U.S. patent application number 09/739981 was filed with the patent office on 2001-09-13 for evaporation device for volatile substances.
Invention is credited to Vieira, Pedro Queiroz.
Application Number | 20010020450 09/739981 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8239653 |
Filed Date | 2001-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010020450 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vieira, Pedro Queiroz |
September 13, 2001 |
Evaporation device for volatile substances
Abstract
An evaporation device 2 is disclosed for the evaporation of
volatile substances, in particular insecticides and aromatics,
which includes a housing 13 which contains a heating element and a
container 50 for a substance to be evaporated. This container 50
contains a wick which is associated with the heating element with a
wick end 30 protruding from container 50. The heating element can
be longitudinally displaced near the container 50 in the housing 13
relative to the wick end 30 to adjust the degree of evaporation.
According to the invention, the heating element is carried on a
movable heater assembly that can be displaced longitudinally in the
housing relative to the wick end. The movable heater assembly can
be fixed in different positions relative to the wick end 30 and the
longitudinal direction of the wick axis for the adjustment of the
degree of evaporation.
Inventors: |
Vieira, Pedro Queiroz;
(Parede, PT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLINT & KIM, P.A.
P.O. Box 10827
Greenville
SC
29603-0827
US
|
Family ID: |
8239653 |
Appl. No.: |
09/739981 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
122/366 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 261/17 20130101;
A61L 9/037 20130101; A01M 1/2077 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
122/366 |
International
Class: |
F22B 037/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 18, 1999 |
EP |
99125293.3 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An evaporation device for evaporating volatile substances such
as insecticides and aromatics of a type having a housing containing
a heating element, with a container for the volatile substance to
be evaporated disposed in the housing, a wick which can be heated
by the heating element with a wick end protruding from the
container along a wick axis, whereby the heating element can be
displaced relative to the wick end for an adjustment of the degree
of evaporation, and wherein the improvement comprises: a movable
heater assembly carried within the housing for longitudinal
displacement relative to the wick axis; a heating element carried
by said movable heater assembly in a manner that said heating
element is adjacent a portion of said wick end for heating said
wick portion; and an adjustable connection operatively associated
with said heater assembly for positioning said heater element at
different axial positions relative to the wick end and the wick
axis to adjust the degree of evaporation.
2. The device of claim 1, including a locking connection for
affixing said heating element on the housing.
3. The device of claim 2 wherein said movable heater assembly
includes at least one guide arm extending transverse having one
guide arm end received in a slot opening formed in the housing wall
for access from the outside of the housing.
4. The device of claim 3, including a first guide element carried
by the heater assembly extending generally parallel to the
direction of the wick axis, a second guide element carried by the
housing, and said first and second guide elements intergaging with
each other to guide movement of said heater assembly.
5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first guide element includes
a linear guide groove, and said second guide element includes a
guide ridge received within said guide groove; and a plurality of
spaced locking openings formed on said guide ridge, a locking
projection carried in said guide groove for engaging one of said
locking openings to hold said movable heater assembly at a given
distance relative to the wick end.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein said movable heater assembly
includes at least one guide arm extending transverse to the
longitudinal direction of the wick axis, and said heating element
being carried on said one guide arm.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said heating element includes a
support plate, said ceramic block being carried by said support
plate; at least one elastic locking arm carried by said support
plate biased in the direction of the ceramic block which engaged
said ceramic block; and a wick passage formed in said ceramic block
through which the wick end can be moved.
8. The device of claim 1, including an indicator carried by said
housing for indicating the relative position of said movable heater
assembly and said wick end.
9. The device of claim 1, including a pair of spaced end stops
between which said movable heater assembly is longitudinally
displaced in such manner that said first end stop positions said
movable heater assembly in close proximity to the wick end for a
maximum degree of evaporation, and said second end stop positions
said movable heater assembly at a distance above an upper wick end
in the longitudinal direction of the wick axis for a minimum degree
of evaporation.
10. The device of claim 1, including aeration slots formed in said
housing.
11. The device of claim 1 wherein and said housing includes a
forward housing shell and a rear housing shell, locking elements
for joining said forward and rear shells to each other in such
manner as to be detachable, and said rear housing shell includes
two housing half-shells detachably joined together by means of a
locking connection in such manner that mounting of said movable
heater assembly in the housing is facilitated.
12. The device of claim 11, wherein said rear housing shell
includes a double wall in an area below said movable heater
assembly which has a wire channel therein.
13. The device of claim 12, said double wall includes a rear wall
of the housing, a plug opening formed in said outer wall for
receiving an electrical connection plus which connects to a wall
plug.
14. The device of claim 13, including electrical wires routed
through said wire channel from the connection plus to the heating
element so that the wires are held in the wire channel with a
sufficient length to accommodate displacement of said movable
heater assembly to said first end stop position.
15. The device of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a
receiving slot formed in a lower housing area through which a
container can be introduced and affixed within the housing
interior.
16. An evaporation device for evaporating volatile substances such
as insecticides and aromatics comprising: a housing; a container
for the volatile substance to be evaporated disposed in the
housing, and a wick having a wick end protruding from the container
along a wick axis, a heating element for heating at least a portion
of the wick end; a movable heater assembly carried within the
housing for movement in the direction of the wick axis; and said
heating element being carried for movement with said movable heater
assembly so that a selected portion of said wick end is heated to
control the evaporation rate as desired according to the
application being made.
17. The device of claim 16 including an adjustable connection
operatively associated with said movable heater assembly for
positioning said heating element at a selected axial position
corresponding to said portion of said wick end desired to be heated
to adjust the degree of evaporation.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein said movable heater assembly
includes a support carrier for said heating element, and including
a locking connection for removably affixing said heating element to
said carrier.
19. The device of claim 18 wherein said carrier includes a guide
arm extending transverse of said housing having an arm end received
in a slot opening formed in said housing for access from the
outside of the housing, and said adjustable connection includes a
plurality of indexed connections for stationarily affixing said
carrier relative to said housing.
20. The device of claim 16 wherein said heating element includes a
ceramic block having a wick passage formed in said ceramic block so
that said ceramic block may selectively surround said wick end as
said movable heater assembly is moved.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a device for evaporating
volatile substances, in particular insecticides and/or
aromatics.
[0002] Insecticide and aromatic evaporation devices are generally
known. For example, evaporation devices are known where a small
plate introduced into an evaporation device and impregnated with an
active ingredient is heated in order to evaporate the active
ingredient. Furthermore a method is also known by which a container
containing a volatile substance is introduced into a housing of an
evaporation device. This container comprises a wick that conveys
the substance to be evaporated by means of capillary action out of
the container, whereby the wick end protruding from the container
is located next to a heating element such as a ceramic block The
substance is evaporated through the heat radiated by the ceramic
block and can escape from the housing into the environment through
aeration slits in the housing.
[0003] A disadvantage with the prior evaporation devices is that it
is not possible to adapt the degree of evaporation to the
prevailing room conditions or to the different sensitivities of
persons present in the room. Thus, for example, in smaller rooms
with insufficient air ventilation, it is desirable to lower the
degree of evaporation, and this is not possible with prior
evaporation devices. Furthermore adjustability of evaporation is
especially desirable for insecticides, so that the degree of
evaporation can be adjusted in accordance with the sensitivity of
persons present in the room. This has also not been possible with
the prior devices.
[0004] In order to be able to adjust the degree of evaporation to
the appliwire requirements it is known to control the degree of
evaporation by adjusting the heating output. Evaporation devices of
that type are relatively expensive to manufacture, and are prone to
malfunctions.
[0005] It is known in prior evaporation devices that the relative
distance between the heating element and wick can be changed to
adjust the degree of evaporation while the heating output is
maintained constant (EP 0 943 344 A1). The evaporation device
includes a resistance heating element with a connecting plug that
is threaded into a housing element in which a container of the
substances to be evaporated is located. Pin openings are provided
on the housing element into which locking pins are inserted in such
manner that they mesh with the threads of the plug. The distance
between the resistance-heating element and a wick end protruding
from the container can be changed by twisting the plug element. The
plug element can be mounted eccentrically in the housing element,
so that it too can be used to change the relative distance between
the wick end and the resistance heating element to achieve the
desired degree of evaporation. However, this method of adjusting
the degree of evaporation is relatively complicated in construction
and expensive to manufacture.
[0006] Another type of evaporation device in which the heating
output remains constant and the relative distance between the wick
and the heating element can be adjusted is known from WO 98/19526.
The evaporation device comprises a housing into which a container
with a wick can be screwed. The container is connected via a
bushing to a swivel arm that moves in a guide slot, extending
radially at an angle to the horizontal in the housing wall. Through
the coupling of the swivel arm to the container the container is
lifted relative to the housing in the axial direction when the
swivel arm is turned radially. The wick end protruding form the
container may be shifted relative to the fixed heating element. On
the whole, this is a relatively expensive and complicated
construction with a great number of additional components, so that
the evaporating device is also expensive to manufacture.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an
evaporation device for volatile substances, in particular
insecticides and/or aromatics, which is simple in structure and can
be produced economically yet the degree of evaporation can be
easily adjusted to meet current requirements.
[0008] The above object is accomplished according to the present
invention by providing a heating element carried on a movable
heater assembly mounted in the housing. The heating element may be
displaced longitudinally relative to the wick axis and can be fixed
in different longitudinal positions relative to the wick end for
the adjustment of the degree of evaporation. The heating element is
advantageously designed as having simultaneously a double function
by serving as a heating element and as a movable heater assembly so
that the degree of evaporation can easily be adjusted by displacing
the assembly in the longitudinal direction along the wick axis. In
addition, this integration of functions makes it possible to
achieve an overall space-saving and compact structure without
significant expenditure for components and material. The already
present components are used to adjust the degree of evaporation. An
evaporation device of this type is especially well suited for small
installation situations. The degree of evaporation can be adapted
individually and easily to the appliwire requirements, and in
addition the operation is simple and functioning is reliable.
[0009] In principle, several possibilities exist for mounting the
heating element on the movable heater assembly capable of
longitudinal displacement in the direction of the wick axis. In a
preferred embodiment the heating element can be fixed on the
housing by means of a clamp connection and/or a locking connection
snapped. In another preferred embodiment, the movable heater
assembly is fixed in a longitudinal position of the wick by means
of a snap-in locking connection. The snap-in locking connection
provides a secure holding within a given adjustment range. The
greatest possible reliability of function is achieved in the sense
that on the one hand the degree of evaporation can be adjusted
continuously if necessary by simply pressing down the locking
connection while on the other hand assurance is provided that the
movable heater assembly is held securely in the desired
position.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment the movable heater assembly is
provided with at least one guide arm extending generally
perpendicular to the wick axis. The arm is installed with one end
of the guide arm in a slot opening in the housing wall for access
from the outside of the housing. The guide arm can be made
economically without significant expenditure on the movable heater
assembly. In addition, the guide arm can serve as an indicator of
the currently set distance between the heating element and the wick
end by its position in the slot opening, possibly in combination
with a scale on the housing area surrounding the slot opening. The
guide arm is easily accessible on the other side through such a
slot opening for easy maintenance.
[0011] At least one guide arm may be used advantageously, held in
the slot opening between two end stop positions in the housing
wall. To provide an advantageous targeted and controlled guiding of
the movable heater assembly, the guiding device may be provided
with two guide arms connectable to opposing housing sides. The
reliability of function of the movable heater assembly is further
enhanced.
[0012] The linear guide device preferably has a first guide element
on each guide arm approximately parallel to the longitudinal
direction of the wick axis. There is a second guide element on the
housing corresponding to each first guide element. The first guide
element may be in the form of a guide groove and the second guide
element in the form of a guide ridge which slides in the guide
groove, or vice-versa. To ensure especially simple and reliable
positioning, and at the same time simple displacement, the guide
ridge may be guided with a friction lock in the guide groove.
Advantageously, snap-in openings may be made on the guide ridge,
spaced to correspond to different longitudinal distance settings. A
snap-in protrusion of the movable heater assembly may be snapped
into the opening at a given distance from the wick end to further
enhance reliability.
[0013] Advantageously, at least one guide arm of the movable heater
assembly, approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
of the wick axis, carries an electrical heating element. A heating
element of this type may be formed by an electric resistance or, in
a preferred embodiment, in the form of a ceramic block. Good
performance of the entire evaporation device results with the
electric heating element in the form of a ceramic block coupled
with electric wires. The ceramic block may be mounted on a
supporting plate connected to at least one guide arm and can be
held in place by means of an elastically attached locking arm. The
elastic locking arm may be pre-stressed in the direction of the
ceramic block and surrounding the ceramic block laterally in shape
of an "L." Complimentary seating ridges formed on the block and
supporting plate, preferably made of plastic, make it possible that
heat bridges with small surfaces engaging the supporting plate are
created. The heat radiation of the ceramic block in the direction
of the wick is thus optimized. The locking arms provide secure
holding of the ceramic block on the supporting plate in that they
can be simply snapped into the latter. Preferably four locking arms
are installed on the supporting plate for especially secure
holding. In a preferred embodiment, with two guide arms across from
each other, the supporting plate is approximately in the center
between the two guide arms and in the center of the housing.
[0014] A passage for the wick may be made in the ceramic block and
correspondingly in the supporting plate. The wick end can be moved
through the passage according to the distance that has been
selected. The wick passage may, for example, be a circular hole, or
a perpendicular recess on the edge. In another advantageous
embodiment a distance and/or operational indicator visible through
a corresponding opening in the housing be provided on the movable
heater assembly. An electric light, e.g. a glow lamp, is preferably
provided as the distance and/or operational indicator. In this
manner it is can easily be seen from the outside whether the
evaporation device is in operation, which is especially
advantageous in case an ON/OFF switch is present. At the same time,
it can also be used to easily read the position of the movable
heater assembly by means of a scale disposed in the area of the
housing opening.
[0015] Basically, the movable heater assembly can be adjusted
continuously or at different incremental positions at different
distances from the wick end. In an advantageous embodiment, the
movable heater assembly can be displaced between two limit
positions constituted by stops formed on the housing side. The
movable heater assembly may be located in immediate proximity to
the wick end in a first end stop position for a maximum degree of
evaporation. The movable heater assembly is preferably located at a
distance from the upper wick end as seen from above the wick end in
the longitudinal direction of the wick to achieve minimum
evaporation. The movable heater assembly may preferably be held in
intermediate positions between the two limit positions so that a
good individual adjustment of the degree of evaporation to the
appliwire requirements is achieved.
[0016] The housing itself can be made in different manners
depending on the different embodiments. In one advantageous
embodiment, the housing has aeration slits and is constructed in a
forward housing shell and a rear housing shell removably connected
to each other via corresponding locking elements in a locking
connection. The rear housing shell may be formed by two housing
half-shells which are detachably connected to each other also via
corresponding locking elements in a locking connection. In a
preferred embodiment, a plane of separation between the half-shells
of the rear housing shell is located approximately in a central
longitudinal area of the rear housing shell. Preferably the movable
heater assembly is mounted on the housing so that it can be
displaced longitudinally in the direction of the longitudinal wick
axis after assembly or connection of the housing half-shells. The
division of the rear housing shells into two housing half-shells
makes an easy assembly of the movable heater assembly possible.
Thus, for instance, it is possible to thread the guide grooves
first on one guide ridge of a first housing half-shell, where two
guide arms face each other, and then to install the second housing
half-shell on this pre-assembled component. The guide ridge of this
second housing half-shell then correspondingly engages the free
guide groove of the free guide arm. This results in much greater
ease of assembly. The ventilation slits are advantageously made in
a housing area near the wick end, so that the evaporated substances
can escape upwardly from the housing into the environment.
[0017] In principle, connecting the movable heater assembly with
electric wires presents no problem in the design according to the
invention. The displacement of the movable heater assembly is not
so long that an excessive expenditure would be required for long
wire lengths to accommodate displacements of the device. However,
in order to shield the wires, among other things, from the housing
interior in which the container is located, the rear housing shell
is made with a double wall when mounted so as to create a wire
channel in an advantageous embodiment. The wires can be stowed away
in such a wire channel as they go from the heating element to a
connection plug so they are shielded from the housing interior.
This also ensures that the electrical wires are not in the way when
the container is inserted into the housing interior. The rear wall
constituting the outer housing wall may be provided with an opening
to seat a connection plug so that it an be plugged into a socket.
The connection plug in this opening is preferably inserted by means
of a complimentary groove and ridge, preferably when the housing
half-shells are assembled. In this case, the electric wires go from
the connection plug through the wire channel to the heating
element. In an especially advantageous embodiment the wires can be
fixed in the wire channel in such manner that the wires are
somewhat stretched in the second end stop position at maximum
distance between the movable heater assembly and the wick end. In
this way the longitudinal displacement of the heating element
presents no problem with regard to wire lengths due to its
longitudinal displacement. Alternately, a passage for the wires may
be provided in the rear wall, instead of an opening for a
connection plug, so that the housing can also be connected by a
wire plugged into a socket far removed from the point of
installation.
[0018] For simple insertion of the container in the housing with
good access, a receiving slot or opening may be provided in the
lower housing area through which the container can be introduced
and/or screwed into the housing interior where it can be fixed or
preferably snapped in detachably. Alternately, it is also possible
to provide a passage for the wires in the rear wall instead of an
opening for a connection plug so that the housing can be connected
by a wire plugged into a socket removed from the point of
installation.
[0019] For simple insertion of the container in the housing with
good access, a receiving slot or opening may be provided in the
lower housing area through which the container can be introduced
and/or screwed into the housing interior where it can be fixed or
preferably snapped in detachably.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The construction designed to carry out the invention will
hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof.
[0021] The invention will be more readily understood from a reading
of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying
drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the
invention is shown and wherein:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view on a forward housing
shell,
[0023] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view on a connection plug which is
coupled via electric wires to a heating element made in form of a
movable heater assembly,
[0024] FIG. 3 schematically shows two housing half-shells which
constitute a rear housing shell,
[0025] FIG. 4 schematically shows the two housing half-shells
according to FIG. 3 in an assembled state,
[0026] FIG. 5 schematically shows a rear housing shell with a
heating element made in form of a movable heater assembly that can
be displaced longitudinally along it, in a first end stop
position,
[0027] FIG. 6 schematically shows a rear housing half with a
heating element made in form of a movable heater assembly that can
be displaced longitudinally along it, in a second stop
position,
[0028] FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-section through a completely
assembled evaporation device with a top view on the heating element
made in form of a movable heater assembly with a ceramic block,
[0029] FIG. 8 is the representation of FIG. 8 without ceramic
block; and
[0030] FIG. 9 shows a schematic longitudinal section through a
completely assembled evaporation device with the container for a
substance to be evaporated shown schematically by broken lines.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] Referring now in more detail to the drawings, the invention
will now be described in more detail.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a forward housing shell 1
of an evaporation device 2. This forward housing shell 1 has
several aeration slits 3 at an upper end, through which an
evaporated substance can escape into the environment. In addition,
the forward housing shell 1 has also an opening, in this case drop
shaped for example, to serve as a fullness indicator 53, e.g. in
combination with a transparent cover or container.
[0033] FIG. 2 schematically shows a top view of an electric
connection plug 43 that is coupled via electric wires 48 to a
heating element 26 carried on a movable heater assembly 20, to be
explained further below.
[0034] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a rear housing shell 7 consisting of two
housing half-shells 5, 6 which can be connected detachably to each
other by means of several locking connections 8. Each locking
connection 8 consists of a locking pin 9 on the housing half-shell
6 that enters a corresponding locking seat 10 on the housing shell
5. Instead of the design of the locking pins 9 on the housing
half-shell 6, the locking pins 9 can also be formed on the housing
half-shell 5. Similarly it is also possible for the locking pins 9
and the seats 10 to alternate on the housing half-shell 5 as well
as on the housing half-shell 6. The locking pins 9 are
advantageously slightly bigger than the seats 10 to form a tight
locking connection.
[0035] As can further be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, additional locking
pin seats 11 are formed on housing half-shells 5, 6 of rear housing
shell 7 which receive locking pins (not shown) of a locking
connection 12. Connection 12 is correspondingly formed on forward
housing shell 1 and can be connected in the manner described above
for the locking connections 8. When connected, rear housing shell 7
and forward housing shell 1 form a multi-part housing 13.
[0036] As can further be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, slot openings 14,
15 are provided in upper portions of housing half-shells 5, 6 of
rear housing shell 7 at the same level. Each slot opening 14,15
includes a longitudinal guide ridge 16, 17 extending inwardly of
the housing which extend longitudinally an upper slot opening edge
to an area below the lower slot opening edge. As can best be seen
in FIGS. 5 and 6 in combination with FIGS. 7 and 8, guide arms 18,
19 of a heating element, made in the form of movable heater
assembly 20, include linear guide grooves 21, 22 corresponding to
linear guide ridges 16, 17. Linear guide grooves 21, 22 slidably
receive guide ridges 16, 17 for relative longitudinal movement. As
can best be seen in FIG. 3, several locking index seats 23 can be
formed on one or both guide ridges 16, 17. Index seats 23 receive a
locking projection 24 formed by an edge of guiding device 20 within
guide grooves 21, 22. Projection 24 can be snapped into an index
seat 23 to hold the movable heater assembly 20 at a desired
vertical position.
[0037] Movable heater assembly 20 includes a supporting
carrierplate 25 in a central area between guide arms 18, 19, as can
best be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, which show a cross-section of a
completely assembled evaporation device 2. A ceramic block 26,
serving as the heating element, is carried on this supporting plate
25. FIG. 8 shows a representation of the ceramic block 26 of FIG. 7
as indicated by broken lines. As can best be seen in FIGS. 5 to 8,
ceramic block 26 is supported via rib 27 on plate 25 and by four
locking arms 28 distributed over the circumference of the
supporting plate 25. Locking arms 28 are made of a plastic
material, just as housing 13 and the guide arms 18, 19. Locking
arms 28 are connected elastically and pre-stressed on the
supporting plate 25 toward ceramic block 26. In a snapped-in state,
locking arms 28 surround the ceramic block 26 approximately in the
form of an L, as can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIGS. 7 and
8 it can further be seen that ceramic block 26 and supporting plate
25 are each provided with a passage 29, aligned with each other,
and extending through the block and plate. As is shown in part and
schematically in FIGS. 5 and 6, a wick end 30 extending from the
container is inserted through passage 29 formed in supporting plate
25 and ceramic block 26. The container contains a substance to be
evaporated and a wick is inserted in housing 13 communicating with
the wick.
[0038] Movable heater assembly 20 can be displaced between a first
end stop position 33 (FIG. 5) and a second end stop position 34
(FIG. 6), as seen in the longitudinal direction of the wick. First
and second end stop positions 33, 34 are provided by stops 31, 32
formed on the housing sides. The stops may be formed by the
interaction of the slot opening areas facing each other in the
longitudinal direction, in combination with corresponding guide arm
ends 35, 36 of guide arms 18, 19. Guide arm ends 35, 36 extend
through slot openings 14, 15 in such manner that they can easily be
grasped with fingers from the outside of the housing. In first end
stop position 33 (FIG. 5), ceramic block 26 immediately surrounds
wick end 30 so that a maximum degree of evaporation is provided. On
the other hand, in second end stop position (FIG. 6), ceramic block
26 is located above wick end 30, and only a low degree of
evaporation is attained since heat emitted by ceramic block 26 acts
only in part on wick end 30. Of course, it is also possible to
provide intermediate positions of the movable heater assembly 20
between these two extreme positions shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, whereby
the locking index seats 23 predetermine these intermediate
positions.
[0039] As can best be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, an electric lamp 38 is
carried on the guide arm 18, in a screening housing 37, which
serves as a distance and/or operational indicator and is associated
with a housing opening 39 (FIG. 1). In this manner, lamp 38 serves,
for example in combination with an ON/OFF switch, on the housing as
an indicator of the operational state or as a position indicator
showing the degree of evaporation Depending on the position of lamp
38 relative to the housing as seen through the housing opening 39,
and possibly in combination with a scale provided in an edge area
of the housing opening 39, an indication of the degree of
evaporation may be provided. Alternatively or in addition, such a
scale can also be provided on the outside of the housing in the
vicinity of slot openings 14, 15.
[0040] By constructing rear housing shell 7 from half-shells 5, 6,
movable heater assembly 20 can be assembled easily. It is possible,
for example, to interconnect movable heater assembly 20 together
with linear guide groove 21 on linear guide ridge 16 of housing
half-shell 5 and to then plug the second housing half-shell 6 on
housing half-shell 5, whereby linear guide ridge 17 of the housing
half-shell 6 enters the linear guide groove 22 of the guide arm 19.
As a result, heating element 20 made in the form of a movable
heater assembly is mounted on housing 13 so as to be capable of
displacement in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal wick
axis once the two housing half-shells 5, 6 have been joined
together.
[0041] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 9, which shows a
schematic longitudinal cross section through a completely assembled
evaporation device 2, the rear housing shell 7 is made with a
double wall in its assembled state in an area below the movable
heater assembly, with a wire channel 40 being thus formed.
[0042] A rear wall 42 of the rear housing shell 7 which constitutes
the outer wall in this double-wall housing area comprises in this
case an opening 42 which is shown in broken lines also in FIGS. 4
to 6. A connection plug 43 can be inserted into this opening 42
when the two housing half-shells 5, 6 are joined together via a
groove-ridge pair 44. This groove-ridge pair 44 comprises on the
rear wall 41 a ring-shaped ridge 45 going all around when the two
housing half-shells 5, 6 are joined together and engaging a
corresponding ring-shaped recess 46 on the connection plug 43 when
assembled. Holding arms 47 which protrude into the recess 42 and
are formed on in the area of the rear wall 41 to make additional
locking of the connection plug in the rear wall 41 possible can be
provided advantageously.
[0043] Electrical wires which are not shown here go in the wire
channel 40 from the connection plug 43 to the ceramic block 26 of
the heating element 20 made in form of a movable heater assembly.
An electric wire can also go here from the electric connection plug
43 to the electric lamp 38.
[0044] In this case the electric wires in the wire channel 40 can
be held in such manner between the locking pin seats 10 of the
locking connection 12 and the inner wall of the rear wall 41 that
the wires are slightly stretched for the maximum distance between
the movable heater assembly 20 and the wick end 30 in the second
end stop position 34.
[0045] A schematic representation of the connection plug 43 with
the heating element 20 made in form of a movable heater assembly
and in particular electric wires 48 going to the ceramic block 26
and to the electric lamp 38 are shown in FIG. 2 their disassembled
state in a top view.
[0046] FIG. 9 furthermore shows schematically and in broken lines
that the housing 13 is provided with a receiving slot 49 in a lower
housing area through which a container 50 shown here only
schematically and by broken lines can be introduced at least
partially into the interior housing space 51 and can be fixed there
detachably. The detachable attachment is effected e.g. through a
locking connection 53 located in the lower receiving slot area.
* * * * *