Capillary Wick Dispenser with Segmented Air Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Devices for dispensing volatile substances face issues with air flow outflow being hindered by air turbulence and convection, leading to inefficient distribution and unwanted deposits, especially in enclosed spaces.
Innovation Solution
A device with a housing that includes a storage tank, an electrical heating element, a capillary element, an air inlet, and an air generating device, which together create a controlled air flow enriched with the substance, ensuring effective release and distribution by adjusting the heating temperature and air flow velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the device uses a simple container with capillary wick and heating element for substance evaporation, then the device structure is simple, but the air flow generated cannot flow out fast enough and causes deposits and condensation on inner walls
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into multiple functional components: a housing with distinct air inlet and air outlet, a storage tank separated from the heating zone, a capillary wick system for substance transport, and a heating element. This segmentation allows optimized air flow paths and prevents turbulence-induced deposits while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Volume of moving object
If the device is arranged close to a wall for space saving, then the installation space is reduced, but the outflowing substance air flow changes into unstable convection state leading to insufficient distribution and undesired deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The air flow path is designed to extend in multiple dimensions within the housing, with air inlets positioned to create vertical and horizontal flow components. This multi-dimensional flow pattern maintains stable convection even when the device is mounted close to walls, preventing deposits and ensuring effective substance distribution throughout the room.
3Productivity
If the device increases the evaporation rate for faster substance release, then the substance release rate is improved, but air turbulence increases causing deposits and condensation on housing walls
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary wick acts as an intermediary between the substance storage tank and the heating element, controlling substance delivery rate. The housing structure serves as another intermediary, guiding air flow in a controlled path that prevents turbulence-induced deposits while allowing high evaporation rates. This intermediary system enables fast substance release without harmful condensation.
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 device achieves a high flow rate and effective distribution of the substance into the environment, preventing deposits and ensuring stable evaporation, with the air flow velocity and temperature optimized to produce particles of 20-80 Nm for efficient room filling.
Implementation Method 1
the capillary element has at least one substance-receiving area which is in contact with the substance received in the storage tank, so that this substance can be conveyed from the substance-receiving area by means of capillary action to a substance-discharging area of the capillary element
Implementation Method 2
at least one electrical heating device is provided, which is accommodated in the interior of the housing and has an electrical heating element, preferably formed by a heating wire or a heating coil, by means of which heat can be generated for heating and evaporating the substance to be released
Implementation Method 3
heat can be generated for heating and evaporating the substance to be released
Implementation Method 4
an air generating device is provided, by means of which the ambient air can be drawn in from outside the housing via the at least one air inlet on the housing side in order to generate said pure flow
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for dispensing and/or diffusing volatile substances, comprising a housing (32), a storage tank (33) and an electrical heating device (30). The device further comprises a capillary element (34) which is coupled to the heating element in a heat-transferring manner, the capillary element (34) having a substance-receiving area (35) which is in contact with a substance received in the storage tank (33) and which substance is conveyable to a substance-discharging area (36) of the capillary element (34) at which the substance is dispensed. Furthermore, an air inlet (50) is provided, by means of which ambient air (53) enters from outside the housing (32) and forms a pure air flow (40) in the housing interior. An air duct (54) is provided which, starting from the air inlet (50), extends as far as the substance discharging area (36), at which a substance air flow (51) enriched with substance is generated, and which, starting from the substance discharging region (36), is led to an air outlet (38) via which the substance air flow (51) is discharged to the environment. In addition, a control device (39) is provided, by means of which the electrical heating device (30) can be controlled, preferably at intervals.