WO2022167486A1 - An aerosol-generating device comprising a filter - Google Patents
An aerosol-generating device comprising a filter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2022167486A1 WO2022167486A1 PCT/EP2022/052487 EP2022052487W WO2022167486A1 WO 2022167486 A1 WO2022167486 A1 WO 2022167486A1 EP 2022052487 W EP2022052487 W EP 2022052487W WO 2022167486 A1 WO2022167486 A1 WO 2022167486A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- aerosol
- filter
- generating device
- generation unit
- vapor generation
- Prior art date
Links
- 239000000443 aerosol Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 92
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 58
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 10
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000006698 induction Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 17
- DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Propylene glycol Chemical compound CC(O)CO DNIAPMSPPWPWGF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 10
- PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N Glycerine Chemical compound OCC(O)CO PEDCQBHIVMGVHV-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 7
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 7
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000011187 glycerol Nutrition 0.000 description 3
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012387 aerosolization Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000003571 electronic cigarette Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000008263 liquid aerosol Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011045 prefiltration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004020 conductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003467 diminishing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010304 firing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004065 semiconductor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- 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
- A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
- A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating
-
- 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
- A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
-
- 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
-
- 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
- A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
-
- 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
- A24F40/05—Devices without heating means
-
- 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
- A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
-
- 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
- A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
- A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures
Definitions
- An aerosol-generating device comprising a filter
- the present invention relates to an aerosol-generating device.
- An aerosol-generating device allows aerosolization of an aerosol forming material.
- An aerosol-generating device can also be referred to as an electronic cigarette or vapor generation device.
- An aerosol-generating device generally comprises a battery-powered vapor generation unit which produces the aerosol that is inhaled.
- vapor generation unit have been designed in prior art, among which microfluidic devices or more generally units comprising a micro-electro-mechanical- system (MEMS).
- MEMS micro-electro-mechanical- system
- Document US2020008473 discloses for instance an electronic cigarette comprising a MEMS.
- the vapor generation units comprising a MEMS present many advantages, in particular in size and power consumption.
- aerosolgenerating devices comprising such a vapor generation unit do not usually produce warm aerosol as the aerosol forming material does not undergo phase changes before vaporization. Therefore, the produced aerosol is at ambient temperature or as low as 1 ° Celsius above the ambient temperature. This is because a small amount of the aerosol forming material goes through a phase change during aerosol generation and gets heated to boiling point. Inhaling a cold aerosol could be odd for the consumer who generally enjoys inhaling warm aerosol.
- the present invention aims at improving the user experience by providing an aerosol-generating device comprising a vapor generation unit comprising a MEMS and capable of producing warm aerosol without increasing the size of the aerosol-generating device and in a cost-efficient way.
- the present invention thus relates to an aerosol-generating device comprising a vapor generation unit, at least one reservoir configured to store an aerosol forming material, and a filter disposed so as to remove particles from said aerosol forming material passing from said at least one reservoir to the vapor generation unit, the vapor generation unit comprising a micro electro-mechanical system (MEMS).
- MEMS micro electro-mechanical system
- the filter is configured to heat the aerosol forming material passing through it.
- the filter is configured to heat the aerosol forming material passing through it without the use of a separate heater.
- the filter can comprise a portion configured to heat the aerosol forming material passing through it.
- the entire filter can be configured to heat the aerosol forming material passing through it.
- said portion or the entire filter can be configured to be resistively heated. Said otherwise, said portion or the entire filter can be made of a conductor able to produce heat by Joule heating.
- the filter is located adjacent to said at least one MEMS die.
- the filter is located below the vapor generation unit in a longitudinal direction of the aerosol-generating device when the aerosol-generating device is in a use position.
- the filter is located below said at least one MEMS die.
- the filter comprises a mesh, preferably made of stainless-steel material.
- the filter comprises at least one wire configured to heat all or part of the rest of the filter by conduction when power is applied to said at least one wire.
- said at least one wire is in contact with at least 30% of a lateral surface of the mesh, preferably at least 50%, and more preferably 60% of a lateral surface of the mesh.
- said at least one wire is a resistance wire adapted to convert electrical energy into heat when power is applied to it.
- the aerosol-generating device comprises an induction coil configured to inductively heat said at least one wire.
- the aerosol-generating device comprises a battery configured to directly heat the filter.
- the filter is heated so as to bring the aerosol forming material to a temperature ranging between 50°C to 100°C.
- FIG. 1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosolgenerating device according to an embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 3a represents, in a schematic three-dimensional view, an example vapor generation unit that can be used in the invention.
- Figure 1 represents schematically part of an aerosol-generating device 1 according to one embodiment of the invention.
- the cartridge 3 further comprises at least one reservoir 33.
- the reservoir is arranged to store an aerosol forming material 34 also named aerosolizable material 34.
- the cartridge 3 comprises two reservoirs 33.
- the reservoir 33 can be, by way of example, a one-piece plastic part, for example obtained by injection molding.
- the cartridge 3 also comprises an aerosol flow path 35 extending from the body 2 and arranged to fluidically communicate with the mouthpiece 31 to allow the generated aerosol to flow from the body 2 to the mouthpiece 31.
- the aerosol flow path extends here between the two reservoirs 33.
- the aerosol flow path 35 which may also be referred to as an airflow channel, is a channel through which air flows substantially in a direction A (represented on the figure) towards the mouthpiece 31 when a consumer draws upon the mouthpiece 31.
- the airflow channel is arranged to transport generated aerosol to the mouthpiece through which the aerosol is inhaled by a consumer.
- the aerosol flow path 35 is a central tube that is mainly formed by the reservoir 33.
- the aerosol flow is represented by arrows.
- the cartridge 3 can be entirely or partly removable and replaceable.
- the body 2 comprises a power supply unit or battery, other functional electrical components and connecting elements configured to connect with the cartridge 3. These components and elements are not represented on the figure.
- the body 2 also comprises a vapor generation unit 20 arranged to aerosolize the material received from the reservoir and generate an aerosol.
- the vapor generation unit 20 comprises a micro-electro-mechanical- systems (MEMS).
- MEMS micro-electro-mechanical- systems
- the vapor generation unit 20 is integrated to a printed circuit board (not shown on the figure) of the aerosol-generating device.
- the MEMS comprises at least one microfluidic structure, called a MEMS die.
- MEMS dies comprise a series of small chambers, each containing a heater therein.
- MEMS The most significant advantage of MEMS is their ability to communicate easily with electrical elements in semiconductor chips. Other advantages include small size, compact structure, lower power consumption, lower cost, increased reliability and higher precision, and high heat transfer efficiency.
- the MEMS vapor generation unit 20 has a first surface 21 that faces toward the aerosol flow path 35 of the aerosol-generating device. In other words, the aerosol flow path extends from the MEMS vapor generation unit 20 towards the mouthpiece 31.
- the aerosol-generating device 1 may comprise more than one vapor generation unit 20.
- Use of a plurality of vapor generation units can help producing a sufficient quantity of aerosol and/or to provide a large aerosol production surface to obtain a homogeneous aerosol.
- the aerosolization doesn’t involve a phase change from the aerosol forming material to gas. It generally creates an aerosol using thermal firing chambers.
- the working principle is similar for example to that of the thermal inkjet functioning.
- the aerosol forming material droplets are ejected from at least one MEMS die by applying a pulse of pressure to the material supplied in the chambers of the MEMS die.
- thermal inkjet principle can be applied as follows.
- the aerosol forming material is heated by the heater of the at least one MEMS die until it starts to boil and a gas bubble is created.
- the gas bubble is comprised of a phase change of the aerosol forming material, usually liquid, and potentially air trapped in the liquid.
- the amount of the aerosol forming material being boiled is about 1 % of the total amount. In other words, around 1 % of the aerosol forming material is superheated to form a gas bubble.
- This 1% consists of the amount of aerosol forming material that is the closest to the heater. Gas being much more voluminous than liquid, it provides the force to push out from the vapour generation unit. This allows approximately 80-90% of the aerosol forming material above the gas bubble to be ejected.
- the body 2 further comprises a filter 22 connected on the one side to the at least one reservoir 33 and on the other side to the vapor generation unit 20.
- the filter 22 is fluidically connected to the two reservoirs 33 by liquid channels 23.
- the aerosol-generating device 1 comprises here two liquid channels 23.
- the filter 22 is configured to remove particles from the aerosol forming material 34 passing from the reservoirs to the vapor generation unit.
- the filter 22 comprises a body.
- the body is for example a mesh.
- the mesh is preferably made of a stainless-steel material.
- the mesh can be a dutch twill weave.
- the mesh count can be for example of 400 x 2800, and the mesh thickness of 0,067 mm.
- the mesh has a low porosity.
- the porosity of the mesh is lower than 50%, for example equal to 34%. Such a low porosity provides a high surface area to volume ratio to the filter 22.
- the aerosol-generating device 1 is configured to heat the filter 22.
- the filter 22 comprises at least one wire (not shown on the figures) adapted to heat the filter 22.
- the filter 22 comprises a plurality of wires.
- the wires can form part of the body of the filter 22.
- the wires can cover at least partially the body of the filter.
- the wires are in direct contact with the body of the filter 22.
- the wires are thus adapted to heat the body of the filter 22 by conduction.
- the wires cover or form a sufficient amount of surface of the body of the filter to enable a good heat of the filter.
- the wires are in contact with or form at least 30% of a surface of the body of the filter, preferably at least 50%, and more preferably 60%.
- the wires are embedded within the body of the filter 22.
- the wires can be in such a case in contact with an internal surface of the filter 22.
- the wires can consist of many thin wire strands, individually insulated.
- the wires can be twisted or woven together.
- the wires of the filter 22 extend through the stainless-steel mesh.
- the filter 22 can be directly integrated to the printed circuit board with the vapor generation unit 20.
- Figure 2 represents an aerosol-generating device according to a second example embodiment of the invention.
- the device of Figure 2 is normally covered with a casing omitted here to show the inner parts of the aerosol-generating device.
- the aerosol-generating device has an elongated shape.
- the mouthpiece 31 is located at one extremity of the aerosol-generating device.
- the at least one reservoir 33 is located under the vapor generation unit 20 when the aerosol generating device is in the use position.
- the aerosol-generating device also comprises two reservoirs 33 formed.
- the reservoirs 33 comprise two distinct hollow tubes.
- Figure 2 shows a battery 4 and a main printed circuit board 5 (PCB).
- the battery 4 is fastened to the main printed circuit board 5 of the aerosol-generating device.
- the main printed circuit board 5 constitutes the main support structure for the various elements of the aerosol-generating device.
- Each MEMS die 200 has an upper surface 202.
- the two upper surfaces 202 are coplanar and thus form the upper surface of the vapor generation unit 20.
- the vapor generation unit 20 comprises two inlet ports 203.
- Each inlet port 203 is configured to be fluidically connected to an inner volume of the reservoir 33 of the aerosolgenerating device.
- the aerosol forming material 34 is drawn from the reservoirs into the filter 22.
- the aerosol forming material 34 then travels into and through the vapor generation unit 20 for instance by capillary action.
- the filter 22 is heated.
- the wires of the filter 22 are configured to heat all or part of the rest of the filter 22 by conduction when power is applied to the wires.
- the filter 22 heats the aerosol forming material 34 passing through it.
- the aerosol generated by the vapor generation unit 20 enters the airflow channel 35 of the aerosol-generating device and travels to the mouthpiece 31.
- Two aerosol flow paths 35 are arranged here to fluidly communicate with the mouthpiece of the aerosol-generating device. Each aerosol flow path 35 allows thus the generated aerosol to flow from a MEMS die 200 of the vapor generation unit 20 to the mouthpiece. n other words, the aerosol flow paths 35 connect air inlets (not shown) within the aerosol-generating device to the mouthpiece for the passage of air through the aerosol-generating device.
- the filter 22 can be dimensioned depending on the size of the nozzles 36.
- the filter 22 is dimensioned to remove particles that are bigger than the nozzles 36.
- the filter 22 is sized to eliminate particles that are 100% of the nozzle diameter or larger.
- the filter 22 is sized to remove particles that are around 50% diameter of the nozzle 36.
- the filter 22 is preferably a 1 .5 pm filter.
- the filter 22 also needs to have a large enough flow area to minimize pressure drop.
- the calculations for pressure drop are performed at the end of life, i.e. when the total volume of aerosol forming material for the device has pass through the filter.
- a pre-filter can be added that can filter particles of higher dimensions. For example, for a 1 pm or 2 pm filter, a pre-filter can be added that can filter particles in a 6 to 10 pm range. This will extend the life of the small filter while allowing for an overall smaller filter to be used.
- the present invention thus provides a compact and inexpensive aerosol- generating device comprising a vapor generation unit benefiting therefore from the advantages provided by the MEMS technology while enabling the consumer to inhale a warm aerosol.
Landscapes
- Nozzles (AREA)
- Respiratory Apparatuses And Protective Means (AREA)
- Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA3207340A CA3207340A1 (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2022-02-02 | An aerosol-generating device comprising a filter |
EP22704345.2A EP4287860A1 (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2022-02-02 | An aerosol-generating device comprising a filter |
US18/275,644 US20240099382A1 (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2022-02-02 | An Aerosol-Generating Device Comprising a Filter |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP21155261.7 | 2021-02-04 | ||
EP21155261 | 2021-02-04 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2022167486A1 true WO2022167486A1 (en) | 2022-08-11 |
Family
ID=74553689
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2022/052487 WO2022167486A1 (en) | 2021-02-04 | 2022-02-02 | An aerosol-generating device comprising a filter |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20240099382A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP4287860A1 (en) |
CA (1) | CA3207340A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2022167486A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160338407A1 (en) * | 2015-05-18 | 2016-11-24 | Andrew Kerdemelidis | Programmable vaporizer device and method |
WO2019219457A1 (en) * | 2018-05-16 | 2019-11-21 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Atomiser assembly with oscillation chamber |
US20200008473A1 (en) | 2018-07-09 | 2020-01-09 | Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh | Vaporiser head for an inhaler, in particular for an electronic cigarette product |
US20200205478A1 (en) * | 2016-03-08 | 2020-07-02 | Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh | Electronic cigarette product and cartridge for an electronic cigarette product |
-
2022
- 2022-02-02 WO PCT/EP2022/052487 patent/WO2022167486A1/en active Application Filing
- 2022-02-02 CA CA3207340A patent/CA3207340A1/en active Pending
- 2022-02-02 US US18/275,644 patent/US20240099382A1/en active Pending
- 2022-02-02 EP EP22704345.2A patent/EP4287860A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160338407A1 (en) * | 2015-05-18 | 2016-11-24 | Andrew Kerdemelidis | Programmable vaporizer device and method |
US20200205478A1 (en) * | 2016-03-08 | 2020-07-02 | Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh | Electronic cigarette product and cartridge for an electronic cigarette product |
WO2019219457A1 (en) * | 2018-05-16 | 2019-11-21 | Philip Morris Products S.A. | Atomiser assembly with oscillation chamber |
US20200008473A1 (en) | 2018-07-09 | 2020-01-09 | Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh | Vaporiser head for an inhaler, in particular for an electronic cigarette product |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20240099382A1 (en) | 2024-03-28 |
EP4287860A1 (en) | 2023-12-13 |
CA3207340A1 (en) | 2022-08-11 |
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