Alternating Heating Sections and Insulating Barriers for Aerosol Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aerosol generating apparatuses experience a decline in sensory effect over extended use due to depletion of flavor and nicotine content in consumables, leading to an uneven smoking experience as air passes through the same heated material repeatedly, which can be exacerbated by switching between heated and unheated sections.

Innovation Solution

A heating system with alternating heating sections and thermally insulating barriers, arranged radially to independently heat unique sections of a consumable, preventing heat transfer between sections and maintaining a uniform inner surface, ensuring consistent flavor and nicotine delivery throughout multiple smoking cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single heating section is used to heat the consumable, then the device complexity is reduced, but the sensory effect diminishes over extended use due to depletion of flavor and nicotine content

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating system structureVSAvoidsensory effect duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating sections (first heating section, second heating section, etc.) that can independently heat different radial sections of the consumable. This segmentation allows the consumable to be heated in different zones, preventing depletion of flavor and nicotine content in any single zone, thereby extending the duration of sensory effect while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Duration of action of moving object

If multiple heating sections are used to heat different radial sections of the consumable, then the sensory effect is maintained over extended use, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensory effect durationVSAvoidheating system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating sections and thermally insulating barriers are merged into a single integral heating system component manufactured as one piece. This combining of multiple functional elements into an integrated structure reduces assembly complexity and manufacturing steps while maintaining the beneficial effect of multiple independent heating zones for extended sensory effect duration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If thermally insulating barriers are added to prevent heat transfer between heating sections, then flavor and nicotine delivery is maintained, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflavor and nicotine delivery consistencyVSAvoidheating system manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The thermally insulating barriers are integrated directly into the heating system structure, forming an integral component with the heating sections. This merging of insulation elements with the heating structure eliminates the need for separate manufacturing and assembly steps for the barriers, thereby maintaining reliable flavor and nicotine delivery through effective thermal isolation while simplifying the overall manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 arrangement maintains a consistent sensory experience by preventing heat transfer between sections, allowing each section to be used for multiple cycles without depleting adjacent sections, thus extending the usable life of the consumable and maintaining flavor and nicotine levels.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of thermally insulating barriers, wherein the heating sections and the thermally insulating barriers are alternatingly arranged

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 2

Flavour and/or nicotine is released by heating of the tobacco material while generating substances as a result of a burning the tobacco material are avoided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentEP4527216A1Heating system and aerosol generating apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.03.26 IMPERIAL TOBACCO LTD
  • EP4527216A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4527216A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3b
  • EP4527216A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a heating system and an aerosol generating apparatus. A drawback with known aerosol generating apparatuses is that a sensory effect for the user may diminish over the extended use of a consumable. Accordingly, there is provided a heating system (20) for an aerosol generating apparatus (1) for heating a consumable (70), comprising a plurality of heating sections (54a-h), and a plurality of thermally insulating barriers (24), wherein the heating sections and the thermally insulating barriers are alternatingly arranged, wherein the plurality of heating sections (54a-h) are arranged to heat a consumable (70) in a unique radial section along the longitudinal extension of the consumable, and wherein the plurality of heating sections and the plurality of thermally insulating barriers form a cavity having a uniform inner surface for accommodating a consumable.