US20230413899A1

US20230413899A1 - An Aerosol Generating System and a Liquid Substance Storing Container for Such an Aerosol Generating System

Info

Publication number: US20230413899A1
Application number: US18/036,497
Authority: US
Inventors: Broderick Coburn; Joao Seco
Original assignee: JT International SA
Current assignee: JT International SA
Priority date: 2020-11-12
Filing date: 2021-11-10
Publication date: 2023-12-28
Also published as: EP4243639A1; WO2022101242A1

Abstract

An aerosol generating system includes a liquid substance storing container and an aerosol generating device. The liquid substance storing container has a porous body for storing a liquid substance and the aerosol generating device includes a heater having at least two heating sections configured to heat the porous body,The aerosol generating device comprises has a heating cavity for housing the porous body and the at least two heating sections of the heater are located on the bottom of the heating cavity.The aerosol generating device may be used as a e-cigarette.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an aerosol generating system.
It also concerns a liquid substance storing container for such an aerosol generating system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Aerosol generating devices, also commonly called vaporizers or electronic cigarettes, allow vaporization of a substance to create an aerosol or mist that a user inhales.
An aerosol generating device comprises a heat source that heats the substance, generally a liquid often called e-liquid or e-juice, to create the aerosol in a vaporization zone of the aerosol generating device. Channels are also provided for routing the aerosol from the vaporization zone to a mouthpiece for the user.
In order to avoid the drawbacks of a reservoir, such as liquid leakage, aerosol generating devices are known, with heating means which are configured to heat a tab forming a liquid substance storing container.
The tab, such as a tablet, cylinder, or disk, can include a porous body for storing liquid substance. For example, the tab can include a piece of porous ceramic or sintered metal soaked, injected or infused with oil, such as to the point that the oil is held in place by capillary action. Such a tab provides a medium for storing, transporting and allowing vaporization of a substance.
In such an embodiment, the vaporizer can include a reservoir configured for holding one or more tabs and for supporting the tabs during heating.
Thus, each tab is heated by a heater of the vaporizer. The heater may be a laser, a resistance heater, a wire or a coil for example, disposed in a housing of the aerosol generating device in order to heat the tab by contact or via a medium (air for example) heated by the heater.
In order to heat smaller parts of the tab rather than the entire tab, the heater can be segmented in several heating sections separately controlled and arranged to heat different regions of the tab, such as in U.S. Pat. No. 9,084,440 for example.
This document discloses a vaporizer with a heater having two heating sections extending around the circumference of the tab to form a receiving pipe for maintaining the tab in position and an air intake in the bottom of the receiving pipe to create an airflow along the length of the tab.
However, the thermal efficiency is limited because of a clearance provided between the heater and the tab in order to remove or insert the tab inside the vaporizer.
The present invention aims to improve the thermal efficiency of an aerosol generating system when heating a liquid substance storing container such as a tab.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus relates to an aerosol generating system comprising a liquid substance storing container and an aerosol generating device, the liquid substance storing container comprising a porous body for storing a liquid substance and the aerosol generating device comprising a heater comprising at least two heating sections configured to heat the porous body, wherein the aerosol generating device comprises a heating cavity for housing the porous body, the at least two heating sections of said heater being located on the bottom of the heating cavity, and wherein the porous body is disposed on the bottom of the heating cavity, in contact with the at least two heating sections of the heater.
Preferably, the heater has the same shape of a cross-section as the porous body.
The at least two heating sections of the heater allow to heat only part of the porous body rather than the entire porous body.
Such a heating configuration improves the contact between the heater and the porous body compared to a heater extending around the circumference of the porous body.
Thus, this configuration improves the transfer of heat to the liquid substance storing container, in order to speed up the temperature rise in the porous body and thus, the vaporization of the liquid substance.
In a preferred embodiment, the at least two heating sections of the heater are arranged in a same plane of the bottom of the heating cavity.
The heating sections of the heater are arranged in order to improve the contact surface with the porous body for conducting heat to the porous body.
According to one embodiment, the porous body comprises at least two different portions and the at least two heating sections of the heater are in contact respectively with at least one external surface of the at least two different portions of the porous body.
Thus, only part of the porous body, corresponding to one of the at least two portions, may be heated by a heating section of the heater.
In other words, each portion of the porous body is in contact with a heating section of the heater.
Thus, the heating of the porous body is localized on each portion and the transfer of heat by conduction between the heater and the porous body is improved for each portion.
In practice, each external surface of the at least two different portions of the porous body has a shape configured to match one of the at least two heating sections of the heater.
As a consequence, the contact between a portion of the porous body and a heating section is improved.
Furthermore, heating efficiency is improved because most of the heat emitted by the heating section of the heater is transmitted to the corresponding portion of the porous body.
As an example, the at least two heating sections of the heater have a shape chosen from among at least two heating concentric rings, slice sections, dots or linear tracks.
According to one embodiment, the aerosol generating device further comprises control means in order to activate separately the at least two heating sections of the heater.
The control means may comprise an on board processor control disposed in a housing of the aerosol generating device.
The control means may be configured to activate only one heating section at a time and thus, improve the localization of heating of the porous body by heating only one portion at a time.
Thus, the switch of heating sections is controlled by the on board processor control of the control means without any particular action by the user in this direction.
The on board processor control may automatically adapt the switch of heating sections based on internal parameters such as temperature, heating time, consumable status, number of puffs, and/or external parameters configured by the user.
The on board processor control of the control means may also activate sequentially the heating sections, for example at each inhalation and/or according to a predetermined sequence.
Some liquid substance constituents have vaporizing temperatures that are lower than others.
When the whole porous body is heated, these constituents are consumed first and the amount of constituents in the vapour inhaled is not consistent.
Thus, by activating only one heating section in order to heat one corresponding portion of the porous body, the rest of the porous body is not heated and the constituents are not fully consumed.
According to another aspect, the present invention relates to a liquid substance storing container for an aerosol generating system as recited above, comprising a porous body for storing a liquid substance, wherein the porous body comprises at least two different portions configured to be heated separately by the at least two heating sections of the heater.
Thus, the porous body may be partially heated in order to vaporize a more consistent amount of liquid substance constituents in the vapour inhaled than a porous body entirely heated.
According one embodiment, the at least two different portions of the porous body are substantially thermally insulated from each other.
Such an insulation improves the transfer of heat in one portion, in order to speed up the temperature rise in that portion, and thus the vaporization of the liquid substance.
Furthermore, the insulation reduces the transfer of heat between two portions and contributes to the localization of heating of the porous body.
Thus, the constituents having lower vaporization temperature present in the other portion or portions are not heated by contact with the activated heating section.
In practice, the porous body comprises at least one slit extending between the at least two different portions of the porous body.
As a consequence, the portions of the porous body are partially air-insulated from each other.
The depth and the width of the slit influence the quality of the insulation.
To a certain extent, the deeper and wider the slit, the better the thermal insulation.
According to one embodiment, the porous body comprises at least one external flat surface, the at least one slit opening onto said at least one external flat surface of the porous body.
Thus, the at least two portions are thermally insulated from each other at the external flat surface in contact with the heater.
Thus, the thermal insulation between different portions of the porous is improved compared to the porous body without slit.
According to one embodiment, the porous body has a cylindrical or prismatic shape and more generally a three dimensional shape, the at least one slit extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical or prismatic shape.
Consequently, the portions of the porous body are spaced circumferentially. Thus, the heat flow is mainly directed along the longitudinal axis and the heating of each portion is improved.
In practice, the at least one slit opens onto two opposite external flat surfaces of said cylindrical or prismatic shape of the porous body.
Thus, the porous body may be reversible and both opposite external flat surfaces may be heated.
This may be more convenient for users for the positioning of the porous body in the heating cavity.
As an example, the porous body has a cross section chosen from among circular, triangular or rectangular.
Some shapes prevent rotation around a longitudinal axis of the porous body and only allow one correct heating position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other particularities and advantages of the invention will also emerge from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples:

FIG. 1 represents, in a schematic view, an aerosol generating system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2A represents, in a schematic three dimensional view, a heater of an aerosol generating device of FIG. 1 , according to the first embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2B represents, in a schematic three dimensional view, a heater of an aerosol generating device of FIG. 1 , according to a second embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2C represents, in a schematic three dimensional view, a heater of an aerosol generating device of FIG. 1 , according to a third embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2D represents, in a schematic three dimensional view, a heater of an aerosol generating device of FIG. 1 , according to a fourth embodiment of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3A represents, in a three dimensional view, a liquid substance storing container according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B represents, in a three dimensional view, a liquid substance storing container according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3C represents, in a three dimensional view, a liquid substance storing container according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 represents, in a three dimensional view, a liquid substance storing container according to another embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 represents an aerosol generating system 10 according to a first embodiment.
The aerosol generating system 10 comprises an aerosol generating device 11.
The aerosol generating device comprises a housing 12 with a mouthpiece 13 at one end for inhalation of a vapour or a mist by a user.
The aerosol generating system also comprises a liquid substance storing container 15.
It should be noted that liquid substance storing container is a consumable item, configured to be used with an aerosol generating device, such as an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). Once the liquid substance initially retained in the storing container has been aerolized and thus consumed, the storing container may be replaced by another liquid substance storing container. The old storing container can be discarded, preferably for recycling.
Below, the liquid substance encompasses any type of vaporizable substance including oil, water, etc., which may be vaporized to form a mist capable of being inhaled by a user.
As an example, the liquid substance may be an e-liquid well known for use in e-cigarettes. Extracts from the cannabis plant can also take the form of an oil or oil-like substance.
The liquid substance storing container 15 as described above forms a solid consumable comprising a porous body 16 configured to retain the liquid substrate at an ambient temperature and to release and vaporize the liquid substrate when heated to form an aerosol.
Thus, the porous body 16 resists egress or leakage of liquid substrate through the pores of the porous material absent heating and vaporization of the liquid substrate.
The porous body 16 may be a porous one-piece part, made of ceramic material, alumina, silicon carbide, sintered metal or sintered glass.
The porous body 16 has an open-cell structure, with a matrix of pores configured to absorb and then to retain, by capillary action, the liquid substance until vaporized.
Thanks to its porosity, the porous body 16 may absorb a volume of liquid substance, for example by infusing: the porous body is immersed in a liquid bath and the liquid is sucked into the pores of the porous body 16 by capillary action.
The porous body 16 is received in a heating cavity 18 in the aerosol generating device 11.
Preferably, the heating cavity 18 has a shape configured to receive fully or partially the porous body 16.
Even more preferably, the porous body 16 is received fully in the heating cavity 18.
In particular, the porous body 16 is disposed in the bottom 29 of the heating cavity 18 as illustrated in FIG. 1 .
The porous body 16 has a conventional cylindrical or prismatic shape configured to fit into the heating cavity 18.
In this embodiment, the porous body 16 is a full cylinder or prism.
The heating cavity 18 is arranged in the housing 12 of the aerosol generating device 11.
The heating cavity 18 may be opened onto one end of the housing 12, for insertion or removing of the porous body 16.
Preferably, the mouthpiece 13 is disposed in order to partially cover/close the cavity 18 at the end of the housing 12.
Thus, the heating cavity opens onto the same end of the housing where the mouthpiece is disposed.
In some implementations, the porous body 16 is held by gravity on the bottom 29 of the heating cavity 18.
In other implementations, the aerosol generating device 11 may include holding members (not referenced) to keep the porous body 16 in contact with the bottom 29 of the heating cavity 18. The holding members may include the mouthpiece 13.
The aerosol generating device 11 also comprises a heating element or heater 14 configured to heat the liquid substance storing container 15 and thus, the porous body 16.
In some implementations, the heater 14 may be or include a direct heating source such as a laser, a LED (Light Emitting Diode), a flame or a resistance heating element.
For example, the electrical resistance heating element may comprise a resistance metal wire or ribbon.
The resistance metal wire or ribbon may be encased in a material to improve durability.
Moreover, the encasing of the resistance metal wire or ribbon serves as a contact surface with the porous body.
The heater 14 is preferably constructed of one or more conductive materials, including, but not limited to, nichrome alloy or knathal, or a combination thereof.
Generally, the heater 14 is an electrical heating element and is powered by a battery 17.
The battery 17 is usually disposed in the housing 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1 .
As depicted in FIG. 1 , the heater 14 comprises at least two heating sections 14 a configured to heat the porous body 16.
The heating sections 14 a of the heater 14 are arranged in a same plane P₁.
The porous body 16 may have a conventional cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section.
The heating sections 14 a of the heater 14 are disposed on the bottom 29 of the heating cavity 18 represented in a dotted line.
As represented in FIG. 2A, in this first embodiment, the heater 24 may comprise heating sections 24 a having the shape of slice sections.
The heating sections 24 a of the heater 24 are arranged in a same plane P₂.
The heater 24 may have a circular shape, configured to heat a porous body having a circular cross-section.
The heating cavity 28 has a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section.
The circular shape of the heater 24 corresponds to the bottom 29 of the heating cavity 28.
The heating sections 24 a may have the same dimensions corresponding approximately to a quarter of a circle.
In this embodiment, the heater 24 thus comprises four heating sections 24 a.
The heater 14 of the FIG. 1 may have a circular shape, as the heater 24 represented in FIG. 2A, with two heating sections 14 a.
The heating sections 14 a may have the same dimensions corresponding approximately to a half of the circular shape.
In a second embodiment of an aerosol generating system 10 as represented in FIG. 2B, the heater 34 may comprise heating sections 34 b having the shape of linear tracks.
The heating sections 34 a of the heater 34 are arranged in a same plane P₃.
In this embodiment, the linear tracks are parallel to each other. The linear tracks of the heater 34 have the same length and are regularly spaced.
Here, the heater 34 has a rectangular shape preferably configured to heat a rectangular porous body.
The heating cavity 38, represented in dotted line, has a prismatic shape with a rectangular cross-section.
The rectangular shape of the heater 34 corresponds to the bottom 39 of the heating cavity 38.
The linear tracks of the heater 34 have a length corresponding approximately to the width of the bottom 39 of the heating cavity 38.
In a third embodiment as shown in FIG. 2C, the heater 44 comprises heating sections 44 a having the shape of dots.
The heating sections 44 a of the heater 44 are arranged in a same plane P₄.
Here, the heater 44 has a triangular shape, configured to heat a triangular porous body.
The dots are, in a non-limitative way, laid out in a quincunx pattern but may also be laid out in rows.
As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the dots are ten in a quincunx configuration and evenly spaced from each other.
The heating cavity 48, represented in a dotted line, has a prismatic shape with a triangular cross-section.
The triangular shape of the heater 44 corresponds to the bottom 49 of the heating cavity 48.
The dots are evenly distributed on the bottom 49 of the heating cavity 48.
In FIG. 2C, the dots have the same dimensions but some dots may also be bigger than others.
In a fourth embodiment as shown in FIG. 2D, the heater 54 may comprise heating sections 54 a having the shape of concentric rings.
The heating sections 54 a of the heater 54 are arranged in a same plane P₅.
The heater 54, like the heater 24 of the first embodiment, has a circular shape and is preferably configured to heat a circular porous body.
The heating cavity 58, represented in a dotted line, also has a cylindrical shape with a circular cross-section, like the heating cavity 28.
The circular shape of the heater 54 thus corresponds to the bottom 59 of the heating cavity 58.
In this fourth embodiment, the heating sections 54 a are directly next to each other but also may be spaced from each other. The rings of the heater 54 are centered on the bottom 59 of the heating cavity 58.
Preferably, each ring of the heater 54 has the same width but the rings may also have different width.
Of course, the shape of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 and the shape of the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of each embodiment are not limitative.
Furthermore, each shape of heating section 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a can be mixed with any shape of heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
By way of example, the rectangular shaped heater 34 of the second embodiment may comprise heating sections having the shape of dots laid out in rows, slices or concentric rings. In another example, the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heaters 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 of any one of the shown embodiments may have different dimensions or different shape.
Each heating section 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 may be powered independently.
The battery 17 may also power all heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
When the porous body 16 is disposed on the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 18, the porous body 16 is in contact with the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
In particular, at least one external surface 16 b of the porous body 16 is in contact with the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
The heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 may comprise a different number of heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a having different shapes.
The aerosol generating 11 device further comprises control means 19 in order to activate separately the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
Generally, control means 19 are powered by the battery 17 and disposed in the housing 12 of the aerosol generating device 11.
The control means 19 may comprise an on board processor control (not shown). The on board processor control is preferably disposed in the housing 12 of the aerosol generating device 11.
In particular, the control means 19 may sequentially activate the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
The different heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 may be activated with each inhalation.
As an example, one heating section is activated during the first five inhalations, another section may be activated during the next five inhalations, and so forth.
The control means 19 may also activate several heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 at the same time.
For example, in the heater 24 of the first embodiment, two of the four heating sections 24 a may be activated at the same time by the control means 19. Next, the other two heating sections 24 a may be activated.
Of course, the sequence is not limitative and may be configured depending on the frequency of inhalations, the duration of one inhalation, the temperature of the porous body or portions of the porous body as described later.
The heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 are arranged in a same plane P₁, P₂, P₃, P₄, P₅.
More precisely, the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a are arranged in the same plane of the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 18, 28, 38, 48, 58.
Thus, the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 are disposed in the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 18, 28, 38, 48, 58 and configured to heat towards the porous body 16.
The porous body 16 comprises at least two different portions 16 a in contact respectively with at least two heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54, when the porous body 16 is disposed in the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 18.
More precisely, the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 are in contact with external surfaces 16 b of the different portions 16 a of the porous body 16, when the porous body 16 is disposed in the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 18.
Each external surface 16 b of the portions 16 a of the porous body 16 is in contact with one heating section 14 a of the heater 14 when the porous body 16 is disposed in the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 18.
Correspondingly, each heating section 14 a of the heater 14 is in contact with one external surface 16 b of one portion 16 a of the porous body 16, when the porous body 16 is disposed in the bottom 29 of the heating cavity 18.
In order to ensure the contact between at least one heating section 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a and one portion 16 a of the porous body 16, the aerosol generating system 10 may comprise a mechanical indexing system (not shown).
The mechanical indexing system may comprise a mechanical indexing member (not shown) disposed on the aerosol generating device 11 and a corresponding mechanical indexing member disposed on the porous body 16.
Thus, the portions 16 a of the porous body 16 are configured to be heated separately by heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a.
As described above, the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 are arranged in a same plane.
Thus, the external surfaces 16 b of portions 16 a of the porous body 16 in contact with the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 are also arranged in a same plane.
Thus, the porous body comprises at least one external flat surface on which are arranged the external surfaces 16 b of the heating portions 16 a of the porous body 16.
The external surfaces 16 b of the different portions 16 a of the porous body 16 may have a shape configured to match the heating sections 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54.
Of course, the shape of the porous body 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 is not limitative.
In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3A, the porous body 26 of a liquid substance storing container 25 has a cylindrical shape having a constant circular cross-section, with a longitudinal axis X.
In this embodiment, the heating cavity 28, 58 preferably has a cylindrical shape having a constant circular cross-section as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2D.
The porous body 26 is configured to fit in the heating cavity 28, 58 and to be heated by the heater 24, 54 in FIGS. 2A and 2D.
Preferably, the porous body 26 is used with the heater 24 in the heating cavity 28.
In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B, the porous body 36 of a liquid substance storing container 35 has a prismatic shape having a constant rectangular cross-section, with a longitudinal axis Y.
In this embodiment, the heating cavity 38 may preferably have a prismatic shape having a constant rectangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 2B.
The porous body 36 is configured to fit in the heating cavity 38 and to be heated by the heater 34 in FIG. 2B.
Here, there is no need for a mechanical indexing system due to the rectangular shape of the porous body 36 and the heating cavity 38.
In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3C, the porous body 46 of a liquid substance storing container 45 has a prismatic shape having a constant triangular cross-section, with a longitudinal axis Z.
In this embodiment, the heating cavity 48 may preferably have a prismatic shape having a constant triangular cross-section as shown in FIG. 2C.
The porous body 46 is configured to fit in the heating cavity 48 and to be heated by the heater 44 in FIG. 2C.
Here also, there is no need for a mechanical indexing system due to the triangular shape of the porous body 46 and the heating cavity 48.
Preferably, the longitudinal axis X, Y, Z of the cylinder or prism shaped porous body 26, 36, 46, is perpendicular to the plane of the bottom 29, 39, 49, 59 of the heating cavity 28, 38, 48, 58.
The external surfaces 26 b, 36 b and 46 b of the portions of the porous body 26, 36 and 46 have respectively the shape of slice sections, linear tracks and dots.
The shape of each different portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 embodiment are not limitative in the same way as the shape of the heating sections.
It can be understood that the invention is not limited to the shapes of the heating sections but to the proper match of the portions of the porous body with the heating sections of the heater.
As described above, the mechanical indexing system may be or include a matching shape of the porous body 26, 36, 46 and the heating cavity 28, 38, 48, 58.
In particular, the triangular and the rectangular shape ensure the proper positioning of the porous body 36, 46 in the heating cavity 38, 48.
On the contrary, the circular shape of the porous body 26 may require a mechanical indexing system to prevent rotation and to ensure the proper positioning of the external surfaces 26 b of the portions 26 a of the porous body 26 on the heating sections 24 a.
However, it is not necessary to use a mechanical indexing system for heater 54, as shown in FIG. 2D, having circular heating sections 54 a.
For instance, the mechanical indexing system may comprise a flat surface, a pin, etc. Of course other mechanical indexing systems may be used.
In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the different portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 are substantially thermally insulated from each other.
The term substantially aims to express that the insulation between different portions is not perfect.
Thus, the transfer of heat from a portion 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 heated by a heating section 14 a, 24 a, 34 a, 44 a, 54 a of the heater 14, 24, 34, 44, 54 to an unheated portion is reduced.
The portions 16 a, 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 16, 26, 36, 46 are heated and vaporize the liquid substance independently from each other.
In these embodiments, the porous body 26, 36, 46 comprises at least one slit 27, 37, 47 extending between at least two different portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46.
The slits 27, 37, 47 are configured to thermally insulate the portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 from each other.
The slits 27, 37, 47 have predetermined depth and width, configured to minimize the transfer of heat between two portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 and to maximize the volume of liquid substance in the porous body 26, 36, 46.
Thus, the portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 are thermally insulated by air gaps.
Of course, the examples given herein are not limitative and other insulation can be used. For example, the slits 27, 37, 47 may be filled by an insulating material.
As described above, the mechanical indexing system may be, here, a pin or several pins located in the heating cavity 28, 58 configured to fit into one or several slits.
Preferably, the slits 27, 37, 47 open onto the external flat surface of the porous body, where are arranged the external surfaces 26 b, 36 b, 46 b of the portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46.
Also in these embodiments, the slits 27, 37, 47 extend along a longitudinal axis X, Y, Z of the cylinder or prism shaped porous body 26, 36, 46.
Preferably, the slits 27, 37, 47 may have a constant depth and a constant width.
The slits 27, 37, 47 may also have a variable depth, depending on the position on the longitudinal axis X, Y, Z.
Thus, the portions 26 a, 36 a, 46 a of the porous body 26, 36, 46 are defined along the longitudinal axis X, Y, Z of the porous body 26, 36, 46.
The slits 27, 37, 47 may extend over any portion of the height of the cylinder or prism shaped porous body 26, 36, 46 including up to about 25%, up to about 50%, up to about 75%.
In some implementations as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C, the slits 27, 37, 47 open onto two opposite external flat surfaces of said cylindrical or prismatic shape of the porous body 26, 36, 46. In other words, the slits 27, 37, 47 extend the full height of the porous body 26, 36, 46.
Thus, the external surfaces 26 b, 36 b, 46 b of the portions of the porous body 26, 36, 46 are the same at both ends of the cylinder or prism.
Thus, the porous body 26, 36, 46 may be heated by the two opposite external flat surfaces of said cylindrical or prismatic shape.
In a non-limitative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4 , the slits 57 of the porous body 56 may be discontinuous and may be interrupted along the height of the cylinder shaped porous body 56.
In this embodiment, the porous body 56 of a liquid substance storing container 55 has the same cylindrical shape that the porous body 26, the slits 57 extending along a longitudinal axis X₂of the cylindrical shape of the porous body 57.
Preferably, the slits 57 open onto the external flat surface of the porous body, where are arranged the external surfaces 56 b of portions 56 a of the porous body 56.
Thanks to the invention, an improved aerosol generating system may be provided with a higher thermal efficiency compared to an aerosol generating device with a heater having heating sections disposed around a liquid substance storing container.
Due to the improved thermal efficiency, the vaporization may be faster and the amount of liquid substance constituents provided for inhalation may be more consistent, compared to a porous body without insulated portions.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating system comprising a liquid substance storing container and an aerosol generating device, said liquid substance storing container comprising a porous body for storing a liquid substance and said aerosol generating device comprising a heater comprising at least two heating sections configured to heat the porous body, wherein said aerosol generating device comprises a heating cavity for housing the porous body, said at least two heating sections of said heater being located on the bottom of the heating cavity, and

wherein said porous body is disposed on the bottom of the heating cavity, in contact with the at least two heating sections of the heater.

2. The aerosol generating system, according to claim 1, wherein said at least two heating sections of the heater are arranged in a same plane of said bottom of the heating cavity.

3. The aerosol generating system, according to claim 1, wherein said porous body comprises at least two different portions and said at least two heating sections of the heater are in contact respectively with external surfaces of said at least two different portions of the porous body.

4. The aerosol generating system according to claim 3, wherein each external surface of said at least two different portions of the porous body has a shape configured to match one of said at least two heating sections of the heater.

5. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein said at least two heating sections of the heater have a shape chosen from among at least two slice sections, dots or linear tracks, concentric rings.

6. The aerosol generating system according to claim 1, wherein said aerosol generating device further comprises control means in order to activate separately said at least two heating sections of the heater.

7. A liquid substance storing container for an aerosol generating system according to claim 1, comprising a porous body for storing a liquid substance, wherein the porous body comprises at least two different portions configured to be heated separately by the at least two heating sections of said heater.

8. The liquid substance storing container according to claim 7, wherein said at least two different portions of the porous body are substantially thermally insulated from each other.

9. The liquid substance storing container according to claim 7, wherein the porous body comprises at least one slit extending between said at least two different portions of the porous body.

10. The liquid substance storing container according to claim 9, wherein said porous body comprises at least one external flat surface, said at least one slit opening onto said at least one external flat surface of the porous body.

11. The liquid substance storing container according to claim 9, wherein said porous body has a cylindrical or prismatic shape, said at least one slit extending along a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical or prismatic shape.

12. The liquid substance storing container according to claim 11, wherein said at least one slit opens onto two opposite external flat surfaces of said cylindrical or prismatic shape of the porous body.

13. The liquid substance storing container according to claim 7, wherein said porous body has a cross-section chosen from among circular, triangular or rectangular.