor L (see Figure 2 ) and conductive heating element 92 (see Figure 1 Inductor L is supplied by frequency converter C (see...) Figure 2 When energized, the inverter delivers alternating current of the required frequency and intensity. Therefore, the inductor L generates a variable magnetic field. According to the known principle of induction heating, this variable magnetic field penetrates the conductive heating element 92 (hereinafter referred to as "heating element 92"), generating eddy currents within it. Because the heating element 92 has non-zero resistance, heat is generated within it through the Joule effect. Additionally, if the heating element 92 is made of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material, heat is generated within it through hysteresis. In any case, when the inductor L is powered by the inverter C, the heating element 92 is induced to heat the heating core 30 through the inductor L.

[0096] In one implementation, the inverter C supplies the inductor L with a frequency higher than the power frequency (typically 50 Hz in Europe and 60 Hz in North America), for example, between 5 kHz and 100 kHz.

[0097] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the inductor L can therefore be placed at a certain distance from the heating element 92. Thus, it is only necessary to place the heating element 92 close to the porous body 30 to heat it, preferably placing it in contact with the porous body.

[0098] Therefore, the design and manufacture of removable components and diffusion devices are simplified because the inductor can be placed at a certain distance from the heating element: its placement is less restricted.

[0099] When the inductor L is housed in the housing 91, the housing 91 can be placed at a certain distance from the heating element.

[0100] The description will now be given when removable component 50 is... Figure 1 The operating status of device 1 at the indicated position.

[0101] Because the core 30 is partially or entirely made of a porous material, and because the core 30 is connected to the storage container 60 so that it can be impregnated with the liquid substance contained in the storage container 60, the liquid substance impregnated in the core 30 diffuses through the core 30 via capillary action until it reaches the outer peripheral surface 33 (see...). Figure 1 and Figure 2 Then, the outer peripheral surface 33 forms the evaporation surface of the material.

[0102] The connection between the core 30 and the storage container 60 can be implemented in many ways, for example, according to the teachings of WO 2019 / 243734A1, WO 2020 / 254733 A1, WO 2023 / 073004 A1 or WO 2023 / 089019 A1.

[0103] When fan 6 is running, fan 6 drives airflow F, which airflow is as follows: Figure 2 The mixing line arrow indicates this. Airflow F originates from air inlet 5 and is driven longitudinally (QQ) and upwards (A) towards air outlet 6. The geometry of wall 4 ensures that airflow F flows longitudinally (QQ). Airflow F flows around the outer peripheral surface 33, where it is filled with the evaporated material. The airflow F filled with evaporated material is discharged through air outlet 7, dispersing the evaporated material into the ambient air.

[0104] When the heating element 92 is heated by induction through the inductor L, the heating element 92 heats the core 30. The heating core 30 tends to promote the evaporation of the material at the outer peripheral surface 33.

[0105] The amount of substance evaporated by the device 1 can be adjusted by properly adjusting the operating parameters of the fan 6 and / or the heating device 90.

[0106] Fan 6 can be of various designs, particularly axial fans, centrifugal fans, or other types of fans. Fan 6 can be held in place in device 1 in any suitable manner.

[0107] An air filter may optionally be arranged between the air inlet 5 and the fan 6 to limit the risk of the core 30 being clogged by unwanted external particles.

[0108] Back Figure 2 The control device 12, such as a microprocessor, controls the heating element 9 based on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 10 suitably located in the device 1. For example, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the temperature sensor 10 can be an infrared sensor placed in the internal space 4 at a certain distance from the core 30. Then, the control device 12 can control the inverter C based on the nominal temperature of the core 30 measured by the temperature sensor 10.

[0109] For example, the control device 12 is arranged on an electronic board, which can also supply power to the heating element 9. The control device 12 can also control the fan 6, and in particular the operating speed of the fan 6.

[0110] It should be noted that the above refers to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The described elements are schematic representations and may be located in various positions within device 1.

[0111] It should also be noted that the device 1 may have many other designs, particularly having a number of fans 6 and / or a number of air outlets 7 as described in WO 2023 / 089019 A1, and / or one or more removable components 50 as described in WO 2023 / 089019 A1, each of which is heated by means of a heating device 90, etc.

[0112] Reference Figure 1 The heating element 92 is placed directly on each surface of the recess 40 to cover all surfaces or only a portion of them. Therefore, when the heating element 92 is heated by induction through the inductor L, the heating element 92 heats the core 30 through heat conduction.

[0113] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 The inductor L is arranged in the housing 91. The housing 91 is integral with the fixing part 2 of the diffuser device 1, for example, it is integral with the wall 3. The housing 91 is partially or completely received in the recess 40 of the core 30.

[0114] Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 It is similar to Figure 1 The views shown illustrate other implementations. In each of these figures, a reference is made. Figure 1 and Figure 2 The similar or identical elements described have the same reference numerals, and only the heating device 90 and the removable component 50 are shown.

[0115] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, a single heating element 92 is placed directly on only one surface of the recess 40 to cover all surfaces or only a portion of those surfaces.

[0116] exist Figure 4 In the illustrated embodiment, the core 30 does not include the recess 40, and the core 30 includes a flat surface 41 opposite to the storage container 60. The heating element 92 is placed directly on the flat surface 41 to cover all or only a portion of the flat surface 41.

[0117] Figure 5 Another embodiment is shown, in which the removable component 50A is manufactured according to the teachings of WO 2023 / 073004 A1. In this figure, compared with reference to... Figure 1 and Figure 2Similar or identical elements described are given the same reference numerals, and only the heating element 90 and the removable component 50A are shown. The storage container 60A has a concave shape that at least partially surrounds the central free space 62. The core 30A has a recess 40A located in the extension of the central free space 62, preferably a blind recess. The heating element 90 includes a rod 93 with a housing 91 at one end. Due to the presence of the central free space 62, the rod 93 can extend through the central free space, allowing the housing 91 to be received in the recess 40A. Similar to the recess 40, the heating element 92 is placed on part or all of the surface of the recess 40A.

[0118] exist Figure 1 , Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, the housing 91 is in contact with one or more heating elements 92.

[0119] The heating element 92 may be integral with the core 30, for example by bonding to the core 30 or by depositing it onto the core 30 in the form of a layer using a suitable layer deposition technique. Alternatively, the heating element may be integral with the housing 91.

[0120] Because the heating element 92 is heated by induction via the inductor L received within the housing 91, contact between the housing 91 and the heating element 92 is not necessary. Therefore, as Figure 6 As shown in the example, the housing 91 is located away from the heating element 92, which is integral with the core 30. This tends to simplify the manufacture of the device 1 because it eliminates the need to impose strict manufacturing tolerances to ensure contact between the core 30 and the heating element (such as a resistor).

[0121] As a variation, all or some of the heating elements 92 may be disposed on the outer peripheral surface 33 of the core 30.

[0122] Figure 7 A removable component 50B according to yet another embodiment is shown. In this figure, compared with reference to... Figure 1 and Figure 2 The similar or identical elements described have the same reference numerals, and only the heating element 90 and the removable component 50B are shown. The core 30B is made of a conductive porous metallic material. For example, the porous metallic material is obtained by sintering metal powder or metal alloy powder. Because the core 30B is made of a conductive material, it can be heated by induction. Therefore, the heating element 92 can be omitted, and the heating of the core 30B does not depend on thermal conduction between the heating element 92 and the core 30B.

[0123] Furthermore, in this embodiment, since contact between the shell 91 and the core 30B is not necessary, the shell 91 is moved away from the core 30B.

[0124] The embodiments described so far relate to a substance that is liquid at room temperature. However, as a variation, the substance may be solid at room temperature. For example, the substance may have a melting point above 30°C at atmospheric pressure, for example, between 30°C and 40°C. In this case, storage containers 60, 60A contain the substance that is solid at room temperature. The heating elements 30, 30A, 30B are heated by one or more heating elements 92, causing localized melting of the substance. The substance, thus becoming liquid, then impregnates the heating elements 30, 30A, 30B and is then dispersed into the ambient air as described above.

[0125] Figure 8 A removable component 420 according to yet another embodiment is shown.

[0126] The removable component 420 includes a core 430 and a casing 450. The core 430 extends along the vertical QQ. The vertical QQ... Figure 8 The middle part is indicated by a thick dashed line.

[0127] The core 430 has an internal volume 431. The internal volume 431 is defined by an internal surface 432 with a concave shape. The internal volume 431 is designed to receive a liquid substance. When the internal volume 431 is filled with a substance, the internal surface 432 is in contact with the substance.

[0128] The core 430 also includes an outer peripheral surface 433. The outer peripheral surface 433 is separated from the inner surface 432 by a wall 434. Similarly, the outer peripheral surface 433 is separated from the inner volume 431 by a wall 434.

[0129] In the illustrated example, the core 430 has a flange 436 surrounding an opening 435 of an internal volume 431, and a cover 450 is attached to the core 430 such that the cover 450 covers the flange 436, as shown. Figure 8 As shown. Therefore, the maximum dimension of the housing 450 is strictly larger than the maximum dimension of the flange 436. In addition, a sealing seal 460 (e.g., a flat seal) is received within a groove 451 in the housing 450 to ensure a tight seal between the housing 450 and the core 430.

[0130] Therefore, the casing 450 is attached to the core 430 in a sealed manner, so that the core 430 and the casing 450 together constitute a rigid, closed enclosure for containing substances. The term "closed enclosure for containing substances" means that a liquid substance cannot escape from the closed enclosure by flow-out at room temperature.

[0131] To manufacture the removable component 420, a core 430 and a cover 450 are manufactured, and then the core 430 is filled with a liquid substance through an opening 435 surrounded by a flange 436, and then the cover 450 is attached to the core 430 in a hermetically sealed manner.

[0132] Core 430 is made partly or entirely of a porous material, such as wood, fabric, ceramic, or polymer.

[0133] In a simple implementation example, core 430 is made entirely of the same porous material and has a uniform porosity. This simplifies the manufacturing of core 430.

[0134] As a variation, core 430 may use non-uniform porosity and / or be made of several of the aforementioned porous materials.

[0135] Core 430 can be selected from various cross-sections.

[0136] For example, the cross-section can be annular, such that the internal volume 431 is cylindrical, while the outer peripheral surface 433 forms a cylinder concentric with the internal volume 431. This type of cross-section further simplifies the manufacturing of the core 431.

[0137] As a variation, the cross section can make the internal volume 431 and the outer peripheral surface 433 form a concentric cylinder with a polygonal base, particularly a regular polygonal base, and even more particularly a regular hexagonal base.

[0138] The core 430 has a U-shaped cross section, which gives the core 430 a flat outer surface 440 opposite to the flange 436.

[0139] Heating element 92 is placed directly on the flat outer surface 440 to cover all or only a portion of the flat outer surface 440. When heating element 92 is heated by induction via inductor L, heating element 92 heats core 430 through thermal conduction. Thus, removable assembly 420 is used in a manner similar to removable assemblies 50, 50A, and 50B, and the outer peripheral surface 433 of core 430 forms an evaporation surface for the substance in a manner similar to the outer peripheral surface 33 of core 30.

[0140] In addition to or as a substitute for the heating element 92, the internal conductive element 492 may be arranged in the internal volume 431. When the internal conductive element 492 is heated by induction by the inductor L, the internal conductive element 492 conducts heat through the heating core 430.

[0141] As a variation, the casing 450 can be replaced by a sealing element comprising a rigid portion and a flexible portion, the rigid portion being attached to the core 430 in a hermetically sealed manner in a manner similar to that of the casing 450, and the flexible portion being integral with the rigid portion. The flexible portion, the rigid portion, and the core 430 then form a closed envelope for containing material, the closed envelope being partially non-rigid.

[0142] The casing 450 can be made of various materials, especially polymers. As a variation, the casing 450 can be made of a porous material similar to the core 430, for example, the same porous material as the core 430.

[0143] Figure 9 A removable component 520 according to yet another embodiment is shown. In this figure, with Figure 8 Similar or identical components are given the same reference numeral plus 100, and will not be described further. The difference between removable component 520 and removable component 420 is that core 530 is made of a conductive porous metal material, similar to core 30B. Because core 530 is made of a conductive material, it can be heated by induction. Therefore, heating element 92 can be omitted, making the heating of core 530 independent of heat conduction between heating element 92 and core 530.

[0144] In some embodiments, the heating element 92 and the housing 91 may form part of the removable components 50, 50A, 50B, 420, 520. In this case, the removable component includes electrical contacts associated with the inductor L and intended to establish an electrical connection with the fixed portion 2 of the device 1.

[0145] In the above embodiments, it is envisioned, for example, that a substance composed of a pheromone solution having the following composition is diffused: - 87% by weight of (8E,10E)-dodecano-8,10-dien-1-ol, also known as codlemone, a sex pheromone for the codling moth (Caryophyllum esculentum). Cydiapomonella Pheromones associated with (Lepidoptera, Typhaeidae) and - 13% dodecane-1-ol by weight. The trade name of this solution is RAK3®.

[0146] At atmospheric pressure, the boiling point of the apple leafroller pheromone solution is about 270°C, and its viscosity is about 8 cPa.s at room temperature (25°C) and about 1 cPa.s at 60°C.

[0147] In solution, the apple leafroller sex pheromone can be replaced with pheromones of formula (7E,9Z)-dodecano-7,9-dienyl acetate (trade name RAK2®), which has a boiling point of approximately 300°C. The viscosity of the solution is similar to that of the apple leafroller sex pheromone solution. Pheromone RAK2® can also be used in pure form (100% by weight).

[0148] Alternatively, the substance may be composed of rapeseed oil, with a viscosity of 7.78 cPa·s at 20°C and 2.57 cPa·s at 50°C. Its boiling point is approximately 150°C.

[0149] The substance to be diffused may also include, for example, substances that act on the pear fruit moth (also known as the pear fruit moth). Grapholita molestaThe pheromone component is Z8-dodecenyl acetate, a chemical compound with a dynamic viscosity of 3.4 mPa·s at 20°C.

[0150] The substance to be diffused may also be composed of fatty acid esters, which are pheromone components used as sedatives in mammals, such as methyl oleate, which has a dynamic viscosity of 6.8 mPa·s at 20°C.

[0151] The substance to be diffused can also be a conventional insecticide, such as pyrethroid, which has a dynamic viscosity of 0.55 Pa·s at 25°C; or a mosquito repellent, such as citriodiol, which has a dynamic viscosity of 56.1 cP at 60°C and 0.06 Pa·s at 60°C.

[0152] Although the invention has been described in conjunction with several specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited thereto, and the invention includes any technical equivalents of the described embodiments and combinations thereof if any technical equivalents of these described embodiments or combinations thereof fall within the scope of the invention.

[0153] The use of the verbs “to comprise,” “to include,” or “to encompass,” and their combinations thereof, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those described in the claims.

[0154] In the claims, any reference numerals within parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims.

Claims

1. A diffuser device (1) for dispersing into the air a substance in liquid or solid state at room temperature in a vapour state, the diffuser device (1) comprising: - a porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) having an evaporation surface (33, 433) for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; - a tank intended to contain the substance and suitable for allowing the substance to flow towards the evaporation surface (33, 433, 533) of the porous body (20, 30A, 430, 530); - the substance contained in the tank, and - a heating means (90) for controlling the flow of substance through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530), wherein the heating means (90) comprises an electrically conductive heating element (92) and an inductor (L) configured to heat the heating element (92) by induction, and the heating element (92) is configured to heat the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) when the heating element (92) is heated by induction through the inductor (L), the substance having a viscosity that varies as a function of temperature, the viscosity being such that the substance does not flow through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) at any ambient temperature below a first temperature, the first temperature being higher than 0°C, and the substance flows through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

2. The diffuser device (1) according to claim 1, wherein The tank of the diffuser device (1) comprises a storage container (60, 60A) containing the substance, the porous body (50, 50A) being connected to the storage container (60, 60A), the evaporation surface (33) being located outside the storage container.

3. The diffuser device (1) according to claim 1, wherein, The tank comprises the porous body (430) having an internal surface (432) in contact with the substance, the evaporation surface (433) being separated from the internal surface (432) by a thickness portion (434) of the porous body (430), and wherein the internal surface (432) has a concave shape delimiting an internal volume (431) within the porous body (430), the internal volume (431) containing the substance, the substance being in liquid state at room temperature.

4. The diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The inductor (L) is arranged within a shell (91) integral with the diffuser device (1).

5. The diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The heating element (92) is placed directly on a surface of the porous body (30, 30A, 430).

6. The diffuser device (1) according to claim 3, wherein The porous body (30, 30A) comprises a recess (40, 40A) and the surface of the porous body (30, 30A) comprises at least part of an internal surface of the recess (40, 40A).

7. The diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein, The heating element (92) is integral with the porous body (30, 30A, 430).

8. The diffuser device (1) according to claim 4 or according to any one of claims 5 and 6 in combination with claim 4, wherein, The heating element (92) is integral with the shell (91).

9. Diffuser device (1) for dispersing into the air a substance in liquid or solid state at room temperature in vapor state, said diffuser device (1) comprising: - a porous body (30B, 530) having an evaporation surface (33, 533) for evaporating said substance into the ambient air; - a tank intended to contain said substance and suitable for allowing the flow of said substance towards said evaporation surface (33, 533) of said porous body (20, 30A, 530); - said substance contained in said tank, and - a heating means (90) for controlling the flow of substance through said porous body (30B, 530), wherein said porous body (30B, 530) is made of an electrically conductive porous metal material, and wherein said heating means (90) comprises an inductor (L) configured to heat said porous body (30B, 530) by induction, said substance having a viscosity that varies as a function of temperature, said viscosity being such that said substance does not flow through said porous body (30B, 530) at any ambient temperature lower than a first temperature, said first temperature being higher than 0°C, and said substance flows through said porous body (30B, 530) at a second temperature higher than said first temperature.

10. The diffuser device (1) according to claim 9, wherein, Said tank of said diffuser device (1) further comprises a storage container (60) containing said substance, said porous body (30B) being connected to said storage container (60), said evaporation surface (33) being located outside said storage container (60).

11. The diffuser device (1) according to claim 9, wherein, Said tank comprises said porous body (530) having an internal surface (532) in contact with said substance, said evaporation surface (533) being spaced apart from said internal surface (532) by a thickness portion (534) of said porous body (530), and wherein said internal surface (532) has a concave shape delimiting an internal volume (531) within said porous body (530), said internal volume (531) containing said substance, said substance being in liquid state at room temperature.

12. The diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, Said diffuser device (1) further comprises an air inlet (5), at least one air outlet (7) and at least one fan (6) for driving an air flow (F) from said air inlet (5) towards said at least one air outlet (7) so that said air flow (F) circulates around said evaporation surface (33, 433, 533) of said porous body (30, 30A, 30B, 430, 530).

13. The diffuser device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, Said diffuser device (1) further comprises a control means (12) configured to control the power supply to said inductor (L) as a function of a nominal temperature of said porous body (30, 30A, 30B, 430, 530).

14. Diffuser device (1) according to claim 13 when dependent on claim 12, wherein Said control means (12) are also configured to control said fan (6).

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