Reusable Aerosol Heating Device with Replaceable Heaters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aerosol-generating devices face issues of waste generation and high consumer costs due to disposable heaters or difficult cleaning requirements, leading to environmental impact and inefficient use of resources.
Innovation Solution
A heating device with a self-contained cavity and replaceable consumables, featuring heating elements that surround the consumable for efficient aerosol generation, along with safety mechanisms to prevent burns and unauthorized use, and indicators for device status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable heaters are used in conventional aerosol-generating devices, then aerosol generation function is maintained, but waste generation increases and consumer costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into two functional segments: a reusable heating device and a disposable consumable containing the aerosol-generating formulation. This segmentation allows the expensive heating elements to be retained and reused, while only the consumable is discarded, significantly reducing waste and consumer costs compared to disposable entire units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system where the heating device is recovered and reused across multiple consumable cycles. The heating elements, cavity, and control mechanisms remain in the reusable device while only the consumable is discarded after use, maximizing resource utilization and minimizing waste.
2Device complexity
If permanently affixed heaters are used in conventional devices, then device structure is simplified, but cleaning difficulty increases and device replacement cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are segmented from the consumable and integrated into the reusable device body. This allows the heating components to be permanently affixed to the device structure, simplifying the overall system while enabling easy access for cleaning and maintenance without requiring disposal of the entire unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating device with permanently affixed heaters is designed to be recovered and reused indefinitely. The heating elements remain in place and can be cleaned and maintained, eliminating the need to discard the entire device after a single use, thereby reducing consumer costs and environmental waste.
3Productivity
If heating elements are surrounded by consumable, then aerosol generation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heating elements are nested within the device cavity such that they surround the consumable on multiple sides. This nested arrangement maximizes the surface area contact between the heater and consumable, improving heat transfer efficiency and aerosol generation, while the modular design keeps the overall device structure manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating elements are arranged in three-dimensional space around the consumable rather than in a single plane. This multi-dimensional arrangement increases the effective heating surface area and improves aerosol generation efficiency without significantly increasing the footprint or overall complexity of the device.
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 device minimizes waste, reduces consumer costs, and ensures safe operation by allowing easy replacement of consumables and heaters, while maintaining efficient aerosol production with minimal energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
heating elements arranged specifically with the intent to consistently and uniformly conduct, convect, and radiate heat across the surface area of the consumable
Implementation Method 2
heating elements arranged specifically with the intent to consistently and uniformly conduct, convect, and radiate heat across the surface area of the consumable
Implementation Method 3
heating elements arranged specifically with the intent to consistently and uniformly conduct, convect, and radiate heat across the surface area of the consumable
Implementation Method 4
generating consumable aerosol by application of heat to an aerosol generating formulation such that selected chemical compounds are efficiently extracted and transferred directly to the user
Implementation Method 5
heating device for generating inhalable or consumable aerosol
Data Source
AI summary
A heating device is provided that creates inhalable aerosol that includes one or more heating elements and a temporary or permanently established cavity formed by a barrier between the heating elements and the external environment that envelops the heating elements to allow the insertion and removal of consumables from the cavity and allows for the replacement of the heating elements in the device.