Capillary Refilling for Spill-Free Aerosol Provision Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic aerosol provision systems face challenges in refilling refillable reservoirs, including the risk of spilling liquid aerosol-generating material during manual refilling and the need for bulky, expensive electric pumps.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing capillary elements to transfer aerosol-generating material from a refilling device to the aerosol provision device using capillary action, optionally with an energizing mechanism to facilitate the transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual pouring refilling is used, then device complexity is reduced, but the risk of spilling liquid aerosol-generating material increases
Solution Approach 1:
A capillary element acts as an intermediary between the refilling reservoir and the aerosol-generating material storage portion. This capillary element controls the transfer of liquid aerosol-generating material through capillary action, preventing spills while maintaining simple device structure without requiring complex pumps or valves.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If electric pump refilling is used, then spilling risk is reduced, but device weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary element enables self-service refilling by utilizing capillary action to automatically transfer liquid aerosol-generating material from the refilling reservoir to the storage portion. This eliminates the need for electric pumps, motors, or power sources, significantly reducing device weight and cost while preventing spills through controlled material transfer.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If alignment between aerosol provision system and refilling system is required, then spilling risk is reduced, but ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The capillary element serves as a forgiving intermediary that tolerates misalignment between the refilling system and aerosol provision system. Its capillary action ensures controlled material transfer even when perfect alignment is not achieved, making the refilling process more forgiving and easier to operate without requiring precise user positioning.
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
Enables easy and spill-free refilling of aerosol-generating material without the need for active power sources, improving user experience and reducing device bulk and cost.
Implementation Method 1
a capillary element configured to transfer aerosol-generating material from the reservoir of the refilling device to the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device using capillary action
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a system including: an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol-generating material storage portion for storing an aerosol-generating material, the aerosol provision device arranged to aerosolise aerosol-generating material stored in the aerosol-generating material storage portion; and a refilling device configured to receive the aerosol provision device in an aerosol provision device receiving portion and arranged to refill the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material from a reservoir of the refilling device. The system comprises a capillary element configured to transfer aerosol-generating material from the reservoir of the refilling device to the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device using capillary action. Also described is an aerosol provision device, a refilling device and a method of refilling.