Device for atomising a liquid

The device with an indentation for a diffusion body enhances capillary forces and contact area, addressing the inconsistent absorption and diffusion issues of pumice, ensuring rapid and continuous liquid atomization.

WO2025172484A1PCT designated stage Publication Date: 2025-08-21EDMS CONSULTING GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
PCT/EP2025/053938
Authority / Receiving Office
WO · WO
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2024-02-14
Filing Date
2025-02-13
Publication Date
2025-08-21

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing devices using pumice for liquid atomization suffer from inconsistent absorption and diffusion due to varying stone density, leading to delayed adsorption and uncontrollable release of liquid.

Method used

A device with a liquid-absorbing material body and a transport element, featuring an indentation for a diffusion body with enhanced capillarity, connected via a press fit, ensuring continuous liquid supply and increased contact area for efficient adsorption and diffusion.

Benefits of technology

The solution ensures consistent and rapid absorption and diffusion of liquid, overcoming the delays and inconsistencies associated with pumice's natural porosity.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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    Figure EP2025053938_21082025_PF_FP_ABST
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Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (1) for atomising a liquid, the device comprising: a material body (111) which can absorb liquid and has a capillarity α; and a transport element (12) which is designed to transport a liquid and is received in a diffusion receptacle (1110), which extends longitudinally inside the material body (111), in the material body (10) and is received within the diffusion receptacle (1110) so as to transmit fluid to the material body (10). The device (1) according to the invention is characterised in that an indentation (1111) adjoining the diffusion receptacle (1110) and extending beyond the diameter of the diffusion receptacle (1110) is formed in the material body (111), into which indentation a diffusion body (112) capable of absorbing liquid is introduced, the capillarity µ of which is greater than the capillarity α of the material body (111), wherein a) the transport element (12) and the diffusion body (112) and b) the material body (111) and the diffusion body (112) are liquid-transmittingly connected.
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Description

Device for atomizing a liquid DESCRIPTION Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for atomizing a liquid according to the preamble of patent claim 1. State of the art

[0002] Devices for atomizing liquids are already known from the prior art, which comprise a liquid-absorbing material body and a transport element (e.g. a wick) designed to transport a liquid, which is received in a diffusion receptacle extending longitudinally in the interior of the material body in the material body and within the diffusion receptacle on the material body in a liquid-transmitting manner.

[0003] For example, US 4,413,779 A in particular shows a device for atomising a volatile material or agent (e.g. a fragrance), which comprises a container with a liquid reservoir and a wick projecting into the container, which guides the volatile material or agent to a closure element and an open-cell surface on which the volatile material or agent finally evaporates.

[0004] DE 20 2009 015 302 U l discloses a device for evaporating liquids, the lid of which comprises at least one further porous, moisture-absorbing material, for example cellulose or pumice.

[0005] Pumice itself, due to its porous structure, creates capillary forces. These forces cause the pumice to continuously absorb liquid. Pumice has a dense channel system and a so-called inner surface, which increases the amount of adsorbates. Pumice is therefore a powerful adsorbent, although the naturally varying density of the rock prevents continuous and consistent adsorption. The more liquid particles adhere to the surface of the pumice, the greater its surface tension becomes. Increased surface tension leads to an imbalance with the external tension. This imbalance in particle concentration is compensated for by an osmosis process. This means that the attached liquid particles detach, evaporate, and pass into the surrounding air. The essential oils in the liquid mix with the ambient air and diffuse the aromas.

[0006] The disadvantage here is that the specific nature of pumice's natural porosity means that the density and surface area of ​​each stone vary. This affects the capillary forces. Therefore, it takes different amounts of time for the pumice stone to become wet and absorb the liquid. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention is based on the object of eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and of creating a device which ensures that the process of adsorption and diffusion of the aroma particles is not delayed or at least occurs only minimally.

[0008] According to the invention, the above object is achieved according to the preamble of claim 1 in conjunction with the characterizing features. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the The device according to the invention is specified in the dependent subclaims.

[0009] The device according to the invention initially comprises a liquid-absorbing material body, for example a pumice stone or similar suitable material body, as is known from the prior art - as described above - with a capillarity a and a transport element designed to transport a liquid (for example a wick or any device suitable for introduction into a container opening of a container), which is received in a diffusion receptacle extending longitudinally in the interior of the material body in the material body and within the diffusion receptacle on the material body in a liquid-transmitting manner,

[0010] According to the invention, the above object is achieved in that an indentation is formed in the material body which adjoins the diffusion receptacle and extends beyond the diameter of the diffusion receptacle, into which indentation a liquid-absorbing diffusion body is introduced, the capillarity of which is greater than the capillarity a of the material body, wherein a) the transport element and the diffusion body and b) the material body and the diffusion body are connected in a liquid-transmitting manner.

[0011] For this purpose, the diffusion body (preferably in the form of a diffusion plate) is connected to the transport element, which supplies it with liquid. The hydrophilic filler material of the diffusion body increases the adsorption surface of the material body (preferably a pumice stone) and strengthens the capillary forces, which ensure that the material body is continuously supplied with liquid over a large area.

[0012] The diffusion body is preferably connected to the material body by a press fit in the indentation with a contour of the indentation that is milled into the material body, for example.

[0013] This design increases the contact area to the material body by a factor of X compared to a pure wick connection without a diffusion body.

[0014] The strengthening of capillary forces and the enlargement of the contact area ensure that the aforementioned processes are not delayed. By using the diffusion body, the problem of naturally varying stone density and the resulting uncontrollable release of liquid and the associated delayed adsorption and diffusion on the pumice stone are overcome or eliminated. Short description of the drawing

[0015] Further objects, features, advantages and possible applications of the device according to the invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment with reference to the drawing.

[0016] The drawing shows

[0017] Fig. 1 shows the device according to the invention in an advantageous embodiment in a lateral section. Implementation of the invention

[0018] As can be seen from Fig. 1, the diffusion body 1 12 is advantageously plate-shaped and / or positively and / or non-positively received in the indentation 1 1 1 1.

[0019] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the diffusion body 112 comprises a passage opening 1120 for the transport element 12, which should be designed such that the transport element 12 and the diffusion body 112 are connected in a liquid-transferring manner.

[0020] As can be seen from Fig. 1, the diffusion body 1 12 advantageously has a central passage opening 1 120 which extends along a common axis X with the indentation 1 1 1 1, which is preferably also arranged centrally, on the material body 1 1 1.

[0021] Below the diffusion body 112, the device 1 preferably comprises a (further) plate-like support base 113.

[0022] The diffusion body 1 12 can be particularly advantageously connected mechanically or - as described - by a press fit to the material body 1 1 1 in such a way that a permanent contact surface is created between the diffusion body 1 12 and the material body 1 1 1.

[0023] The diffusion body 112 is advantageously formed from a nonwoven, fibers, a yarn, fabric, padding or a cushion.

[0024] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the device 1 comprises a container 10 for holding a liquid, wherein the container 10 comprises at least one container opening 100 and a container neck 101.

[0025] The material body 1 1 1 and / or any other components of the device 1, for example the diffusion body 1 12, the support base and / or the ring holder are preferably designed such that they together or alone form a closure 1 1 for the container 10 at the container opening 100 and / or the container neck 101 in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

[0026] The material body 1 1 1 is designed to encompass the container neck 101 at least in regions, wherein the container neck 101 and / or the material body 1 1 1 and / or the diffusion body 1 12 is / are designed to form at least one air passage opening 13 provided between the container neck 101 and the material body 1 1 1 and / or between the container neck 101 and the diffusion body 1 12, with- by means of which air L can flow from the interior of the container 10 to the outside A.

[0027] In the aforementioned embodiment, at least one annular mount 14 which extends at least partially around the container neck 101 can be arranged or formed, which is in contact with the air passage opening 13 in such a way that the air L can escape from the air passage opening 13 out of the annular mount 14. List of reference numbers I Device 10 containers II Closure 12 Transport element 13 Air passage opening 14 ring setting 100 container opening 101 Container neck III Material body 1 12 Diffusion bodies 1 13 Support base 1 14 additional diffusion absorption in the material body 1 1 10 Diffusion absorption in the material body 1 1 1 1 Indentation on the material body 1 120 passage opening on the diffusion body A outside the container L Air X axes

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for atomizing a liquid, comprising a liquid-absorbing material body (111) with a capillarity a and a transport element (12) designed to transport a liquid, which is received in a diffusion receptacle (1110) extending longitudinally in the interior of the material body (111) in the material body (10) and within the diffusion receptacle (1110) on the material body (10) in a liquid-transmitting manner, characterized in that an indentation (1111) is formed in the material body (111) adjacent to the diffusion receptacle (1110) and extending beyond the diameter of the diffusion receptacle (1110), into which indentation a liquid-absorbing diffusion body (112) is introduced, the capillarity of which is greater than the capillarity a of the material body (111),wherein a) the transport element (12) and the diffusion body (112) and b) the material body (111) and the diffusion body (112) are connected in a fluid-transmitting manner.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the diffusion body (112) is plate-like.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the diffusion body (112) is received in the recess (1111) in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffusion body (1 12) comprises a passage opening (1 120) for the transport element (12).

5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plate-like support base (113) below the diffusion body (112).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffusion body (1 12) is connected mechanically or by a press fit to the material body (1 1 1) in such a way that a permanent contact surface is created between the diffusion body (1 12) and the material body (1 1 1).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material body (1 1 1) consists of pumice stone.

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diffusion body (1 12) consists of a fleece, fibers, a yarn, fabric, padding or a cushion.

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a container (10) for receiving a liquid, wherein the container (10) comprises at least one container opening (100) and a container neck (101), wherein the material body (111) is designed to cover the container neck (101) at least in regions. comprise, wherein the container neck (101) and / or the material body (111) and / or the diffusion body (112) is / are designed to form at least one air passage opening (13) provided between the container neck (101) and the material body (111) and / or between the container neck (101) and the diffusion body (112), by means of which air (L) can flow from the interior of the container (10) to the outside (A).

10. Device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one annular mount (14) which is at least partially circumferential is arranged or formed on the container neck (101), which is in contact with the air passage opening (13) in such a way that the air (L) can escape from the air passage opening (13) from the annular mount (14).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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