Off-set Hollow Bore Terminal Filter for Vapour Mixing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional heat-not-burn (HNB) consumables often fail to achieve sufficient mixing of vapour components, leading to an unpleasant sensation for users due to unmixed nicotine gas, and the aerosol may not be in a desirable state for inhalation.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an off-set hollow bore in the terminal filter element to force vapour to take a convoluted path, enhancing mixing and cooling before inhalation, and includes a flow restrictor element to co-locate vapour components, ensuring complete mixing of nicotine with PG/VG.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional HNB consumables use a simple linear flow path, then the device complexity is reduced, but the vapour components are not sufficiently mixed leading to unpleasant sensation
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal filter element incorporates an off-set hollow bore that forces vapour to follow a convoluted, curved path rather than a straight line. This curvature increases the distance and complexity of the flow path within the filter element, enhancing mixing of vapour components (nicotine with PG/VG) to eliminate unpleasant sensations, while the overall filter element structure remains relatively simple.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the vapour flow path is extended to improve mixing, then the mixing quality is improved, but the length of the consumable increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending the consumable length axially to achieve longer flow path and better mixing, the invention utilizes the radial dimension by implementing an off-set hollow bore within the terminal filter element. This creates a convoluted three-dimensional flow path that maximizes mixing within a compact axial length, maintaining desirable aerosol state without excessive consumable length.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a flow restrictor element is added to co-locate vapour components, then the mixing completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the functions of the terminal filter element and the flow restrictor into a single integrated component. The terminal filter element incorporates both the filtration function and the flow restriction function through its off-set hollow bore design, which simultaneously filters particulates and restricts flow to force convoluted path. This integration achieves complete vapour component co-location and mixing without increasing the number of separate elements.
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 design improves the user experience by ensuring complete mixing of vapour components, reducing the risk of unmixed nicotine gas and enhancing the quality of the aerosol for inhalation, providing a more comfortable and satisfying smoking substitute experience.
Implementation Method 1
The design incorporates an off-set hollow bore in the terminal filter element to force vapour to take a convoluted path, enhancing mixing and cooling before inhalation
Implementation Method 2
includes a flow restrictor element to co-locate vapour components, ensuring complete mixing of nicotine with PG/VG
Implementation Method 3
enhancing the quality of the aerosol for inhalation
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to smoking substitute consumables, including an aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a terminal filter element at a downstream axial end of the article/consumable. The terminal filter element may comprise a hollow bore extending from an upstream axial end of the terminal filter element to a downstream axial end of the terminal filter element. The hollow bore may be off-set from the axial centre of the terminal filter element.