Actuator-Driven Liquid Reservoir Atomizer for Wickless Aerosol Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarettes face issues with liquid transport to the heating element being insufficient, leading to temperature rises, residue buildup, flavor crossover, and difficulty in controlling particle size due to the wick design.
Innovation Solution
An electronic smoking device with an atomizer featuring a plurality of openings and an actuator inside the liquid reservoir to supply liquid to these openings, eliminating the need for a wick, ensuring steady liquid supply and reducing flavor crossover and vaporization byproducts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a wick is used to transport liquid from reservoir to heating element, then liquid transport is achieved, but liquid transport speed is insufficient causing temperature rise above 200-220 degrees
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wick component entirely from the system. Instead of using a wick to transport liquid, the invention employs direct liquid delivery mechanisms where the liquid reservoir is positioned to allow liquid to flow directly to the heating element through capillary channels or gravity-assisted flow paths, eliminating the transport bottleneck that caused temperature rise.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes capillary action (a hydraulic principle) by designing capillary channels that enable liquid to flow directly from the reservoir to the heating element without requiring a wick. This capillary-driven liquid delivery system ensures sufficient liquid supply speed to maintain optimal heating temperatures.
2Reliability
If a wick is used for liquid transport, then liquid delivery is achieved, but liquid particles deposit and attach to heating element building residues
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the wick component, the patent eliminates the source of residue buildup. The wick material itself would decompose and leave residues on the heating element over time. The alternative design uses a reservoir system with direct liquid flow that avoids contact between solid wick material and the heating element surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs capillary channels (porous structures) for liquid delivery instead of a solid wick. These channels allow liquid to pass through while minimizing material contact and decomposition, thereby reducing residue formation on the heating element.
3Ease of manufacture
If atomizer and liquid reservoir are not coupled, then device assembly is simplified, but wick always contains liquid when liquid container is replaced causing flavor crossover
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the wick that caused flavor crossover issues. By eliminating the wick and implementing a direct liquid delivery system from a replaceable reservoir, the invention allows users to change flavors by simply replacing the reservoir without residual liquid being trapped in a wick structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the liquid delivery system with localized capillary channels that direct liquid flow precisely to the heating element. This localized delivery ensures that when the reservoir is replaced, only the new reservoir's liquid is delivered, preventing flavor mixing that would occur with a wick retaining old liquid.
4Quantity of substance
If a wick is used for liquid transport, then liquid delivery is achieved, but particle size is difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses capillary channels (porous structures) with controlled dimensions to deliver liquid to the heating element. The specific geometry and size of these capillary channels allow precise control over the liquid flow rate and the resulting aerosol particle size, overcoming the limitations of wick-based delivery.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides continuous and fast liquid supply to the atomizer, minimizing residue buildup, flavor mixing, and controlling particle size, resulting in improved aerosol production and delivery.
Implementation Method 1
an atomizer arranged at a first end face of the liquid reservoir and operable when connected to the power supply to atomize liquid to create an aerosol
Implementation Method 2
an actuator movable inside the liquid reservoir towards the first end face and adapted for supplying liquid to the plurality of openings
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic smoking device includes a battery portion including an electric power supply, an atomizer/liquid reservoir portion having a mouthpiece opening in an end, and a liquid reservoir adapted for accommodating a liquid. The electronic smoking device further includes an atomizer arranged at a first end face of the liquid reservoir and operable when connected to the power supply to atomize liquid to create an aerosol, wherein the atomizer comprises a plurality of openings adapted for providing the aerosol, and an actuator movable inside the liquid reservoir towards the first end face and adapted for supplying liquid to the plurality of openings.