CN118159156A

CN118159156A - Aerosol generating device

Info

Publication number: CN118159156A
Application number: CN202280071380.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·N·R·A·巴蒂斯塔; R·卡利; E·瓦尔迪兹罗哈斯
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Current assignee: Philip Morris Products SA
Priority date: 2021-10-27
Filing date: 2022-10-26
Publication date: 2024-06-07
Also published as: WO2023073026A1; KR20240090785A

Abstract

An aerosol-generating device (1) for use with an aerosol-generating article (7). The aerosol-generating device (1) comprises a housing (2), a heating assembly (3) and an ejector (4). The housing comprises a cavity (24) and an aerosol outlet (231). The cavity is configured to receive an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device further comprises an airflow path (41) extending downstream within the device from the chamber to the aerosol outlet for delivering an airflow entrained with the aerosol. The ejector is coupled to the housing and is configured to eject the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity from the cavity. The ejector defines at least a portion of an airflow path (41) and is configured to alter the entrained airflow along the airflow path.

Description

Aerosol generating device

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article. The present disclosure also relates to an aerosol-delivery system formed from an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article.

Background

Aerosol-generating devices are known which are adapted to receive a disposable aerosol-generating article and are operable to generate an inhalable aerosol by heating an aerosol-forming substrate of the article. In response to a user inhalation applied to the device or article, air is drawn through the device and/or article and mixed with volatile compounds formed from the aerosol-forming substrate in response to heating of the substrate. The mixture of air and volatile compounds cools to form an aerosol, wherein the aerosol is inhaled by the user. The quality of the user experience is affected by the degree to which air and volatile compounds are mixed together. Incomplete mixing of air and volatile compounds may adversely affect the user experience. At the completion of the use process, removal of the used aerosol-generating article from the device may result in contamination of the user's finger with residue from the depleted aerosol-forming substrate.

Disclosure of Invention

The present disclosure relates to providing an improved aerosol-generating device.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device comprises a housing, a heating assembly, and an ejector. The housing includes a cavity and an aerosol outlet. The cavity is configured to receive an aerosol-generating article. The heating assembly is configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article received in the cavity to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-generating device further comprises an airflow path extending downstream within the device from the chamber to the aerosol outlet for delivering an airflow entrained with the aerosol. The ejector is coupled to the housing and is configured to eject the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity from the cavity. The ejector defines at least a portion of the airflow path and is configured to alter the entrained airflow along the airflow path.

The ejector may help provide improved airflow management along the airflow path and also help remove the used aerosol-generating article from the aerosol-generating device.

The ejector may include a closed channel forming at least a portion of the airflow path.

Preferably, the ejector may be configured to promote mixing of the entrained airflow along the airflow path. The enhancement of mixing may help to enhance the user experience of the device as it increases the likelihood that a user inhales an aerosol containing a homogeneous mixture of air and volatile compounds formed from the aerosol-forming substrate. The ejector may be configured to vary at least one of a speed and a direction of the entrained airflow along the airflow path. The change in speed and direction may help promote mixing of the entrained airflow.

The portion of the airflow path defined by the ejector may include geometric shapes or surface features that promote mixing of the entrained airflow. The ejector may include one or more ribs protruding into the airflow path. The ribs may promote mixing of the entrained airflow.

Preferably, the ejector may comprise a venturi positioned to form part of the airflow path. The venturi defines a constriction in the airflow path through which the entrained airflow is collected, wherein a change in the cross-sectional area of the flow path in the venturi causes a change in the velocity of the entrained airflow as it flows through the venturi. The change in velocity caused by the venturi may help promote mixing of the entrained airflow. Thus, improved mixing may allow a user to inhale an aerosol, wherein the components of the aerosol are thoroughly mixed. Thus, improved mixing may enhance the user experience.

Where the ejector comprises a venturi, the upstream homogenization chamber may be positioned upstream of the venturi in the airflow path. Additionally or alternatively, a downstream homogenization chamber may be positioned downstream of the venturi in the airflow path. The provision of one or both of the upstream and downstream homogenisation chambers provides a volume or space for the mixing of the components of the entrained gas stream. Further, the volume or space provided by the homogenization chamber(s) may also promote improved cooling of the entrained airflow, thereby reducing the likelihood of the user receiving aerosols having excessive temperatures. Conveniently, one or both of the upstream and downstream homogenising chambers form part of an ejector. For example, the ejector may be formed as a single homogeneous component. Alternatively, the ejector may be formed of two or more component parts coupled to each other.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a mouthpiece comprising an aerosol outlet.

Preferably, the housing may be an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis. The cavity, ejector, and aerosol outlet may be sequentially disposed along the longitudinal axis of the elongate housing between the distal end and the mouth end of the elongate housing. The mouth end may serve as a mouthpiece for the user. Alternatively, the mouthpiece may be attached to the elongate housing at the mouth end. Conveniently, the aerosol outlet is located at the mouth end. The mouth end defines a downstream end of the airflow path.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a cap coupled to the housing to cover the access opening to the cavity. The cover is movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position. The coupling of the cover to the housing may be configured to bias the cover in the closed position. Biasing the lid in the closed position may reduce the likelihood of foreign objects entering the cavity of the aerosol-generating device when no aerosol-generating article is present inside the cavity. Further, in the event that the aerosol-generating article is fully received in the cavity, biasing the lid in the closed position may also help reduce the likelihood of the article accidentally escaping from the cavity during use of the aerosol-generating device. Biasing may be achieved by using springs or other conventional means in the coupling of the cover to the housing. Preferably, the access opening may be provided at a distal end of the housing and the coupling of the cover to the housing is a rotatable coupling, wherein the cover is rotatably movable relative to the housing to move between the closed position and the open position. However, alternatively, the access opening may instead be provided in a side wall of the housing between the distal end and the mouth end.

Preferably, the ejector is slidably movable relative to the housing to eject the aerosol-generating article from the cavity when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity. Conveniently, the ejector is slidably movable relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing; in this way, the slidable movement of the ejector relative to the housing may be movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a slidable interface accessible from the exterior of the housing and slidable over a surface of the housing. The slidable interface may be coupled to the ejector such that movement of the interface over the surface of the housing provides corresponding sliding movement of the ejector relative to the housing to eject the aerosol-generating article from the cavity when the aerosol-generating article is received therein. Preferably, the slidable interface and ejector are slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing.

Preferably, the slidable interface and ejector may be integrally formed as a single body. However, the coupling of the slidable interface and ejector may alternatively be provided by the slidable interface and ejector being formed as separate structural entities connected to each other. The connection of the slidable interface and the ejector may be indirect (i.e., there are one or more intermediate portions between the slidable interface and the ejector) or direct (i.e., there are no such intermediate portions between the slidable interface and the ejector).

The heating assembly may be disposed along and about a longitudinal axis of the cavity. Further, the heating assembly may define an inwardly facing surface of the cavity.

The heating assembly may include a plurality of heating segments, each of the plurality of heating segments arranged in sequence along a longitudinal axis of the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise control electronics configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of heating segments to heat one or more corresponding regions of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity. In the case of a device for use with an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate segmented in the same manner as the heating assembly, the aerosol-generating article and the aerosol-generating device may be sized such that when the article is received in the cavity, each heating segment of the heating assembly is positioned adjacent to a corresponding segment of the aerosol-forming substrate. In this way, the heating process may be controlled to selectively deplete specific portions (i.e., segments) of the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article.

Preferably, the plurality of heating segments may be axially spaced from one another along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

The heating assembly may be configured to be air permeable so as to define a lateral airflow path through the heating assembly inwardly into the cavity.

The heating assembly may be an induction heating assembly. Each of the plurality of heating segments may include a circumferential arrangement around the cavity of the one or more inductors.

Each of the plurality of heating segments may further comprise a circumferential arrangement surrounding the cavity of the one or more susceptor elements. The circumferential arrangement of one or more susceptor elements may be provided inwardly from the corresponding circumferential arrangement of one or more inductors.

Each of the circumferential arrangements of one or more susceptor elements may be radially spaced apart from a corresponding circumferential arrangement of one or more inductors to define an axial airflow path therebetween.

As an alternative to making the one or more susceptor elements a feature of the aerosol-generating device, the one or more susceptor elements may alternatively be integrated into the aerosol-generating article. For example, one or more susceptor elements may be positioned within an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article.

The heating assembly may be a resistive heating assembly, each of the plurality of heating segments comprising a circumferential arrangement surrounding a cavity of one or more resistive heating elements.

Preferably, the control electronics may be configured to activate different heating segments or groups of heating segments of the plurality of heating segments sequentially over a predetermined period of time, along the length of the cavity.

The control electronics may be configured to selectively activate the plurality of heating segments within a predetermined time period such that only a single heating segment of the plurality of heating segments is activated at any point in time within the predetermined time period. Conveniently, the predetermined period of time is a use process.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an aerosol delivery system comprising: an aerosol-generating device according to any one of the above possible configurations; and an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating article being configured to be received in a cavity of an aerosol-generating device.

Preferably, the heating assembly may comprise a plurality of heating sections. Each of the plurality of heating segments may be arranged sequentially along the longitudinal axis of the cavity. The aerosol-generating device may further comprise control electronics configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of heating segments. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a plurality of substrate segments, each of the substrate segments being arranged such that when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity, each of the substrate segments is axially aligned with a corresponding one of the heating segments. This configuration of corresponding heating segments and substrate segments helps control the heating process to selectively deplete specific portions (i.e., segments) of the aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating device" is used to describe a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. Preferably, the aerosol-generating device is a smoking device that interacts with the aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol that can be inhaled directly into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" refers to a substrate that consists of or includes an aerosol-forming material that is capable of releasing volatile compounds upon heating to generate an aerosol.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate. However, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise both a solid component and a liquid component. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may be a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises nicotine. More preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises tobacco. Alternatively or additionally, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol-forming material that is free of tobacco.

If the aerosol-forming substrate is a solid aerosol-forming substrate, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may comprise, for example, one or more of a powder, a granule, a pellet, a chip, a strand, a ribbon or a sheet containing one or more of herbal leaves, tobacco ribs, expanded tobacco and homogenized tobacco.

Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may contain tobacco or non-tobacco volatile flavour compounds that are released upon heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may also comprise one or more capsules, for example comprising a further tobacco volatile flavour compound or a non-tobacco volatile flavour compound, and such capsules may melt during heating of the solid aerosol-forming substrate.

Optionally, the solid aerosol-forming substrate may be disposed on or embedded in a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may take the form of a powder, granules, pellets, chips, strands, ribbons, or sheets. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited on the surface of the support in the form of, for example, a sheet, foam, gel or slurry. The solid aerosol-forming substrate may be deposited over the entire surface of the carrier or, alternatively, may be deposited in a pattern so as to provide non-uniform flavour delivery during use.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises homogenized tobacco material. As used herein, the term "homogenized tobacco material" refers to a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.

Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises an agglomerated sheet of homogenised tobacco material. As used herein, the term "sheet" refers to a layered element having a width and length that are significantly greater than its thickness. As used herein, the term "gathered" is used to describe a sheet that is wrapped, folded, or otherwise compressed or tightened substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating article. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises an aerosol-former. As used herein, the term "aerosol-former" is used to describe any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, aids in forming an aerosol and is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating article.

Suitable aerosol formers are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyols such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 3-butanediol, and glycerol; esters of polyols, such as glycerol mono-, di-, or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di-or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Preferred aerosol formers are polyols or mixtures thereof such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 3-butanediol and most preferably glycerol.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a single aerosol-former. Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a combination of two or more aerosol-formers.

As used herein, the term "use process" refers to a cycle in which a user applies a series of puffs to extract an aerosol from an aerosol-forming substrate.

The invention is defined in the claims. However, a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples is provided below. Any one or more features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of another example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

Example Ex1: an aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device comprising a housing, a heating assembly and an ejector;

the housing includes a cavity and an aerosol-generating outlet, the cavity configured to receive the aerosol-generating article;

The heating assembly is configured to heat an aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity to generate an aerosol;

the aerosol-generating device further comprises an airflow path extending within the device downstream from the cavity to the aerosol outlet for delivering an airflow entrained with aerosol;

The ejector is coupled to the housing and is configured to eject the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity from the cavity;

The ejector defines at least a portion of the airflow path and is configured to alter entrained airflow along the airflow path.

Example Ex2: the aerosol-generating device of Ex1, wherein the ejector comprises a closed channel forming at least a portion of the airflow path.

Example Ex3: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 or Ex2, wherein the ejector is configured to promote mixing of the entrained airflow along the airflow path.

Example Ex4: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex3, wherein the portion of the airflow path defined by the ejector comprises a geometry or surface feature that promotes mixing of the entrained airflow.

Example Ex5: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex4, wherein the ejector is configured to vary at least one of the speed and direction of the entrained airflow along the airflow path.

Example Ex6: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex5, wherein the ejector comprises a venturi positioned to form part of the airflow path.

Example Ex7: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex6, wherein an upstream homogenising chamber is positioned upstream of the venturi in the airflow path.

Example Ex8: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex6 or Ex7, wherein a downstream homogenising chamber is positioned downstream of the venturi in the airflow path.

Example Ex9: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex7 or Ex8, wherein one or both of the upstream and downstream homogenising chambers form part of the ejector.

Example Ex10: the aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex9, further comprising a mouthpiece comprising the aerosol outlet.

Example Ex11: the aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex10, wherein the housing is an elongated housing having a longitudinal axis, wherein the cavity, ejector and aerosol outlet are arranged in sequence along the longitudinal axis of the housing between a distal end and a mouth end of the housing.

Example Ex12: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex11, wherein the aerosol outlet is positioned at the mouth end.

Example Ex13: the aerosol-generating device according to any one of Ex11 or Ex12, further comprising a cover coupled to the housing to cover the access opening to the cavity, the cover being movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position, the coupling of the cover to the housing being configured to bias the cover into the closed position.

Example Ex14: the aerosol-generating device of Ex13, wherein the access opening is disposed at a distal end of the housing and the coupling of the cover to the housing is a rotatable coupling, wherein the cover is rotatably movable relative to the housing to move between the closed position and the open position.

Example Ex15: the aerosol-generating device of Ex13, wherein the access opening is disposed in a sidewall of the housing between the distal end and the mouth end.

Example Ex16: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex15, wherein the ejector is slidably movable relative to the housing to eject the aerosol-generating article from the cavity when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity.

Example Ex17: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex16, wherein the ejector is slidably movable relative to the housing along a longitudinal axis of the housing.

Example Ex18: an aerosol-generating device according to any one of Ex16 or Ex17, further comprising a slidable interface accessible from outside the housing and slidable over a surface of the housing, the slidable interface being coupled to the ejector such that movement of the interface over the surface of the housing provides corresponding sliding movement of the ejector relative to the housing to eject the aerosol-generating article from the cavity when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity.

Example Ex19: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex18, wherein the slidable interface and the ejector are slidably movable along a longitudinal axis of the housing.

Example Ex20: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex18 or Ex19, wherein the slidable interface and the ejector are integrally formed as a single body.

Example Ex21: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex20, wherein the heating assembly is arranged along and around a longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Example Ex22: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex21, wherein the heating assembly defines an inwardly facing surface of the cavity.

Example Ex23: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex21 or Ex22, wherein the heating assembly is configured to be air permeable so as to define a lateral airflow path through the heating assembly inwardly into the cavity.

Example Ex24: an aerosol-generating device according to any one of Ex21 to Ex23, wherein the heating assembly comprises a plurality of heating segments, each of the plurality of heating segments being arranged sequentially along the longitudinal axis of the cavity, the aerosol-generating device further comprising control electronics configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of heating segments so as to heat one or more corresponding regions of the aerosol-generating article when received in the cavity.

Example Ex25: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex24, wherein the plurality of heating segments are axially spaced from each other along the longitudinal axis of the cavity.

Example Ex26: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex24 or Ex25, wherein the heating assembly is an induction heating assembly, each of the plurality of heating segments comprising a circumferential arrangement around the cavity of the one or more inductors.

Example Ex27: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex26, wherein each of the plurality of heating segments further comprises a circumferential arrangement around the cavity of one or more susceptor elements, the circumferential arrangement of one or more susceptor elements being disposed inwardly from the corresponding circumferential arrangement of one or more inductors.

Example Ex28: an aerosol-generating device according to Ex27, wherein each of the circumferential arrangements of the one or more susceptor elements is radially spaced apart from the corresponding circumferential arrangement of the one or more inductors to define an axial airflow path therebetween.

Example Ex29: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex24 or Ex25, wherein the heating assembly is a resistive heating assembly, each of the plurality of heating segments comprising a circumferential arrangement around a cavity of one or more resistive heating elements.

Example Ex30: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex24 to Ex29, wherein the control electronics is configured to activate different heating segments or groups of heating segments of the plurality of heating segments sequentially over a predetermined period of time, along the length of the cavity.

Example Ex31: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex24 to Ex30, wherein the control electronics is configured to selectively activate the plurality of heating segments within a predetermined time period such that only a single heating segment of the plurality of heating segments is activated at any point in time within the predetermined time period.

Example Ex32: an aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex30 or Ex31, wherein the predetermined period of time is a use process.

Example Ex33: an aerosol delivery system comprising:

An aerosol-generating device according to any of Ex1 to Ex 32; and

An aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating article being configured to be received in a cavity of the aerosol-generating device.

Example Ex34: the aerosol-delivery system of Ex33, wherein the heating assembly comprises a plurality of heating segments, each of the plurality of heating segments arranged sequentially along a longitudinal axis of the cavity, the aerosol-generating device further comprising control electronics configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of heating segments;

The aerosol-forming substrate comprises a plurality of substrate segments, each of the substrate segments being arranged such that when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity, each of the substrate segments is axially aligned with a corresponding one of the heating segments.

Drawings

Several examples will now be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating device.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the cap of the aerosol-generating device in the direction indicated by arrow "a" in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an aerosol-generating article for use with the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1.

Fig. 4A-C are schematic cross-sectional views of an aerosol-delivery system formed from the combination of the aerosol-generating device of fig. 1 and the aerosol-generating article of fig. 3. Fig. 4A shows the aerosol-generating article prior to insertion into an aerosol-generating device. Fig. 4B shows the aerosol-generating article fully received within the aerosol-generating device. Fig. 4C shows the aerosol-generating article after ejection from the aerosol-generating device.

Fig. 5A-C are perspective schematic views of an aerosol delivery system corresponding to each of fig. 4A-C.

Fig. 6A and 6B are schematic cross-sectional views of an aerosol delivery system for use in different stages of a use process.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol-generating device 1. The device 1 has an elongate housing 2. For the example shown and described, the elongated housing 2 has a substantially cylindrical cross section and is formed of a polymeric material. The housing 2 accommodates a power source 21 and control electronics 22. The power source 21 is in the form of a rechargeable battery which serves as a power source for the aerosol-generating device 1. The aerosol-generating device 1 has a distal end 11 and a mouth end 12. The housing 2 terminates in a mouthpiece 23 at the mouth end 12, the mouthpiece 23 having an opening 231. In use, the opening 231 of the mouthpiece 23 serves as an aerosol outlet. A cylindrical cavity 24 is defined inside the housing 2. The lumen 24 extends along the longitudinal axis LA of the device 1 from the distal end 11 for a portion of the length of the device. An access opening 241 into the lumen 24 is provided at the distal end 11.

The heating assembly 3 is arranged circumferentially around the cavity 24. The heating assembly 3 extends along the length of the cavity 24 and is formed of five discrete heating segments 31 a-e. The heating sections 31a-e are axially arranged along the longitudinal axis LA. Each of the heating sections 31a-e has a corresponding inductor coil 311a-e and a corresponding susceptor 312a-e. Each of the inductor coils 311a-e and its corresponding susceptor 312a-e extends circumferentially around the cavity 24. Each of the inductor coils 311a-e is disposed radially outward of its respective susceptor 312a-e by a radial gap r ₃₁. The heating segments 31a-e are axially spaced from each other by an axial gap a ₃₁. Although not shown, the radial and axial gaps r ₃₁、a₃₁ may provide a transport for airflow therethrough and into the cavity 24.

The power supply 21, the control electronics 22 and the heating assembly 3 are electrically coupled to each other by means of wiring 25. Fig. 1 illustrates how the control electronics 22 are electrically coupled to each of the inductor coils 311a-e of the heating segments 31a-e of the heating assembly 3 independently by separate sections of wiring 25.

The aerosol-generating device 1 also has an ejector 4. The ejector 4 is incorporated in the aerosol-generating device 1 so as to be slidably movable within the housing 2 along the longitudinal axis LA. The ejector 4 has a closed channel 41 (indicated in fig. 1 by a double-headed dashed arrow) extending axially along the longitudinal axis LA from the cavity 24 downstream towards the mouthpiece 23 at the mouth end 12. The closed channel 41 defines an upstream chamber 42, a venturi section 43 and a downstream chamber 44. The upstream chamber 42, the venturi section 43, and the downstream chamber 44 are arranged in sequence along the longitudinal axis LA. The venturi section 43 defines a throat 431 corresponding to the smallest cross-sectional area of the closed channel 41. The cross-sectional area of the closed channel 41 increases upstream and downstream of the throat 431. The upstream end of ejector 40 is provided with a circumferential lip 45. The circumferential lip 45 is immediately adjacent the upstream chamber 42 and defines a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the upstream chamber.

The slidable interface 5 is provided on the aerosol-generating device 1. The slidable interface 5 is accessible from outside the housing 2. The slidable interface 5 has the form of a curved panel which follows the curvature of the cylindrical housing 2 and which in part defines the housing (see fig. 5A-C). The slidable interface 5 is slidable over the outer surface of the housing 2 along the longitudinal axis LA. The slidable interface 5 and ejector 4 are integrally formed as a single piece (see fig. 1, 4A-C). Movement of the slidable interface 5 along the longitudinal axis LA across the surface of the housing 2 causes corresponding movement of the ejector 4 along the longitudinal axis. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the slidable interface 5 and the ejector 4 may alternatively be formed as separate structural entities directly or indirectly coupled to each other, such that a sliding movement of the slidable interface 5 still causes a corresponding sliding movement of the ejector 4 along the longitudinal axis LA.

The cap 6 is coupled to the housing 2 at a distal end 11. The cover 6 is coupled to the housing 2 by a spring loaded hinge connection 61 (see fig. 1,2, 4A-C). The cover 6 is pivotally rotatable about a spring-loaded hinge connection 61 between a closed position and an open position. For the open position, the cover 6 is shown in dashed outline in fig. 1. In the closed position, the cover 6 covers the opening 241 to the cavity 24. In the open position, the lid 6 pivots about the spring-loaded hinge connection 61 to expose the opening 241 into the cavity 24. Having the lid 6 in the open position allows the aerosol-generating article 7 to be inserted into or removed from the cavity 24, as shown in fig. 4A-C and 5A-C. The spring-loaded hinge connection 61 is arranged to bias the lid 6 into the closed position. An air hole 62 (see fig. 2, 5A, 5C) is formed in the central region of the cover 6.

The aerosol-generating device 1 is for use with an aerosol-generating article 7. Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary aerosol-generating article 7. The aerosol-generating article 7 has the form of an elongate strip. The aerosol-generating article 7 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 71. The aerosol-forming substrate 71 is composed of five segments 71 a-e. Each of the segments 71a-e of the aerosol-forming substrate 71 contains tobacco and glycerin. The segments 71a-e are arranged sequentially along the length of the aerosol-generating article 7. Each of the segments 71a-e has an axial length which substantially corresponds to the axial length of each of the heating segments 31a-e of the heating assembly 3 of the aerosol-generating device 1. The segments 71a-e of the aerosol-forming substrate are enclosed in a wrapper 72 formed from cigarette paper.

The aerosol-generating article 1 and the aerosol-generating article 7 together form an aerosol delivery system 100 (see fig. 4A-C, 5A-C).

Before starting the use procedure, the user will first move the lid 6 into the open position by applying sufficient force to the rim of the lid to overcome the biasing action of the spring-loaded hinge connection 61, thereby exposing the access opening 241 of the cavity 24. The user then inserts the aerosol-generating article 7 into the cavity 24 until one end of the cavity abuts the circumferential lip 45 of the ejector 4. The cavity 24 has a length sufficient to receive the entire aerosol-generating article 7. Fig. 4A and 5A show the aerosol-generating article 7 immediately prior to insertion into the cavity 24 of the aerosol-generating device 1. Fig. 4B shows the aerosol-generating article 7 after having been inserted into the cavity 24 of the aerosol-generating device 1. When the aerosol-generating article 7 is received inside the cavity 24, each segment 71a-e of the aerosol-forming substrate 71 is positioned adjacent a corresponding one of the heating segments 31a-e of the heating assembly 3. Once the aerosol-generating article 7 is fully received inside the cavity 24 of the aerosol-generating device 1, the lid 6 will automatically pivot about the spring-loaded hinge connector 61 into the closed position due to the biasing action of the spring-loaded hinge connector-as shown in fig. 1, 4B, 5B. The cap 6 will help to ensure that the aerosol-generating article 7 is held inside the cavity 24 of the aerosol-generating device 1.

The user will then start the use process by pressing an activation button or similar device (not shown) located on the housing 2 of the device 1. As the use process begins, the control electronics 22 will continue to control the supply of power from the power source 21 to the heating assembly 3 according to instructions stored in the memory module of the control electronics 22. More specifically, the control electronics 22 independently control the supply of power from the power source 21 to a particular one of the inductor coils 311a-e according to instructions stored in the memory module. Supplying power to a particular one of the inductor coils 311a-e causes the corresponding inductor coil(s) to generate a magnetic field. The generated magnetic fields induce eddy currents in and heat corresponding ones of the susceptors 312a-e, wherein heat is radiated from the susceptors to heat the corresponding segments 71a-e of the adjacent aerosol-forming substrate 71. The heating of the different segments 71a-e of the aerosol-forming substrate 71 causes the volatile compounds to form as vapors from the respective segments.

Fig. 6A and 6B show how different ones of the heating sections 31a-e are activated in different parts of the use. Fig. 6A illustrates a heating scheme in a first portion of a use process. In this first part of the use process, the control electronics 22 limits the supply of electrical power to the inductor coil 311a, thereby causing heating to be limited to the inductor 312a and the segment 71a of the aerosol-forming substrate 71. Fig. 6B illustrates a heating scheme in a second portion of the use process, which immediately follows the first portion. In this second part of the use process, the control electronics 22 limits the supply of electrical power to the inductor coil 311b, thereby causing heating to be limited to the inductor 312b and the segment 71b of the aerosol-forming substrate 71. In a subsequent part of the use process, the control electronics 22 gradually limits the power supply to the inductor coil 311c, then the inductor coil 311d and finally the inductor coil 311e, thereby causing heating of the corresponding susceptors 312c, 312d, 312e and thus the corresponding segments 71c, 71d, 71 e. Thus, at the beginning of the use process, the segment 71a of the aerosol-forming substrate 71 closest to the distal end 11 of the device 1 is heated and gradually depleted. As the different parts of the use process proceed, the heating action of the heating assembly 3 proceeds downstream to heat and deplete the segment 71B, followed by the segment 71c, followed by the segment 71d, and finally the segment 71e, as indicated by arrow B in fig. 6B.

During the use process, the user will suck on the mouthpiece 23. The user's suction action causes air to be drawn into the cavity 24 through the air holes 62 of the cap 6 and into one end of the aerosol-generating article 7. As it flows downstream through the aerosol-generating article 7, the air mixes with the vaporized volatile compound formed by heating the segment(s) of the aerosol-forming substrate 71. The combination of the vaporized volatile compound and air forms an entrained airflow that flows downstream through the aerosol-generating article 7 and then through the closed channel 41 of the ejector 4 towards the opening 231 of the mouthpiece 23. Fig. 6A-B show the flow path of the entrained airflow through the article 7 and the device 1. The upstream chamber 42 defines an enclosed space to permit the volatile compounds to cool and condense to form aerosol droplets, as well as to permit mixing of the aerosol droplets with air of the entrained airflow. As the entrained air flows downstream into the venturi section 43, the entrained air flow accelerates as the cross-sectional area of the enclosed channel 41 gradually decreases toward the throat 431. The narrowing of the closed channel 41 in the venturi section 43 and the acceleration due to the throat 431 helps promote mixing of aerosol droplets and air of the entrained airflow. The downstream chamber 44 defines an enclosed space to permit further cooling of the entrained airstream and mixing of aerosol droplets with air of the entrained airstream. The entrained airflow of aerosol droplets then flows downstream from the closed channel 41 of the ejector 4 to exit the aerosol-generating device 1 via the opening 231 of the mouthpiece 23 for inhalation by a user.

As described above, as the use process proceeds, the control electronics 22 will heat different ones of the segments 71a-e of the aerosol-generating article 7 in different parts of the use process to gradually deplete the aerosol-forming substrate 71. The transition between different parts of the use and the activation of different ones of the heating segments 31a-e may be a function of one or more of the time of suction applied during use, the cumulative suction count and the rate, wherein the memory module contains instructions to enable the control electronics 22 to control the heating assembly 3 accordingly.

At the completion of the use process, the control electronics 22 terminate the supply of power to the inductor coils 311a-e of the heating sections 31a-e of the heating assembly 3. To remove the used aerosol-generating article 7 from the cavity 24 of the aerosol-generating device 1, the user engages one or more of their fingers with the slidable interface 5 and slides the interface 5 over the housing 2 towards the distal end 11, as indicated by arrow C in fig. 4C and 5C. This sliding action of the slidable interface 5 causes a corresponding sliding movement of the ejector 4 within the housing 2 towards the distal end 11. As described above, the aerosol-generating article 7 abuts the circumferential lip 45 of the ejector 4. Thus, movement of the ejector 4 relative to the housing 2 towards the distal end 11 causes the ejector to push the aerosol-generating article 7 against the cap 6. The force applied by the user to the slidable interface 5 and the ejector 4 is sufficient to overcome the biasing action of the spring-loaded hinge connection 61, allowing the ejector 4 to push the aerosol-generating article 7 against the lid 6 and open the lid. Fig. 4C and 5C show the position of the ejector 4 and the slidable interface 5 when the used aerosol-generating article 7 has been pushed out of the cavity 24.

For the purposes of this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing quantities, amounts, percentages, and so forth, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term "about". Additionally, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intervening ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein. Thus, herein, the number "a" is understood to be "a" ±10% of "a". In this context, the number "a" may be considered to include values within the general standard error of measurement of the property modified by the number "a". In some cases, as used in the appended claims, the number "a" may deviate from the percentages recited above, provided that the amount of deviation of "a" does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Additionally, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intervening ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically enumerated herein.

Claims

1. An aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate, the aerosol-generating device comprising a housing, a heating assembly and an ejector;

2. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 1, wherein the ejector is configured to promote mixing of the entrained airflow along the airflow path.

3. An aerosol-generating device according to any one of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the ejector is configured to vary at least one of the speed and direction of the entrained airflow along the airflow path.

4. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the ejector comprises a venturi positioned to form part of the airflow path.

5. An aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the housing is an elongate housing having a longitudinal axis, wherein the cavity, ejector and aerosol outlet are arranged in sequence along the longitudinal axis of the housing between a distal end and a mouth end of the housing.

6. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 5, further comprising a cover coupled to the housing to cover the access opening to the cavity, the cover being movable relative to the housing between a closed position and an open position, the coupling of the cover to the housing being configured to bias the cover into the closed position.

7. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the ejector is slidably movable relative to the housing to eject the aerosol-generating article from the cavity when the aerosol-generating article is received therein.

8. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 7, further comprising a slidable interface accessible from outside the housing and slidable over a surface of the housing, the slidable interface being coupled to the ejector such that movement of the interface over the surface of the housing provides corresponding sliding movement of the ejector relative to the housing to eject the aerosol-generating article from the cavity when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity.

9. An aerosol-generating device according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating assembly is arranged along and around a longitudinal axis of the cavity.

10. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 9, wherein the heating assembly is configured to be air permeable so as to define a lateral airflow path through the heating assembly inwardly into the cavity.

11. An aerosol-generating device according to any one of claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the heating assembly comprises a plurality of heating segments, each of the plurality of heating segments being arranged sequentially along the longitudinal axis of the cavity, the aerosol-generating device further comprising control electronics configured to selectively activate one or more of the plurality of heating segments so as to heat one or more corresponding regions of the aerosol-generating article when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cavity.

12. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 11, wherein the heating assembly is an induction heating assembly, each of the plurality of heating segments comprising a circumferential arrangement around a cavity of one or more inductors.

13. An aerosol-generating device according to claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of heating segments further comprises a circumferential arrangement around the cavity of one or more susceptor elements, the circumferential arrangement of one or more susceptor elements being disposed inwardly from the corresponding circumferential arrangement of one or more inductors.

14. An aerosol-generating device according to any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the control electronics is configured to activate different heating segments or groups of heating segments of the plurality of heating segments sequentially over a predetermined period of time, along the length of the cavity.

15. An aerosol delivery system comprising:

an aerosol-generating device according to any of the preceding claims; and