Aerosol generator
An aerosol generator has a vibratable plate with apertures therein and an annular piezo which causes movement of the vibratable plate. An annular support member supports the piezo and the vibratable plate. A first electrical power conducting pin engages directly with a first, top, surface of the piezo. A second electrical power conducting pin indirectly conducts electrical power to a second surface of the piezo, by contacting an extension tab of the support member, also on its top side. There is a film of cured epoxy adhesive on the tab, providing excellent gripping force between the pin and the support. The aerosol generator avoids need for soldered joints for electrical contact, and the pins are conveniently mounted parallel to each on the on the same lateral and top side of the piezo and support member. The pins may have multi-point tips for particularly effective electrical contact.
1 . An aerosol generator, comprising:
a first housing element defining a first cavity and a second cavity, the first cavity including a cylindrical portion, a frustoconical portion, and a first central axis;
a second housing element downstream of the first housing element, the second housing element defining a third cavity, the third cavity including a second central axis,
wherein the first central axis of the first cavity extends away from the second central axis of the third cavity at a non-zero angle, and
wherein the second cavity is laterally offset from the first cavity along a direction perpendicular to the second central axis;
a subassembly disposed between the first housing element and the second housing element, the subassembly including an annular member, a vibratable member, and an annular piezoelectric element;
a first electrically conductive pin at least partially disposed within the second cavity of the first housing element, the first electrically conductive pin extending parallel to the second central axis,
wherein the first electrically conductive pin is in physical contact with the subassembly and in electrical contact with the annular member; and
a second electrically conductive pin at least partially disposed within the second cavity of the first housing element, the second electrically conductive pin extending parallel to the second central axis,
wherein the second electrically conductive pin is in physical contact with the subassembly and in electrical contact with the annular piezoelectric element.
2 . The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the frustoconical portion is downstream of the cylindrical portion.
3 . The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the first cavity further includes an opening sealed by a sealing member.
4 . The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the vibratable member is non-planar.
5 . The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the first electrically conductive pin and the second electrically conductive pin are laterally offset in a radial direction with respect to the second central axis.
6 . The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the subassembly includes an extension tab and wherein the first electrically conductive pin is in electrical contact with the annular member via the extension tab.
7 . The aerosol generator of claim 1 , wherein the annular piezoelectric element is bonded to the annular member via an adhesive and wherein an outer diameter of the annular member is greater than an outer diameter of the annular piezoelectric element.
8 . An aerosol generator, comprising:
a first housing element defining a first cavity, the first cavity including a cylindrical portion, a frustoconical portion, and a first central axis;
a second housing element downstream of the first housing element, the second housing element defining a second cavity, the second cavity including a second central axis,
wherein the first central axis of the first cavity extends away from the second central axis of the second cavity at a non-zero angle;
a subassembly disposed between the first housing element and the second housing element, the subassembly including an annular member, a vibratable member, and an annular piezoelectric element;
a first annular seal at least partially disposed between the subassembly and the first housing element, the first annular seal including a first outer diameter;
a second annular seal at least partially disposed between the subassembly and the second housing element, the second annular seal including a second outer diameter that is larger than the first outer diameter of the first annular seal;
a first electrically conductive pin in electrical contact with the annular member; and
a second electrically conductive pin in electrical contact with the annular piezoelectric element,
wherein the first outer diameter of the first annular seal is radially inside of both the first electrically conductive pin and the second electrically conductive pin, and
wherein the second outer diameter of the second annular seal is radially outside of at least one of the first electrically conductive pin and the second electrically conductive pin.
9 . The aerosol generator of claim 8 , wherein the first annular seal and the second annular seal include different respective inner diameters.
10 . The aerosol generator of claim 8 , wherein both the annular member and the vibratable member are at least partially disposed between the first annular seal and the second annular seal.
11 . The aerosol generator of claim 8 , wherein both the annular member and the first housing element contact the first annular seal.
12 . The aerosol generator of claim 8 , wherein the first electrically conductive pin and the second electrically conductive pin are laterally offset and radially outside of the first annular seal in a radial direction with respect to a central axis of the second housing element and wherein the radially innermost electrically conductive pin is immediately adjacent the first annular seal.
13 . An aerosol generator, comprising:
a first housing element defining a first cavity, the first cavity including a cylindrical portion, a frustoconical portion, a first central axis, and an opening sealed by a sealing member including a flap-type closure element,
a second housing element downstream of the first housing element, the second housing element defining a second cavity, the second cavity including a second central axis,
wherein the first central axis of the first cavity extends away from the second central axis of the second cavity at a non-zero angle;
a subassembly disposed between the first housing element and the second housing element, the subassembly including an annular member, a vibratable member, and an annular piezoelectric element,
wherein the subassembly includes an extension tab, and
wherein the second housing element includes a slot configured to receive the extension tab;
a first electrically conductive pin at least partially disposed within the first housing element, the first electrically conductive pin in electrical contact with the annular member; and
a second electrically conductive pin at least partially disposed within the first housing element, the second electrically conducive pin in electrical contact with the annular piezoelectric element.
14 . The aerosol generator of claim 13 , wherein the opening is included in an aperture positioned upstream of the cylindrical portion.
15 . The aerosol generator of claim 14 , wherein the flap-type closure element includes a projection extending into the aperture.
16 . The aerosol generator of claim 14 , wherein the aperture includes threading on an outer surface of the aperture.
17 . The aerosol generator of claim 14 , wherein the aperture is included in a cap enclosing the first cavity.
18 . The aerosol generator of claim 13 , wherein both the first electrically conductive pin and the second electrically conductive pin extend parallel to the second central axis.
19 . The aerosol generator of claim 3 , wherein the frustoconical portion is downstream of the cylindrical portion and wherein the opening sealed by the sealing member is included in the cylindrical portion.
20 . An aerosol generator, comprising:
a first housing element defining a first cavity, the first cavity including a cylindrical portion, a frustoconical portion, and a first central axis;
a second housing element downstream of the first housing element, the second housing element defining a second cavity, the second cavity including a second central axis,
wherein the first central axis of the first cavity extends away from the second central axis of the second cavity at a non-zero angle;
a subassembly disposed between the first housing element and the second housing element, the subassembly including an annular member, a vibratable member, and an annular piezoelectric member;
a first annular seal disposed between the subassembly and the first housing element;
a second annular seal disposed between the subassembly and the second housing element;
a first electrically conductive pin in electrical contact with the annular member; and
a second electrically conductive pin in electrical contact with the annular piezoelectric element,
wherein the second housing element includes an annular platform extending radially inward and radially inside of an outer diameter of the annular piezoelectric element, the annular platform including an annular groove configured to at least partially receive the second annular seal.