Refillable eCig Clearomizer Venting for Leak-Free Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarette (eCig) clearomizers lack efficient refill mechanisms and pressure management systems, leading to performance degradation and user inconvenience due to gas pressure buildup and vacuum creation during juice depletion.
Innovation Solution
A refillable eCig clearomizer design featuring a rotatable mouthpiece and tank with aligned and misaligned fill and vent apertures, a pressure release valve, and a hemicylindrical port with electrical pads for fluid and power transfer, facilitating easy refilling and preventing juice escape while managing pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the clearomizer uses a fixed non-rotatable structure, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the refilling operation becomes difficult and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is made rotatable relative to the tank body through a threaded connection mechanism. The threads engage between the mouthpiece and tank, allowing the mouthpiece to rotate freely during normal use while maintaining a secure connection. This dynamic capability enables users to rotate the mouthpiece to access fill apertures for refilling, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that provides operational flexibility without compromising structural integrity.
2Reliability
If the clearomizer lacks a pressure release valve, then the device structure is simpler, but gas pressure buildup causes performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure release valve is designed to automatically open and close based on the internal pressure conditions within the tank. When gas pressure builds up during operation or refilling, the valve automatically releases the excess pressure without requiring user intervention. The valve mechanism includes a spring-loaded or diaphragm-based design that responds to pressure changes, allowing the system to self-regulate and maintain reliable performance consistency.
3Ease of operation
If the fill apertures are always aligned, then refilling is easier, but eCig juice escapes during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The mouthpiece is designed to rotate relative to the tank body, which dynamically changes the alignment between the fill aperture in the mouthpiece and the corresponding fill aperture in the tank. During refilling, the user rotates the mouthpiece to align the apertures, enabling easy filling. During normal operation, the mouthpiece rotates to a different position where the apertures are misaligned, preventing juice from escaping. This dynamic positioning mechanism resolves the contradiction between ease of refilling and prevention of juice leakage.
4Reliability
If the clearomizer lacks a rotatable mouthpiece mechanism, then the device complexity is reduced, but pressure management and fluid flow control become ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable mouthpiece mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables alignment of fill apertures for refilling, prevents juice escape during operation through misalignment, allows pressure equalization through vent aperture alignment, and provides user grip and manipulation capability. By integrating these multiple functions into a single rotational mechanism, the design achieves effective pressure and fluid control without adding excessive complexity, as the same mechanical motion accomplishes multiple control tasks.
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
Enhances user experience by allowing easy refilling, preventing performance degradation from gas pressure and vacuum issues, and ensuring consistent eCig operation by aligning and misaligning apertures to control fluid flow and pressure.
Implementation Method 1
The refillable tank is designed to contain eCig juice, which is drawn from the refillable tank to the heater coil by capillary action
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
Aspects of the instant disclosure relate to an eCig clearomizer (214) comprising a refillable tank (241) configured and arranged to contain eCig juice, a mouthpiece (240) coupled to a proximal portion of the refillable tank (241) and a vent aperture (257, 258), wherein the vent aperture (257, 258) is in fluid communication with the refillable tank (241).