Diffuser apparatus for dispersing a substance that is in the liquid or solid state at room temperature into the air as vapor

Abstract

Diffuser apparatus (1) comprising: -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 a flow of the substance through the porous body, comprising an inductor (L) and an electrically conductive heating element (92) configured to heat the porous body when it is inductively heated by the inducer, the substance having a viscosity that varies according to the temperature such that the substance does not flow through the porous body at any ambient temperature lower than a first temperature higher than 0° C, and that the substance flows through the porous body at a second temperature higher than the first temperature.

Description

Diffusing device intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at room temperature

[0001] The invention relates to the field of diffuser devices intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at room temperature.

[0002] The invention further relates to the field of removable assemblies which can be used in such diffuser devices. Technological background

[0003] A diffuser apparatus of the aforementioned type is known for example from WO 2019 / 243734 A1 or from WO 2020 / 254733 A1. A heating element heats a porous body so as to control a flow of the substance through the porous body.

[0004] In the embodiments described in these documents, the heating element is an electrical resistor. Summary

[0005] One idea behind the invention is to propose an improved method of heating the porous body.

[0006] According to an embodiment according to a first variant, the invention provides a diffuser apparatus for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature, the diffuser apparatus comprising:- a porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; and- a heating device for controlling a flow of the substance through the porous body, wherein the heating device comprises an electrically 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 heated by induction by the inductor.

[0007] The heating device makes it possible to control the flow of the substance through the porous body, simply by heating or not heating the porous body. The physical principles underlying this control of the flow of the substance through the porous body are described in the documents WO 2019 / 243734 A1 and WO 2020 / 254733 A1 already cited above.

[0008] Since the heating element is heated by induction, the porous body can be heated without contact with a heating element such as an electrical resistor. The design of the porous body is therefore freer since it is no longer constrained by taking into account such contact and the resulting thermal contraction differentials, particularly in terms of manufacturing tolerances. Thus, the design of the porous body can be improved in other respects, for example the design of the evaporation surface in order to increase the quantity of evaporated substance.

[0009] According to embodiments, such a diffuser apparatus may comprise one or more of the following features.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the porous body comprises pores which constitute micro-channels opening onto the evaporation surface. The term “micro-channel” means a channel whose cross-section has an area of ​​between 10 -4 and 10 6 µm 2 According to one embodiment, said pores have a diameter of between 0.01 and 10 µm.

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

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

[0013] According to one embodiment, the diffuser apparatus further comprises a storage container 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 being separated from the internal surface by a portion of thickness of the porous body, and the internal surface has a concave shape delimiting an internal volume in the porous body, the internal volume containing the substance, the substance being in the liquid state at room temperature. According to one embodiment in this case, the heating element is arranged in the internal volume.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the diffuser element further comprises a closure element tightly attached to the porous body, the porous body and the closure element together constituting a closed envelope containing the substance. The term "closed envelope containing the substance" means that, at room temperature, the substance in the liquid state cannot flow out of the closed envelope.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the closure element is made of wood, textile, ceramic, polymer, or a porous metal material obtained by sintering a metal powder or a metal alloy powder. According to one embodiment in this case, the closure element is made of the same material as the porous body.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the closed envelope is a rigid closed envelope. This can be achieved by ensuring that the porous body and the closure member are rigid. According to another embodiment, the closure member comprises a rigid portion sealed to the porous body, and a flexible portion retained on the rigid portion. The flexible portion, the rigid portion and the porous body then together constitute a closed envelope containing the substance which is partly non-rigid.

[0018] According to one embodiment, the porous body comprises a collar surrounding a mouth of the internal volume, the closing element covering the collar.

[0019] According to one embodiment, a seal is disposed between the collar and the closure element. According to one embodiment, the seal is a flat seal. According to one embodiment, the seal is received in a groove that the closure element comprises, the groove being opposite the collar.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the porous body has a “U” shaped cross section, so as to have a flat outer surface opposite the collar.

[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 comprises a second internal surface having a concave shape delimiting a second internal volume in the porous body, the second internal surface being separated from the first internal surface by a second thickness portion of the porous body.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the inductor is arranged in a housing, the housing being integral with the diffuser device.

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

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

[0025] According to one embodiment, the heating element is integral with the porous body. According to one embodiment in this case, the housing is at a distance from the porous body. This tends to simplify the manufacture of the diffuser apparatus, since it is no longer necessary to impose strict manufacturing tolerances in order to ensure contact between the porous body and a heating element such as an electrical resistor.

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

[0027] According to one embodiment, the diffuser apparatus further comprises an air inlet, at least one air outlet and at least one fan for driving an air flow from the air inlet to said at least one air outlet so that the air flow circulates around the evaporation surface of the porous body.

[0028] According to one embodiment, the diffuser apparatus further comprises a control device configured to control an electrical supply of the inductor as a function of a set temperature of the porous body.

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

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

[0031] In particular, according to one embodiment, the diffuser apparatus for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature comprises:- a porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air;- a reservoir intended to contain said substance and adapted to the flow of said substance towards the evaporation surface of the porous body;- said substance contained in said reservoir,and- a heating device for controlling a flow of the substance through the porous body,wherein the heating device comprises an electrically 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 heated by induction by the inductor,the substance having a temperature-dependent viscosity, said 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 above 0°C, and the substance flows through the porous body at a second temperature above the first temperature.;

[0032] The reservoir may include the storage container separate from the porous body or the porous body itself.

[0033] The heating element may be permanently located in the diffuser apparatus. Alternatively, the heating element may be part of a removable assembly separable from the diffuser apparatus. Thus, according to an embodiment in accordance with the first variant, the invention also provides a removable assembly for a diffuser apparatus, the diffuser apparatus being intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature, the removable assembly comprising a porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air, wherein the removable assembly comprises an electrically conductive heating element, the heating element being configured to heat the porous body when the heating element is heated by induction.

[0034] According to one embodiment, the removable assembly further comprises a storage container 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 comprises a housing in which the inductor is arranged, the heating element being integral with the housing, and the removable assembly further comprises an electrical contact associated with the inductor and intended to make an electrical connection with a fixed part of the diffuser device.

[0036] It is understood that the characteristics described above in relation to the diffuser device according to the first variant are also applicable to the removable assembly according to the first variant and vice versa.

[0037] According to an embodiment according to a second variant, the invention provides a diffuser apparatus for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature, the diffuser apparatus comprising:- a porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air; and- a heating device for controlling a flow of the substance through the porous body, in which the porous body is made of an electrically conductive porous metallic material, and in which the heating device comprises an inductor configured to heat the porous body by induction.

[0038] As in the first variant, the design of the porous body is thus freer since it is no longer constrained by taking into account such contact and the resulting thermal contraction differentials, particularly in terms of manufacturing tolerances. Thus, the design of the porous body can be improved on other points, for example the design of the evaporation surface with a view to increasing the quantity of evaporated substance.

[0039] Moreover, unlike the first variant, the heating of the porous body does not depend on the thermal conduction between the heating elements and the porous body.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the porous metallic material is obtained by sintering a metallic powder or a metallic alloy powder.

[0041] It should be noted that the characteristics described above in relation to the diffuser device according to the first variant are also applicable to the diffuser device according to the second variant.

[0042] According to an embodiment in accordance with the second variant, the invention also provides a removable assembly for a diffuser apparatus, the diffuser apparatus being intended to disperse in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature, the removable assembly comprising a porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air, in which the porous body is made of a porous metallic material, the porous metallic material being electrically conductive, so that the porous body is capable of being heated by induction.

[0043] It is understood that the characteristics described above in relation to the diffuser device according to the second variant are also applicable to the removable assembly according to the second variant and vice versa.

[0044] In particular, the diffuser apparatus for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature comprises:- a porous body having an evaporation surface for evaporating the substance into the ambient air;- a reservoir intended to contain said substance and adapted to the flow of said substance towards the evaporation surface of the porous body;

[0045] - the said substance contained in the said reservoir,

[0046] and- a heating device for controlling a flow of the substance through the porous body, wherein the porous body is made of an electrically conductive porous metallic material, and wherein the diffuser apparatus further comprises an inductor configured to heat the porous body by induction, the substance having a viscosity varying as a function of temperature, said viscosity being such that the substance does not flow through the porous body at any ambient temperature below a first temperature, the first temperature being above 0°C, and that the substance flows through the porous body at a second temperature above the first temperature.

[0047] The reservoir may include the storage container separate from the porous body or the porous body itself.

[0048] According to one embodiment, said substance comprises at least one compound selected from semiochemical molecules, pheromones, allomones, kairomones, synomones of natural or synthetic origin.

[0049] According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution containing at least one sexual or non-sexual pheromone, an allomone, a synomone or a kairomone intended to provoke a positive or negative response relative to the targeted species, the behavioral result of which may be sexual confusion, confusion of another nature, sexual attraction, attraction of another nature, repulsion of any nature, in arthropods, including arachnids, or including hexapods, among which in particular insects, including harmful insects.

[0050] According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution containing at least one pheromone or sex pheromone, allomone, synomone or kairomone intended to provoke a positive or negative response relative to the target species, the behavioral result of which may notably be appeasement, relaxation, euphoria or intimidation in the classes mammalia and aves.

[0051] According to one embodiment, the substance comprises a solvent selected from isopropyl myristate, dipropylene glycol, dipropylene glycol monomethyl ether, and an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon, for example an L or P or N or V isoparaffin.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the substance comprises at least one compound taken from the group formed by odoriferous agents usable for humans or animals, semiochemical substances, cosmetic agents, essential oils, perfumes, disinfectant agents, odor neutralizing agents and phytosanitary and agricultural agents. According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution comprising at least one compound taken from this group.

[0053] According to one embodiment, the substance comprises at least one compound taken from the group formed by odoriferous agents usable for humans, cosmetic agents, essential oils, perfumes, disinfectant agents, odor neutralizing agents. According to one embodiment, the substance is a solution comprising at least one compound taken from this group.

[0054] According to one embodiment, the odoriferous agents usable for the animal are chosen from fatty acids or the esterified form of said fatty acids such as methyl oleate, methyl palmitate, dimethyl azelate, and dimethyl pimelate.

[0055] According to one embodiment, the substance has in the liquid state 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.

[0056] These viscosity values ​​are dynamic viscosity values ​​characterizing the resistance of a fluid to its laminar flow at a given temperature.

[0057] These physicochemical data are available on the safety data sheets of the chemical products that may constitute the substance.

[0058] According to one embodiment, the substance has a temperature-dependent viscosity, said viscosity being such that the substance does not flow through the thickness portion of the porous body at any ambient temperature below a first temperature, the first temperature being above 0°C, and that the substance flows through the thickness portion of the porous body at a second temperature above the first temperature.

[0059] The first temperature can be set in different ranges. If the diffuser device is intended to be used outdoors, the first temperature will be chosen in particular according to local climatic data. According to embodiments, 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.

[0060] According to one embodiment, the substance has a boiling temperature of between 30°C and 400°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0061] According to one embodiment, the substance is in the liquid state at room temperature. For example, the substance may have a melting temperature of between -70°C and 0°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the substance is in the solid state at room temperature. For example, the substance may have a melting temperature at atmospheric pressure greater than 30°C, for example between 30°C and 40°C. Brief description of the figures

[0063] The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly during the following description of several particular embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0064] This is a schematic sectional view of a diffuser device and a removable assembly according to one embodiment.

[0065] This is a functional block diagram of an inductor and various elements of a diffuser device.

[0066] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0067] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0068] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0069] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0070] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0071] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0072] This is a schematic sectional view similar to the, showing another embodiment.

[0073] This is a sectional view of an embodiment of a diffuser apparatus for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid state at room temperature. This diffuser apparatus is referenced 1 in the drawings; it will be referred to hereinafter as “apparatus 1” for convenience.

[0074] Device 1 has a fixed part generally designated by 2.

[0075] The fixed part 2 comprises a wall 3. The wall 3 delimits an internal space 4 of the fixed part 2. Various elements of the device 1 are received in this internal space 4 as will be described below.

[0076] In a manner not shown in the, the wall 3 may be part of a housing or other suitable rigid container forming part of the fixed part 2. This housing or rigid container may contain various elements of the device 1, in particular an electrical power socket and / or a battery, one or more indicator lights for the user of the device 1, one or more buttons for the user of the device 1, etc.

[0077] It also represents a removable assembly 50. The removable assembly 50 is intended to be inserted in part or in full into the internal space 4. The removable assembly 50 comprises a storage container 60 and a wick 30. The storage container 60 is distinct from the wick 30. In particular, the storage container 60 is made of a non-porous material.

[0078] The wick 30 is integral with the storage container 60 so that the removable assembly 50 can be inserted as a single piece into the internal space 4 by grasping the removable assembly 50.

[0079] The wick 30 extends in a longitudinal direction QQ. The longitudinal direction QQ is indicated by a solid dot-and-dash line on the.

[0080] In the remainder of this description, the longitudinal direction QQ is assigned an upward direction A and a downward direction D opposite to the upward direction A. The upward direction A and the downward direction D are indicated by arrows on the. Expressions such as "lower than", "downwards" are understood in relation to the downward direction D along the longitudinal direction QQ. Expressions such as "higher than", "upwards" are understood in relation to the upward direction A along the longitudinal direction QQ.

[0081] La shows that the apparatus 1 can be used in a position of use in which the downward direction D is downward and the upward direction A is upward relative to the acceleration of gravity G. The direction and direction of the acceleration of gravity G is indicated by an arrow on the. More particularly, as shown in the, in the position of use, the longitudinal direction QQ is parallel to the direction of the acceleration of gravity G. Alternatively, other orientations are possible.

[0082] The wick 30 comprises a central recess 40 (hereinafter referred to as “the recess 40”) and a peripheral surface 33 at a distance from the recess 40.

[0083] The wick 30 is made partially or entirely of a porous material, for example wood, textile, ceramic or polymer.

[0084] The wick 30 is for example made of ceramic, for example alumina, with or without the addition of a pore-forming agent, for example starch. Alternatively, the wick is made of mullite composed of kaolin or clay mixed with alumina and silica.

[0085] The nature of the aluminas used and the addition of porogenic agents influence the porosity rate as well as the pore size of the ceramic.

[0086] Ceramic is obtained by a sintering process which also influences the pore size and porosity of the strands.

[0087] Commercial alumina ceramics that can be used come, for example, from the company NABALTEC ®, with the trade names Granalox ®, Nabalox ®.

[0088] In a simple embodiment, the wick 30 is made entirely of the same porous material and has uniform porosity. This can simplify the manufacture of the wick 30.

[0089] Alternatively, the wick 30 may be made with non-uniform porosity and / or made of several of the aforementioned porous materials.

[0090] Various cross sections can be chosen for the wick 30.

[0091] For example, the cross-section may be annular, i.e. the peripheral surface 33 and the wall delimiting the recess 40 are concentric cylinders. Such a cross-section further simplifies the manufacture of the wick 30.

[0092] Alternatively, the cross-section may be such that the peripheral surface 33 and / or the wall delimiting the recess 40 are concentric cylinders with a polygonal base, in particular with a regular polygonal base, more particularly with a regular hexagonal base.

[0093] In the example shown, the recess 40 has a constant cross-section. Alternatively, the recess 40 may have a non-constant cross-section, for example a conical or frustoconical cross-section.

[0094] The storage container 60 contains the liquid substance. The wick 30 is connected to the storage container 60 as will be detailed below.

[0095] Lamontre further shows that the apparatus 1 comprises a heating device 90. The heating device 90 is configured to heat the wick 30.

[0096] The heating device 90 performs electromagnetic induction heating, or induction heating. The heating device 90 will now be described with reference to and to, which is a functional block diagram showing various elements of the apparatus 1. In, the dotted lines indicate connections between the elements shown.

[0097] The heating device 90 comprises an inductor L (cf.) and an electrically conductive heating element 92 (cf.). The inductor L is powered by a frequency converter C (cf.) which delivers an alternating current at a desired frequency and at a desired electrical intensity. The inductor L thus generates a varying magnetic field. According to the known principle of induction heating, the varying magnetic field penetrates the electrically conductive heating element 92 (hereinafter referred to as "the heating element 92"), generating eddy currents in the heating element 92. Since the heating element 92 has a non-zero electrical resistance, heat is generated in the heating element 92 by the Joule effect. Furthermore, heat can be generated by magnetic hysteresis in the heating element 92 if the latter is made of a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material.In any event, when the inductor L is powered by the frequency converter C, the heating element 92 is heated by induction by the inductor L, and the heating element 92 heats the wick 30.

[0098] In one embodiment, the frequency converter C delivers to the inductor L a frequency higher than the mains frequency (commonly 50 Hz in Europe and 60 Hz in North America), for example between 5 kHz and 100 kHz.

[0099] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, it is thus possible to place the inductor L at a distance from the heating element 92. Only the heating element 92 must thus be placed close to the porous body 30 to heat the latter, preferably placed in contact with the porous body.

[0100] As a result, the design and manufacture of the removable assembly and the diffusion device is simplified because the inductor can be placed at a distance from the heating element: there is less constraint on its placement.

[0101] When the inductor L is housed in a housing 91, this housing 91 can be placed at a distance from the heating element.

[0102] We now describe the operation of the device 1 when the removable assembly 50 is in its position shown in the.

[0103] Since the wick 30 is made partially or entirely of a porous material and the wick 30 is connected to the storage container 60 so as to be able to be impregnated by the liquid substance contained in the storage container 60, the liquid substance having impregnated the wick 30 diffuses by capillarity through the wick 30 until it reaches the peripheral surface 33 (cf. and). The peripheral surface 33 then forms an evaporation surface for the substance.

[0104] The connection between the wick 30 and the storage container 60 can be achieved in a large number of ways, for example according to the teaching of documents WO 2019 / 243734 A1, WO 2020 / 254733 A1, WO 2023 / 073004 A1, or WO 2023 / 089019 A1.

[0105] When the fan 6 is operating, the fan 6 drives an air flow F, which is indicated by the dot-and-dash arrows in the figure. The air flow F is driven from the air inlet 5 to the air outlet 6, here in the longitudinal direction QQ and in the upward direction A. The geometry of the wall 4 ensures that the air flow F circulates in the longitudinal direction QQ. The air flow F circulates around the peripheral surface 33, where it is loaded with evaporated substance. The air flow F loaded with evaporated substance exits through the air outlet 7 and disperses the evaporated substance into the ambient air.

[0106] When the heating element 92 is inductively heated by the inductor L, the heating element 92 heats the wick 30. The heating of the wick 30 tends to promote the evaporation of the substance at the peripheral surface 33.

[0107] The amount of substance evaporated by the apparatus 1 can be adjusted by suitably adjusting the operating parameters of the fan 6 and / or the heating device 90.

[0108] Various constructions may be adopted for the fan 6, including an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, or other types of fan. The fan 6 may be held in place in the apparatus 1 in any suitable manner.

[0109] An air filter may optionally be placed between the air inlet 5 and the fan 6 in order to limit the risk of the wick 30 becoming clogged by undesirable external particles.

[0110] Returning to the, a control device 12, such as a microprocessor, controls the heating element 9 as a function of a temperature detected by a temperature sensor 10 suitably arranged in the apparatus 1. For example, as shown in the, the temperature sensor 10 may be an infrared sensor placed in the internal space 4 at a distance from the wick 30. The control device 12 can then control the frequency converter C as a function of a set temperature of the wick 30 detected by the temperature sensor 10.

[0111] The control device 12 is for example arranged on an electronic card, the electronic card also being able to provide the electrical power supply to the heating element 9. The control device 12 can furthermore control the fan 6, in particular an operating speed of the fan 6.

[0112] It should be noted that the elements described above with reference to and are represented schematically and may be located at various locations in the apparatus 1.

[0113] It should further be noted that many other constructions are conceivable for the apparatus 1, in particular with several fans 6, and / or several air outlets 7 as described in document WO 2023 / 089019 A1, and / or several removable assemblies 50 each heated by a heating device 90 as described in document WO 2023 / 089019 A1, etc.

[0114] With reference to the, a heating element 92 is placed directly on each of the faces of the recess 40, so as to cover the entirety of this face or only a part of this face. Thus, when the heating element 92 is heated by induction by the inductor L, the heating element 92 heats the wick 30 by thermal conduction.

[0115] With reference to la and to la, the inductor L is arranged in a housing 91. The housing 91 is integral with the fixed part 2 of the diffuser device 1, for example integral with the wall 3. The housing 91 is received in part or in whole in the recess 40 of the wick 30.

[0116] Figures 3, 4 and 5 are views similar to the, showing other embodiments. In each of these figures, elements similar or identical to those described with reference to the and the bear the same reference signs, and only the heating device 90 and the removable assembly 50 are shown.

[0117] In the embodiment shown in the, a single heating element 92 is placed directly on only one of the faces of the recess 40, so as to cover the entirety of this face or only a part of this face.

[0118] In the embodiment shown in the, the wick 30 does not have the recess 40, and the wick 30 has a planar surface 41 opposite the storage container 60. A heating element 92 is placed directly on the planar surface 41, so as to cover all of the planar surface 41 or only a portion of the planar surface 41.

[0119] La represents another embodiment in which the removable assembly 50A is produced according to the teaching of document WO 2023 / 073004 A1. In this figure, elements similar or identical to those described with reference to la and la bear the same reference signs, and only the heating device 90 and the removable assembly 50A are shown. The storage container 60A has a concave external shape at least partially surrounding a central free space 62. The wick 30A comprises a recess 40A, preferably blind, located in the extension of the central free space 62. The heating device 90 comprises a rod 93 carrying the housing 91 at one of its ends. Due to the presence of the central free space 62, the rod 93 can extend through the central free space, such that the housing 91 can be received in the recess 40A.Similar to recess 40, heating elements 92 are positioned on some or all of the faces of recess 40A.

[0120] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, the housing 91 is in contact with the heating element(s) 92.

[0121] The heating elements 92 may be either integral with the wick 30, for example by being glued to the wick 30 or by being deposited on the wick 30 in the form of a layer by means of a suitable layer deposition technique, or integral with the housing 91.

[0122] Since the heating elements 92 are heated by induction by the inductor L received in the housing 91, contact between the housing 91 and the heating elements 92 is not essential. Thus, as shown by way of example in the, the housing 91 is at a distance from the heating elements 92 secured to the wick 30. This tends to simplify the manufacture of the apparatus 1, since it is no longer necessary to impose strict manufacturing tolerances in order to ensure contact between the wick 30 and a heating element such as an electrical resistor.

[0123] Alternatively, all or some of the heating elements 92 may be provided on the peripheral surface 33 of the wick 30.

[0124] La represents a removable assembly 50B according to yet another embodiment. In this figure, elements similar or identical to those described with reference to la and la bear the same reference signs, and only the heating device 90 and the removable assembly 50B are shown. The wick 30B is made of an electrically conductive porous metal material. For example, the porous metal material is obtained by sintering a metal powder or a metal alloy powder. Since the wick 30B is made of an electrically conductive material, the wick 30B can be heated by induction. Accordingly, the heating elements 92 can be omitted, so that the heating of the wick 30B does not depend on thermal conduction between the heating elements 92 and the wick 30B.

[0125] In this embodiment also, since contact between the housing 91 and the wick 30B is not essential, the housing 91 is at a distance from the wick 30B.

[0126] Embodiments have been described so far where the substance is in the liquid state at room temperature. However, as a variant, the substance is in the solid state at room temperature. For example, the substance may have a melting point at atmospheric pressure greater than 30°C, for example between 30°C and 40°C. In this case, the storage container 60, 60A contains the substance in the solid state at room temperature. Heating the wick 30, 30A, 30B by the heating element(s) 92 causes local melting of the substance. The substance, thus becoming liquid, then impregnates the wick 30, 30A, 30B and is then dispersed into the ambient air as described above.

[0127] La represents a removable assembly 420 according to yet another embodiment.

[0128] The removable assembly 420 comprises a wick 430 and a capsule 450. The wick 430 extends in the longitudinal direction QQ. The longitudinal direction QQ is indicated by a solid dot-and-dash line on the.

[0129] The wick 430 has an internal volume 431. The internal volume 431 is delimited by an internal surface 432 having a concave shape. The internal volume 431 is intended to receive the substance in the liquid state. The internal surface 432 is in contact with the substance when the internal volume 431 is filled with the substance.

[0130] The wick 430 further comprises a peripheral surface 433. The peripheral surface 433 is separated from the internal surface 432 by a wall 434. Equivalently, the peripheral surface 433 is separated from the internal volume 431 by the wall 434.

[0131] In the example shown, the wick 430 comprises a collar 436 surrounding a mouth 435 of the internal volume 431, and the capsule 450 is fixed to the wick 430 so that the capsule 450 covers the collar 436 as shown in the. Consequently, the largest dimension of the capsule 450 is strictly greater than the largest dimension of the collar 436. In addition, a seal 460, for example a flat seal, is received in a groove 451 that the capsule 450 comprises to ensure sealing between the capsule 450 and the wick 430.

[0132] Thus, the capsule 450 is tightly attached to the wick 430, so that the wick 430 and the capsule 450 together constitute a rigid closed envelope containing the substance. By "closed envelope containing the substance" is meant that, at room temperature, the substance in the liquid state cannot flow out of the closed envelope.

[0133] To manufacture the removable assembly 420, the wick 430 and the capsule 450 are manufactured, then the wick 430 is filled with the liquid substance through the mouth 435 surrounded by the collar 436, then the capsule 450 is fixed in a sealed manner to the wick 430.

[0134] The wick 430 is made partially or entirely of a porous material, for example wood, textile, ceramic or polymer.

[0135] In a simple embodiment, the wick 430 is made entirely of the same porous material and has uniform porosity. This can simplify the manufacture of the wick 430.

[0136] Alternatively, the wick 430 may be made with non-uniform porosity and / or made of several of the aforementioned porous materials.

[0137] Various cross sections can be chosen for the 430 bit.

[0138] For example, the cross-section may be annular, such that the internal volume 431 is cylindrical in shape and the peripheral surface 433 forms a concentric cylinder with the internal volume 431. Such a cross-section further simplifies the manufacture of the wick 431.

[0139] Alternatively, the cross-section may be such that the internal volume 431 and the peripheral surface 433 form concentric cylinders with a polygonal base, in particular with a regular polygonal base, more particularly with a regular hexagonal base.

[0140] The wick 430 has a "U" shaped cross-section, such that the wick 430 has a flat outer surface 440 opposite the collar 436.

[0141] A heating element 92 is placed directly on the flat outer surface 440, so as to cover the entire flat outer surface 440 or only a portion of the flat surface 440. When the heating element 92 is heated by induction by the inductor L, the heating element 92 heats the wick 430 by thermal conduction. The removable assembly 420 can thus be used in a manner similar to the removable assemblies 50, 50A, 50B, the peripheral surface 433 of the wick 430 forming an evaporation surface for the substance in a manner similar to the peripheral surface 33 of the wick 30.

[0142] In addition to or as a replacement for the heating element 92, an internal electrically conductive element 492 may be disposed in the internal volume 431. When the internal electrically conductive element 492 is heated by induction by the inductor L, the internal electrically conductive element 492 heats the wick 430 by thermal conduction.

[0143] Alternatively, the capsule 450 may be replaced by a closure element comprising a rigid portion tightly attached to the wick 430 in a manner similar to the capsule 450, and a flexible portion secured to the rigid portion. The flexible portion, the rigid portion and the wick 430 then form a closed envelope containing the substance which is partly non-rigid.

[0144] The capsule 450 may be made of various materials, in particular polymer. Alternatively, the capsule 450 may be made of a porous material similar to that of the wick 430, for example the same porous material as the wick 430.

[0145] La represents a removable assembly 520 according to yet another embodiment. In this figure, elements similar or identical to those of la bear the same reference signs increased by 100 and are not described again. The removable assembly 520 is distinguished from the removable assembly 420 in that the wick 530 is made of an electrically conductive porous metal material, similarly to the wick 30B. Since the wick 530 is made of an electrically conductive material, the wick 530 can be heated by induction. Accordingly, the heating elements 92 can be omitted, so that the heating of the wick 530 does not depend on thermal conduction between the heating elements 92 and the wick 530.

[0146] In embodiments, the heating elements 92 and the housing 91 may be part of the removable assembly 50, 50A, 50B, 420, 520. In this case, the removable assembly comprises an electrical contact associated with the inductor L and intended to make an electrical connection with the fixed part 2 of the device 1.

[0147] In the embodiments described above, it is envisaged, for example, to diffuse a substance consisting of a pheromone solution corresponding to the following composition:

[0148] - 87% by weight of (8E,10E)-dodeca-8,10-dien-1-ol, known as Codlemone, a pheromone associated with Cydiapomonella (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae), and

[0149] - 13% by weight of dodecan-1-ol. This solution is known under the trade name RAK3®.

[0150] The boiling point of Codlemone solution at atmospheric pressure is about 270°C, and the viscosity at room temperature, i.e. 25°C, is about 8 cPa.s and 1 cPa.s at 60°C.

[0151] It is possible to substitute the Codlemone in the solution with the pheromone of formula (7E,9Z)-Dodeca-7,9-dienylaceteate, trade name RAK2®, whose boiling point is approximately 300°C. The viscosity of the solution remains close to that of the Codlemone solution. The RAK2® pheromone can also be used pure (100% by weight).

[0152] Alternatively, the substance may consist of rapeseed oils with a viscosity of 7.78 cPa.s at 20°C and 2.57 cPa.s at 50°C. The boiling point is approximately 150°C.

[0153] The substance to be diffused may also contain, for example, a pheromone component acting on the Oriental fruit moth, also known as Grapholita molesta. This is the chemical compound Z8-dodecenyl acetate, which has a dynamic viscosity of 3.4 mPa.s at 20°C.

[0154] The substance to be diffused can also consist of fatty esters that are components of mammalian appeasing pheromones, for example methyl oleate which has a dynamic viscosity of 6.8 mPa.s at 20°C.

[0155] The substance to be diffused can also be a conventional insecticide such as prallethrin 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 = 0.06 Pa.s at 60°C.

[0156] Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it includes all technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

[0157] The use of the verb "comprise", "comprise" or "include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or other steps than those set out in a claim.

[0158] In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses cannot be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims

A diffuser apparatus (1) for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature, the diffuser apparatus (1) comprising:- a porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) having an evaporation surface (33, 433) for evaporating the substance into the ambient air;- a reservoir intended to contain said substance and adapted for the flow of said substance towards the evaporation surface (33, 433, 533) of the porous body (20, 30A, 430, 530);- said substance contained in said reservoir, and- a heating device (90) for controlling a flow of the substance through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530), wherein the heating device (90) comprises an electrically conductive heating element (92) and an inductor (L), the inductor (L) being configured to heat the heating element (92) by induction, and the heating element (92) being configured to heat the porous body (30, 30A, 430,530) when the heating element (92) is heated by induction by the inductor (L), the substance having a viscosity varying as a function of temperature, said viscosity being such that the substance does not flow through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) at any ambient temperature lower than a first temperature, the first temperature being higher than 0°C, and that the substance flows through the porous body (30, 30A, 430, 530) at a second temperature higher than the first temperature., A diffuser apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir of the diffuser apparatus (1) comprises a storage container (60, 60A) containing the substance, the porous body (50, 50A) being connected to the storage container (60, 60A), and the evaporation surface (33) being located outside the storage container. Diffuser apparatus (1) according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises the porous body (430) which has an internal surface (432) in contact with the substance, the evaporation surface (433) being separated from the internal surface (432) by a portion of thickness (434) of the porous body (430), and wherein the internal surface (432) has a concave shape delimiting an internal volume (431) in the porous body (430), the internal volume (431) containing the substance, the substance being in the liquid state at room temperature. Diffuser apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inductor (L) is arranged in a housing (91), the housing (91) being integral with the diffuser apparatus (1). A diffuser apparatus (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). A diffuser apparatus (1) according to claim 3, wherein the porous body (30, 30A) comprises a recess (40, 40A), and said surface of the porous body (30, 30A) includes at least a portion of an inner surface of the recess (40, 40A). Diffuser apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the heating element (92) is integral with the porous body (30, 30A, 430). Diffuser apparatus (1) according to claim 4 or according to any one of claims 5 to 6 taken in combination with claim 4, in which the heating element (92) is integral with the housing (91). Diffuser apparatus (1) for dispersing in the air, in the vapor state, a substance in the liquid or solid state at ambient temperature, the diffuser apparatus (1) comprising:- a porous body (30B, 530) having an evaporation surface (33, 533) for evaporating the substance into the ambient air;- a reservoir intended to contain said substance and adapted to the flow of said substance towards the evaporation surface (33, 533) of the porous body (20, 30A, 530);- said substance contained in said reservoir,and- a heating device (90) for controlling a flow of the substance through the porous body (30B, 530),wherein the porous body (30B, 530) is made of an electrically conductive porous metallic material, and wherein the heating device (90) comprises an inductor (L) configured to heat the porous body (30B, 530) by induction,the substance having a variable viscosity as a function of temperature, said viscosity being such that the substance does not flow through the porous body (30B, 530) at any ambient temperature below a first temperature, the first temperature being above 0°C, and that the substance flows through the porous body (30B, 530) at a second temperature above the first temperature.; The diffuser apparatus (1) of claim 9, wherein the reservoir of the diffuser apparatus (1) further comprises a storage container (60) containing the substance, the porous body (30B) being connected to the storage container (60), and the evaporation surface (33) being located outside the storage container (60). Diffuser apparatus (1) according to claim 9, wherein the reservoir comprises the porous body (530) which has an internal surface (532) in contact with the substance, the evaporation surface (533) being separated from the internal surface (532) by a portion of thickness (534) of the porous body (530), and wherein the internal surface (532) has a concave shape delimiting an internal volume (531) in the porous body (530), the internal volume (531) containing the substance, the substance being in the liquid state at room temperature. Diffuser apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the diffuser apparatus (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 the air inlet (5) to said at least one air outlet (7) so that the air flow (F) circulates around the evaporation surface (33, 433, 533) of the porous body (30, 30A, 30B, 430, 530). Diffuser apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the diffuser apparatus (1) further comprises a control device (12) configured to control an electrical supply of the inductor (L) as a function of a set temperature of the porous body (30, 30A, 30B, 430, 530). Diffuser apparatus (1) according to claim 13 taken in combination with claim 12, wherein the control device (12) is further configured to control the fan (6).

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