E-Cigarette Wick Capillary Liquid Transfer Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic cigarettes with internal liquid reservoirs require frequent cartridge replacements, leading to a tedious user experience and a desire for extended usage between liquid refills or elimination of the need for cartridge changes.
Innovation Solution
An electronic cigarette apparatus featuring an elongated housing with a liquid reservoir sealed from the atomizing chamber, utilizing a wick to transfer liquid by capillarity to the atomizer, which is designed to produce aerosol in response to suction pressure, reducing excessive liquid transfer and flooding during non-use periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a porous material reservoir is used to store liquid, then the liquid can be gradually transferred to the atomizing assembly during consumption, but the structural and electrical components outlast the liquid supply period, requiring frequent cartridge replacements
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional modules: a durable housing containing structural and electrical components, and a replaceable cartridge containing the liquid reservoir and porous material. This segmentation allows the long-lasting components to remain in the housing while only the consumable liquid cartridge needs replacement, extending the effective usage duration between refills.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous material that can be replaced rather than the entire cartridge system. The porous material is designed to be replenishable through the loading mechanism, allowing users to restore liquid supply without replacing the entire cartridge assembly, thereby reducing the frequency of cartridge changes.
2Reliability
If a liquid reservoir is sealed separately from the atomizing chamber, then liquid can be stored without contamination, but controlled liquid delivery to the atomizer is required to prevent flooding during non-use periods
Solution Approach 1:
A porous material serves as an intermediary between the sealed liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber. This porous material absorbs liquid from the reservoir through capillary action and releases it to the atomizer only when needed, providing controlled liquid delivery while maintaining the seal integrity of the reservoir. The porous material acts as a buffer that prevents direct contact between stored liquid and the atomizing chamber, eliminating flooding risks during non-use periods.
3Productivity
If the wick is disposed through the first wick aperture between the liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber, then liquid can be transferred by capillarity, but excessive liquid transfer may occur during non-use periods
Solution Approach 1:
The porous material is designed to provide periodic liquid release rather than continuous transfer. During use, the atomizer creates suction that draws liquid through the porous material at controlled rates. During non-use periods, the porous material's capillary structure prevents excessive liquid transfer, allowing liquid to be held in the reservoir until the next use cycle. This periodic action pattern ensures liquid is delivered efficiently during consumption while minimizing loss during idle periods.
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 solution effectively extends the duration between liquid refills by controlled liquid delivery to the atomizer, ensuring consistent aerosol production without flooding the atomizing chamber, thereby enhancing user experience by reducing the frequency of cartridge changes.
Implementation Method 1
A wick disposed through the first wick aperture between the liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber and it is configured to transfer the liquid by capillarity from the liquid reservoir to the atomizer
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic cigarette including an housing that has a mouthpiece with an aerosol outlet, and an atomizer disposed within an atomizing chamber. The atomizer selectively generates an aerosol of the liquid in response to suction pressure at the aerosol outlet. The atomizing chamber has an air inlet, an atomizer outlet coupled to the aerosol outlet, and a first wick aperture. A liquid reservoir is disposed within the housing, which is sealably separated from the atomizing chamber. A wick disposed through the first wick aperture between the liquid reservoir and the atomizing chamber and it is configured to transfer the liquid by capillarity from the liquid reservoir to the atomizer.