E-Cigarette Atomizer Venting for Condensation-Free E-Liquid Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional atomizers in electronic cigarettes face issues with e-liquid condensation leading to blockages in the e-liquid inlet, necessitating improved designs to prevent obstruction during refilling and smoking.
Innovation Solution
The electronic cigarette incorporates a silica seal with a vent hole to allow e-liquid to form bubbles during refilling, preventing blockages, and a hollow heating tube to facilitate thermal vapor flow for effective atomization, while a closed loop heating system ensures efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional atomizers are used, then e-liquid can be atomized, but e-liquid condenses and obstructs the e-liquid inlet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous ceramic core as the atomization element. The porous structure allows e-liquid to permeate through it during refilling without requiring external pressure, while the hydrophilic properties of the ceramic material facilitate capillary action that prevents condensation blockage. The porous structure also enables efficient atomization by distributing e-liquid uniformly across the heating surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hydrophilic porous ceramic core as an intermediary between the e-liquid and the heating element. This ceramic core acts as a mediator that controls e-liquid flow, prevents direct contact between e-liquid and the heating wire, and eliminates condensation issues by maintaining proper liquid-vapor phase transition.
2Productivity
If e-liquid is refilled under pressure, then refilling speed increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service refilling mechanism where the hydrophilic porous ceramic core automatically draws e-liquid through capillary action during refilling. This eliminates the need for external pressure systems, pumps, or complex control mechanisms, achieving fast refilling without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical pressure-based refilling systems with a chemical/physical property-based system utilizing the hydrophilic characteristics of the porous ceramic material. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical refilling mechanisms while maintaining efficient refilling performance.
3Productivity
If heating wire directly contacts e-liquid, then atomization efficiency increases, but e-liquid channel blockage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the atomization system into distinct functional zones: the porous ceramic core serves as the atomization element where e-liquid is distributed and vaporized, while the heating wire is positioned separately to provide thermal energy. This segmentation prevents direct contact between the heating wire and e-liquid, eliminating channel blockage while maintaining efficient atomization through the porous structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The porous ceramic core acts as an intermediary between the heating wire and e-liquid. It receives thermal energy from the heating wire and transfers it to the e-liquid through its porous structure, enabling efficient atomization without direct contact between the heating wire and e-liquid, thus preventing channel blockage.
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 design prevents e-liquid blockages and ensures smooth refilling and smoking by allowing bubble release and thermal vapor flow, maintaining a free state for e-liquid atomization, thus enhancing usability and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The silica seal of the atomization assembly comprises a vent hole. During refilling, the e-liquid can directly penetrate into the ceramic core. In the process of penetration, the e-liquid will produce bubbles. The bubbles can release from the vent hole thus preventing the blockage of the e-liquid channel.
Implementation Method 2
The heating tube is a hollow structure and communicates with the pneumatic switch on the control plate. During smoking, the thermal vapor flow can enter the heating tube to drive the pneumatic switch to work and heat the ceramic core, so that the e-liquid in the atomization assembly is heated to a free state, thus preventing the blockage of the conveying pipe by the condensed e-liquid.
Implementation Method 3
heat the ceramic core, so that the e-liquid in the atomization assembly is heated to a free state
Implementation Method 4
The power is output from the output end of the control plate and transmitted to the positive and negative joints of the atomization assembly, so that the heating wire of the ceramic core forms a closed loop, and the atomizer starts to work.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic cigarette, including an atomization assembly (A) and a battery assembly (B). The atomization assembly is disposed on the battery assembly. The atomization assembly includes a mouthpiece (1), a silica seal (2), a vapor guide tube (3), an e-liquid tank (4), a first ceramic silicone ring (5), a ceramic core (6), a second ceramic silicone ring (7), a heating tube (8), a first seal ring (9), a second seal ring (10), a base (11), a silica insulator (12), and a joint (13). The battery assembly includes a pneumatic switch, a silica gel (14) sealing the pneumatic switch, a control plate (15), a casing (16), a plurality of screws (17), a support (18), a battery core (19), a first bolt (20), a second bolt (21), a transparent screen (22), and a pedestal (23). The vapor guide tube is disposed in the e-liquid tank. The first seal ring and the second seal ring are disposed on two ends of the base, respectively. The battery core is fixed on the control plate.