Modular Smoking Machine with Annular Carousel and Radial Aerosol Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current smoking machines lack the ability to efficiently collect and analyze aerosol from different types of smoking articles in both linear and rotary modes with identical aerosol flow paths, limiting comparative analysis and increasing costs due to the need for multiple machines and extensive user training.
Innovation Solution
A modular smoking system featuring an annular carousel with radially extending aerosol-flow channels and interchangeable analysis modules, allowing for identical aerosol flow paths between smoking articles and analysis modules, enabling operation in both linear and rotary modes and supporting various analysis types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single smoking machine is used to perform multiple analysis types, then cost is reduced and flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smoking machine is divided into separate functional modules: a carousel module containing smoking ports and aerosol-flow channels, and interchangeable analysis modules for different analysis types. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel module is designed as a universal platform that can interface with multiple types of analysis modules through standardized coupling mechanisms. The radially extending aerosol-flow channels provide identical flow paths regardless of which analysis module is attached, enabling the same hardware to support diverse analysis functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple smoking machines are used for different analysis types, then analysis versatility is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
A single smoking machine system can perform multiple analysis types by attaching different interchangeable analysis modules to the carousel, eliminating the need for multiple separate machines and reducing overall system cost.
Solution Approach 2:
Analysis modules can be easily detached and replaced between different analysis tasks, allowing the system to transition between different analysis types without requiring dedicated machines for each function.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different aerosol flow paths are used for different smoking articles, then analysis capability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
All aerosol-flow channels in the carousel are designed with identical dimensions and radial geometry, ensuring uniform aerosol flow characteristics across all smoking ports. This homogeneous design simplifies manufacturing while maintaining compatibility with different smoking article types.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel structure incorporates integrated aerosol-flow channels that combine multiple functions (aerosol transport, flow path definition, structural support) into a single composite component, reducing manufacturing steps and ensuring consistent flow paths.
4Device complexity
If analysis modules are integrated into the carousel structure, then system compactness is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and calibration deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into a fixed carousel module and detachable analysis modules. The analysis modules can be coupled to and decoupled from the carousel, providing easy accessibility for maintenance and calibration while maintaining system integration during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling between the carousel and analysis modules is designed to be dynamically changeable, allowing modules to be easily attached and detached. This dynamic interface maintains system compactness during operation while enabling easy access for maintenance activities.
Data Source
AI summary
A modular smoking system is provided, including a substantially annular carousel that includes a plurality of smoking article ports configured to receive smoking articles and a plurality of analysis ports, the carousel having an inner surface and an outer surface radially spaced from the inner surface, in which a plurality of identically-dimensioned aerosol-flow channels are defined through the carousel, each aerosol-flow channel extending radially through the carousel between a smoking article port located at the inner surface of the carousel and a corresponding analysis port located at the outer surface of the carousel, and at least one aerosol analysis module located radially outwards from the outer surface of the carousel and configured to couple to the analysis port for analysis of an aerosol generated by a smoking article coupled to a smoking article port.