Ventilation Valve Structure for Leak-Safe E-Cigarette Liquid Supply
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electronic atomizing devices experience negative pressure buildup in the liquid reservoir due to continuous liquid consumption, leading to insufficient liquid supply to the atomizing surface, resulting in scorching and harmful substance generation during the atomization process.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation valve with an oleophobic material layer and semi-permeable membrane is integrated into the liquid reservoir, allowing air permeability while preventing liquid leakage, ensuring consistent air pressure and smooth liquid supply to the atomizing core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the liquid reservoir is sealed to prevent liquid leakage, then liquid containment is improved, but air cannot enter the storage cavity to maintain air pressure, causing negative pressure buildup and insufficient liquid supply
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation valve is segmented into distinct functional layers: an oleophobic material layer that prevents liquid penetration while allowing air passage, and a semi-permeable membrane that provides additional liquid barrier. This segmentation allows the system to simultaneously achieve liquid containment and air permeability, resolving the contradiction between sealed containment and pressure maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element exhibits local quality differentiation where different materials are used at different locations to provide specific properties: the oleophobic material layer (0.5-2mm thickness) provides liquid resistance, while the semi-permeable membrane (10-50μm thickness) provides selective permeability. This local differentiation enables the single component to fulfill both liquid containment and air ventilation functions.
2Productivity
If air permeability is increased to maintain air pressure, then liquid supply is improved, but liquid leakage through the ventilation path increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oleophobic material layer is designed as a porous structure with specific thickness (0.5-2mm) that allows air molecules to pass through while blocking liquid molecules. The porous structure provides sufficient air permeability to maintain pressure equilibrium while the oleophobic properties and pore size prevent liquid penetration, thus resolving the contradiction between air permeability and liquid leakage prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve element combines multiple materials with different properties into a composite structure: the oleophobic material layer combined with the semi-permeable membrane. This composite material approach allows the integration of liquid-repelling properties and selective permeability in a single component, enabling simultaneous air passage and liquid containment.
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 ventilation valve maintains normal air pressure in the reservoir, preventing scorching by ensuring a continuous and sufficient liquid supply to the atomizing core, enhancing user experience by avoiding scorching and harmful substance generation.
Implementation Method 1
a valve element having air permeability and including an oleophobic material layer and adjacent to the storage cavity
Implementation Method 2
a semi-permeable membrane connected to an end of the oleophobic material layer away from the storage cavity
Implementation Method 3
the liquid will be difficult to be transported to an atomizing surface of a porous heating element for atomization, subjected to a capillary effect
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a ventilation valve configured to be mounted to a liquid reservoir of an electronic atomizing device. The ventilation valve includes: a valve sleeve connected to the liquid reservoir and provided with a through hole, the through hole in communication with a storage cavity of the liquid reservoir; and a valve element having air permeability and including an oleophobic material layer adjacent to the storage cavity, and a semi-permeable membrane connected to an end of the oleophobic material layer away from the storage cavity, the oleophobic material layer filling at least a part of the through hole.