Inhalation Cartridge Heating Element Pressing Depth

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing inhalation devices lack novel structures in their cartridges and devices, which can limit efficiency and user experience.

Innovation Solution

The inhalation device cartridge features a liquid storage portion, an atomizing portion, and a flexible liquid transporting member. The atomizing portion is a heating element with an elongated shape and electrical contact points at both ends, pressed into the main surface of the liquid transporting member with a greater pressing depth at the center than at the ends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the heating element is pressed into the liquid transporting member with uniform pressing depth, then the structure is simple, but the atomization efficiency is insufficient and temperature distribution is uneven

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveatomization efficiencyVSAvoidpressing depth variation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is pressed into the liquid transporting member with different pressing depths at different locations: greater pressing depth at the center portion and smaller pressing depth at the end portions. This local quality differentiation ensures optimal contact pressure and heat transfer efficiency at the center where liquid accumulation is highest, while preventing excessive compression at the ends, thereby achieving uniform temperature distribution and improved atomization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the heating element has uniform contact with the liquid transporting member, then the manufacturing is easy, but the temperature distribution is uneven and atomization is inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature distribution uniformityVSAvoidpressing depth variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is designed with location-specific pressing depths: greater pressing depth at the center portion and smaller pressing depth at the end portions. This local quality differentiation ensures optimal contact pressure and heat transfer efficiency at the center where liquid accumulation is highest, while preventing excessive compression at the ends, thereby achieving uniform temperature distribution and improved atomization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If the heating element is pressed deeply into the liquid transporting member, then the heat transfer is improved, but the liquid transport is obstructed and atomization is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoidatomization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is pressed into the liquid transporting member with different pressing depths at different locations: greater pressing depth at the center portion and smaller pressing depth at the end portions. This local quality differentiation ensures optimal contact pressure and heat transfer efficiency at the center where liquid accumulation is highest, while preventing excessive compression at the ends, thereby achieving uniform temperature distribution and improved atomization efficiency.

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

This configuration improves atomization efficiency by maintaining a stable temperature at the center of the heating element and optimizing liquid transport, leading to enhanced aerosol generation and user experience.

Implementation Method 1

The atomizing portion is a heating element having an elongated shape which includes electrical contact points at both ends and is pressed into a main surface of the liquid transporting member

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

a flexible liquid transporting member configured to transport the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion toward the atomizing portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Data Source

PatentUS12201147B2Inhalation device cartridge and inhalation device equipped with same

Publication Date: 2025.01.21 JAPAN TOBACCO INC

AI summary

An inhalation device cartridge includes a liquid storage portion configured to store liquid, an atomizing portion configured to atomize the liquid, and a flexible liquid transporting member configured to transport the liquid stored in the liquid storage portion toward the atomizing portion. The atomizing portion is a heating element having an elongated shape which includes electrical contact points at both ends and is pressed into a main surface of the liquid transporting member. The pressing depth at a center portion of the heating element is greater than the pressing depth at each end portion of the heating element.