Resistance-to-draw measuring device for smoking articles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional devices for measuring resistance-to-draw of smoking articles are not suitable for electrically heated smoking articles, where air flow is not drawn from the rod end to the mouth end, as they require air flow along the entire length of the article for measurement.
Innovation Solution
A device with a chamber and sleeves that allows air to be introduced and extracted through ventilation perforations, enabling resistance-to-draw measurement without air flow along the entire length, using a movable piston head and polymer components for sealing and adjustable sleeves to accommodate different smoking article geometries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional measuring devices are used to measure resistance-to-draw, then air flow can be drawn from rod end to mouth end of the smoking article, but the device cannot measure resistance-to-draw of electrically heated smoking articles where air flow is not drawn from rod end to mouth end
Solution Approach 1:
The measuring device is designed to accommodate both conventional smoking articles (with rod-end to mouth-end air flow) and electrically heated smoking articles (with side air flow through ventilation perforations). The device achieves this universality through a configurable chamber and sleeve system that can adapt to different air flow paths, allowing one device to perform multiple measurement functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The device divides the measurement chamber into separate functional zones using movable sleeves that can independently control air flow paths. The first sleeve controls access to the rod end, while the second sleeve controls access to the side ventilation area, allowing segmented control of different air flow routes for different smoking article types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the opening is closed to block air flow from rod end for measuring electrically heated smoking articles, then resistance-to-draw can be measured without end-to-end air flow, but the device cannot measure conventional smoking articles that require end-to-end air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs movable sleeves that can dynamically adjust their positions to control air flow paths. The first sleeve can move to open or close the rod end opening, while the second sleeve can move to open or close the side ventilation opening. This dynamic configurability allows the operator to easily switch between measuring conventional smoking articles (both openings open) and electrically heated smoking articles (rod end opening closed, side opening open).
3Adaptability or versatility
If sleeves are made movable to adjust space between them for different smoking article geometries, then the device can accommodate various smoking article designs, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested sleeve configuration where the first sleeve and second sleeve are positioned concentrically within the measurement chamber. This nesting arrangement allows both sleeves to move independently along the smoking article axis without interfering with each other's motion, simplifying the mechanical design while enabling flexible adjustment of the measurement space to accommodate different smoking article geometries.
Data Source
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Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for measuring the resistance-to-draw of a smoking article (132) having a rod end and a mouth end, the device comprising a chamber (110) having an opening (118) for receiving a smoking article, the opening being selectively closable to prevent air flow through the rod end of the smoking article, a first sleeve (126) and a second sleeve (128) for holding the smoking article and defining a space (134) between the first sleeve and the second sleeve, a first aperture in a wall of the chamber for introduction of air into the space, a second aperture (122) for extraction of air passed through the mouth end of the smoking article for determination of resistance-to-draw, and a block (150) including the opening for receiving a smoking article, and arranged above the space between the first sleeve and the second sleeve, the block comprising a first passageway (154) aligned with the opening for receiving a smoking article, and a second passageway (158), transverse to the first passageway and intersecting the first passageway, the second passageway housing a closure member (166) selectively movable between an open position, and a closed position in which it closes the first passageway. This enables resistance-to-draw of a smoking article to be measured without flow of air along the entire length of the smoking article.