Aerosol-generating device

Abstract

There is disclosed an aerosol-generating device (100, 300, 400), the device comprising: a cavity (102, 302, 408) configured to receive an aerosol-forming consumable; a heater (106, 306, 414) configured to heat but not ignite an aerosol-forming consumable (104, 304, 410) received in the cavity, thereby generating an aerosol; and a gas supply device (108, 308, 404) including a separator, the gas supply device being configured to remove oxygen from the air by using the separator so as to generate a gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to the air, and to supply the gas to the cavity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device which provides a low-oxygen or oxygen-free gas to a heatable chamber or oven of the device. Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices, in particular known heated tobacco ovens in heat-not-burn systems, are typically limited to heating temperatures that prevent or reduce the risk of burning tobacco consumables disposed within the oven. Burning of tobacco may occur when oxygen is present in the oven or cavity space, which causes residual combustion, resulting in a more toxic aerosol inhaled by the user. In many cases, the burning tobacco consumables may also undesirably produce an unpleasant odor or taste in the generated aerosol.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a high heating temperature environment for heating an aerosol-forming consumable with a lower risk of burning the consumable. Summary of the invention

[0004] According to one aspect of the present invention, an aerosol generating device is provided, which includes: a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming consumable; a heater configured to heat but not burn the aerosol-forming consumable received in the cavity, thereby generating an aerosol; and a gas supply device including a separator, which is configured to remove oxygen from the air by using the separator so as to generate a gas with a reduced oxygen concentration relative to the air, and supply the gas to the cavity.

[0005] In this way, hypoxia or oxygen-free gas can be provided to the cavity of aerosol generating device. Advantageously, hypoxia or oxygen-free gas allows to increase the temperature of the heater in the cavity, while avoiding or reducing the burning of the aerosol formed by being received in the cavity. Forming consumables with higher temperature heating aerosol can use consumables more efficiently (i.e., consumables waste less) and produce more desirable aerosols, and particles are more finely dispersed in the aerosol. For example, nicotine is dispersed into smaller particles at higher temperatures and can be better absorbed in their bloodstream by the lungs of the user, thereby causing more efficient nicotine delivery. In addition, it has also been found that when heated at higher temperatures, tobacco-based consumables can be more effectively exhausted.

[0006] The burning or burning of aerosol-forming consumables may result in higher toxicity associated with the burned material and produce a bad smell for the user. This may undesirably increase the risk of health-related problems for the user and ruin the user experience.

[0007] The separator of the gas supply device can be configured to use a gas separation technology, such as a pressure swing adsorption technology or a membrane gas separation technology or any other suitable gas separation technology, as will be apparent to the skilled person. The separator can be an oxygen removal device, also known as an oxygen concentrator device. It should be understood that the separator actively removes oxygen from the air (before it is delivered to the cavity) so that the oxygen-reduced gas is provided to the cavity, such that combustion or the risk of combustion in the cavity is prevented.

[0008] In known oxygen removal devices and oxygen concentrator devices, the oxygen removed from the air is typically the desired gas, and the nitrogen and / or other gases in the remaining air are typically discarded as undesirable byproducts. In the present invention, the non-oxygen gas product is advantageously used to provide a low oxygen or oxygen-free environment in the device cavity. The removed oxygen can be reinserted into the air flow path of the device away from the heater and cavity.

[0009] Preferably, the gas is substantially free of oxygen.In this way, the risk of combustion or residual combustion of the aerosol-forming consumable in the cavity is significantly reduced and an optimal aerosol can be produced.

[0010] Preferably, the aerosol generating device further comprises a gas tank, which can be connected to a gas supply device to receive a gas with a reduced oxygen concentration relative to air. In this way, the gas can be stored in the gas tank and released into the cavity as needed. Advantageously, the storage gas tank will allow greater variability in the rate at which the gas is delivered to the cavity. For example, a higher delivery rate can involve a gas supply device or an oxygen removal device cooperating with a gas supply from the gas tank. In another example, the gas supply device can establish a certain amount of gas to be stored in the gas tank for supplying gas only from the gas tank (i.e., without active or continuous supply from the gas supply device) for one or more uses of the device (i.e., the inhalation process). It has also been found that the gas tank and the gas supply device can be accommodated in different and separable parts of the entire aerosol generating device to improve the ease of use of the device.

[0011] Preferably, the aerosol generating device further comprises a second gas tank which is connectable to the gas supply to receive the removed oxygen. In this way, the removed oxygen can be stored in the second gas tank for release as required. For example, oxygen can be added to the generated aerosol before it is inhaled by the user.

[0012] Preferably, the aerosol generating device further comprises an oxygen supply conduit, which is configured to supply the removed oxygen to an airflow channel extending away from the heater in the cavity. In this way, the oxygen removed by the gas supply device can be directed away from the heater and / or the cavity to reduce the risk of residual combustion. Preferably, the oxygen supply conduit is configured to supply the removed oxygen to the airflow channel in the mouthpiece. In this way, the removed oxygen can be directed into the airflow path for inhalation by the user. In another example, the mouthpiece may include one or more holes to allow additional air to be combined with the generated aerosol before the user inhales.

[0013] Preferably, the aerosol generating device further comprises an additional gas supply source, which is configured to supply a second gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to air to the cavity. Preferably, the second gas is nitrogen. In this way, the amount of oxygen in the cavity can be further reduced. The second gas can be combined with the gas provided by the gas supply device before it is supplied to the cavity, or in another example, the additional gas supply source can provide an alternative hypoxic or oxygen-free gas supply independent of the gas supply device. The additional gas supply source can include a pressurized bottle or gas tank of hypoxic gas. Alternatively, the additional gas supply source can include solid, liquid, and / or solid-liquid material, which is configured to produce a non-oxygen gas that can be provided to the cavity.

[0014] Preferably, the aerosol generating device further comprises a suction sensor connected to an actuator, wherein the actuator is configured to supply gas to the cavity during an inhalation detected by the suction sensor. In this way, the gas supply to the cavity can be controlled to occur only when the user draws from the device. This can provide a more efficient use of the gas supply device and extend the use time of the device. Preferably, the aerosol generating device is further configured to supply the removed oxygen to the airflow channel during an inhalation detected by the suction sensor. Similar techniques can also be used, wherein when the user is detected to draw, the removed oxygen provides oxygen to the generated aerosol. Preferably, the actuator comprises a solenoid valve.

[0015] Preferably, the aerosol generating device further comprises an aerosol generating device and a housing, in which the aerosol generating device can be accommodated. In this way, the functionality of the entire aerosol generating device can be separated to optimize the user experience. For example, the aerosol generating device can be used for inhalation by the user, and the gas supply device and / or other components of the device are separated from the device. The aerosol generating device can be taken out of the housing when the user wishes to take a puff and returned to the housing when completed. The housing can hold the gas supply device and / or other components, which may not be particularly useful for the user inhalation provided by the device. Preferably, the housing includes the gas supply device. As an example, the gas supply device can in this case charge one or more gas tanks provided in the aerosol generating device to provide a lighter device for user operation and inhalation. In another example, the aerosol generating device can be returned to the housing of the aerosol generating device to charge the battery of the device.

[0016] Preferably, the aerosol-generating device further comprises an aerosol-forming consumable received in the cavity and positioned adjacent the heater. In this way, when the aerosol-forming consumable is disposed in the cavity, it can be effectively heated by the heater to generate an aerosol.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for generating an aerosol for inhalation by a user is provided, the method comprising: receiving an aerosol-forming consumable in a cavity of an aerosol-generating device; receiving air in a gas supply device of the aerosol-generating device; removing oxygen from the received air by using a separator in the gas supply device to generate a gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to the air; supplying the gas to the cavity; and heating, but not burning, the aerosol-forming consumable by a heater of the aerosol-generating device to generate an aerosol. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 shows a flow diagram of an aerosol generating device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a gas supply device;

[0021] Figure 3 shows a flow diagram of an aerosol generating device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 4 A flow diagram showing an aerosol generating device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0023] Figure 5A and Figure 5B are schematic diagrams of different actuator systems. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the control and air flow through an aerosol generating device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The aerosol generating device 100 comprises a cavity 102 into which a consumable product 104 (such as a tobacco portion or a sim card) can be inserted and heated by a heater 106 of the device 100. The cavity 102 and the heater 106 together can be considered as an oven of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0025] The aerosol generating device 100 further comprises a gas supply 108 which provides a gas having a lower amount of oxygen than the outside air to the chamber 102 via a gas tube 110 to act as an oxygen removal device or an oxygen concentrator. In this particular example, the gas supply 108 is an oxygen concentrator device, which will be referred to as Figure 2 Explained in further detail. However, as will be clear to the skilled person, alternative gas supply techniques may be employed to provide low oxygen or oxygen-free gas to the oven. For example, a supply of non-oxygen gas (such as nitrogen) may be stored in a pressurized bottle and the gas may be allowed to be released into the oven as needed. In another example, solid and / or liquid materials may be used that produce non-oxygen gas when heated. Supplying low oxygen or oxygen-free gas to the cavity 102 allows the inserted consumables 104 to be heated in a low oxygen or oxygen-free environment, which reduces the possibility of burning or scorching of the consumables 104.

[0026] When the consumable 104 received in the cavity 102 is heated, an aerosol is formed, which is directed to the user through the vapor tube 112 of the aerosol generating device 100. The vapor tube 112 may optionally be connected to a mouthpiece 114, from which the user inhales the generated aerosol. The vapor tube 112 may also optionally include one or more holes 115, which allow air from outside the vapor tube 112 of the aerosol generating device 100 to combine with the generated aerosol before the user inhales.

[0027] In this particular example, the aerosol generating device 100 also includes an oxygen supply tube 116 that delivers oxygen removed from the outside air by the gas supply 108 to the vapor tube 112. In another example, the oxygen supply tube 116 may be connected to a refillable gas tank (not shown), or alternatively, the removed oxygen may simply be released back into the surrounding air of the device 100 through the gas supply 108.

[0028] The aerosol generating device 100 further includes a control system including a microcontroller 118 connected to the puff sensor 120, the heater 106, and the gas supply 108. The microcontroller 118 is configured to receive a signal from the puff sensor 120 that the user is puffing from the mouthpiece 114. The microcontroller 118 is then further configured to send instructions to the gas supply 108 to supply hypoxic or oxygen-free gas to the cavity 102, and to send instructions to the heater 106 to generate heat to heat the consumable inserted in the cavity 102. The control system and the gas supply 108 should react quickly enough to produce the appropriate amount of gas as needed and as needed when the user inhales or puffs from the device 100. In some examples, the control system may further include a puff prediction algorithm to predict and control the production and supply of gas from the gas supply 108. In a further example, the control system may further include an accelerometer configured to send a trigger signal to the microcontroller 118 to start the gas supply 108 before the user puffs (so as to preemptively). This advantageously minimizes the lag between the user drawing in and the gas supply 108 supplying gas to the cavity 102 .

[0029] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the heater 106, gas supply 108, and control system are powered by one or more power sources (not shown), such as batteries. These various components may all be powered by a single power source or have shared or separate power sources.

[0030] Figure 2 Schematic diagram of a gas supply device 200 according to the present invention. Figure 1 The gas supply arrangement 200 is described with reference to the aerosol-generating device 100 of FIG. 1 , but it should be understood that the same gas supply arrangement 200 may be used in the other aerosol-generating devices 300 , 400 described herein.

[0031] Oxygen concentrators are known in the art, typically in the medical field, for concentrating oxygen from received air by selectively removing nitrogen and providing oxygen-enriched gas to the user. Basically, such devices (oxygen removal or oxygen concentrators) separate different gases (e.g., oxygen or nitrogen) in the air and direct them along different paths. The gas supply device 200 in the present invention separates oxygen from the received air and directs the remaining gas and supplies the gas to the oven cavity 102 of the aerosol generating device 100.

[0032] The gas supply device 200 includes a separator 202, which may use a pressure swing adsorption technology or a membrane gas separation technology or other suitable gas separation technology, which is obvious to those skilled in the art. The gas supply device 200 also includes an air inlet 204 and a first outlet 206, wherein the air inlet 204 receives air from outside the aerosol generating device and guides it to the separator 202. The separator 202 removes oxygen from the received air to produce a gas with a reduced oxygen concentration relative to the external air / received air, and sends the generated gas to the cavity 102 of the aerosol generating device via the gas pipe 110.

[0033] The gas supply device 200 includes a second outlet 208, which guides the oxygen removed from the received air along the oxygen supply pipe to the steam pipe 112 of the aerosol generating device 100, and the removed oxygen can be combined with the aerosol generated by the consumable 104 heated in the cavity 102 in the steam pipe 112, and the combined aerosol and oxygen are then inhaled by the user.

[0034] Figure 3 FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of an aerosol generating device 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 The aerosol generating device described, the aerosol generating device 300 comprises a cavity 302 for an aerosol-forming consumable 304, a heater 306, and a gas supply 308. The aerosol generating device 300 also comprises a gas tube 310 extending from the gas supply 308 to the cavity 302, and a vapor tube 312 extending from the cavity 302 to a mouthpiece 314, from which a user can inhale the aerosol generated by the consumable 304 heated in the cavity 302.

[0035] In the aerosol generating device 300, there is also a gas tank 316 and an actuator 318 disposed between the gas supply device 308 and the cavity 302 along the gas pipe 310. The gas tank 316 stores the gas with reduced oxygen concentration or oxygen-free gas generated by the gas supply device 308. According to design requirements, the gas tank 316 may have a capacity for one or more inhalation processes of the aerosol generating device 300.

[0036] The actuator 318 acts as a release mechanism for the gas tank 316 to control the flow of the generated gas from the gas tank 316 to the cavity 302. As an example, the actuator 318 is a solenoid valve controlled by a microcontroller 320 of the aerosol generating device 300. The microcontroller 320 is also configured to control the heater 306 and receive a signal from a puff sensor 322 when a user draws from the device 300. In other words, when the user draws from the mouthpiece 314, the puff sensor 322 located along the vapor tube 312 detects the user's puff and sends a signal to the microcontroller 320. The microcontroller 320 then operates the heater 306 and the actuator 318 so that the hypoxic or oxygen-free gas in the gas tank 316 is allowed to pass through the actuator 318 or valve along the gas tube 310 and enter the cavity 302. The cavity 302 is heated by the heater 306 so that the consumable 304 received in the cavity 302 generates an aerosol, which is delivered to the user through the vapor tube 312 and the mouthpiece 314. The microcontroller 320 can control the heater 306 and the actuator 318 simultaneously or sequentially according to the design requirements. As the skilled person will understand, the temperature of the heater 306 and the cavity 302 may not reach the flammable temperature of the aerosol-forming consumable during the time it takes for the low / no oxygen gas to be supplied to the cavity 302. In other words, the heating time of the heater 306 can be less than the delivery time of the gas from the gas tank 316 to the cavity 302, and the sequential operation of the actuator 318 and the heater 306 may not be necessary.

[0037] The aerosol generating device 300 also includes an oxygen supply tube 324 that delivers oxygen separated by the gas supply device 308 to the vapor tube 312. In another example, the oxygen supply tube 324 can be connected to a second gas tank (not shown), and oxygen can be supplied to the vapor tube 312 by a second actuator (not shown) in a similar manner as described above. The vapor tube 312 can also have one or more holes 326 to allow external air to enter the tube and mix with the aerosol generated from the cavity 302.

[0038] exist Figure 3In this particular example, the aerosol generating device 300 is a single piece of equipment. However, in another example, the device 300 can be separated into an aerosol generating device and a housing (not shown), wherein the gas supply device 308 is disposed in the housing and the aerosol generating device is a component that is removable from the housing. In a removable device, the gas tank 316, the control system, the oven, and the nozzle will be part of the device, which can be reinserted into the housing to recharge the gas tank. As will be clear to those skilled in the art, separate device and housing systems will require different power supply arrangements, wherein the gas supply device 308 in the housing is powered separately from the components in the removable device. The device can also be configured to charge the power supply of the removable device when the removable device is inserted into the housing. Reference is made below to Figure 4 A specific example of a two-part system is described.

[0039] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the control and air flow through another embodiment of an aerosol generating device 400 according to the present invention is shown. The device 400 includes an aerosol generating device 402 and a gas supply device 404. The gas supply device 404 is housed in a housing (not shown), and the aerosol generating device 402 can be removably inserted into the housing. When the aerosol generating device 402 is inserted into the housing, it is connected to the gas supply device 404 to receive the hypoxic / oxygen-free gas generated by the gas supply device 404.

[0040] The aerosol generating device 402 includes a gas tank 406 for receiving the generated gas from the gas supply device 404, and a cavity 408 for receiving an aerosol-forming consumable 410. The gas stored in the gas tank 406 is supplied to the cavity 408 through a gas tube 412, and the aerosol generating device 402 also includes a heater 414 for providing heat to the cavity 408 and the consumable 410 received in the cavity. The aerosol formed by heating the consumable 410 is delivered to the user through a steam tube 416. The steam tube 416 may optionally include one or more holes 415 to allow external air to combine with the generated aerosol before the generated aerosol is inhaled by the user through a mouthpiece 417.

[0041] The aerosol generating device 402 also includes a control system including a puff sensor 418, a microcontroller 420, and an actuator 422 (such as a solenoid valve). Figure 3The aerosol generating device 402 operates in a manner similar to that described above, wherein the microcontroller 420 is configured to receive a signal from the puff sensor 418 that the user is taking a puff, and to send one or more signals to operate the actuator 422 and the heater 414 to respectively release gas from the gas tank 406 to the cavity 408 and heat the consumable 410 inserted into the cavity 408. In this particular example, the aerosol generating device 402 does not include an oxygen supply tube, but it will be apparent to a skilled person that an oxygen storage and supply system may also be incorporated into the aerosol generating device 402 in a manner similar to the low / no oxygen gas system.

[0042] Figure 5A and Figure 5B are schematic diagrams of different actuator systems that may be used with the aerosol-generating system of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 5A A mechanical pressure regulator system 500 is shown having a diaphragm section 502 having an inlet 504 and an outlet 506. The inlet 504 is configured to draw generated gas from a gas tank of the above-mentioned aerosol generating system, and the outlet 506 is configured to deliver the generated gas to the cavity of the aerosol generating system. The inlet 504 and outlet 506 optionally have corresponding pressure gauges 508, 510.

[0044] The diaphragm section 502 includes an orifice 512 and a pressure adjustment handle 514, which includes a screw handle 516 connected to a plug 518 and a spring 520 positioned between the handle 516 and the plug 518 and between the plug and the wall opposite the handle 516. The two springs 520 suspend the plug 518 through the orifice 512, and the first end 522 of the plug 518 is configured to prevent air flow through the orifice 512 (and thus prevent the generated gas from traveling from the inlet 504 to the outlet 506 when the device is not in use / the user is not drawing). The second end 524 of the plug 518 is connected to a flexible diaphragm 526 in the diaphragm section 502, so that when the user draws, the diaphragm 526 and the connecting plug 518 are displaced and allow the generated gas to flow from the inlet 504 to the outlet 506 (and to the cavity).

[0045] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the screw handle 516 can adjust the height of the plug 518 to ensure that the plug 518 blocks the orifice 512 when the device is not in use, and to set a desired user inhalation pressure for the plug 518 to adequately displace it.

[0046] Figure 5BA solenoid valve actuator system 550 is shown, which is an electromechanical valve system. As described above, when the suction sensor sends a signal to the microcontroller, the microcontroller can operate the solenoid valve by drawing power from the power supply 552 and generating an electromagnetic field between the electromagnetic coil 554. The electromagnetic field then moves the valve plunger 556 from a first sealing position to a second release position. When the plunger 556 is in the first position, the generated gas is prevented from passing through the actuator system 550, and when the plunger 556 is in the second position, the generated gas flows from the system inlet 558 to the system outlet 560 in the direction from the gas tank to the cavity in the above-mentioned aerosol generating device.

Claims

1. An aerosol generating device, comprising: a cavity configured to receive an aerosol-forming consumable; a heater configured to heat, but not burn, an aerosol-forming consumable received in the cavity, thereby generating an aerosol; and A gas supply including a separator is configured to remove oxygen from air by using the separator so as to produce a gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to air, and to supply the gas to the chamber.

2. An aerosol generating device according to claim 1, wherein: The gas contains substantially no oxygen.

3. An aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a gas canister connectable to the gas supply means to receive the gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to air.

4. An aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a second gas tank connectable to the gas supply to receive the removed oxygen.

5. An aerosol-generating device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an oxygen supply conduit configured to supply removed oxygen to an air flow channel extending away from the heater in the chamber.

6. An aerosol generating device according to claim 5, wherein: The oxygen supply conduit is configured to supply the removed oxygen to the air flow channel in the mouthpiece.

7. An aerosol-generating device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an additional gas supply configured to supply a second gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to air to the cavity.

8. An aerosol generating device according to claim 7, wherein: The second gas is nitrogen.

9. An aerosol generating device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a puff sensor connected to the actuator, wherein The actuator is configured to supply the gas to the cavity during inhalation detected by the puff sensor.

10. An aerosol generating device as claimed in claim 9, further configured to supply removed oxygen to the airflow channel during inhalation detected by the puff sensor.

11. An aerosol generating device according to claim 9 or 10, wherein: The actuator includes a solenoid valve.

12. An aerosol-generating device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an aerosol-generating device and a housing, the aerosol-generating device being receivable within the housing.

13. An aerosol generating device according to claim 12, wherein: The housing includes the gas supply device.

14. An aerosol-generating device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an aerosol-forming consumable received in the cavity and positioned adjacent the heater.

15. A method of generating an aerosol for inhalation by a user, the method comprising: receiving an aerosol-forming consumable in a cavity of an aerosol-generating device; receiving air in a gas supply of the aerosol-generating device; removing oxygen from the received air by using a separator in the gas supply to produce a gas having a reduced oxygen concentration relative to air; supplying the gas to the chamber; as well as The aerosol-forming consumable is heated, but not burned, by a heater of the aerosol-generating device so as to generate the aerosol.

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