Heating Projections for Smokable Material Volatilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smoking devices that heat tobacco do not efficiently release compounds without combustion, limiting alternatives to traditional smoking methods.

Innovation Solution

A heater apparatus with sequentially arranged heating projections that heat smokable material to volatilize components without burning, featuring independently controllable heating regions and an infra-red heater for efficient temperature control and energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a heater heats smokable material to volatilize components, then compounds are released without combustion, but energy consumption is high and power source life is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompound release efficiencyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is divided into multiple heating projections (first, second, third projections) arranged sequentially along the longitudinal axis. Each projection can be independently controlled to heat specific sections of the smokable material, allowing selective activation to reduce overall energy consumption while maintaining effective compound release.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different heating projections are positioned to heat different local regions of the smokable material cartridge. The first heating projection heats a first section, the second heating projection heats a second section, and the third heating projection heats a third section, enabling localized heating rather than uniform heating of the entire material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If heating projections are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal axis, then selective heating regions are achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveselective heating capabilityVSAvoidheater structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple heating projections are integrated into a single heater assembly that shares common structural support and housing. The projections are arranged sequentially along the longitudinal axis and can be controlled through a unified control system, reducing the overall complexity compared to having completely separate heating devices for each section.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating projections can be activated in a sequential or periodic manner along the longitudinal axis, allowing different sections of the smokable material to be heated at different times. This periodic activation pattern enables selective heating while using a single integrated heater structure rather than requiring all projections to be active simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If the heater heats smokable material to high temperature, then volatilization efficiency is improved, but risk of combustion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolatilization efficiencyVSAvoidcombustion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The heating process is divided into multiple independent heating zones created by the sequential heating projections. Each projection can be controlled to maintain temperature within a specific range suitable for volatilization without reaching combustion temperatures, allowing precise temperature management across different sections of the smokable material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of heating the entire smokable material cartridge uniformly to high temperature, only specific sections are heated by individual projections at any given time. This partial heating approach achieves sufficient volatilization efficiency in the active zone while keeping other zones at lower temperatures, thereby reducing the overall risk of combustion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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 apparatus effectively heats smokable material to release aromatic compounds and nicotine without combustion, reducing energy consumption and extending the life of the device's power source by activating heating regions selectively.

Implementation Method 1

a heater configured to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal energy transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The apparatus may further comprise the smokable material and an infra-red heater, wherein the infra-red heater comprises a halogen infra-red heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfra-red radiation: Infrared Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS10729176B2Heating smokeable material

Publication Date: 2020.08.04 NICOVENTURES TRADING LTD

AI summary

An apparatus comprising a heater configured to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material, wherein the heater comprises a plurality of heating projections arranged sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the heater; and the projections are configured to heat smokable material located between the projections. An elongate smokable material cartridge comprising a plurality of smokable material sections is also described.