Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/42—Cartridges or containers for inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/10—Devices using liquid inhalable precursors
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/44—Wicks
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/46—Shape or structure of electric heating means
  • A24F40/465—Shape or structure of electric heating means specially adapted for induction heating
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/40—Constructional details, e.g. connection of cartridges and battery parts
  • A24F40/48—Fluid transfer means, e.g. pumps
  • A24F40/485—Valves; Apertures
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
  • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
  • A24F40/00—Electrically operated smoking devices; Component parts thereof; Manufacture thereof; Maintenance or testing thereof; Charging means specially adapted therefor
  • A24F40/70—Manufacture

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device.
• the present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating system comprising an aerosolgenerating device and a cartridge.
• the present disclosure further relates to a method for manufacturing a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device.
• an aerosol-generating device for generating an inhalable vapor.
• Such devices may heat an aerosol-forming substrate contained in a cartridge or in an aerosolgenerating article without burning the aerosol-forming substrate.
• the heating arrangement may be an induction heating arrangement and may comprise an induction coil and a susceptor.
• the susceptor may be part of the device or may be part of the article or cartridge.
• the aerosol-forming substrate Upon heating to a target temperature, the aerosol-forming substrate vaporises to form an aerosol.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may be present in solid form or in liquid form.
• Liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be comprised in a liquid storage portion and may be delivered to the heating element via a capillary component.
• the liquid storage portion may form part of a replaceable or refillable cartridge.
• a cartridge for use with an aerosol-generating device may comprise a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement.
• the cartridge may comprise a hollow tubular wick element.
• the hollow tubular wick element may coaxially circumscribe the susceptor arrangement.
• the cartridge may comprise a hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• the hollow tubular liquid storage portion may coaxially circumscribe the wick element.
• a cartridge for use with an aerosol-generating device comprising a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement.
• the cartridge comprises a hollow tubular wick element.
• the hollow tubular wick element coaxially circumscribes the susceptor arrangement.
• the cartridge comprises a hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• the hollow tubular liquid storage portion coaxially circumscribes the wick element.
• the cartridge of the invention may allow for a susceptor-and-wick assembly comprising the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement and the hollow tubular wick element to be configured to be insertable into the hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• a cartridge that can be easily produced with low manufacturing costs may be provided.
• a cartridge with a susceptor-and- wick assembly that remains robust and stable when the susceptor is heated to high temperatures may be provided.
• a cartridge with effective leakage prevention may be provided.
• a compact cartridge with low space requirement may be provided.
• a cartridge design that can be universally shaped as required for different aerosol-generating device designs may be provided.
• a cartridge that can be used in existing induction heating aerosol-generating devices may be provided.
• the cartridge may be used with an induction heating aerosol-generating device comprising one or more inductor coils.
• An alternating electrical current in the inductor coil induces an alternating magnetic field.
• This alternating magnetic field is referred to as an induction field, because it can induce alternating ring currents (eddy currents) in a susceptor if the susceptor is conductive. If the susceptor is magnetic, then hysteresis losses would occur in the susceptor. In a susceptor which is both electrically conductive and magnetic, both effects (eddy currents and hysteresis losses) will cause the susceptor to heat.
• a material which heats up when penetrated by an alternating magnetic field is called a susceptor. Heat generated in this manner is then propagated to the aerosol-generating substrate causing it to heat and therefore generate an aerosol.
• the hollow tubular susceptor element of the cartridge of the invention may be heated by means of an inductor coil of the aerosol-generating device.
• the cartridge may comprise an airflow path extending along a longitudinal center axis within the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement.
• the airflow path of the cartridge may extend from a distal end of the cartridge to a proximal end of the cartridge.
• the distal end of the cartridge may be the upstream end.
• the proximal end of the cartridge may be the downstream end.
• the cartridge may comprise a mouthpiece.
• the mouthpiece may be arranged at the proximal end or downstream end of the cartridge.
• the cartridge may comprise one or both of a first sealing element arranged at a proximal end of the susceptor arrangement and the wick element, and a second sealing element arranged at a distal end of the susceptor arrangement and the wick element.
• One or both of the first sealing element and the second sealing element may be formed as a sealing disk.
• the sealing disk may have the shape of a flat hollow tubular cylinder.
• first sealing element and the second sealing element may have a non-flat outer sidewall.
• first sealing element and the second sealing element may have a concavely-shaped, a convexly-shaped, or a corrugated outer side wall.
• the sealing element(s) may be made of an elastomeric polymeric material.
• the cartridge may comprise of a first sealing element arranged at a first end of the susceptor arrangement and the wick element and a second sealing element arranged at a opposite second end of the susceptor arrangement and the wick element.
• the second sealing element may have the same shape as the first sealing element, preferably, a sealing disk.
• a wall of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement may comprise a slit extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the wall of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement.
• the slit may be a continuous gap in the tubular sidewall of a tubular susceptor element, the gap extending continuously form a proximal end up to a distal end of the tubular susceptor element.
• the slit may be a predominantly longitudinal gap.
• a wall of the susceptor arrangement may comprise a slit extending along an axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the susceptor arrangement.
• a wall of susceptor arrangement may comprise a slit extending along a direction angled or curved with respect to the axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the susceptor arrangement.
• the slit may provide a degree of transversal elasticity to the tubular susceptor element or susceptor arrangement. This may assist in enabling an adequate elasticity or transversal compressibility for the insertion of the susceptor arrangement into the inner cavity of the hollow tubular wick element. This may also assist in enabling an adequate transversal elasticity for retaining the susceptor arrangement within the inner cavity of the hollow tubular wick element.
• the elastic susceptor arrangement may be transversally compressed during insertion and the inserted susceptor arrangement may then relax to press against the inner wall of the tubular wick element and may thereby be securely attached to the wick element.
• the susceptor arrangement is heated.
• the slit may assist in compensating for different coefficients of thermal expansion and different temperatures of the wick element and the susceptor arrangement.
• the susceptor arrangement may evade by closing the gap.
• the slit may enable a reduction of diameter of the susceptor arrangement for insertion.
• the slit may assist in keeping the susceptor arrangement in place based on elasticity of the material.
• the slit may compensate dimensional variations when the susceptor arrangement is heated based on induction heating.
• a wall of the susceptor arrangement may be fluid permeable.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise a porous material.
• the fluid permeable wall of the susceptor arrangement may be made of a porous material.
• the fluid permeable wall of the susceptor arrangement may comprise perforations.
• the fluid permeable wall of the susceptor arrangement may be made of a non-porous material and comprise perforations.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise a carbon-based material.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise a porous carbon-based material.
• the porous carbon-based material may comprise magnetic graphene.
• the porous carbon-based material may comprise magnetic carbon-based materials, for example one or more of irradiated graphite, nanocarbons, fullerenes, oxygen-containing carbons and graphene with point defects.
• the porous carbon-based material may comprise one or more carbon-based compounds with metal structural dispersion, for example a Fe 3 C>4-graphitized carbon black (mGCB) composite which can be used to produce porous sheets, perforated, or compacted granulated structures to obtain the desired porosity.
• mGCB Fe 3 C>4-graphitized carbon black
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise one or both of a metal and an alloy.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise a ferromagnetic alloy material.
• the ferromagnetic alloy material may be perforated to provide a desired porosity.
• the alloy material may be ferromagnetic inox alloy.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise at least one ferromagnetic stainless steel alloy.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise 304 stainless steel.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise one or more ferritic stainless steel alloys, for example those which are ferromagnetic and are used as magnetic components such as solenoid cores, pole pieces and return paths.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise a 410 stainless steel alloy.
• a wall of the wick element may be fluid permeable.
• the fluid permeable wall of the wick element may be made of a porous material.
• the wick element may be a monolithic element.
• the wick element may comprise a ceramic material.
• the wick element may comprise a porous material.
• the wick element may comprise a porous ceramic material.
• the wick element may comprise porous silica ceramics.
• the porosity of the sintered material can be adjusted by changing the content of the introduced silica particles, changing its granulometry, which enables to well control the desired porosity of the final product.
• the porosity of the wick element may be 30% to 80 %, preferably 40% to 70 %, most preferably 50% to 60 %.
• the ‘porosity’ is defined as the percentage of a unit volume which is void of material.
• the susceptor arrangement, or at least a hollow tubular susceptor element of the susceptor arrangement may be porous and the wick element may be porous.
• the porosity of the wick element may be in the range of 30% to 80%, preferably 40% to 70%, more preferably 50% to 60%.
• the porosity of the susceptor arrangement, or of at least a hollow tubular susceptor element of the susceptor arrangement may be in the range of 25% to 80%, preferably 55% to 75%, more preferably 65% to 75%.
• the porosity of the susceptor arrangement may be the same as the porosity of the wick element.
• the porosity of the susceptor arrangement may be less than the porosity of the wick element.
• the porosity of the susceptor arrangement may be greater than the porosity of the wick element.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise a first hollow tubular susceptor element coaxially circumscribing a second hollow tubular susceptor element.
• One or both of a wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element and a wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element may comprise a slit extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the wall of the respective hollow tubular susceptor element.
• the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element may comprise a slit extending along an axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element and the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element may comprise a slit extending along a direction angled with respect to the axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element, or vice versa.
• the first hollow tubular susceptor element may comprise a porous carbon-based material and the second hollow tubular susceptor element may comprise a perforated ferromagnetic alloy material, or vice versa.
• a length of the wick element may be in the range of 3.9 millimeters to 20 millimeters, preferably 4.1 millimeters to 15 millimeters.
• An outer diameter of the wick element may be in the range of 2.3 millimeters to 7.1 millimeters, preferably 2.7 millimeters to 4.7 millimeters.
• An inner diameter of the wick element may be in the range of 0.7 millimeter to 4.6 millimeters, preferably 1.0 millimeter to 3.5 millimeters.
• a length of the susceptor arrangement may differ from a length of the wick element by less than 10%, preferably by less than 5%, more preferably by less than 2%, most preferably by less than 1%.
• a fluid permeable portion of an inner wall of the liquid storage portion may be in direct physical contact with an outer wall of the wick element. This may allow for a liquid aerosolforming substrate to migrate from the liquid storage portion to the wick element.
• the cartridge may have a cylindrical shape.
• An outer diameter of the cylindrical cartridge may be between 5 millimeters to 10 millimeters, preferably between 6 millimeters to 8 millimeters.
• An outer diameter of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement may be between 80% and 99% of an inner diameter of the hollow tubular wick element.
• An outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element may be smaller than an inner diameter of hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• the outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element may be between 80% and 99% of the inner diameter of hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• the outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element may be between 2.3 millimeters and 7.1 millimeters, preferably between 2.7 millimeters and 4.7 millimeters, and the inner diameter of hollow tubular liquid storage portion may be between 2.4 millimeters and 8 millimeters, preferably between 2.8 millimeters and 5.0 millimeters.
• the present invention further relates to an aerosol-generating system, comprising a cartridge as described herein and an aerosol-generating device.
• the aerosol-generating device comprises a heating chamber for insertion of the cartridge and an inductor coil at least partly circumscribing the heating chamber for inductively heating the cartridge.
• the present invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device.
• the method comprises providing a wick-and-susceptor assembly comprising a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement and a hollow tubular wick element coaxially circumscribing the susceptor arrangement.
• the method comprises inserting the wick- and-susceptor assembly into a hollow tubular liquid storage portion such that the hollow tubular liquid storage portion coaxially circumscribes the wick-and-susceptor assembly.
• the susceptor arrangement may comprise at least one flexible sheet comprising a susceptor material.
• the step of providing the wick and-susceptor assembly may comprise bending the sheet to form a hollow tubular susceptor element and inserting the hollow tubular susceptor element into the hollow tubular wick element.
• the method may comprise, before the step of inserting the wick-and-susceptor assembly into the hollow tubular liquid storage portion, attaching a first sealing disk at a first end of the wick-and-susceptor assembly and, optionally, attaching a second sealing disk at a second end of the wick-and-susceptor assembly.
• the liquid storage portion of the cartridge may comprise one or both of a liquid aerosolforming substrate and a liquid sensorial media.
• the liquid sensorial media may comprise a flavorant.
• the liquid sensorial media may comprise nicotine.
• the liquid aerosol-forming substrate or liquid sensorial media may comprise a flavoring, for example menthol or herbal compounds.
• the liquid aerosol-forming substrate or the liquid sensorial media may comprise nicotine.
• the liquid aerosol-forming substrate or the liquid sensorial media may comprise a botanical content, for example CBD.
• the wick element may comprise cotton.
• the wick element may be made of cotton.
• the wick element may be a porous element.
• the wick element may be capable of absorbing liquid from the airflow.
• the wick element may comprise a capillary material.
• the capillary material may have a fibrous or spongy structure.
• the capillary material preferably comprises a bundle of capillaries.
• the capillary material 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 distal part of the wick element to the proximal part of the wick element.
• the capillary material may comprise sponge-like or foam-like material.
• the structure of the capillary material may form a plurality of small bores or tubes, through which the liquid can be transported by capillary action.
• the capillary material may comprise any suitable material or combination of materials.
• suitable materials are a sponge or foam material, ceramic- or graphite-based materials in the form of fibres or sintered powders, foamed metal or plastics materials, a fibrous material, for example made of spun or extruded fibres, such as cellulose acetate, polyester, or bonded polyolefin, polyethylene, ethylene or polypropylene fibres, nylon fibres or ceramic.
• the capillary material may have any suitable capillarity and porosity so as to be used with different liquid physical properties.
• the liquid has physical properties, including but not limited to viscosity, surface tension, density, thermal conductivity, boiling point and vapour pressure, which allow the liquid to be transported through the capillary material by capillary action.
• the capillary material may be configured to convey the aerosol-forming substrate to the proximal part of the wick element and to the susceptor element.
• the capillary material may extend into interstices in the susceptor element.
• liquid sensorial media relates to a liquid composition capable of modifying an airflow in contact with the liquid sensorial media.
• the modification of the airflow may be one or more of forming an aerosol or a vapor, cooling an airflow, and filtering an airflow.
• the liquid sensorial media may comprise an aerosol-forming substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol or a vapor.
• the aerosolforming substrate in the liquid sensorial media is a flavorant or comprises a flavorant.
• the liquid sensorial media may comprise one or both of a cooling substance for cooling an airflow passing through the liquid sensorial media and a filter substance for capturing unwanted components in the airflow. Water may be used as a cooling substance. Water may be used as a filtering substance for capturing particles such as dust particles from the airflow.
• the liquid sensorial media may serve as one or more of a nicotine providing liquid, a flavor enhancer, and a volume enhancer.
• the term ‘aerosol-forming substrate’ relates to a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol or a vapor. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may be in solid form or may be in liquid form.
• the terms ‘aerosol’ and ‘vapor’ are used synonymously.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may be part of the liquid held in the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may be part of the liquid sensorial media held in the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.
• the liquid storage portion may contain a liquid aerosolforming substrate.
• the liquid storage portion may contain a solid aerosol-forming substrate.
• the liquid storage portion may contain a suspension of a solid aerosol-forming substrate and a liquid.
• the liquid storage portion contains a liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
• a liquid nicotine or flavor/flavorant containing aerosol-forming substrate may be employed in the liquid storage portion of the cartridge.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise nicotine.
• the nicotine-containing aerosolforming substrate may be a nicotine salt matrix.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise plant-based material.
• the aerosolforming substrate may comprise tobacco.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a tobacco-containing material including volatile tobacco flavour compounds which are released from the aerosol-forming substrate upon heating.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a non-tobacco material.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise homogenised plant-based material.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise homogenised tobacco material. Homogenised tobacco material may be formed by agglomerating particulate tobacco.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least one aerosol-former.
• An aerosolformer is any suitable known compound or mixture of compounds that, in use, facilitates formation of a dense and stable aerosol and that is substantially resistant to thermal degradation at the temperature of operation of the device.
• 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.
• Preferred aerosol formers are polyhydric alcohols or mixtures thereof, such as triethylene glycol, 1 , 3-butanediol.
• the aerosol former is glycerine.
• the homogenised tobacco material may have an aerosolformer content of equal to or greater than 5 percent by weight on a dry weight basis, and preferably from 5 percent to 30 percent by weight on a dry weight basis.
• the aerosol-forming substrate may comprise other additives and ingredients, such as flavourants.
• an aerosol-generating article refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol.
• an aerosol-generating article may be an article that generates an aerosol that is directly inhalable by the user drawing or puffing on a mouthpiece at a proximal or userend of the device.
• An aerosol-generating article may be disposable. The aerosol-generating article may be insertable into the heating chamber of the aerosol-generating device.
• liquid storage portion refers to a storage portion comprising a liquid sensorial media and, additionally or alternatively, an aerosol-forming substrate that is capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol.
• the liquid storage portion may be configured as a container or a reservoir for storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.
• the entire hollow tubular liquid storage portion may coaxially circumscribe the wick element.
• the hollow tubular liquid storage portion comprising the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may coaxially circumscribe the wick element.
• the hollow tubular liquid storage portion comprising the container or reservoir for storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may coaxially circumscribe the wick element.
• the container or reservoir holding the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may thus coaxially circumscribe the wick element.
• the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may thus coaxially circumscribe the wick element.
• the liquid storage portion may be configured as a replaceable tank or container.
• the liquid storage portion may be any suitable shape and size.
• the liquid storage portion may be substantially cylindrical.
• the cross-section of the liquid storage portion may, for example, be substantially circular, elliptical, square or rectangular.
• aerosol-generating device refers to a device that interacts with one or both of an aerosol-generating article and a cartridge to generate an aerosol.
• the term ‘aerosol-generating system’ refers to the combination of an aerosol-generating device with one or both of a cartridge and an aerosol-generating article.
• the aerosol-generating device and one or both of the aerosol-generating article and the cartridge cooperate to generate a respirable aerosol.
• the aerosol-generating device is portable.
• the aerosol-generating device may have a size comparable to a conventional cigar or cigarette.
• the device may be an electrically operated smoking device.
• the device may be a handheld aerosol-generating device.
• the aerosol-generating device may have a total length between 30 millimetres and 150 millimetres.
• the aerosol-generating device may have an external diameter between 5 millimetres and 30 millimetres.
• the aerosol-generating device may comprise a housing.
• the housing may be elongate.
• the housing may comprise any suitable material or combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials include metals, alloys, plastics or composite materials containing one or more of those materials, or thermoplastics that are suitable for food or pharmaceutical applications, for example polypropylene, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and polyethylene. Preferably, the material is light and non-brittle.
• the housing may comprise at least one air inlet.
• the housing may comprise more than one air inlet.
• the aerosol-generating device may comprise a heating element.
• the heating element may comprise at least one inductor coil for inductively heating one or more susceptors.
• Operation of the heating element may be triggered by a puff detection system.
• the heating element may be triggered by pressing an on-off button, held for the duration of the user’s puff.
• the puff detection system may be provided as a sensor, which may be configured as an airflow sensor to measure the airflow rate.
• the airflow rate is a parameter characterizing the amount of air that is drawn through the airflow path of the aerosol-generating device per time by the user.
• the initiation of the puff may be detected by the airflow sensor when the airflow exceeds a predetermined threshold. Initiation may also be detected upon a user activating a button.
• the sensor may also be configured as a pressure sensor.
• the aerosol-generating device may include a user interface to activate the aerosolgenerating device, for example a button to initiate heating of the aerosol-generating device or a display to indicate a state of the aerosol-generating device or of the aerosol-forming substrate.
• a user interface to activate the aerosolgenerating device, for example a button to initiate heating of the aerosol-generating device or a display to indicate a state of the aerosol-generating device or of the aerosol-forming substrate.
• the aerosol-generating device may include additional components, such as, for example a charging unit for recharging an on-board electric power supply in an electrically operated or electric aerosol-generating device.
• proximal refers to a user-end, or mouth-end of the aerosolgenerating device or system or a part or portion thereof
• distal refers to the end opposite to the proximal end.
• proximal refers to the region closest to the open end of the cavity
• distal refers to the region closest to the closed end.
• airflow path denotes a channel suitable to transport gaseous media.
• An airflow path may be used to transport ambient air.
• An airflow path may be used to transport an aerosol.
• An airflow path may be used to transport a mixture of air and aerosol.
• a ‘susceptor’ or ‘susceptor element’ means an element that heats up when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. This may be the result of eddy currents induced in the susceptor element, hysteresis losses, or both eddy currents and hysteresis losses.
• the susceptor element is located in thermal contact or close thermal proximity with an aerosol-forming substrate received in the aerosol-generating device or cartridge. In this manner, the aerosol-forming substrate is heated by the susceptor such that an aerosol is formed.
• the susceptor material may be any material that can be inductively heated to a temperature sufficient to aerosolize an aerosol-forming substrate.
• the following examples and features concerning the susceptor may apply to one or both of the susceptor element of the cartridge, a susceptor of an aerosol-generating device, and a susceptor of an aerosolgenerating article.
• Suitable materials for the susceptor material include graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, stainless steels, niobium, aluminium, nickel, nickel containing compounds, titanium, and composites of metallic materials.
• Preferred susceptor materials comprise a metal or carbon.
• the susceptor material may comprise or consists of a ferromagnetic or ferri-magnetic material, for example, ferritic iron, a ferromagnetic alloy, such as ferromagnetic steel or stainless steel, ferromagnetic particles, and ferrite.
• a suitable susceptor material may be, or comprise, aluminium.
• the susceptor material may comprise more than 5 percent, preferably more than 20 percent, more preferably more than 50 percent, or more than 90 percent of ferromagnetic, ferri-magnetic or paramagnetic materials. Preferred susceptor materials may be heated to a temperature in excess of 250 degrees Celsius without degradation.
• the susceptor material may be formed from a single material layer.
• the single material layer may be a steel layer.
• the susceptor material may comprise a non-metallic core with a metal layer disposed on the non-metallic core.
• the susceptor material may comprise metallic tracks formed on an outer surface of a ceramic core or substrate.
• the susceptor material may be formed from a layer of austenitic steel.
• One or more layers of stainless steel may be arranged on the layer of austenitic steel.
• the susceptor material may be formed from a layer of austenitic steel having a layer of stainless steel on each of its upper and lower surfaces.
• the susceptor element may comprise a single susceptor material.
• the susceptor element may comprise a first susceptor material and a second susceptor material.
• the first susceptor material may be disposed in intimate physical contact with the second susceptor material.
• the first and second susceptor materials may be in intimate contact to form a unitary susceptor.
• the first susceptor material is stainless steel and the second susceptor material is nickel.
• the susceptor element may have a two-layer construction.
• the susceptor element may be formed from a stainless steel layer and a nickel layer.
• Intimate contact between the first susceptor material and the second susceptor material may be made by any suitable means.
• the second susceptor material may be plated, deposited, coated, clad or welded onto the first susceptor material.
• Preferred methods include electroplating, galvanic plating and cladding.
• the aerosol-generating device may comprise a power supply for powering the heating element.
• the power supply may comprise a battery.
• the power supply may be a lithium-ion battery.
• 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 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.
• the power supply may be a direct current (DC) power supply.
• the power supply is a DC power supply having a DC supply voltage in the range of 2.5 Volts to 4.5 Volts and a DC supply current in the range of 1 Amp to 10 Amps (corresponding to a DC power supply in the range of 2.5 Watts to 45 Watts).
• the aerosol-generating device may advantageously comprise a direct current to alternating current (DC/AC) inverter for converting a DC current supplied by the DC power supply to an alternating current.
• the DC/AC converter may comprise a Class-D, Class-C or Class-E power amplifier. The AC power output of the DC/AC converter is supplied to the induction coil.
• the power supply may be adapted to power an inductor coil and may be configured to operate at high frequency.
• a Class-E power amplifier is preferable for operating at high frequency.
• the term ‘high frequency oscillating current’ means an oscillating current having a frequency of between 500 kilohertz and 30 megahertz.
• the high frequency oscillating current may have a frequency of from 1 megahertz to 30 megahertz, preferably from 1 megahertz to 10 megahertz, and more preferably from 5 megahertz to 8 megahertz.
• the switching frequency of the power amplifier may be in the lower kHz range, e.g. between 100 kHz and 400 KHz. In the embodiments, where a Class-D or Class-C power amplifier is used, switching frequencies in the lower kHz range are particularly advantageous.
• the aerosol-generating device may comprise a controller.
• the controller may be electrically connected to the inductor coil.
• the controller may be electrically connected to the first induction coil and to the second induction coil.
• the controller may be configured to control the electrical current supplied to the induction coil(s), and thus the magnetic field strength generated by the induction coil(s).
• the power supply and the controller may be connected to the inductor coil(s).
• the controller may be configured to be able to chop the current supply on the input side of the DC/AC converter. This way the power supplied to the inductor coil(s) may be controlled by conventional methods of duty-cycle management.
• Example A A cartridge for use with an aerosol-generating device, comprising a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement; a hollow tubular wick element coaxially circumscribing the susceptor arrangement; and a hollow tubular liquid storage portion coaxially circumscribing the wick element.
• Example B The cartridge according to Example A, comprising an airflow path extending along a longitudinal center axis of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement.
• Example C The cartridge according to Example A or Example B, comprising a first sealing element arranged at a first end of the susceptor arrangement and the wick element.
• Example D The cartridge according to Example C, wherein the first sealing element is formed as a sealing disk.
• Example E The cartridge according to Example C or Example D, wherein the first sealing element has a concavely-shaped, a convexly-shaped, or a corrugated outer side wall.
• Example F The cartridge according to any of Examples C to E, comprising a second sealing element arranged at a opposite second end of the susceptor arrangement and the wick element, wherein preferably the second sealing element has the same shape as the first sealing element.
• Example G The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a wall of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement comprises a slit extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the wall of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement.
• Example H The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a wall of the susceptor arrangement is fluid permeable, preferably wherein the wall of the susceptor arrangement comprises perforations.
• Example I The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a wall of the susceptor arrangement comprises a slit extending along an axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the susceptor arrangement, or wherein a wall of susceptor arrangement comprises a slit extending along a direction angled with respect to the axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the susceptor arrangement.
• Example J The cartridge according to Example H or Example I, wherein the susceptor arrangement comprises a porous carbon-based material, or wherein the susceptor arrangement comprises a perforated ferromagnetic alloy material.
• Example K The cartridge according to any of Examples A to H, wherein the susceptor arrangement comprises a first hollow tubular susceptor element coaxially circumscribing a second hollow tubular susceptor element.
• Example L The cartridge according to Example K, wherein one or both of a wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element and a wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element comprise a slit extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the wall of the respective hollow tubular susceptor element.
• Example M The cartridge according to Example L, wherein the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element comprises a slit extending along an axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element, and wherein the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element comprises a slit extending along a direction angled with respect to the axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element or vice versa.
• Example N The cartridge according to any of Examples K to M, wherein the first hollow tubular susceptor element comprises a porous carbon-based material, and wherein the second hollow tubular susceptor element comprises a perforated ferromagnetic alloy material or vice versa.
• Example O The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the susceptor arrangement, or at least a hollow tubular susceptor element of the susceptor arrangement, is porous, wherein the wick element is porous, wherein the porosity of the wick element is in the range of 30% to 80%, preferably 40% to 70%, more preferably 50% to 60%, and wherein the porosity of the susceptor arrangement, or of at least a hollow tubular susceptor element of the susceptor arrangement, is in the range of 25% to 80%, preferably 55% to 75%, more preferably 65% to 75%.
• Example P The cartridge according to Example O, wherein the porosity of the susceptor arrangement, or of at least a hollow tubular susceptor element of the susceptor arrangement, is greater than the porosity of the wick element.
• Example Q The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the wick element is a monolithic element.
• Example R The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a length of the wick element is in the range of 3.9 millimeters to 20 millimeters, preferably 4.1 millimeters to 15 millimeters, and wherein an outer diameter of the wick element is in the range of 2.3 millimeters to 7.1 millimeters, preferably 2.7 millimeters to 4.7 millimeters.
• Example S The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein an inner diameter of the wick element is in the range of 0.7 millimeter to 4.6 millimeters, preferably 1.0 millimeter to 3.5 millimeters.
• Example T The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a length of the susceptor arrangement differs from a length of the wick element by less than 10%, preferably by less than 5%, more preferably by less than 2%, most preferably by less than 1%.
• Example II The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein a fluid permeable portion of an inner wall of the liquid storage portion is in direct physical contact with an outer wall of the wick element, thereby allowing for a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to migrate from the liquid storage portion to the wick element.
• Example V The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein the cartridge has a cylindrical shape, and wherein an outer diameter of the cartridge is between 5 millimeters to 10 millimeters, preferably between 6 millimeters to 8 millimeters.
• Example W The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein an outer diameter of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement is between 80% and 99% of an inner diameter of the hollow tubular wick element.
• Example X The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, wherein an outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element is smaller than an inner diameter of hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• Example Y The cartridge according to Example X, wherein the outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element is between 80% and 99% of the inner diameter of hollow tubular liquid storage portion.
• Example Z The cartridge according to Example Y, wherein the outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element is between 2.3 millimeters and 7.1 millimeters, preferably between 2.7 millimeters and 4.7 millimeters, and the inner diameter of hollow tubular liquid storage portion is between 2.4 millimeters and 8 millimeters, preferably between 2.8 millimeters and 5.0 millimeters.
• Example ZA The cartridge according to any of the preceding examples, comprising a mouthpiece.
• Example ZB An aerosol-generating system, comprising a cartridge according to any of the preceding examples; and an aerosol-generating device, comprising a heating chamber for insertion of the cartridge and an inductor coil at least partly circumscribing the heating chamber for inductively heating the cartridge.
• Example ZC A method for manufacturing a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device, comprising providing a wick-and-susceptor assembly comprising a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement and a hollow tubular wick element coaxially circumscribing the susceptor arrangement; and inserting the wick-and-susceptor assembly into a hollow tubular liquid storage portion such that the hollow tubular liquid storage portion coaxially circumscribes the wick-and- susceptor assembly.
• Example ZD The method according to Example ZC, wherein the susceptor arrangement comprises at least one flexible sheet comprising a susceptor material, and wherein the step of providing the wick and-susceptor assembly comprises, bending the sheet to form a hollow tubular susceptor element and inserting the hollow tubular susceptor element into the hollow tubular wick element.
• Example ZE The method according to Example ZE or Example ZD, comprising, before the step of inserting the wick-and-susceptor assembly into the hollow tubular liquid storage portion, attaching a first sealing disk at a first end of the wick-and-susceptor assembly; and attaching a second sealing disk at a second end of the wick-and-susceptor assembly.
• Figs. 1a to 1d show a susceptor-and-wick assembly of a cartridge
• Figs. 2a and 2b show susceptor elements
• Figs. 3a and 3b show a cartridge
• Figs. 4a and 4b illustrate the working principle of a cartridge.
• Figs. 1a to 1 d show perspective views of susceptor-and-wick assemblies 10 comprising a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement 12 and a hollow tubular wick element 14 coaxially circumscribing the susceptor arrangement 12.
• the susceptor-and-wick assemblies 10 of Figs. 1a to 1d each are a sub-unit of a cartridge for an aerosol-generating device.
• An inner diameter of the hollow tubular wick element 14 may be between 0.7 millimeter and 4.6 millimeters, preferably between 1.0 millimeters and 3.5 millimeters.
• An outer diameter of the hollow tubular wick element 14 may be between 2.3 millimeters and 7.1 millimeters, preferably between 2.7 millimeters and 4.7 millimeters.
• a length of the hollow tubular wick element 14 may be between 3.9 millimeters and 17 millimeters, preferably between 4.1 millimeters and 14 millimeters.
• Fig. 1 b shows a susceptor-and-wick assembly 10 brought into proximity to sealing elements.
• a first sealing element is arranged adjacent a first end of the susceptor arrangement 12 and the wick element 14 to be attached to said first end.
• the first sealing element is formed as a sealing disk 16.
• a second sealing element is arranged adjacent a second end of the susceptor arrangement 12 and the wick element 14 to be attached to said second end.
• the second sealing element is formed as a sealing disk 18.
• the sealing disks 16,18 have the shape of flat hollow tubular cylinders.
• Fig. 1c shows the attached configuration where the sealing disks 16,18 are attached to the respective first and second ends of the susceptor arrangement 12 and the wick element 14.
• a length “N” of the susceptor-and-wick assemblies 10 comprising the attached sealing disks 16,18 may be between 4.5 millimeters and 31 millimeters, preferably between 5.7 millimeters and 17 millimeters.
• Fig. 1d shows in its upper part a cross-sectional view of a sealing disk 16, 18.
• An inner diameter “L” of the sealing disk 16, 18 may be between 0.9 millimeter and 4.9 millimeters, preferably between 1.1 millimeters and 3.7 millimeters.
• An outer diameter “M” of the sealing disk 16, 18 may be between 2.5 millimeters and 7.5 millimeters, preferably between 2.9 millimeters and 5.1 millimeters.
• a height “K” of the sealing disk 16, 18 may be between 0.7 millimeter and 4.1 millimeters, preferably between 0.9 millimeter and 2.7 millimeters.
• An outer sidewall of one or both of the sealing disks 16, 18 may be non-flat.
• An enlarged section of the outer sidewall in the lower part of Fig. 1d shows suitable non-flat surface profiles of the outer sidewall of one or both of the sealing disks 16, 18.
• the outer sidewall of the sealing disk may have a concave shape 20, a corrugated shape 22, or a convex shape 24.
• FIG. 2a shows a rectangular sheet of a first susceptor material which may be rolled to form a first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 of a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement 12 as indicated by an arrow.
• the lower part of Fig. 2a is an enlarged view of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26.
• a wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 comprises a slit 28 extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26.
• the slit 28 extends along an axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26.
• the width of the slit 28 may be between 0.15 millimeter and 2.1 millimeters, preferably between 0.17 millimeter and 1.7 millimeters.
• the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 may be made of a porous carbon-based material, for example magnetic graphene.
• An outer diameter “C” of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 may be between 0.8 millimeters and 4.7 millimeters, preferably between 1.2 millimeters and 3.7 millimeters.
• a thickness “A” of the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 may be between 0.35 millimeter and 3.7 millimeters, preferably between 0.7 millimeter and 2.5 millimeters.
• a length “H” of the wall of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 may be between 3.9 millimeters and 20 millimeters, preferably between 4.7 millimeters and 14 millimeters.
• FIG. 2b shows a rhombic sheet of a second susceptor material which may be rolled to form a second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 of a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement 12 as indicated by an arrow.
• the lower part of Fig. 2b is an enlarged view of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30.
• a wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 comprises a slit 32 extending from a proximal end to a distal end of the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30.
• the slit 32 extends along a direction angled with respect to the axial direction from the proximal end to the distal end of the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30.
• the width of the slit 32 may be between 0.15 millimeter and 2.1 millimeters, preferably between 0.17 millimeter and 1.7 millimeters.
• the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 may be made of a perforated susceptor material, for example, a stainless steel alloy such as 304 stainless stell or 410 stainless steel.
• the perforations 34 may be introduced, for example, by laser etching or embossing a sheet of susceptor material.
• An outer diameter “D” of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 may be between 0.9 millimeters and 4.9 millimeters, preferably between 1.2 millimeters and 3.7 millimeters.
• a thickness “B” of the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 may be between 0.11 millimeter and 0.8 millimeter, preferably between 0.2 millimeter and 0.7 millimeter.
• a length “I” of the wall of the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 may be between 3.9 millimeters and 21 millimeters, preferably between 4.7 millimeters and 15 millimeters.
• a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement 12 suitable for use in a cartridge as described herein may comprise only one of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 and the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30.
• a hollow tubular susceptor arrangement 12 suitable for use in a cartridge as described herein may comprise both of the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 and the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30.
• the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26 may coaxially circumscribe the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30, or the second hollow tubular susceptor element 30 may coaxially circumscribe the first hollow tubular susceptor element 26.
• Fig. 3a shows a susceptor-and-wick assembly 10 brought into proximity to a hollow tubular liquid storage portion 36 for being inserted thereinto as indicated by an arrow.
• the hollow tubular liquid storage portion 36 comprises a fluid permeable portion 38 of an inner wall of the liquid storage portion 36.
• Fig. 3b shows the susceptor-and-wick assembly 10 being inserted into the hollow tubular liquid storage portion 36 and thus forming cartridge for use with an aerosol-generating device.
• the cartridge thus comprises a hollow tubular liquid storage portion 34 coaxially circumscribing the wick element 14.
• the liquid storage portion 36 of Fig. 3b is filled with a liquid aerosol-forming substrate 40.
• the fluid permeable portion 38 of the inner wall of the liquid storage portion 36 is in direct physical contact with an outer wall of the wick element 12, thereby allowing for the liquid aerosol-forming substrate 40 to migrate from the liquid storage portion 36 to the wick element 12.
• Figs. 4a and 4b illustrate the working principle of a cartridge of Fig. 3b.
• Fig. 4a shows the cartridge being inserted into a heating chamber of an aerosolgenerating device comprising an inductor coil arrangement 42.
• the inductor coil is supplied with an alternating current creating an alternating magnetic field which, in turn, will heat the susceptor arrangement 12.
• Ambient air 44 enters the aerosol-generating device via one or more air inlets thereof and passes an airflow path to enter the cartridge at a distal or upstream end thereof.
• Liquid aerosol-forming substrate 40 is evaporated due to the heat produced by the susceptor arrangement 12. Volatized particles are taken up by the airflow and an aerosol 46 exits the interior channel of the hollow liquid storage portion 36 at a proximal or downstream end thereof. The aerosol may then further travel along an airflow path towards a mouth-end of the device or a mouth-end of the cartridge where the aerosol may be inhaled by a user.
• Fig. 4b shows an enlarged section of the area enclosed by a dotted rectangle of Fig. 4a.
• the portion 48 of the inner wall of the liquid storage portion 36 which is not in contact with the wick element 14 is fluid impermeable. However, at the area of the fluid permeable portion 38 of the inner wall of the liquid storage portion 36, liquid aerosol-forming substrate 40 may migrate through the wall 38 and into and through the hollow tubular wick element 14. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate 40 further migrates into and through the fluid permeable wall of the susceptor assembly 12. When the susceptor assembly 12 is heated by the alternating magnetic field produced by the inductor coil, volatilization of liquid aerosol-forming substrate 40 may occur at the inner surface of the hollow tubular susceptor arrangement 12.
• Volatilization is exemplarily shown at volatilization spots 50. Volatized particles may then be taken up by the airflow 44 entering the hollow inner tubular core of the cartridge and the airflow 46 comprising volatized particles from the liquid aerosol-forming substrate may travel towards the proximal end of the cartridge, exit the cartridge, and travel further towards a mouth-end of the aerosolgenerating device, or a mouth-end of the cartridge, where the ripened aerosol may be inhaled by a user.

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Citations (6)

• 2022
  • 2022-10-13 EP EP22798357.4A patent/EP4418917A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-10-13 JP JP2024523475A patent/JP2024536566A/ja active Pending
  • 2022-10-13 WO PCT/EP2022/078473 patent/WO2023066774A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2022-10-13 CN CN202280068933.7A patent/CN118119305A/zh active Pending
  • 2022-10-13 KR KR1020247012909A patent/KR20240088934A/ko unknown

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