Removable-Cartridge Electronic Cigarette With Fixed Vaporization Unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarettes, particularly single-use and cartridge types, face issues with recycling due to the combination of electronic and fibrous components, and their manufacturing costs are high due to the complex arrangement of the vaporization unit and liquid reservoir.
Innovation Solution
A new electronic cigarette design featuring a fixed body with an integrated vaporization unit and a removable cartridge that includes a liquid reservoir, where the cartridge is fluidically connected to the vaporization unit, eliminating the need for a vaporization unit in the cartridge and using a fibrous material for the fluid transfer element, thus simplifying manufacturing and enhancing recyclability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the vaporization unit is integrated into the cartridge, then the device can be made more compact, but the manufacturing cost increases and recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two separate modules: a fixed body containing the vaporization unit and power battery, and a removable cartridge containing only the liquid reservoir. This segmentation allows the vaporization unit to be manufactured separately with optimized processes, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost while enabling easier recycling of the cartridge portion.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization unit is extracted from the cartridge and placed in the fixed body. This extraction eliminates the need to manufacture complex vaporization assemblies within the cartridge, significantly reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying the cartridge design for better recyclability.
2Volume of moving object
If the vaporization unit is integrated into the cartridge, then the device can be made more compact, but recyclability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the device into a fixed body with vaporization unit and a removable cartridge with liquid reservoir, the patent enables selective recycling of the cartridge portion (containing fibrous and liquid elements) separately from the electronic components, improving overall recyclability while maintaining compact form factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization unit is extracted from the cartridge and placed in the fixed body. This extraction allows the cartridge to be recycled as a separate component without the complex electronic elements, significantly improving recyclability while the fixed body maintains the compact vaporization functionality.
3Volume of moving object
If the vaporization unit is integrated into the cartridge, then the device can be made more compact, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into a fixed body containing the vaporization unit and a removable cartridge containing only the liquid reservoir. This segmentation simplifies the cartridge design to a single functional component, reducing manufacturing complexity while the fixed body houses the more complex vaporization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization unit is extracted from the cartridge, eliminating the complex arrangement requirements between vaporization components and liquid reservoir that would exist if integrated. This extraction significantly reduces the manufacturing complexity of the cartridge while the fixed body maintains the necessary vaporization functionality.
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 reduces manufacturing costs and improves recyclability by separating the vaporization unit from the cartridge, making it easier to manufacture and recycle, while maintaining functionality.
Implementation Method 1
Vaporization occurs when the heating element heats the liquid within the fluid transfer element until the liquid turns into vapor
Implementation Method 2
The fluid transfer element is made of fibrous or porous material and has at least one liquid absorption zone opening towards or at the receiving seat of the liquid reservoir
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates mainly to an electronic cigarette comprising a fixed body (2) and a cartridge (3) which contains the liquid to be vaporized and which is removably mounted on said fixed body (2), and which is essentially characterized in that the fixed body (2) has a cartridge receiving recess (7), a power supply battery (4) and a vaporization unit (11) located in the cartridge receiving recess (7) and comprising a heating element (12) electrically powered by the battery (4) and a fluid transfer element (14), in that the cartridge (3) comprises an air outlet (21) opening onto a suction channel (20) and a reservoir of liquid to be vaporized (16) surrounding the suction channel (20),and in that the removable cartridge (3) and the fixed body (2) are configured so that the liquid reservoir to be vaporized (15) is arranged in fluidic connection with the fluid transfer element (14) of the vaporization unit (11) of the fixed body (2) when the cartridge (3) is mounted on the fixed body (3), and so that the suction channel (20) of the cartridge (3) is arranged in fluidic connection with the vaporization unit (11) of the fixed body (2) when the cartridge (3) is mounted on the fixed body (2).