Heating Chamber Platform Layout for Even Aerosol Substrate Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol generation devices face challenges in efficiently heating aerosol substrates to release aerosols while minimizing energy consumption and preventing damage to the substrate carrier, with existing designs often leading to inefficient heat distribution and potential damage during use.

Innovation Solution

A heating chamber with a platform extending from the base, a heater surrounding the chamber side wall but not the base, and a substrate carrier configuration that compresses the aerosol substrate to ensure even heating and prevent damage, along with a control system to manage heat delivery efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the heater extends around the base of the heating chamber, then heating efficiency is improved, but the substrate carrier may be damaged during use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidsubstrate carrier damage
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is extracted from extending around the base of the heating chamber and positioned only around the chamber side wall. This removes the harmful effect of the heater contacting or being too close to the substrate carrier base, preventing damage while maintaining effective heating of the aerosol substrate through the chamber walls.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Strength

If the base is made resilient to deformation, then structural strength is improved, but the platform may cause damage to the pre-packaged aerosol substrate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebase resilienceVSAvoidsubstrate damage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The platform is designed with specific local qualities - an atraumatic shape that is rounded or curved rather than sharp or angular. This local modification allows the platform to provide structural support and maintain base resilience while preventing concentration of stress that would damage the substrate carrier during insertion or use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If the platform area is increased to support the substrate carrier, then structural stability is improved, but heat distribution to the substrate becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubstrate carrier supportVSAvoidheat distribution efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The platform is designed with partial action - it provides just enough support surface area to stabilize the substrate carrier without excessive area that would interfere with heat distribution. The platform extends far enough to prevent carrier damage but remains small enough to allow efficient thermal coupling between the heater and substrate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Productivity

If the device is designed for rapid heating, then aerosol generation speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaerosol generation speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating system parameters are optimized to achieve rapid heating at lower energy consumption. This includes positioning the heater to maximize thermal efficiency, designing the chamber with appropriate thermal mass, and controlling heating parameters to reach optimal temperature quickly without excessive energy input, thereby improving aerosol generation speed while managing energy use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables rapid and efficient aerosol generation with reduced energy consumption, minimizing substrate carrier damage and ensuring consistent aerosol release, improving user experience and device efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

heating an aerosol substrate that typically comprises moist leaf tobacco or other suitable aerosolisable material to a temperature typically in the range 150°C to 300°C

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

the aerosol will only be released from the aerosol substrate and delivered to user the when there is air flow passing through the aerosol substrate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3863444B1Aerosol generation device and heating chamber therefor
Publication Date: 2024.02.14 JT INTERNATIONAL SA
  • EP3863444B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3863444B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3863444B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)

AI summary

An aerosol generation device (100) has a heating chamber (108) for receiving a substrate carrier (114) containing an aerosol substrate (128). The heating chamber (108) comprises an open first end (110), a chamber side wall (126), and a base (112) at a second end of the chamber side wall (126) opposite the open first end (110), wherein the base (112) comprises a platform (148) extending from a portion of the base (112) towards the open end (110) from an interior surface of the base (112).