JP2024505169A - telescopic filter - Google Patents

Abstract

a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body being configured to contain a solid steam generating material; A filter comprising a mouthpiece end and an attachment end opposite the mouthpiece end, the attachment end configured to be attached to a first end of the body. an air flow passageway in the filter configured to allow steam to enter the filter from the first end of the body through the mounting end and exit the filter through the mouthpiece end; A steam generating article comprising: a filter comprising an adjuster configured to adjust the length of the filter.

Description

The present disclosure relates to aerosol-generating articles used in aerosol-generating systems in which an aerosol-generating substrate is heated to form an aerosol. The present disclosure is particularly applicable to portable aerosol generation devices that may be self-contained and cryogenic. Such devices may heat tobacco or other suitable aerosol substrate materials by conduction, convection, and/or radiation, rather than by burning, to generate an aerosol for inhalation.

The popularity and use of risk reduction or risk modification devices (also known as vaporizers) assist regular smokers who wish to quit smoking traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, and rolls. It has grown rapidly over the past few years as an aid to people. Various devices and systems are available for heating or warming aerosolizable materials, as opposed to burning tobacco in traditional tobacco products.

Commonly available risk reduction or risk modification devices are heated substrate aerosol generation devices or heated non-combustion devices. This type of device typically generates an aerosol by heating an aerosol substrate containing moist tobacco or other suitable aerosolizable material to a temperature typically in the range of 150°C to 350°C. or generate steam. By burning, or rather than burning, the aerosol substrate is heated, an aerosol is released that contains the components desired by the user, but is free of the by-products of combustion and burning.

In such devices, the aerosol substrate is typically contained in a consumable that is held within a heating chamber and heated by a heater. The consumable includes an amount of aerosol-generating substrate and is capable of generating an amount of aerosol.

However, a well-known problem with such devices is that the user experience does not perfectly mimic that of a cigarette. In particular, HNB devices are known to provide an inhalation experience that is different from that provided by traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes.

There is a need for consumers to be able to adjust the temperature of their HNB devices to suit their preferences and smoking characteristics.

According to a first aspect, a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the body containing a solid steam generating material. A filter comprising a body, a mouthpiece end, and an attachment end opposite the mouthpiece end, the attachment end being attached to a first end of the body. a filter configured to allow vapor to enter the filter from the first end of the body through the mounting end and exit the filter through the mouthpiece end; an air flow passage within a filter, the filter comprising an adjuster configured to adjust the length of the air flow passage.

The filter may include an adjuster configured to adjust the effective length of the filter such that the length of the airflow passage within the filter is adjusted.

The adjuster allows the temperature of the generated steam to be adjusted as desired by adjusting the length of the airflow passage (eg, making it longer or shorter). In particular, the length of the airflow passage may be adjusted over a continuous range. Thus, greater flexibility is provided with respect to controlling the aerosol-generating properties of the article, and the temperature of the vapor can be adjusted during the aerosol-generating session to more closely mimic the behavior of traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes. .

Advantageously, the adjuster on the vapor generating article allows the consumer to vary the temperature of the vapor to suit his or her preferences and smoking characteristics. Therefore, manufacturing a single standard configuration with fixed temperature changes is not suitable for some consumers. However, it is not practical to produce many variants with different temperatures, each of which is preferred by only a small percentage of consumers. Therefore, by providing an adjuster, each consumer can modify the temperature of the vapor themselves to enhance the user's vaping experience by providing a means to adjust the size of the airflow passage through the filter. .

In some examples, the adjuster can include an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion, and movement of the outer sleeve portion relative to the inner sleeve portion adjusts the length of the air flow path. In particular, the adjuster may be configured to increase the length of the airflow passage by moving the outer sleeve portion away from the inner sleeve portion. The adjuster may also be configured to shorten the length of the airflow passage by moving the outer sleeve portion toward the inner sleeve portion.

Increasing the length of the air flow path means that the steam has to travel a longer distance within the steam-generating article and cools before reaching the user's mouth. Reducing the length of the airflow passage means that the steam has less distance to travel within the steam-generating article before reaching the user's mouth, and the steam retains some of its heat, providing warmer steam. means.

Having the inner and outer sleeve portions move relative to each other provides a simple mechanism for adjusting the effective length of the filter, which mechanism adjusts the length of the air flow path through the filter. Therefore, the steam generating article is easy to operate.

Preferably, the outer sleeve portion is arranged to receive the inner sleeve portion. This arrangement can be considered a telescoping arrangement and advantageously helps ensure that the components remain aligned with each other throughout the adjustment process.

Filters can be made of plastic. Since plastic is a readily available material, using plastic can help reduce manufacturing costs. Furthermore, since plastic is a relatively hard material, the use of plastic filters provides a more structurally rigid filter.

In some examples, the attachment end of the filter may be releasably attachable to the first end of the body of the steam generating article. Thus, the filter is attached to the steam-generating article when the user desires to use the article, and removed from the article when the user has consumed the substrate within the article. As such, the filter is a reusable filter and can be used in multiple steam generating articles.

Steam generating devices typically include a consumable containing a substrate and a filter attached to the consumable. Once the substrate is consumed by the user, the steam generating device is discarded as the consumable is no longer usable. Since the filter is attached to a consumable item, the filter is also discarded at the same time. As a result, filters typically include simple technology that is not expensive to throw away.

By providing a filter that can be releasably attached to a steam generating article (also referred to as a consumable), the filter can be reused in the next steam generating article rather than being discarded each time. For example, a filter may be able to be used 20 to 100 times, so it may be used in 20 to 100 different steam generating articles before the filter needs to be replaced and disposed of.

This has the effect that more complex and expensive techniques can be used within the filter, and in particular more efficient and effective means of regulating the temperature of the steam can be used within the filter. As an example, using a reusable filter that only needs to be replaced every 20 to 100 steam-generating articles makes the technology within the filter 20 to 100 times more expensive than a single-use, disposable filter. It means that you can. Thus, having a releasably attachable filter to a vapor generating article provides a reusable filter with an adjuster that allows users to efficiently and effectively adjust their vaping experience.

Some example steam generating articles include an adjuster that can include a fixed element and a rotatable element. The rotatable element may be configured to rotate relative to the fixed element such that rotation of the rotatable element adjusts the length of the air flow path. This arrangement provides a simple and effective mechanism for changing the effective length of the filter and thus the length of the air flow path.

Preferably, the rotatable element may include a helical element. The rotatable element may move along a helical path along the length of the filter to adjust the length of the air flow path. Providing a path through which the rotatable elements can move helps ensure that the components remain aligned during the adjustment process.

Rotation of the helical element in the first direction may increase the length of the air flow path. Rotation of the helical element in the second direction may shorten the length of the air flow path.

The rotatable element may be made of paper. Since paper is a relatively inexpensive material, manufacturing costs for steam generating articles can be kept low.

The body may include a base portion forming a distal end of the steam-generating article, and may be arranged such that the base portion includes a solid steam-generating material, such as tobacco.

The body includes a cooling region disposed between the filter and the substrate portion, the cooling region causing steam generated in the substrate portion to exit the first end of the body and before entering the filter. It can be configured such that it can be cooled to This helps prevent the user from inhaling steam that is too hot and damaging the user's mouth. The vapor cooling region may include a hollow chamber.

In some instances, the filter of the steam generating article may be completely disposable. Filters can be made of paper. The filter may form part of the body of the steam generating article that houses the consumable.

According to another aspect, a steam generation system comprising a steam generation article and a steam generation device configured to receive the steam generation article and generate steam from a steam generation material, wherein the steam generation article is as described above. A steam generation system is provided, the steam generation system being according to any of the steam generation articles of the invention.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG.

1 illustrates an exemplary aerosol-generating article. FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the first adjustable filter in a first position. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of the first adjustable filter in a second position. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of the second adjustable filter in a first position. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional side view of the second adjustable filter in a second position.

Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary aerosol-generating article 1 in the form of an elongated consumable 1 is shown disposed within an aerosol-generating device 2 to generate an aerosol.

The aerosol-generating article 1 includes a rod-shaped portion 11 and a filter 14 .

Rod-shaped portion 11 includes an aerosol-generating substrate 12 extending over a portion of the length of rod-shaped portion 11 . The aerosol-generating substrate 12 is disposed at the end of the aerosol-generating article 1 that is within the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device 2 and is farthest from the opening of the heating chamber. The aerosol generating base material 12 is a material that generates an aerosol when heated. Aerosol generating substrate 12 may include, for example, tobacco or nicotine. Aerosol is drawn out of the aerosol-generating article 1 by airflow through the filter 14.

Aerosol generation device 2 includes a heating chamber 21 and a heater 22.

The heating chamber 21 is a tubular structure with an internal hollow in which the aerosol-generating article 1 or the rod-shaped portion 11 of the aerosol-generating article 1 can be received. Specifically, the heating chamber includes a sidewall extending between a first end 212 and a second end 213. The first end 212 is open, or openable in use, for insertion of the rod-like portion 11. The second end 213 may be open as shown in FIG. 1 to provide an air inlet for air to flow through the aerosol generating article. Alternatively, the second end 213 may be closed to increase the heating efficiency of the heating chamber 21.

Heating chamber 21 may be formed from ceramic or metal. For example, the heating chamber 21 may be formed by bending or pressing a thin metal plate. Heater 22 may be any heater suitable for delivering heat through the sidewalls of heating chamber 21 and into the interior cavity of heating chamber 21 . For example, the heater may be in the form of an electrically driven resistive line. Alternatively, other types of heaters may be used, such as heaters where heat is provided by a chemical reaction such as fuel combustion. The heating chamber may further be surrounded by thermal insulation such as vacuum tubing, insulating fibers, and/or aerogel.

In use, heater 22 is arranged to heat heating chamber 21 to a temperature sufficient to cause aerosol-generating substrate 12 to emit an aerosol without burning aerosol-generating article 1 . In particular, heater 22 is configured to heat aerosol generating substrate 12 to a maximum temperature of 150°C to 350°C, more preferably 200°C to 350°C.

Although heater 22 is shown outside heating chamber 21 in FIG. 1, in some embodiments heater 22 may be located inside heating chamber 21.

The aerosol generating article 1 further includes an aerosol cooling region 15 . Aerosol cooling region 15 extends over a portion of the length of aerosol-generating article 1 and comprises a hollow tubular portion of aerosol-generating article 1 . This hollow tubular section allows the aerosol (generated by heating the aerosol generating substrate 12) to pass through the aerosol generating article 1 without leaking out the sides of the hollow tubular section. Aerosol cooling region 15 does not overlap the portion of aerosol generating article 1 that is heated by heater 22, which may be referred to as a heating region, so that the aerosol does not continue to be heated within aerosol cooling region 15.

As mentioned above, the aerosol substrate 15 is located within the heating chamber 21 and at the end of the aerosol generating article 1 that is furthest from the opening 212. Filter 14 is located at the other end closest to opening 212 . Aerosol cooling region 15 extends along the length of aerosol generating article 1 between aerosol generating substrate 12 and filter 14 . This ensures that, in use, the generated aerosol can be cooled before being inhaled by the user.

Next, further details of the filter 14 will be explained.

The filter 14 comprises a mouthpiece end 32 and an attachment end 34 opposite the mouthpiece end and attached to the rod-shaped portion 11 . The filter allows the generated vapor to enter the filter 14 from the rod-like portion 11 via the attachment end 34 and exit the filter 14 through the mouthpiece end 32. It further includes a flow path 16.

As shown in FIGS. 2A-3B, filter 14 also includes an adjuster 18 configured to control the flow of air through air flow passageway 16. As shown in FIGS. This is accomplished by adjusting the length of the airflow passageway 16 to vary the temperature of the airflow within the airflow passageway 16. In other words, the size, particularly the length, of the air flow passage 16 may be controlled to adjust the flow of air into and along the air flow passage 10.

For example, the size of the air flow passageway 16 may be increased from a first size (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2A) to a second size (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2B) to allow the air flow passageway 16 to pass through the filter 14. The path length of the air flow can be increased, thereby reducing the temperature of the steam. Conversely, the size of the airflow passageway 16 may be reduced from a second size (as shown in FIG. 2B) to a first size (as shown in FIG. 2A) to reduce the air flow through the filter 14. The path length of the steam can be reduced, thereby maintaining the temperature of the steam. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the length of the airflow passageway 16 shown in exemplary FIGS. 2A and 2B serves as an example only; It will be appreciated that the temperature can be varied over a continuous range of lengths so that the steam temperature can be precisely controlled.

In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the airflow passageway 16 has a cross-sectional area that has the same shape along the length of the airflow passageway in both the first size and the second size. However, in other examples, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the airflow passageway 16 has a cross-sectional area that varies along the length of the airflow passageway 16.

Adjuster 18 can take a variety of forms, some of which are described in detail below.

In a first exemplary form, the adjuster 18 comprises telescoping means arranged to extend and retract to change the length of the adjuster 18. More particularly, the telescoping adjuster 18 comprises an inner sleeve portion 17 and an outer sleeve portion 19 arranged to move relative to each other. By moving the outer sleeve portion 19 relative to the inner sleeve portion 17, the length of the adjuster 18 is adjusted, which has the effect of adjusting the length of the airflow passage 16. Outer sleeve portion 19 can be thought of as an elongated collar positioned to receive inner sleeve portion 17. Outer sleeve 19 and inner sleeve 17 are substantially coaxially aligned with each other.

In the retracted or first configuration shown in FIG. 2A, outer sleeve portion 19 is arranged to receive and surround substantially the entire length of inner sleeve portion 17. In the extended or second configuration shown in FIG. 2B, the outer sleeve portion 19 is disposed around the end of the inner sleeve portion 17.

The outer sleeve 19 moves relative to the inner sleeve 17 and relative to the rod-shaped portion 11. In this way, the adjuster 18 can be thought of as comprising a telescoping region that can be moved away from and towards the rod-shaped portion to change the path length along which the steam travels.

In particular, by moving outer sleeve portion 19 away from inner sleeve portion 17, the length of air flow passageway 16 is increased. Conversely, moving outer sleeve portion 19 toward inner sleeve portion 17 increases the length of air flow passageway 16.

In summary, the effective length of the filter 14 can be changed by moving the outer section 19 of the filter 14 away from the rod-shaped portion 11. This telescoping mechanism increases the distance the steam has to travel from the heating chamber to the user's mouth, which helps the steam cool. For example, increasing the total length that steam must travel to reach the user's mouth by 25 mm can have the effect of cooling the steam by as much as 15°C. This means that if the steam is too hot or too cold for the user's preference, the user can change the effective length of the filter to suit his or her preference. In particular, the user can choose a length that is fixed for the entire session or a length that varies with the session. This may be necessary as the first puff is usually the hottest of the session.

In this example, filter 14 is a reusable filter 14. This is because the filter 14 can be removed from one rod-shaped part 11 of the first aerosol-generating article 1 at the attachment end and then removed from another of the second aerosol-generating article 1 via the attachment end 34. This is because it can be reattached to the rod-shaped portion 11. In particular, filter 14 may be fitted into or onto rod-like portion 11 using any suitable temporary attachment mechanism. Accordingly, filter 14 can be considered releasably attachable and usable with multiple aerosol-generating articles. In other words, the filter 14 can be said to be semi-disposable.

The filter is made of plastic, possibly the same type of plastic as the rod-shaped part 11. An advantage of using a plastic filter is that it allows a rigid structure that can be twisted and reused in multiple aerosol generating articles 1 by the user. Since filter 14 is reusable, using a plastic body for the filter is cost effective.

In a second exemplary form shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the adjuster 18 comprises a fixed element 21 and a rotatable element 23 configured to rotate relative to the fixed element 21. In this case, the length of the air flow path is adjusted by rotation of the rotatable element 23.

More particularly, rotatable element 23 comprises a helical element capable of rotating along a helical or spiral path in a first direction and a second direction. As shown in FIG. 3B, rotation of the helical element in the first direction increases the length of the airflow passageway 16. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 3A, rotation of the helical element in the second direction shortens the length of the airflow passageway 16.

In the retracted or first configuration shown in FIG. 3A, filter 14 has a substantially cylindrical shape. In the extended or second configuration shown in FIG. 3B, filter 14 has a substantially conical shape.

In some examples, the rotatable element is made of paper. In this case, the filter 14 may be made of paper and grooved with a spiral shape extending along the length of the filter 14. When the outer portion of filter 14 is rotated, the rotatable element moves along a helical path and the effective length of filter 14 increases. Thus, by twisting the rotatable element forming the outer portion of filter 14, the shape of filter 14 changes from a relatively short cylindrical shape to a longer conical shape. This increases the distance that the steam travels within the air flow passageway 16 to cool the steam. A pressure drop is maintained along the length of filter region 14.

Once the filter 14 is attached to the rod-shaped section 11, the steam-generating article 1 is formed. In particular, the steam-generating article 1 comprises a first end and a second end, and the filter 14 is attached to the second end of the steam-generating article 1 . A first end of the steam generating article 1 may be used to connect with a steam generating device 2. In this case, a steam generation system comprising a steam generation article 1 and a steam generation device 2 receiving the steam generation article 1 is formed.

Aerosol-generating devices are electronic cigarettes that can equally be referred to as "heat-not-burn tobacco devices," "heat-not-burn tobacco devices," "devices for vaporizing tobacco products," etc., and are suitable for achieving these effects. It should be understood that this is interpreted as a device. The features disclosed herein are equally applicable to devices designed to vaporize any aerosol-generating medium.

The aerosol-generating substrate 12 may include tobacco, for example in dry or cured form, optionally with additional ingredients for flavor or to provide a smoother or more satisfying experience. In some examples, aerosol-generating substrate 12, such as tobacco, may be treated with a vaporizing agent. The vaporizing agent may improve vapor generation from the aerosol-generating substrate 12. The vaporizing agent may include, for example, a polyol such as glycerol or a glycol such as propylene glycol. Optionally, the aerosol-generating substrate 12 may be tobacco-free or even nicotine-free, and may instead be tobacco- or even nicotine-free to provide improved flavor, volatility, smoothness, and/or other pleasurable effects. It may contain ingredients of natural or artificial origin.

Aerosol generating substrate 12 may be provided as a solid or paste type material in shredded, pelleted, powdered, granular, strip or sheet form, optionally combinations thereof. Similarly, aerosol generating substrate 12 can be a liquid or a gel. Indeed, in some instances both solid and liquid/gel portions may be included. Indeed, in some instances both solid and liquid/gel portions may be included. In some examples, substrate 12 may be a solid block or may be a bulk material packed within wrapper 13. Preferably, the substrate comprises randomly oriented tobacco strands comprising tobacco powder and an aerosol former. Suitable aerosol formers include polyols (such as sorbitol, glycerol and glycols such as propylene glycol or triethylene glycol), non-polyols (monohydric alcohols, acids such as lactic acid, glycerol derivatives, triacetin, triethylene glycol diacetate, citric acid). esters such as triethyl, glycerin or vegetable glycerin, etc.). In some embodiments, the aerosol generating agent can be glycerol, propylene glycol, or a mixture of glycerol and propylene glycol.

Although the aerosol-generating substrate 12 typically produces a gas or solid and/or liquid suspensions in a gas when heated, the terms "vapour" and "aerosol" are generally used interchangeably herein. , generally refers to the material produced when heating the aerosol-generating substrate 12 to produce a suspension of particles or droplets of any size.

As used herein, the term "fluid" shall be construed as generically describing non-solid materials of flowable type, including but not limited to liquids, pastes, gels, powders, etc. shall be. Accordingly, "fluidized material" shall be interpreted as a material that is fluid in nature or that has been modified to behave as a fluid. Fluidization may include, but is not limited to, powdering, dissolving in a solvent, gelling, thickening, thinning, and the like.

Claims (15)

a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end and configured to house a solid steam generating material;
A filter comprising a mouthpiece end and an attachment end opposite the mouthpiece end, the attachment end configured to be attached to the first end of the body. ,
the filter configured to allow steam to enter the filter from the first end of the body through the attachment end and exit the filter through the mouthpiece end; and an airflow passage within the
the filter comprises an adjuster configured to adjust the effective length of the filter such that the length of the airflow passageway within the filter is adjusted;
Steam-generating articles. the adjuster includes an inner sleeve portion and an outer sleeve portion;
movement of the outer sleeve portion relative to the inner sleeve portion adjusts the length of the air flow passageway;
A steam generating article according to claim 1. the adjuster is configured to increase the length of the airflow passageway by moving the outer sleeve portion away from the inner sleeve portion;
The steam generating article according to claim 1 or 2. the adjuster is configured to shorten the length of the air flow passageway by moving the outer sleeve portion toward the inner sleeve portion;
A steam-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 3. the outer sleeve portion is positioned to receive the inner sleeve portion;
A steam-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 4. the filter is made of plastic;
A steam-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 5. the attachment end of the filter is releasably attachable to the first end of the body;
A steam-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 6. the adjuster comprises a fixed element and a rotatable element configured to rotate relative to the fixed element;
rotation of the rotatable element adjusts the length of the airflow passage;
A steam-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 7. the rotatable element includes a helical element;
A steam generating article according to claim 8. rotation of the helical element in a first direction increases the length of the airflow passage;
rotation of the helical element in a second direction shortens the length of the airflow passage;
A steam generating article according to claim 9. the rotatable element is made of paper;
Steam generating article according to any one of claims 8 to 10. the body comprises a substrate portion forming a distal end of the steam generating article;
the substrate portion is arranged to include a solid vapor-generating material, such as tobacco;
A steam-generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 11. the body comprises a cooling region disposed between the filter and the substrate portion;
the cooling region is configured such that steam generated in the substrate portion can be cooled before exiting the first end of the body and entering the filter;
A steam generating article according to claim 12. the vapor cooling region includes a hollow chamber;
A steam generating article according to claim 13. The aerosol generating article according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
a steam generating device configured to receive the steam generating article and generate steam from the steam generating material;
Steam generation system.

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