WO2022263466A1

WO2022263466A1 - Aerosol generating article comprising a tubular support

Info

Publication number: WO2022263466A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/066216
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaakko MCEVOY; Christoph Lungenschmied
Original assignee: Jt International S.A.
Priority date: 2021-06-14
Filing date: 2022-06-14
Publication date: 2022-12-22

Abstract

The invention concerns an aerosol generating article (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising: - a storage portion (12) storing a vaporizable material able to generate aerosol while heating; - a mouthpiece portion (14) comprising a filter (18); - a tubular support (16) defining an inner surface and extending along the longitudinal axis (X) between the storage portion (12) and the mouthpiece portion (14). The tubular support (16) further defines successively along the longitudinal axis (X) a mixing portion adjacent to the storage portion (12) and a hollow portion adjacent to the mouthpiece portion (14). The mixing portion (22) comprises a plurality of mixing elements (26) protruding from the inner surface of the tubular support (16) and configured to generate in the hollow portion longitudinal vortices within an airflow passing through the tubular support (16) from the storage portion (12) to the mouthpiece portion (14). The mixing elements (26) are connected in a centre region of the mixing portion.

Description

Aerosol generating article comprising a tubular support

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an aerosol generating article comprising a storage portion storing a vaporizable material, a mouthpiece portion and a tubular support arranged between the storage portion and the mouthpiece portion.

The aerosol generating article according to the invention for example adapted to be used with aerosol generating devices, also known as heat-not-burn devices, is adapted to heat, rather than burn, the vaporizable material by conduction, convection and/or radiation, to generate aerosol for inhalation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of aerosol generating articles, notably for using with heat-not-burn devices, are already known in the art. Generally, such articles comprise a storage portion for storing a vaporizable material comprising for example a tobacco substrate. This storage portion is designed to be burnt in case of a conventional cigarette or only be heated when it is used with an aerosol generating device. In this last case, a heating system is formed at least partially inside the aerosol generating device and comprises one or more electrically activated heating elements arranged to heat said storage portion to generate aerosol. The aerosol is released into a flow path extending between an inlet and outlet of the article. The outlet may be arranged as a mouthpiece for delivery of the aerosol.

In most of the cases, it is necessary to cool the generated aerosol before it reaches the mouthpiece and before it is inhaled by the user. For this purpose, it is known to arrange an intermediate section between the storage portion and the mouthpiece in which the generated aerosol is flowing and cooling before reaching the user.

However, to obtain an effective cooling, the intermediate section needs to extend over a long distance and makes the article fragile and sensitive to bending when the user handles the article. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aims of the invention is therefore to provide an aerosol generating article providing an effective cooling over a shorter distance and enhancing the structural strength of the article.

For this purpose, the invention relates to an aerosol generating article extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising: a storage portion storing a vaporizable material able to generate aerosol while heating; a mouthpiece portion comprising a filter; and a tubular support defining an inner surface and extending along the longitudinal axis between the storage portion and the mouthpiece portion; the tubular support further defining successively along the longitudinal axis a mixing portion adjacent to the storage portion and a hollow portion adjacent to the mouthpiece portion; the mixing portion comprising a plurality of mixing elements protruding from the inner surface of the tubular support and configured to generate in the hollow portion longitudinal vortices within an airflow passing through the tubular support from the storage portion to the mouthpiece portion, the mixing elements being connected in a centre region of the mixing portion.

Particularly, using these features, the aerosol generating article according to the invention offers both fluidic mixing and structural support. The different mixing elements enable to create vortices that provide an important fluidic mixing in a short distance and therefore an efficient cooling. Moreover, as the fluidic mixing elements are stationary and connected at the centre, they are able to provide a great structural support to the article. The risk for the user to bend or break the article is significantly reduced.

According to some embodiments, each mixing element forms a fin.

According to some embodiments, each mixing element forms a leading edge extending from the inner surface to a centre region of the mixing portion, the leading edge being arranged to first meet the airflow passing through the tubular support from the storage portion to the mouthpiece portion.

According to some embodiments, the leading edge forms a flat shape. According to some embodiments, each mixing element further comprises a smooth surface extending longitudinally and transversally from the centre region to the inner surface.

According to some embodiments, the smooth surface of each mixing element has gradually increasing transversal dimensions from the centre region to the inner surface.

By implementing these features, the fluidic mixing is carried out efficiently with improved vortices creation. Moreover, the fluidic mixing is carried out with low pressure drop penalty due to the aerodynamic shape of the mixing elements.

According to some embodiments, each mixing element is made of a solid (i.e. non- porous) or porous material.

According to some embodiments, each mixing element is made of a polymeric material, especially a bioplastic material, or compressed paper or moulded paper pulp.

According to some embodiments, the mixing elements and the tubular support form a single piece.

By implementing these features, the structural strength of the article is improved by providing a support inside the intermediate section where the user usually grasps the article.

According to some embodiments, the mixing elements are made by injection moulding or 3D printing.

By implementing this feature, the manufacturing of the article is easy to achieve and cost efficient.

According to some embodiments, the aerosol generating article further comprises a plurality of inlet venting holes arranged between the storage portion and the mixing elements.

According to some embodiments, the inlet venting holes are arranged circumferentially on the tubular support. By implementing these features, the cooling of the generated aerosol is improved by mixing it with air at ambient temperature coming from outside the article and flowing inside the intermediate section through the venting holes. The mixing elements enable to mix the aerosol with this air and therefore provide a more efficient cooling.

According to some embodiments, the length of the hollow portion is comprised between 2 and 6 hydraulic diameters of the mixing portion.

By implementing these features, the hollow portion is sufficiently long to provide an efficient cooling of the generated aerosol before reaching the user while being sufficiently short to provide a good structural strength to the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the following description, which is given solely by way of non-limiting example and which is made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view in perspective of an aerosol generating article according to the invention, the aerosol generating article comprising a storage portion, a tubular support and a mouthpiece portion.

- Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the tubular support of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 is cross-sectional perspective view, according to another plane, of the tubular support; and

- Figure 4 is a front view of the tubular support along plane III visible in Figure 1 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before describing the invention, it is to be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction set forth in the following description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways.

As used herein, the term “aerosol generating device” or “device” may include a vaping device to deliver an aerosol to a user, including an aerosol for vaping, by means of aerosol generating unit (e.g. an aerosol generating element which generates vapor which condenses into an aerosol before delivery to an outlet of the device at, for example, a mouthpiece, for inhalation by a user). The device may be portable. “Portable” may refer to the device being for use when held by a user. The device may be adapted to generate a variable amount of aerosol, e.g. by activating a heater system for a variable amount of time (as opposed to a metered dose of aerosol), which can be controlled by a trigger. The trigger may be user activated, such as a vaping button and/or inhalation sensor. The inhalation sensor may be sensitive to the strength of inhalation as well as the duration of inhalation to enable a variable amount of vapor to be provided (so as to mimic the effect of smoking a conventional combustible smoking device such as a cigarette, cigar or pipe, etc.). The device may include a temperature regulation control to drive the temperature of the heater and/or the heated aerosol generating substance (aerosol pre-cursor) to a specified target temperature and thereafter to maintain the temperature at the target temperature that enables efficient generation of aerosol.

As used herein, the term “aerosol” may include a suspension of precursor as one or more of: solid particles; liquid droplets; gas. Said suspension may be in a gas including air. Aerosol herein may generally refer to/include a vapor. Aerosol may include one or more components of the precursor.

As used herein, the term “aerosol-forming precursor” or “precursor” or “aerosolforming substance” or “substance” or “vaporizable material” is used to designate any material that is vaporizable in air to form aerosol. Vaporization is generally obtained by a temperature increase up to the boiling point of the vaporization material, such as at a temperature up to 400°C, preferably up to 350°C. The vaporizable material may, for example, comprise or consist of an aerosol-generating liquid, gel, or wax or the like or an aerosol -generating solid that may be in the form of a rod, which contains processed tobacco material, a crimped sheet or oriented strips or randomly dispersed shreds of reconstituted tobacco (RTB), or any combination of these. The vaporizable material may comprise one or more of: nicotine; caffeine or other active components. The active component may be carried with a carrier, which may be a liquid. The carrier may include propylene glycol or glycerin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A cross sectional view of an aerosol generating article 10 is shown on Figure 1. The aerosol generating article 10 is configured to operate with an aerosol generating device (not shown on the Figures), notably with a heat-not burn device. The aerosol generating device comprises for example a cavity able to receive at least a part, notably a storage portion, of the aerosol generating device, and heat it, as it will be explained in further detail below. According to another embodiment, the aerosol generating article 10 is designed to be operated independently from any external device by burning a carbon heat source such as described in EP2597976 or EP2893822.

Referring to Figure 1 , the article 10 extends along a longitudinal axis X called hereinafter “article axis X”. In the following description, the term “length” refers to a dimension of an element of the article 10 measured along the article axis X.

The aerosol generating article 10 comprises a storage portion 12, a mouthpiece portion 14 and a tubular support 16. The mouthpiece portion 14, the tubular support 16 and the storage portion 12 are arranged sequentially along the article axis X and are advantageously wrapped by a wrapper to form the article 10. In the example shown on Figure 1 , the aerosol generating article 10 is a stick or a tobacco rod having a cylindrical shape and a circular or elliptical cross-section. The stick may have a length comprised between 55 mm and 100 mm and a diameter comprised between 5 mm and 8 mm. As a variant, the aerosol generating article 10 may have a different shape. For example, the aerosol generating article 10 can present a flat-shape and a rectangular cross-section.

The storage portion 12 is arranged at an end of the article 10 along the article axis X. The storage portion 12 stores a vaporizable material able to generate aerosol while heating.

The storage portion 12 is designed to be heated directly by a heater or to be at least in fluid communication with the heater. Particularly, the heater is configured to heat the vaporizable material comprised in the storage portion 12 until at least a heating temperature and may be at least partially integrated in the article 10 and/or in the aerosol generating device. In the present example, the heater is for example formed by heating walls of the cavity of the aerosol generating device receiving the storage portion 12 of the aerosol generating article 10. According to another embodiment, the heater is formed by a heating blade able to penetrate inside the storage portion 12 upon inserting this portion 12 in the cavity of the aerosol generating device. According to still another embodiment, the heater is formed by a coil arranged around the cavity of the aerosol generating device and able to heat the vaporizable material by magnetic cooperation with susceptors comprised in the storage portion 12. In this last case, the susceptors can be mixed with the vaporizable material.

Advantageously, the vaporizable material presents a solid material or a mixture of solid materials. In this case, the heating temperature of the vaporizable material depends on the nature of said solid material(s) and may for example be less than 400°C and is preferably comprised between 200°C and 390°C. More generally, the heating temperature is chosen to not burn but only heat the vaporizable material. According to another embodiment, the vaporizable material is stored in liquid form. In this case, the heating temperature is chosen to vaporize the vaporizable material.

The mouthpiece portion 14 is designed to be in contact with the user’s mouth. The mouthpiece portion 14 is arranged at the end of the article 10 along the article axis X, opposite to the storage portion 12. The mouthpiece portion 14 comprises a filter 18. The filter may comprise a single segment or several segments amongst a monoacetate segment, a centre hole filter segment, a capsule filter segment, charcoal filter segment and combinations thereof. The filter may further comprise a tubular cavity, e.g. at the mouth end or between two filter segments.

As visible on Figure 1 , the tubular support 16 extends along the article axis X between the storage portion 12 and the mouthpiece portion 14. In reference to Figure 2 showing in more detail the tubular support 16, the tubular support 16 comprises an outer wall defining an outer surface 19 facing the outside of the article 10 or being in contact with the wrapper, and an inner surface 20 facing the inner volume of the tubular support 16. The outer wall presents advantageously a cylindrical form, extending along the article axis X.

The tubular support 16 further defines successively, along the article axis X, a mixing portion 22 adjacent to the storage portion 12 and a hollow portion 24 adjacent to the mouthpiece portion 14. The length of the hollow portion 24 is comprised between 2 and 6 hydraulic diameters of the mixing portion 22. The hydraulic diameter of the mixing portion 22 is defined as being equal to 4 x A / P, with A is the cross-sectional area of the flow and P is the wetted perimeter of the cross-section. The cross section is here transversal, perpendicular to the article axis X.

The mixing portion 22 comprises a plurality of mixing elements 26, here four mixing elements 26. However, the number of mixing elements 26 may be comprised between two and eight, in order to obtain a near homogeneous fluid mixture at the end of the mixing portion 22.

As represented on Figure 2, the mixing elements 26 are configured to generate in the hollow portion 24 longitudinal vortices V within an airflow F passing through the tubular support 16 from the storage portion 12 to the mouthpiece portion 14. Each vortex V is a region in which the aerosol flow F revolves around the article axis X. Therefore, the flow F enters before the mixing portion 22 essentially with a longitudinal speed component and in the hollow portion 24 presents a transversal speed component of the same order than the longitudinal component. The vortices V are created at the mixing elements 26 and then may move, stretch, twist and interact in the hollow portion 24. The flow F is turbulent in the hollow portion 24 and enables an efficient fluidic mixing.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, each mixing element 26 is protruding from the inner surface 20 of the tubular support 16 toward the centre of the mixing portion 22. The mixing elements 26 are connected in a centre region 28 of the mixing portion 22. As the mixing elements 26 are protruding from the inner surface 20 of the tubular support 16, the mixing elements 26 are therefore stationary and are not able to move with the aerosol flow F, allowing an important structural strength of the tubular support 16.

In particular, the mixing elements 26 and the tubular support 16 may form advantageously a single piece. It is understood by a single piece, that the mixing elements 26 is integral with the tubular support 16 to form a single continuous element.

Referring to Figure 3, each mixing element 26 forms a fin. The fin presents a first part extending along a longitudinal plane between the centre region 28 and the inner surface 20 and a second part extending mainly transversally at the inner surface 20 level. As visible on the Figures, each mixing element 26 forms a leading edge 30 extending from the inner surface 20 to the centre region 28 of the mixing portion 22. The leading edge 30 is arranged on the first part of the fin. The leading edge 30 is arranged to first meet the airflow F passing through the tubular support 16 from the storage portion 12 to the mouthpiece portion 14. In the example illustrated on Figure 4, the four leading edge 30 extends perpendicular to the article axis X and forms a cross shape in a transversal section. In particular, the leading edge 30 forms a flat shape, extending in a transversal plane. In other words, the leading edge 30 is facing the airflow F and is not angled in the direction of the airflow F.

As visible on Figure 3, each mixing element 26 further comprises a smooth surface 32 extending longitudinally and transversally from the centre region 28 to the inner surface 20. The smooth surface 32 has gradually increasing transversal dimensions from the centre region 28 to the inner surface 20. In particular, in a longitudinal section represented in Figure 2, the smooth surface 32 extends from the centre region 28 to the inner surface 20 in a curved and convex way. In a transversal section represented in Figure 4, the smooth surface 32 forms a cone extending from the summit at the centre region 28 towards the inner surface 20.

As a variant, the mixing elements 26 may present other forms enabling the vortices V creation, as barbs for example.

Each mixing element 26 is made of a solid or porous material. In particular, each mixing element 26 is made of a polymeric material, in particular a bioplastic material, enabling a sufficient structural rigidity while being light. The material is preferably biodegradable. In a variant, each mixing element 26 is made of compressed paper. In another variant, each mixing element 26 is made of moulded paper pulp providing recyclability and strength proprieties. This material is for example described in the document WO 2020/020604 A1 .

As visible on Figure 2, the aerosol generating article 10 further comprises a plurality of inlet venting holes 34 arranged between the storage portion 12 and the mixing elements 26. In particular, the inlet venting holes 34 are arranged circumferentially on the tubular support 16, before the leading edge 30. The inlet venting holes 34, located upstream of the mixing section 22, enable to provide an air flow f (visible on Figure 2) at ambient temperature to flow into the tubular support 16 along with the aerosol flow F. The mixing elements 26 enable to mix the air flow f with the aerosol flow F. Therefore, the inlet venting holes 34 ensure a homogenous cooling of the aerosol in a shortened length. The inlet venting holes 34 are here arranged through the wrapper and the outer wall of the tubular support 16.

In a variant, the inlet venting holes 34 are located upstream of the tubular support 16, and are arranged only in the wrapper facing the storage portion 12.

In order to manufacture the aerosol generating article 10, the mixing elements 26 may be manufactured in one single piece with the outer wall of the tubular support 16. Advantageously, the mixing elements 26, eventually with the outer wall of the tubular support 16, are made by injection moulding or 3D printing. As a variant, the mixing elements 26, eventually with the outer wall of the tubular support 16, are obtained by stamping and folding a sheet of the material forming the tubular support 16. The tubular support 16 can be then placed between the storage portion 12 and the mouthpiece 14, in order to be wrapped by a unique wrapper and form the article 10.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or being carried out in various ways. For example, the article 10 may comprise two tubular support 16 arranged sequentially along the article axis X and comprising each a mixing section.

It appears clear that the invention has a number of advantages. The invention enables an efficient aerosol cooling by providing an important fluidic mixing in the tubular support 16. Particularly, the mixing elements 26 enable to create vortices V that provide an important fluidic mixing in a short distance and therefore an efficient cooling. Moreover, the invention provides an important structural support avoiding the user to bend the article 10 when using it. Finally, the article 10 according to the invention is easily manufactured.

Claims

1.- An aerosol generating article (10) extending along a longitudinal axis (X) and comprising:

- a storage portion (12) storing a vaporizable material able to generate aerosol while heating;

- a mouthpiece portion (12) comprising a filter (18);

- a tubular support (16) defining an inner surface (20) and extending along the longitudinal axis (X) between the storage portion (12) and the mouthpiece portion (14); the tubular support (16) further defining successively along the longitudinal axis (X) a mixing portion (22) adjacent to the storage portion (12) and a hollow portion (24) adjacent to the mouthpiece portion (12); the mixing portion (22) comprising a plurality of mixing elements (26) protruding from the inner surface (20) of the tubular support (16) and configured to generate in the hollow portion (24) longitudinal vortices (V) within an airflow (F) passing through the tubular support (16) from the storage portion (12) to the mouthpiece portion (14); the mixing elements (26) being connected in a centre region (28) of the mixing portion

(22), the mixing elements (26) being stationary relatively to the tubular support (16).

2.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 1 , wherein each mixing element (26) forms a fin.

3.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 2, wherein each mixing element (26) forms a leading edge (30) extending from the inner surface (20) to a centre region (28) of the mixing portion (22), the leading edge (30) being arranged to first meet the airflow (F) passing through the tubular support (16) from the storage portion (12) to the mouthpiece portion (14).

4.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 3, wherein the leading edge (30) forms a flat shape.

5.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each mixing element (26) further comprises a smooth surface (32) extending longitudinally and transversally from the centre region (28) to the inner surface (20).

6.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 5, wherein the smooth surface (32) of each mixing element (26) has gradually increasing transversal dimensions from the centre region (28) to the inner surface (20).

7.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mixing element is made of a solid or porous material.

8.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each mixing element (26) is made of a polymeric material, especially a bioplastic material, or compressed paper or moulded paper pulp..

9.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing elements (26) and the tubular support (16) form a single piece.

10.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing elements (26) are made by injection moulding or 3D printing.

11.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of inlet venting holes (34) arranged between the storage portion (12) and the mixing elements (26).

12.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to claim 11 , wherein the inlet venting holes (34) are arranged circumferentially on the tubular support (16).

13.- The aerosol generating article (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length of the hollow portion (24) is comprised between 2 and 6 hydraulic diameters of the mixing portion (24).