Aerosol generator
Inventors
Schulz, Harald • Holzmann, Philipp • Mutschmann, Dominique • Hahn, Michael
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11154896-B2
Publication Date
2021-10-26
Expiration Date
Abstract
An aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid, comprising: a vibratable membrane having a first side for being in contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, the membrane having a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane in an extension direction from the first side to the second side, whereby the fluid passes the through holes from the first side to the second side when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side, each through hole having along its extension direction a smallest diameter, a larger diameter that is larger than the smallest diameter and defined by that diameter that is closest to triple, preferably twice said smallest diameter, each through hole having a nozzle portion defined by that continuous portion of the through hole in the extension direction comprising the smallest diameter of the through hole and bordered by the larger diameter of the through hole, wherein the ratio of the total length of each through hole in the extension direction to the length of a respective one of said nozzle portions in the extension direction is at least 4, preferably at least 4.5 and most preferred equal to or larger than 5.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a vibratable membrane for use in an aerosol generator for generating an aerosol from a fluid. The membrane has a first side for contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, and a plurality of through holes penetrate the membrane from the first side to the second side so that the fluid passes through the through holes when the membrane is vibrated to generate the aerosol at the second side.
Each through hole includes a nozzle portion, and the geometry of the through holes is defined using a ratio of a total length of each through hole to a length of the nozzle portion. The ratio is at least 4, and the nozzle portion length is constrained and the nozzle portion may be terminated relative to the second side.
The invention further concerns manufacturing the vibratable membrane by forming the through holes using a laser drilling process. The laser drilling process includes at least two laser drilling stages for forming each of the through holes, and in another disclosed manufacturing approach the through holes include a first portion, a second portion, and a nozzle portion formed by a first laser drilling stage, a second laser drilling stage, and a third laser drilling stage.
Claims Coverage
The document provides two independent claims. Across the independent claims, there are four inventive features centered on a vibratable membrane with through holes and a nozzle portion for aerosol generation at the second side, a minimum ratio of total through-hole length to nozzle portion length, and laser drilling in multiple stages.
Vibratable membrane with nozzle portion through holes for aerosol at the second side
A vibratable membrane having a first side for contact with the fluid and an opposite second side, with a plurality of through holes penetrating the membrane from the first side to the second side so that fluid passes through the through holes when the membrane is vibrated for generating the aerosol at the second side; each through hole includes a nozzle portion.
Through-hole geometry ratio of total length to nozzle portion length
A ratio of a total length of each through hole to a length of the nozzle portion is at least 4.
Laser drilling with at least two stages for forming each through hole
Forming the through holes using a laser drilling process including at least two laser drilling stages for forming each of the through holes.
Three-stage laser drilling for first, second, and nozzle portions
Forming the through holes using a laser drilling process including a first laser drilling stage for forming the first portion of each through hole, a second laser drilling stage for forming the second portion of each through hole, and a third laser drilling stage for forming the nozzle portion of each through hole.
The claim coverage is anchored by a vibratable membrane with through holes that have a nozzle portion for aerosol generation at the second side, constrained by a minimum ratio of total through-hole length to nozzle portion length of at least 4. Manufacturing is limited to laser drilling executed in multiple stages, including at least two stages in one independent claim and three stages aligned to a first portion, second portion, and nozzle portion in the other independent claim.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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