Pressurised Refill Canister Stem Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refill systems for simulated cigarettes and similar products face challenges with high-pressure refilling due to misalignment issues and the inability to handle varying propellant expandability, leading to inefficient and potentially hazardous filling processes.
Innovation Solution
A pressurized refill canister with a stem having a large outer diameter and thick wall, featuring a lateral bore and annular seal, which ensures reliable alignment and sealing with the refill valve, preventing misalignment and leakage, and a method for refilling that involves pressing the device against the stem to open the fill valve and create a flow path for refilling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a conventional refill nozzle with small diameter and high length is used, then the refill canister can be compact, but misalignment during filling occurs due to slippage, increasing the probability of damaging the refill nozzle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the refill nozzle, specifically increasing the diameter and reducing the length-to-diameter ratio. This creates a stubbier, wider nozzle that is less prone to slippage and misalignment during the filling process, directly resolving the contradiction between compact size and alignment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a curved or spherical seating surface at the interface between the refill nozzle and the device valve. This curved geometry provides a larger contact area and more favorable stress distribution, preventing slippage and improving alignment reliability while maintaining a compact overall structure
2Reliability
If a check valve is biased into a closed position with spring force, then the valve remains sealed, but the spring force may prevent the valve from opening reliably during refilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic valve mechanism where the spring force is balanced against the refilling pressure. The valve transitions from a closed sealed state to an open state when the refilling pressure exceeds the spring bias, providing both reliable sealing during storage and reliable opening during refilling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanical structure between the refill nozzle and the check valve that amplifies the opening force. This intermediary mechanism allows the valve to open reliably during refilling by translating the refilling pressure into sufficient force to overcome the spring bias, while maintaining reliable sealing when closed
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 provides a robust and reliable refill mechanism that minimizes leakage and ensures safe refilling by ensuring proper alignment and sealing, allowing for efficient refilling of high-pressure systems without venting, while preventing the introduction of hazardous substances.
Implementation Method 1
a valve element projecting into the seat and being biased by a resilient member having a spring force into a position in which it closes the fill valve
Implementation Method 2
the propellant (such as hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)) will expand as liquid leaves the reservoir thereby maintaining a constant high pressure within the reservoir
Data Source
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AI summary
A pressurised refill canister 5 containing a reservoir 31 of composition including a propellant and a nicotine or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative or salt thereof. The reservoir 31 is at a pressure of greater than 400k Pa at 20°C. A refill outlet valve 20 comprises a stem 6 with an axial bore 24 open at the axial end furthest from the reservoir 31 to provide an outlet which discharges the composition in an axial direction. The stem 6 is displaceable from a closed position to which it is biased by a first resilient member with a spring force of greater than 10N when no external force is applied to a dispensing position against the action of the first resilient member to open a flow path from the reservoir to the outlet.