Dual-Capillary Inhaler Wick Structure for Faster Liquid Infiltration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing inhaler components require lengthy waiting periods for wick infiltration, leading to potential aerosol quantity decrease, local overheating, and degradation of vapour-air mixture or aerosol quality, especially in highly diluted ethanol or aqueous nicotine solutions, due to unsatisfactory wetting of the capillary structure.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second capillary gap to supply the wick from both sides, with optional connection via a third capillary gap, ensuring rapid and symmetrical infiltration of the liquid material, thereby reducing waiting periods and enhancing security of supply without increasing structural complexity or production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single capillary gap is used to supply the wick with liquid material, then the device structure remains simple, but the wick infiltration time becomes excessively long (10 seconds or more)
Solution Approach 1:
The single capillary gap is segmented into multiple capillary gaps (first capillary gap, second capillary gap, and optionally third capillary gap) arranged at different positions. This segmentation allows liquid material to reach the wick from multiple directions simultaneously, reducing the infiltration time from 10 seconds to significantly less, while maintaining overall structural simplicity through the modular arrangement of these gaps.
2Reliability
If the waiting period for wick infiltration is extended to ensure complete liquid saturation, then the liquid supply reliability improves, but the aerosol quantity decreases and local overheating occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The multiple capillary gaps are positioned to enable preliminary and simultaneous liquid distribution to different regions of the wick. This preliminary action ensures that the entire wick surface, including peripheral regions, receives liquid material before heating begins, eliminating the need for extended waiting periods and preventing local overheating while maintaining reliable liquid supply.
3Device complexity
If the wick is supplied with liquid material from a single location, then the device structure remains simple, but peripheral regions of the wick experience insufficient wetting and potential decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
Different capillary gaps are positioned at specific locations to address local wetting requirements. The first capillary gap supplies liquid to one region of the wick, the second capillary gap supplies another region, and the optional third capillary gap connects them, ensuring that peripheral and central regions receive adequate liquid material. This local quality approach ensures uniform wetting across the entire wick without increasing overall system complexity.
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 dual capillary gap system significantly reduces the waiting period for complete wick infiltration by more than 50%, ensuring reliable liquid supply to the wick, particularly in peripheral regions, and improving the stability of the vapour-air mixture or aerosol formation.
Implementation Method 1
a first capillary gap for the automatic supply of the wick with the liquid material, wherein a first end section of the wick extends into the first capillary gap
Implementation Method 2
a heating element for the evaporation of a portion of the liquid material
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an inhaler component for forming a vapor-air mixture and/or condensation aerosol by vaporising a liquid material and optionally condensing the vapor formed, including: a heating element for vaporising a portion of the liquid material; a wick for automatically supplying the liquid material to the heating element, wherein the wick comprises at least two end sections arranged apart from each other; a first capillary gap for automatically supplying the liquid material to the wick, wherein a first end section of the wick projects into the first capillary gap. In order that the heating element can be supplied more quickly and more reliably with the liquid material, a second capillary gap is provided, which receives therein the second end section of the wick.