Smoke Generator Heating Bodies Assembly Method

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing smoke generators have complex structures and assembly processes, leading to high production costs and difficulties in replacing individual heating elements, resulting in resource waste and inconsistent heating due to poor electric resistance variance.

Innovation Solution

A smoke generator design with independent heating bodies and a simplified assembly method, where each heating body can be replaced or repaired separately, using a supporting pipe with positioning portions and a non-conductive fastener for secure electrical connections, allowing for uniform heating and reduced production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If common-end-type heaters in section are used with multiple heating legs, then heating coverage is improved, but repairability deteriorates because the whole heater must be replaced when one leg fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating coverageVSAvoidrepairability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The heater is divided into multiple independent heating legs (first heating leg, second heating leg, third heating leg, fourth heating leg) that are structurally separate from each other. Each heating leg can be independently replaced without affecting the others, resolving the contradiction between maintaining heating coverage and enabling easy repair of individual failed components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If laser cutting process is used to prepare heating legs, then manufacturing precision is improved, but electric resistance consistency deteriorates with variance of about ±10%

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecutting precisionVSAvoidelectric resistance consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies precise electric resistance parameters for each heating leg (first heating leg: 0.8-1.2Ω, second heating leg: 0.8-1.2Ω, third heating leg: 0.8-1.2Ω, fourth heating leg: 0.8-1.2Ω) and controls the laser cutting process to achieve consistent resistance values within tight tolerances, improving reliability while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If cylinder heater repeatedly heats smoking articles, then heating efficiency is improved, but burnt taste is produced due to overly high local temperature

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating efficiencyVSAvoidburnt taste
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs multiple heating legs distributed around the smoking article cavity, with each leg providing localized heating to different sectors. This distributes the thermal load and prevents any single location from experiencing excessively high temperatures that would cause burnt taste, while collectively maintaining high heating efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If complex structure with many heating parts is used in smoke generator, then heating performance is improved, but assembly complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating performanceVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The smoke generator is designed with modular components including a supporting pipe, first support, second support, and four independent heating legs. Each component can be assembled separately and then combined, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining reliable heating performance through the distributed heating leg configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 enables efficient assembly, reduces production costs, and ensures consistent heating by allowing separate control of each heating body, preventing burnt tastes and improving the mouth feel of the smoke produced, while minimizing resource waste and electric resistance fluctuations.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of heating bodies 60 having a first end 63 and a second end 64 that are disposed in the supporting pipe 10

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3257386B1Smoke generator and assembling method therefor
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 CHINA TOBACCO YUNNAN IND
  • EP3257386B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3257386B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3257386B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention is provided with a smoke generator and an assembling method therefor. The assembling method comprises: a). fixing a first support (20) and a second support (30) respectively at two ends of a supporting pipe (10); b). sleeving the supporting pipe (10) obtained in the step a) onto an assembling rod (91) adapted to pass through the supporting pipe (10); c). inserting a first end (63) of heating bodies (60) into a gap between the supporting pipe (10) and the assembling rod (91) along the end of the second support (30) until the first end (63) of the heating bodies (60) extends out of the end of the first support (20); d). respectively bending two ends of the heating bodies (60) onto a positioning portion to fix the heating bodies (60); and e). successively fixing each of the heating bodies (60) along the circumferential direction of the supporting pipe (10), so that the plurality of heating bodies (60) surround a cavity (11). The assembling method has the advantages of simple and rapid process, high production efficiency and low reject ratio of finished products.