A new Hi-Tech e-cig idea !

[nickarsow]

Dear fellows,
A few days ago an idea flashed to me about a hi_tech e-cig. I'll explain it step by step by replacing each part of an e-cig with those from my idea:
1. Replace the atomiser with a " thick film integrated heater " - the similar as used in thermal printer print heads. Accordind my calculations it would draw approximately 2W , heating time less than 0,5 seconds , and it's absolutelly FLAT.
2. Replace the cartridge with a reservoir with a piesoelectric nozzle - the similar ones are used in " inkjet printer heads " .These nozzles supply always the same quantity of liquid as required. More - the viscosity of the liquid could be lower than the present. Such reservoir could be easily refilled.

1 and 2 leads to that you'll have the same quantity of vapour each time you smoke , the battery should last more , the cleaning should be easy.
Where's the problem:
A manufacturer has to be found!

 

[Ralph Hilton]

Do you have any links to suitable looking parts?

 

[nickarsow]

I'll surch for and post , but in the meantime the easiest way to look what I was talking about is to take an ink cartridge from an old inkjet printer and a thermal head from an old fax machine.

 

[nickarsow]

Pls find hereafter some usefull links:
Thermal Print Heads | Products - TDK

Epson Develops a Next-Generation Inkjet Print Head Using an Original Thin-Film Piezo Element That Has the World's Highest Degree of Distortion

http://www.emeraldinsight.com/fig/2170310405002.png

Epson's Next-Generation Micro Piezo Print Head Boasts Macro Potential (May 2007) / Technology Newsline / Seiko Epson Corporation

 

[Scottbee]

Dayum,

I crated an elegant and professional response explaining in wonderful detail why this wasn't really that good of an idea from a business perspective.... and the forum ate my reply.

Maybe it was trying to tell me something.... ;-)

 

[nickarsow]

Scottbee,
Send me a private message.

 

[Raenon]

I was thinking about this at length myself, and I concluded that the best e-cig wouldn't be an e-cig at all, it'd probably be an e-pipe.

Obviously, we know that ditching the e-cig shape comes with many benefits, most specifically more space for batteries, but I think it would also be possible to incorporate the "inkjet" style reservoir into the pipe bowl end.

To describe it as simply as I can without breaking out the pencil and paper, the bowl end would house a large battery (or several small ones, depending on voltage and sizing requirements) at the far end, and closer to the stem end would have either a jet-drip reservoir, or a simpler funnel shape for manual dripping onto an atomizer element that was actually housed in the bowl. This would be shaped to have a small dip before the stem so that wayward liquid flowing out would be nearly impossible.
The stem would actually then not have anything of importance, it would merely be a shaped tube for drawing the vapor, like smoke from a pipe.

I have also considered additional design features, such as one way airvents so the vapor can't escape into the air, and also a simple adjustable timing circuit so that you can change how quickly the microdroplets are dripped. Manual activation is probably much better, but automatic should be possible with a small sensor in one of the air intakes.

I hope I was clear... I think I may still need to break out the paper later

 

[nickarsow]

Raenon,
Manual dripping onto the heater is also a very good idea and maybe more reliable. Also jet flow could use liquids with less PG and VG - I mean the viscosity could be lower. Such reservoirs are easily refillable. The main advantage in this design is that the heater is flat , which makes it easy to clean and it has a direct contact with the liquid.