Patent Application
20250228288
The present disclosure relates to an aerosol generating consumable, such as a heat- not-burn consumable. The present disclosure also relates to an aerosol generating device for use with the aerosol generating consumable.
Various devices and systems are available that heat aerosol substrate consumables to release aerosol/vapour for inhalation, rather than relying on burning the aerosol substrate consumable. For example, e-cigarettes vaporize an e-liquid to an inhalable vapour. However, e-cigarettes are vulnerable to leakage of the e-liquid but benefit from fast volatilisation times. Alternative devices with solid consumables are available. However, such devices require a heater to be part of the device, which leads to additional complexity and cost in the device.
An aerosol substrate consumable including a combustible heat source is known. In this case, the combustible heat source may be ignited to combust and transmit heat to the aerosol substrate without burning the aerosol substrate. In one example, the combustible heat source may be in a tubular arrangement to entirely surround an aerosol substrate material located within. However, the use of a combustible heat source can lead to a user inhaling combustion gases and the like that are generated due to the combustion of the combustion heat source, which is undesirable. It is a further challenge with existing combustion heat sources to control the heat distribution to the aerosol substrate material and avoiding combusting the aerosol substrate material.
It is the object of the invention to overcome at least one of the above referenced problems, or to provide an alternative solution.
According to the present disclosure there is provided an aerosol generating consumable (or aerosol generating article) including the features as set out in the claims.
In one example, there is provided an aerosol generating consumable comprising: an aerosol substrate portion comprising an inlet end for air to be drawn into the aerosol substrate portion and an outlet end for aerosol to exit the aerosol substrate portion, wherein the aerosol substrate portion extends in a longitudinal direction from the outlet end to the inlet end; and a combustible heat source configured to be ignited to heat the aerosol substrate portion, wherein the combustible heat source is arranged to overlap with part of the aerosol substrate portion in the longitudinal direction, wherein the inlet end of the aerosol substrate portion is configured to extend beyond a distal end of the combustible heat source in the longitudinal direction.
Providing a combustible heat source that overlaps with the aerosol substrate portion means that heat can be more evenly applied to the aerosol substrate portion during an inhalation session such that there is a reduced chance of charring or combustion of the aerosol substrate portion during use so an improved sensory experience is provided to a user.
Further, as the inlet end of the aerosol substrate portion is configured to extend beyond a distal end of the combustible heat source in the longitudinal direction, there is a reduced chance of combustion gases generated due to the combustion of the combustible heat source being inhaled by the user during an inhalation session.
In one example, a proximal end of the combustible heat source extends to a region upstream of the outlet end of the aerosol substrate portion. As the proximal end of the combustible heat source terminates at a distance upstream of the outlet end of the aerosol substrate portion, there is a reduced risk of a user inhaling combustion gases as they would be further from the combustible heat source. This is particularly relevant when using an aerosol generating device with one or more air channels as described below as combustion gases may exit the device through the one or more air channels. In addition, as the proximal end of the combustible heat source terminates at a distance upstream of the outlet end of the aerosol substrate portion, generated aerosol may be cooled to a suitable temperature before being inhaled. The distance (or gap) also reduces heating of a cooling segment or filter downstream of the aerosol substrate portion and so there is a reduced likelihood of combustion gases being generated in the vicinity of a user's nose. Further, due to diffusion and convection while inhaling, the combustible heat source is not required to extend the entire length of the aerosol substrate portion.
In one example, the aerosol generating consumable comprises a metal layer wrapping the aerosol substrate portion and extending from the inlet end to at least the outlet end of the aerosol substrate portion. The metal layer reduces (or prevents) the combustion gases from passing to the aerosol substrate portion in use. The metal layer also helps to conduct and spread the heat generated from the combustible heat source to the aerosol substrate portion.
In one example, the aerosol generating consumable comprises a paper layer wrapping the aerosol substrate portion and extending from the inlet end to at least the outlet end of the aerosol substrate portion. The paper wrapping layer aids with dissipating heat so to reduce the likelihood of a user getting burnt when handling the consumable after use. Paper is also a common, sustainable, unexpensive and manufacturable material for use in wrapping the different components.
The combustible heat source may take the form of a tubular layer around the aerosol substrate portion. The tubular layer of combustible heat source can be used with a substantially cylindrical aerosol generating consumable, which is relatively easy to produce. A tubular layer of combustible heat source also provides a way of evenly heating the aerosol substrate portion.
In one example, the combustible heat source comprises a repeated pattern of a region of high height and/or width followed by a region of low height and/or width along the longitudinal direction. The variation in height and/or width means that the speed at which the combustible heat source combusts can vary along its length, thereby controlling the heating of the aerosol substrate portion and hence the time of the inhalation session.
The combustible heat source may be arranged in a meandering path extending along the longitudinal direction. The meandering path means that the speed at which the combustible heat source combusts can vary along its length, thereby controlling the heating of the aerosol substrate portion and hence the time of the inhalation session.
In one example, the aerosol generating consumable comprises a proximal filter at or close to the outlet end of the aerosol substrate portion. The proximal filter is configured to filter certain components from the aerosol, in use.
In one example, the aerosol generating consumable comprises a cooling segment, such as a paper tube or the like, to cool the aerosol. The cooling segment may be used in addition to or instead of the proximal filter.
In one example, the aerosol generating consumable comprises a distal filter at the inlet end of the aerosol substrate portion. The distal filter may be configured to capture combustion gases (such as carbon-based gases) and therefore reduce the amount of combustion gases inhaled by a user during an inhalation session.
In one example, at least one of the proximal filter and/or the distal filter comprises graphene. Graphene is suited to capturing carbon-based combustion gases and so will reduce (or prevent) combustion gases being inhaled by a user during an inhalation session.
In one example, the combustible heat source comprises a carbon layer or graphite. The carbon layer or graphite may comprise an ignition agent such as a potassium salts, e.g., KNO3, KOH, K2CO3.
An aerosol generating system includes the aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating consumable.
In one example, there is provided an aerosol generating device for generating aerosol by combustion of the combustible heat source of the aerosol generating consumable, the device comprising a chamber for receiving at least part of the aerosol substrate portion and the combustible heat source in use, wherein the chamber is arranged to surround the combustible heat source when the aerosol generating consumable is positioned in an insertion position in the chamber.
The device is configured for use with the aerosol generating consumable and configured to prevent the user from coming into contact with the combustible heat source in use, thereby improving safety. Further, the aerosol generating device is configured to keep heat within the chamber, avoiding thermal dispersion around the aerosol generating consumable.
In one example, a distal end of the chamber comprises a chamber air inlet configured to allow air to be drawn into the inlet end of the aerosol substrate portion of the aerosol generating consumable. The air inlet provides a way of permitting air to enter the chamber without mixing with the combustion gases.
In one example, the chamber air inlet is fluidically isolated from the combustible heat source when the aerosol generating consumable is positioned in the insertion position in the chamber. The insertion position may be considered to be when the aerosol generating consumable abuts a distal end of the chamber or a stopper within the chamber. Fluidically isolating the chamber air inlet from combustible heat source or having the air inlet remote from the combustible heat source reduces the amount of combustion gases that are inhaled by a user.
In one example, the chamber (or housing) comprises one or more air channels or conduits arranged downstream of the combustible heat source when the aerosol generating consumable is positioned in the insertion position. The channels or conduits preferably extend from the interior of the chamber to the outer surface of the housing. They provide a vent for combustion gases to exit the aerosol generating device as well as providing an air inlet for providing oxygen to the combustible heat source for combustion.
In one example, the aerosol generating device comprises an igniter or lighter configured to ignite a distal end of the combustible heat source. Providing a lighter within the device simplifies the experience for a user.
In one example, the igniter or lighter is configured to reach a ignition temperature of at least about 380° C., preferably at least about 420° C., most preferably at least about 500° C.
In one example, the device comprises a control unit configured to switch on the igniter or lighter and to switch off the igniter or lighter after a temperature of ignition of the combustible heat source is reached and/or after a time period comprised between 5 and 30 seconds is reached.
In one example, there is provided a system comprising an aerosol generating device as described above and an aerosol generating consumable as described above.
In one example, there is provided a method of using an aerosol generating device as described above comprising: inserting the aerosol generating consumable as described above into the aerosol generating device and igniting the distal end of the combustible heat source, using an ignited of the aerosol generating device.
Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As used herein, the term aerosol substrate is a label used to mean a medium that generates an aerosol or vapour when heated. It may be synonymous with smokable material and aerosol generating medium. Aerosol substrate includes liquid or solid materials that provide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form of vapor or an aerosol. Aerosol substrate may be a non-tobacco-containing material or a tobacco-containing material. Aerosol substrate may, for example, include one or more of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenized tobacco or tobacco substitutes. Aerosol substrate also may include other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product, may or may not contain nicotine. Aerosol substrate may comprise one or more humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.
The aerosol substrate portion 102 may extend in a substantially longitudinal direct from the outlet end 106 to the inlet end 104. That is to say that the aerosol substrate portion 102 defines a longitudinal axis between the outlet end 106 and the inlet end 104 and the aerosol substrate portion 102 extends along the longitudinal axis.
The aerosol generating consumable 100 includes a combustible heat source 108 that is configured to be ignited or combusted to heat the aerosol substrate portion 102. The combustible heat source 108 is arranged to overlap with part of the aerosol substrate portion 102 in the longitudinal direction. The inlet end 104 (or distal end) of the aerosol substrate portion 102 is configured to extend beyond an end (such as the distal end 110) of the combustible heat source 108 in the longitudinal direction. That is to say that the inlet end 104 of the aerosol substrate portion 102 projects beyond the distal end 110 of the combustible heat source 108, which results in a pathway or gap for any gases generated from the combustion of the combustible heat source 108 to escape without flowing through the aerosol generating portion 102. Put another way, the combustible heat source 108 is configured to extend from a region downstream of the inlet end 104 of the aerosol generating portion 102 in a direction towards the outlet end 106 of the aerosol generating portion 102.
A recess 112 (or inlet recess) may be formed at the location where the combustible heat source 108 does not overlap with the aerosol substrate portion 102 towards (or at) the inlet end 104. The recess 112 can be formed by the aerosol generating portion 102 extending beyond the combustion heat source 108 towards the inlet end 104. As the combustion gases do not pass through the aerosol substrate portion 102, the user is less likely to inhale them when using the aerosol generating consumable 100.
As the combustible heat source 108 is arranged to overlap with part of the aerosol substrate portion 102 in the longitudinal direction, the heat can be more evenly distributed to the aerosol substrate portion 102 during use. That is to say that the combustible heat source may be initially lit (or ignited/combusted) at the distal end 110 and so the inlet end 104 of the aerosol substrate portion 102 will initially be heated to a higher temperature to volatilise the aerosol. The combustible heat source 108 will then combust in the direction indicated by arrow A in
In the example shown in
Coupled with the recess 112 described above, the wrapping layer 116 reduces the amount of combustion gases that are inhaled by a user during an inhalation session of the aerosol generating consumable 100.
In one example, the wrapping layer 116 comprises a metal layer, such as aluminium foil. The metal layer is configured to conduct heat generated by the combustible heat source 108 to the aerosol substrate portion 102 and prevent combustion gases from passing to the aerosol substrate portion 102.
In one example, the wrapping layer 116 comprises a paper layer. The paper wrapping layer may be used in addition to the metal layer or instead of the metal layer. The wrapping layer is configured to prevent the aerosol substrate portion 102 from pyrolysis and localised combustion of the aerosol substrate portion 102. The wrapping layer 116 also makes the aerosol generating consumable 100 easier to manufacture and provides further structure/rigidity to the aerosol generating consumable 100.
In some examples, the aerosol generating consumable 100 includes a proximal filter 120 (or mouth-end filter). The proximal filter 120 may be arranged downstream of the outlet end 106 of the aerosol substrate portion 102. In one example, the proximal filter 120 abuts the outlet end 106 of the aerosol substrate portion 102. In another example, the proximal filter 120 is kept distant from the aerosol substrate portion 102 by an intermediate cooling segment such as by a tubular member (not shown). The cooling segment may thus contribute to cool the aerosol without increasing the resistance to draw. The proximal filter 120 may comprise cellulose acetate, paper, graphene and/or charcoal or the like. The proximal filter 120 may be formed of one or several segments. A non-filtering tubular member may prolong the filter at the mouth end of the consumable 100.
In some examples, the aerosol generating consumable 100 includes a distal filter 122. The distal filter 122 is configured to be a carbon-capture filter to prevent (or reduce the amount of) carbon-based combustion gases flowing into the inlet end 104 of the aerosol substrate portion 102. In one example, the distal filter 122 comprises graphene, which is particularly suited to capturing carbon-based gases. In some examples, the distal filter 122 comprises cellulose acetate.
In one example, the combustible heat source 108 is configured to heat the aerosol substrate portion 102 essentially via conduction heating. As shown in
The combustible heat source 108 may comprise a carbon (or graphite/coal) layer, that when lit, combusts to generate heat. One or more ignition agents to aid combustion of the combustible heat source 108 may be present in the combustible heat source 108. For example, the ignition temperature of a carbon layer may be reduced by the addition of one or more ignition agents, such as a potassium additive. In one example, the one or more ignition agents comprises a potassium salt (KNO3). The use of KNO3 may reduce the ignition temperature of the carbon layer from between approximately 690° C. and 720°° C. to between approximately 565° C. to 595° C. Other potassium salts, such as KOH or K2CO3 may also be used to reduce the ignition temperature of the carbon layer.
As shown in
As described above, the combustible heat source 108 does not extend all the way to the inlet end 104 of the aerosol substrate portion 102, but rather stops at a predetermined distance from the inlet end 104. In one example, the predetermined distance is dependent on the radius of the aerosol generating consumable 100. For example, the predetermined distance may be between half the radius and double the radius. For example, if the radius of the consumable 100 is 4 mm, the predetermined distance may be between 2 mm and 8 mm. This ratio of the predetermined distance ensures that there is adequate heat provided to the inlet end 104 of the aerosol substrate portion 102, whilst also limiting the amount of combustion gases that pass into the aerosol substrate portion 102 during use.
In one example, the combustible heat source 108 stops at a second predetermined distance from the outlet end 106 of the aerosol substrate portion 102. Such an arrangement forms a recess 118 (or outlet recess) at the outlet end 106 of the aerosol substrate portion 102. The provision of the outlet recess 118 reduces the risk of a user inhaling combustion gases as they would be further from the combustible heat source 108. In addition, as the proximal end 114 of the combustible heat source 108 terminates at a distance upstream of the outlet end 106 of the aerosol substrate portion 102, generated aerosol may be cooled to a suitable temperature before being inhaled by a user. The distance (or gap) also reduces heating of a cooling segment or filter downstream of the aerosol substrate portion 102 and so there is a reduced likelihood of combustion gases being generated in the vicinity of a user's nose. Further, due to diffusion and convection while inhaling, the combustible heat source 108 is not required to extend the entire length of the aerosol substrate portion 102. In one example, the second predetermined distance is dependent on the radius of the aerosol generating consumable. For example, it may be equal to a range between a distance equal to the radius or four times the radius of the aerosol generating consumable 100.
In other examples, the combustible heat source continues to the outlet end 106 of the aerosol substrate portion 102.
In the example shown in
In
In general, the combustible heat source 108 may have a uniform thickness of such that the volume of the combustible heat source is between 5% and 20% of the volume of the aerosol substrate portion 108. In other examples, the thickness of the combustible heat source 108 varies along the length of the combustible heat source 108.
The distal end 206 of the chamber 204 may comprise a chamber air inlet 208 configured to allow air to be drawn into the inlet end 104 of the aerosol substrate portion 102 of the aerosol generating consumable 100, in use. The chamber air inlet 208 enables air to be drawn from outside of the housing 202 to the chamber 204, during use.
In one example, the aerosol generating device 200 includes an igniter 210 or lighter configured to ignite a distal end (or upstream end) 110 of the combustible heat source 108, in use. The igniter 210 may generate a spark or region of high temperature that is sufficient to start the combustion of the distal end 110 of the combustible heat source 108. The igniter 210 may take the form of a hot wire or electric spark discharge generator. In one example, the lighter is a metal heated by a current. In some examples, the lighter comprises an infrared radiation source. The ignitor 210 may be operated in response to a user input (such as a button press or pad swipe).
In one example, the chamber 204 comprises one or more air channels or conduits 212 arranged downstream of the combustible heat source 108 when the aerosol generating consumable 100 is positioned in the insertion position. The one or more air channels 212 may be configured to extend in a substantially radial direction (e.g., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating consumable 100 when it is inserted into the aerosol generating device 200). The one or more air channels 212 provide a vent for the combustion gases generated due to the combustion of the combustible heat source 108 to exit the aerosol generating device 200 without being inhaled by a user.
In one example, one or more grooves (not shown) are provided in the chamber 206 to allow air to flow from the one or more air channels 212 along the length of the combustible heat source 108 to aid with the combustion of the combustible heat source 108.
Although preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims and as described above.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22167680.2 | Apr 2022 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2023/059173 | 4/6/2023 | WO |
