Spiral Liquid Container Layout for Complete E-Cigarette Liquid Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic cigarettes face inefficiencies in liquid consumption due to the wicking effect, leading to unused liquid remaining in the reservoir, as the liquid holding material is exposed to air, causing oxidation of active components like nicotine, and the current designs fail to fully utilize the liquid supply.
Innovation Solution
A novel liquid supply system featuring a spiral container with a center passage and a sealing agent, where the spiral container is designed to facilitate complete liquid consumption through capillary action, ensuring that the liquid is drawn efficiently to the atomizer, and the sealing agent prevents leakage and refilling, allowing for a more efficient vaporization process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If liquid holding material is exposed to air through central passage, then liquid can be supplied to atomizer, but active components in liquid are oxidized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces air exposure with an inert or oxygen-free environment by using a sealed spiral container design. The liquid is stored in a spiral configuration that is sealed from air, and liquid is delivered through a controlled interface that prevents oxidation while maintaining supply efficiency to the atomizer.
2Ease of operation
If wicking effect is used to draw liquid from reservoir, then liquid can be delivered to atomizer, but liquid cannot be completely consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the liquid delivery system into distinct functional zones: a sealed storage section with spiral configuration and a delivery section with controlled wicking. This segmentation allows complete consumption of liquid in the storage section while maintaining reliable delivery through the interface zone, eliminating the 10-20% waste associated with traditional single-zone designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spiral/dimensional configuration for the liquid container instead of a simple linear or cylindrical reservoir. This spiral arrangement increases the surface area and creates a progressive delivery path that maintains capillary action throughout the entire liquid volume, enabling complete consumption rather than leaving residual liquid at the bottom.
3Device complexity
If traditional reservoir design is used, then device structure is simple, but liquid consumption is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested configuration where the spiral liquid container is positioned within the housing structure, with the atomizer and wicking system nested at the delivery end. This nested arrangement maximizes the usable liquid volume within the available space while maintaining structural simplicity through integrated design rather than adding separate external components.
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 enables the complete consumption of liquid, potentially increasing the usable volume by 10-25% compared to traditional designs, reducing waste and ensuring consistent nicotine delivery by preventing oxidation and allowing for customizable nicotine concentrations.
Implementation Method 1
A liquid supply (34) is provided which includes a tubular housing (340) having a center passage (32), and a spiral container (341) arranged around the center passage (32) for holding and conducting liquid
Implementation Method 2
an electric power source (e.g. a single use or rechargeable battery, electrical plug, or other power source), and an electrically operable atomizer. The atomizer vaporizes or atomizes liquid supplied from a reservoir or liquid supply
Implementation Method 3
Air tends to oxidize the active components in the liquid, especially nicotine
Data Source
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AI summary
An electronic cigarette (10) including a liquid supply (34), an air inlet (38), an inhalation port (36), and an atomizer (26). The liquid supply (34) has a housing (340) with a spiral container (341), having an outlet (343) for directing a liquid (330) held within the container (341) out to the atomizer (26) and at least one inlet (342) sealed by a sealing agent (346) to impede movement of the liquid (330). An air channel leads from the air inlet (38) through the atomizer (26) to the inhalation port (36) for directing an aerosol generated at the atomizer (26) to the inhalation port (36).