Liquid-Impermeable Filter Between Tank and Mouthpiece for Clean Vapour
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Solution Overview
Problem
In known consumables for smoking substitute devices, some of the vapourisable liquid, such as glycol and flavourings together with nicotine, often passes unvapourised through the outlet, which can be unpleasant for the user to inhale.
Innovation Solution
A gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable filter is located between the tank and the outlet of the consumable to remove unvapourised liquid and condensation from the airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If no filter is used between the tank and outlet, then the device structure remains simple, but unvapourised liquid passes through to the user causing unpleasant inhalation
Solution Approach 1:
A filter is introduced as an intermediary component between the tank and outlet. This filter selectively allows vapour to pass through while blocking unvapourised liquid, thereby mediating the interaction between the heating system and the user's mouth to eliminate harmful liquid inhalation.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is constructed using porous material that exploits the size difference between vapour molecules and liquid droplets. The porous structure allows vapour to diffuse through while physically blocking larger liquid particles, resolving the contradiction by providing selective permeability without complex mechanical structures.
2Reliability
If a liquid-impermeable filter is added, then unvapourised liquid is removed from airflow, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The filter is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a liquid barrier, a vapour conduit, and a structural support element. By integrating these functions into a single component, the filter improves vapour delivery quality without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The filter is implemented as a thin film or membrane that can be easily integrated into the existing device architecture. This thin-film approach provides effective liquid blocking while maintaining vapour permeability and minimizing the additional space and structural complexity required.
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 filter effectively prevents the inhalation of unvapourised liquid, enhancing user experience by ensuring only vapourised liquid and air are inhaled.
Implementation Method 1
a gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable filter located between a tank and an outlet of a consumable
Implementation Method 2
a gas-permeable but liquid-impermeable filter located between a tank and an outlet of a consumable
Implementation Method 3
a vapourisable liquid, typically referred to (and referred to herein) as 'e-liquid', is heated by a heating device to produce an aerosol vapour
Implementation Method 4
heated by a heating device to produce an aerosol vapour which is inhaled by a user
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A consumable for a smoking substitute device, and a smoking substitute device including the consumable. The consumable comprising: a tank (156), for storing vapourisable liquid; a heater assembly (162), for heating and vapourising the vapourisable liquid; and a mouthpiece (166), having a mouthpiece outlet (314a, 314b), the mouthpiece being in fluid communication with the tank. There is a filter (302) disposed between the tank and the mouthpiece outlet (314a, 314b), which is configured to be impermeable to unvapourised liquid whilst being permeable to vapourised liquid.