WO2004010803A1

WO2004010803A1 - A filter for smoking articles and a smoking article with that filter

Info

Publication number: WO2004010803A1
Application number: PCT/AM2003/000003
Authority: WO
Inventors: Semen Pogosyan
Original assignee: Semen Pogosyan
Priority date: 2002-07-26
Filing date: 2003-07-04
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: AU2003243790A1

Abstract

This invention concerns cigarette industry and is to be used in the production of filters and smoking articles, particularly in those comprising a mouthpiece.The filter has communication passageways; a camera partly filled with liquid, inlet and outlet openings. According to the invention the filter has a distributor of communication passageways positioned in the camera, by which the inlet opening communicates with that of the camera filled with liquid and the outlet opening with the fragment of the camera free of liquid, irrespective of the position of the camera about the axis passing through the inlet and outlet openings.The smoking article has a filter the attached to the edge of the cigarette bar with its edge, provided that the filter is embodied according to the above-mentioned one or its variants.The passage of smoke through fluid, irrespective of the position of the filter about the above-mentioned axis.

Description

A filter for smoking articles and a smoking article with that filter

The invention concerns cigarette industry and is intended to be used in the production of filters and smoking articles, particularly in those comprising a mouthpiece.

Background of the Invention

A filter, comprising a cartridge, a cylindrical camera partly filled with liquid, entrance and target plugs inserted in the camera, each of the plugs having a tubular passageway, is known. To make the operation of the filter efficient, the smoker must hold the filter in such a position that the inlet passageway dives into liquid, and the outlet passageway is in the fragment of the filter free of liquid, [1].

The drawback of the known filter constitutes in the fact that the positions assuring the efficient operation of the filter are limited and they constitute a [-30°, +30°] interval of the pivot turn, from the preferable position, and the smoke passes through fluid only in certain positions.

The closest analog, in its technical nature and in the efficiency of its operation, to the suggested filter, is the one having a cylindrical camera partly filled with liquid, entrance and target plugs inserted in the camera, each of them comprising a coaxial bearing support and an opening, inlet and outlet passageways for the smoke and a distributor of the passageways, placed in the camera, which makes the free ends of the passageways deviate from each other, provided that the opening of the entrance plug and the opening of the target plug have the opportunity to communicate with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and the fragment of the camera free of liquid respectively. In the known filter this opportunity is realized by means of two active balls inserted in the passageways [2].

Though the known filter assures the efficient filtering of the smoke in more positions, there are some positions about the axis of the filter excluding its efficient operation, as in this case; too, the smoke passes through fluid only in certain positions.

The closest analog to the suggested smoking article is made of a complex filter, the edge of which is attached to the edge of the cigarette bar [3]. The drawback of the known filter constitutes in the fact that it doesn't filter off the harmful constituents (such as, for example, water-dilutable constituents) of the smoke either altogether, or sufficiently enough.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the invention is to ensure the passage of the smoke through fluid independent of the position of the filter about the axis passing through its inlet and outlet openings.

The object of the invention is to increase the efficiency of the filtering process, too.

The essence of the invention constitutes in the fact that, according to it, the filter endowed with inlet and outlet openings for the smoke, a camera partly filled with liquid, passageways by means of which the inlet opening communicates with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and the outlet opening communicates with the fragment of the camera free of liquid, has an axis passing through the inlet and outlet openings in any position about which the inlet opening communicates with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and the outlet opening communicates with the fragment of the camera free of liquid, as well as a dynamic distributor of the passageways inserted in the camera.

In one of the variants of embodiment at the entrance and target ends of the camera there are plugs having coaxially positioned openings and bearing supports, and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in a rotational element, positioned on the bearing supports which has the opportunity to rotate freely, provided that the center of mass of the rotational element is displaced concerning the rotational axis.

In another variant of embodiment at the entrance and target ends of the camera there are plugs having axial openings, provided that the entrance plug has a coaxial bearing support, and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in a rotational element, which is connected by means of a console and has the opportunity to rotate freely and which is placed at the bearing support of the entrance plug, also provided that the center of mass of the rotational element is displaced concerning the rotational axis.

In another variant of embodiment at the entrance and target ends of the camera there are plugs having openings, and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in inlet and outlet resilient tubes, which are fixed in the openings of the entrance and target plugs, respectively, with their one ends, and their other ends have a plummet and a float, respectively.

In the next variant of embodiment the camera is cylindrical, at its entrance and target ends there are plugs having openings, and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in a drum inserted in the camera, which has an opportunity to rotate freely about its axis, and which has a center of mass displaced concerning that axis, as well as in inlet and outlet resilient tubes, which are fixed in the openings of the entrance and target plugs, respectively, with their one ends and their other ends are freely placed in the heavy and light fragments of the drum, respectively.

The filter may have a second camera, which is adjacent to the target plug of the first one, provided that the second camera is coaxial to the first one and has an target plug, the opening of which communicates with the outlet opening of the filter.

The essence of the invention constitutes also in the fact that in the smoking article having a filtering part the edge of which is attached to the cigarette bar, the filtering part is embodied in accordance with one of the above-mentioned variants of the filter.

Detailed Description

In figures 1-6 the longitudinal sections of the filter having a distributor of passageways placed at bearing supports with their two ends are shown, and in figure 7 the A-A cross-section is shown.

In figures 8-10 the longitudinal sections of the filter having a distributor of passageways, which is fixed at a bearing support with one end and which is connected by means of a console, are shown.

In figure 11 the longitudinal section of the filter having a distributor embodied in resilient tubes, which in their turn are endowed with a plummet and a float, are shown.

In figure 12 the longitudinal section of the filter having a distributor embodied in two resilient tubes and a rotational drum is shown, and in figure 13 the B-B cross-section is shown.

In figure 14 the suggested filter embodied in a variant with a target tip is shown, and in figures 15, 16 the C-C cross-sections of the tip are shown.

In figure 17 the variant endowed with two additional filtering elements is shown.

In figure 18 the longitudinal section of the filter having two adjacent cameras is shown.

In figures 19-22 the longitudinal sections of the smoking article used with the above- mentioned variants of the filter and their paper windings are shown.

The filter has an empty corpus (1), a camera (2), at the entrance and target ends of which there are entrance and target plugs (3), (5) respectively, having openings (4), (6), respectively. The openings (4), (6) serve as entrance and target openings of the camera, respectively.

The corpus (1) is made of waterproof material and is partly filled with liquid.

In the preferable variant of embodiment (figure 1-5) the plugs (3), (5) are endowed with bearing supports (7), (8), which are coaxial to the openings, and on which the distributor of the passageways embodied in a rotational element (9) is placed with the opportunity to rotate freely, the center of mass of which is displaced concerning the axis.

The bearing supports (7), (8) may be embodied as inner or outer bearing supports (figure 1), (figure 2-5), respectively.

The rotational element (9) may be embodied in a tubular cradle, having a cross-sectional partition wall (12) dividing the cavity of the cradle into entrance and target fragments (10), (11), respectively. The inlet fragment (10) communicates with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid by means of a passageway (13), and the outlet fragment communicates with the fragment of the camera free of liquid by means of a passageway (14).

The distributor embodied in a rotational element (9) may be a complex one. In this variant (not shown in figures) the cradle is made of a medial part and two marginal parts, which with their one ends are firmly fixed in the mortises of the medial part.

The camera (2) may be embodied both in a cylindrical one (circular section), and in sections of other shape.

In the preferable variant of embodiment the free ends of the passageways (13), (14) are displaced concerning the axis of symmetry of the camera.

The displacement of the center of mass of the rotational element (9) concerning the rotational axis can be realized both by making it of different thickness, and by attaching an additional plummet (15). In figures 1-3 the plummet is shown placed in centralized, divided and spreading ways. The center of mass of the plummet (15) and the free ends of the passageways (13), (14) are in the same plane.

Entrance and target passageways (13), (14), respectively, may be embodied in tubes (16), (17) which have curved fragments and which are solidly attached to the rotational element (figure 2-5), provided that the tubes with their one ends are placed in the openings (4), (6) of the plugs (3), (5), respectively, and their free ends are displaced concerning the axis of symmetry of the camera by means of the distributor (9) and they are in the fragment of the camera (2) filled with liquid and in the fragment of the camera (2) free of liquid, respectively, as shown in figures 2-5.

The distributor of the passageways embodied in a rotational element (9) may also be bent, as shown in figure 5. This variant of embodiment doesn't need an additional plummet, as the displacement of the center of mass concerning the rotational axis is ensured by the bent part of the distributor.

The outlet passageway ((14) in figure 1) or ((17) in figure 2) of the rotational element (9) embodied in a cradle in the preferable variant of embodiment has a protective screen (26), which is inertly attached to the free end of the outlet passageway. The screen (26) may be embodied with a curvy surface, particularly, with a fragment of a cylindrical surface, which is coaxial to the cradle and the radius of which is shorter than that of the camera (2), as shown in figures 6, 7. In this variant the tubular bearing support (8) of the target plug (5) is extended, the front of its free end is blocked, and on the cylindrical surface of the free end there are radial openings, by means of which the end communicates with the outlet passageway (14). The outlet passageway (14) and its leg (27), positioned coaxially to itself, are seated on the bearing support (8) by means of a cylindrical joint, and the other end of the foot (27) is solidly attached to the rotational element, i.e., to the cradle (9), in the result of which the latter becomes a bend.

The outlet passageway (14) may be embodied in a forked one (not shown in the figures), provided that the screen (26) is solidly attached to both wings of the forked passageway, assuring the stability of the position of the screen about the rotational axis.

The role of the screen constitutes in screening of the splash and prevents the water drops from penetrating into the outlet passageway (6).

To ensure minimal obstruction (friction) to the rotation of the rotational element (9) the ends of the tubes (16), (17) may be fixed in the openings (4), (6), respectively, by means of bearings (figure 4).

The ends of the rotational element (9) and the bearing supports (7), (8) also make a bearing for sliding.

The device (9) may be embodied in a rotational element, which is connected by means of a console and has the opportunity to rotate freely and which is placed at the bearing support (7) of the entrance plug (3), provided that its center of mass is displaced concerning the rotational axis. In this variant of embodiment the device (9) is embodied in a bent tube, as shown in figure 8. In the preferable variant of embodiment the device (9) is embodied in an S-shaped or C-shaped tube (figures 9, 10, respectively), which ensures the efficient operation of the smoking article also in such positions, where the burning end of the article is much lower compared with the position of the end, when the article is in horizontal position (while smoking, this position of a cigarette is the most frequent).

In these variants with the device (9) connected with a console the inlet tubular passageway of communication (16) is fixed in the opening (4) of the entrance plug (3) with its one end, it passes through the bent parts of the tube and, coming out of the device (9), ensures the communication of the inlet opening (4) with the fragment of the camera (2) filled with liquid. The outlet tubular passageway (17) is inertly fixed in the opening (6) of the target plug (5). The tube of the passageway (17) may be made both of solid and of resilient material. In the second case it may have a float (not shown in figures 8-10).

To ensure minimal obstruction to the device (9) the end of the tube of the passageway (16) may be fixed in the opening (4) by means of a bearing (not shown in figures 8-10). The end of the device (9) and the bearing support (7) also make a bearing for sliding.

The diversity of the passageways may be embodied in inlet and outlet tubular passageways (16), (17), respectively, made of resilient material, as shown in figure 11. In this variant the tubes (16), (17) with their one ends are fixed in the openings of the entrance and target plugs (3), (5), respectively, and their other ends are free. A plummet (18) is attached to the free end of the entrance tube (16), and a float (19) is attached to that of the target tube (17).

The diversity of the passageways may be embodied in a drum (20) inserted in the camera, which has the opportunity to rotate freely about its axis, and which has a center of mass displaced concerning that axis, as shown in figure 12. The drum (20) has heavy and light fragments located on opposite sides about the rotational axis, by which the displacement of its center of mass is conditioned. Both the heavy and the light fragments have body-size holes (figure 13), in which the free ends of the resilient tubes (16), (17) are freely fixed or through which they pass. The other edges of the resilient tubes are fixed in the openings of the entrance and target plugs.

The operation of the suggested filter is based on the fact that the liquid in the camera, as well as the center of mass of the dynamic device take a lower position under the influence of the earth's attraction. Thanks to this, the free end of the entrance passageway (tube) is in the fragment of the camera filled with liquid irrespective of the position of the camera, i. e., it dives into liquid, and the free end of the target passageway (tube) is in the fragment of the camera free of liquid.

The suggested filter may be a complex one, made of two or more filters, the edges of which are attached to each other, and which are embodied according to one of the above-mentioned variants.

The liquid, which the camera (2) is partly filled with, may be water, or corresponding fluid, or solution, the choice of which is dependent on the constituent of the smoke which is meant to be solved in it, also on the demands concerning fragrance.

The target end of the filter may be embodied in a contracted tip (21), as shown in figure 14. The tip (21) may have a circular outline of cross-section (figure 15), an oval outline of cross-section (figure 16), or another outline.

To prevent the liquid in the camera from getting lost or from evaporating, the filter has a wad placed in the outlet opening for the smoke (22) (figure 14), which is removed while smoking. In the preferable variant of embodiment the filter has a second camera adjacent to and coaxial to the target plug (5) of the first camera (2), as shown in figure 18. The second camera (23) has a target plug (24), the opening of which communicates with the outlet opening of the filter. Such a solution allows the tiny water drops, which have passed through the first camera (2), to rest in the second one (23), as well as allows, to prevent them from penetrating into the outlet passageway of the filter. In figure 18 the variant with the second camera having inlet and outlet tubes with diverging free edges is shown. In the preferable variant of embodiment the fronts of the free ends of these tubes are blocked and there are radial openings on their cylindrical surface. This ensures a minimal chance for the water drops to penetrate into the outlet passageway.

The suggested filter may have an additional filtering element (25) coaxial to the corpus (1) and placed at its entrance and/or target ends. The variant with two additional filters (25) is shown in figure 17. The filtering elements (25) may be complex and their components may be endowed with the capacity to absorb different harmful constituents (as well as combinations) of smoke.

A smoking article may be embodied with the above-mentioned filter or with any of its variants.

In figures 19, 22 the cigarette bar (28) and the filter of the smoking articles are wrapped in one wrapping paper (29). In figure 20 the reduced variant of the filter is shown.

In figure 20, 21 the cigarette bar (28) of the smoking article is wrapped in a wrapping paper, and the edges of the filter and the cigarette bar are connected by means of a winding (30).

The variants of smoking articles shown in figures 19-22 do not cover all the variants of embodiment claimed by this invention. In the smoking article claimed by this invention the edge of the cigarette bar may be connected to any of the above-mentioned variants of a filter.

While smoking the smoke passes from the inlet opening (4) into the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and passes through fluid in the form of bubbles. During that process the water- dilutable harmful constituents of the smoke solve into the liquid. Solid particles of dust, black and other particles also remain in the liquid as precipitation. The purified smoke is accumulated in the fragment of the camera free of liquid, from where it can pass to the smoker through the outlet passageway (14) or through the tube (17).

The smaller the bubbles, the more efficient the solution and the filtering. For this purpose the openings on the ends of the inlet passageways (13) or the tubes (16) are reduced to reasonable limits.

The principle advantipe of the suggested filter constitutes in the fact that, though it's water- reactive by nature, it functions (its function being filtering off the harmful constituents of the smoke) in any position about the longitudinal axis, besides, it can be embodied both in extended and reduced variants. It can easily be connected to an ordinary acetate filter with its one end or two ends. In the latter case the filtering of the smoke is more perfect, as the properties of water and acetate fiber, to absorb, add to each other.

Sources of information

1. US Patent No. 3125100;

2. US Patent No. 3315687, the closest analog

3. US Patent No. 3416541, the closest analog

Claims

1. A filter for a smoking article comprising a camera endowed with inlet and outlet openings, and partly filled with liquid, provided that the inlet opening communicates with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and the outlet opening with the fragment of the camera free of liquid by communication passageways, is characterized by a distributor of the communication passageways by which the inlet opening communicates with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and the outlet opening with the fragment of the camera free of liquid, irrespective of the position of camera about the axis, provided that the distributor is positioned in the camera.

2. The filter claimed as in claim 1 is characterized by coaxially positioned openings and plugs having a bearing support at the entrance and target ends of the camera, and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in a rotational element which can rotate freely, and which is positioned on the bearing supports, provided that the center of mass of the rotational element is displaced concerning the rotational axis.

3. The filter claimed as in claim 2 is characterized by its cylindrical camera.

4. The filter claimed as in claims 2 and 3 is characterized by tubular passageways solidly connected with to rotational element.

5. The filter claimed as in claim 4 is characterized by tubular passages the free ends of which are displaced concerning the axis of symmetry of the camera.

6. The filter claimed as in claims 2 and 3 is characterized by a rotational element embodied in a tubular cradle having a cross-sectional partition wall dividing the cradle cavity into inlet and outlet fragments, provided that the parts communicate with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid and the part free of liquid, respectively, by means of passageways.

7. The filter claimed as in claim 6 is characterized by a cradle having an eccentric plummet.

8. The filter claimed as in claim 6 is characterized by a tubular bent cradle.

9. The filter claimed as in claims 4-8 is characterized by a protective screen, which prevents water drops from splashing, and which is solidly attached to the free end of the outlet passageway.

10. The filter claimed as in claim 1 is characterized by plugs which have axially positioned openings and which are on the entrance and target ends of the camera, provided that the entrance plug has a coaxial bearing support and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in a rotational element, which has the opportunity to rotate freely, and which is connected by means of a console, and which is placed at the entrance bearing support, also provided that the center of mass of the rotational element is displaced concerning the rotational axis.

11. The filter claimed as in claim 10 is characterized by its cylindrical camera.

12. The filter claimed as in claim 10 or 11 is characterized by an opening of the entrance plug, communicating with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid by a tubular passageway.

13. The filter claimed as in claim 10 or 11 is characterized by a rotational element embodied in an S-shaped tube, having a passageway by means of which the opening of the entrance plug communicates with the fragment of the camera filled with liquid.

14. The filter claimed as in claims 10-13 is characterized by an opening of the target plug, which communicates with the fragment of the camera free of liquid by means of a tube.

15. The filter claimed as in claim 14 is characterized by a tube made of resilient material and having a float.

16. The filter claimed as in claim 1 is characterized by plugs inserted into the entrance and target ends of the camera, each of which has an opening, by a distributor of the passageways, embodied in inlet and outlet resilient tubes, which^' are fixed in the openings of the entrance and target plugs, respectively, with their one ends, and their other ends have a plummet and a float, respectively.

17. The filter claimed as in claim 1 is characterized by a cylindrical camera, by plugs having openings and inserted into the entrance and target ends of the camera, and the distributor of the passageways is embodied in a drum inserted in the camera, which has the opportunity to rotate freely about its axis, and which has a center of mass displaced concerning that axis, as well as in inlet and outlet resilient tubes, which are fixed in the openings of the entrance and target plugs, respectively, with their one ends, provided that their other ends are freely placed in the heavy and light fragments of the drum, respectively

18. The filter claimed as in claims 1-17 is characterized by an outlet end of the filter having a contracted tip.

19. The filter claimed as in claim 18 is characterized by circular outlines of the cross-sectionals of the tip.

20. The filter claimed as in claim 18 is characterized by an oval outline of the cross-sections of the tip.

21. The filter claimed as in claims 1-20 is characterized by a removable wad for the outlet opening for the smoke.

22. The filter claimed as in claims 2-21 is characterized by a second camera adjacent to the target plug of the first camera, provided that the second camera is coaxial to the first one and has a target plug, the opening of which communicates with the outlet opening of the filter.

23. The filter claimed as in claims 1-22 is characterized by a filter placed at the entrance and/or target ends of the camera.

24. A smoking article having a filter attached to the cigarette bar is characterized by a filter embodied in accordance with those claimed in claims 1-23.