E-Cigarette Tank Asymmetric Thread Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic cigarette tank designs pose challenges in refilling and replacing the e-liquid reservoir, as removing the cap can inadvertently detach the tank from the battery, leading to potential spillage and waste of expensive e-liquid, which contains harmful nicotine.
Innovation Solution
The tank system employs a combination of left-handed and right-handed threads on the cap and body to ensure that loosening the cap does not inadvertently remove the tank from the battery, and vice versa, preventing accidental spillage and simplifying the refilling and replacement process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional screw threaded attachment is used for the tank body and cap, then the tank can be assembled and disassembled, but removing the cap may inadvertently remove the tank from the battery, causing e-liquid spillage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using opposite thread directions for different connections: the cap uses a right-handed thread while the battery assembly uses a left-handed thread. This asymmetric threading ensures that when the cap is loosened (unscrewed), the tank body is simultaneously tightened onto the battery assembly, preventing inadvertent removal and e-liquid spillage during refilling operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cap and tank body are connected with a screw thread, then the connection can be made and broken, but the same action may accidentally disconnect the tank from the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements asymmetry through opposite thread directions: right-handed threading for the cap-body connection and left-handed threading for the battery-tank connection. This asymmetric design ensures that the single rotational action of removing the cap simultaneously tightens the tank to the battery, eliminating the risk of accidental disconnection while maintaining operational versatility.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional threading is used, then assembly is simple, but e-liquid may spill during disassembly operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains manufacturing simplicity by using standard screw threading conventions but applies asymmetry through opposite hand directions for different connections. When the cap is removed, the asymmetric threading mechanism ensures the tank body is tightened to the battery assembly, preventing e-liquid spillage during disassembly operations while keeping the manufacturing process straightforward.
Data Source
AI summary
A tank for containing e-liquid in an electronic cigarette assembly is disclosed. The tank comprises a cap and a body. The cap is connectable to the body through a screw thread with a specified handedness, and the body is connected to a battery assembly through a second screw thread with an opposite handedness to the screw thread of the cap. A construction of the tank ensures than when opening the cap, the body is not inadvertently unscrewed from the battery, and likewise when removing the body from the battery the cap is not inadvertently unscrewed from the body, thus preventing unintended e-liquid spillage and improving ease of removal of the cap and the body.