Spiral Heating Mechanism for Aerosol Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing heat-not-burn devices face challenges in efficiently heating aerosol generating substrates with a small, single heater while minimizing substrate waste and ensuring comprehensive surface area heating.

Innovation Solution

An aerosol generating device with a rotatable capture element that moves longitudinally within the cavity, creating a spiral motion to incrementally expose new portions of the substrate to a small heating element, allowing for targeted and efficient heating of the aerosol generating substrate.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If a small, single heater is used to heat the aerosol generating substrate, then device size and production cost are reduced, but the ability to heat a large proportion of the substrate surface area is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidsubstrate surface area heated

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The capture element is made rotatable and longitudinally movable, transforming the heating process from static to dynamic. This allows a small heater to sequentially heat different portions of the substrate by moving the substrate relative to the heater, thereby heating a large proportion of the substrate surface area over time without requiring a large heater

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The substrate heating process is divided into multiple sequential heating zones along the substrate length. The capture element moves the substrate through these zones, allowing a small heater to effectively heat a large total substrate area by processing different segments sequentially rather than simultaneously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a small, single heater is used, then device complexity is reduced, but energy efficiency and substrate utilization are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheater quantityVSAvoidenergy consumption per substrate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The spiral movement mechanism ensures continuous heating of the substrate without interruption or waste. By rotating and moving the capture element, the system maintains continuous contact between the heater and fresh substrate portions, eliminating idle heating cycles and maximizing energy utilization efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The capture element performs periodic rotation and longitudinal movement to bring different substrate portions into the heating zone. This periodic action ensures that each portion of the substrate receives the required heat treatment while minimizing energy waste through optimized heating cycles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If the substrate is heated without movement, then device complexity is reduced, but substrate waste increases due to insufficient heating coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement mechanismVSAvoidsubstrate waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from static heating to dynamic heating by implementing rotatable and longitudinally movable capture element. This dynamic mechanism ensures complete substrate heating coverage by sequentially exposing all substrate portions to the heater, eliminating substrate waste from incomplete heating while keeping the movement mechanism relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution enables energy-efficient heating of a large proportion of the substrate surface area, reducing energy consumption and substrate wastage, while ensuring consistent aerosol production over multiple puffs.

Implementation Method 1

The heating element is operable to heat the aerosol generating article when the aerosol generating article is inserted into the cavity and restrained or retained by the capture element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

Rotation of the capture element when the aerosol generating article is restrained in the capture element causes the aerosol generating element to rotate relative to the heating element. Preferably, rotation of the capture element also causes the capture element to move longitudinally in the cavity. Accordingly, rotation of the capture element may cause spiral movement of the aerosol generating article retained by the capture element relative to the heater

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpiral motion: Helix

Data Source

PatentUS11478590B2Aerosol generating device with spiral movement for heating

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS SA

AI summary

An aerosol generating device includes a housing having an open end and forms a cavity in communication with the open end for receiving an aerosol generating article. The device further includes a rotatable capture element disposed in the cavity. The rotatable capture element is operable to retain the aerosol generating article within the cavity. The rotatable capture element is longitudinally movable within the cavity. The device further includes a heating element in communication with the cavity. The heating element is operable to heat the aerosol generating article retained by the capture element within the cavity. Combined rotation and longitudinal movement of the capture element causes the aerosol generating element to spiral relative to the heating element.