Rotatable Impeller Refilling for Aerosol Provision Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic aerosol provision systems face challenges in implementing a convenient, easy-to-use, and energy-efficient refilling process for refillable reservoirs that avoids leakage and exposure of aerosol-generating material to the user's skin.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a refilling device with a rotatable impeller mechanism that transfers aerosol-generating material from a refilling device to the aerosol provision device, utilizing a housing with an inlet and outlet to facilitate the refilling process, and a motor-operated impeller for controlled material transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If a refilling process is implemented for refillable reservoirs, then material wastage is reduced and device disposal is minimized, but leakage and exposure of aerosol-generating material to user's skin occurs and convenience is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a refilling device as an intermediary between the material reservoir and the provision device. This intermediary contains a transfer mechanism with controlled pathways that move aerosol-generating material without direct user handling, eliminating skin exposure risks while preventing leakage through sealed transfer paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The refilling device enables the system to refill itself automatically without user intervention. The transfer mechanism autonomously moves material from the reservoir to the provision device, eliminating the need for users to manually handle aerosol-generating material, thus preventing both leakage and skin exposure.
2Loss of substance
If manual refilling is implemented, then material wastage is reduced, but the refilling process becomes inconvenient and energy-intensive for users
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs refilling automatically through a self-service mechanism. The transfer mechanism is activated without user intervention and completes the refilling process autonomously, making the operation extremely convenient while still achieving material conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical refilling operations with an automated transfer mechanism driven by a motor or other actuation system. This substitution eliminates the physical effort and complexity users would otherwise need to exert, greatly improving ease of operation.
3Loss of substance
If a refilling mechanism is added to reduce material wastage, then the refilling process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the refilling system into separate functional modules: a reservoir, a transfer mechanism with inlet/outlet pathways, and a provision device. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently with simple design, reducing overall complexity while enabling automated refilling to minimize material wastage.
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 system enables efficient and convenient refilling of aerosol-generating material storage portions, minimizing leakage and exposure risks while maintaining energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The transfer mechanism comprises a housing comprising a rotatable impeller, an inlet coupled to the housing and the refilling device, and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the aerosol-generating material storage portion
Implementation Method 2
An aerosol source for an aerosol provision system may thus comprise a heater having a heating element arranged to receive source liquid from the reservoir, for example through wicking / capillary action. While a user inhales on the device, electrical power is supplied to the heating element to vaporise source liquid in the vicinity of the heating element to generate an aerosol for inhalation by the user.
Implementation Method 3
When a user sucks on a mouthpiece connected to the mouthpiece end of the system, air is drawn in through the inlet holes and past the aerosol source. There is a flow path connecting between the aerosol source and an opening in the mouthpiece so that air drawn past the aerosol source continues along the flow path to the mouthpiece opening, carrying some of the aerosol from the aerosol source with it.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described is a system including an aerosol provision device comprising an aerosol-generating material storage portion for storing an aerosol-generating material, the aerosol provision device arranged to aerosolise aerosol-generating material stored in the aerosol-generating material storage portion; and a refilling device comprising a transfer mechanism for transferring aerosol-generating material from the refilling device to the aerosol-generating material storage portion when the aerosol provision device is coupled to the refilling device. The transfer mechanism comprises a housing comprising a rotatable impeller, an inlet coupled to the housing and the refilling device, and an outlet coupled to the housing and for coupling to the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device when coupled to the refilling device. Upon rotation of the rotatable impeller in a first direction, aerosol-generating material is drawn into the housing via the inlet and expelled from the housing via the outlet so as to cause refilling of the aerosol-generating material storage portion of the aerosol provision device with aerosol-generating material. Also described is a refilling device, and a method for refilling.