Piezoelectric Atomizer Fan Assembly for Reduced Droplet Fallout
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing piezoelectric atomizing devices face issues with atomized liquid droplets settling on the device and surrounding surfaces, leading to potential damage and nuisance, especially with strong solvent-based formulations, and affecting atomization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a fan assembly to generate a high airflow rate (4 CFM or more) that carries atomized droplets away from the device, minimizing fallout by creating an air column around the mist, combined with a control algorithm to activate the atomizing assembly briefly and deactivate it while the fan continues operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a piezoelectric atomizing device is used to dispense volatile materials, then the active material can be emitted into the air for long-lasting effects, but atomized liquid droplets can settle back onto the device and surrounding surfaces before evaporation, causing surface damage and nuisance
Solution Approach 1:
A fan assembly is introduced as an intermediary component that generates airflow to carry atomized droplets away from the device and surrounding surfaces. The fan creates a protective air current that prevents direct contact between settling droplets and surfaces, thereby eliminating the harmful effect while preserving the long-lasting emission function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by employing a fan assembly to generate airflow that actively manages the trajectory and dispersion of atomized droplets. The airflow field created by the fan prevents droplet settlement on surfaces, solving the surface damage problem while maintaining the device's primary function of long-lasting volatile material emission.
2Productivity
If the atomizing assembly operates continuously to maintain emission, then the device provides consistent active material dispersion, but droplets accumulate on surrounding surfaces creating cleaning requirements and user inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly serves as a protective intermediary that continuously generates airflow to prevent droplet accumulation on surrounding surfaces. This allows the atomizing assembly to operate continuously for consistent emission while the fan's airflow field prevents the harmful side effect of surface accumulation, eliminating the need for user cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous operation of the atomizing assembly for consistent emission productivity, while the fan assembly continuously generates protective airflow. This continuous dual operation ensures that emission consistency is maintained without the accumulating nuisance of surface droplets, as the airflow continuously prevents settlement.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a fan assembly is added to carry atomized droplets away from the device, then surface damage is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly is designed to serve multiple functions: it carries atomized droplets away from the device to prevent surface damage, and it simultaneously enhances the dispersion and distribution of volatile materials into the surrounding environment. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single component addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of droplet transport and volatile material dispersion into a single fan assembly system. Rather than adding separate mechanisms for each function, the design combines these operations into one integrated airflow generation system, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving multiple protective and functional goals.
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
This design significantly reduces the likelihood of droplets settling on the device and surrounding surfaces, maintaining efficient atomization and preventing surface damage, while allowing for a wide range of fragrance compositions.
Implementation Method 1
a piezoelectric actuating element coupled to a liquid atomization plate. The piezoelectric actuating element vibrates the liquid atomization plate in response to alternating electrical voltages applied to the actuating element
Implementation Method 2
The device incorporates a fan assembly to generate a high airflow rate (4 CFM or more) that carries atomized droplets away from the device
Implementation Method 3
Many of such devices are passive devices that require only ambient air flow to disperse the liquid active material therein
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
A volatile material atomizing device comprises a housing having a fan, a fluid outlet, a plurality of air inlets and a plurality of air outlets. The plurality of air outlets are positioned at least partially around the fluid outlet. A fluid reservoir includes a wick and containing a volatile material. The fluid reservoir is disposed within the housing. An atomizing assembly is in fluid communication with the wick and positioned in the housing. The atomizing assembly is configured to dispense the volatile material out of the fluid outlet.