Ultrasonic E-Cigarette Atomizer Airflow Redesign

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ultrasonic electronic cigarette atomizers have poorly designed air flow channels, leading to e-liquid particles being directly sprayed into the user's mouth, causing a poor smoking experience and potential scalding, and the e-liquid guide cotton is prone to rapid aging and leakage due to improper design and lack of a mechanism to cut off the e-liquid path.

Innovation Solution

The ultrasonic electronic cigarette atomizer features a re-designed air flow channel where the air inlet is opposite to the atomization region, with a two-layer e-liquid guide cotton structure and a mechanism to align/disalign e-liquid passing holes when not in use, ensuring efficient re-atomization and preventing e-liquid leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the air outlet channel is perpendicular to the ultrasonic atomization sheet, then the structure is simple, but smoke with large e-liquid particles is directly sprayed to the user's mouth causing poor mouthfeel and potential scalding

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair flow channel structureVSAvoidlarge e-liquid particles in smoke
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air outlet channel is divided into multiple segments: a first air outlet channel perpendicular to the atomization sheet for direct smoke discharge, and a second air outlet channel parallel to the atomization sheet for cooled smoke discharge. This segmentation allows different smoke streams to be separated, with the second channel providing a pathway for cooler, finer particles away from the user's mouth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A baffle plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the first and second air outlet channels. The baffle plate redirects the hot smoke from the first channel into the second channel, allowing thermal mixing and cooling before the smoke exits to the user's mouth, thereby reducing scalding risk while maintaining simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If the air inlet is formed on the side wall of the housing, then the structure is simple, but the hand easily blocks the air inlet when holding the electronic cigarette

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair inlet structureVSAvoidair inlet accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The air inlet is repositioned from the side wall (horizontal dimension) to the bottom surface (vertical dimension) of the housing. This dimensional change ensures that the air inlet is located below the user's hand when holding the device, eliminating blockage while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If a single-layer e-liquid guide cotton is used, then the structure is simple, but the cotton ages rapidly in the center of the ultrasonic atomization sheet and may break

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvee-liquid guide cotton structureVSAvoide-liquid guide cotton durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The single-layer e-liquid guide cotton is segmented into two layers: a first e-liquid guide cotton layer and a second e-liquid guide cotton layer. This multi-layer structure distributes the mechanical stress and thermal aging effects across multiple layers, preventing rapid degradation and breakage while maintaining simple overall design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Device complexity

If the e-liquid path cannot be cut off, then the structure is simple, but e-liquid accumulation occurs on the ultrasonic atomization sheet surface causing leakage and immersion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvee-liquid path control mechanismVSAvoide-liquid leakage prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The e-liquid guide cotton structure is made dynamic through a rotating component that can adjust the alignment of e-liquid passing holes. When rotated to a first position, the holes align for normal e-liquid flow; when rotated to a second position, the holes misalign to cut off the e-liquid path, preventing accumulation and leakage while maintaining simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 improves the mouthfeel of the smoke by reducing large e-liquid particles, prolongs the service life of the atomizer components, and prevents e-liquid leakage, resulting in a better user experience and faster atomization start-up.

Implementation Method 1

an ultrasonic atomization sheet for ultrasonically atomizing e-liquid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3603427B1Ultrasonic electronic cigarette atomizer and electronic cigarette using same
Publication Date: 2023.03.29 CHINA TOBACCO HUNAN IND CORP
  • EP3603427B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3603427B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3603427B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses an ultrasonic electronic cigarette atomizer and an electronic cigarette. The atomizer comprises a housing, a nozzle assembly is connected to one end of the housing, and an air inlet channel, an air outlet channel and an ultrasonic atomization sheet are disposed in the housing; the air inlet channel, an atomization region of the ultrasonic atomization sheet, and the air outlet channel are sequentially communicated; an outlet of the air inlet channel is opposite to the atomization region of the ultrasonic atomization sheet; the nozzle assembly comprises a nozzle holder mounted to one end of the housing, and a suction portion on the nozzle holder communicated with the air outlet channel, and the end of the suction portion close to the nozzle holder is provided with an air inlet communicated with the air inlet channel. The air flow channel of the present invention is disposed reasonably, and the smoke generated by atomization is not directly sprayed to user's mouth, so that the phenomenon of sucking large particles of e-liquid or scalding the mouth is avoided, the taste of the smoke is good, the utilization rate of e-liquid is high, and the air inlet is not blocked by a hand; the service lives of the ultrasonic atomization sheet and the atomizer are prolonged; the phenomena of e-liquid leakage and e-liquid immersion are avoided, and the atomization start speed is fast; the atomizer is simple in structure, convenient to assemble, and good in user experience.