WO2019193311A1 - Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur - Google Patents

Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2019193311A1
WO2019193311A1 PCT/GB2019/050733 GB2019050733W WO2019193311A1 WO 2019193311 A1 WO2019193311 A1 WO 2019193311A1 GB 2019050733 W GB2019050733 W GB 2019050733W WO 2019193311 A1 WO2019193311 A1 WO 2019193311A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
liquid
reservoir
absorbing material
transport element
wall
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2019/050733
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Mark Potter
Wade Tipton
William Harris
Christopher Rowe
James Davies
James BOONZAIER
Conor DEVINE
Original Assignee
Nicoventures Trading Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nicoventures Trading Limited filed Critical Nicoventures Trading Limited
Publication of WO2019193311A1 publication Critical patent/WO2019193311A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L9/00—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air
    • A61L9/015—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone
    • A61L9/02—Disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air using gaseous or vaporous substances, e.g. ozone using substances evaporated in the air by heating or combustion
    • A61L9/03—Apparatus therefor
    • A61L9/037—Apparatus therefor comprising a wick
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
    • A24F40/44—Wicks
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
    • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to vapour provision systems such as nicotine delivery systems (e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like).
  • nicotine delivery systems e.g. electronic cigarettes and the like.
  • Electronic vapour provision systems such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) generally contain a vapour precursor material, such as a reservoir of a source liquid containing a formulation, typically, but not always, including nicotine, from which a vapour is generated for inhalation by a user, for example through heat vaporisation.
  • a vapour provision system will typically comprise a vapour generation chamber containing a vaporiser, e.g. a heating element, arranged to vaporise a portion of precursor material to generate a vapour in the vapour generation chamber.
  • a vaporiser e.g. a heating element
  • Some electronic cigarettes may also include a flavour element in the flow path through the device to impart additional flavours.
  • Such devices may sometimes be referred to as hybrid devices and the flavour element may, for example, include a portion of tobacco arranged in the air path between the vapour generation chamber and the mouthpiece so that vapour / condensation aerosol drawn through the devices passes through the portion of tobacco before exiting the mouthpiece for user inhalation.
  • Liquid-based e-cigarettes will typically have a capillary wick for transporting liquid from within a liquid reservoir to a vaporiser located in the air channel connecting from the air inlet to the vapour outlet for the e-cigarette.
  • the wick typically passes through an opening in a wall that separates the liquid reservoir from the air channel in the vicinity of the vaporiser.
  • FIG 1 schematically shows a cross-section of a portion of a conventional electronic cigarette in the vicinity of its vapour generation chamber 2, i.e. where vapour is generated during use.
  • the electronic cigarette comprises a central air channel 4 through a surrounding annular liquid reservoir 6.
  • the annular liquid reservoir 6 is defined by an inner wall 8 and an outer wall 10, which may both be cylindrical (the inner wall 8 separates the liquid reservoir 6 from the air channel, and so in that sense the inner wall 8 also defines the air channel).
  • the electronic cigarette comprises a vaporiser 12 in the form of a resistive heating coil.
  • the coil 12 is wrapped around a wick 14.
  • Each end of the wick 14 extends into the liquid reservoir 6 through an opening 16 in the inner wall 8.
  • the wick 14 is thus arranged to convey liquid from within the liquid reservoir 6 to the vicinity of the coil 12 by capillary action.
  • an electric current is passed through the coil 12 so that it is heated and vaporises a portion of liquid from the capillary wick 14 adjacent the coil 12 to generate vapour in the vapour generation chamber 2 for user inhalation.
  • the vaporised liquid is then replaced by more liquid being drawn along the wick 14 from the liquid reservoir 6 by capillary action.
  • the reservoir inner wall 8 has openings 16 to allow liquid to be drawn out of the reservoir 6 to the vaporiser 12, there is a corresponding risk of leakage from this part of the electronic cigarette.
  • Leakage is undesirable both from the perspective of the end user naturally not wanting to get the e-liquid on their hands or other items, and also from a reliability perspective, since leakage has the potential to damage the electronic cigarette itself, for example due to corrosion of components which are not intended to come into contact with the liquid.
  • the size of the openings 16 should closely correspond to the size of the wick 14 so the wick in effect blocks the openings. Typically it will be desired for the wick to be slightly compressed where it passes through the openings 16 to help form this seal. If the openings 16 are too large for the wick 14, the resulting gaps between the wick and the inner walls of the respective openings can allow liquid to leak from the reservoir through these gaps.
  • the wick may be unduly compressed, and this can impact its wicking ability and result in insufficient liquid being supplied to the vaporiser during use, which can give rise to overheating and undesirable flavours (drying out).
  • wick 14 it is not straightforward to ensure there is a good match between the size of the openings 16 and the size of the wick 14 where it passes through the openings.
  • electronic cigarettes are mass produced items and the openings themselves are often defined by how multiple components fit together, and this means manufacturing and assembly variations can impact how reliably the size of openings can be reproduced from device to device.
  • the geometry of the wicks themselves can be variable.
  • a wick will often comprise a bundle of fibres twisted together, for example glass fibres or organic cotton fibres, and this naturally means the outer profile of the wick is subject to variation, both along its length, and from wick to wick.
  • a vapour provision system comprising: a reservoir containing liquid for vaporisation; a vaporiser; a liquid transport element arranged to transport liquid from the reservoir to the vaporiser for vaporisation to generate a vapour for user inhalation, wherein the liquid transport element extends into the reservoir through an opening in the wall of the reservoir; and a liquid absorbing material arranged around the liquid transport element where it passes through the opening in the wall of the reservoir, wherein the liquid absorbing material comprises a material that expands when it absorbs liquid.
  • vapour provision means comprising: reservoir means for containing liquid for vaporisation; vaporiser means; liquid transport means for transporting liquid from the reservoir means to the vaporiser means for vaporisation to generate a vapour for user inhalation, wherein the liquid transport means extends into the reservoir means through an opening in the wall of the reservoir means; and means for absorbing liquid arranged around the liquid transport means where it passes through the opening in the wall of the reservoir means, wherein means for absorbing liquid comprises a material that expands when it absorbs liquid.
  • a method of assembling a vapour provision system comprising : providing a liquid transport element, a liquid absorbing material, and a reservoir for containing liquid for vaporisation; arranging the liquid transport element and liquid absorbing material so the liquid transport element extends into the reservoir through an opening in a wall of the reservoir and wherein the liquid absorbing material is arranged around the liquid transport element where the liquid transport element passes through the opening in the wall of the reservoir; and providing liquid in the reservoir so that a portion of the liquid is absorbed by the liquid absorbing material around the liquid transport element to cause the liquid absorbing material to expand.
  • Figure 1 represents in schematic cross-section a vapour generation region of a conventional vapour provision system
  • Figure 2 represents in schematic cross-section a vapour provision system according to certain embodiments of the disclosure
  • FIGS 3 to 5 represent schematic perspective views of liquid reservoir wall configurations for vapour provision systems according to various embodiments of the disclosure.
  • Figure 6 represents in schematic cross-section a vapour generation region of vapour provision system according to various embodiments of the disclosure
  • Figure 7 represents in schematic cross-section a liquid transport element with a liquid absorbing material arranged around parts of the liquid transport element according to certain embodiments of the disclosure.
  • Figure 8 represents in schematic cross-section a portion of a liquid reservoir of an electronic vapour provision system with openings in a wall of the liquid reservoir to receive a liquid transport element and liquid absorbing material arranged around an inner wall of the openings.
  • vapour provision systems which may also be referred to as aerosol provision systems, such as e-cigarettes.
  • aerosol provision systems such as e-cigarettes.
  • e-cigarette or“electronic cigarette” may sometimes be used, but it will be appreciated this term may be used interchangeably with vapour provision system / device and electronic vapour provision system / device.
  • vapour and aerosol and related terms such as “vaporise”, “volatilise” and
  • aerosolise may generally be used interchangeably.
  • Vapour provision systems e-cigarettes
  • a modular assembly including both a reusable part (control unit part) and a replaceable (disposable) cartridge part.
  • the replaceable cartridge part will comprise the vapour precursor material and the vaporiser and the reusable part will comprise the power supply (e.g.
  • the reusable device part may comprise a user interface for receiving user input and displaying operating status characteristics
  • the replaceable cartridge part may comprise a temperature sensor for helping to control temperature.
  • Cartridges are electrically and mechanically coupled to a control unit for use, for example using a screw thread, latching or bayonet fixing with appropriately engaging electrical contacts.
  • FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through an example e-cigarette 20 in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the e-cigarette 20 comprises two main components, namely a reusable part 22 and a replaceable / disposable cartridge part 24.
  • the reusable part 22 and the cartridge part 24 are releasably coupled together at an interface 26.
  • the cartridge part may be removed from the reusable part and a replacement cartridge part attached to the reusable part in its place.
  • the interface 26 provides a structural, electrical and air path connection between the two parts and may be established in accordance with conventional techniques, for example based around a screw thread, latch mechanism or bayonet fixing with appropriately arranged electrical contacts and openings for establishing the electrical connection and air path between the two parts as appropriate.
  • the specific manner in which the cartridge part 24 mechanically couples to the reusable part 22 is not significant to the principles described herein, but for the sake of a concrete example is assumed here to comprise a latching mechanism, for example with a portion of the cartridge being received in a corresponding receptacle in the reusable part with cooperating latch engaging elements (not represented in Figure 2). It will also be appreciated the interface 26 in some implementations may not support an electrical and / or air path connection between the respective parts.
  • a vaporiser may be provided in the reusable part rather than in the cartridge part, or the transfer of electrical power from the reusable part to the cartridge part may be wireless (e.g. based on electromagnetic induction), so that an electrical connection between the reusable part and the cartridge part is not needed.
  • the airflow through the electronic cigarette might not go through the reusable part so that an air path connection between the reusable part and the cartridge part is not needed.
  • the cartridge part 24 may in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure be broadly conventional apart from where modified in accordance with the approaches described herein in accordance with certain embodiments of the disclosure.
  • the cartridge part 24 comprises a cartridge housing 62 formed of a plastics material.
  • the cartridge housing 62 supports other components of the cartridge part and provides the mechanical interface 26 with the reusable part 22.
  • the cartridge housing is generally circularly symmetric about a longitudinal axis along which the cartridge part couples to the reusable part 22.
  • the cartridge part has a length of around 4 cm and a diameter of around 1 .5 cm.
  • the specific geometry, and more generally the overall shape and materials used, may be different in different
  • a reservoir 64 that contains liquid vapour precursor material.
  • the liquid vapour precursor material may be conventional, and may be referred to as e-liquid.
  • the liquid reservoir 64 in this example has an annular shape which is generally circularly symmetric with an outer wall 65 defined by the cartridge housing 62 and an inner wall 63 that defines an air path 72 through the cartridge part 24.
  • the reservoir 64 is closed at each end by end walls to contain the e-liquid.
  • the reservoir 64 may be formed generally in accordance with conventional manufacturing techniques, for example it may comprise a plastics material and be integrally moulded with the cartridge housing 62.
  • the cartridge part further comprises a wick (liquid transport element) 66 and a heater (vaporiser) 68.
  • the wick 66 extends transversely across the cartridge air path 72 with its ends extending into the reservoir 64 of e-liquid through openings 67 in the inner wall of the reservoir 64.
  • a liquid absorbing material (not shown in Figure 2) is arranged around the liquid transport element where it passes through each opening in the wall of the reservoir.
  • the wick 66 and heater 68 are arranged in the cartridge air path 72 such that a region of the cartridge air path 72 around the wick 66 and heater 68 in effect defines a vaporisation region 73 for the cartridge part.
  • E-liquid in the reservoir 64 infiltrates the wick 66 through the ends of the wick extending into the reservoir 64 and is drawn along the wick by surface tension / capillary action (i.e. wicking).
  • the heater 68 in this example comprises an electrically resistive wire coiled around the wick 66.
  • the heater 68 comprises a nickel chrome alloy (Cr20Ni80) wire and the wick 66 comprises a fibre bundle, e.g. formed of glass fibre or cotton fibre, but it will be appreciated the specific heater configuration is not significant to the principles described herein.
  • electrical power may be supplied to the heater 68 to vaporise an amount of e-liquid (vapour precursor material) drawn to the vicinity of the heater 68 by the wick 66. Vaporised e-liquid may then become entrained in air drawn along the cartridge air path 72 from the vaporisation region 73 towards the mouthpiece outlet 70 for user inhalation.
  • the rate at which e-liquid is vaporised by the vaporiser (heater) 68 will generally depend on the amount (level) of power supplied to the heater 68.
  • electrical power can be applied to the heater 66 to selectively generate vapour from the e-liquid in the cartridge part 24, and furthermore, the rate of vapour generation can be changed by changing the amount of power supplied to the heater 68, for example through pulse width and/or frequency modulation techniques.
  • the reusable part 22 may be conventional and comprises an outer housing 32 with an opening that defines an air inlet 48 for the e-cigarette, a battery 46 for providing operating power for the electronic cigarette, control circuitry 38 for controlling and monitoring the operation of the electronic cigarette, a user input button 34 and a visual display 44.
  • the outer housing 32 may be formed, for example, from a plastics or metallic material and in this example has a circular cross-section generally conforming to the shape and size of the cartridge part 24 so as to provide a smooth transition between the two parts at the interface 26.
  • the reusable part has a length of around 8 cm so the overall length of the e-cigarette when the cartridge part and reusable part are coupled together is around 12 cm.
  • the overall shape and scale of an electronic cigarette implementing an embodiment of the disclosure is not significant to the principles described herein.
  • the air inlet 48 connects to an air path 50 through the reusable part 22.
  • the reusable part air path 50 in turn connects to the cartridge air path 72 across the interface 26 when the reusable part 22 and cartridge part 24 are connected together.
  • air is drawn in through the air inlet 48, along the reusable part air path 50, across the interface 26, through the vapour generation region in the vapour generation region 73 in the vicinity of the atomiser 68 (where vaporised e-liquid becomes entrained in the air flow), along the cartridge air path 72, and out through the mouthpiece opening 70 for user inhalation.
  • the battery 46 in this example is rechargeable and may be of a conventional type, for example of the kind normally used in electronic cigarettes and other applications requiring provision of relatively high currents over relatively short periods.
  • the battery 46 may be recharged through a charging connector in the reusable part housing 32, for example a USB connector (not shown).
  • the user input button 34 in this example is a conventional mechanical button, for example comprising a spring mounted component which may be pressed by a user to establish an electrical contact.
  • the input button may be considered an input device for detecting user input and the specific manner in which the button is implemented is not significant.
  • other forms of mechanical button(s) or touch-sensitive button(s) are possible.
  • the display 44 is provided to provide a user with a visual indication of various characteristics associated with the electronic cigarette, for example current power setting information, remaining battery power, and so forth.
  • the display may be implemented in various ways.
  • the display 44 comprises a conventional pixilated LCD screen that may be driven to display the desired information in accordance with conventional techniques.
  • the display may comprise one or more discrete indicators, for example LEDs, that are arranged to display the desired information, for example through particular colours and / or flash sequences. More generally, the manner in which the display is provided and information is displayed to a user using the display is not significant to the principles described herein.
  • some embodiments may not include a visual display and may include other means for providing a user with information relating to operating characteristics of the electronic cigarette, for example using audio signalling or haptic feedback, or may not include any means for providing a user with information relating to operating characteristics of the electronic cigarette.
  • the control circuitry 38 is suitably configured / programmed to control the operation of the electronic cigarette to provide functionality in accordance with the established techniques for operating electronic cigarettes.
  • the control circuitry 38 may be configured to control a supply of power from the battery 46 to the heater / vaporiser 68 to generate vapour from a portion of the e-liquid in the cartridge part 24 for user inhalation via the mouthpiece outlet 70 in response to user activation of the input button 34, or in other implementations in response to other triggers, for example in response to detecting user inhalation.
  • control circuitry 38 may be considered to logically comprise various sub-units / circuitry elements associated with different aspects of the electronic cigarette's operation, for example user input detection, power supply control, display driving, and so on. It will be appreciated the functionality of the control circuitry 38 can be provided in various different ways, for example using one or more suitably programmed programmable computer(s) and / or one or more suitably configured application-specific integrated circuit(s) / circuitry / chip(s) / chipset(s) configured to provide the desired functionality.
  • the vapour provision system / electronic cigarette represented in Figure 2 differs from conventional electronic cigarettes in the manner in which the liquid transport element / wick
  • the liquid transport element extends into the reservoir through an opening in a wall of the reservoir and has a liquid absorbing material arranged around the liquid transport element where it passes through the opening in the wall of the reservoir.
  • the liquid absorbing material comprises a material that expands when it absorbs liquid from the reservoir and this is proposed to help with sealing the openings in the wall of the reservoir through which the wick passes.
  • Figure 3 schematically represents one example approach for providing the inner wall 63 of the electronic cigarette 20 represented in Figure 2.
  • the wall comprises a single piece tube with openings 67 in the appropriate places.
  • the openings are provided in this example.
  • the tube may, for example, be formed of a plastics material, a rubber material, e.g., silicone, glass or metal.
  • the wick may be threaded through the openings.
  • the inner wall 63 may comprise a slit on one side from one opening to the other. This slit may then be pulled open during assembly to allow the wick to be slid into place, and then the slit closed when the wick is in place. With this approach it may be appropriate to provide some form of sealing for the slit when the wick is in place (e.g. adhesive tape over the slit).
  • Figures 4A and 4B schematically represent another example approach for providing the inner wall 63 of the electronic cigarette 20 represented in Figure 2.
  • the inner wall comprises two components, namely an upper component 63A and a lower component 63B.
  • Figure 4A schematically represents the upper and lower components when separated prior to assembly
  • Figure 4B schematically represents the upper and lower components when coupled together for use in the electronic cigarette 20.
  • the upper and lower components 63A, 63B are both in the form of a tube with the lower component being sized to provide an interference fit to the inside of the upper component so that they may be assembled as represented in Figure 4B.
  • each component has a pair of slots 69 which cooperate with the corresponding slots on the other component to form the openings 67 when assembled as seen in Figure 4B.
  • the inner wall components 63A, 63B may, for example, be formed of a plastics material, rubber, silicone, glass or metal, for example. During assembly the wick assembly may be simply located at the ends of the slots in one component before coupling to the other component.
  • Figures 5 schematically represents yet another example approach for providing the inner wall 63 of the electronic cigarette 20 represented in Figure 2.
  • the example represented in Figure 5 is based on the same underlying principles as the example represented in Figures 4A and 4B, but differs in terms of the overall shape of the components.
  • the arrangement in Figure 5 may be better suited to a relatively flat electronic cigarette rather than a generally tubular electronic cigarette.
  • the inner wall 63 is again provided by two components, namely an upper component 63A and a lower component 63B.
  • Figure 5 schematically represents the upper and lower components when separated prior to assembly.
  • the upper component 63A comprises a rigid structure, for example formed of a plastics material
  • the lower component 63B comprises a resilient structure, for example formed of silicone.
  • each component in Figure 5 has a pair of slots 69 which cooperate with the corresponding slots in the other component to form openings when assembled.
  • the wick 66 it shown in place in the lower component 63B. During assembly the wick assembly may be simply located at the bottom of the slots in one component, such as shown in Figure 5, before coupling to the other component.
  • the specific manner in which the inner wall 63 and its openings 67 are provided is not of primary significance to the principles described herein, and openings through which the wick extends where it enters the liquid reservoir may be provided differently in different implementations.
  • the wick is assumed to have both ends extending into the liquid reservoir, it will be appreciated the same principles may be applied in respect of a wick having only one end extending into a liquid reservoir, or indeed a wick having multiple arms (e.g. a cross-like form) with more than two ends extending into a liquid reservoir.
  • Figure 6 schematically shows a cross-section of a portion of the electronic cigarette / vapour provision system 20 in the vicinity of its vapour generation chamber 73, i.e. where vapour is generated during use, in accordance with a first example embodiment.
  • the portion of the electronic cigarette 20 represented in Figure 6 corresponds to that part identified by the dashed-box labelled A in Figure 2.
  • this portion of the electronic cigarette 20 comprises sections of the outer wall 65, the inner wall 63, and the liquid reservoir 64, as well as the wick 66 and vaporiser (heating coil) 68.
  • This portion of the electronic cigarette includes the part of the inner wall 63 comprising the openings 67 through which the wick 66 passes so that the ends of the wick extend into the liquid reservoir 64.
  • a liquid absorbing material 100 which expands when it absorbs e-liquid is arranged around the wick 66 where it passes through each of the openings 67 in the wall 63 of the reservoir 64.
  • the liquid absorbing material 100 absorbs some of the with liquid vapour precursor material (e-liquid) and expands, thereby helping form a seal around the wick where it passes through the respective openings 67 in the wall 63 of the liquid reservoir 64.
  • the liquid absorbing material may comprise a material able to absorb any of the liquid compositions used in electronic vapour provision systems, for example, water, propylene glycol or glycerine.
  • the liquid absorbing material may, for example comprising a hydrophilic material and / or hygroscopic material.
  • the liquid absorbing material 100 is provided in the form of a liquid absorbing gel applied as a coating to form a closed ring around the wick 66 in the relevant location before the wick is mounted in position during assembly of the electronic cigarette.
  • the liquid absorbing gel may comprise materials based on polysaccharides, proteins, poly(acrylic) acid, polyacrylate / polyacrylamide, and / or alginates, e.g. the gel may be formed by gel polymerisation of sodium polyacrylate, and in some cases the liquid absorbing layer may be based on materials of the kind used in surgical wound dressings, such as Granuflex (RTM) or Tegasorb (RTM).
  • the liquid absorbing gel may, for example, be applied as a coating around the periphery of the wick with a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the liquid transport element (wick) of between around 0.5 mm and 2 mm, for example around 1 mm.
  • the liquid absorbing material for each opening may, for example, extend along the length of the wick (i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the openings) by between around 1 mm and 5 mm, for example around 2 mm. In some cases, the liquid absorbing material may extend along the length of the wick by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the reservoir wall around the respective openings.
  • the wick has a nominal diameter of 2 mm and reservoir wall around each of the openings 67 has a thickness of around 1 mm. It is further assumed the liquid absorbing gel 100 is applied to the wick as a coating having a thickness (prior to assembly in the electronic cigarette) of around 0.5 mm and extending along the wick for a distance of around 2 mm centred on the middle of each of the respective openings.
  • the openings themselves may, for example, have a diameter that is nominally a little larger than the nominal diameter of the wick, for example, around 2.2 mm.
  • the wick and liquid absorbing material are assembled into the electronic cigarette with the relevant parts of the wick located in the respective openings, some of the liquid absorbing material is squeezed away from the openings (because in this example the openings are smaller than the combined size of the wick and liquid absorbing material).
  • the specific sizes may vary for different implementations.
  • the openings 67 in the inner wall 63 represented in Figure 6 may be provided in accordance with any of the example approaches represented in Figures 3 to 5, or indeed in accordance with any known approaches for providing a corresponding structural part in other electronic cigarette implementations. More generally, apart from the modifications associated with the introduction of the liquid absorbing material, the electronic cigarette 20 may be otherwise conventional, both in terms of its structural configuration and functional operation.
  • Figure 7 schematically represents the wick 66 and liquid absorbing material 100 prior to assembly Into the electronic cigarette.
  • the liquid absorbing material is applied as a coating to the wick to form a closed ring around the wick at the locations on the wick where it will pass through the openings in the reservoir wall when the electronic cigarette is assembled.
  • the liquid absorbing material may be provided differently.
  • the liquid absorbing material 100 instead of applying the liquid absorbing material 100 as a coating to the wick prior to locating the wick in place, the liquid absorbing material may instead be applied as a coating to the inner surface of the openings 67 prior to locating the wick in place, for example as schematically represented in Figure 8.
  • vapour provision systems While the above-described embodiments have in some respects focussed on some specific example vapour provision systems, it will be appreciated the same principles can be applied for vapour provision systems using other technologies. That is to say, the specific manner in which various aspects of the vapour provision system function are not directly relevant to the principles underlying the examples described herein.
  • vaporiser comprising a resistance heater coil
  • the vaporiser may comprise other forms of heater, for example a planar heater, in contact with a liquid transport element.
  • a heater- based vaporised might be inductively heated.
  • the principles described above may be adopted in devices which do not use heating to generate vapour, but use other vaporisation technologies, for example piezoelectric excitement.
  • the aerosol provision system comprises a two-part device
  • the same principles may be applied in respect of other forms of aerosol provision system which do not rely on replaceable cartridges, for example refillable or one-time use devices.
  • vapour provision system comprising: a reservoir containing liquid for vaporisation; a vaporiser; a liquid transport element arranged to transport liquid from the reservoir to the vaporiser for vaporisation to generate a vapour for user inhalation, wherein the liquid transport element extends into the reservoir through an opening in the wall of the reservoir; and a liquid absorbing material arranged around the liquid transport element where it passes through the opening in the wall of the reservoir, wherein the liquid absorbing material comprises a material that expands when it absorbs liquid.
  • the vapour provision system may, for example, be manufactured / assembled by: providing a liquid transport element, a liquid absorbing material, and a reservoir for containing liquid for vaporisation; arranging the liquid transport element and liquid absorbing material so the liquid transport element extends into the reservoir through an opening in a wall of the reservoir and wherein the liquid absorbing material is arranged around the liquid transport element where the liquid transport element passes through the opening in the wall of the reservoir; and providing liquid in the reservoir so that a portion of the liquid is absorbed by the liquid absorbing material around the liquid transport element to cause the liquid absorbing material to expand.
  • the vapour provision system may be used in a tobacco industry product, for example a non combustible aerosol provision system.
  • the tobacco industry product comprises one or more components of a non-combustible aerosol provision system, such as a heater and an aerosolizable substrate.
  • a non-combustible aerosol provision system such as a heater and an aerosolizable substrate.
  • the aerosol provision system is an electronic cigarette also known as a vaping device.
  • the electronic cigarette comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a liquid or gel, a housing and optionally a mouthpiece.
  • the aerosolizable substrate is contained in a substrate container.
  • the substrate container is combined with or comprises the heater.
  • the tobacco industry product is a heating product which releases one or more compounds by heating, but not burning, a substrate material.
  • the substrate material is an aerosolizable material which may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the heating device product is a tobacco heating product.
  • the heating product is an electronic device.
  • the tobacco heating product comprises a heater, a power supply capable of supplying power to the heater, an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material.
  • the heating product is a non-electronic article.
  • the heating product comprises an aerosolizable substrate such as a solid or gel material. and a heat source which is capable of supplying heat energy to the aerosolizable substrate without any electronic means, such as by burning a combustion material, such as charcoal.
  • the heating product also comprises a filter capable of filtering the aerosol generated by heating the aerosolizable substrate.
  • the aerosolizable substrate material may comprise a vapour or aerosol generating agent or a humectant, such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin or diethylene glycol.
  • a vapour or aerosol generating agent such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin or diethylene glycol.
  • the tobacco industry product is a hybrid system to generate aerosol by heating, but not burning, a combination of substrate materials.
  • the substrate materials may comprise for example solid, liquid or gel which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and a solid substrate.
  • the solid substrate may be for example tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.
  • the hybrid system comprises a liquid or gel substrate and tobacco.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un système de fourniture de vapeur qui comprend un réservoir contenant un liquide pour vaporisation ; un vaporisateur ; un élément de transport de liquide agencé pour transporter un liquide du réservoir vers le vaporisateur pour vaporisation, l'élément de transport de liquide s'étendant dans le réservoir par l'intermédiaire d'une ouverture dans une paroi du réservoir ; et un matériau absorbant les liquides agencé autour de l'élément de transport de liquide traversant l'ouverture dans la paroi du réservoir, le matériau absorbant les liquides comprenant un matériau qui se dilate quand il absorbe un liquide.
PCT/GB2019/050733 2018-04-04 2019-03-15 Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur WO2019193311A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1805507.9 2018-04-04
GBGB1805507.9A GB201805507D0 (en) 2018-04-04 2018-04-04 Vapour provision systems

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2019193311A1 true WO2019193311A1 (fr) 2019-10-10

Family

ID=62142324

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2019/050733 WO2019193311A1 (fr) 2018-04-04 2019-03-15 Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB201805507D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2019193311A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2021112769A1 (fr) * 2019-12-06 2021-06-10 Ysq International Pte Ltd Dispositif de vapotage amélioré
WO2021146251A1 (fr) * 2020-01-14 2021-07-22 Juul Labs, Inc. Mèche fibre-gel hybride destinée à être utilisée dans un dispositif vaporisateur
WO2023002150A1 (fr) * 2021-07-19 2023-01-26 Nicoventures Trading Limited Système de fourniture d'aérosol
WO2023002149A1 (fr) * 2021-07-19 2023-01-26 Nicoventures Trading Limited Système de fourniture d'aérosol
EP4197365A1 (fr) * 2021-12-16 2023-06-21 Imperial Tobacco Limited Système de génération de vapeur
EP4197360A1 (fr) * 2021-12-16 2023-06-21 Imperial Tobacco Limited Système de génération de vapeur

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050191481A1 (en) * 2000-10-09 2005-09-01 He Mengtao P. Porous wick for liquid vaporizers
US20140123989A1 (en) * 2012-11-05 2014-05-08 The Safe Cig, Llc Device and method for vaporizing a fluid
WO2017001818A1 (fr) * 2015-06-29 2017-01-05 Nicoventures Holdings Limited Systèmes de provision d'aérosol électronique
US20170367403A1 (en) * 2016-06-24 2017-12-28 Altria Client Servcies LLC E-vaping device cartridge with superabsorbent polymer
EP3420829A1 (fr) * 2017-06-30 2019-01-02 Avail Vapor, LLC Mèches de micro-vaporisateur composite

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050191481A1 (en) * 2000-10-09 2005-09-01 He Mengtao P. Porous wick for liquid vaporizers
US20140123989A1 (en) * 2012-11-05 2014-05-08 The Safe Cig, Llc Device and method for vaporizing a fluid
WO2017001818A1 (fr) * 2015-06-29 2017-01-05 Nicoventures Holdings Limited Systèmes de provision d'aérosol électronique
US20170367403A1 (en) * 2016-06-24 2017-12-28 Altria Client Servcies LLC E-vaping device cartridge with superabsorbent polymer
EP3420829A1 (fr) * 2017-06-30 2019-01-02 Avail Vapor, LLC Mèches de micro-vaporisateur composite

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2021112769A1 (fr) * 2019-12-06 2021-06-10 Ysq International Pte Ltd Dispositif de vapotage amélioré
WO2021146251A1 (fr) * 2020-01-14 2021-07-22 Juul Labs, Inc. Mèche fibre-gel hybride destinée à être utilisée dans un dispositif vaporisateur
WO2023002150A1 (fr) * 2021-07-19 2023-01-26 Nicoventures Trading Limited Système de fourniture d'aérosol
WO2023002149A1 (fr) * 2021-07-19 2023-01-26 Nicoventures Trading Limited Système de fourniture d'aérosol
EP4197365A1 (fr) * 2021-12-16 2023-06-21 Imperial Tobacco Limited Système de génération de vapeur
EP4197360A1 (fr) * 2021-12-16 2023-06-21 Imperial Tobacco Limited Système de génération de vapeur
WO2023111258A1 (fr) * 2021-12-16 2023-06-22 Imperial Tobacco Limited Système de génération de vapeur
WO2023111260A1 (fr) * 2021-12-16 2023-06-22 Imperial Tobacco Limited Système de génération de vapeur

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201805507D0 (en) 2018-05-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP3678502B1 (fr) Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur
WO2019193311A1 (fr) Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur
CA3095711C (fr) Systemes d'approvisionnement en vapeur, elements de transport de liquide et pulverisateurs pour les systemes d'approvisionnement en vapeur, et methodes d'assemblage
EP3413731B1 (fr) Générateur d'aérosol à polarisation haute fréquence
US11957169B2 (en) Vapor provision apparatus and systems
KR20160119773A (ko) 장치가 카트리지와의 전기 접촉을 보장하는 장치 및 카트리지를 포함하는 에어로졸 발생 시스템
CA3119008C (fr) Systemes de fourniture de vapeur
CA3082062A1 (fr) Systemes de fourniture de vapeur
US20230354910A1 (en) Aerosol provision system
WO2019145684A1 (fr) Systèmes de fourniture de vapeur
KR20170110569A (ko) 손에 드는 에어로졸 발생 장치 및 이러한 장치와 함께 사용하기 위한 카트리지

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 19713160

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

DPE1 Request for preliminary examination filed after expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed from 20040101)
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 19713160

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1