Parallel Filament Susceptor Assembly for Inductive Liquid Wicking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid-conveying susceptor assemblies for aerosol generation are complex and laborious to manufacture, necessitating a simpler and cost-effective design that can efficiently convey and heat aerosol-forming liquids.

Innovation Solution

A susceptor assembly comprising a filament bundle with parallel-arranged filaments, made of susceptor material, which facilitates both liquid conveyance and heating through capillary action and inductive heating, utilizing eddy currents and hysteresis losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mesh configuration or complex susceptor assembly is used, then liquid conveyance and heating functionality is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid conveyance and heating functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity and labor

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The susceptor assembly is segmented into multiple individual filaments rather than using a complex mesh structure. Each filament is a simple, uniform component that can be manufactured independently and then bundled together, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining the required liquid conveyance and heating functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameter from a complex mesh configuration to a simple parallel bundle of filaments. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process while preserving the essential functionality of liquid wicking and inductive heating through the susceptor material properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If a parallel-bundle filament configuration is used, then manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness improve, but uniform capillary action and thermal contact must be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicity and cost-effectivenessVSAvoiduniform capillary action and thermal contact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple individual filaments are merged into a bundled configuration where they work together collectively. The bundling ensures uniform spacing and parallel arrangement, which maintains consistent capillary action across the bundle while keeping individual filament manufacturing simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The filaments in the bundle are designed to be homogeneous in terms of material composition, diameter, and spacing. This homogeneity ensures uniform capillary action and consistent thermal contact with the liquid across the entire bundle, while the simple identical structure of each filament makes manufacturing straightforward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

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 parallel-bundle susceptor assembly offers a cost-effective and efficient solution for liquid conveyance and heating, enabling fast evaporation with direct thermal contact and uniform capillary action, while being robust and easy to manufacture.

Implementation Method 1

the filament bundle, the capillary action is further enhanced due to the narrow spaces formed between the pluralities of filaments

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

the wick element heats up due at least one of eddy currents or magnetic hysteresis losses which are induced in the wick element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEddy currents: Eddy Currents

Implementation Method 3

the wick element heats up due at least one of eddy currents or magnetic hysteresis losses which are induced in the wick element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic hysteresis losses: Magnetic Hysteresis

Implementation Method 4

capable to perform both functions: wicking and heating. Hence, when being exposed to an alternating magnetic field, the wick element heats up

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInductive heating: Induction Heating

Implementation Method 5

where it may be vaporized by a heater and exposed to an air path to be subsequently drawn out as an aerosol

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS12543792B2Liquid-conveying susceptor assembly for conveying and inductively heating an aerosol- forming liquid

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA

AI summary

A liquid-conveying susceptor assembly is provided for conveying and inductively heating an aerosol-forming liquid under an influence of an alternating magnetic field, the susceptor assembly including a filament bundle, the filament bundle including at least a plurality of first filaments including a first susceptor material, in which along at least a parallel-bundle portion of the filament bundle the plurality of first filaments are arranged parallel to each other. An inductive heating assembly for conveying and inductively heating an aerosol-forming liquid is also provided. An aerosol-generating article for an inductively heatable aerosol-generating device is also provided. And, an aerosol-generating system including an inductively heatable aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article for the aerosol-generating device is also provided.