Expandable Prong Cleaning Tool for Aerosol Heating Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerosol-generating devices face the challenge of residue accumulation in the heating chamber and on the heating element after use, which can affect subsequent operations and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning tool with multiple prongs is designed to be inserted into the heating chamber, featuring an actuating element that moves the prongs between expanded and contracted positions to effectively scrape off residues from the heating element and chamber walls, enhancing cleaning efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a cleaning tool with multiple prongs is used to clean the heating element and chamber, then cleaning efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning tool is divided into multiple separate prongs (at least two) that can independently contact different surfaces within the heating chamber. Each prong can be positioned to clean specific areas such as the heating element, chamber walls, or base, allowing simultaneous multi-point cleaning action that improves efficiency without requiring a complex mechanical system
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning tool with multiple prongs serves multiple cleaning functions simultaneously - it can clean the heating element, chamber walls, and base with a single insertion action. This multi-functional design improves cleaning productivity while maintaining relatively simple device structure by eliminating the need for multiple separate cleaning tools or complex mechanical mechanisms
2Strength
If wire or metal prongs are used for cleaning, then durability is improved, but flexibility to adapt to different shapes decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The prongs are made of wire or metal material that provides durability and structural integrity for effective scraping action. The local quality of the prong material ensures sufficient strength to remove residues while the prong geometry (thin, elongated shape) allows adaptation to different surfaces within the heating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a cleaning tool configured for cleaning an aerosol-generating device including a heating chamber and a heating element disposed in the heating chamber, the cleaning tool including: multiple prongs configured to be inserted into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device and to clean at least the heating element; and an actuating element configured to move the multiple prongs between a first position and a second position, wherein the multiple prongs are expanded towards inner sidewalls of the heating chamber in the first position and contracted towards the heating element in the second position.