The invention relates to a device and a method for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active agents. The device has a container for the substance to be dispensed. A wick as a capillary element which is in contact with the substance to be dispensed, is arranged at least in regions in the container, forms a constituent part of the container and comprises a wick-side substance dispensing region. In addition, the invention relates to a method for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active agents.
Devices for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active agents, are known generally and as a rule include a container in which a substance to be dispensed is received. A wick, which projects beyond the container by way of a free wick end and is in contact with the substance to be dispensed in such a manner that said substance is conveyed in the direction of the free wick end by means of the capillary action of the wick, is arranged in the container as a capillary element. A heating element, in particular an electrical heating element, is regularly assigned to the free wick end, by means of which the free wick end is able to be acted upon with heat in order to be able to dispense or vaporize the substance accumulating in the free wick end even quicker to the surrounding area. Such a design is disclosed, for example, in WO 98/58692 A1. In order to be able to adjust the degree of vaporization and consequently the vaporization performance, said WO 98/58692 A1 further provides mounting the container together with the wick so as to be vertically adjustable in the housing of the device such that the relative position of the wick is modifiable with respect to the heating device.
With such a design, it is possible to influence the vaporization rate and consequently the dispensing rate of the substance to be dispensed over a longer period. In the case of such devices, however, the problem regularly arises that the substance air stream, which is generated and enriched with the substance to be dispensed and escapes into the surrounding area via an outlet opening in the housing wall, is influenced by air turbulence created in the interior of the housing such that, on the one hand, the flowing away of the substance air stream is impaired and that, on the other hand, unwanted deposits and condensation of the substance to be dispensed occur to a certain extent on the inside walls of the housing. The air vortices or turbulence in the housing interior are brought about, in particular, as a result of rising hot air which is generated, in turn, by the emission of heat from the electrical heating element to the air surrounding the heating element.
Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to create a device and a method for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active agents, by means of which device or method the substance dispensing can be designed in a more effective manner or the efficiency of the substance dispensing can be increased even further.
Said object is achieved with the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous designs in this respect are the object of the subclaims which are dependent thereon.
There is provided a device for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active agents, having a container for the substance to be dispensed and having a wick as a capillary element which is in contact with the substance to be dispensed, is arranged in the container at least in regions, forms a constituent part of the container and comprises a wick-side substance dispensing region. Provided according to the invention is at least one heating element, by means of which a substance air stream, which is enriched with substance and flows away from the device, is generatable as a result of heat emission to the wick-side substance dispensing region and by means of which a separate hot air stream which is substantially substance-free, flows away from the device and is preferably warmer than the substance air stream, is generatable as a result of heat emission to the air surrounding the at least one heating element. Further provided is at least one flow-guiding and/or deflecting device, by means of which at least one of the air streams flowing out, preferably the substance-free hot air flow, is guidable and/or deflectable such that the two air streams flowing away from the device meet one another preferably at a defined angle of incidence and realize one common substance hot air stream which flows away from the device.
With the solution according to the invention, a separate hot air stream generated by heat emission to the air surrounding the heating element is consequently used in a targeted manner for the purpose of entraining a substance air stream, which, in turn, enables considerably better distribution in space of the substance dispensed by the device. In this case, the fact that the hot air stream regularly comprises a considerably higher temperature and consequently also a considerably higher flow speed than the, in comparison, cooler substance air stream which is enriched with the substance to be dispensed, is able to be utilized in an advantageous manner.
By a controlled, directed hot air stream now being generated with the hot air that occurs regularly in any case in the device, the hot air occurring in or on the device cannot result in any unwanted turbulence or eddying in or on the device so that the substance air stream is able to flow away unimpeded and, in addition, the risk of condensation of substance to be dispensed in or on the device, for example on the housing walls of the device, is clearly reduced.
In addition, with the solution according to the invention, for example in conjunction with devices that can be arranged on walls or wall-side outlets, it is possible to ensure in a simple manner that the substance air stream, which is cooler than the hot air stream, is reliably kept away from a wall adjoining the device or can be steered away from the same. In particular, this also produces very good, unimpeded distribution of the substance in space.
With the solution according to the invention, the substance dispensing can consequently be designed more effectively or the efficiency of the substance dispensing can be increased even more.
The term “substance to be dispensed” is to be understood here specifically in a broad sense and includes all substances which can be conveyed by means of the capillary action of a wick as a capillary element. Along with volatile substances, these can also be specifically gel-like or other suitable substances. The term “wick” is also to be understood here in a comprehensive sense and specifically includes any capillary element which is suitable to convey a substance by means of capillary action.
Particularly preferred in this connection is a specific design of a device for dispensing, in particular for vaporizing, volatile substances, in particular fragrances and/or active agents, which comprises a housing with at least one housing wall. In addition, the device comprises a container in which a substance to be dispensed is received. The device additionally comprises a wick as a capillary element which is in contact with the substance to be dispensed, is arranged at least in regions in the container, forms a constituent part of the container and comprises a wick-side substance dispensing region which is assigned to a substance outlet opening region realized in the housing wall. The device further comprises at least one heating element, preferably at least one electrical heating element, by means of which a substance air stream, which is enriched with substance and flows away from the device via the substance outlet opening region (and consequently through the housing wall), is generatable as a result of heat emission to the wick-side substance dispensing region. In addition, at least one further outlet opening region is realized in the housing wall as a hot air outlet opening region, via which the separate hot air stream, which is generated by the at least one heating element as a result of heat emission to the air surrounding the at least one heating element and is substantially substance-free, flows away from the device through the housing wall. In addition, at least one flow-guiding and/or deflecting device is provided, by means of which at least one of the air streams flowing out, preferably, however, the substance-free hot air flow, is guidable and/or deflectable such that the two air streams flowing away from the device meet one another preferably at a defined angle of incidence and realize one common substance hot air stream which flows away from the device, the separate air streams flowing away from the substance outlet opening region and from the hot air outlet opening region meeting one another in a region outside the housing and realizing the common substance hot air stream which flows away from the device.
The hot air outlet opening region, in this case, can be realized adjacent to and/or adjoining the substance outlet opening region, which specifically includes any arrangement possibility, that is to say, for example, includes such an adjacent or adjoining realization and arrangement where the two outlet opening regions, without separation of the same, directly adjoin one another, for example, by means of a wall region or a partition element and, for example, are a constituent part of one and the same recess in the housing wall. Or as an alternative to this, the outlet opening regions, however, can also be separated by any component or a wall region and as a result be spaced apart from one another, that is to say, for example, be formed by two openings which are separated from one another by a wall region. The terms hot air outlet opening region and substance outlet opening region are consequently simply to express that there is a region of some type, through which the one air stream flows, and a region of some type through which the other air stream flows prior to their meeting.
Even if not explicitly named here, it is clear that obviously more than one substance air stream and/or more than one hot air stream could be present, for example in such a manner that multiple separate hot air streams meet one substance air stream or, where applicable, also one of multiple substance air streams.
According to a particularly preferred design according to the invention, it is provided that the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device comprises at least one flow-guiding element which is assigned to the substance air stream and/or to the substance outlet opening region and/or at least one flow-guiding element which is assigned to the hot air outlet opening region, by means of which an air stream flowing away from the device is guidable or steerable in a particularly functionally-reliable manner in the direction of the other air stream. Particularly preferred in said context is a design where the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device comprises at least one flow-guiding element which is assigned only to the hot air outlet opening region, by means of which the hot air stream flowing away from the hot air outlet opening region is deflectable in the direction of the substance air stream. The preferred deflection of only the hot air stream comprises the advantage of said hot air stream being especially suitable to influence the outflow behavior and the characteristics of the common substance hot air stream which joins the two air streams, for example relating to the realization of eddying and/or of turbulence at a certain outflow height above the meeting point of the two streams or above the device. In addition, by the hot air stream, as shown previously, regularly comprising a higher temperature and consequently a higher speed, particularly advantageous deflecting of the substance air stream away from components, such as, for example a wall, can be achieved.
In principle, there is a wide variety of design possibilities for the housing or the housing wall in which the substance outlet opening region and the hot air outlet opening region are arranged located side by side or adjoining one another. According to a particularly simple solution which is advantageous as regards manufacturing, it is proposed that the substance outlet opening region and the hot air outlet opening region lie side by side spaced apart in one plane, preferably in such a manner that the housing wall, at least on or in a housing wall region comprising the substance outlet opening region and the hot air outlet opening region, is realized in a planar and/or plate-shaped manner. As an alternative to this, according to a particularly preferred design, the substance outlet opening region and the hot air outlet opening region, when viewed in the direction of the vertical axis, can lie side by side spaced apart at different height planes. This makes it possible in a particularly simple manner to establish when and how the streams meet one another. This is true in particular when the hot air outlet opening region, when viewed in the direction of the vertical axis, lies above the substance outlet opening region. In order to realize this, it can be provided, for example, that the housing wall is realized in a stepped manner or comprises a stepped wall region. The substance outlet opening region can then be arranged in the region of a first step and the hot air outlet opening region in the region of a second or a further step.
Particularly advantageous, in addition, is a design where the substance air stream flowing away from the substance outlet opening region is an air stream which is not influenced by any flow-guiding element and is consequently uninfluenced and preferably flows in a substantially rectilinear manner away from the substance outlet opening region. In such a case, the hot air outlet opening region has associated therewith at least one flow-guiding element of the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device, by means of which the hot air stream flowing away from the hot air stream outlet opening region is deflectable in such a manner that the hot air stream meets the substance air stream at an angle or at a defined angle of incidence. Excellent outflow results are produced, in particular, with such a solution with the substance to be dispensed being distributed in space in an advantageous manner.
According to a first realization variant, the substance outlet opening region can be formed, for example, in a simple manner simply by a housing wall-side outlet opening (whilst the hot air outlet opening region, in this case, is then also formed by a separate opening which can then be once again, for example, a constituent part of a flow channel, as will be described in more detail below). Said housing wall-side outlet opening can be formed, for example, by an outlet opening which broadens outwardly in a funnel-shaped manner in the direction of flow, preferably broadens with a convex curvature, which has proven particularly advantageous when the substance air stream flowing away from or flowing out of the outlet opening is deflected by the hot air stream meeting it, because no unwanted flow stalls can occur at the edges of the outlet opening and consequently no eddying and turbulence. As an alternative to this, however, the substance outlet opening region can also be a constituent part of a housing wall-side recess, which also realizes or realizes in shared manner the hot air outlet opening region, that is to say, for example, directly adjoin one another. In such a case, it can then be provided, for example, that the recess region realizing the substance outlet opening region is upwardly tapered at least in regions, when seen in the direction of flow of the substance air stream, in order also to obtain functionally reliable diverting of the air stream enriched with substance.
According to a particularly preferred specific design, the flow-guiding element is aligned in the direction of the other air stream, preferably in an angled and/or curved manner, that is to say, for example, a flow-guiding element which is assigned to the hot air outlet opening region, is aligned in the direction of the substance air stream, for example in an angled and/or curved manner, such that the hot air stream is then able to meet the substance air stream at a defined angle.
The flow-guiding element is realized in a preferred manner such that it extends from the substance outlet opening region and/or the hot air outlet opening region, preferably from the hot air outlet opening region, away to the outside, away from the housing wall.
According to a particularly preferred further development, the flow-guiding element can be formed, for example, in the simplest means by a guide vane. As an alternative to this, however, the flow-guiding element can also be formed by a preferably angled and/or curved flow shaft or flow channel which, when seen in the direction of flow, extends away from an inflow opening and is aligned in the direction of the other air stream, wherein at its end opposite the inflow opening, the flow shaft or flow channel comprises an outflow opening which points in the direction of the other air stream. Such a flow shaft or flow channel is simple to produce and enables particularly advantageous and functionally reliable deflection of the respective air stream, in particular of the hot air stream in the direction of the other air stream. For example, such a flow shaft or flow channel can be formed by an angled or curved channel-like flow hood which projects in the manner of a dome or in a raised manner from the housing wall or is fitted there. Such an angled or curved flow shaft or flow channel can be formed specifically, for example, by an angled or curved channel-like flow hood which comprises two oppositely situated, substantially plate-like hood walls, between which is arranged an angled or curved wall region which brings about the deflection of the air stream. In a preferred manner, the inflow opening, in this case, is realized in the housing wall itself.
The terms “angled or curved” is always to be understood in the present case in a broad sense and is to include any realizations by way of which an air stream can be deflected, that is to say explicitly also a flow-guiding element which is set at an angle, to name but one example.
As the statements made previously show, the flow-guiding element can consequently be realized according to a particularly preferred design such that it realizes the at least one outlet opening region, for example, the hot air outlet opening region or at least shares in its realization or is a constituent part of the same.
The angle of incidence between the hot air stream and the substance air stream according to a preferred specific design is between 50 and 80° and in a preferred manner between 60 and 80°. A functionally reliable and targeted flowing away of the two air streams as one common substance hot air stream can be achieved at such an angle of incidence. Particularly good results are produced at an angle of around 70° and in an extremely preferred manner of between 68 and 72°.
With the at least one flow-guiding and/or deflecting device, the angle of incidence, in particular an angle of incidence as specified previously, between the hot air stream and the substance stream can be adjusted in a targeted manner such that the hot air stream and the substance air stream, when seen in the direction of flow and/or the direction of the vertical axis, meet one another at a defined height above the device at a defined impact point. If then, in this context, the at least one heating element heats the hot air stream to such a high temperature which drops to such a comparatively lower temperature at which eddying and/or turbulence occurs in the common substance hot air stream only at a defined distance above the impact point of the two air streams, the dispensing of the substance in space can then be influenced and adjusted in a targeted manner.
As already stated beforehand, a possible housing can be realized in a variety of ways, for example it can simply be formed by one single housing wall, for example by a plate-shaped housing wall. In a particularly preferred manner, however, the housing comprises multiple housing side walls and the housing forms preferably one more or less closed housing with a housing interior in which individual constituent parts of the device are received, shielded outwardly at least in regions toward the surrounding area (for example are also received in various chambers of the housing interior). In particular, in the case of such a design, the wick-side substance dispensing region preferably lies in a housing interior of the housing such that the substance air stream flows out of the housing interior via the substance outlet opening region toward the outside of the housing. In addition, at least the region of the at least one heating element assigned to the wick-side substance dispensing region lies in the housing interior, wherein it is provided, however, in a preferred manner that the region assigned to the wick-side substance dispensing region and also the region of the at least one heating element generating the substance-free hot air stream lie in the housing interior and as a result also the hot air stream flows out of the housing interior toward the outside of the housing. In order to ensure in particular in the latter case that the two air streams do not mix in the interior of the housing, the two regions are then spaced apart from one another in such a manner in the housing interior that the two air streams flow to the respective outlet opening region uninfluenced by one another and/or the two air streams are separated from one another, for example by means of a shielding element, such that they flow to the respective outlet opening region uninfluenced by one another.
According to a particularly preferred specific design, it is provided that at least one heating element serving for generating the hot air stream or, in the preferred event of one single heating element, a part region of the heating element serving for generating the hot air stream is assigned to the hot air outlet opening region, preferably is arranged directly adjacent to the hot air outlet opening region. This ensures in a simple manner that the hot air stream can flow away reliably via the hot air outlet opening region.
According to another particularly preferred specific design, it is provided that at least one heating element or in the event of one single heating element, a part region of the heating element is assigned to the wick-side substance dispensing region which, in turn, is assigned to the substance outlet opening region, preferably is arranged directly adjacent to the substance outlet opening region. Reliable flowing away of the substance air stream via the substance outlet opening region is possible as a result in a simple and functionally reliable manner.
The wick-side substance dispensing region is formed according to a particularly preferred design preferably by a free wick end which projects beyond a container, in particular a container opening, in such a manner that the heating element is assigned to the wick in the region of the free wick end. Such a design where the free wick end realizes the substance dispensing region enables a particularly simple assignment between the heating element and the wick.
According to a further particularly preferred specific design, the at least one heating element is an electrical heating element which comprises a heating body produced from a heat conducting material and at least one electrical resistance element, for example a PTC resistance element, which is thermally coupled with the heating body, is integrated and/or embedded (for example molded) preferably at least in part in the heating body and, for supplying power, is connectable to a power source and/or is suppliable with electrical power by means of a power source. Power is supplied, in this case, for example, via a line connection to an electrical connection element which, for example, can be formed by a plug or can comprise a plug, to name but one example. As an alternative to this, cable-free or contact-free power supply is also possible. Supplying power by means of a power pack, for example a battery arranged on the housing side, would also be possible in principle.
The heating body itself can be produced, for example, from a ceramic material that is a good conductor of heat or, however, also from a plastics material that is a good conductor of heat, to name but two examples.
The heating body comprises, in a preferred manner, a wick opening which is at a spacing from the electrical resistance element, that is to say is at a defined distance from the electrical resistance element, said wick opening being in the form of a through hole or, however, simply as an edge-side recess, into which the wick projects with the substance dispensing region, preferably with a free wick end which projects beyond the container, as substance dispensing region. The term “wick opening” is consequently to be understood explicitly here in a broad sense and includes all arrangement and assignment possibilities of a wick or of a free end of a wick with respect to a heat-emitting heat region or to a hole, recess, notch, opening or the like, whatever its form.
In particular in conjunction with such an electrical heating element, it is advantageous when a part region of the heating element, which serves for generating the hot air stream, is preferably assigned to the hot air outlet opening region and in an extremely preferred manner is arranged directly adjacent to the hot air outlet opening region, is formed by a hot air heating body region which, in particular for realizing a local hot spot on the heating body side, comprises the at least one or at least one electrical resistance element. With such a design, it is ensured in a simple manner in conjunction with the generation of the hot air stream that said hot air stream can flow away via the hot air outlet opening region in a functionally reliable manner.
For generating a particularly hot outflowing hot air stream, it can be provided, for example, that the at least one electrical resistance element is arranged in the region of a top side of the hot air heating body region, which is flowed around by the hot air stream and faces the hot air outlet opening region, preferably is integrated into the hot air heating body region in such a manner that the at least one electrical resistance element directly adjoins the top side of the hot air heating body region facing the hot air outlet opening region or realizes said top side in a shared manner.
In order to ensure that a relatively warm hot air stream is generated which comprises a particularly high flow speed and is correspondingly particularly advantageous for entraining the substance air stream enriched with substance to be dispensed, it is particularly advantageous when the local temperature maximum (hot spot) is realized on the part region of the heating element serving for generating the hot air stream, that is to say on the hot air heating body region, and a particularly good heat transfer to the air surrounding the hot air heating body region is also effected here.
To this end, it can be provided, for example, that the hot air heating body region of the heating body comprises a structure which enlarges the heat-dispensing surface.
As an alternative to this or in addition to it, the part region of the heating body which connects to the hot air heating body region and preferably comprises the wick opening can be realized such that no heat is dispensed or the heat dispensed to the surrounding area is reduced compared to the hot air heating body region and/or that a defined temperature gradient exists between said part region and the hot air heating body region with the temperature maximum in the hot air heating body region. With such measures, a targeted high level of heat emission is possible precisely where the hot air stream is to be realized, it also being possible in a reliable manner to avoid the two air streams being influenced reciprocally upstream of the outlet opening regions.
It can be provided specifically, for example, that the part region of the heating body which connects to the hot air heating body region and preferably comprises the wick opening is thermally insulated toward the outside at least in regions to avoid heat being emitted or to reduce the heat emitted compared to the hot air heating body region or is produced at least in regions, in particular at least in an outer edge region, from a material which comprises lower thermal conductivity than the material of the hot air heating body region.
It is further provided in a preferred manner that a part region of the heating element assigned to the wick-side substance dispensing region is formed by a wick heating body which comprises the wick opening.
In conjunction with an electrical heating element realized as described in more detail above, it is advantageous when the hot air heating body region generating the hot air stream and the wick heating body region comprising the wick opening (and consequently also the hot air outlet opening region assigned in each case thereto and the substance outlet opening region in the housing wall) are spaced apart from one another such that the two air streams flow to the respective outlet opening region uninfluenced by one another. With such a safety distance, it is ensured in a simple manner that the two air streams do not contact one another upstream of the outlet opening regions or in the interior of a/the housing, which would result in appearances of condensation or in unwanted turbulence.
In order to avoid reciprocal influence of the two air streams prior to their meeting, preferably upstream of the outlet opening regions or to keep them as small as possible, it can also be provided as an alternative to this or in addition to it that at least one shielding element is provided, by means of which the two air streams are separable from one another in the region upstream of the respective outlet opening regions. Said shielding element also forms in a preferred manner a constituent part of the flow guiding and/or deflecting device.
The shielding element can be realized, for example, on the housing side. Particularly preferred, as an alternative to this or in addition to it, is a functionally-integrated design where the heating element comprises and/or realizes the shielding element, preferably an upper part region of a heating body of the heating element facing the outlet opening regions. In this context, it can be provided specifically, for example, that the shielding element extends away from the heating element into the region of a recess of the housing wall and there realizes the substance outlet opening region and the hot air outlet opening region and/or separates them from one another at least in regions.
A further advantageous functional integration and consequently reduction in the number of components is produced with a design where an upper part region of the hot air heating body region facing the hot air outlet opening region is a constituent part of the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device and comprises and/or realizes a heating body-side flow-guiding element which guides and/or steers the hot air stream in the direction of the substance air stream, preferably comprises and/or realizes a heating body-side flow-guiding element which ascends in a ramp-shaped manner in the direction of the substance air stream and/or guides the hot air stream.
Quite preferred in this connection then is a design where the heating body-side flow-guiding element also realizes the shielding element at the same time.
According to a further particularly preferred embodiment which is also distinguished by advantageous functional integration, it can be provided that the heating body-side flow-guiding element together with a flow-guiding element assigned to the hot air outlet opening region, in particular a flow-guiding element as has already been appreciated previously, realizes the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device which guides and/or steers the hot air stream in the direction of the substance air stream.
The electrical resistance element can basically be any suitable resistance element, the use of a PTC resistance element, however, being preferred. PTC stands here for Positive Temperature Coefficient.
According to a further particularly preferred design, it is provided that the container is connectable to the housing, in particular releasably connectable. The container, in this case, can be insertable into the housing, in particular releasably insertable. This produces a compact and simply designed device overall.
The advantages produced with the method procedure correspond in an analogous manner to those of the device according to the invention so that, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the previously made statements.
The advantageous realizations and further developments of the invention explained above and/or reproduced in the subclaims can be used, in this case,—apart from, for example, in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives—individually or, however, also in arbitrary combinations with one another.
The invention and its advantageous realizations and further developments are explained in more detail below by way of simply exemplary and schematic drawings, in which:
A wick 4 as a capillary element is inserted into the container 2 and is in contact with the substance 3 to be dispensed, the wick 4 being inserted into a container opening 6 of the container 2 by means of a wick holder ring 5. Said wick holder ring 5 (see also
As can be seen further from
To increase the dispensing rate, a heating element 8, which is described in more detail below and is in the form, for example, of an electrical heating element, is assigned to the free wick end 7, by means of which heating element the free wick end 7 is heatable to increase the dispensing or vaporizing rate.
The heating element 8 is a constituent part of a vaporizing device which is only shown extremely schematically in
The substance outlet opening region 46, in this connection, is formed by a housing wall-side outlet opening 48, which can be seen in particular from the overall view of
As can be seen further from
The hot air outlet opening region 47 also realizes here in a dual function the flow-guiding element of a flow-guiding and/or deflection device or realizes it in a shared manner and comprises a flow channel 49 which extends away from an inflow opening 50 (for example
As can be seen further in
the heating element 8 here is specifically an electrical heating element which comprises a heating body 52 produced from a heat conducting material and an electrical resistance element 53 which, as an example here, is embedded (for example molded) into the heating body 52. Said electrical resistance element 53 is connectable to a power source for supplying power, for example via contact lines 54 which are only shown schematically and in part here and are guided, for example, outside of the container 2 to an electrical connection element (not shown), which is formed, for example, by a plug or the like.
The heating body 52 comprises here a wick heating body region 55, in which a wick opening 56 is realized directly adjacent or below the outlet opening 48 of the substance outlet opening region 46. In said wick opening 56, the free wick end 7, realizing the substance dispensing region, is received at a defined gap clearance 62 from the opening wall, as can be seen in particular in
The heating body 52 comprises a further part region which connects to the wick heating body region 55 and realizes a hot air heating body region 57. The electrical resistance element 53 is arranged in said hot air heating body region 57, said hot air heating body region 57 together with the electrical resistance element 53 received therein being arranged directly adjacent or below the inflow opening 50 of the hot air outlet opening region 47.
In a preferred manner, the hot air heating body region 57 realizes a local heating body-side hot spot.
To this end, the wick heating body region 55 connecting to the hot air heating body region 57 can be realized such that no heat is dispensed or the heat dispensed to the surrounding area is reduced compared to the hot air heating body region 57 and/or that a defined temperature gradient exists between the wick heating body region 55 and the hot air heating body region with the temperature maximum in the hot air heating body region 57. In order to achieve this, it can be provided, for example, that the part region of the heating body 52 which connects to the hot air heating body region 57 and is formed substantially by the wick heating body region 55, is thermally insulated toward the outside at least in regions to avoid heat being emitted or to reduce the heat emission compared to the hot air heating body region 57 or is produced at least in regions, in particular at least in an outer edge, from a material which comprises lower thermal conductivity than the material of the hot air heating body region 57.
Even if the heating body 52 is realized in a stepped manner here, any other forms can obviously also be used, in particular non-stepped forms.
As a result of heating the free wick end 7 or the tip of the free wick end 7, particularly effective vaporization of the substance to be dispensed accumulating in the free wick end 7 is obtained, which results in a clear increase in the rates of vaporization.
The free wick end 7 is preferably received with a gap clearance 62 in the wick opening 56.
The substance air stream 60 generated in this manner then flows via the outlet opening 48 through the upper housing wall 45 to outside the housing 37.
The electrical resistance element 53 in the hot air heating body region 57 is preferably a PTC resistance element.
As a result of the hot air heating body region 57 being arranged directly below the hot air outlet opening region 47, heat is emitted to the air surrounding the hot air heating body region 57, as a result of which, a substantially substance-free hot air stream 63 is generated which is considerably hotter than the substance air stream 60 and, as a result, also comprises a considerably higher speed than the substance air stream 60.
Said hot air stream 63 then flows via the inflow opening 50 into the curved flow channel 49 and is then deflected on account of the curvature of the flow channel 49, which realizes a flow-guiding element or a flow-guiding and/or deflecting device, such that said hot air stream 63 meets the substance air stream 60 at a defined angle of incidence α (compare
As can be seen in particular in
The angle of incidence α between the hot air stream 63 and the substance air stream 60 is, for example, between 50 and 80°, in a preferred manner between 60 and 80° and in an extremely preferred manner approximately 70°, the angle of incidence α being measured here between the flow arrows 67 and 68 which define the main direction of flow of the two air streams 60 and 63.
In order to ensure that the substance air stream 60 and the hot air stream 63 do not interact in the region upstream or below the respective outlet opening regions 46, 47 or in the interior of the housing 37, it can be provided that the hot air heating body 57 and the wick heating body region 55, which comprises the wick opening 56, are at a certain minimum distance from one another. As an alternative to this or in addition to it, as is shown only schematically in
With such a concept, the efficiency of substance dispensing in space or the efficiency of the vaporizing can be improved considerably.
Specifically here, the substance outlet opening region 46 is a constituent part of a housing wall-side recess 70 which also realizes or comprises the hot air outlet opening region 47 at the same time, such that the substance outlet opening region 46 and the hot air outlet opening region 47 are realized or arranged directly adjacent or adjoining one another in the upper housing wall 45.
As is shown schematically in
Here too, the heating body 52 of the electrical heating element 8 (analogously to the first embodiment described previously) once again comprises a wick heating body region 55 in which a wick opening 56 is realized directly adjacent or below the substance outlet opening region 46. In said wick opening 56, the free wick end 7, realizing the substance dispensing region, is received with a defined gap clearance 62 from the opening wall such that the free wick end 7, realizing the substance dispensing region, is also arranged directly adjacent or below the substance outlet opening region 46.
A ring produced from a heat conductive material, preferably of an aluminum, is inserted in the wick opening, only as an example here, said ring serving for the purpose of moderating the temperature in the region of the wick opening 56 or helps to avoid local hot spots in the region of the wick opening such that the free wick end 57 is heated uniformly on all sides in the wick opening. Such a ring 72 can obviously also be used in the case of the first embodiment described previously, that is to say in general in conjunction with wick openings and is not bound to the embodiment according to
The heating body 52 further comprises here too, once again, a further part region which connects to the wick heating body region 55 and realizes a hot air heating body region 57. The electrical resistance element 53 is arranged in said hot air heating body region 57, said hot air heating body region 57 together with the electrical resistance element 53 received therein being arranged directly adjacent or below the hot air outlet opening region 47.
Specifically here, the electrical resistance element 53 is only arranged as an example in the region of a top side 73 of the hot air heating body region 57 facing the hot air outlet opening region 47, preferably is integrated in such a manner into the hot air heating body region 57 that the electrical resistance element 53 directly adjoins the top side of the hot air heating body region 57 facing the hot air outlet opening region 47 or even realizes said top side in a shared manner.
The upper part region 74 of the hot air heating body region 57 comprising the top side 73 and facing the hot air outlet opening region 47 realizes here, at the same time, a constituent part of the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device and realizes a heating body-side flow-guiding element which ascends in a ramp-shaped manner in the direction of the substance air stream (characterized by the flow arrow 67) and guides the hot air stream (characterized by the flow arrow 68).
As can be seen very well additionally in
The heating body-side flow-guiding element, formed by the upper part region 74, together with the flow-guiding element 49 which is assigned to the hot air outlet opening region 47, (which can be formed here, for example, simply by a guide vane or, however, can also be a constituent part of a flow channel or of a flow hood, as has been described previously) realizes the flow-guiding and/or deflecting device which guides and/or steers the hot air stream 63 in the direction of the substance air stream 60.
If the hot air stream 63 is deflected by means of the flow-guiding element 49 such that it meets the substance air stream 60 at an angle of incidence α, as specified previously, the hot air stream 63 and the substance air stream 60, when seen in the direction of flow and/or of the vertical axis, then meet one another at a defined height above the device 1 at an impact point 75 and realize one common substance hot air stream 64. If the heating element 8 then heats the hot air stream 63 in this context to such a high temperature, which only drops to such a temperature at which eddying and/or turbulence 76 occurs in the common substance hot air stream 64 at a defined distance d above the impact point 75 of the two air streams, this is precisely the point in said region that the substance is dispensed in space in a targeted manner such that it is possible to influence and adjust the vaporizing in a targeted manner.
This is shown schematically in
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2016/001006 | 6/16/2016 | WO |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2017/215726 | 12/21/2017 | WO | A |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3793763 | Griffin | Feb 1974 | A |
5015442 | Hirai | May 1991 | A |
6325475 | Hayes | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6563091 | Vieira | May 2003 | B2 |
6968124 | Varanasi | Nov 2005 | B1 |
7167641 | Tam et al. | Jan 2007 | B2 |
20080226269 | DeWitt et al. | Sep 2008 | A1 |
20100021855 | Requejo et al. | Jan 2010 | A1 |
20170108210 | Meinhart | Apr 2017 | A1 |
20170303523 | Sandford | Oct 2017 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
1993043 | Jul 2007 | CN |
202005015709 | Dec 2005 | DE |
1247447 | Oct 2002 | EP |
9858692 | Dec 1998 | WO |
0121226 | Mar 2001 | WO |
2006002404 | Jan 2006 | WO |
2006052519 | May 2006 | WO |
2006105396 | Oct 2006 | WO |
2006130410 | Dec 2006 | WO |
2009006582 | Jan 2009 | WO |
2009085170 | Jul 2009 | WO |
WO-2009085170 | Jul 2009 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20190117818 A1 | Apr 2019 | US |