RU2750897C1 - Smoking material heating - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: smoking devices.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a device for vaporizing smoking material. The device for vaporizing the components of the smoking material for inhalation includes a heating chamber for the smoking material containing the smoking material and a heating material adapted for heating in the presence of an alternating magnetic field and placed with the possibility of transferring heat energy to the smoking material in the heating chamber to vaporize the said components. The heating material is placed inside the heating chamber of the smoking material together with the smoking material, and the heating material includes a set of pieces of heating material distributed inside the smoking material, each of the set of pieces of heating material being surrounded by a layer of base material in thermal contact with the heating material, and the base material is configured to retain heat energy received from the heating material and transfer it to the smoking material.

EFFECT: base material stores thermal energy received from the heating material and gradually dissipates this energy over an extended period of time so as to heat the smoking material to a temperature within the desired vaporization temperature range and maintain the temperature of the smoking material within a predetermined vaporization temperature range until this time period will expire.

10 cl, 4 dwg

Description

Technology area

The invention relates to heating a smoking material to vaporize its components.

State of the art

Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide an alternative to these smoking articles in the form of products that release compounds without generating tobacco smoke. Examples of such products are so-called non-combustible products, which release compounds when tobacco is heated without burning.

Disclosure of invention

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a device (device) configured to vaporize components of a smoking material for inhalation, including:

a smoking material heating chamber containing the smoking material; and

a heating material configured to heat it in the presence of an alternating magnetic field, the heating material being positioned to transfer heat energy to the smoking material in the heating chamber to vaporize said components, the heating material being placed inside the smoking material heating chamber together with the smoking material, and the heating material includes a plurality of pieces of heating material dispersed within the smoking material, each of the plurality of pieces of heating material being surrounded by a layer of base material in thermal contact with the heating material, and the base material is configured to retain thermal energy received from heating material, and transferring it to the smoking material.

In embodiments of the present invention, the heat-retaining base material has a specific heat capacity greater than that of the heating material and is in the range of about 1000 to 3500 J / kg⋅K,

The heating material is exposed to eddy currents, which are excited in the material by an alternating magnetic field and cause the heating material to be heated by Joule heat (ohmic heating).

The device includes a housing in which the heating chamber and heating material are located, and an alternating magnetic field generator configured to accommodate the housing therein when the heating material is heated. The field generator is preferably made with the possibility of detachable connection with the housing, while maintaining a stable position of the housing relative to the generator during heating.

The appliance may have a mouthpiece in communication with the heating chamber to allow the vaporized components of the smoking material to be drawn in by the user through the mouthpiece.

The heating material is preferably adapted to heat the smokable material to an evaporation temperature in the range of about 50 to 250 ° C in order to vaporize said components.

The plurality of pieces of heating material are generally evenly distributed throughout the smoking material.

The base material can be a polymer, in particular polycarbonate or high density polyethylene.

Some features that may be relevant to the present invention will also be described below.

The heating material can be contained in the heating element.

The base material can be configured to transfer thermal energy to the smoking material for an extended period of time so as to raise the temperature of the smoking material and maintain it at the vaporization temperature for an extended period of time, without simultaneously heating the heating material with an alternating magnetic field.

The heating material may include a plurality of pieces of heating material dispersed in the heating element with the base material.

The heating element can be an elongated element adjacent to the heating chamber of the smoking material.

The heating chamber can be positioned coaxially around the heating element.

The heating material can include an electrically conductive material.

The method of heating the smoking material to vaporize the components of the smoking material for inhalation can be carried out in such a way that:

generate an alternating magnetic field;

using an alternating magnetic field to excite an electric current in the heating material and thereby heat the heating material;

transferring thermal energy from the heating material to the smokable material to heat the smokable material to the vaporization temperature and thereby vaporize the components of the smokable material.

The method of heating the smoking material to vaporize the components of the smoking material for inhalation can be carried out in such a way that:

inserting a housing containing a heating material and a smoking material into a device configured to generate an alternating magnetic field;

generating an alternating magnetic field in the device and thereby heating the heating material, inducing an electric current in the heating material;

transferring heat energy from the heating material to the smokable material to heat the smokable material to an evaporation temperature and thereby vaporize the components of the smokable material.

A device can also be used to implement the method, including:

a housing containing a smoking material and a heating material; and

a device capable of generating an alternating magnetic field.

The device configured to vaporize the components of the smoking material for inhalation may include: a housing containing a heating chamber for smoking material and a disposable cartridge with smoking material configured to be inserted into and removed from the heating chamber through an opening in the housing; and a heating material adapted to be heated in the presence of an alternating magnetic field and placed inside the smokable material in a disposable cartridge with the possibility of transferring heat energy to the smokable material to vaporize said components for inhalation by the user.

A device for vaporizing components of smoking material for inhalation by a user may include:

a housing having an opening and containing an elongated heating chamber for smoking material and a mouthpiece in communication with the heating chamber for smoking material, the housing being adapted to be held in a hand by a user when the user inhales the vaporized components of smoking material passing through the mouthpiece;

a disposable cartridge with smokable material adapted to be inserted into and removed from the heating chamber of smokable material through an opening in the housing; and

heating material adapted to be heated in the presence of an alternating magnetic field and placed inside the smokable material in a disposable cartridge with the possibility of transferring heat energy to the smokable material for vaporization of the mentioned components for inhalation by the user.

As a particular example of the invention, its embodiments are described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Brief Description of Drawings

in fig. 1 is a partial sectional view of an apparatus for producing vaporized components of heated smoking material for inhalation by a user, in which a heating element containing an electrically conductive heating material is positioned adjacent to a heating chamber for smoking material;

in fig. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus for producing vaporized components of heated smoking material for inhalation by a user, in which the body of the apparatus is inserted into a magnetic field generator to induce eddy currents in the heating material;

in fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for producing vaporized components of heated smoking material for inhalation by a user, in which an electrically conductive heating material is disposed with the smoking material in a heating chamber; and

in fig. 4 is a perspective view of an apparatus for producing vaporized components of heated smoking material for inhalation by a user, in which the body of the apparatus is inserted into a magnetic field generator to induce eddy currents in the heating material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As used herein, the term "smokable material" includes any material that emits volatiles when heated and any tobacco-containing material, and may, for example, include one or more of the group consisting of tobacco, tobacco derivatives, processed or modified tobacco, for example , loosened tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, or tobacco substitutes.

The device 1 for obtaining the vaporized components of the smoking material 2, for inhaling it, includes a heating chamber 3 of the smoking material and a mouthpiece 4 communicating with it. The mouthpiece 4 may contain a filter material, for example, a tow of cellulose acetate, which may be in the form of a wrapped filter insert. The user of the device 1 can inhale the vaporized components of the mouthpiece 4 when the smoking material 2 is heated inside the heating chamber 3 to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the components of the smoking material.

As described in more detail below, the smoking material 2 is heated by transferring heat from a heating material 5 located in the vicinity of the smoking material 2. The heating material 5 in turn generates Joule heat during induction heating.

In particular, the heating material is an electrically conductive material having a finite electrical resistance, in which eddy currents are excited, causing the material 5 to be heated by Joule heat when the material is placed in an alternating magnetic field. An example of a suitable heating material 5 is iron, alternatively other electrically conductive materials such as another electrically conductive metal or alloy may be used. The heating material 5 is heated by electromagnetic induction to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the components of the smoking material 2 in the heating chamber 3, such as nicotine and aromatic substances, without burning the smoking material 2.

The heating material 5 can be located either inside the heating chamber 3 or in its immediate vicinity. As shown below, the heating material 5 can be positioned either directly adjacent to the smoking material 2 or in a heating element 6 located immediately adjacent to the smoking material 2. The heating material 5 is positioned so that efficient heat transfer is ensured between the heated heating material 5 and the smoking material 2 inside. heating chambers 3, whereby the smoking material 2 is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the components of the smoking material 2 for inhalation through the mouthpiece 4.

As briefly mentioned above, the heating material 5 may be contained in a heating element 6 configured to transfer heat energy from the heating material to the smoking material 2 in the heating chamber 3. In addition to the heating material 5, the heating element 6 may comprise a base material 7 that retains heat and releases the thermal energy received from the heating material 5 for a relatively long time, thereby keeping the smoking material 2 at an evaporating temperature during this time. ... This time can be approximately three to ten minutes, as shown below. The base material 7 can be electrically insulating and, unlike the heating material 5, itself is not susceptible to the excitation of electric eddy currents in it when placed in an alternating magnetic field.

The base material 7 has thermal contact with the heating material 5, so when the heating material 5 is heated by electromagnetic induction, the thermal energy from the heating material 5 is transferred to the base material 7 and heats it to the temperature of the heating material 5. The heat stored in the base material 7 is then dispersed in the heating chamber 3 for an extended period of time so that it continuously heats the smoking material 2 therein and causes continuous vaporization of the smoking material 2 for inhalation through the mouthpiece 4.

An example of a suitable base material 7 is a material with a high specific heat in excess of that of heating material 5. An example is a specific heat in the range of about 1000 to 3500 J / kg * K, although other heat capacities can be used. Material 7 can be a polymer, although other materials can be used. An example of a suitable material 7 is high density polyethylene (HDPE) or polycarbonate. As mentioned above, the base material 7 is configured to store thermal energy received from the heating material 5, and gradually dissipate this energy over the extended period of time mentioned above, so as to heat the smoking material 2 to a temperature within the desired temperature range. evaporation and maintain the temperature of the smoking material 2 in the predetermined evaporation temperature range until this period of time has elapsed. An example of a temperature range over which components of a smokable material such as tobacco vaporize may be from about 50 to 250 ° C, such as from about 50 to 150 ° C, from about 50 to 120 ° C, from about 50 to 100 ° C. C, about 50 to 80 ° C, or about 60 to 70 ° C. Other intervals are also possible. The extended period of time may be approximately the same as the duration of the smoking time of a conventional cigarette. This period can be about four to eight minutes, for example, about seven minutes.

The heating material 5 and the base material 7 can in particular be placed in an alternating magnetic field between puffs to reheat the heating material 5 before each puff.

The heating element 6 may extend along the longitudinal axis of the device 1. The heating chamber 3 may also extend along the longitudinal axis of the device 1 and may be located close to the heating element 6. For example, the heating element 6 shown in FIG. 1, runs mainly along the central longitudinal axis of the device 1, and the heating chamber 3 is located around its longitudinal surface. If the heating element 6 has a generally cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. 1, the longitudinal surface around which the heating chamber 3 extends is the circular surface of the heating element 6. In this type of construction, the heating chamber 3 can have a coaxial layer around the heating element 6. This provides an annular space around the heating element 6 into which the smoking material 2 be inserted to heat it, as will be described below.

Alternatively, the heating chamber 3 and the heating element 6 are arranged in reverse, so that the heating chamber 3 is located along the central longitudinal axis of the device, and the heating element 6 is arranged in an annular manner around it in the form of a coaxial layer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heating material 5 may be a plurality of pieces of heating material dispersed in the base material 7 in the heating element 6. In general, the even distribution of the heating material 5 over the base material 7 ensures that the base material 7 is evenly heated when the heating element is heated. material 5, and as a result, also uniform heating of the smoking material 2 in the heating chamber 3. However, it should be borne in mind that the use of a plurality of separate pieces of heating material 5 is possible in conjunction with other structures to ensure uniform heating of the base material 7 and (or) the smoking material 2.

Another construction is shown in FIG. 3, where the heating material 5 is not located inside the heating element 6, as described above, but inside the smoking material 2 itself. As shown in FIG. 3, a plurality of pieces of the heating material 5 can be substantially evenly distributed. on the smoking material 2 in order to ensure uniform heating of the smoking material 2 in the chamber 3 when the heating material 5 is heated by the electric currents induced therein. These individual pieces of heating material 5 may be surrounded by a base material 7 so that the heating chamber 3 contains a plurality of heating elements 6, each of which contains a heating material 5 and a base material 7 distributed throughout the chamber 3. For example, the heating elements 6 may have approximately spherical shape with an inner core of heating material 5 and an outer layer of base material 7.

The depth or other transverse dimension of the heating chamber 3 may be approximately 2 to 10 mm, for example 5 mm. This may or may not apply to the base material 7 if it is located in the form of a coaxial core in the heating chamber, as described above. The length of the heating chamber 3 may be approximately equal to the length of the rod of smoking material (cigarette stick) in a conventional cigarette. An example of a suitable length is from about 55 to 60 mm, although other lengths are possible.

The housing 8 may contain components of the device 1, for example a heating chamber 3, a mouthpiece 4, a heating material 5 and a base material 7. The housing 8 shown in FIG. 1 and 2, has an elongated shape, with a mouthpiece 4 located at the first of its ends, and a heating element 6 and a heating chamber 3 extending inside the housing 8 along its longitudinal axis from the opposite second end. The body 8 may, for example, have a generally tubular shape, such as tubes, with dimensions similar to those of cigarettes, cigars or cigarillos. The body 8 can be made of plastic, for example, a suitable polymeric material, comfortable for the user of the device 1, holding it during tightening and handling.

An alternating magnetic field that excites currents in the heating material 5 can be generated by a magnetic field generator 9, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The magnetic field generator 9 may have a power source 10, such as a suitable battery or battery, providing electrical power to generate an alternating magnetic field. The field generator 9 may, alternatively, be configured to receive electrical energy from an external power source, such as a mains power supply, a personal computer or other external power source.

The field generator 9 may have an electric coil through which a varying electric current, for example, an alternating current, is passed to create an alternating electromagnetic field, for example, a changing high-frequency field, near the generator 9. The alternating magnetic flux created by the field generator 9 induces eddy currents in heating material 5 when heating material 5 is in the vicinity of generator 9. As described above, these eddy currents in turn generate Joule heat in heating material 5 and thereby increase the temperature of heating material 5.

The magnetic field generator 9 can be separated from the housing 8, in which the heating element 6, the heating chamber 3 and the smoking material 2 are located. In this case, the field generator 9 can be made with the possibility of such a constructive connection with the housing 8 of the heating chamber in the process of heating the heating material 5, that the housing 8 and the components of the device therein are held in a stable position relative to the source 9 of the magnetic field. For example, as shown in FIG. 2 and 4, the magnetic field generator 9 may have a socket 11, into which the housing 8 can be inserted. The inner shape of the socket 11 can be substantially matched with the outer shape of the end part of the housing 8 so that the end part of the housing 8 can be installed in the generator 9 field and, thus, physically anchored in it.

The introduction of the housing 8 into the field generator 9 can initiate the start of the generator 9, creating an alternating magnetic field and, thereby, start the process of heating the heating material 5 to obtain the vaporized components of the smoking material.

When using the field generator 9, it can be located within a distance of about 5 to 100 mm from the heating material 5, for example, when the housing 8 is installed in the generator 9. This interval is indicated by way of example, and alternatively there may be other suitable distances beyond this interval.

As previously shown, the heat from the heating material 5 dissipates in the smoking material 2 in the heating chamber 3 and causes the components of the smoking material 2 to evaporate when the smoking material 2 reaches the vaporization temperature. In particular, the device 1 can have a temperature sensor 12, for example, containing a thermocouple, made with the possibility of detecting the moment when the specified temperature is reached by the heating material 5, the base material 7 and / or the smoking material 2 in the heating chamber 3. Temperature sensor 12 may comprise a warning device, indicator light, or some other suitable signaling mechanism adapted to inform the user that the vaporization temperature has been reached and therefore the vaporized components of the smoking material 2 are ready for inhalation, or may be associated with such a device.

In addition or alternatively, the device 1 may comprise a timer 13 configured to measure the time interval from the moment the heating material 5 begins to be exposed to an alternating magnetic field and to signal the user when a predetermined heating time has elapsed, which should correspond to the evaporation temperature in the chamber. 3 heating. The timer 13 can be activated automatically by the device 1 upon detecting or otherwise obtaining information that the housing 8 has been installed in the magnetic field generator 9.

Once the heating material 5 has been heated to a predetermined evaporation temperature, the housing 8 can be removed from the field generator 9 so that the heating material 5 is not subjected to further substantial Joule heat. At this moment, the power supply of the field generator 9 can be turned off. In particular, the field generator 9 can be configured to automatically stop the creation of the magnetic field upon reaching a predetermined evaporation temperature and / or expiration of a predetermined heating duration.

The components of the smoking material 2, already vaporized, or which will be vaporized by the heat released from the heated heating material 5, can be inhaled through the mouthpiece 4 without the need for the presence of the field generator 9 near the heating material 5. This enables the user of the device 1 to inhale the vaporized components from the mouthpiece 4 in the same way as he would do using a smoking article such as a cigarette. The user can, for example, put the field generator 9 in a pocket for the extended period of time mentioned above, while periodically puffing the newly vaporized components of the smoking material from the mouthpiece 4 as the heating of the smoking material 2 continues.

In all designs of the device 1, the smoking material 2 can be in the form of a disposable cartridge of the smoking material or other consumable product of the smoking material, which can be inserted into and removed from the heating chamber 3 through a corresponding window in the housing 8. Thus, the user of the device 1 has the possibility of replacing the smoking material 2 to obtain a different or improved smoking experience using the previous housing 8, its internal components of the device and the field generator 9. For example, a cartridge, or other consumable product, can be a hollow tube of smoking material that can be put on or removed from an elongated heating element 6, for example, similar to that shown in Fig. 1, or can be a generally solid elongated rod. smoking material 2, which can be inserted into and removed from the hollow middle of the elongated heating element 6. The cartridge may comprise a sleeve, for example made of plastic, containing the smokable material 2 from which the vaporized components of the smokable material can flow into the mouthpiece 4.

Alternatively, the housing 8, together with its internal components, including the smokable material 2, can together form a disposable article that is discarded after use.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 3, housing 8 and / or cartridge 2 of smokable material may be thermally insulated 14 to reduce heat loss from smoking material 2 and internal components of housing 8 to the external atmosphere around housing 8. Thermal insulation 14 may, for example, comprise vacuum insulation, made with the possibility of insulating the device 1, providing a vacuum area between the heating chamber 3 and the outer surface of the housing 8, thereby preventing conductive and convective heat loss. The body 8 and / or the cartridge 2 of smokable material may additionally or alternatively have an infrared reflective layer disposed between the smokable material 2 and the outer surface of the body 8 to prevent heat loss. The reflective layer may optionally be located on or in the heat insulating layer 14.

Thermal insulation of the housing 8 can additionally or alternatively be provided by a smoking material 2 located between the heating material 5 and the outer surface of the housing 8.

Due to the thermal insulation, it is ensured that the outer surface of the housing 8 is not substantially heated by the heating material 5, and therefore remains at a temperature comfortable for the user holding the housing 8 while inhaling the vaporized components through the mouthpiece 4.

If necessary, the heating chamber 3 can be hermetically sealed in order to prevent unwanted volatilization of the vaporized components of the smoking material through the mouthpiece 4. The inlet and outlet valves can be made with the possibility of hermetically disconnecting the heating chamber 3 from the mouthpiece 4 and allowing the vaporized components to escape from the chamber 3 only when the user puffs through mouthpiece 4. Appliance 1 may have a puff sensor to initiate the opening and closing of the valves at desired times. Alternatively, the valves can be opened automatically by the suction force generated by the user when tightened through the mouthpiece 4. The valves can use a mechanical hinge.

In the manufacture of the appliance 1, heating material 5 can be dispersed within a suitable base material 7, after which the resulting product is shaped into a heating element 6. The housing 8 of the appliance 1 can be made by molding plastic to create a substantially hollow inner region into which the components of the appliance 1 can be inserted. One or more layers of thermal insulation 14 can be applied to the inner or outer walls of the housing 8 to reduce heat loss from the heating material 5 when using the device 1. As previously shown, the heating element 6 can be fixed along the longitudinal axis of the housing 8, for example, along the central axis, so that the heating chamber 3 of the smoking material is adjacent to it. The temperature sensor 12 and timer 13, together with an indicator light and other suitable alarm mechanism, are also fixed in the housing 8 at a suitable location, for example between the heating chamber 3 and the mouthpiece 4, as shown in FIG. 1. The mouthpiece 4 is located at one end of the housing 8, and between the heating chamber 3 and the mouthpiece there is a fluid channel allowing the vaporized components of the smoking material 2 to flow into the mouthpiece 4 for inhalation.

In order to consider various aspects of the claimed invention and its presentation, the present description shows, using specific examples of various embodiments, the possibility of implementing the invention (s), in which a highly efficient device and method is obtained. The advantages and features described in the description relate only to the options for implementation and are not exhaustive and / or exclusive. They are presented only to improve understanding and clarification of the stated features. It should be borne in mind that the advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, constructions and (or) other features of the invention should not be construed as limiting the invention defined by the claims, or equivalents of the claims, and that within the scope of the claims and (or) the essence other embodiments and modifications may be used of the invention. The various embodiments may, respectively, comprise, consist of, or essentially consist of various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the invention includes other variations of the invention not claimed here, but which may be implemented in the future.

Claims (10)

1. A device for vaporizing the components of the smoking material for inhalation, comprising a heating chamber for the smoking material containing the smoking material, and a heating material adapted for heating in the presence of an alternating magnetic field and placed with the possibility of transferring heat energy to the smoking material in the heating chamber to vaporize said components wherein the heating material is disposed within the heating chamber of the smoking material together with the smoking material, and the heating material includes a plurality of pieces of heating material dispersed within the smoking material, each of the plurality of pieces of heating material being surrounded by a layer of base material in thermal contact with the heating material, and the base material is configured to retain heat energy received from the heating material and transfer it to the smoking material. 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the heat-retaining base material has a specific heat capacity exceeding the heat capacity of the heating material and having a value in the range from 1000 to 3500 J / kg .K. 3. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating material is exposed to eddy currents excited in the material by an alternating magnetic field and causing the heating material to be heated by Joule heat. 4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising a housing housing a heating chamber and heating material, and an alternating magnetic field generator configured to accommodate the housing therein when the heating material is heated. 5. The device according to claim. 4, in which the field generator is made with the possibility of detachable connection with the body, while maintaining a stable position of the body relative to the generator during heating. 6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim having a mouthpiece in communication with the heating chamber to allow the vaporized components of smoking material to be drawn in by the user through the mouthpiece. 7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the heating material is adapted to heat the smokable material to an evaporating temperature in the range of 50 to 250 ° C to vaporize said components. 8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of pieces of heating material are substantially evenly distributed throughout the smoking material. 9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the base material is a polymer. 10. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the base material is polycarbonate or high density polyethylene.

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