Atomizer Air Passage Design for Liquid Leakage Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing atomizers for electronic cigarettes suffer from tobacco liquid leakage through air inlets during use or transportation, compromising user experience.

Innovation Solution

An atomizer design featuring a liquid supply with air inlets and outlets, an atomizing device with a heating element and liquid conducting element, and an air pipe forming an annular air passage, which prevents liquid leakage through interference fit and air passage configuration, ensuring aerosol delivery without external liquid loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If air inlets are provided at the end of liquid supply adjacent to mouthpiece, then aerosol generation is enabled, but tobacco liquid leaks from air inlets during use or transportation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generationVSAvoidliquid leakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The air passage is divided into two separate sections: an internal air passage within the liquid supply and an external air passage outside the liquid supply. These two passages are connected at the atomizing device, creating distinct fluid pathways that prevent liquid from mixing with air and leaking through air inlets while still enabling proper aerosol generation through the atomizing device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The atomizing device serves as an intermediary component that connects the internal and external air passages. It receives air from both passages and combines them at the atomizing chamber, where liquid is properly atomized before being delivered to the mouthpiece, preventing direct liquid leakage through air inlets

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 effectively prevents tobacco liquid leakage, enhancing user experience by ensuring consistent aerosol delivery and maintaining the atomizer's internal environment.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element in contact with the liquid conducting element and configured for heating the liquid conducting element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a liquid conducting element in the atomizing chamber and in communication with the liquid inlets, the liquid conducting element being configured for conducting the liquid from the liquid inlets to the heating element

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3123880B1Atomizer and electronic cigarette having same
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 SHENZHEN FIRST UNION TECH CO LTD
  • EP3123880B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3123880B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3123880B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An exemplary atomizer (100) includes a liquid supply (20), a mouthpiece (10) at a first end of the liquid supply (20), an air pipe (23), a liquid supply (20), and an atomizing device (30) at an opposite second end. The atomizing device (30) includes a main body (31), a liquid conducting element (34), and a heating element (33). The main body (31) has an atomizing chamber (32). The liquid supply (20) defines at least one air inlet (21) at the first end. The air pipe (23) and the liquid supply (20) cooperatively define an annular air passage (25). The main body (31) defines at least one liquid inlet (35) and at least one air hole (36). The air passage (25) is in communication with the atomizing chamber (32) via the at least one air hole (36). The liquid supply (20) has a housing, and the housing defines liquid outlets (29). The liquid outlets (29) communicates with the at least one liquid inlet (35), and the liquid conducting element (34) is configured for absorbing the tobacco liquid.