Aerosol Generator Pump with Micro Stepper Motor
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing aerosol-generating systems face issues with clogging due to residues in capillary tubes and inefficient liquid transport, leading to increased power consumption and maintenance needs.
Innovation Solution
An aerosol-generating system with a liquid storage portion and a micro stepper motor-driven pump that delivers liquid aerosol-forming substrate directly to a heating element, reducing residue formation and enabling on-demand liquid delivery at low flow rates, thus minimizing clogging and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If liquid material is heated indirectly through a tube or capillary wick, then the liquid can be transported and heated, but heat is lost during the energy transfer process and residues cause clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the liquid transport function from the heating element by using a separate pump system. The pump delivers liquid directly to the heating element, eliminating the need for capillary tubes or wicks that cause clogging and heat loss. This separation allows independent optimization of transport and heating functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pump as an intermediary device between the liquid reservoir and heating element. This mediator enables direct liquid delivery without requiring the liquid to pass through narrow capillary channels, thereby preventing residue accumulation and improving heat transfer efficiency.
2Reliability
If a pump is used to deliver liquid directly to the heating element, then clogging is reduced and heat efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump is designed as a multi-functional component that integrates liquid delivery, flow control, and pressure regulation functions. This universal design reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving reliable direct liquid transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses controllable pump parameters (flow rate, pressure, timing) to optimize liquid delivery. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves precise control over liquid transport without requiring complex mechanical structures, thus improving reliability while managing device complexity.
3Productivity
If continuous heating is applied to ensure adequate vaporization, then aerosol generation is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic liquid delivery pulses synchronized with heating cycles. Instead of continuous heating, the pump delivers liquid in controlled amounts at specific intervals, allowing the heating element to operate more efficiently and reduce overall power consumption while maintaining adequate aerosol generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous aerosol generation through coordinated pump-heating operation. The pump ensures continuous liquid supply to the heating element, which maintains optimal temperature and vaporization efficiency, thereby sustaining productivity without requiring excessive power input.
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 system achieves efficient liquid transport with reduced residue formation and power consumption, allowing for a low-maintenance design and precise control over aerosol generation, with the potential for miniaturization and simpler electronic circuitry.
Implementation Method 1
a lead screw connecting the drive shaft to the piston and configured to translate a rotation of the drive shaft into an axial movement of the piston and a corresponding axial movement of the movable wall
Implementation Method 2
a vaporizer comprising a heating element having a structure defining an open-ended internal passage
Implementation Method 3
a pump configured to deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the outlet of the liquid storage portion to the open-ended internal passage of the heating element
Data Source
AI summary
An aerosol-generating system may include a liquid storage portion configured to hold aerosol-forming substrate, a vaporizer, and a pump. The liquid storage portion includes a movable wall and an outlet. The vaporizer includes a heating element having a structure that at least partially defines an internal passage. The pump may deliver liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the outlet of the liquid storage portion to the internal passage of the heating element. The pump may include a micro stepper motor with a drive shaft that is configured to rotate a particular amount based on performing an individual step, a piston connected to the movable wall, and a lead screw connecting the drive shaft to the piston and configured to translate rotation of the drive shaft into axial movement of the piston and the movable wall. The vaporizer may at least partially vaporize the delivered liquid aerosol-forming substrate.