WO2022175201A1

WO2022175201A1 - Replaceable cartridge for aerosol-generating device with slidable sealing element

Info

Publication number: WO2022175201A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/053506
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rui Nuno BATISTA; Valerio OLIANA; Alexandra SEREDA; Gianluca BONGIOVANNI; Bekele BEDASSO
Original assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
Priority date: 2021-02-18
Filing date: 2022-02-14
Publication date: 2022-08-25
Also published as: US20240114959A1; EP4294219A1; JP2024506719A; KR20230131887A; CN116801749A

Abstract

The invention relates to a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device comprising: a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent, the liquid storage portion comprising a liquid outlet for directing the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion, a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet, the slidable sealing element being configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of a pressure to the sealing element, and a wicking element arranged adjacent to the liquid outlet for absorbing and supplying the liquid agent.

Description

REPLACEABLE CARTRIDGE FOR AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE WITH SLIDABLE

SEALING ELEMENT

The present invention relates to a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device or an aerosol-generating article. The present invention further relates to an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating system for generating an aerosol including the cartridge, an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device. The present invention further relates to a method of operating the aerosol-generating system for forming an aerosol.

Aerosol-generating devices are known which heat but which do not burn aerosol forming substrates in aerosol-generating articles such as tobacco. Such devices heat the aerosol-forming substrates to a sufficiently high temperature for generating an aerosol for inhalation by the user. These aerosol-generating devices normally include a cavity for receiving the aerosol-forming substrates. These devices are typically portable, hand-held devices and are generally compact. Other aerosol-generating devices are known, which generate an aerosol from a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Connecting and detaching, or changing cartridges containing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the aerosol generating devices often leads to spills or leakage from the cartridges or from the aerosol generating devices.

It would be desirable to provide a replaceable liquid-containing cartridge which can easily be connected and detached from an aerosol-generating device without the risk of leakage. It furthermore would be desirable to provide an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating system which provide a user with the possibility to use different aerosol forming substrates depending on their preference without risking leakage of fluid as different cartridges are attached, detached or exchanged.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided a replaceable cartridge configured for being detachably connected to an aerosol-generating device.

The cartridge may comprise a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent. The liquid storage portion may comprise a liquid outlet for directing liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion. The cartridge may comprise a wicking element for supplying liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the liquid outlet. The cartridge may comprise a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet. Sealing means that the liquid contained in the liquid storage portion is sufficiently prevented from leaving the liquid storage portion so that drops of liquid are not produced in and around the liquid outlet of the cartridge. Sealing means that liquid is prevented from collecting at the connection point between the cartridge and the device. The slidable sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of a pressure to the sealing element. When not engaged with either the aerosol-generating device or an aerosol-generating article, the slidable sealing element seals the liquid outlet. When the cartridge is engaged with either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the slidable sealing element slides away from the liquid outlet to allow liquid agent to flow through the liquid outlet to reach a porous material, located in the aerosol-generating article. The slidable sealing element may slide to re-seal the liquid outlet when the cartridge is removed from either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article. Because the slidable sealing element seals the liquid outlet when the cartridge is not engaged with either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element reduces the risk of leakage when a cartridge is not engaged with the aerosol-generating device.

In addition, the cartridge may comprise a wicking element. The wicking element is in contact with the liquid agent. The wicking element may be arranged near the liquid outlet for absorbing liquid agent and supplying the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be arranged adjacent to the liquid outlet for absorbing and supplying the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be arranged proximal to the liquid outlet for absorbing and supplying the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be arranged in the liquid outlet for absorbing and supplying the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be between the liquid agent contained in the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet. The the wicking element may be located between the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet. The wicking element may provide a controlled supply of liquid agent to the liquid outlet.

According to another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a replaceable cartridge configured to be detachably connected to an aerosol-generating device. The cartridge comprises a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent. The liquid storage portion comprises a liquid outlet for directing the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion. The cartridge comprises a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet. The slidable sealing element is configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of a pressure to the sealing element. The cartridge also comprises a wicking element. The wicking element is arranged adjacent to the liquid outlet for absorbing and supplying the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may contact the liquid agent. The wicking element is arranged to contact the liquid agent and deliver the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may channel liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may absorb liquid agent from the liquid storage portion reaching the liquid outlet. This may reduce the pressure of the liquid agent against the sealing element. The wicking element may prevent leakage liquid agent out of the cartridge through the liquid outlet. The combination of the wicking element and the sealing element may provide improved sealing of the cartridge, and reduce leakage from the cartridge. The cartridge may comprise a sealed container for containing a liquid agent.

There may be different possibilities to apply pressure to the slidable sealing element so that the slidable sealing elements slides away from the liquid outlet. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an aerosol-generating device may be provided, which includes a heating element. The heating element may comprise a compartment wall with a first part and a second part of the compartment wall, wherein the second part of the compartment wall is configured to engage with the slidable sealing element in order to push it away from the liquid outlet. Aerosol-generating devices including such a compartment wall will be described in greater detail below.

According to another embodiment of the invention, pressure can be applied to the slidable sealing element by a porous portion of an aerosol-generating article as explained in greater detail below. Preferably, the aerosol-generating device comprising the compartment wall is employed with the replaceable cartridge of the present invention.

When the cartridge is engaged with an aerosol-generating device, the slidable sealing element may engage with a part of the aerosol-generating device. As the user presses the cartridge into place in the aerosol-generating device, the part of the aerosol-generating device may slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet. Engaging the cartridge into position in the aerosol-generating device may slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, allowing liquid to enter the liquid outlet.

When the cartridge is engaged with either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the slidable sealing element may engage with a part of either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article. As the user presses the cartridge into place, and the aerosol-generating device contains an aerosol-generating article, a part of either the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device may slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet. Engaging the cartridge into position may allow a part of either the aerosol-generating article or the aerosol-generating device to engage with the slidable sealing element to slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, allowing liquid to enter the liquid outlet.

The part of the aerosol-generating device engaging with the slidable sealing element may be a part of the heating element of the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol generating device may comprise a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The part of the heating element of the aerosol generating device engaging with the slidable sealing element may be a part of a compartment wall of the heating element, in particular it may be a part of the compartment wall of the heating element extending outside the cavity of the aerosol-generating device. The part of the compartment wall of the heating element extending outside the cavity of the aerosol-generating device may be located downstream of the cavity for receiving the aerosol generating article. The aerosol-generating device comprising such a compartment wall will be described in greater detail below.

The part of the aerosol-generating article engaging with the slidable sealing element may be a porous portion of the aerosol-generating article. The porous portion of the aerosol generating article may be a filter portion. The filter portion of the aerosol-generating article may be located downstream of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article, the substrate portion comprising aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating article comprising the porous portion and the substrate portion will be described in greater detail below.

The slidable sealing element may be of any suitable shape. For example, the slidable sealing element may be a flap. The slidable sealing element may be a ring. The slidable sealing element may be a door. The slidable sealing element may be flat. The slidable sealing element may be shaped so that it is complementary to structures in the aerosol generating device or the aerosol-generating article to assist with the movement of the slidable sealing element from a closed position to an open position, or from an open position to a closed position.

When the cartridge is not engaged with the part of either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the slidable sealing element may seal the liquid outlet. The slidable sealing element may abut or close or seal the liquid outlet thereby sealing the liquid outlet and preventing the release of liquid agent from the cartridge. The sealing element may cover the liquid outlet thereby preventing the release of liquid agent from the cartridge.

The slidable sealing element may be slidable between a first position and a second position. In the first position the slidable sealing element may seal the liquid outlet to prevent the transfer of liquid agent out of the cartridge. In the first position of the slidable sealing element a liquid channel leading from the liquid storage portion via the wicking element and through the liquid outlet for release of the liquid agent may be closed. In a sealed position of the slidable sealing element, a liquid channel leading from the liquid storage portion via the wicking element and through the liquid outlet for release of the liquid agent may be closed. In a second position, the slidable sealing element may be offset from the liquid outlet. This may allow the liquid agent to be released through the liquid outlet. In the second position of the slidable sealing element, the liquid channel may be open and may allow the release of the liquid agent out of the cartridge. In an open position of the slidable sealing element, a liquid channel leading from the liquid storage portion via the wicking element and through the liquid outlet for release of the liquid agent may be open. When being detached from either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article, the slidable sealing element of the cartridge may slide over the liquid outlet to the first position in order to seal the liquid outlet. This may prevent leakage or spill over of the liquid agent present in the cartridge when detaching the cartridge from either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article.

The invention also provides an aerosol-generating system. The aerosol-generating system may comprise a replaceable cartridge as described herein and one or both of an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device may include a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article. The slidable sealing element of the cartridge may be configured to slide away when being pushed by one or both of the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article. The slidable sealing element may slide away upon engagement with a part of either the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article. The slidable sealing element may slide away upon engagement with a part of the aerosol-generating article. In particular, the slidable sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet from the first position to the second position, when being pushed by a porous portion of the aerosol-generating article upon connecting the cartridge to the aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating article which is received in the cavity of the device. Or, the slidable sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet from the first position to the second position, when being pushed by a part of the aerosol-generating device.

In the following an aerosol-generating device, which is configured to being detachably connected with the slidable sealing element of the cartridge is explained in greater detail. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a cavity for receiving an aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element being configured to heat the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity. The heating element may comprise a compartment wall. A first part of the compartment wall may be located in the cavity and a second part of the compartment wall may extend outside the cavity.

The first part of the compartment wall located in the cavity may directly be heated by the heating element. The first part of the compartment wall may be configured for receiving the aerosol-generating article inside the cavity.

This may heat the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity when heating the first part of the compartment wall. In contrast to that, the second part of the compartment wall which may extend outside the cavity may not be directly heated by the heating element. The second part of the compartment wall may be configured to be indirectly heated by the heating element. The aerosol-generating device therefore may provide two different heating zones. A first heating zone confined by the first part of the compartment wall, which is heated directly by the heating element and a second heating zone confined by the second part of the compartment wall which is outside the cavity and which therefore is not directly heated by the heating element. Heat may be transferred from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall outside the cavity via heat conduction through the material of the compartment wall.

The second part of the compartment wall may be configured to interact with the cartridge containing the liquid agent. The second part of the compartment wall may be configured for being detachably connected to the cartridge comprising the liquid agent. The second part of the compartment wall of the heater of the aerosol-generating device may push away the slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet, thereby enabling the release of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the second part of the compartment wall. The second part of the compartment wall may be adjacent to the liquid outlet when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol-generating device. The second part of the compartment wall may abut the liquid outlet when the second part of the compartment wall is received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. This may ease the transport of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and the liquid outlet to the second part of the compartment wall.

The aerosol-generating device may be configured to be employed with an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate for forming an aerosol and with the cartridge containing a liquid agent. The liquid agent also may form part of the aerosol. The aerosol-generating device thus may be configured to generate an aerosol from different substrates, an aerosol-generating article and a liquid agent. Owing to the second part of the compartment wall, the cartridge may be detachably connected to the aerosol-generating device. This may allow the replacement of the cartridge, allowing the use of different cartridges with different liquid agents to be used with the aerosol-generating device.

The second part of the compartment wall of the aerosol-generating device may extend downstream of the cavity. This may ensure, that the second part of the compartment wall is heated indirectly via heat convection resulting from the heated aerosol generated in the first part of the compartment wall. The first part of the compartment wall therefore would be located upstream of the second part of the compartment wall. Locating the second part of the compartment wall downstream of the cavity also may facilitate that any agents, in particular liquid agents provided in the second part of the compartment wall can be entrained in an aerosol formed from the aerosol-generating article in the first part of the compartment wall.

As used herein, the terms “upstream”, and “downstream”, are used to describe the relative positions of components, or portions of components, of the cartridge, of an aerosol generating article or of an aerosol-generating device in relation to the direction in which air flows through the aerosol-generating device, through the aerosol-generating article, or through the cartridge during use thereof along the air flow path. Aerosol generating devices according to the invention comprise a proximal end through which, in use, an aerosol exits the device. The proximal end of the aerosol generating device may also be referred to as the mouth end or the downstream end. The mouth end is downstream of the distal end. The mouth end may comprise a mouthpiece. The distal end of the aerosol generating device may also be referred to as the upstream end. Components, or portions of components, of the aerosol generating device or of the cartridge or the article may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on their relative positions with respect to the airflow path through the aerosol generating device.

The compartment wall may comprise a tubular shape. The compartment wall may be tubular-shaped. This may ensure that any aerosol-generating article, in particular any tubular-shaped article can easily be received within the compartment wall. The compartment wall also may facilitate the conduction of heat from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall.

The heating element of the aerosol-generating device may be configured to indirectly heat the second part of the compartment wall via one or both of heat conduction and heat convection. This may enable to heat the second part of the compartment wall in a reliable way. The first part of the compartment wall located in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device may be heated directly by the heating element. Thus, one heating element may allow the provision of two different heating zones in the aerosol-generating device due to the first and the second part of the compartment wall.

The second part of the compartment wall may comprise one or both of holes and at least one porous section. This may enable the second part of the compartment wall to accommodate a liquid agent from the cartridge. The porous section in the sidewall may be configured to store any liquid agent. The porous section of the second part of the compartment wall may comprise a metal foam. The second part of the compartment wall may comprise holes, which can be generated in the second part of the compartment wall by any suitable means. For example, the holes in the second part of the compartment wall may be formed by drilling or by laser. The holes in the second part of the compartment wall may allow liquid agent released from the cartridge to enter the air flow path of the aerosol generating device in order to be aerosolized. Likewise, porous parts of the second part of the compartment wall may store any liquid agent released from the cartridge until the liquid agent enters the airflow path of the aerosol-generating device in order to be aerosolized. The airflow path of the aerosol-generating device may pass through the second part of the compartment wall of the heating element. The stored liquid agent may be aerosolized and may be included in an aerosol formed in the first part of the compartment wall in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device. The second part of the compartment wall may be hollow. This may allow the aerosol generating article to be inserted through the second part of the compartment wall into the first part of the compartment wall located in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device. The second part of the compartment wall may have a cross-sectional shape being the same as the cross-sectional shape of the first part of the compartment. In particular both the first part and the second part of the compartment wall may have a tubular shape. This may result in the same circular or elliptical cross-sectional shape of the first part and of the second part of the compartment wall. This may allow a rod-shaped aerosol-generating article to be inserted into the first part of the compartment wall through the second part of the compartment wall.

The first part of the compartment wall and the second part of the compartment wall may be connected in a thermally conductive manner. This may facilitate the conduction of heat from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall in a particular simple way. For example, there may be a thermally conductive connection comprising one or both of metal and a ceramic between the first part of the compartment wall and the second part of the compartment wall. This thermally conductive connection may ensure that any heat produced in the first part of the compartment wall is effectively transferred to the second part of the compartment wall via heat conduction.

The first part of the compartment wall and the second part of the compartment wall may be made of the same material. This may ease the production of the compartment wall. This may also facilitate the conduction of heat from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall. The first part of the compartment wall and the second part of the compartment wall may be formed as one-piece-member. This may allow the production of the first part of the compartment wall and the second part of the compartment wall by providing one piece of the compartment. Additionally, this also may ease the heat conduction from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall.

The compartment wall may comprise one or both of a metal and a ceramic. The compartment wall may comprise one or both of a ferromagnetic metal or a ferromagnetic ceramic. One or both of a metal and a ceramic of the compartment wall may provide a good heat conduction between the first part of the compartment wall and the second part of the compartment wall. This may facilitate the indirect heating of the second part of the compartment wall via heat conduction from the first part of the compartment wall. Providing one or both of a ferromagnetic metal in the ferromagnetic ceramic furthermore may enable the heating of the compartment wall by inductive heating.

The heating element may comprise one or both of an inductive heating element and a resistive heating element. Preferably, the heating element may be an inductive heating element. The heating element may preferably be an induction coil. The compartment wall may be a susceptor. The inductive heating element, preferably the induction coil may be configured for heating the first part of the compartment wall. The inductive heating element may be connected to a power supply. The inductor coil may be able to provide an inductance of between 1 micro Henry (mH) to 500 nano Henry (nH).

This may provide an easy way for heating the first compartment wall located in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device.

The induction coil may be configured for indirectly heating the second part of the compartment wall. Preferably the induction coil may be configured for indirectly heating the second part of the compartment wall via heat conduction from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall. This may provide an aerosol generating device comprising two different heating zones. A first heating zone may be provided at the first part of the compartment wall, which is directly heated by the heating element of the aerosol-generating device. A second heating zone may be provided at the second part of the compartment wall, which is indirectly heated via heat conduction from the first part of the compartment wall to the second part of the compartment wall. During operation of the aerosol-generating device the temperature in the first heating zone may be higher than the temperature in the second heating zone. Temperature at the first heating zone, the first part of the compartment wall may be between 200 degrees Celsius and 350 degrees Celsius. The temperature at the second heating zone, the second part of the compartment wall may be between 160 degrees Celsius and 220 degrees Celsius. Further details of the aerosol-generating device including the compartment wall are described in the co-pending EP patent application EP 21 157 763.0, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference. The aerosol-generating article received in the first part of the compartment wall of the heater of the aerosol-generating device may comprise a substrate portion. The substrate portion may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate as explained in greater detail below

Instead of the aerosol-generating device comprising the first part and the second part of the compartment wall of the heater, the replaceable cartridge of the present invention also may be used with an aerosol-generating device which does not include a heater compartment wall as described above. In this case, the slidable sealing element of the replaceable cartridge may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when being engaged with a part of the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating device employed together with the aerosol-generating article engaging with the slidable sealing element may comprise a cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article. An aerosol generating article configured for interacting with slidable sealing element of the cartridge is described in the following.

The aerosol-generating article comprises a porous portion. The porous portion may be configured for pushing the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, when the aerosol-generating article is received in the cartridge. The aerosol-generating article furthermore may comprise a substrate portion, wherein the substrate portion comprises aerosol-forming substrate. The porous portion may be adjacent to the substrate portion. The porous portion may be located downstream of the substrate portion. The porous portion may comprise a filter portion. A filter portion may be well suited in order to absorb the liquid agent transported out of the liquid storage portion via the liquid outlet. The porous portion may be cellulose acetate. The porous portion may comprise a cellulose acetate filter plug. The porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may be located adjacent to the liquid outlet of the cartridge, when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol-generating device which includes the aerosol-generating article in its cavity. Thus, the porous portion may easily absorb any liquid agent released from the cartridge through the liquid outlet.

Liquid agent absorbed by the porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may be entrained in an aerosol formed from the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. The porous portion may be located downstream of the substrate portion. The porous portion may be indirectly heated via heat convection when the heated aerosol from the substrate portion passes through the porous portion.

In the following further features of the cartridge are described, which can interact either with the compartment wall of the heater of the aerosol-generating device or with the aerosol-generating article. The cartridge may comprise a central hollow portion. Aerosol generated from heated liquid is directed into the central hollow portion. The central hollow portion may be a part of the cartridge where the formation of an aerosol takes place. The central hollow portion may be a part of the cartridge where the aerosol flows before exiting the device via an air outlet, for example a mouthpiece.

An airflow path provides a flow of air from an air inlet, past the heater where liquid is heated to form vapor and aerosol, into the central hollow portion where aerosol is entrained in the airflow, to an air outlet. Aerosol may continue to be formed in the central hollow portion as the vapor cools and as the airflow moves into and through the central hollow portion. A user draws air through the airflow path by drawing on, or puffing on the outlet. When a user provides suction to the outlet, air is drawn into the air inlet, past the heater where vapor and aerosol are entrained in the airflow path, through the central hollow portion, to the air outlet. The device may have multiple air inlets.

The cartridge may be configured to partly receive either the aerosol-generating article, in particular its porous portion or the second part of the compartment wall of the aerosol-generating device. The cartridge may receive either the aerosol-generating article or the second part of the compartment wall of the aerosol-generating device in the central hollow portion. The aerosol-generating article may partially extend out of the central hollow portion. When the aerosol-generating article partially extends out of the central hollow portion, the aerosol-generating article may form a mouthpiece. When the aerosol-generating article partially extends out of the central hollow portion, the aerosol-generating article may form the air outlet. The aerosol-generating article may be fully contained in the central hollow portion. The aerosol-generating article or the compartment wall of the heater of the aerosol generating device may push away the slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet, thereby enabling the release of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the heater.

The aerosol-generating article may be heated by a heater. The aerosol-generating article contains solid material that, when heated, forms aerosol. Aerosol formed from the aerosol-generating article can flow through the porous element of the aerosol-generating article containing liquid, to allow liquid in the porous element to be entrained in the aerosol, thereby combining the aerosol formed from solid material with the liquid agent, and delivered to the user.

Preferably, the porous portion of the aerosol-generating article is received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The porous portion may be configured for receiving any liquid agent from the liquid storage portion of the cartridge, once the aerosol-generating article located in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device is received by the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may be adjacent to the liquid outlet when the aerosol-generating article is partly received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may abut the liquid outlet when the article is partly received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. This may ease the transport of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and the liquid outlet to the porous portion.

A diameter of the porous portion may be as large or smaller than a diameter of the slidable sealing element. In particular, a diameter of a tubular or rod-shaped porous portion may be as large or smaller than a diameter of a ring-shaped slidable sealing element. A diameter of the porous portion may be at the most 5% to 10% smaller than the diameter of the slidable sealing element. This may ensure that the porous portion can push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet when the aerosol-generating article, in particular its porous portion, is partly received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

In one embodiment of the aerosol-generating system, the central hollow portion of the cartridge may coincide with the cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article of the aerosol-generating device when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol-generating device. This may enable the formation of one continuous internal hollow portion of the aerosol generating system comprising the central hollow portion of the cartridge and the cavity of the aerosol-generating device, which can receive the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating article may be partly received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. Consequently, the central hollow portion of the cartridge may be configured to partly receive the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet from its first position to its second position, when received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The aerosol-generating article may push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet from its closed position to its open position, when received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

The replaceable cartridge of the invention may be connected to the above-mentioned aerosol-generating device comprising the heating element with the first part and the second part of the compartment wall, wherein the second part of the compartment wall extends outside the cavity. In this case, the second part of the compartment wall may be received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. In particular, the second part of the compartment wall may slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, so that liquid agent can pass through the liquid outlet and can be received by the second part of the compartment wall.

The liquid agent may include one or more active agents. The one or more active agents may comprise one or more of flavorants, nicotine and medications. For example, the one or more active agents may comprise flavorants oils, such as mint oil, menthol, nicotine oil or other flavorants. The liquid agent also might comprise a carrier liquid for dissolving any active agent. The carrier liquid may be one or more of polyhydric alcohols, such as propylene glycol, glycerol, and water.

The wicking element may be located in the interior of the liquid storage portion. This may enable liquid agent stored inside the liquid storage portion to be first absorbed by the wicking element and then transported by the wicking element to the liquid outlet. This may provide an additional control over the flow of the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The presence of the wick may further reduce leakage by controlling the flow of liquid agent through the liquid outlet.

The wicking element may abut the liquid outlet. This may ensure that any liquid agent leaving the liquid storage portion via the liquid outlet may be absorbed first by the wicking element. This may prevent or control leakage from the cartridge. The wicking element may be proximal to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be in the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be beside the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be between the liquid in the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet.

The storage portion may comprise a hollow space for storing the liquid agent and the wicking element may be located between the hollow space and liquid outlet. This may allow the wicking element to control the flow of the liquid agent from the hollow space to the liquid outlet. Furthermore, this may avoid any spillover of the liquid agent out of the cartridge through the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be any suitable material to wick liquid. Wick means that a material can convey liquid by capillary action. A wicking element may comprise fibrous material. A wicking element may comprise porous material. A wicking element may comprise a woven material. A wicking element may comprise a non-woven material. A wicking element may comprise a foam-like material. A wicking element may comprise spongy material. A wicking element may comprise a sintered material. A wicking element may comprise a ceramic material. The wicking element may comprise a bundle of capillaries. For example, the wicking element may comprise a plurality of fibres or threads or other fine bore tubes. The fibres or threads may be generally aligned to convey liquid from the liquid storage portion of the cartridge to the liquid outlet. The structure of the wicking element may form a plurality of small bores or tubes. The wicking element may comprise any suitable material or combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials include materials having pores which can transport liquid by capillary action. For example, the wick may comprise ceramic material. The material may comprise sintered ceramic. The wick may comprise graphite- based materials. The materials may comprise fibres or sintered powders. The wick may comprise foamed metal. The wick may comprise plastics materials. The wick may comprise cellulose material. The wick may comprise plant-based material. The wick may comprise plastic material. The wick may comprise ceramic material. The wick may comprise glass material. Fibrous material may comprise, for example, spun or extruded fibres, such as cellulose acetate, polyester, or bonded polyolefin, polyethylene, ethylene or polypropylene fibres, nylon fibres, glass fibers or ceramic. The wicking element may have any suitable capillarity and porosity so as to be used with different liquid physical properties.

The liquid storage portion of the cartridge may comprise a hollow portion wall. The hollow portion wall of the liquid storage portion may be adjacent to other parts of the cartridge. The wall of the liquid storage portion may form at least a part of the central hollow portion. The liquid portion wall thus forms a wall of the central hollow portion adjacent to the liquid storage portion.

The cartridge may comprise an outer wall. The liquid storage portion may be located between the outer wall and the inner wall of the cartridge. The inner wall of the cartridge is the wall of the central hollow portion.

The slidable sealing element of the cartridge may be configured to be slidable along the central hollow portion wall. This may ensure that the liquid outlet can reliably be sealed by the slidable sealing element. The sealing element may be configured to be slidable along the wall of the central hollow portion.

This may ensure that sealing element is located within the central hollow portion and can slide along the wall of the central hollow portion when pressure is applied to the slidable sealing element from within the central hollow portion. The central hollow portion of the cartridge may comprise an upstream opening and a downstream opening. This may provide an air-flow path through the cartridge between the upstream opening and the downstream opening. This also may enable to transport the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the central hollow portion for being entrained in the aerosol.

The liquid storage portion for storing the liquid agent may be re-fillable. Thus, an inlet port may be present for re-filling the liquid storage portion with fresh liquid agent. Alternatively, the cartridge may be configured for a single use and may be discarded after all the liquid agent has been used. The inlet port may comprise a seal. The inlet port seal may be slidable. The inlet port may be configured for repeated refilling of the cartridge.

The cartridge may comprise a flexible biasing member. The flexible biasing member may be configured for holding the sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet, when no pressure is applied to the sealing member and the cartridge is not connected to the aerosol-generating device. The flexible biasing member may furthermore allow the slidable sealing member to slide away from the liquid outlet in order to enable the release of the liquid agent, when pressure is applied to the sealing member. This may happen when the cartridge is being connected to the aerosol-generating device or the aerosol-generating article. The flexible biasing member furthermore may be configured to slide the slidable sealing member back to a position sealing the liquid outlet, if the pressure ceases to be applied. The flexible biasing member may be spring or any other biasing member suitable for maintaining the slidable sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet.

The flexible biasing member may be located outside the liquid storage portion in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. This may enable the flexible biasing member to push the sealing element to seal the liquid outlet again, after the pressure on the sealing member has ceased to be applied.

The cartridge may be configured for being detachably connectable to one or both of an aerosol-generating device and an aerosol-generating article. The cartridge may comprise device connection elements for connecting the cartridge with the aerosol-generating device. The device connection elements may be positioning grooves or positioning buckles or other connection features. These device connection elements may be located at the outer wall of the cartridge.

The cartridge may be configured to be detachably connected to a mouthpiece. The cartridge may comprise mouthpiece connection elements for detachably connecting the cartridge to a removable mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be located downstream of the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The mouthpiece connection elements may be located at the walls of the central hollow portion. The mouthpiece may serve for a user to inhale an aerosol formed in the central hollow portion of the cartridge and the aerosol-generating device. The mouthpiece may be integrally formed as a portion of the cartridge.

The sealing element may be ring-shaped. The sealing element may form a sealing ring. The cartridge may comprise an annular shape. The central hollow portion may have a tubular shape. A ring-shaped sealing element may be particularly well suited in order to seal one or more liquid outlets located at the wall of a tubular shaped central hollow portion. Such a ring-shaped sealing element may have any shape. The shape of the ring-shaped sealing element depends on the shape of the parts meant to be sealed. The sealing ring may be, for example, rectangular, ovoid, annular, a cap, or may have a complicated shape. The sealing ring may be made of any material suitable for sealing two parts together.

More than one liquid outlet may be present in the cartridge. In particular, at least two liquid outlets, at least three or at least four liquid outlets may be present in the cartridge. These liquid outlets may be arranged along the annular-shaped cartridge in a ring-shaped arrangement. One sealing element may be configured to seal said plurality of liquid outlets by the way of a ring-shaped sealing element sealing some or all liquid outlets at the same time.

The sealing element may comprise flexible material. The sealing element may comprise a rubber. The sealing element may comprise an elastomeric material. The sealing element may comprise a thermoplastic polymer. The sealing element may comprise one or more of rubber, an elastomeric material and a thermoplastic polymer. Elastomeric materials are particularly flexible and are well suited in order to seal the liquid outlet. The elastomeric material may comprise silicon. The elastomeric material may comprise polyester elastomer. The elastomeric material may comprise polyurethane elastomer. The elastomeric material may comprise polyolefin. The elastomeric material may comprise polypropylene. The elastomeric material may comprise high-density polyethylene. The elastomeric material may comprise one or more of: silicon, polyester elastomer and polyurethane elastomer. The elastomeric material may be a thermoset elastomer. The elastomeric material may be a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic polymer may comprise polyolefins, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene.

The cartridge may be configured to receive an aerosol-generating article or parts of the compartment wall of the heater of the aerosol-generating device. The cartridge may be configured to partly receive an aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may push away the slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet, thereby enabling the release of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion.

The sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when the cartridge receives the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol-generating article may be partly received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The central hollow portion of the cartridge may be configured to partly receive the aerosol-generating article. The aerosol generating article may push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, when received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

The cartridge may comprise a temperature stable polymer. The cartridge may comprise a temperature stable thermoplastic polymer. Examples of such temperature stable thermoplastic polymers are polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyether ketone (PEK), orpolyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

Another embodiment of the invention provides an aerosol-generating system, which comprises a cartridge as described herein. The aerosol generating system also comprises one or both of an aerosol-generating article and an aerosol-generating device. The aerosol generating device includes a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to receive said aerosol generating article.

As used herein, an ‘aerosol-generating device’ relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article, for example part of a smoking article. An aerosol generating device may be a smoking device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate of an aerosol-generating article to generate an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs thorough the user's mouth. An aerosol-generating device may be a holder. The device may be an electrically heated smoking device. The aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing, electric circuitry, a power supply, a cavity and a heating element.

The aerosol-generating article may comprise aerosol-forming substrate.

As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing one or more volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. An aerosol-forming substrate may conveniently be part of an aerosol-generating article or smoking article. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of a substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol forming substrate may comprise both solid and liquid components. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aerosol former that facilitates the formation of a dense and stable aerosol. Suitable aerosol-formers are well known in the art and include, but are not limited to: polyhydric alcohols, such as triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerine; esters of polyhydric alcohols, such as glycerol mono-, di- or triacetate; and aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids, such as dimethyl dodecanedioate and dimethyl tetradecanedioate. Aerosol formers may be polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as triethylene glycol, 1 ,3-butanediol and glycerine. The aerosol-former may be propylene glycol. The aerosol former may comprise both glycerine and propylene glycol. The aerosol-forming substrate also may comprise a susceptor material for inductive heating of the substrate.

As used herein, the term ‘aerosol-generating article’ refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. For example, an aerosol-generating article may be a smoking article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable into a user’s lungs through the user's mouth. An aerosol generating article may be disposable. The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted. The open end may be a proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end opposite the open end. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of air apertures arranged in the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular. The base of the cavity may be arranged upstream of the cavity. The open end may be arranged downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongate extension. The cavity may have a longitudinal central axis. A longitudinal direction may be the direction extending between the open and closed ends along the longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating device.

The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape complementary to the shape of the aerosol-generating article to be received in the cavity. The cavity may be shaped to contain the aerosol-generating article. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol generating article.

An airflow channel may run through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity and towards the user through the airflow channel. Downstream of the cavity, a mouthpiece may be arranged or a user may directly draw on the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.

The aerosol-generating device may furthermore comprise a heating element. The heating element may serve to heat an aerosol-generating article received in the cavity in order to produce an aerosol. The heating element may comprise one or both of an inductive heating element and a resistive heating element.

The inductive heating element may comprise an inductor coil disposed around at least a portion of the cavity and connected to a power supply. The inductor coil may be able to provide an inductance of between 1 micro Henry (mH) to 500 nano Henry (nH). The aerosol-generating device may comprise a susceptor, in the form of a susceptor blade or susceptor pin located in the cavity. The susceptor blade or susceptor pin may be configured to heat upon the generation of inductance by the inductor coil. The susceptor blade or susceptor pin may be configured to penetrate the aerosol-generating article when it is received in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device, to heat the aerosol-generating article. The heating pin or heating blade may comprise a susceptor material for inductive heating of the aerosol-generating article. The susceptor may also be contained in the aerosol generating article. For example, the aerosol-generating substrate may contain a susceptor.

The heating blade or heating pin may be configured to heat resistively. The heating blade or heating pin may be configured to penetrate the aerosol-generating article when it is received in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device. The heating pin or heating blade may comprise conductive tracks for resistive heating of the aerosol-generating article.

Suitable electrically resistive materials for the resistive heating element include but are not limited to: semiconductors such as doped ceramics, electrically “conductive” ceramics (such as, for example, molybdenum disilicide), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys and composite materials made of a ceramic material and a metallic material. Such composite materials may comprise doped or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbides. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum and metals from the platinum group. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-, cobalt-, chromium-, aluminium- titanium- zirconium-, hafnium-, niobium-, molybdenum-, tantalum-, tungsten-, tin-, gallium-, manganese- and iron-containing alloys, and super-alloys based on nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel, Timetal® and iron- manganese-aluminium based alloys. In composite materials, the electrically resistive material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated or coated with an insulating material or vice- versa, depending on the kinetics of energy transfer and the external physicochemical properties required. Examples of suitable composite heater elements are disclosed in US-A- 5 498 855, WO-A-03/095688 and US-A-5 514 630. One preferred resistive heating material may be nickel chromium alloy.

The susceptor element may be formed from any material that can be inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate. A preferred susceptor element may comprise or consist of a ferromagnetic material, for example a ferromagnetic alloy, ferritic iron, or a ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel. A suitable susceptor may be, or comprise, aluminium. Preferred susceptors may be heated to a temperature in excess of 250 degrees Celsius.

Preferred susceptor elements are metal susceptors, for example stainless steel. However, susceptor materials may also comprise or be made of graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, aluminum, niobium, Inconel alloys (austenite nickel-chromium-based superalloys), metallized films, ceramics such as for example zirconia, transition metals such as for example iron, cobalt, nickel, or metalloids components such as for example boron, carbon, silicon, phosphorus, aluminium.

As used herein with reference to the present invention, the term ‘smoking’ with reference to a device, article, system, substrate, or otherwise does not refer to conventional smoking in which an aerosol-forming substrate is fully or at least partially combusted. The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below a combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but at or above a temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosol forming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol. The inhalable aerosol furthermore may contain the liquid agent, in particular the active agents dissolved therein which are provided by the cartridge in the aerosol-generating system of the present invention. The active agents in the liquid agent of the cartridge may provide additional flavorings or nicotine. The additional flavorings or nicotine may modify the inhalable aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article. Depending on their preference, a user may combine different cartridges, with different liquid agents in order to modify the inhalable aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol generating system of the present invention therefore may be a so-called “hybrid aerosol generating system”, which employs both a solid aerosol-forming substrate comprised in the aerosol-generating article and a liquid agent from the cartridge.

An air flow path may be provided in an aerosol-generating system extending from the air inlet(s) of the aerosol-generating device through the central hollow portion of the cartridge to the air outlet. When the aerosol-generating article is engaged in the cavity of the aerosol generating device and the central hollow portion of the cartridge, the air flow path extends from the air inlet(s) through the aerosol-generating article, through the porous portion, to the air outlet. The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may be located upstream of the cartridge when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol-generating device.

If the aerosol-generating system comprises an aerosol-generating device comprising a heating element with a first part and a second part of the compartment wall, then an air flow path may be provided from the at least one air inlet through the first heating zone confined by the first part of the compartment wall located in the cavity of the aerosol generating device into the second heating zone confined by the second part of the compartment wall. In particular, the airflow path may extend through an aerosol-generating article received in the first part of the compartment wall. The airflow path may further extend from the second part of the compartment wall through the central hollow portion of the cartridge to an air outlet, for example a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may form the downstream end of the airflow path. A mouthpiece may be present in the aerosol-generating system of the invention. The mouthpiece may be located downstream of the cartridge. One air flow path may be formed in the aerosol-generating system which leads from one or more air inlets of the aerosol generating device through the aerosol-generating article and the central hollow portion of the cartridge to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece being the downstream end of the aerosol generating system. One or more air inlets may be present in the upstream end of the aerosol-generating device, which may provide air to the cavity of the aerosol-generating device.

The aerosol-generating device of the aerosol-generating system may comprise cartridge connection elements for the detachably connecting the aerosol-generating device with the cartridge. These connection elements may include complimentary structures that releasably slide or snap together, or any other form of detachable or releasable connection elements including, for example a groove or a buckle.

The aerosol-generating device further comprise electric circuitry. The electric circuitry may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electric circuitry may comprise further electronic components. The electric circuitry may be configured to regulate a supply of power to the heating element, particularly to the induction coil or the resistive heating element. Power may be supplied to the heating element continuously following activation of the aerosol-generating device or may be supplied intermittently, such as on a puff-by-puff basis. The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of pulses of electrical current. The electric circuitry may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element, and preferably to control the supply of power to the heating element dependent on the electrical resistance of the heating element.

The aerosol-generating device may further comprise a power supply, typically a battery, within a main body of the aerosol-generating device. In one embodiment, the power supply is a Lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power supply may be a Nickel-metal hydride battery, a Nickel cadmium battery, or a Lithium based battery, for example a Lithium-Cobalt, a Lithium-Iron-Phosphate, Lithium Titanate or a Lithium-Polymer battery. The power supply may provide a voltage of between 1 .5 to 5 Volt direct current. As an alternative, the power supply may be another form of charge storage device such as a capacitor. The power supply may require recharging and may have a capacity that enables to store enough energy for one or more usage experiences; for example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to continuously generate aerosol for a period of around six minutes or for a period of a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power supply may have sufficient capacity to provide a predetermined number of puffs or discrete activations of the heating element. A method for operating the aerosol-generating system as described herein is also provided. The method comprises the method steps of:

- receiving the aerosol-generating article in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device,

- connecting the cartridge to the aerosol-generating device, the aerosol generating article pushing the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, allowing liquid contained in the liquid storage portion to flow through the liquid outlet to the porous portion of the aerosol-generating article,

- heating the aerosol-generating article, thereby generating an aerosol from the aerosol-generating article and the liquid agent.

Such a method allows the formation of an aerosol from the solid aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article and from the liquid agent of the cartridge. Different combinations of aerosol-generating articles and cartridges may be employed depending on the preferences of a user. The aerosol-generating article may comprise a substrate portion including aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be solid as described above. The aerosol-generating article furthermore may comprise a porous portion, which may be adjacent to the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. The porous portion may be located downstream of the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. The liquid agent contacting the aerosol-generating article may be absorbed by the porous portion of the aerosol-generating article.

The aerosol-generating device may include a heating element. This heating element may heat the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article in order to form an aerosol. The heating element may be able to provide temperatures of between 160 degrees Celsius to 350 degrees Celsius. The substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article may be heated to a temperature of around 200 degrees Celsius to 350 degrees Celsius. The heating element may also heat the porous portion of the aerosol-generating article including the absorbed liquid agent. The porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may be heated indirectly via heat convection coming from the substrate portion of the article. The porous portion may be heated to a temperature below the temperature of the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. The porous portion may be heated to a temperature of 160 degrees Celsius to 220 degrees Celsius.

Alternatively, another embodiment of the invention provides method for operating the aerosol-generating system as described herein. The method comprises the method steps of:

- receiving the aerosol-generating article in the cavity of the aerosol-generating device, the heating element of the aerosol-generating device comprising a compartment wall, wherein the first part of the compartment wall is located in the cavity and wherein a second part of the compartment wall extends outside the cavity,

- connecting the cartridge to the aerosol-generating device, the second part of the compartment wall pushing the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, allowing liquid contained in the liquid storage portion to flow through the liquid outlet to the second part of the compartment wall,

This method of operating allows to employ an aerosol-generating device including a heater compartment wall in order to generate aerosol from the solid aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article and from the liquid agent contained in the cartridge. Liquid agent received in the second part of the compartment wall of the heater of the aerosol-generating device is entrained in the aerosol generated in the first part of the compartment wall.

The method of operating the aerosol-generating system may comprise the additional method step of: detaching the cartridge from the aerosol-generating device, the sealing element sliding over the liquid outlet, thereby sealing the liquid outlet.

The method of operating the aerosol-generating system may further comprise the additional method step of: removing the aerosol-forming article from the cavity of the aerosol forming device.

The method step of operating the aerosol-generating system may further comprise the additional method step of: inserting another aerosol-forming article into the cavity of the aerosol-forming device.

This may provide a particularly easy method of re-sealing the cartridge after use. Both the slidable sealing element and the wicking element may prevent any further spillover of the liquid agent outside of the cartridge.

During the detachment of the cartridge from the aerosol-generating device, the flexible biasing member may expand, the flexible biasing member thereby pushing the sealing member to seal the liquid outlet.

This may provide a particular easy way of sliding the sealing element before the liquid outlet. This also may not require any further user interaction with the cartridge.

The aerosol-generating device may have a length of between 100 millimeters to 150 millimeters, preferably of 100 millimeters to 120 millimeters. The cartridge may have a length of between 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters, preferably 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters. The cartridge may have a width of 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters, preferably 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters. The heating element of the aerosol-generating device may have a length of between 7 millimeters to 14 millimeters, preferably of between 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters. The heating element of the aerosol-generating device may have a diameter of 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters, preferably of 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters. The central hollow portion of the cartridge may have a diameter of between 10 millimeters to 15 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters. A resistive heating element formed as a resistive heating wire may have a diameter of between 0.2 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters, preferably 0.2 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters. The aerosol-generating article may have a length of between 7 millimeters to 14 millimeters, preferably 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters. The aerosol-generating article may have a diameter of between 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters. The cavity within the aerosol-generating device may have a diameter between 50 millimeters to 70 millimeters, preferably 50 millimeters to 55 millimeters. The cavity may have a width of between 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters, preferably 25 millimeters to 28 millimeters. The slidable sealing element may have a length of between 6 millimeters to 8 millimeters, preferably 7 millimeters 28 millimeters. The slidable sealing element may be ring- shaped and may have a diameter of between 10 millimeters to 15 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters.

Features described in relation to one embodiment may equally be applied to other embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of an aerosol-generating system;

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another aerosol-generating system;

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a cartridge according to the present invention; and

Fig. 4 shows the sequence of assembling one embodiment of an aerosol-generating system with an aerosol-generating device including a heater compartment wall;

Fig. 5 shows the sequence of assembling one embodiment of an aerosol-generating system wherein the aerosol-generating article engages with the slidable sealing element of the cartridge.

Fig. 6A and 6B depict cut-out close-ups of the cartridge and the aerosol-forming device before they are connected (Fig. 6A) and after they have been connected (Fig. 6B), and

Fig. 7A and Fig. 7B depict schematic perspective drawings of the cartridge and the aerosol-forming device before they are connected (Fig. 7A) and after they have been connected (Fig.7B). In the following the same elements are marked with the same reference numerals throughout all the figures.

Fig. 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of an aerosol-generating system 26. The system comprises a cartridge 10, an aerosol-generating article, a mouthpiece 34 and an aerosol generating device 22 comprising a compartment wall 24. The aerosol-generating device 22 also comprises an air inlet 23 of the upstream end of the device. An inductive coil as heating element 30 is present. The heating element also comprises a compartment wall having a first part 24B and a second part 24A. An aerosol-generating article is received in the first part 24B of the compartment wall (aerosol-generating article not shown in Fig.1). The first part of the compartment wall serves as a susceptor material, which can be heated by the inductive coil 30 via inductive heating for producing an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate of the article. When the cartridge 10 is connected to the aerosol-generating device 20, then the second part 24A of the compartment wall pushes the slidable sealing element 18 of the cartridge 10 away from the liquid outlet 14. The slidable sealing element is pushed along a central longitudinal axis 41 of the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge to a second position, which is offset from the liquid outlet 14. In particular, the slidable sealing element is pushed further downstream along the inner wall of the liquid storage portion, which also forms part of the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. The liquid outlet 14 and the wicking element 16 abutting the liquid outlet are then in contact with the second part 24A of the compartment wall, allowing the transport of the liquid agent 20 from the liquid storage portion 12 of the cartridge via the wicking element to the second part 24A of the compartment wall. The wicking element is located inside the liquid storage portion 12 of the cartridge, abutting the liquid outlet 14. This position allows the wicking element to channel liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the liquid outlet 14. Both, the slidable sealing element 18 and the second part 24A of the compartment wall are located in the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10 after the cartridge has been connected to the aerosol generating device. When the inductive coil 30 applies a variable magnetic field to the first part of the compartment wall, the first part of the compartment wall heats the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article. The heating element also indirectly heats the second part 24A of the compartment wall having received liquid agent, which also leads to the formation of an aerosol containing the liquid agent. The arrow indicated with the reference numeral 40 shows the general air-flow path through the aerosol-generating system, which leads from the air inlet 23 to the first heating zone confined by the first part 24B of the compartment through the second heating zone confined by the second part 24A of the compartment and the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10 to the mouthpiece 34. The second part 24A of the compartment wall can be heated via heat conduction transferring heat from the material of the first part 24B of the compartment wall to the second part and from heat convection resulting from the passage of the heated aerosol through the second part of the compartment wall. The aerosol-generating system shown in Fig. 1 can therefore be used in order to inhale an aerosol created from the substrate portion of the aerosol-generating article, which includes a solid aerosol-forming substrate and from the liquid agent absorbed in the second part 24A of the compartment wall of the aerosol generating article. The liquid agent may include flavorants or other active agents for modifying the user perception of the inhaled aerosol.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another aerosol-generating system 26. Contrary to the aerosol-generating system of Fig. 1 , the system of Fig. 2 includes resistive heating wires 32 for heating the first part 24B of the heater compartment wall of the aerosol generating device. The arrow denoted with a reference numeral 36 indicates the direction of sliding of the sealing element when the second part 24A of the heater compartment wall pushes away the slidable sealing element 18 from the liquid outlet 14 along the central longitudinal axis of the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a cartridge 10 which is not connected to an aerosol-generating device in greater detail. Two liquid outlets 14 can be seen, which are covered with the slidable sealing element 18. In both cases, a wicking element 16 is located between the liquid storage portion 12 and the liquid outlet 14 for controlling the flow of the liquid agent 20 through the liquid outlet 14. A flexible biasing element 38, a spring is present pushing the slidable sealing element 18 over the liquid outlets 14. The cartridge 10 can have an annular shape and the slidable sealing element 18 can be a sealing ring. The slidable sealing element 18, the liquid outlets 14 and the flexible biasing elements 38 are all located within the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. The liquid storage portion 12 comprises walls 12A which also form a part of the central hollow portion.

Fig. 4 depicts schematically a process for assembling an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article 25, the aerosol-generating device 22, a cartridge 10 including liquid agent 20 and finally a mouthpiece 34. In a first step (indicated by the arrow denoted with “1 ”) the aerosol-generating article 25 is inserted into the first part 24B of the compartment wall of the aerosol-generating device 22 through the hollow second part 24A of the compartment wall. In a second step (indicated by the arrow denoted with “2.”) the cartridge 10 is attached to the aerosol-generating device 22. The cartridge 10 includes a liquid storage portion, which houses liquid agent 20. Liquid outlets 14 are present, which can direct the liquid agent 20 into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. The liquid outlets 14 are covered by the slidable sealing element 18, which abuts the liquid outlet 14, thereby closing the liquid outlets. Biasing members 38, springs are present, which keep the slidable sealing element 18 over the liquid outlets 14, if the cartridge 10 is not connected to an aerosol-generating device. When connecting the cartridge 10 to the aerosol-generating device 22, the second part 24A of the compartment wall of the heating element pushes the sealing elements 18 away from the liquid outlets 14, thereby enabling the liquid agent 20 to be received by the second part of the compartment wall. In a third step (indicated by the arrow denoted with “3.”) a mouthpiece 34 can be connected to the downstream end of the system and to the cartridge 22. This process can be employed in order to assemble an aerosol-generating system, which can use two different substrates, the solid aerosol generating article 25 and the liquid agent 20 from the cartridge 10 in order to generate an aerosol.

Fig. 5 depicts the sequence of assembling an aerosol-generating system which includes an aerosol-generating device lacking a heater compartment wall. At the beginning (arrow marked with “1 ”) the aerosol-generating article 25 with the substrate portion 25B and the porous portion 25A is received in the cavity 28 of the aerosol generating device 22. Resistive heating wires 32 are included in the aerosol-generating device for heating the aerosol-generating article 25. Subsequently (arrow marked with “2.”) the cartridge is connected to the aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating article, wherein the porous portion 25A of the aerosol-generating article pushes the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet so that the liquid agent can be absorbed by the porous portion. Subsequently, a mouthpiece may be connected to the cartridge at the downstream end of the aerosol-generating system (mouthpiece not shown in Fig. 5).

Fig. 6A shows a cut-out close-up of the cartridge 10 and the aerosol-generating device 22 before they are connected. A flexible biasing element 38, for example a spring applies force to the slidable sealing element 18, so that the slidable sealing element is pushed in front of the liquid outlet 14 for sealing. The arrow 39 indicates the direction of the force applied to the slidable sealing element by the flexible biasing element for sealing the liquid outlet 14. The circumference of the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10 corresponds to the circumference of the second part 24A of the compartment wall of the aerosol-forming device 22. This allows the second part 24A of the compartment wall to be inserted into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge.

Fig. 6B depicts the cartridge and the aerosol-forming device after they have been connected. The second part 24A of the compartment wall is pushed into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge, thereby pushing the slidable sealing element 18 along the direction of the arrow 43. This enables the liquid agent 20 to contact the second part 24A of the compartment wall via the wicking element 16.

Fig. 7A shows a schematic perspective view of a flat cartridge 10 with a central hollow portion 21 and an aerosol-forming device 22 before they are connected. The annular shaped second part 24A of the compartment wall protrudes from the aerosol-forming device 22 and can be inserted into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge as indicated by the arrow.

Fig. 7B shows a schematic perspective view of the aerosol-forming system 26 after the cartridge 10 and the aerosol-forming device 22 have been connected.

Claims

1. A replaceable cartridge configured for being detachably connected to an aerosol-generating device comprising: a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent, the liquid storage portion comprising a liquid outlet for directing the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion, a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet, the slidable sealing element being configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of a pressure to the sealing element, a wicking element arranged adjacent to the liquid outlet for absorbing and supplying the liquid agent to the liquid outlet.

2. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 , wherein the wicking element is located in the interior of the liquid storage portion, preferably wherein the wicking element abuts the liquid outlet.

3. The replaceable cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the wicking element is located between the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet.

4. The replaceable cartridge according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a central hollow portion, preferably wherein the central hollow portion comprises an upstream opening and a downstream opening, providing an air-flow-path through the cartridge between the upstream opening and the downstream opening.

5. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a flexible biasing member configured for holding the sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet when no pressure is applied to the sealing member, preferably wherein the flexible biasing member is a spring.

6. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, being configured for being detachably connectable to an aerosol-generating device, preferably wherein the cartridge comprises device connection elements for connecting with the aerosol generating device.

7. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge comprises mouthpiece connection elements for detachably connecting the cartridge to a mouthpiece, preferably wherein the mouthpiece connection elements are located at the inner walls of the central hollow portion

8. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing element is ring-shaped.

9. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cartridge is configured to partly receive one of an aerosol-generating article or an aerosol-generating device.

10. Aerosol-generating system, comprising a replaceable cartridge according to any one of the preceding claims and one or both of

- an aerosol-generating article and

- an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating device including a cavity, wherein the cavity is configured to receive said aerosol-generating article.

11. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding claim, comprising the aerosol-generating article, wherein the aerosol-generating article comprises a substrate portion, the substrate portion including solid aerosol-forming substrate, preferably wherein the substrate portion comprises one or both of tobacco or a non-tobacco-containing substrate, more preferably wherein the substrate portion comprises an aerosol-former, preferably wherein the aerosol-former is selected from polyhydric alcohols, esters of polyhydric alcohols, tor aliphatic esters of mono-, di- or polycarboxylic acids or a combination thereof.

12. The aerosol-generating system according to any one of the claims 10 or 11 , comprising the aerosol-generating device, wherein the aerosol-generating device comprises a heating element being configured to heat the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity, the heating element comprising a compartment wall, wherein a first part of the compartment wall is located in the cavity and wherein a second part of the compartment wall extends outside the cavity.

13. The aerosol-generating system according to the preceding claim, wherein the second part of the compartment wall is configured for pushing the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet.

14. A method of operating an aerosol-generating system according to any one of the claims 10 to 13, the aerosol-generating system further comprising:

- the aerosol-generating article and - the aerosol-generating device, comprising the method steps of:

- connecting the cartridge to the aerosol-generating device, either the second part of the compartment wall of the aerosol-generating device pushing away the slidable sealing element or the aerosol-generating article pushing the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, so that liquid agent contacts either the second part of the compartment wall or the aerosol-generating article,

15. The method of operating an aerosol-generating system according to the preceding claim, comprising the additional method step of:

- detaching the cartridge from the aerosol-generating device, the sealing element sliding over the liquid outlet, thereby sealing the liquid outlet.