Cylindrical Spiral Wick for Reliable Vaporizer Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarettes face challenges in reliably sealing the openings through which the wick passes, leading to potential liquid leakage and inconsistent wicking due to manufacturing variations and wick geometry variability, which can cause leakage or insufficient liquid supply to the vaporizer.
Innovation Solution
A liquid transport element is formed by rolling a layer of wicking material with a layer of substrate material to create a cylindrical spiral, providing increased rigidity and allowing for a tighter fit with the reservoir wall openings, reducing the risk of leakage and ensuring consistent liquid supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wick is compressed through the opening to seal the gap, then leakage is prevented, but the wick's wicking ability is reduced causing insufficient liquid supply
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the wick by rolling it into a cylindrical spiral form. This transformation increases the wick's rigidity and structural stability, allowing it to maintain its shape and wicking properties while passing through the opening in the reservoir wall. The rolled configuration enables the wick to be compressed less aggressively, preserving its capillary action and liquid transport capability while still achieving adequate sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure by rolling the wick material into a cylindrical spiral form. This composite configuration combines the wicking properties of the original material with the structural advantages of the rolled geometry, resulting in a wick that simultaneously achieves both sealing reliability and maintained liquid supply capability through its enhanced rigidity and shape retention.
2Reliability
If the opening size is reduced to match the wick size for sealing, then leakage is minimized, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to wick geometry variability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the wick from a flexible, geometry-variable material into a rigid cylindrical spiral structure with consistent external dimensions. This parameter change in structural form allows the wick to maintain a uniform shape and size after rolling, reducing the impact of initial wick geometry variations and enabling more consistent opening size specifications during manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The wick is rolled into its cylindrical spiral configuration before being installed in the device. This preliminary action of pre-forming the wick structure ensures that the wick achieves its final rigid shape and consistent dimensions prior to assembly, allowing for better control over the fit and sealing performance during the manufacturing process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the wick is made more rigid to maintain shape consistency, then sealing is improved, but the wick's flexibility and ability to be compressed for sealing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the rigidity parameter of the wick by rolling it into a cylindrical spiral. This structural transformation provides the wick with sufficient rigidity to maintain its shape and resist deformation during installation and operation, while the rolled configuration itself retains some degree of flexibility that allows for controlled compression during the sealing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The cylindrical spiral (curved/rolled) configuration of the wick provides structural stability and shape consistency. The curved geometry of the rolled wick distributes mechanical stresses more evenly and maintains a consistent external form, improving sealing reliability while the inherent flexibility of the rolled structure still permits necessary compression during installation.
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 cylindrical spiral wick design enhances sealing reliability and prevents leakage while maintaining efficient liquid transport to the vaporizer, addressing manufacturing inconsistencies and ensuring consistent performance.
Implementation Method 1
The wick typically passes through an opening in a wall that separates the liquid reservoir from the air channel in the vicinity of the vaporizer. Thus the wick is arranged to convey liquid from within the liquid reservoir to the vicinity of the coil by capillary action.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid transport element for a vapor provision system includes a layer of wicking material and a layer of substrate material rolled together to form a spiral.