Movable Sealing Element for Aerosol Consumable Airflow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-combustible aerosol provision systems face challenges in efficiently generating and delivering aerosols without combustion, particularly in ensuring consistent aerosol production and user hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A consumable for aerosol provision devices is designed with a support having flow path faces, aerosol generating material, and a sealing element. The support defines a flow path for atmospheric air, and the sealing element moves from a blocking position to an open position, allowing air flow and facilitating aerosol generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a sealing element is used to block the flow path, then user hygiene is improved, but aerosol generation is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing element is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to transition between blocking and non-blocking positions. This dynamic configuration enables the system to switch between hygiene protection mode (sealing element blocking the flow path) and aerosol generation mode (sealing element moved to allow air flow), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the support is reconfigured to form flow path faces, then aerosol delivery is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support is designed with separate flow path face portions that can be independently configured or assembled. This segmentation allows the support to be manufactured in a simpler flat state and then reconfigured into the three-dimensional flow path structure, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the functional benefits of defined flow paths for aerosol delivery.
3Reliability
If discrete portions of aerosol generating material are used, then aerosol consistency is improved, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aerosol generating material is distributed as discrete portions at specific locations within the consumable, each optimized for its local function. This local quality approach ensures that material is placed only where needed for aerosol generation, improving consistency by providing controlled, localized vaporization zones while potentially reducing overall material usage compared to uniform distribution.
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 enables efficient aerosol generation by allowing atmospheric air to flow through the consumable, ensuring consistent aerosol production and improving user hygiene by providing an irreversible indication of seal movement.
Implementation Method 1
The heating volatilises at least one component of the material, typically forming an inhalable aerosol
Implementation Method 2
These hybrid devices contain a liquid source (which may or may not contain an active) which is vaporised by heating to produce an inhalable vapour or aerosol
Implementation Method 3
the sealing element may be moved from a first position in which it blocks the flow of atmospheric air along the flow path, to a second position in which the sealing element does not block the flow of atmospheric air along the flow path
Data Source
AI summary
A consumable (2) for insertion into an aerosol provision device Is disclosed. The consumable (2) comprises a support (4), aerosol generating material (6), and a sealing element (8, 10). The support (4) comprises one or more flow path faces (20), and the one or more flow path faces (20) of the support (4) at least partially define a flow path for atmospheric air. At least one of the one or more flow path faces (20) of the support (4) supports one or more discrete portions (6) of the aerosol generating material. The sealing element (8, 10) may be moved from a first position in which it blocks the flow of atmospheric air along the flow path, to a second position in which the sealing element (8, 10) does not block the flow of atmospheric air along the flow path.