Aerosol Delivery Component With Dynamic Bleed Port Valve

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol-delivery systems face challenges with pressure buildup and leakage due to the lack of a controlled bleed mechanism in their tanks, which can inhibit effective aerosol delivery and lead to liquid precursor leakage.

Innovation Solution

The aerosol-delivery component features a tank with a bleed port that is selectively opened and closed by a moveable valve member, allowing air to enter the tank during use to prevent pressure buildup while blocking the bleed port in non-use orientations to prevent leakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a bleed port is provided in the tank to allow air entry and prevent pressure buildup, then aerosol delivery effectiveness is improved, but the tank becomes prone to liquid precursor leakage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol delivery effectivenessVSAvoidliquid precursor leakage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the bleed port dynamically controllable through a valve mechanism. The bleed port is not permanently open but is selectively opened or closed based on operational needs. The valve includes a moveable member that responds to pressure differential between the inside and outside of the tank, automatically opening to allow air entry when pressure builds up and closing to prevent leakage when not needed, thus dynamically adjusting the system state to resolve the contradiction between aerosol delivery effectiveness and leakage prevention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies the parameter changes principle by changing the state of the bleed port from static to dynamic. The valve mechanism changes the flow parameter (air entry) based on pressure differential conditions. When the pressure differential exceeds a threshold, the valve opens to change the pressure parameter inside the tank, allowing controlled air entry to maintain proper pressure conditions for aerosol delivery while preventing uncontrolled leakage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of substance

If no bleed port is provided in the tank, then liquid precursor leakage is prevented, but pressure buildup occurs that inhibits effective aerosol delivery

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid precursor leakage preventionVSAvoidaerosol delivery effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The valve mechanism with moveable member provides dynamic control of the bleed port, transitioning from a closed state (preventing leakage) to an open state (allowing air entry) based on real-time pressure differential conditions. This dynamic response ensures the bleed port remains closed during normal operation to prevent leakage, but automatically opens when pressure differential exceeds the threshold to maintain aerosol delivery effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The valve mechanism implements a feedback control system where the pressure differential between tank interior and exterior serves as the feedback signal. When this differential exceeds a predetermined threshold, the feedback triggers the moveable valve member to open the bleed port, allowing air entry to equalize pressure and restore aerosol delivery effectiveness, thus creating a self-regulating system that prevents both leakage and pressure buildup

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution effectively maintains pressure within the tank during aerosol delivery, reducing the risk of leakage and ensuring consistent aerosol production, while also preventing liquid precursor loss when the device is not in use.

Implementation Method 1

a valve having a moveable valve member configured to at least partially open the bleed port in a first orientation of the component and configured to block the bleed port in second orientation of the component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4197355B1Aerosol delivery component
Publication Date: 2025.01.22 IMPERIAL TOBACCO LTD
  • EP4197355B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1C
  • EP4197355B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4197355B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is an aerosol-delivery component comprising: a tank for liquid aerosol precursor having a tank wall portion that defines a bleed port; and a valve having a moveable valve member configured to at least partially open the bleed port in a first (e.g. upright) orientation of the component and configured to block the bleed port in second (e.g. inverted) orientation of the component.