Vapour Generating Device Movable Baffles Liquid Drop Block
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vapour generating devices, such as electronic cigarettes, often suffer from the issue of non-vaporised liquid drops reaching the user's mouth, leading to an unpleasant experience and potential health risks.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates movable baffles positioned between the heater and the mouthpiece, which are staggered both axially and circumferentially. These baffles are designed to obstruct the path of non-vaporised liquid drops while guiding vapor along a tortuous path to the mouthpiece.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a straight bore is used in the vapour generating device, then the device structure is simple and vapor flow is direct, but non-vaporised liquid drops can reach the mouthpiece causing unpleasant experience
Solution Approach 1:
The single straight bore is segmented into multiple tortuous flow paths by introducing first and second baffles at different axial positions. These baffles divide the direct linear path into segmented sections that force vapor to navigate around obstacles, while liquid drops are blocked by the baffle surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffles act as intermediary elements placed within the bore to mediate between the vaporization chamber and mouthpiece. They selectively interact with different phases (vapor vs. liquid drops) based on their physical properties, allowing vapor passage while blocking liquid drops.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If baffles are added to block liquid drops, then liquid drop passage is prevented, but vapor flow path becomes tortuous increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The baffles are designed with movable characteristics, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position in response to flow conditions. This dynamic behavior enables the baffles to optimize their blocking function while maintaining vapor flow capability, reducing the need for complex fixed structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The baffles are positioned at specific local regions within the bore rather than uniformly distributed. The first and second baffles are placed at different axial positions to create localized flow control zones, allowing vapor to pass through specific pathways while blocking liquid drops at critical locations.
3Productivity
If larger puffs are taken by the user, then more vapor is drawn, but higher air velocity carries liquid droplets to the user's mouth
Solution Approach 1:
The baffles are pre-positioned within the bore to create flow resistance and force tortuous paths before the vapor reaches the mouthpiece. This preliminary action of forcing vapor through a complex path structure prevents liquid drops from being carried directly to the user even at high flow rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path is transformed from a one-dimensional linear path to a multi-dimensional tortuous path by introducing baffles that extend into the bore. This dimensional change creates multiple flow directions and obstacles that selectively impede liquid drops while allowing vapor to navigate the complex three-dimensional path.
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 movable baffles effectively prevent hot liquid drops from reaching the user's mouth, ensuring a cleaner and more pleasant vaping experience by directing vapor efficiently to the user.
Implementation Method 1
a heater arranged to vaporize a liquid
Implementation Method 2
a mouthpiece located at an end of the bore and configured for a user to apply a suction force to draw the vaporised liquid along the bore from the heater to the mouthpiece
Data Source
AI summary
A vapour generating device includes: a tubular body having a bore and having a longitudinal axis; a heater arranged to vaporize a liquid; a mouthpiece located at an end of the bore and configured for a user to apply a suction force to draw the vaporised liquid along the bore from the heater to the mouthpiece; and first and second baffles located in the bore between the heater and the mouthpiece. The baffles are staggered apart from each other around the longitudinal axis and along the longitudinal axis. Each one of the baffles is movable by the suction force to partially obstruct the width of the bore, thereby to cause the vaporised liquid to follow a tortuous path around the first and second baffles to the mouthpiece and to block the passage of drops of non-vaporised liquid to the mouthpiece.