Atomizing Unit Cover Member Design for Aerosol Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing atomizing units for non-burning flavor inhalers face issues with excessive aerosol source supply, leading to potential leakage and heat loss during thermal atomization, which reduces atomization efficiency.

Innovation Solution

An atomizing unit design featuring a liquid holding member with a cover member that restricts aerosol source supply, ensuring proper contact with a heating element while minimizing heat loss by using a cover member with lower thermal conductivity, preventing oversupply and enhancing atomization efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the liquid holding member is disposed to contact the heating element, then atomization efficiency is improved, but aerosol source oversupply and leakage occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveatomization efficiencyVSAvoidaerosol source supply amount
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The liquid holding member is designed with different functional zones: an inner side surface that contacts the heating element for efficient atomization, and an outer side surface that is covered by a cover member to prevent oversupply and leakage. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between achieving good contact for atomization and preventing excessive supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If the liquid holding member contacts the heating element, then heat transfer is improved, but heat loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidheat loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is disposed to cover only the outer side surface of the liquid holding member, leaving the inner side surface exposed to contact the heating element. This ensures good heat transfer where needed while the cover member prevents heat loss to the surrounding environment, resolving the contradiction between heat transfer efficiency and heat loss prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If the liquid holding member is covered by a cover member, then heat loss is reduced, but aerosol source supply is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat lossVSAvoidaerosol source supply amount
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The cover member is strategically disposed to cover only the outer side surface of the liquid holding member in the orthogonal direction, while leaving the inner side surface uncovered to maintain contact with the heating element. This localized covering reduces heat loss without restricting aerosol source supply to the heating element, resolving the contradiction between heat loss reduction and aerosol supply maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

The solution effectively prevents aerosol source oversupply, reduces heat loss, and maintains high atomization efficiency by ensuring controlled aerosol delivery and heat management.

Implementation Method 1

a heating element (atomizing portion) for atomizing the aerosol source held by the liquid holding member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal atomization: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

a liquid holding member for holding an aerosol source supplied from the reservoir

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentEP3315035B1Atomizing unit
Publication Date: 2019.12.25 JAPAN TOBACCO INC
  • EP3315035B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3315035B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3315035B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

This atomization unit (111) is provided with a liquid holding member (12) that holds an aerosol source, a heating element (13) that atomizes the aerosol source held by the liquid holding member, and a cover member (15) that restricts the amount of the aerosol source supplied to the liquid holding member, wherein the liquid holding member has a shape that extends along a prescribed direction (A), at least a portion of the inner side surface of the liquid holding member in an orthogonal direction (B) which is orthogonal to the prescribed direction is in contact with or in close proximity to the heating element, and at least a portion of the outer side surface of the liquid holding member in the orthogonal direction is covered by the cover member.