Atomizer Air Guide Structure for Ultrasonic E-Cigarette Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic high-frequency atomizing electronic cigarettes suffer from reduced atomizing efficiency and smoke production due to disordered air flow, tobacco tar accumulation, heat transfer to the shell, and condensation of smoke in metal air outflow passages, which affects user experience.

Innovation Solution

An atomizer design featuring an air guide structure that directs air to flow over the atomizing cotton, a tobacco tar guide body with closely attached atomizing cotton, and a thermal insulation liner tube to prevent heat transfer and condensation, ensuring efficient atomization and improved smoke quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If air passes through the air inflow passage to the atomizing surface, then air supply is provided for atomization, but the air flow becomes disordered causing most air to flow away directly without participating in atomization, greatly reducing atomizing efficiency and smoke amount

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomizing efficiencyVSAvoidamount of smoke
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces atomizing cotton as an intermediary substance between the air inflow passage and the atomizing surface. The cotton guides the air flow to move along the atomizing surface, ensuring that air participates in the atomization process rather than flowing away directly. This intermediary structure resolves the contradiction by transforming disordered air flow into controlled flow that enhances both atomizing efficiency and smoke production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If cold air mixes with atomized smoke, then air supply is maintained, but the temperature of the smoke entering the mouth is lowered, resulting in poor mouthfeel

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomizing efficiencyVSAvoidsmoke temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the flow path geometry from direct vertical flow to a horizontal flow along the atomizing surface. By guiding air to flow along the surface where atomization occurs, the air mixes with hot vaporized substances during the atomization process itself, heating the air before it reaches the user. This dimensional change in flow path resolves the temperature contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the surface of the atomizing sheet is not closely attached to the tobacco tar guide body, then tobacco tar can be supplied, but tobacco tar accumulates on the atomizing sheet surface especially when not used for long periods, causing difficulty in atomization and reduced smoke discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetobacco tar supplyVSAvoidsmoke discharge amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having atomizing cotton closely attached to the atomizing surface, creating a pre-positioned structure that prevents tobacco tar accumulation before it occurs. The cotton acts as a barrier that guides tobacco tar flow and prevents it from accumulating on the atomizing sheet surface during idle periods, ensuring consistent atomization performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Strength

If the air outflow passage is made of metal, then structural strength is provided, but the atomized smoke condenses after flowing a certain distance, reducing smoke amount and allowing condensed tobacco tar to be sucked into the mouth

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outflow passage strengthVSAvoidsmoke amount
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter of the air outflow passage from metal to non-metallic materials with low thermal conductivity and non-polar characteristics. This parameter change prevents heat transfer that would cause condensation, maintaining smoke in vapor form throughout the passage and preventing tobacco tar condensation that could be harmful to users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Productivity

If the atomizing sheet is heated for atomization, then atomizing function is achieved, but heat is easily transferred to the shell through the air outflow passage, causing the shell to become very hot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomizing efficiencyVSAvoidshell temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces thermal insulation material as an intermediary between the atomizing sheet and the shell. This intermediary layer blocks heat transfer from the heated atomizing sheet to the shell, preventing the shell from becoming hot while maintaining efficient atomization. The insulation material acts as a thermal barrier that resolves the heat transfer contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 enhances atomizing efficiency, increases smoke production, improves smoke concentration and mouthfeel, and prevents tobacco tar accumulation and heat transfer to the shell, resulting in a more satisfying user experience.

Implementation Method 1

transfers tobacco tar in a tobacco tar cavity to an atomizing sheet through tobacco tar storage cotton, and then atomizes the tobacco tar by high-frequency oscillation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic high-frequency oscillation: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

The heat generated by the atomizing sheet is easily transferred to a shell through the air outflow passage, causing the shell to be very hot

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

the air guide passage is designed such that the air entering from the first air inflow passage can be guided to flow, therefore all the air can pass over, at a low level, the surface where the atomizing cotton is in contact with the atomizing sheet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluid flow guidance: Convection

Implementation Method 4

the atomizing cotton is of a hollow cylindrical structure, and the lower part of the air outflow pipe is inserted into the hollow cavity of the atomizing cotton

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3513668B1Atomizer and electronic cigarette having same
Publication Date: 2024.09.25 CHINA TOBACCO HUNAN IND CORP
  • EP3513668B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3513668B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3513668B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

An atomizer, comprising an atomizer body (50), a suction nozzle assembly (3) mounted at the top of the atomizer body (50), an air inlet (2) provided in the atomizer body (50), an atomizing sheet (5) and a tobacco tar cavity (4) provided in the atomizer body (50), and a tobacco tar guide body which guides tobacco tar in the tobacco tar cavity (4) to an atomizing surface of the atomizing sheet (5), a first air inflow passage (9) which communicates with the air inlet (2) and an air outflow pipe (12) which communicates with the suction nozzle assembly (3) are arranged in the atomizer body (50), the tobacco tar guide body comprises atomizing cotton (7) which abuts against the atomizing surface of the atomizing sheet (5), the air outflow pipe (12) is provided with an air guide structure, the lower end of the air guide structure abuts against the atomizing cotton (7), the air guide structure comprises an air guide passage closely attached to the atomizing cotton (7), and the air guide passage communicates with the inner cavity of the first air inflow passage (9) as well as the inner cavity of the air outflow pipe (12). The atomizer introduces entered air to allow all the air to pass over, at a low level, the surface where the atomizing cotton (7) is in contact with the atomizing sheet (5). The atomizing efficiency is higher, and more smoke is produced.