Porous Diffuser Barrier with Window for Rapid Volatile Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current devices for diffusing volatile substances, such as insecticides or aromatics, face limitations due to semi-permeable membranes that restrict the rate and quantity of substance release, leading to delayed perception and limited applicability to certain compound sizes, and have low absorption capacity.

Innovation Solution

A device comprising a container with a porous diffuser impregnated with volatile substances, a protective sheet, and a barrier layer with a window, where the barrier layer is sealed to the diffuser and container, allowing high diffusion rates while preventing accidental leakage upon removal of the protective sheet.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a semi-permeable membrane barrier is used to separate the active ingredient from the outside, then the active ingredient can pass through in a gaseous state, but the rate of release is limited and a significant increase in surface area is required to pass a sufficient quantity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled releaseVSAvoiddiffusion rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The device divides the barrier function into two separate components: a porous diffuser for high-rate diffusion and a semi-permeable membrane for selective filtration. This segmentation allows the porous diffuser to provide high productivity while the membrane maintains controlled release reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines a porous diffuser and a semi-permeable membrane into a composite barrier structure. The porous diffuser enables high diffusion rates while the semi-permeable membrane layer provides selective passage control, merging the advantages of both structures to resolve the contradiction between release rate and controlled delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a semi-permeable barrier is used to enable passage of volatile substances, then selective diffusion is achieved, but larger volatile substances are hindered and only certain types of compounds can be used

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompound selectionVSAvoidvolatile substance passage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous diffuser material with controlled pore size and distribution that allows larger volatile substance molecules to pass through more effectively than traditional semi-permeable membranes. This porous structure increases adaptability to different compound sizes while maintaining sufficient passage quantity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If a semi-permeable barrier is used for diffusion, then controlled release is achieved, but the absorption capacity is small leading to low diffusion rate during activation phase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled releaseVSAvoidactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The porous diffuser is pre-impregnated with the active ingredient during manufacturing, creating a reservoir that enables immediate high-rate diffusion upon activation. This preliminary saturation allows the system to overcome the slow activation phase while maintaining controlled release through the semi-permeable membrane layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The barrier is constructed as a composite material combining a porous diffuser layer with high absorption capacity and a semi-permeable membrane layer for controlled release. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by allowing rapid initial diffusion from the porous layer while the membrane maintains controlled release throughout the activation phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Productivity

If materials preimpregnated with active ingredient are used, then diffusion is enabled, but the device is limited to the quantity of liquid the material can absorb

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediffusion rateVSAvoidtotal volatile substance capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The device uses a nested structure where a porous diffuser impregnated with active ingredient is placed inside the container, and a semi-permeable membrane is positioned over it. This nested arrangement allows the porous diffuser to hold and release large quantities of volatile substances through the membrane, overcoming the absorption capacity limitation of single-layer materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Enables rapid and efficient diffusion of a wide range of volatile substances without leakage, ensuring immediate perception and broad applicability, while maintaining containment of the material within the device.

Implementation Method 1

a porous diffuser (2) which is impregnated with said material with the volatile substances

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

enables the active ingredient to pass through the semi-permeable membrane in a gaseous state, diffusing into the air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

a barrier layer (4) equipped with a window (41), with said barrier layer (4) joined to the container (1) and positioned between the porous diffuser (2) and the protective sheet (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPermeation: Permeation

Data Source

PatentEP3897757B1Device for diffusing volatile substances
Publication Date: 2024.11.13 ZOBELE HLDG SPA
  • EP3897757B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The device for diffusing volatile substances comprises a container (1) which contains a material with said volatile substances, a porous diffuser (2) which is impregnated with said material with the volatile substances, and a protective sheet (3) which is removed before the first use of the diffusion device, wherein the device also comprises a barrier layer (4) equipped with a window (41), with said barrier layer (4) joined to the container (1) and placed between the porous diffuser (2) and the protective sheet (3). Thanks to the presence of the window, the volatile substances are diffused at a high diffusion rate from the moment the protective sheet is removed.