Heating Cylinder Structure for Contact and Hot-Gas Aerosol Heating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing aerosol-generating apparatuses suffer from significant heat loss due to inefficient heat transfer and utilization, with a large portion of heat transferred downward being wasted.

Innovation Solution

The heating element features a heating cylinder with a side wall and bottom wall that form a receiving chamber, containing a heating member and support protruding portions to support the aerosol-generating article, along with contact protruding portions for direct contact heating and gas intake channels for hot gas flow heating, reducing heat loss by optimizing heat transfer pathways.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If the heating element is installed at the bottom of the aerosol-generating article and heat is transferred upward or downward, then the aerosol-generating article can be heated, but a large portion of the heat transferred downward cannot be utilized, resulting in significant heat loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat lossVSAvoidheating structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is segmented into multiple heating sections (first heating section and second heating section) positioned at different locations (side wall and bottom wall) to provide multi-directional heating. This segmentation allows different portions of the heating element to serve different functions - one for direct contact heating and another for hot gas flow heating - thereby reducing heat loss without requiring a completely complex redesigned structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element utilizes three-dimensional space by extending heating sections along both the side wall and bottom wall of the receiving chamber. This dimensional expansion allows heat to be applied from multiple directions (radially from side wall and axially from bottom wall), improving heat utilization efficiency without simply increasing the size of a single heating component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If external cold air enters through a gas intake and is heated by the heating element to form hot gas flow, then heating uniformity is improved, but the overall heat utilization efficiency remains low due to downward heat loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating uniformityVSAvoidheat utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element merges two heating mechanisms into a single integrated component: direct contact heating through the heating sections positioned close to the aerosol-generating article, and hot gas flow heating through the gas flow channel. This merging allows both heating methods to work simultaneously within one structure, improving overall heat utilization efficiency while maintaining heating uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating element serves multiple functions simultaneously: it heats the aerosol-generating article through direct contact, heats the gas flow passing through the receiving chamber, and maintains heating uniformity through its distributed heating sections. This multi-functionality allows the same component to address multiple heating requirements without requiring separate dedicated heating devices for each function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 enhances heat utilization by directly heating the aerosol-generating article through both contact and hot gas flow, reducing heat loss and improving the overall efficiency of the apparatus.

Implementation Method 1

a heating member, wherein the heating member is disposed on the side wall

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the contact protruding portion is configured to be in heat-conducting contact with an outer circumferential surface of the aerosol-generating article

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

External cold air enters the aerosol-generating apparatus through a gas intake, and is heated by the heating element to form hot gas flow, which then enters the aerosol-generating article from a bottom of the receiving chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4691292A1Heating element and aerosol-generating apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SHENZHEN GEEKVAPE TECH CO LTD
  • EP4691292A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4691292A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4691292A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A heating element (20) and an aerosol-generating apparatus are provided. The heating element includes a heating cylinder (21), and a heating member. The heating cylinder has one end open and the other end closed, a side wall (211) and a bottom wall (212) of the heating cylinder enclose to form a receiving chamber (221), the receiving chamber is in fluid communication with the aerosol outlet, and the receiving chamber is configured to accommodate an aerosol-generating article (40); the heating member is disposed on the side wall; a support protruding portion (114) facing the receiving chamber is arranged on the bottom wall and/or the side wall; and the support protruding portion is configured to support the aerosol-generating article, thereby forming a gas intake chamber between the aerosol-generating article and the bottom wall; and the side wall is provided with a contact protruding portion (141a) and a recessed portion; and the contact protruding portion is arranged facing the receiving chamber, the contact protruding portion is configured to be in heat-conducting contact with an outer circumferential surface of the aerosol-generating article, and the recessed portion is configured to form a gas intake channel together with the outer circumferential surface of the aerosol-generating article, and the aerosol outlet is in fluid communication with the gas intake chamber through the gas intake channel. The heating element can directly heat the aerosol-generating article through direct contact heating and hot gas flow heating, the heat utilization rate of the heating element is improved and heat loss of the aerosol-generating apparatus is reduced.