Ceramic Heating Element Cleaning for E-Cigarette Pollution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic cigarettes suffer from pollution of the heating element due to burnt vaporizing liquid, leading to toxic gas release, overheating of the wick, decreased wicking capacity, and fouled taste, which reduces the user's smoking experience and can be dangerous.

Innovation Solution

An electronic cigarette design featuring a ceramic heating element with a body impenetrable to liquid, a liquid delivery member, and an electric circuit that allows the heating element to be activated away from the liquid delivery member to evaporate pollution, along with a mechanism for easy cleaning and replacement of the heating element.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the heating element operates at high temperature to vaporize liquid, then vaporization efficiency is improved, but pollution and burning of vaporizing liquid increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating element temperatureVSAvoidpollution from burnt vaporizing liquid

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful burnt material from the heating element surface through a cleaning mechanism. The cleaning element is introduced to remove pollution and burnt residue from the heating element, separating the harmful byproducts from the functional component, thereby maintaining efficient vaporization without the negative effects of accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a system where burnt and polluted material is discarded from the heating element surface. The cleaning mechanism removes harmful deposits, and the system allows for recovery of the heating element's clean surface, enabling continued efficient operation without permanent degradation from burning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Productivity

If the heating element temperature increases to improve vaporization, then vapor production is enhanced, but toxic gas release and overheating risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevapor production capacityVSAvoidtoxic gas release and overheating

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a feedback mechanism through the cleaning system that responds to the accumulation of burnt material on the heating element. When pollution reaches certain levels, the cleaning element is activated to remove the deposits, preventing temperature runaway and toxic gas generation while maintaining optimal vapor production conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning mechanism performs preliminary removal of burnt material before it can cause dangerous overheating or toxic gas release. By proactively cleaning the heating element surface during or between vaporization cycles, the system prevents the conditions that lead to harmful effects while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If the wick material has low ignition temperature for easy wetting, then liquid absorption is improved, but overheating and fire risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid absorption capabilityVSAvoidoverheating and fire safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the problematic low-ignition-temperature wick material from the system. By eliminating the wick entirely or replacing it with a material that doesn't have the overheating risk, the system maintains liquid delivery capability without the safety hazards of wick ignition, separating the liquid transport function from the thermal risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

This design effectively reduces pollution on the ceramic heating element, maintains a safe temperature, prevents overheating, and improves the vapor quality, extending the battery's life by allowing continued use with new heating elements.

Implementation Method 1

The body of ceramic material is configured to heat the liquid delivered by the liquid delivery member to vaporize the liquid when the ceramic heating element produces heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVaporization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

activating the ceramic heating element to evaporate the pollution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS11065405B2Electronic cigarette, and method of cleaning an electronic cigarette

Publication Date: 2021.07.20 JT INTERNATIONAL SA

AI summary

An electronic cigarette includes a ceramic heating element having a current conducting heating member on and/or in a body of ceramic material which is impenetrable to the liquid; a liquid delivery member to deliver liquid from a liquid storage to the heating element; a battery; and an electric circuit for electrically connecting the heating element to the battery. The body of ceramic material is to contact or be in close proximity to the liquid delivery member, to vaporize the liquid when the ceramic heating element produces heat. The electronic cigarette further includes a cartomizer part, having the liquid storage and the liquid delivery member, and a battery holding part, having the battery, the ceramic heating element, and the electric circuit. In an assembled state, the cartomizer part and the battery holding part are assembled. In a disassembled state, the cartomizer part and the battery holding part are separated.