CN213848738U - Aerosol-generating article and aerosol-generating system - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model provides an aerosol-generating product and an aerosol-generating system; wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises an outer wrapper, and confined inside the outer wrapper and arranged in an axial direction: an aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol-cooling element, and a filter mouthpiece; the aerosol-cooling element comprises a first end adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate in the axial direction and a second end adjacent the filter mouthpiece; the aerosol-cooling element defining at least one channel extending from a first end to a second end, the at least one channel for providing a fluid path between the aerosol-forming substrate and the filter mouthpiece; the first end and/or the second end of the aerosol-cooling element is provided with a cavity in fluid communication with the at least one passage. In use of the above aerosol-generating article, the aerosol stream will interact with the space within the passageway to lose heat energy, and the cavity extends and converges the space of the passageway to assist in cooling and transfer of the aerosol stream.

Description

Aerosol-generating article and aerosol-generating system

Technical Field

The embodiment of the application relates to the technical field of heating non-combustion tobacco products, in particular to an aerosol generating product and an aerosol generating system.

Background

Smoking articles (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, etc.) burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to replace these tobacco-burning products by making products that release compounds without burning.

An example of such a product is a heating device that releases a compound by heating rather than burning the material. For example, the material may be tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not include nicotine. As prior art, tobacco products are formed from volatile compounds that volatilize when heated to produce an aerosol for ingestion; during preparation and storage, moisture can be absorbed or exists in the tobacco product, the moisture is vaporized to form water vapor which is mixed in the aerosol when a user heats and sucks the tobacco product, and the water vapor is condensed to release heat after being sucked to the oral cavity by the user, so that mouth burning is caused.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In order to solve the problem that moisture influences the smoking among the tobacco products among the prior art, the embodiment of the utility model provides an aerial fog produces goods that use together with aerial fog generating device.

As used herein, the term 'aerosol-forming substrate' is used to describe a substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds upon heating, which volatile compounds can form an aerosol. The aerosol produced by the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating articles described herein may be visible or invisible and may include vapour (e.g. fine particles of a substance in a gaseous state, which particles are typically liquid or solid at room temperature) as well as droplets of gas and condensed vapour.

As used herein, the terms 'upstream' and 'downstream' are used to describe the relative positions of elements, or portions of elements, of an aerosol-generating article with respect to the direction in which a user draws on the aerosol-generating article during use thereof.

The aerosol-generating article comprises two ends: a proximal end through which the aerosol exits the aerosol-generating article and is delivered to a user, and a distal end. In use, a user may draw on the proximal end in order to inhale an aerosol generated by the aerosol-generating article. In use, the proximal end may also be referred to as the downstream end, and downstream of the distal end. The distal portion may also be referred to as the upstream end, and is upstream of the proximal end.

As used herein, the term 'aerosol-cooling element' is used to describe an element having a relatively large surface area and low resistance to draw. In use, an aerosol formed from volatile compounds released from the aerosol-forming substrate passes through the aerosol-cooling element and is cooled by the aerosol-cooling element prior to inhalation by a user. In contrast to high-resistance-to-draw filter nozzles and other orifices, aerosol-cooling elements have a low resistance-to-draw.

Preferably, the aerosol-generating article is a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is inhalable directly into a user's lungs through the user's mouth. More preferably, the aerosol-generating article is a smoking article that generates a nicotine-containing aerosol that is inhalable directly into the user's lungs through the user's mouth.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-forming substrate is arranged at an upstream end of the aerosol-generating article.

In a preferred embodiment, an aerosol-generating article comprises an outer wrapper, and the following components confined inside the outer wrapper and arranged in an axial direction: an aerosol-forming substrate which, when heated, generates an aerosol for inhalation; an aerosol-cooling element arranged downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate for supporting the aerosol-forming substrate and for cooling passing aerosol; a filter mouthpiece disposed downstream of the aerosol-cooling element; the aerosol-cooling element comprises a first end and a second end that are opposite in an axial direction; wherein the first end is proximate to the aerosol-forming substrate and the second end is proximate to the filter mouthpiece; the aerosol-cooling element defining at least one channel extending from the first end to the second end for providing a fluid path between the aerosol-forming substrate and the filter mouthpiece; the first end and/or the second end of the aerosol-cooling element is provided with a cavity in fluid communication with the at least one passage.

In use of the above aerosol-generating article, the aerosol stream will interact with the space within the passageway to lose heat energy, and the cavity extends and converges the space of the passageway to assist in cooling and transfer of the aerosol stream.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one channel is isolated from each other.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one channel is configured to be arranged at intervals along the circumference of the cavity.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one channel is configured in a spiral shape around the aerosol-cooling element.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one passage is uninterrupted or has no cross-sectional area variation along the length of the aerosol-cooling element.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-cooling element comprises a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly to the outer wrapper and the at least one passage is formed between the projections and the outer wrapper.

In a preferred embodiment, the projection has a tapered or pointed end which abuts the outer wrapper.

In a preferred embodiment, the geometric centre and the radial centre of any cross-section of the aerosol-cooling element coincide.

In a preferred embodiment, the aerosol-cooling element comprises a porous ceramic body.

The present application further also provides an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article as described above, and an aerosol-generating device for heating the aerosol-generating article.

Drawings

One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, which correspond to the figures in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and which are not to scale unless otherwise specified.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of an aerosol-generating article provided by an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the aerosol cooling unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the aerosol cooling unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the aerosol cooling unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of yet another embodiment of the aerosol cooling unit of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the aerosol-cooling element of FIG. 5 forming a passage with an outer wrapper;

figure 7 is a schematic diagram of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

To facilitate an understanding of the present application, the present application is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and detailed description.

One embodiment of the present application proposes an aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate for producing an inhalable aerosol when heated by a heating element inside the aerosol-generating device.

Wherein the aerosol-generating article has an overall elongated cylindrical configuration in view of the convenience of inhalation for a typical user. In one embodiment of the invention, referring to fig. 1, an aerosol-generating article 100 comprises three elements arranged in a coaxial arrangement:

an aerosol-forming substrate 30, an aerosol-cooling element 20, and a filter mouthpiece 10; these three elements are arranged sequentially and are circumscribed by an outer wrapper 40 or the like to form the aerosol-generating article 100.

As further shown in figure 1, the aerosol-generating article 100 has an opposed proximal end 110, which proximal end 110 is inserted into the mouth of a user for inhalation during use, and a distal end 120, which distal end 120 is disposed at the end of the aerosol-generating article 100 opposite the proximal end 110.

In use, air is drawn through the aerosol-generating article 100 from the distal end 120 to the proximal end 110 by a user. The distal end 120 of the aerosol-generating article 100 may also be described as the upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 100, and the proximal end 110 of the aerosol-generating article 100 may also be described as the downstream end of the aerosol-generating article 100. The elements of the aerosol-generating article 100 disposed between the proximal end 110 and the distal end 120 may be described as being upstream of the proximal end 110, or alternatively downstream of the distal end 120.

The appearance of the aerosol-generating article 100 may mimic the appearance of a conventional smokable cigarette. The aerosol-generating article 100 may have an outer diameter of between approximately 5 mm and 12 mm (e.g., between approximately 6 mm and 8 mm). And the aerosol-generating article 100 has an overall length of between approximately 30 to 100 millimetres, in a preferred embodiment the aerosol-generating article 100 has an overall length of approximately 45 millimetres.

The aerosol-forming substrate 30 is arranged at the most distal or upstream end of the aerosol-generating article 100. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the aerosol-forming substrate 30 may comprise, for example, one or more of the following: a powder, particle, pellet, chip, strand, tape, or flake comprising one or more of: grass leaf, tobacco main vein, expanded tobacco and homogenized tobacco. In a preferred implementation, the aerosol-forming substrate 30 comprises a gathered sheet of crimped homogenized tobacco material circumscribed by an outer wrapper 40; the gathered sheet of crimped homogenized tobacco material includes glycerin as an aerosol former.

Wherein 'homogenised tobacco material' may be taken to mean a material formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco. In other alternative implementations, aerosol-forming agents are used to describe any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, promotes the formation of an aerosol and is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the operating temperature of the aerosol-generating article. Suitable aerosol-forming agents are known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1, 3-butylene glycol, and glycerin; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di-or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di-or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecenedioate. Preferably, the aerosol-forming substrate 30 may have an aerosol former content of greater than 5% on a dry weight basis.

Alternatively, aerosol-forming substrate 30 may also contain tobacco or smokeless tobacco volatile flavoring compounds that are released upon heating of aerosol-forming substrate 30. Aerosol-forming substrate 30 may also contain one or more capsules that include, for example, additional tobacco or smokeless tobacco volatile flavoring compounds, and such capsules may melt during heating of aerosol-forming substrate 30.

Alternatively, the aerosol-forming substrate 30 may be provided on or embedded in a thermally stable carrier. The carrier may take the form of a powder, granules, pellets, chips, strands, ribbons or flakes. The aerosol-forming substrate 30 may be deposited on the surface of the carrier in the form of, for example, a sheet, foam, glue or paste. The aerosol-forming substrate 30 may be deposited over the entire surface of the carrier or, alternatively, may be deposited in a pattern to provide non-uniform flavour delivery during use.

The aerosol-cooling element 20 is arranged immediately downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate 30 and is contiguous with the aerosol-forming substrate 30. In use, volatile substances released by aerosol-forming substrate 30 upon heating pass along aerosol-cooling element 20 towards proximal end 110 of aerosol-generating article 100, and the volatile substances may cool down within aerosol-cooling element 20 to form an aerosol for inhalation by a user.

The filter mouthpiece 10 is arranged immediately downstream of the aerosol-cooling element 20. In the embodiment shown in fig. 1, the filter mouthpiece 10 comprises a conventional cellulose acetate or polypropylene tow filter of low filtration efficiency.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 2, the outer side wall of the aerosol-cooling element 20 is provided with a number of longitudinally extending channels 21, which channels 21 allow the air flow through the aerosol-cooling element 20 to be in the longitudinal direction without substantial radial deviation. The aerosol-cooling member 20 may function to cool the temperature of an aerosol stream drawn through the aerosol-cooling member 20 by heat transfer. The aerosol stream will interact with the space within the passage 21 of the aerosol-cooling element 20 and lose thermal energy as it passes along arrow R in figure 2. The number of channels 21 in fig. 2 comprises three, which may be increased to more in a variable implementation.

In an alternative embodiment, the channel 21 is formed by cutting 3 portions of the outer peripheral side wall of the cylindrical aerosol-cooling element 20 in a rectangular shape, or may be formed by cutting a curved line or a straight line, or a combination thereof in a triangular shape, a polygonal shape, a semicircular shape, a semi-elliptical shape, or the like, instead of the rectangular shape.

In some embodiments, the temperature of the aerosol stream may decrease by more than 10 degrees celsius as it is drawn through the aerosol-cooling element 20. In some embodiments, the temperature of the aerosol stream may decrease by more than 25 degrees celsius or more than 30 degrees celsius as it is drawn through the aerosol-cooling element 20.

Further in the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 2, the aerosol-cooling element 20 further comprises a first end 210 proximate the proximal end 110 along the length thereof, and a second end 220 proximate the distal end 120; cavities 22 are provided on both the first end 210 and the second end 220 (the cavities 22 of the second end 220 are not shown due to the perspective); at the same time, the cavity 22 is in communication with the channel 21. The cavity 22 can help to increase the contact or active space of the aerosol flow to assist in cooling, and can collect the aerosol in the channel 21 at the first end 210 to concentrate the aerosol to the filter mouthpiece 10.

The portions of the outer side wall of the aerosol-cooling element 20 where the channels 21 are not formed provide support for the outer wrapper 40, i.e. the conventional flexible cigarette paper, preventing the outer wrapper 40 from collapsing, deforming or tearing off when subjected to a force without support, and also provide a barrier to the aerosol-forming substrate 30, inhibiting the aerosol-forming substrate 30 from moving in the length direction.

In yet another alternative embodiment shown in fig. 3, aerosol-cooling element 20a has a plurality of longitudinally extending and spiral ridges 22a on the outer sidewall thereof, such that the outer sidewall of aerosol-cooling element 20a forms a spiral channel 21a around aerosol-cooling element 20 a. The degree of rotation about the length axis of aerosol-cooling element 20a is thereby imparted to the aerosol stream flowing through passage 21a by the helical ledge 22 a. The ledge 22a thus results in a modified aerosol flow achieved by inducing rotation during use, without an undesirably large increase in suction resistance and/or condensation while cooling the aerosol flow.

Of course, in the same embodiment, the aerosol-cooling element 20a shown in fig. 3 is provided with a cavity 22 in the middle of the ends.

Or in yet another alternative embodiment shown in fig. 4, aerosol-cooling element 20a is formed with a helical passage 21b through an internal helical aperture.

Fig. 5 and 6 show yet another alternative embodiment of an aerosol-cooling element 20c, the aerosol-cooling element 20c having an elongated rod shape with a plurality of protrusions 22c extending outwardly in a radial direction. In use, the protrusion 22c abuts against the outer wrapper 40, thereby forming a plurality of channels 21c with the outer wrapper 40 in fig. 6. The protrusions 22c, while forming the channels 21c, also relatively increase the cross-sectional area of the aerosol-cooling element 20c, facilitating the obstruction of the aerosol-forming substrate 30.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 5, the protrusions 22c are in the shape of prisms having pointed or rounded tips, i.e., tapers that gradually decrease in size radially outward.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 5, the cross-sectional area of the channel 21c formed is constant in the length direction; that is, the protrusions 22c extend along the entire length of the aerosol-cooling component 20c toward the outer wrapper 40, are uninterrupted or vary in size, which may help to keep the aerosol stream flowing through the passages 21c from being compressed or diffused.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the dimension of the protrusion 22c along the length direction varies. For example, the dimension of the projection 22c in the length direction is gradually increased, so that the channel 21c is formed in a tapered shape having a smaller cross-sectional area at one end and a larger cross-sectional area at the other end.

According to fig. 5, the number of projections 22c is 4, the number of channels 21c formed corresponds to 4 and is isolated or discrete from each other. In a variable implementation, the number of projections 22c and channels 21c may be greater. Preferably, the geometric center of any cross-section of the aerosol-cooling element 20c coincides with the radial center, regardless of whether the number is increased or decreased. That is, the protrusions 22c or channels 21c are evenly distributed along the circumference of the aerosol-cooling element 20c, which may enhance the effectiveness of providing a barrier and support for the aerosol-forming substrate 30.

In an alternative implementation, aerosol-cooling element 20/20a/20b/20c comprises a porous body material, such as a porous ceramic body, a metal foam, or the like. On one hand, the porous capillary action increases the heat exchange of the aerosol flow, and on the other hand, all hydrophilic groups of the material of the porous capillary action contribute to the combination of the water vapor of the aerosol flow, so that the water vapor retention effect is achieved, and the cooling effect is achieved.

In yet another alternative implementation, aerosol-cooling elements 20/20a/20b/20c include a phase change material, such as polylactic acid, myristic acid, styrene-butadiene block copolymers, or hydrogenated styrene-butadiene block copolymers, among others. The aerosol cooling elements 20/20a/20b/20c made of phase change material can absorb or exchange heat with the aerosol stream to lower the temperature of the aerosol when the aerosol stream passes through the passages 21/21a/21b/21 c.

An embodiment of the present application also proposes an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article 100 and an aerosol-generating device heating the aerosol-generating article 100,

figure 7 shows a portion of an aerosol-generating device 200, in use of an aerosol-generating article 100 according to the embodiment shown in figure 1 described above. The aerosol-generating device 200 comprises:

a battery cell 210 for supplying power;

a control circuit 220;

a heating element 230 powered by the cells 210 and coupled to the control circuitry 220; in figure 7 the heating element 230 is configured in the shape of a pin or blade, and when the aerosol-generating article is received within the aerosol-generating device 200, the heating element 230 may be inserted into the aerosol-generating article 100 for heating, and in particular of course into the aerosol-forming substrate 30.

Wherein the heating element 230 is a resistive heating element. In use, the heating element 230 may be actuated, such actuation may be manually operated, or may occur automatically in response to a user drawing on the aerosol-generating article 100, which aerosol-generating article 100 is inserted into the receiving chamber of the aerosol-generating device 200. The aerosol-cooling elements 20/20a/20b/20c thereby prevent downstream movement of the aerosol-forming substrate 30 within the aerosol-generating article 100 during insertion of the heating element 230 of the aerosol-generating device 200 into the aerosol-forming substrate 30.

In yet another variant implementation, the heating element 230 is in the shape of a tube, at least a portion of the tubular hollow of which is configured to receive the chamber of the aerosol-generating article 100.

Or in yet another variant implementation, the heating element 230 heats the aerosol-generating article 100 by radiating infrared light to the aerosol-generating article 100. Alternatively, the heating element 230 is an induction heating element that employs electromagnetic induction heating.

It should be noted that the description and drawings of the present application illustrate preferred embodiments of the present application, but are not limited to the embodiments described in the present application, and further, those skilled in the art can make modifications or changes according to the above description, and all such modifications and changes should fall within the scope of the claims appended to the present application.

Claims (10)

1. An aerosol-generating article comprising an outer wrapper, and the following components confined inside the outer wrapper and arranged in an axial direction:

an aerosol-forming substrate which, when heated, generates an aerosol for inhalation;

an aerosol-cooling element arranged downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate for supporting the aerosol-forming substrate and for cooling passing aerosol;

a filter mouthpiece disposed downstream of the aerosol-cooling element;

the aerosol-cooling element comprises a first end and a second end that are opposite in an axial direction; wherein the first end is proximate to the aerosol-forming substrate and the second end is proximate to the filter mouthpiece;

the aerosol-cooling element defining at least one channel extending from the first end to the second end for providing a fluid path between the aerosol-forming substrate and the filter mouthpiece; the first end and/or the second end of the aerosol-cooling element is provided with a cavity in fluid communication with the at least one passage.

2. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel is isolated from one another.

3. The aerosol-generating article of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel is configured to be spaced circumferentially along the cavity.

4. The aerosol-generating article of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one channel is configured as a spiral shape around the aerosol-cooling element.

5. An aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the at least one channel is free of discontinuities or variations in cross-sectional area along the length of the aerosol-cooling element.

6. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the aerosol-cooling element comprises a plurality of projections extending radially outwardly to the outer wrapper and the at least one passage is formed between the projections and the outer wrapper.

7. The aerosol-generating article of claim 6, wherein the projection has a tapered or pointed end that abuts the outer wrapper.

8. An aerosol-generating article according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the geometric centre and the radial centre of any cross-section of the aerosol-cooling element are coincident.

9. An aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the aerosol-cooling element comprises a porous ceramic body.

10. An aerosol-generating system, comprising: an aerosol-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and an aerosol-generating device for heating the aerosol-generating article.

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