Removable Cartridge for an Aerosol Generation System and Aerosol Generation System

Abstract

This application relates to a removable cartridge for an aerosol-generating system and an aerosol-generating system. A removable cartridge for an aerosol-generating system comprises: a liquid storage portion; and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the liquid storage portion; wherein the liquid storage portion includes an inlet connection for communicating air received from a pump of the aerosol-generating system to the liquid storage portion during use, and wherein the liquid storage portion further includes an outlet connection for releasing a volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage portion in response to air from the pump during use.

Description

[0001] This divisional application is a divisional application of a Chinese patent application with the application number 201780070835.6, the filing date of October 27, 2017, and the invention title of "Aerosol Generation System and Method for Forming a Matrix of Liquid Aerosol by Pumping Air to Distribute Liquid". This Chinese patent application is the national phase in China of an international application with the international application number PCT / EP2017 / 077676. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to an aerosol generation system, such as a hand-held electrically operated aerosol generation system. More precisely, the present invention relates to an aerosol generation system in which the aerosol-forming substrate is a liquid and is contained in a liquid storage part. Background Art

[0003] Known aerosol generation systems include an aerosol generation device and an aerosol generation article incorporating a liquid storage part for storing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol generation device includes a pump and a vaporizer. During operation of such an aerosol generation system, the pump receives the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage part and pumps the received liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the vaporizer. The vaporizer applies heat to the liquid aerosol-forming substrate by means of a heater. By heating the aerosol-forming substrate, an aerosol that can be inhaled, for example, by a user of the aerosol generation system is generated.

[0004] During operation, the orientation of the aerosol generation system can be changed by the user holding the aerosol generation system. Depending on the current orientation, air bubbles may be sucked through the pump. In this case, an unwanted burst of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate will be delivered to the vaporizer. Accordingly, the volume of the aerosol produced by the vaporizer can vary depending on pump activation and can be different from the desired dose. In addition, in the long term, the pump may be damaged by pumping air bubbles due to cavity pitting, its performance may deteriorate, and its service life may be reduced. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate is typically highly viscous. However, commercially available pumps for aerosol generation systems are often initially designed for other purposes and, in particular, for pumping water-based solutions, which are 10 to 500 times more fluid and less viscous than the liquid aerosol-forming substrate used in aerosol generation systems. Therefore, pumping a highly viscous liquid aerosol-forming substrate and supplying a predetermined volume of such a liquid is a challenge for such pumps. In addition, the service life of the pump may be limited by pumping a highly viscous liquid aerosol-forming substrate rather than a water-based solution.

[0005] It would be desirable to provide an improved aerosol generation system that allows a predetermined volume of a liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be dispensed into a vaporizer independently of the current orientation of the aerosol generation system or at least over a wide range of orientations. Additionally, it would be desirable to provide an aerosol generation system that has an increased service life of a commercially available pump originally designed for pumping low-viscosity solutions. Summary of the Invention

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generation system comprising a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a pump, and a vaporizer. The vaporizer is configured to vaporize the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The pump is configured to pump air into the liquid storage portion to push out a volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion and supply the pushed-out volume of the aerosol-forming substrate to the vaporizer.

[0007] The pump presses air into the liquid storage portion that stores the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The air pressed into the liquid storage portion displaces the liquid aerosol-forming substrate such that a bubble-free volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is dispensed from the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer. The volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate dispensed to the vaporizer depends on the volume of compressed air that has been pumped into the liquid storage portion. The pump is arranged upstream of the liquid storage portion and is not inserted between the liquid storage portion and the vaporizer. Thus, the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is not pumped through the pump. Accordingly, problems associated with pumping a liquid aerosol-forming substrate having a high viscosity through the pump are avoided. Since the pump only pumps air, cavitation pitting of bubbles incorporated in the pumped liquid depending on the current orientation of the aerosol generation system does not damage the pump. Thus, the aerosol generation system can reliably deliver a predetermined volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to the vaporizer and vaporize the delivered volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate over a wide range of orientations of the aerosol generation system, preferably independently of the current orientation of the aerosol generation system.

[0008] The pump is preferably arranged upstream of the liquid storage portion. As used herein, the terms 'upstream', 'downstream', 'proximal', 'distal', 'front' and 'back' are used to describe the relative positions of the components of the aerosol generating system or parts of the components relative to the direction in which the user sucks on the aerosol generating system during use of the aerosol generating system. The aerosol generating system may include a mouth end through which, in use, the aerosol exits the aerosol generating system and is delivered to the user. The mouth end may also be referred to as the proximal end. In use, the user sucks on the proximal end or mouth end of the aerosol generating system in order to inhale the aerosol generated by the aerosol generating system. The aerosol generating system includes a distal end opposite the proximal end or mouth end. The proximal end or mouth end of the aerosol generating system may also be referred to as the downstream end. The distal end of the aerosol generating system may also be referred to as the upstream end. Since the pump is arranged upstream of the liquid storage portion, the pump is arranged closer to the distal end compared to the liquid storage portion. The components of the aerosol generating system or parts of the components may be described as upstream or downstream of each other based on their relative positions between the proximal end, downstream end or mouth end and the distal end or upstream end of the aerosol generating system.

[0009] The aerosol generating system may be configured to vaporize a liquid aerosol-forming substrate having a relatively high viscosity compared to water. The viscosity of this liquid aerosol-forming substrate may be in the range of from about 10 to 500 millipascal-seconds, preferably in the range of from about 17 to 86 millipascal-seconds.

[0010] The pump is preferably configured such that only air enters the pump during pump activation. Thus, the non-viscous liquid aerosol-forming substrate passes through the pump.

[0011] The pump is preferably a micropump configured to pump a predetermined volume of air each time the pump is activated.

[0012] The pump is preferably configured to push a predetermined volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer each time the pump is activated. The liquid aerosol-forming substrate is substantially incompressible such that the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate does not depend on the pressure of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0013] The pump can be carefully tuned for pushing a desired volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate into the vaporizer. To push out a desired volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion, a certain volume of air must be pumped into the liquid storage portion by the pump. The compressed air that has been pumped into the liquid storage portion occupies the volume of the liquid that is pushed out of the liquid storage portion by the compressed air. To maintain the compressed air at a certain pressure within the liquid storage portion, a one-way valve can be provided at the inlet of the liquid storage portion. Preferably, the pump pumps air at a constant pressure into the liquid storage portion such that the volume of the pumped air corresponds to the volume of the pushed-out liquid aerosol-forming substrate. Preferably, the pump allows for on-demand delivery of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate at a low flow rate, such as approximately 0.5 to 2 microliters per second, for intervals having variable or constant durations. The flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate delivered to the vaporizer can depend on the pumping frequency of the pump. To achieve the desired flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a suitable pumping frequency of the pump can be determined from a look-up table that stores the correspondence between a particular desired flow rate and a particular operable pumping frequency. The desired flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be achieved by appropriately setting or adjusting the pumping frequency based on the look-up table.

[0014] Preferably, the aerosol-generating system includes a tube through which the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied from the liquid storage portion to a vaporizer disposed downstream of an open end of the tube.

[0015] The tube can be a nozzle. The tube can comprise any suitable material, such as glass, silicone, a metal such as stainless steel, or a plastic material such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK). The size of the tube can match the size of the outlet of the liquid storage portion. For example, the tube can have a diameter of about 1 to 2 millimeters, but other sizes are possible. The tube can be a capillary nozzle having a diameter of about 1 millimeter, such as a glass nozzle, connected to the outlet of the liquid storage portion via a silicone conduit. Preferably, the tube includes a capillary. The cross-section of the capillary can be circular, oval, triangular, rectangular, or any other suitable shape for transporting the liquid. At least the width dimension of the cross-sectional area of the capillary is preferably selected to be small enough such that, on the one hand, capillary forces exist. At the same time, the cross-sectional area of the capillary is preferably large enough such that a suitable volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate can be delivered to the heating element. Generally, the cross-sectional area of the capillary is below 4 square millimeters, below 1 square millimeter, or below 0.5 square millimeters in some instances.

[0016] Preferably, the vaporizer includes a heater for heating the supplied volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The heater is any device suitable for heating the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and volatilizing at least a portion of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to form an aerosol. Exemplarily, the heater can be a heated coil, a heated capillary, a heated mesh, or a heated metal plate. Exemplarily, the heater can be a resistive heater that receives electrical power and converts at least a portion of the received electrical power into heat energy. The heater can include only a single heating element or multiple heating elements. The temperature of one or more heating elements is preferably controlled by a circuit.

[0017] The vaporizer can include a heating coil extending from the tube in a longitudinal direction as a heating element. The heating coil can be mounted transversely to the tube. The heating coil can overlap the open end of the tube by up to 3 millimeters, preferably up to 1 millimeter. In some instances, there may be a distance between the open end of the tube and the heating coil. The length of the heating coil can be from 2 millimeters to 9 millimeters, preferably from 3 millimeters to 6 millimeters. The diameter of the heating coil can be selected such that one end of the heating coil can be wrapped around the tube. The diameter of the heating coil can be from 1 millimeter to 5 millimeters, preferably from 2 millimeters to 4 millimeters.

[0018] The vaporizer can include a conical heater extending from the tube in a longitudinal direction as a heating element. The conical heater can overlap the open end of the tube. In some instances, there can be a distance of from 0.1 millimeter to 2 millimeters, preferably from 0.1 millimeter to 1 millimeter, between the open end of the tube and the conical heater. The slant height of the conical heater can be from 2 millimeters to 7 millimeters, preferably from 2.5 millimeters to 5 millimeters. When moving along the slant height from one end to the other, the diameter of the conical heater in a cross-sectional view can increase from a first diameter to a second diameter. The first diameter can be from 0.1 millimeter to 2 millimeters, preferably from 0.1 millimeter to 1 millimeter. The second diameter can be from 1.2 millimeters to 3 millimeters, preferably from 1.5 millimeters to 2 millimeters. Preferably, the conical heater is arranged such that the liquid aerosol-forming substrate exiting the tube passes through the conical heater at the first diameter before the second diameter. The first diameter of the conical heater can be selected such that one end of the conical heater can be wrapped around the tube.

[0019] The vaporizer can include a flat heater having, for example, a solid or meshed surface as a heating element. The vaporizer can include a meshed heater as a heating element. The vaporizer can include an arrangement of filaments as a heating element.

[0020] The vaporizer can include at least one of a solid, flexible, porous, and perforated substrate, and the heating element can be attached to the substrate, for example, by at least one of mounting, printing, deposition, etching, and lamination. The substrate can be a polymer or ceramic substrate.

[0021] Both the pump and the heater can be triggered by the aspiration detection system. Alternatively, the pump and the heater can be triggered by pressing an on / off button for the duration of the user's aspiration.

[0022] Preferably, the aerosol-generating system includes a chamber into which the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied. The heater of the vaporizer is disposed inside the chamber downstream of the outlet of the liquid storage portion.

[0023] Preferably, the liquid storage portion is configured to store the liquid aerosol-forming substrate for supply to the vaporizer and to receive air from the pump. The liquid storage portion can be configured as a container or reservoir for storing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate.

[0024] Preferably, the liquid storage portion includes a member for collecting the air received from the pump and a member for inhibiting the transfer of the air pumped into the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer. To prevent the received air from exiting back to the pump, the liquid storage portion can include a one-way valve as an inlet for receiving air from the pump.

[0025] Preferably, the member for collecting the air received from the pump and the member for inhibiting the transfer of the air pumped into the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer are a separation unit that separates the liquid storage portion into a first storage volume and a second storage volume. The first storage volume is connected to the pump for receiving air. The second storage volume is connected to the vaporizer. The separation unit is configured to allow the transfer of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and to inhibit the transfer of air from the first storage volume to the second storage volume. The separation unit can be implemented by providing at least one partition wall and at least one gap or valve between the first and second storage volumes within the liquid storage portion, the valve preferably being a one-way valve for transferring the substantially bubble-free liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the first storage volume to the second storage volume. The separation unit can be configured such that the gap or valve is located below the filling level of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the first storage volume in a wide range of orientations of the liquid storage portion. In this way, the separation unit achieves bubble-free liquid distribution in a wide range of orientations of the liquid storage portion.

[0026] Preferably, the liquid storage portion is capable of being connected to at least one of the pump and the vaporizer by a corresponding connection that is airtight to the surrounding atmosphere. Preferably, the connection is configured as a self-healing pierceable film. The film avoids unwanted leakage of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the liquid storage portion. The liquid storage portion can be configured as a replaceable cartridge or container. To connect the replaceable liquid storage portion to the pump and / or the vaporizer, corresponding needle-like hollow tubes can pierce through the corresponding films. When the pump and / or the vaporizer are connected to the liquid storage portion, the film avoids unwanted leakage of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate and leakage of air from and into the liquid storage portion.

[0027] Preferably, the aerosol generating system includes a main unit and a cartridge, where the cartridge can be removably coupled to the main unit, where the main unit can include a power source, where a liquid storage portion can be provided in the cartridge, and where a pump can be provided in the main unit. Preferably, the main unit further includes a vaporizer.

[0028] The aerosol generating system can further include a circuit connected to the vaporizer and the power source. The circuit can be configured to monitor the resistance of the vaporizer and, preferably, control the power supply to the vaporizer depending on the resistance of the vaporizer.

[0029] The circuit can include a controller having a microprocessor, which can be a programmable microprocessor. The circuit can include other electronic components. The circuit can be configured to regulate the power supply to the vaporizer. Power can be supplied continuously to the vaporizer after starting the system, or can be supplied intermittently, for example, on a per-puff basis. Power can be supplied to the vaporizer in the form of current pulses.

[0030] The circuit can be configured to set or adjust the pumping frequency of the pump and / or control the power supply to the pump.

[0031] Advantageously, the aerosol generating system includes a power source, typically a battery, for example, within the body of the housing. The power source can be a form of charge storage device, for example, a capacitor. The power source may need to be recharged and can have a capacity that allows sufficient energy to be stored for one or more sessions; for example, the power source can have sufficient capacity to allow continuous aerosol generation for a period of about six minutes or a multiple of six minutes. In another example, the power source can have sufficient capacity to allow a predetermined number of puffs or discontinuous activation of the heater assembly.

[0032] To allow ambient air to enter the aerosol generating system, the wall of the housing of the aerosol generating system, preferably the wall opposite the vaporizer, preferably the bottom wall, has at least one semi-open inlet. The semi-open inlet preferably allows air to enter the aerosol generating system but does not allow air or liquid to leave the aerosol generating system through the semi-open inlet. For example, the semi-open inlet can be a semi-permeable membrane that is breathable only in one direction but is airtight and liquid-tight in the opposite direction. For example, the semi-open inlet can also be a one-way valve. Preferably, the semi-open inlet allows air to pass through the inlet only when certain conditions are met, such as a minimum low pressure in the aerosol generating system or a certain volume of air passing through the valve or membrane. The aerosol generating system can have additional air inlets for drawing ambient air in by operating the pump.

[0033] A liquid aerosol - forming substrate is a substrate capable of releasing volatile compounds that can form an aerosol. The volatile compounds can be released by heating the aerosol - forming substrate. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include plant - based materials. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include tobacco. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include a tobacco - containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds, and the flavor compounds are released from the liquid aerosol - forming substrate after heating. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may alternatively include tobacco - free materials. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include homogenized plant - based materials. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include homogenized tobacco materials. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include at least one aerosol - forming agent. The liquid aerosol - forming substrate may include other additives and ingredients, such as flavorings.

[0034] Preferably, the aerosol - generating system is portable. The aerosol - generating system may have a size comparable to that of a conventional cigar or cigarette. The aerosol - generating system may have a total length between approximately 30 millimeters and approximately 150 millimeters. The aerosol - generating system may have an outer diameter between approximately 5 millimeters and approximately 30 millimeters.

[0035] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating an aerosol, the method comprising the steps of: providing a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid aerosol - forming substrate; pumping air into the liquid storage portion by a pump to push out a volume of the liquid aerosol - forming substrate from the liquid storage portion into a vaporizer by the air pumped into the liquid storage portion; and vaporizing at least a portion of the pushed - out volume of the liquid aerosol - forming substrate by the vaporizer.

[0036] Preferably, the volume of the liquid aerosol - forming substrate is pushed out from the liquid storage portion into the vaporizer in a bubble - free manner in a further step.

[0037] The pump is preferably a micropump and each pump activation pumps a predetermined volume of air.

[0038] Preferably, a predetermined volume of the liquid aerosol - forming substrate is pushed out from the liquid storage portion into the vaporizer by one pump activation in a further step.

[0039] Features described with respect to one aspect may equally apply to other aspects of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] Figure 1A and Figure 1B show a perspective view and a top - side view of an aerosol - generating system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0042] Figure 2 A perspective view of a liquid storage portion of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed description

[0043] Figure 1A and Figure 1B A schematic illustration showing an embodiment of an aerosol-generating system of the present invention. The aerosol-generating system includes a main unit and a refillable or replaceable cartridge having a liquid storage portion 5. The liquid storage portion is configured to store a liquid aerosol-forming substrate. The main unit includes a body 10 and a mouthpiece portion 12. The body 10 contains a power source 1, such as a battery like a lithium iron phosphate battery, an electronic circuit 2, a cavity for accommodating the cartridge, a micropump 3 configured as a pump, and a vaporizer 7. Electrical connectors 8, 9 are provided on the side of the body 10 to provide an electrical connection between the circuit 2, the power source 1 and the vaporizer 7. The micropump 3 is configured to draw air into its inlet when in operation and provide pumped air at its outlet. A tube 4 is provided to connect the outlet of the micropump 3 to the inlet of the liquid storage portion 5. When the micropump 3 operates, it pumps air via the tube 4 into the liquid storage portion 5, which tube is airtight to the environment. The compressed air pumped into the inlet of the liquid storage portion 5 displaces a certain volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate through the outlet of the liquid storage portion 5 into the tube 6. The tube 6 guides the flow of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the outlet of the liquid storage portion 5 to the deposition area of the heating element of the vaporizer 7. The flow rate of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is determined by the set pumping frequency of the micropump 3. The mouthpiece portion 12 includes a plurality of air inlets 11 and an outlet 13. In use, the user sucks or draws on the outlet 13 to draw air from the air inlets 11, through the mouthpiece portion 12 to the outlet 13, and then into the user's mouth or lungs. Internal baffles are provided to force air to flow through the mouthpiece portion 12. The vaporizer 7 is configured to directly heat the liquid aerosol-forming substrate after it exits the tube 6.

[0044] The cartridge is configured to be received in the cavity within the body 10. When the aerosol-forming substrate provided in the cartridge is depleted, the cartridge should be replaceable by the user. When a new cartridge is inserted, a slider at the body can be moved to expose the cavity. The new cartridge can be inserted into the exposed cavity. The inlet of the liquid storage portion 5 is configured to be connected to the tube 4, which is connected to the outlet of the micropump 3. The outlet of the liquid storage portion is configured to be connected to the tube 6, which is connected to the vaporizer 7. The main unit is portable and has a size comparable to that of a conventional cigar or cigarette.

[0045] Figure 2 A perspective view of a liquid storage portion of an aerosol-generating system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The liquid storage portion 5 shown in Figure 1BThe liquid storage portion 5 shown in [description]. The liquid storage portion 5 is a tank or reservoir configured to store a liquid aerosol - forming substrate. The liquid storage portion 5 includes a housing 20, a first self - healing pierceable film 27 at the bottom of the housing 20, and a second self - healing pierceable film 28 at the top of the housing 20. The housing 20 and the films 27 and 28 provide an internal volume that is hermetically sealed from the external environment of the liquid storage portion 5. The internal volume is divided by a separation unit into a first storage volume 21 and a second storage volume 22.

[0046] The separation unit is formed by a first partition wall 23 and a second partition wall 26. The first partition wall 23 extends longitudinally in a direction from the bottom to the top of the liquid storage portion 5. Except for a gap 25 near the bottom of the liquid storage portion 5, the second partition wall 26 almost completely separates the first storage volume 21 and the second storage volume 22 from each other. The sections of the first partition wall 23 and the second partition wall 26 that end at the gap 25 are mounted facing each other at a specific distance to establish a vertical gap 24. The vertical gap 24 extends longitudinally in a direction from the bottom to the top of the liquid storage portion 5. The first storage volume 21 and the second storage volume 22 are separated from each other by the gap 25 and the vertical gap 24. A single valve (not shown) that allows the liquid aerosol - forming substrate to pass from the first storage volume 21 to the second storage 22 and blocks the passage of air into the second storage volume 22 can be arranged in the vertical gap 24. The first storage volume 21 is configured to store a liquid aerosol - forming substrate 29 and a certain volume of air 30. A part of the second partition wall 26 extends longitudinally from the gap 25 in a direction from the bottom to the top of the liquid storage portion 5. The arrangement of the second partition wall 26 creates a draw tube 33 in the second storage volume 22, which extends longitudinally in a direction from the bottom to the top of the liquid storage portion 5. The gaps 24, 25, and the draw tube 33 are arranged relative to each other such that bubble transfer from the first storage volume 21 to the second storage volume 22 is inhibited over a wide range of orientations of the liquid storage portion 5. Thus, only bubble - free liquid aerosol - forming substrate is stored in the second storage volume over a wide range of orientations of the liquid storage portion 5. This allows bubble - free liquid dispensing over a wide range of orientations of the liquid storage portion 5. Preferably, the achieved bubble - free orientation range is between 0 and ±90 degrees, where Figure 2 an orientation of approximately 0 degrees is shown. In Figure 2 the required usage orientation of the liquid storage portion shown in [description], the outlet of the liquid storage portion is at the top of the liquid storage portion and the inlet is at the bottom of the liquid storage portion or at least below the filling level. In the required usage orientation, the partition walls and the gaps ensure that no air passes into the second storage volume. Compared with Figure 2 the upright position depicted in [description], if the liquid storage portion is not tilted more than 90 degrees, then bubbles are prevented from passing into the second storage volume 22.

[0047] Figure 2 The liquid storage portion 5 shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained by placing the corresponding Figure 1B One end of the tube 31 of the tube 4 pierces through the first self-healing film 27 and is connected to Figure 1B In addition, the liquid storage portion 5 can be connected by placing the corresponding Figure 1B One end of the tube 32 of the tube 6 pierces through the second self-healing film 28 and is connected to Figure 1B 31 . In order to dispense a volume of liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the second storage volume 22 to the vaporizer 7 through the tube 32, the micropump 3 pumps air into the first storage volume 21 through the tube 31. In response to the pumping of air, a volume of liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the first storage volume 21 is displaced through the gaps 24, 25 to the second storage volume 22, resulting in the same volume of liquid aerosol-forming substrate being dispensed from the second storage volume 22 through the tube 32. The air pumped into the liquid storage portion 5 is collected in the first storage volume 21.

Claims

1. A removable cartridge for an aerosol-generating system, comprising: a liquid storage portion; and a liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the liquid storage portion; wherein the liquid storage portion includes an inlet connection for communicating air received from a pump of the aerosol-generating system to the liquid storage portion during use, and wherein the liquid storage portion further includes an outlet connection for releasing a volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the liquid storage portion in response to air from the pump during use, wherein the inlet connection and the outlet connection are configured as self-healing puncturable membranes.

2. The removable cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge is removably connectable to a main unit of the aerosol-generating system, and wherein the main unit includes the pump and a power source.

3. The removable cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the main unit further includes a vaporizer.

4. The removable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid storage portion can include a one-way valve as an inlet for receiving air from the pump.

5. The removable cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the liquid storage portion includes a member for collecting the air received from the pump and a member for inhibiting the air pumped into the liquid storage portion from being transferred to the vaporizer.

6. The removable cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the member for collecting the air received from the pump and the member for inhibiting the air pumped into the liquid storage portion from being transferred to the vaporizer is a separation unit that separates the liquid storage portion into a first storage volume and a second storage volume, wherein the first storage volume is connected to the pump for receiving air, and the second storage volume is connected to the vaporizer, and wherein the separation unit is configured to allow the liquid aerosol-forming substrate to be transferred from the first storage volume to the second storage volume and inhibit the air from being transferred from the first storage volume to the second storage volume.

7. The removable cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the separation unit is implemented by providing at least one partition wall within the liquid storage portion between the first storage volume and the second storage volume and at least one gap or valve for transferring a substantially bubble-free liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the first storage volume to the second storage volume.

8. The removable cartridge according to claim 7, wherein, the valve is a one-way valve.

9. The removable cartridge according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the separation unit is configured such that the gap or the valve is located below the filling level of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate in the first storage volume in a wide range of orientations of the liquid storage portion.

10. The removable cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the liquid storage portion can be connected to at least one of the pump and the vaporizer by corresponding connections that are airtight with respect to the surrounding atmosphere.

11. The removable cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the film prevents unwanted leakage of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate stored in the liquid storage portion.

12. An aerosol generating system, comprising: a removable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 11, a vaporizer for volatilizing the liquid aerosol-forming substrate, a pump for pumping air into the liquid storage portion to push out a predetermined volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion and supply the pushed-out volume of the aerosol-forming substrate to the vaporizer, wherein the pump is a micropump configured to pump a predetermined volume of air per pump activation and wherein the pump is configured to push out a predetermined volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer per pump activation.

13. The aerosol generating system according to claim 12, further comprising a tube through which the volume of the liquid aerosol-forming substrate is supplied from the liquid storage portion to the vaporizer disposed downstream of the open end of the tube.

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