CA3170592A1 - Aerosol generation device - Google Patents
Aerosol generation device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA3170592A1 CA3170592A1 CA3170592A CA3170592A CA3170592A1 CA 3170592 A1 CA3170592 A1 CA 3170592A1 CA 3170592 A CA3170592 A CA 3170592A CA 3170592 A CA3170592 A CA 3170592A CA 3170592 A1 CA3170592 A1 CA 3170592A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- consumable
- vaporizable material
- heating
- aerosol generation
- generation system
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 146
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 107
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 claims description 11
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 claims description 10
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 229920000742 Cotton Polymers 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000006262 metallic foam Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000003365 glass fiber Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 229910045601 alloy Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000000956 alloy Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 3
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007598 dipping method Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007772 electroless plating Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000009713 electroplating Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007747 plating Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004381 surface treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007751 thermal spraying Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910010293 ceramic material Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 17
- 230000015556 catabolic process Effects 0.000 description 8
- 238000006731 degradation reaction Methods 0.000 description 8
- 230000005670 electromagnetic radiation Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052755 nonmetal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910001369 Brass Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910000570 Cupronickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- YXTPWUNVHCYOSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N bis($l^{2}-silanylidene)molybdenum Chemical compound [Si]=[Mo]=[Si] YXTPWUNVHCYOSP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010951 brass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002775 capsule Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000013270 controlled release Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003571 electronic cigarette Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001939 inductive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910000953 kanthal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910021343 molybdenum disilicide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910001120 nichrome Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- HBMJWWWQQXIZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon carbide Chemical compound [Si+]#[C-] HBMJWWWQQXIZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910010271 silicon carbide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N tungsten Chemical compound [W] WFKWXMTUELFFGS-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052721 tungsten Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010937 tungsten Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/44—Wicks
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
- A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
- A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
- A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
- A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
Landscapes
- Resistance Heating (AREA)
Abstract
An aerosol generation system comprises a consumable (100) comprising a vaporizable material, a heating device comprising a heating receptacle (200) for receiving, in use, the consumable and comprising a heating element (204). At least one intermediate element (500) is positioned between the consumable and the heating element for absorbing vaporizable material and for acting as a heatshield between the heating and the consumable.
Description
AEROSOL GENERATION DEVICE
The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device.
Field of the invention Known aerosol generation devices often use a heating component, or heater, to heat an aerosol generating liquid in order to generate an aerosol, or vapour, for inhalation by a user.
The heating component is typically made of an electrically conductive material. The electrical resistance of the conductive material causes dissipation of heat through Joule effect as the electric current passes through the material, a process commonly known as resistive heating.
Generally, such devices comprise a liquid store and a liquid transport element or "wick"
formed of a capillary material arranged to transport liquid from the liquid store to the heating element. However, in these devices the close proximity of the wick to the heating element leads to thermal degradation of the wick, thereby reducing the effective lifespan of the device.
In one known type of aerosol generating device, the heating element itself comprises a capillary material, for example a mesh of conducting fibres to transport and heat aerosol generating liquid. However, such heating elements are known to provide inconsistent wicking and variable levels of heating performance, leading to unpredictable aerosol generating properties of the aerosol generating device.
An object of the present invention is therefore to address some of these issues.
Furthermore, in some aerosol generating devices, the heating component is supplied as a component of the cartridge and therefore, is a disposable component. However, the heater is a relatively expensive component and also has a lifetime far beyond the point it is discarded with the used cartridge. This means that the heater is still in good condition when the cartridge is expended.
It is also an object of the present invention to leverage the cost of cartridges and heaters.
The present invention relates to an aerosol generation device.
Field of the invention Known aerosol generation devices often use a heating component, or heater, to heat an aerosol generating liquid in order to generate an aerosol, or vapour, for inhalation by a user.
The heating component is typically made of an electrically conductive material. The electrical resistance of the conductive material causes dissipation of heat through Joule effect as the electric current passes through the material, a process commonly known as resistive heating.
Generally, such devices comprise a liquid store and a liquid transport element or "wick"
formed of a capillary material arranged to transport liquid from the liquid store to the heating element. However, in these devices the close proximity of the wick to the heating element leads to thermal degradation of the wick, thereby reducing the effective lifespan of the device.
In one known type of aerosol generating device, the heating element itself comprises a capillary material, for example a mesh of conducting fibres to transport and heat aerosol generating liquid. However, such heating elements are known to provide inconsistent wicking and variable levels of heating performance, leading to unpredictable aerosol generating properties of the aerosol generating device.
An object of the present invention is therefore to address some of these issues.
Furthermore, in some aerosol generating devices, the heating component is supplied as a component of the cartridge and therefore, is a disposable component. However, the heater is a relatively expensive component and also has a lifetime far beyond the point it is discarded with the used cartridge. This means that the heater is still in good condition when the cartridge is expended.
It is also an object of the present invention to leverage the cost of cartridges and heaters.
2 Summary of the invention and object According to the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generation system comprising:
a consumable comprising a vaporizable material, a heating device comprising a heating receptable for receiving, in use, the consumable and comprising a heating element;
wherein, at least one intermediate element is positioned between the consumable and the heating element for absorbing vaporizable material and for acting as a heatshield between the heating and the consumable.
Providing a device with a removable consumable and a heating receptacle as above-defined, the heater element is not provided in the consumable. Furthermore, since the vaporizable material is included in the consumable, the heating element in the heating receptacle can be used for an extended period of time rather than being thrown away with each new consumable, therefore reducing waste and costs for manufacturing and also for users.
Advantageously, the intermediate element comprises at least two portions, the first portion in contact with the consumable or the vaporizable material and configured to ensure a wicking of the vaporizable material through the second portion and the second portion in close contact with the heating element and configured to optimize the heat transfer and the vaporization process of the vaporizable material. Advantageously, the intermediate element is further configured such that the vaporization of the vaporizable material occurs in the intermediate element. By providing an intermediate element as above-defined, the heatshield avoids a close proximity of the vaporizable material absorber to the heating element, preventing thus thermal degradation of the wick or the vaporizable material as not being in direct contact with the heating element while ensuring optimized heat transfer and vaporization process of the
a consumable comprising a vaporizable material, a heating device comprising a heating receptable for receiving, in use, the consumable and comprising a heating element;
wherein, at least one intermediate element is positioned between the consumable and the heating element for absorbing vaporizable material and for acting as a heatshield between the heating and the consumable.
Providing a device with a removable consumable and a heating receptacle as above-defined, the heater element is not provided in the consumable. Furthermore, since the vaporizable material is included in the consumable, the heating element in the heating receptacle can be used for an extended period of time rather than being thrown away with each new consumable, therefore reducing waste and costs for manufacturing and also for users.
Advantageously, the intermediate element comprises at least two portions, the first portion in contact with the consumable or the vaporizable material and configured to ensure a wicking of the vaporizable material through the second portion and the second portion in close contact with the heating element and configured to optimize the heat transfer and the vaporization process of the vaporizable material. Advantageously, the intermediate element is further configured such that the vaporization of the vaporizable material occurs in the intermediate element. By providing an intermediate element as above-defined, the heatshield avoids a close proximity of the vaporizable material absorber to the heating element, preventing thus thermal degradation of the wick or the vaporizable material as not being in direct contact with the heating element while ensuring optimized heat transfer and vaporization process of the
3 vaporizable material by the heatshield, thereby further improving the effective lifespan of the device.
In embodiments of the invention, the consumable comprises:
a hollow body having at least one wall configured to hold a vaporizable material and, the heating receptacle comprises:
a wall defining a chamber configured to removably receive at least a portion of the consumable and the wall further comprising the heating element for evaporating the at least one vaporizable material when in use.
In embodiments of the invention, the first portion is adapted to cooperate in one side which faces the consumable, with an outside surface of at least one wall of the consumable and the second portion is adapted to cooperate in a second side which faces the consumable, with the heating element.
This improves design freedom and increases the range of possible component configurations within the device, enhancing spatial efficiency and allowing for a reduction in the size of the device without impairing its aerosol generating properties.
According to embodiments of the invention the first portion is configured to act as a vaporizable material retention medium and the second portion is configured to act as a heatshield.
This prevents direct contact of the vaporizable material with the heating element. In other words, the thermal buffer ensured by the second portion allows to have a thermal gap between the vaporizable material and the heating element. Therefore, preventing degradation of the vaporizable material.
Preferably, the first portion and the second portion are made of distinct materials.
In embodiments of the invention, the consumable comprises:
a hollow body having at least one wall configured to hold a vaporizable material and, the heating receptacle comprises:
a wall defining a chamber configured to removably receive at least a portion of the consumable and the wall further comprising the heating element for evaporating the at least one vaporizable material when in use.
In embodiments of the invention, the first portion is adapted to cooperate in one side which faces the consumable, with an outside surface of at least one wall of the consumable and the second portion is adapted to cooperate in a second side which faces the consumable, with the heating element.
This improves design freedom and increases the range of possible component configurations within the device, enhancing spatial efficiency and allowing for a reduction in the size of the device without impairing its aerosol generating properties.
According to embodiments of the invention the first portion is configured to act as a vaporizable material retention medium and the second portion is configured to act as a heatshield.
This prevents direct contact of the vaporizable material with the heating element. In other words, the thermal buffer ensured by the second portion allows to have a thermal gap between the vaporizable material and the heating element. Therefore, preventing degradation of the vaporizable material.
Preferably, the first portion and the second portion are made of distinct materials.
4 More preferably, the first portion is a heat resistant mesh that resists to temperatures up to 400 C, advantageously up to 350 'C.
In this way the wall of the consumable will not heat, as well, when in use.
Therefore, it is avoided that the vaporizable material vaporizes as a whole within the consumable when in use. The mesh element has a wicking function, i.e., to transport vaporizable material from the liquid store, i.e., from the consumable article to the heating apparatus.
Preferably, the first portion comprises at least one of: cotton, glass fiber.
Advantageously the first portion has a thickness between 1 to 8 mm, preferably 2 to 4 mm.
Cotton has higher liquid retention properties than metal or glass fiber.
Preferably, the second portion is a mesh made of a mesh material wherein the pore diameters of the mesh material are higher than the pore diameters of the material from which the first portion is made of.
Material with higher pore diameters will have higher liquid retention properties.
Preferably, the second portion is made of open cell metallic foam or sintered metal. More preferably, the second portion is made of aluminium or steel and their alloys or conductive ceramic materials.
These materials have good heat transfer properties. Thus, this will permit vaporization of the vaporizable material through the second portion without direct contact of the vaporizable material with the heating element.
Advantageously, the open cell metallic foam has a thickness between 1 to 8 mm, preferably 2 to 6mm. This permits the second to experience a temperature gradient through it allowing thus to vaporize the vaporizable material at its boiling point.
More advantageously, the open cell metallic foam has a porosity comprised between 0.8 and 0.7, preferably between 0.8 and 0.5 and a thermal conductivity between 1 W/mk and 20 W/mk.
More specifically, as the intermediate element is made of distinct materials, there are different temperatures reached in both portions of the intermediate element, in contact to each other, due to the heat transfer process happening between the two portions.
Advantageously, the temperature in the first portion is lower than in the second portion and should not be sufficient to vaporize the consumable and therefore vaporize the vaporizable material, thanks to the difference in thickness of both portions and their porosity level. The temperature in the heater is the highest but the consumable is not in contact with this latter. However, the temperature in the second portion is aligned with a boiling point of the vaporizable material in the consumable. In fact, temperature gradient experienced by the second portion allows different components of the e-liquid while emerging through the second portion.
Therefore, It is in this second portion that the vaporization of consumable or the vaporizable material occurs.
Therefore, avoiding the whole reservoir to be heated and furthermore increase user experience. The boiling point temperature can be around 200 C.
Preferably, the heating element extends along at least an inner portion of the wall, and preferably forms at least a part of the wall of the chamber.
This improves design freedom and increases the range of possible component configurations within the device.
According to the invention, the consumable further includes a vaporizable material outlet configured to release the vaporizable material to the intermediate element.
Preferably, the vaporizable material outlet is configured to release the vaporizable material from the inside of the hollow body to the at least one first portion.
Advantageously, the vaporizable material transfer means including one of:
opening, hole, perforation, porous mesh. In this way there is no need of extra elements to allow transportation of the liquid from the consumable article to the outside surface of the consumable, preferably to the mesh element.
According to the invention, the second portion is in thermal contact with the at least one heating element such that, when in use, heat is transferred from the heating element to the second portion, thus allowing vaporization of the vaporizable material released therein by capillary action from the first portion.
According to the invention, the intermediate element is connected to the wall of the consumable, such that, the first portion extends over at least a portion of the wall of the consumable.
Preferably, the intermediate element is connected to the heating element of the heating receptacle such that the second portion is in thermal contact with the at least one heating element.
According to the invention, the device further comprises an airflow channel configured to enabling air flowing from an air inlet to an outlet disposed at opposite ends of the device.
Preferably, the consumable comprises a longitudinal opening aligned along a longitudinal axis of the consumable wherein air can flows along from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
Additionally or alternatively the consumable further comprises at least one groove extending into the wall of the consumable and forming part of the airflow channel to allow air to flow from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
Alternatively, the consumable comprises a plurality of consumables, wherein each consumable has a stackable means configured to stack together one consumable article with another consumable article, in a way that the grooves of each consumable are longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the consumable in a way that air can flow along the grooves when in use.
Preferably, each consumable can hold different vaporizable materials including flavourants.
This gives choice to the consumer to select which flavourant to use, thus improves user experience.
Preferably, the stackable means includes one of: clip, screw, bayonet.
According to the invention, the heating device further comprises a power supply section comprises a battery unit to supply power to the at least one heating element and also a controller unit.
Preferably, the heating device further comprises a mouthpiece removably connected to the consumable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for manufacturing the intermediate element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises surface treatment techniques including one of:
Electroplating, Electroless Plating, Chemical Coating, Anodic Oxidation Process, Hot Dipping, Vacuum Plating, Thermal Spraying, Metallic Cementation.
Brief description of the drawings:
Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1A shows a schematic view of the aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1B shows a schematic view of the aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a schematic transversal view of a consumable according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the intermediate element is located on an outside surface of the consumable.
Figure 3 shows a schematic transversal view of a heating receptacle according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the intermediate element is located in the heating receptacle.
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the aerosol generation device according to another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows an example of a temperature gradient through both portions 502 and 504 versus distance from heater according to an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the invention:
Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating system 1000 in an embodiment of the invention. The system 1000 comprises a consumable 100, comprising a hollow body 102 configured to contain a vaporizable material. The system 1000 further comprises a heating device 400 configured to receive the consumable 100 or the vaporizable material itself, in order to produce an aerosol through heating of the vaporizable material contained in the consumable.
To that aim the heating device 400 comprises a heating receptacle 200 defining an inner chamber 202, a heating element 204 and an intermediate element 500. The inner chamber 202 has a top opening for insertion of the consumable. The intermediate element 500 is adjacently arranged in an inner wall of the chamber 202. The heating device 400 further comprises a power supply portion. The power supply portion comprises a power supply unit 406, such as a battery and electrical circuitry 408, which enables operation of the heating device 400. The power supply portion is thus configured to supply power to the heating element 204 in the heating device 400 via electrical circuitry 408 comprising a memory 402 and a controller 404. The system 1000 preferably also comprises a mouthpiece, which is not shown in the drawing. The mouthpiece is connectable to an upper part of the heating device 400.
The consumable 100 may be embodied as cartridge, pod, capsule, article or the like.
Vaporizable material may be any material that is vaporizable at a temperature up to 400 C, preferably up to 350 C. For example, the vaporizable material may be an aerosol generating liquid, a gel, a wax or the like.
In use, the heating element 204 is arranged to receive electrical energy from the battery 406 in order to generate an aerosol by heating the vaporizable material released from the consumable through an outlet arranged in the hollow body 102 thereof and adsorbed into the intermediate material 500 through resistive heating. The intermediate element 500 is arranged between the consumable and the heating element 204. The intermediate element 500 is configured to adsorb or retain vaporizable material transferred therein from the consumable 100 for e.g. by capillary action and also for acting as a heatshield to create a heat gap between the vaporizable material and the heating element 204. To ensure controlled release of the vaporizable material, the outlet of the consumable may be formed, as known in the art, as a hole or a plurality of holes and/or comprise a mesh for wicking vaporizable material to the intermediate material 500 once inserted in the chamber 202.
In this example, the consumable 100 is disposed within the chamber 202 of the heating receptacle 200. One or more air flow channels (not shown) are provided through the heating device 400 and the consumable 100, and configured to, on user inhalation, direct air from outside the aerosol generating system 1000 through the air flow channels and toward the mouthpiece. This means that aerosol that has been generated by heating vaporizable material on the heating element 204 will be carried along the air flow channel to exit the device through the mouthpiece.
The heating element 204 comprises a mesh of electrically conductive fibres. In this embodiment, the mesh is planar with a thickness many times smaller than its length, in particular between 5% and 20% of its length. The skilled person will appreciate that alternative arrangements of electrically conductive fibres may also be used which are not flat or planar.
For example, the mesh may be folded, wrapped, or resemble a rod-like heating element. The fibres form a porous network, thereby providing the heating element 204 with wicking properties. This also allows air to flow through the heating element 204, thereby forming part of the air flow channels as described above.
The fibres of the heating element 204 may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, non-stainless steel, iron, copper, tungsten, aluminium, brass, Nichrome, Kanthal, Cupronickel and other alloys, or any other metal (element, compound or alloy). Alternatively, the fibres may be made of non-metal material such as molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide and other ceramics or semiconductors, or any other non-metal.
In one example, the heating element 204 may comprise a sintered mesh with a random arrangement of fibres. In another example, the heating element 204 may comprise a regular woven pattern of fibres.
The heating device 400 may further comprise a housing 411. Both heating device 400 and housing 411 are substantially cylindrical. Thus, as used herein, the "length"
of the heating device 400 or housing 411 refers to the direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder, i.e., the dimension in which the heating device 400 or housing 411 is elongated.
Similarly, the "length"
of the heating element 204 refers to its elongate axis which points along the cylindrical axis of the housing 411. The skilled person will appreciate that the heating device 400 and housing 411 are not limited to be cylindrical, and may be formed in many other shapes, with the "length" being defined by the most elongated dimension.
The housing 411 of the device also includes inlet holes 410 for the ingress or inlet of air into the system 1000 when a user draws or puffs upon the mouthpiece.
The heating element 204 is mounted in the housing 411. The housing 411 includes a heating receptacle 200 that comprises a wall 208 defining the chamber 202. The heating element 204 extends along at least an inner portion of the wall 208 defining the chamber 202. The heating receptacle 200 acts as a vaporisation chamber which is configured to collect generated aerosol within the chamber 202.
In another embodiment, the heating element 204 may form at least a part of the wall defining the chamber 202. Preferably the heating element 204 is integrated in the chamber's wall.
As previously mentioned, the mouthpiece is connectable to an upper part of the heating device 400. Preferably, the mouthpiece is connectable to an upper part of the heating device housing 411. In particular the mouthpiece is connectable to an upper rim of outer walls 208 of the heating receptacle 200.
The intermediate element 500 is configured to cooperate with an outside surface of a wall 104 of the hollow body 102 of the consumable 100 and with the heating element 204 for retaining vaporizable material and for acting as a heatshield.
In one example, the intermediate element 500 comprises a first portion 502 adapted to cooperate with an outside surface of the wall 104 of the consumable 100 and a second portion 504 adapted to cooperate with the heating element 204. This improves design freedom and increases the range of possible component configurations within the device, enhancing spatial efficiency and allowing for a reduction in the size of the device without impairing its aerosol generating properties.
As previously described, the consumable 100 comprises an outlet for releasing of the vaporizable material from the inside of the hollow body 102 of the consumable to the first portion 502. In this way, the vaporizable material is released to the first portion 502, which acts as vaporizable material retention medium and as well as capillary wick for transporting liquid to the second portion 504. The second portion cooperates with the heating element 204, such that heat generated by the heating element 204 is transferred to the second portion 504, such that vaporizable material is vaporized by the heating from the second portion 504.
This configuration allows vaporizable material from the consumable to be uniformly and reliably supplied to the intermediate element 500 while preventing the vaporizable material to be in direct contact with the heating element 204. Thermal buffer properties of the second portion 504 allow vaporizable material to be further vaporized uniformly without degradation.
In the embodiment of figure 1A, the intermediate element 500 can be freely introduced into the chamber 202 of the heating receptacle 200 followed by the consumable 100 as shown in figure 1A. The skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise the intermediate element as part of the consumable 100 as shown in figure 1 B or as part of the heating receptacle 200 or as part of both consumable and receptacle. In this latter embodiment the portion 502 may be part of the consumable while the second portion 504 may be part of the heating receptacle. In other words, only a first portion 502 of the intermediate element 500 may be located on an outside surface of the consumable 100 while only a second portion 504 of the intermediate element may be located into the heating receptacle. In use, when the consumable 100 carrying the first portion 502 is introduced in the heating receptacle 200, both first and second portions 502 and 504 are in contact together. This ensures that, in use, the vaporizable material is kept sufficiently distant from the heating element 204, thus not in direct contact with the heater 204. The thermal degradation of the vaporizable material may in that way be avoided. More specifically, there are different temperatures reached in both portions of the intermediate element 500 in contact to each other, due to the heat transfer process between the two portions. As can be seen in figure 5, the temperature in the portion 502 is lower than in the portion 504 and should not be sufficient to vaporize the consumable, therefore vaporize the vaporizable material. The temperature in the heater 204 is the highest but the consumable is not in contact with this latter. However, the temperature in the portion 504 is aligned with a boiling point of the vaporizable material in the consumable. In fact, temperature gradient experienced by the portion 504 allows different components of the e-liquid while emerging through the portion 504. Therefore, it is in this portion 504 that the vaporization of consumable or the vaporizable material occurs. Therefore, avoiding the whole reservoir to be heated and furthermore increase user experience. The boiling point temperature in the example shown in figure 5 is around 200 C.
In this embodiment, the intermediate element 500 may be connected to the heating element 204 by means of a clip though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other means to connect the intermediate element 500 to the consumable 100 and to the heating element 204.
The skilled person will also recognise that in other embodiments of the invention, the length of the intermediate element 500 is such that only a section of an outside surface of the consumable 100 and the heating element 204 may be connected with the intermediate element 500. The heating element 204 may occupy only a part of the inner surface of the chamber 202, preferably the heating element may have similar length as the intermediate element 500. Different lengths of the intermediate element can be used.
The first portion 502 is a heat resistant mesh that can resist to temperatures up to 400 C, preferably up to 350 C. This allows the wall 104 of the consumable not to heat as well when in use. Therefore, avoiding the vaporizable material to vaporize as a whole within the consumable 100. In other words, the mesh element of the first portion 502 has vaporizable material retention properties, i.e., retain or keep vaporizable material coming from a liquid store, i.e., from the consumable.
In the embodiment of figure 1 the first portion 502 is made of cotton though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other material which also have heat resistant properties as described above. These materials may include at least one of: cotton, glass fibre. The cotton is preferable because cotton has higher liquid retention properties than metal or glass fiber.
The second portion 504 is a mesh made of a material having pore diameters which are higher than the pore diameters of the material from which the first portion 502 is made of. Material with higher pore diameters will have lesser liquid retention properties and will have higher heat conduction properties.
In the embodiment of figure 1, the material used for the mesh of the second portion 504 is metal, particularly open cell metallic foam. The metal has good heat transfer properties. Thus, that will permit vaporization of the vaporizable material without direct contact of the vaporizable material with the heating element. The skilled person in the art will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other material which are have heat conductor properties.
In other embodiments of the invention, the intermediate element 500 as described above can be obtained by surface treatment techniques including one of: Electroplating, Electroless Plating, Chemical Coating, Anodic Oxidation Process, Hot Dipping, Vacuum Plating, Thermal Spraying, Metallic Cementation.
The embodiment of Figure 1 comprises one intermediate element 500 though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise more than one intermediate element 500.
Furthermore, in the embodiment of the figure 1 the intermediate element 500 comprises one first portion 502 and one second portion 504, though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise more than one first portion 502 and more than one second portion 504. The more than one first portion 502 and more than one second portion 504 may also have different lengths.
Configuring the aerosol generating system 1000 with a consumable 100, a heating element 204 and intermediate element 500 arranged in this manner allows for properties of each component to be optimised. More specifically, as the intermediate element 500 is responsible for retaining vaporizable material and for vaporize it, the design of the intermediate element 500 can be focussed on its vaporizable material retention properties and aerosol generation.
This allows the vaporizable material to be vaporized while keeping it away from the hottest regions of the heating element 204, thereby reducing the effects of temperature degradation.
Furthermore, the intermediate element 500 may be reusable standalone with different aerosol generation device.
Alternatively, or additionally, the heating element 204 may be heated via induction or electromagnetic radiation heating. With reference now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, an alternative embodiment is shown in which the heating element 204 of the heating device 400 comprises or forms a susceptor which is adapted to be heated by an induction coil 207.
In this embodiment, the induction coil 207 may be arranged in a wall 208 of the heating receptacle as illustrated in Fig. 4 or in the housing 411 of the heating device 400, so that it may generally surround the susceptor or heating element 204. Thus, the heating device or the heating receptacle 200 of this alternative embodiment typically includes the induction coil 207 for inducing heat in the susceptor 204. In this embodiment, therefore, the other components and parts of the aerosol generating system or e-cigarette 1000, however, remain essentially unchanged.
The heating receptacle (or a heating element thereof) may for example alternatively or additionally include an optical electromagnetic radiation source to provide electromagnetic radiation for absorption in at least one or a plurality of absorber elements or layers provided on the heating receptacle 200. The at least one absorber element or layer may, for example be provided in the same way as for the heating element 204, and surrounds at least a portion of the inner surface of the chamber 202. The at least one absorber element or layer is configured to absorb the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the optical electromagnetic radiation source and to generate heat energy that vaporizes the vaporizable material present in consumable article 100 when in use. The optical electromagnetic radiation source may, for example, comprise or consist of at least one laser (such as a diode laser) or at least one high-power LED.
Figure 2 shows a schematic transversal view of the consumable 100 and the intermediate element 500 in a third embodiment of the invention. The intermediate element 500 is connected to the wall 104 of the consumable. The intermediate element 500 extends along an outside portion of the wall 104 of the consumable 100. The intermediate element 500 has two portions, the first portion 502 and the second portion 504. The portions 502 and 504 are positioned in a way that the first portion 502 extends along the wall 104. In use, when the consumable is placed within the chamber 202 (not shown in Figure 2) of the heating receptacle 200, an electric current passes through the heating element 204 to generate heat.
The heat is transferred to the second portion 504 with thermal buffer properties. The vaporizable material transferred by capillary action from the consumable to the portion 502 which has retention properties, is vaporized by the thermal buffer 504. By ensuring that the vaporizable material is sufficiently distant from the heating element 204, the temperature degradation of the vaporizable material may be avoided. In this embodiment the intermediate element 500 is connected to the wall 104 of the consumable by means of a clip though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other means to connect the intermediate element 500 to the consumable 100.
Figure 3 shows a schematic transversal view of the heating receptacle 200 and heating element 204, an intermediate element 500 in a fourth embodiment of the invention. Similar to the previous embodiment, the heating element 204 extends an inner surface of the wall 208 of defining the chamber 202. However, in this embodiment, the intermediate element 500 is connected to heating element 204. The first and second portions 502 and 504 are positioned in a way that the second portion 504 extends along the heating element 204.
This ensures that when in use the vaporizable material from the consumable 100 is sufficiently distant from the heating element 204 or is not in direct contact with the heating element 204. Therefore the temperature degradation of the vaporizable material may be avoided. In this embodiment the intermediate element 500 is connected to the heating element 204 by means of a clip though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other means to connected the intermediate element 500 to the consumable 100.
Additionally or alternatively, the consumable of the present invention may further comprise at least one groove extending into the wall 104 of the consumable and forming part of the airflow channel to allow air to flow from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
Preferably, the groove may extend on the outside surface of the wall 104.
Additionally or alternatively, the consumable 100 of the present invention may comprise a plurality of consumables, wherein each consumable 100 has a stackable means configured to stack together one consumable with another consumable 100, in a way that the grooves of each consumable 100 are longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the consumable and in a way that air can flows along the grooves when in use. The stackable means includes one of: clip, screw, bayonet.
Additionally or alternatively, the mouthpiece may be removably connected to the consumable 100 or to the heating receptacle 200.
Reference numbers used for the figures 1000 Aerosol generating device 100 Consumable 102 Hollow portion of the consumable 104 Wall of the consumable 200 Heating receptacle 202 Heating chamber 204 Heating element 207 Induction coil 208 Wall of the receptacle 400 Heating device 402 Memory 404 Controller 406 Battery 408 Electrical circuitry 410 Air holes 411 housing 500 Intermediate element 502 First portion of the intermediate element 504 Second portion of the intermediate element
In this way the wall of the consumable will not heat, as well, when in use.
Therefore, it is avoided that the vaporizable material vaporizes as a whole within the consumable when in use. The mesh element has a wicking function, i.e., to transport vaporizable material from the liquid store, i.e., from the consumable article to the heating apparatus.
Preferably, the first portion comprises at least one of: cotton, glass fiber.
Advantageously the first portion has a thickness between 1 to 8 mm, preferably 2 to 4 mm.
Cotton has higher liquid retention properties than metal or glass fiber.
Preferably, the second portion is a mesh made of a mesh material wherein the pore diameters of the mesh material are higher than the pore diameters of the material from which the first portion is made of.
Material with higher pore diameters will have higher liquid retention properties.
Preferably, the second portion is made of open cell metallic foam or sintered metal. More preferably, the second portion is made of aluminium or steel and their alloys or conductive ceramic materials.
These materials have good heat transfer properties. Thus, this will permit vaporization of the vaporizable material through the second portion without direct contact of the vaporizable material with the heating element.
Advantageously, the open cell metallic foam has a thickness between 1 to 8 mm, preferably 2 to 6mm. This permits the second to experience a temperature gradient through it allowing thus to vaporize the vaporizable material at its boiling point.
More advantageously, the open cell metallic foam has a porosity comprised between 0.8 and 0.7, preferably between 0.8 and 0.5 and a thermal conductivity between 1 W/mk and 20 W/mk.
More specifically, as the intermediate element is made of distinct materials, there are different temperatures reached in both portions of the intermediate element, in contact to each other, due to the heat transfer process happening between the two portions.
Advantageously, the temperature in the first portion is lower than in the second portion and should not be sufficient to vaporize the consumable and therefore vaporize the vaporizable material, thanks to the difference in thickness of both portions and their porosity level. The temperature in the heater is the highest but the consumable is not in contact with this latter. However, the temperature in the second portion is aligned with a boiling point of the vaporizable material in the consumable. In fact, temperature gradient experienced by the second portion allows different components of the e-liquid while emerging through the second portion.
Therefore, It is in this second portion that the vaporization of consumable or the vaporizable material occurs.
Therefore, avoiding the whole reservoir to be heated and furthermore increase user experience. The boiling point temperature can be around 200 C.
Preferably, the heating element extends along at least an inner portion of the wall, and preferably forms at least a part of the wall of the chamber.
This improves design freedom and increases the range of possible component configurations within the device.
According to the invention, the consumable further includes a vaporizable material outlet configured to release the vaporizable material to the intermediate element.
Preferably, the vaporizable material outlet is configured to release the vaporizable material from the inside of the hollow body to the at least one first portion.
Advantageously, the vaporizable material transfer means including one of:
opening, hole, perforation, porous mesh. In this way there is no need of extra elements to allow transportation of the liquid from the consumable article to the outside surface of the consumable, preferably to the mesh element.
According to the invention, the second portion is in thermal contact with the at least one heating element such that, when in use, heat is transferred from the heating element to the second portion, thus allowing vaporization of the vaporizable material released therein by capillary action from the first portion.
According to the invention, the intermediate element is connected to the wall of the consumable, such that, the first portion extends over at least a portion of the wall of the consumable.
Preferably, the intermediate element is connected to the heating element of the heating receptacle such that the second portion is in thermal contact with the at least one heating element.
According to the invention, the device further comprises an airflow channel configured to enabling air flowing from an air inlet to an outlet disposed at opposite ends of the device.
Preferably, the consumable comprises a longitudinal opening aligned along a longitudinal axis of the consumable wherein air can flows along from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
Additionally or alternatively the consumable further comprises at least one groove extending into the wall of the consumable and forming part of the airflow channel to allow air to flow from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
Alternatively, the consumable comprises a plurality of consumables, wherein each consumable has a stackable means configured to stack together one consumable article with another consumable article, in a way that the grooves of each consumable are longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the consumable in a way that air can flow along the grooves when in use.
Preferably, each consumable can hold different vaporizable materials including flavourants.
This gives choice to the consumer to select which flavourant to use, thus improves user experience.
Preferably, the stackable means includes one of: clip, screw, bayonet.
According to the invention, the heating device further comprises a power supply section comprises a battery unit to supply power to the at least one heating element and also a controller unit.
Preferably, the heating device further comprises a mouthpiece removably connected to the consumable.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided method for manufacturing the intermediate element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises surface treatment techniques including one of:
Electroplating, Electroless Plating, Chemical Coating, Anodic Oxidation Process, Hot Dipping, Vacuum Plating, Thermal Spraying, Metallic Cementation.
Brief description of the drawings:
Embodiments of the invention are now described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which:
Figure 1A shows a schematic view of the aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 1B shows a schematic view of the aerosol generation device according to an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows a schematic transversal view of a consumable according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein the intermediate element is located on an outside surface of the consumable.
Figure 3 shows a schematic transversal view of a heating receptacle according to one embodiment of the invention, wherein the intermediate element is located in the heating receptacle.
Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the aerosol generation device according to another embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows an example of a temperature gradient through both portions 502 and 504 versus distance from heater according to an embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the invention:
Figure 1 shows an aerosol generating system 1000 in an embodiment of the invention. The system 1000 comprises a consumable 100, comprising a hollow body 102 configured to contain a vaporizable material. The system 1000 further comprises a heating device 400 configured to receive the consumable 100 or the vaporizable material itself, in order to produce an aerosol through heating of the vaporizable material contained in the consumable.
To that aim the heating device 400 comprises a heating receptacle 200 defining an inner chamber 202, a heating element 204 and an intermediate element 500. The inner chamber 202 has a top opening for insertion of the consumable. The intermediate element 500 is adjacently arranged in an inner wall of the chamber 202. The heating device 400 further comprises a power supply portion. The power supply portion comprises a power supply unit 406, such as a battery and electrical circuitry 408, which enables operation of the heating device 400. The power supply portion is thus configured to supply power to the heating element 204 in the heating device 400 via electrical circuitry 408 comprising a memory 402 and a controller 404. The system 1000 preferably also comprises a mouthpiece, which is not shown in the drawing. The mouthpiece is connectable to an upper part of the heating device 400.
The consumable 100 may be embodied as cartridge, pod, capsule, article or the like.
Vaporizable material may be any material that is vaporizable at a temperature up to 400 C, preferably up to 350 C. For example, the vaporizable material may be an aerosol generating liquid, a gel, a wax or the like.
In use, the heating element 204 is arranged to receive electrical energy from the battery 406 in order to generate an aerosol by heating the vaporizable material released from the consumable through an outlet arranged in the hollow body 102 thereof and adsorbed into the intermediate material 500 through resistive heating. The intermediate element 500 is arranged between the consumable and the heating element 204. The intermediate element 500 is configured to adsorb or retain vaporizable material transferred therein from the consumable 100 for e.g. by capillary action and also for acting as a heatshield to create a heat gap between the vaporizable material and the heating element 204. To ensure controlled release of the vaporizable material, the outlet of the consumable may be formed, as known in the art, as a hole or a plurality of holes and/or comprise a mesh for wicking vaporizable material to the intermediate material 500 once inserted in the chamber 202.
In this example, the consumable 100 is disposed within the chamber 202 of the heating receptacle 200. One or more air flow channels (not shown) are provided through the heating device 400 and the consumable 100, and configured to, on user inhalation, direct air from outside the aerosol generating system 1000 through the air flow channels and toward the mouthpiece. This means that aerosol that has been generated by heating vaporizable material on the heating element 204 will be carried along the air flow channel to exit the device through the mouthpiece.
The heating element 204 comprises a mesh of electrically conductive fibres. In this embodiment, the mesh is planar with a thickness many times smaller than its length, in particular between 5% and 20% of its length. The skilled person will appreciate that alternative arrangements of electrically conductive fibres may also be used which are not flat or planar.
For example, the mesh may be folded, wrapped, or resemble a rod-like heating element. The fibres form a porous network, thereby providing the heating element 204 with wicking properties. This also allows air to flow through the heating element 204, thereby forming part of the air flow channels as described above.
The fibres of the heating element 204 may be made of metal, such as stainless steel, non-stainless steel, iron, copper, tungsten, aluminium, brass, Nichrome, Kanthal, Cupronickel and other alloys, or any other metal (element, compound or alloy). Alternatively, the fibres may be made of non-metal material such as molybdenum disilicide, silicon carbide and other ceramics or semiconductors, or any other non-metal.
In one example, the heating element 204 may comprise a sintered mesh with a random arrangement of fibres. In another example, the heating element 204 may comprise a regular woven pattern of fibres.
The heating device 400 may further comprise a housing 411. Both heating device 400 and housing 411 are substantially cylindrical. Thus, as used herein, the "length"
of the heating device 400 or housing 411 refers to the direction parallel to the axis of the cylinder, i.e., the dimension in which the heating device 400 or housing 411 is elongated.
Similarly, the "length"
of the heating element 204 refers to its elongate axis which points along the cylindrical axis of the housing 411. The skilled person will appreciate that the heating device 400 and housing 411 are not limited to be cylindrical, and may be formed in many other shapes, with the "length" being defined by the most elongated dimension.
The housing 411 of the device also includes inlet holes 410 for the ingress or inlet of air into the system 1000 when a user draws or puffs upon the mouthpiece.
The heating element 204 is mounted in the housing 411. The housing 411 includes a heating receptacle 200 that comprises a wall 208 defining the chamber 202. The heating element 204 extends along at least an inner portion of the wall 208 defining the chamber 202. The heating receptacle 200 acts as a vaporisation chamber which is configured to collect generated aerosol within the chamber 202.
In another embodiment, the heating element 204 may form at least a part of the wall defining the chamber 202. Preferably the heating element 204 is integrated in the chamber's wall.
As previously mentioned, the mouthpiece is connectable to an upper part of the heating device 400. Preferably, the mouthpiece is connectable to an upper part of the heating device housing 411. In particular the mouthpiece is connectable to an upper rim of outer walls 208 of the heating receptacle 200.
The intermediate element 500 is configured to cooperate with an outside surface of a wall 104 of the hollow body 102 of the consumable 100 and with the heating element 204 for retaining vaporizable material and for acting as a heatshield.
In one example, the intermediate element 500 comprises a first portion 502 adapted to cooperate with an outside surface of the wall 104 of the consumable 100 and a second portion 504 adapted to cooperate with the heating element 204. This improves design freedom and increases the range of possible component configurations within the device, enhancing spatial efficiency and allowing for a reduction in the size of the device without impairing its aerosol generating properties.
As previously described, the consumable 100 comprises an outlet for releasing of the vaporizable material from the inside of the hollow body 102 of the consumable to the first portion 502. In this way, the vaporizable material is released to the first portion 502, which acts as vaporizable material retention medium and as well as capillary wick for transporting liquid to the second portion 504. The second portion cooperates with the heating element 204, such that heat generated by the heating element 204 is transferred to the second portion 504, such that vaporizable material is vaporized by the heating from the second portion 504.
This configuration allows vaporizable material from the consumable to be uniformly and reliably supplied to the intermediate element 500 while preventing the vaporizable material to be in direct contact with the heating element 204. Thermal buffer properties of the second portion 504 allow vaporizable material to be further vaporized uniformly without degradation.
In the embodiment of figure 1A, the intermediate element 500 can be freely introduced into the chamber 202 of the heating receptacle 200 followed by the consumable 100 as shown in figure 1A. The skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise the intermediate element as part of the consumable 100 as shown in figure 1 B or as part of the heating receptacle 200 or as part of both consumable and receptacle. In this latter embodiment the portion 502 may be part of the consumable while the second portion 504 may be part of the heating receptacle. In other words, only a first portion 502 of the intermediate element 500 may be located on an outside surface of the consumable 100 while only a second portion 504 of the intermediate element may be located into the heating receptacle. In use, when the consumable 100 carrying the first portion 502 is introduced in the heating receptacle 200, both first and second portions 502 and 504 are in contact together. This ensures that, in use, the vaporizable material is kept sufficiently distant from the heating element 204, thus not in direct contact with the heater 204. The thermal degradation of the vaporizable material may in that way be avoided. More specifically, there are different temperatures reached in both portions of the intermediate element 500 in contact to each other, due to the heat transfer process between the two portions. As can be seen in figure 5, the temperature in the portion 502 is lower than in the portion 504 and should not be sufficient to vaporize the consumable, therefore vaporize the vaporizable material. The temperature in the heater 204 is the highest but the consumable is not in contact with this latter. However, the temperature in the portion 504 is aligned with a boiling point of the vaporizable material in the consumable. In fact, temperature gradient experienced by the portion 504 allows different components of the e-liquid while emerging through the portion 504. Therefore, it is in this portion 504 that the vaporization of consumable or the vaporizable material occurs. Therefore, avoiding the whole reservoir to be heated and furthermore increase user experience. The boiling point temperature in the example shown in figure 5 is around 200 C.
In this embodiment, the intermediate element 500 may be connected to the heating element 204 by means of a clip though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other means to connect the intermediate element 500 to the consumable 100 and to the heating element 204.
The skilled person will also recognise that in other embodiments of the invention, the length of the intermediate element 500 is such that only a section of an outside surface of the consumable 100 and the heating element 204 may be connected with the intermediate element 500. The heating element 204 may occupy only a part of the inner surface of the chamber 202, preferably the heating element may have similar length as the intermediate element 500. Different lengths of the intermediate element can be used.
The first portion 502 is a heat resistant mesh that can resist to temperatures up to 400 C, preferably up to 350 C. This allows the wall 104 of the consumable not to heat as well when in use. Therefore, avoiding the vaporizable material to vaporize as a whole within the consumable 100. In other words, the mesh element of the first portion 502 has vaporizable material retention properties, i.e., retain or keep vaporizable material coming from a liquid store, i.e., from the consumable.
In the embodiment of figure 1 the first portion 502 is made of cotton though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other material which also have heat resistant properties as described above. These materials may include at least one of: cotton, glass fibre. The cotton is preferable because cotton has higher liquid retention properties than metal or glass fiber.
The second portion 504 is a mesh made of a material having pore diameters which are higher than the pore diameters of the material from which the first portion 502 is made of. Material with higher pore diameters will have lesser liquid retention properties and will have higher heat conduction properties.
In the embodiment of figure 1, the material used for the mesh of the second portion 504 is metal, particularly open cell metallic foam. The metal has good heat transfer properties. Thus, that will permit vaporization of the vaporizable material without direct contact of the vaporizable material with the heating element. The skilled person in the art will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other material which are have heat conductor properties.
In other embodiments of the invention, the intermediate element 500 as described above can be obtained by surface treatment techniques including one of: Electroplating, Electroless Plating, Chemical Coating, Anodic Oxidation Process, Hot Dipping, Vacuum Plating, Thermal Spraying, Metallic Cementation.
The embodiment of Figure 1 comprises one intermediate element 500 though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise more than one intermediate element 500.
Furthermore, in the embodiment of the figure 1 the intermediate element 500 comprises one first portion 502 and one second portion 504, though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise more than one first portion 502 and more than one second portion 504. The more than one first portion 502 and more than one second portion 504 may also have different lengths.
Configuring the aerosol generating system 1000 with a consumable 100, a heating element 204 and intermediate element 500 arranged in this manner allows for properties of each component to be optimised. More specifically, as the intermediate element 500 is responsible for retaining vaporizable material and for vaporize it, the design of the intermediate element 500 can be focussed on its vaporizable material retention properties and aerosol generation.
This allows the vaporizable material to be vaporized while keeping it away from the hottest regions of the heating element 204, thereby reducing the effects of temperature degradation.
Furthermore, the intermediate element 500 may be reusable standalone with different aerosol generation device.
Alternatively, or additionally, the heating element 204 may be heated via induction or electromagnetic radiation heating. With reference now to Fig. 4 of the drawings, an alternative embodiment is shown in which the heating element 204 of the heating device 400 comprises or forms a susceptor which is adapted to be heated by an induction coil 207.
In this embodiment, the induction coil 207 may be arranged in a wall 208 of the heating receptacle as illustrated in Fig. 4 or in the housing 411 of the heating device 400, so that it may generally surround the susceptor or heating element 204. Thus, the heating device or the heating receptacle 200 of this alternative embodiment typically includes the induction coil 207 for inducing heat in the susceptor 204. In this embodiment, therefore, the other components and parts of the aerosol generating system or e-cigarette 1000, however, remain essentially unchanged.
The heating receptacle (or a heating element thereof) may for example alternatively or additionally include an optical electromagnetic radiation source to provide electromagnetic radiation for absorption in at least one or a plurality of absorber elements or layers provided on the heating receptacle 200. The at least one absorber element or layer may, for example be provided in the same way as for the heating element 204, and surrounds at least a portion of the inner surface of the chamber 202. The at least one absorber element or layer is configured to absorb the emitted electromagnetic radiation of the optical electromagnetic radiation source and to generate heat energy that vaporizes the vaporizable material present in consumable article 100 when in use. The optical electromagnetic radiation source may, for example, comprise or consist of at least one laser (such as a diode laser) or at least one high-power LED.
Figure 2 shows a schematic transversal view of the consumable 100 and the intermediate element 500 in a third embodiment of the invention. The intermediate element 500 is connected to the wall 104 of the consumable. The intermediate element 500 extends along an outside portion of the wall 104 of the consumable 100. The intermediate element 500 has two portions, the first portion 502 and the second portion 504. The portions 502 and 504 are positioned in a way that the first portion 502 extends along the wall 104. In use, when the consumable is placed within the chamber 202 (not shown in Figure 2) of the heating receptacle 200, an electric current passes through the heating element 204 to generate heat.
The heat is transferred to the second portion 504 with thermal buffer properties. The vaporizable material transferred by capillary action from the consumable to the portion 502 which has retention properties, is vaporized by the thermal buffer 504. By ensuring that the vaporizable material is sufficiently distant from the heating element 204, the temperature degradation of the vaporizable material may be avoided. In this embodiment the intermediate element 500 is connected to the wall 104 of the consumable by means of a clip though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other means to connect the intermediate element 500 to the consumable 100.
Figure 3 shows a schematic transversal view of the heating receptacle 200 and heating element 204, an intermediate element 500 in a fourth embodiment of the invention. Similar to the previous embodiment, the heating element 204 extends an inner surface of the wall 208 of defining the chamber 202. However, in this embodiment, the intermediate element 500 is connected to heating element 204. The first and second portions 502 and 504 are positioned in a way that the second portion 504 extends along the heating element 204.
This ensures that when in use the vaporizable material from the consumable 100 is sufficiently distant from the heating element 204 or is not in direct contact with the heating element 204. Therefore the temperature degradation of the vaporizable material may be avoided. In this embodiment the intermediate element 500 is connected to the heating element 204 by means of a clip though the skilled person will recognise that other embodiments of the invention may comprise other means to connected the intermediate element 500 to the consumable 100.
Additionally or alternatively, the consumable of the present invention may further comprise at least one groove extending into the wall 104 of the consumable and forming part of the airflow channel to allow air to flow from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
Preferably, the groove may extend on the outside surface of the wall 104.
Additionally or alternatively, the consumable 100 of the present invention may comprise a plurality of consumables, wherein each consumable 100 has a stackable means configured to stack together one consumable with another consumable 100, in a way that the grooves of each consumable 100 are longitudinally aligned along a longitudinal axis of the consumable and in a way that air can flows along the grooves when in use. The stackable means includes one of: clip, screw, bayonet.
Additionally or alternatively, the mouthpiece may be removably connected to the consumable 100 or to the heating receptacle 200.
Reference numbers used for the figures 1000 Aerosol generating device 100 Consumable 102 Hollow portion of the consumable 104 Wall of the consumable 200 Heating receptacle 202 Heating chamber 204 Heating element 207 Induction coil 208 Wall of the receptacle 400 Heating device 402 Memory 404 Controller 406 Battery 408 Electrical circuitry 410 Air holes 411 housing 500 Intermediate element 502 First portion of the intermediate element 504 Second portion of the intermediate element
Claims (16)
1. An aerosol generation system comprising:
a consumable (100) comprising a vaporizable material, a heating device comprising a heating receptable (200) for receiving, in use, the consumable (100) and comprising a heating element (204);
wherei n, at least one intermediate element (500) is positioned between the consumable (100) and the heating element (204) for absorbing the vaporizable material from the consumable and for acting as a heatshield between the heating element and the consumable, and wherein the intermediate element comprises at least two portions (502, 504), the first portion (502) in contact with the consumable or the vaporizable material and configured to ensure a wicking of the vaporizable material through the second portion (504) and the second portion (504) in close contact with the heating element and configured to optimize the heat transfer and the vaporization process of the vaporizable material, and wherein the intermediate element (500) is configured such that the vaporization of the vaporizable material occurs in the intermediate element (500).
a consumable (100) comprising a vaporizable material, a heating device comprising a heating receptable (200) for receiving, in use, the consumable (100) and comprising a heating element (204);
wherei n, at least one intermediate element (500) is positioned between the consumable (100) and the heating element (204) for absorbing the vaporizable material from the consumable and for acting as a heatshield between the heating element and the consumable, and wherein the intermediate element comprises at least two portions (502, 504), the first portion (502) in contact with the consumable or the vaporizable material and configured to ensure a wicking of the vaporizable material through the second portion (504) and the second portion (504) in close contact with the heating element and configured to optimize the heat transfer and the vaporization process of the vaporizable material, and wherein the intermediate element (500) is configured such that the vaporization of the vaporizable material occurs in the intermediate element (500).
2. The aerosol generation system according to claim 1, wherein the consumable (100) comprises:
a hollow body (102) having at least one wall (104) configured to hold the vaporizable material, and the heating receptacle (200) comprises:
a wall (208) defining a chamber (202) configured to removably receive at least a portion of the consumable (100) and the wall (208) further comprising the heating element (204) for evaporating the vaporizable material when in use.
a hollow body (102) having at least one wall (104) configured to hold the vaporizable material, and the heating receptacle (200) comprises:
a wall (208) defining a chamber (202) configured to removably receive at least a portion of the consumable (100) and the wall (208) further comprising the heating element (204) for evaporating the vaporizable material when in use.
3. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the first portion (502) is adapted to cooperate in one side which faces the consumable, with an outside surface of at least one wall (104) of the consumable (100) and the second portion (504) is adapted to cooperate in a second side which faces the consumable, with the heating element (204).
4. The aerosol generation system according to claim 3, wherein the first portion (502) is configured to act as a vaporizable material retention medium and wherein the first portion (502) holds and transfers the vaporizable material to the second portion (504) and the second portion (504) is configured to act as a heatshield.
5. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 3 and 4, wherein the first portion (502) and second portion (504) are made of distinct materials.
6. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the first portion (502) is a heat resistant mesh that resists to temperatures up to 400 C, preferably up to 350 'C.
7. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the first portion (502) comprises at least one of: cotton, glass fiber and wherein the first portion has a thickness between 1 to 8 mm, preferably 2 to 4 mm.
8. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second portion (504) is a mesh made of a mesh material wherein the pore diameters of the mesh material is higher than the pore diameters of the material from which the first portion (502) is made of.
9. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein the second portion (504) is made of open cell metallic foam or sintered metal, preferably aluminum or steel and their alloys or conductive ceramic materials, and wherein the foam has a thickness between 1 to 8 mm, preferably 2 to 6 mm.
10. The aerosol generation system according to claim 9, wherein the open cell metallic foam has a porosity comprised between 0.8 and 0.7, preferably between 0.8 and 0.5 and a thermal conductivity between 1 W/mk and 20 W/mk.
11. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the heating element (204) extends along at least an inner portion of the wall (208), and preferably forms at least a part of the wall (208) of the chamber (202).
12. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the intermediate element (500) is connected to the wall (104) of the consumable, such that, the first portion (502) extends over at least a portion of the wall (104).
13. The aerosol generation system according to any one of claims 3 to 11, wherein the intermediate element (500) is connected to the heating element (204) of the heating receptacle such that the second portion (504) is in thermal contact with the heating element (204).
14. The aerosol generation system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the consumable (100) further includes a vaporizable material outlet configured to release the vaporizable material to the intermediate element (500).
15. The aerosol generation system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the consumable further comprises at least one groove extending into the wall (104) of the consumable and forming part of an airflow channel configured to enabling air flowing from an air inlet to an outlet disposed at opposite end of the device, to allow air to flow from the air inlet to an opposite end of the device when in use.
16. Method for manufacturing the intermediate element (500) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises surface treatment techniques including one of: Electroplating, Electroless Plating, Chemical Coating, Anodic Oxidation Process, Hot Dipping, Vacuum Plating, Thermal Spraying, Metallic Cementation.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP20177267.0 | 2020-05-28 | ||
| EP20177267 | 2020-05-28 | ||
| PCT/IB2021/054597 WO2021240400A1 (en) | 2020-05-28 | 2021-05-26 | Aerosol generation device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA3170592A1 true CA3170592A1 (en) | 2021-12-02 |
Family
ID=70921838
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA3170592A Pending CA3170592A1 (en) | 2020-05-28 | 2021-05-26 | Aerosol generation device |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20230210178A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP4156987A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA3170592A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2021240400A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN201067079Y (en) * | 2006-05-16 | 2008-06-04 | 韩力 | Simulation aerosol inhaler |
| CN102389167B (en) * | 2011-09-28 | 2013-05-29 | 卓尔悦（常州）电子科技有限公司 | Replaceable general atomizing head |
| US11045615B2 (en) * | 2016-12-19 | 2021-06-29 | Altria Client Services Llc | Vapor-generating systems |
| JP7252325B2 (en) * | 2018-10-03 | 2023-04-04 | フィリップ・モーリス・プロダクツ・ソシエテ・アノニム | Liquid delivery system for use in aerosol generators |
-
2021
- 2021-05-26 WO PCT/IB2021/054597 patent/WO2021240400A1/en unknown
- 2021-05-26 US US17/928,070 patent/US20230210178A1/en active Pending
- 2021-05-26 CA CA3170592A patent/CA3170592A1/en active Pending
- 2021-05-26 EP EP21735393.7A patent/EP4156987A1/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20230210178A1 (en) | 2023-07-06 |
| EP4156987A1 (en) | 2023-04-05 |
| WO2021240400A1 (en) | 2021-12-02 |
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