Aerosol generating arrangement for generating an inhalable aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid - Patent Application 20070229633

Abstract

The present invention relates to an aerosol-generating arrangement for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid. The aerosol-generating arrangement may comprise a liquid reservoir for storing the aerosol-forming liquid and a capillary liquid conveyor for conveying the aerosol-forming liquid from the liquid reservoir through a reservoir orifice to an evaporation section of a liquid conveyor external to the reservoir. The aerosol-generating arrangement further comprises an air duct for passing an airflow through the evaporation section. The air duct comprises an air jet generating member and a discharge portion including an expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating member. The air jet generating member is arranged and configured to generate an air jet in the airflow through the air duct to create a static pressure drop in the vicinity of the evaporation section. The present invention further relates to an aerosol-generating article, an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating system comprising such an aerosol-generating arrangement.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-generating arrangement for generating an inhalable aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid capable of releasing a volatile compound upon heating. The present disclosure further relates to an aerosol-generating article, an aerosol-generating device, and an aerosol-generating system comprising such an aerosol-generating arrangement. [Background technology]

[0002] Arrangements for generating inhalable aerosols from aerosol-forming liquids are generally known in the prior art. For example, such arrangements may include a reservoir for storing the aerosol-forming liquid and a capillary liquid conveyor for transporting the liquid from the reservoir to an evaporation section of a liquid conveyor external to the reservoir. The liquid may be vaporized by heating the evaporation section. The vaporized liquid is exposed to air flowing through the evaporation section to form an aerosol, which may then be drawn off, for example, through a mouthpiece. Typically, the airflow is caused by a user's puff.

[0003] The use of a capillary liquid conveyor to draw aerosol-forming liquid from a reservoir to an evaporation section of a conveyor external to the reservoir is associated with problems inherent in processes governed by the physics of capillary action. In particular, this relates to undesirable leakage problems and uncontrolled wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor, which can cause fluctuations in the amount of liquid available in the evaporation section. The latter, in turn, can lead to undesirable variations in the amount of aerosol generated by heating the liquid in the evaporation section.

[0004] It would therefore be desirable to have an aerosol-generation arrangement comprising a liquid reservoir and a capillary liquid conveyor that has the advantages of prior art solutions while mitigating their limitations, and in particular, it would be desirable to have an aerosol-generation arrangement comprising a liquid reservoir and a capillary liquid conveyor that provides enhanced control of the flow of liquid from the reservoir, through the capillary liquid conveyor, and to the evaporation section. Summary of the Invention

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided an aerosol-generating arrangement for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid. The aerosol-generating arrangement may include a liquid reservoir for storing the aerosol-forming liquid and a capillary liquid conveyor for transporting the aerosol-forming liquid from the liquid reservoir through a reservoir orifice to an evaporation section of a liquid conveyor external to the reservoir. The aerosol-generating arrangement further includes an air duct for passing an airflow through the evaporation section. The air duct includes an air jet generating member and a discharge portion including an expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating member. The air jet generating member is arranged and configured to generate an air jet in the airflow through the air duct to create a static pressure drop near the evaporation section.

[0006] According to the present invention, better control of the liquid flow rate through the liquid conveyor can be achieved by inducing an appropriate static pressure drop near the evaporation section, thus drawing liquid from the reservoir through the capillary liquid conveyor into the evaporation section in a predetermined and controllable manner. Controlling the liquid flow rate through the capillary liquid conveyor is then preferably combined with controlling the temperature of the heating process, allowing enhanced control over the aerosol generation rate. According to the present invention, the pressure drop is induced by an air jet generated in the discharge section of an air duct configured to pass an airflow through the evaporation section. The discharge section includes an air jet generating element that utilizes Bernoulli's theorem, as well as an expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating element. Details and specific examples of the air jet generating element are further described below. From a microscopic perspective, the physical mechanism behind the static pressure drop is as follows: Fast-moving air particles in the air jet, which are discharged into the open atmosphere downstream of the air jet generating element, randomly collide with slower-moving air particles. The collisions further displace the "stationary" air particles, creating a local pressure drop, which in turn draws more air particles from the surroundings into the air jet. The air jet thus leaves a partial vacuum inside the liquid conveyor, felt as a pressure drop, creating a pressure gradient along the capillary liquid conveyor that draws liquid from the reservoir, through the capillary liquid conveyor, and into the evaporation section. The air jet also draws vaporized aerosol-forming liquid in the evaporation section into the air stream, where it then mixes with air in the expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating element to form the aerosol.

[0007] Preferably, the airflow-driven pressure drop, and therefore the liquid flow through the capillary liquid conveyor, is triggered / triggerable by user inhalation. Thus, the aerosol-generating arrangement is configured so that the airflow passing through the air duct is triggered by user inhalation, i.e., by the user inhaling at an outlet of the air duct, such as a mouthpiece, downstream of the exhaust section. In this way, the user's inhalation induces a low pressure at the outlet, which then causes air to enter the air duct at an inlet of the air duct upstream of the exhaust section. In particular, by varying the intensity of the user's inhalation, the liquid flow rate from the reservoir, through the capillary liquid conveyor, to the evaporation section can be specifically controlled by the user.

[0008] Generally, the air duct may be formed by any structural means and may have any shape suitable for having air flow through the evaporation section of the capillary liquid conveyor and preferably further into the user's mouth. The evaporation section of the capillary liquid conveyor is thus exposed to the airflow of the air duct. In particular, the evaporation section of the capillary liquid may be disposed within the air duct. This allows the aerosol-forming liquid vaporized in the evaporation section to be drawn into the airflow, where it is then mixed with air in an expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating member to form an aerosol.

[0009] The air duct may include an inlet upstream of the exhaust portion. The air duct may further include an outlet downstream of the exhaust portion. The outlet of the air duct is preferably part of a mouthpiece that can be taken into a user's mouth to take a puff. In this way, a low pressure is induced at the outlet by the user's puff, and air then enters the air duct at the air duct inlet upstream of the exhaust portion.

[0010] The air jet generating member is preferably arranged and configured to generate an air jet that (in use) passes tangentially past the outlet or outlet portion of the capillary liquid conveyor. Advantageously, this enhances the effect of the static pressure drop in the evaporation section and hence the pressure gradient along the capillary liquid conveyor that draws liquid from the liquid reservoir into the evaporation section.

[0011] The air jet generating member may include at least one jet nozzle. The jet nozzle may be disposed within the primary airflow path through the air duct. Similarly, the jet nozzle may provide an additional airflow path that enters the primary airflow path around the evaporation section or a location upstream thereof. The nozzle may be a pipe or tube with a cross-sectional area that varies along the direction of fluid flow through the nozzle. Within the nozzle, the velocity of the fluid increases as it dissipates its pressure energy, which can be used to control the flow rate, velocity, direction, mass, shape, and / or pressure of the fluid flow emanating therefrom.

[0012] The air jet generating member may include at least one air path constriction within the air duct. As used herein, the term "air path constriction" refers to a cross-sectional constriction of the air path through the air duct. In this regard, an injection nozzle disposed within the airflow path through the air duct (as described above) may also be considered an air path constriction.

[0013] As an example, the air jet generating member may include an aperture plate that forms an air path constriction. The aperture plate may be disposed in the air flow path of the air duct. The aperture plate may be a plate having at least one aperture, the cross section of which is smaller than the cross section of the air path through the air duct downstream and upstream of the aperture, particularly adjacent to the downstream and upstream of the aperture.

[0014] As another example, the air duct may include a guide wall whose distance relative to the length axis of the capillary liquid conveyor is smaller at the location of the evaporation section than at other locations in the air duct adjacent to the evaporation section, upstream and downstream of the evaporation section, particularly downstream and upstream of the evaporation section, so that an air path constriction in the air duct is formed at the location of the evaporation section.

[0015] Similarly, the air duct may include a guide wall such that an air path constriction within the air duct is formed by a distance minimum between the guide wall and the capillary liquid conveyor at the location of the evaporation section.

[0016] The minimum distance between the guide wall and the capillary liquid conveyor at the evaporation section may be formed by a lateral widening, in particular a fan-shaped portion, of the capillary liquid conveyor in the evaporation section. For example, the lateral widening or fan-shaped portion of the capillary liquid conveyor may be formed by a bell-end portion of a capillary pipe, the details of which will be further described below. The lateral widening or fan-shaped portion of the capillary liquid conveyor may also be formed by a fan-shaped portion of a filament bundle-like liquid conveyor, the details of which will also be further described below.

[0017] The minimum distance between the guide wall and the capillary liquid conveyor at the position of the evaporation section may also be formed by a lateral depression in the guide wall at the position of the evaporation section, the lateral depression in the guide wall facing towards the capillary liquid conveyor.

[0018] As yet another example, the air duct may include a guide sleeve having a cross section that varies along the sleeve length axis, with the evaporation section located within the guide sleeve at the minimum of the cross section to form an air jet generator. In particular, the guide sleeve may include a funnel portion upstream of the minimum. At the funnel portion, the cross section of the guide sleeve, as viewed in the downstream direction of airflow through the air duct, tapers, in particular convexly, towards the minimum. The guide sleeve may further include a bulge portion downstream of the minimum. At the bulge portion, the cross section of the guide sleeve, as viewed in the downstream direction of airflow through the air duct, first expands, in particular concavely, to a maximum, and then tapers, in particular concavely. Preferably, the bulge portion forms an expansion zone.

[0019] Furthermore, the aerosol-generating arrangement may include a mouthpiece. As used herein, the term "mouthpiece" refers to an element placed in the user's mouth to directly inhale the aerosol from the article. The mouthpiece may be part of an air duct. The mouthpiece preferably includes a filter. The filter may be used to filter out undesirable components of the aerosol. The filter may also include additional materials (e.g., flavoring materials added to the aerosol).

[0020] Preferably, the liquid reservoir is a volume compensation liquid reservoir configured to counteract capillary wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor. According to the present invention, it has been found that uncontrolled leakage can be prevented by using a volume compensation liquid reservoir that counteracts wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor. To this end, the volume compensation liquid reservoir is configured to suppress capillary wetting, i.e., to provide a restoring force that counteracts capillary suction and hydrostatic pressure that could otherwise cause leakage. Details and specific examples of volume compensation liquid reservoirs are further described below. When using such a volume compensation liquid reservoir, the pressure drop induced by the air jet generating element is also used to counteract the restoring force of the volume compensation liquid reservoir. Together, the volume compensation liquid reservoir and the air jet generating element form a balanced system that, on the one hand, suppresses uncontrolled wetting and, therefore, provides leak protection for the system, especially when not in use. On the other hand, the system allows enhanced control over the liquid flow rate through the capillary liquid conveyor by utilizing Bernoulli's principle on the air flow passing through the air duct in use.

[0021] In general, the restoring force used to counteract capillary infiltration can be realized in various ways. For example, a volume-compensating liquid reservoir includes a flexible bag for storing an aerosol-forming liquid and a low-pressure chamber sealing the flexible bag, the interior of which is in fluid communication with a capillary liquid conveyor. That is, like the pleura of the pleural sac surrounding each lung in the human body, the flexible bag is sealed within a surrounding chamber, and the internal pressure in the sealed space between the flexible bag and the surrounding chamber is lower than ambient pressure, particularly atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the low pressure counteracts capillary suction of the liquid conveyor, which is in fluid communication with the interior of the flexible bag. Therefore, the term "low pressure" as used herein refers to a pressure below ambient pressure, particularly atmospheric pressure.

[0022] In particular, the pressure in the low-pressure chamber acting externally to the flexible bag is preferably lower than the ambient pressure, in particular atmospheric pressure, minus the sum of the hydrostatic pressure and capillary pressure at the upstream end of the reservoir orifice (or at the upstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor, if the capillary liquid conveyor has a capillary cross-section that varies along the direction of fluid flow through the liquid conveyor (see below)). Advantageously, this prevents liquid from leaking out of the reservoir when the aerosol-generating arrangement is not in use. If a pressure drop greater than the sum of the hydrostatic pressure and capillary pressure is applied externally near the evaporation section, as described above, the pressure in the low-pressure chamber will overcome the downstream pressure. As a result, a pressure gradient is generated downstream along the capillary liquid conveyor, which draws liquid from the flexible bag, through the capillary liquid conveyor, and into the evaporation section. As the external pressure drop disappears, the liquid remaining inside the capillary liquid conveyor is pushed back into the flexible bag by the ambient pressure, in particular atmospheric pressure, until the system eventually reaches equilibrium. Liquid extraction causes the flexible bag to collapse by a volume equal to the volume of liquid extracted from the reservoir and ultimately evaporated in the evaporation section.

[0023] The flexible bag is preferably made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, or ethylene vinyl acetate. As used herein, the term "flexible bag" refers to a bag whose walls cannot withstand deformation. That is, the walls of the flexible bag are non-rigid. Because the flexible bag is configured to store the aerosol-forming liquid therein, the flexible bag is fluid-impermeable, that is, the walls of the flexible bag are fluid-impermeable.

[0024] In contrast, the low-pressure chamber preferably includes a rigid wall. That is, the low-pressure chamber is preferably a rigid-walled chamber. This allows the low-pressure chamber to maintain a low pressure inside and resist deformation from both the inside and the outside. Similar to a flexible bag, the wall of the low-pressure chamber is fluid-impermeable. For example, the wall of the low-pressure chamber may be made of plastic, particularly silicone, PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

[0025] According to another embodiment, a volume-compensating liquid reservoir can include a rigid-walled chamber including at least one vent hole. The vent hole can be sized to allow the aerosol-forming liquid in the liquid reservoir to form a meniscus toward the interior of the liquid reservoir. That is, the vent hole preferably has a size within the capillary range. Thus, the meniscus formed at the air-liquid interface can resist the surface tension that urges the liquid through the capillary liquid conveyor. This concept is based on the idea that a completely closed rigid reservoir offers the greatest resistance to volume change and is most able to resist capillary infiltration. In contrast, a reservoir open to the atmosphere has the least resistance to volume change and therefore is less able to prevent capillary infiltration. In between, if the reservoir includes an opening whose size is limited to the capillary range, the resistance to volume change scales inversely with the size of the opening. Thus, liquid tension against the vent hole wall generates a meniscus that deforms like the shape of a bulging membrane until the liquid tension at the reservoir orifice is balanced. This mechanism depends solely on geometric parameters, so proper selection of the reservoir orifice and vent geometry can ensure that the liquid is retained within the reservoir orifice and vent, thereby preventing leakage.

[0026] For example, the ventilation holes may have a size in the range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm, in particular 0.05 mm to 1.5 mm, preferably 0.05 mm to 1 mm.

[0027] Preferably, the cross-sectional area of ​​the vent hole is smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice, which advantageously allows for smooth liquid flow.

[0028] Instead of relying solely on the elastic properties of the meniscus formed by the liquid at the vent hole, the hole may be covered by an elastic diaphragm that can deform under pressure. This allows the meniscus to stiffen by introducing elasticity, which is the source of the restoring force that suppresses capillary infiltration. The use of an elastic diaphragm may also allow the size of the vent hole to be increased beyond the capillary range. That is, the elastic diaphragm may form a wall member of the liquid reservoir. Thus, according to yet another embodiment, a volume-compensated liquid reservoir may include at least one elastic diaphragm that forms a wall member of the liquid reservoir. The wall member of the liquid reservoir formed by the elastic diaphragm is preferably an outer wall member of the liquid reservoir, exposed to atmospheric pressure at its interior and, particularly, at its exterior. Preferably, any other wall members of the liquid reservoir, except for the elastic diaphragm, are rigid wall members.

[0029] The elastic diaphragm may have a Young's modulus (tensile modulus) in the range of 1 MPa (megapascal) to 100 MPa (megapascal), particularly 2 MPa (megapascal) to 50 MPa (megapascal), and preferably 2 MPa (megapascal) to 20 MPa (megapascal).

[0030] For example, the resilient diaphragm may be made of rubber, latex, silicone, chloroprene, polyisoprene, nitrile, or ethylene propylene.

[0031] As described above, the volume-compensating liquid reservoir includes a reservoir orifice with which the capillary liquid conveyor is in fluid communication. As used herein, the term "reservoir orifice" essentially refers to the outlet opening of the liquid reservoir. The reservoir orifice, and in particular the size of the reservoir orifice, may be configured to allow the aerosol-forming liquid to form a meniscus inside the reservoir orifice. In particular, the reservoir orifice, and in particular the size of the reservoir orifice, may be configured to allow the position of the meniscus to move freely axially inside the reservoir orifice. Here, the term "axial" refers to the direction of fluid flow through the reservoir orifice. The reservoir orifice may have a cross-section that varies along the direction of fluid flow through the reservoir orifice to counteract surface tension at the vent hole. In particular, the varying cross-section between the interior of the liquid reservoir and the evaporation section allows the meniscus to freely select a new position inside the reservoir orifice when the static balance is disturbed. At the same time, the varying cross-section between the interior of the liquid reservoir and the evaporation section minimizes the risk of liquid flooding the heating zone or gas bubbles entering the liquid reservoir by providing a wide, continuous range of sizes that the meniscus can adopt before reaching either end of the reservoir orifice. Among other things, the varying cross-section between the interior of the liquid reservoir and the evaporation section allows the device to be maintained and used in various orientations. This is because changes in liquid static pressure due to changes in device orientation are countered by the liquid meniscus changing its position within the reservoir orifice, which has a varying cross-section. In particular, the cross-sectional area of ​​the vent hole is preferably smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice. Preferably, the cross-section of the reservoir orifice tapers upstream, i.e., toward the interior of the liquid reservoir. Thus, the smallest cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice is located upstream of the reservoir orifice, and the largest cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice is located downstream of the reservoir orifice. In addition to, or instead of, having a reservoir orifice with a varying cross section, the capillary liquid conveyor may have a capillary cross section that varies along the direction of fluid flow through the liquid conveyor.In particular, the capillary cross section of the capillary liquid conveyor may increase along the downstream direction of fluid flow through the liquid conveyor towards the heating section.

[0032] The liquid reservoir, or at least a portion of the liquid reservoir, such as the wall (wall member) of the rigid-walled chamber or low-pressure chamber, may comprise or be made of silicone or PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). The liquid reservoir, or at least a portion of the liquid reservoir, may also comprise or be made of a heat-resistant material such as PEEK (polyetheretherketone) to provide good thermal stability. If induction heating is used to heat the evaporation section of the capillary liquid conveyor (see below), particularly if at least the evaporation section is induction-heatable, any portion of the liquid reservoir is preferably made of a material that cannot be induction-heated, i.e., a non-conductive and non-magnetic (non-ferromagnetic or non-ferromagnetic) material.

[0033] The aerosol-generating arrangement may be configured for single use or multiple use. In the latter case, the liquid reservoir may be a refillable liquid reservoir that can be refilled with an aerosol-forming liquid. In another configuration, the liquid conveyor and air duct may be configured for multiple use, e.g., as a permanent part of the aerosol-generating device, and the liquid reservoir may be configured for single use, e.g., as a cartridge configured for use with the aerosol-generating device of which the liquid conveyor and air duct are part. In any configuration, the aerosol-generating arrangement may further include an aerosol-forming liquid contained within the liquid reservoir.

[0034] The primary function of the capillary liquid conveyor is to transport the aerosol-forming liquid from the liquid reservoir to an area outside the liquid reservoir. Additionally, the capillary liquid conveyor can be used as a heat source for directly heating the aerosol-forming liquid. For this reason, the capillary liquid conveyor may be inductively heatable at least in the evaporation section. Preferably, the capillary liquid conveyor is inductively heatable only in the evaporation section. Therefore, boiling of the aerosol-forming liquid in the reservoir chamber can be prevented. Advantageously, this dual function allows for a material-saving and compact design of the capillary liquid conveyor without separate means for transport and heating. Additionally, there is direct thermal contact between the heat source, i.e., the liquid conveyor, and the aerosol-forming liquid attached to it. Unlike when a separate heater is in contact with the liquid conveyor, direct contact between the liquid conveyor and a small amount of liquid advantageously allows for flash heating, i.e., rapid onset of evaporation. In this respect, the liquid conveyor can be considered a liquid-transporting susceptor arrangement.

[0035] To be inductively heatable, the capillary liquid conveyor may include or be made of susceptor material at least in the evaporation section, or only in the evaporation section. It is also possible for the entire capillary liquid conveyor to include or be made of susceptor material, i.e., the entire capillary liquid conveyor may be inductively heatable.

[0036] As used herein, the term "inductively heatable" refers to a liquid conveyor including a susceptor material capable of converting electromagnetic energy into heat when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. Similarly, the term "susceptor material" refers to a material capable of converting electromagnetic energy into heat when subjected to an alternating magnetic field. This may be the result of at least one of hysteresis loss or eddy currents induced in the susceptor material depending on the electrical and magnetic properties of the susceptor material. Hysteresis loss occurs in ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic susceptor materials due to magnetic domains in the material being switched under the influence of an alternating electromagnetic field. Eddy currents are induced in conductive susceptor materials. In the case of conductive ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic susceptor materials, heat is generated by both eddy currents and hysteresis loss.

[0037] If the capillary liquid conveyor is inductively heatable, the aerosol generating arrangement may further include an induction source configured and arranged to generate an alternating magnetic field at least at the evaporation section. Preferably, the induction source is configured and arranged to generate an alternating magnetic field substantially only at the evaporation section, and little or no alternating magnetic field in other sections of the capillary liquid conveyor. For example, the induction source may include an induction coil arranged substantially only around the evaporation section. Thus, when the induction coil is driven with an AC current, the induction coil generates an alternating magnetic field that mostly penetrates the evaporation section, thereby locally heating the capillary liquid conveyor only in the evaporation section. In contrast, due to the localized heating, other sections of the capillary liquid conveyor are not heated (if they do not contain any susceptor material) but remain below the vaporization temperature. Therefore, boiling of the aerosol-forming liquid in the liquid reservoir may be prevented.

[0038] As described above, the induction source may include at least one induction coil. The at least one induction coil may be a helical coil or a flat, planar coil, specifically a pancake coil or a curved, planar coil. The induction source may further include an alternating current (AC) generator. The AC generator may be powered by a power source, such as a battery. The AC generator is operably coupled to the at least one induction coil. Specifically, the at least one induction coil may be an integral part of the AC generator. The AC generator is configured to generate a high-frequency oscillating current that passes through the at least one induction coil to generate an alternating magnetic field. The AC current may be supplied to the at least one induction coil continuously after activation of the system, or may be supplied intermittently (e.g., with each puff). Preferably, the induction source includes a DC / AC converter including an LC network, the LC network preferably including a series connection of a capacitor and an inductor. The DC / AC converter may be connected to a DC power source. Preferably, the induction source is configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. As referred to in this specification, the high frequency magnetic field may be in the range of 500 kHz (kilohertz) to 30 MHz (megahertz), particularly 5 MHz (megahertz) to 15 MHz (megahertz), preferably 5 MHz (megahertz) to 10 MHz (megahertz).

[0039] As described further below, the induction source may be part of the aerosol-generating arrangement, particularly when the entire aerosol-generating arrangement is part of a (standalone) aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, the aerosol-generating arrangement (or at least most of the components of the aerosol-generating arrangement) may be part of an aerosol-generating article configured for use with the aerosol-generating device. The aerosol-generating device and the aerosol-generating article together form an aerosol-generating system. In this configuration, the induction source is preferably part of the aerosol-generating device but not part of the aerosol-generating article. Nevertheless, the induction source may be considered to be part of the aerosol-generating arrangement, even though it is separate from the other components of the aerosol-generating arrangement. That is, some parts of the aerosol-generating arrangement, particularly the air duct, liquid reservoir, and capillary liquid conveyor, are part of the aerosol-generating article, while other parts of the aerosol-generating arrangement, particularly the induction source, are part of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, it may be possible for the induction source not to be part of the aerosol-generating arrangement.

[0040] If the liquid conveyor is inductively heatable, it may include a first susceptor material and a second susceptor material (at least in the evaporation section, only in the evaporation section, or throughout the entire liquid conveyor). The first susceptor material can be optimized for heat loss and therefore heating efficiency, and the second susceptor material can be used as a temperature marker. For this reason, the second susceptor material preferably comprises one of a ferrimagnetic material and a ferromagnetic material. In particular, the second susceptor material can be selected to have a Curie temperature corresponding to a predetermined heating temperature. At that Curie temperature, the magnetic properties of the second susceptor material change from ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic to paramagnetic, accompanied by a temporary change in its electrical resistance. Therefore, by monitoring the corresponding change in the current absorbed by the induction source, it is possible to detect when the second susceptor material reaches its Curie temperature, and therefore the predetermined heating temperature. The second susceptor material preferably has a Curie temperature below 500 degrees Celsius. In particular, the second susceptor material may have a Curie temperature below 350° C., preferably below 300° C., more preferably below 250° C., and even more preferably below 200° C. For example, the second susceptor material may have a Curie temperature of about 220° C. The Curie temperature is preferably selected to be below the boiling point of the aerosol-forming liquid to be vaporized, to prevent the generation of harmful components in the aerosol.

[0041] Instead of heating the evaporation section itself via induction heating, the aerosol-generating arrangement can also include a heating element in thermal contact or proximity with the evaporation section. The heating element can be a resistance heating element or an induction heating element. For example, the resistance heating element can be a wire heater, such as a heating coil, disposed around the evaporation section. The induction heating element can be a susceptor element, such as a susceptor plate, adjacent to the evaporation section or a susceptor coil disposed around the evaporation section that can be inductively heated in an alternating magnetic field generated by an induction source. As described further above with respect to the inductively heatable liquid conveyor, the heating element in thermal contact or proximity with the evaporation section can be part of a (standalone) aerosol-generating device along with other components of the aerosol-generating arrangement. Similarly, the heating element can be part of an aerosol-generating device for use with an aerosol-generating article, and at least some or all of the other components of the aerosol-generating arrangement, particularly the air duct, liquid reservoir, and capillary liquid conveyor, are part of the aerosol-generating article.

[0042] Generally, the capillary liquid conveyor may have a shape and configuration suitable for transporting the aerosol-forming liquid from the liquid reservoir to the evaporation section. The evaporation section is preferably at or located at the downstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor. In particular, the capillary liquid conveyor may include a wick element. The wick element configuration may be a stranded wire with sufficient porosity, a rope of stranded material, a mesh, a mesh tube, several concentric mesh tubes, a fabric, a sheet of material, or a foam (or other porous solid), a roll of fine metal mesh, or some other arrangement of metal foil, fiber, or mesh, or any other shape appropriately sized and configured to perform the wicking action described herein.

[0043] As an example, a capillary liquid conveyor may include a filament bundle containing multiple filaments. The filament bundle is preferably a non-stranded filament bundle. In a non-stranded filament bundle, the filaments of the filament bundle extend adjacent to each other without crossing each other, preferably along the entire length of the filament bundle. Similarly, the filament bundle may include a stranded portion in which the filaments of the filament bundle are stranded. The stranded portion may enhance the mechanical stability of the filament bundle. Using filaments to transport liquids is particularly advantageous because filaments inherently provide capillary action. Furthermore, in a filament bundle, capillary action is enhanced due to the narrow spaces formed between multiple filaments when bundled. This is particularly true for a parallel arrangement of filaments along which capillary action is constant because the narrow spaces between the filaments do not change along the parallel arrangement. For example, a filament bundle may include a parallel bundle portion along at least a portion of its length extension, in which multiple filaments may be arranged parallel to each other. The parallel bundle portion may be disposed at one end portion of the filament bundle or between both end portions of the filament bundle. Alternatively, the parallel bundle portion may extend along the entire length dimension of the filament bundle. The filament bundle may further include a fanned portion at least at a downstream end portion of the filament bundle, preferably corresponding to or part of the evaporation section. In the fanned portion, the filaments diverge from one another. Such a fanned portion may prove beneficial in facilitating exposure of the vaporized aerosol-forming liquid to the air path and therefore facilitating the formation of the aerosol. It is possible that the filament bundle may include two fanned portions, one at each end of the filament bundle.

[0044] As another example, the capillary liquid conveyor may include at least one capillary channel. A mesh may be disposed across the downstream end of the capillary channel, particularly across the inner cross section of the capillary channel at the downstream end of the capillary channel. The mesh may form at least a portion of the evaporation section. Preferably, the size of the mesh gaps is selected so that the aerosol-forming liquid can form a meniscus in the mesh gaps. The gap width is preferably between 75 micrometers and 250 micrometers. The mesh may include a plurality of filaments, each filament having a diameter of between 8 micrometers and 100 micrometers, preferably between 8 micrometers and 50 micrometers, and more preferably between 8 micrometers and 39 micrometers.

[0045] The mesh, and in particular the filaments forming the mesh, may include or be made of at least one susceptor material, which advantageously allows the mesh to be used as a susceptor for inductively heating the aerosol-forming liquid at the downstream end of the capillary channel.

[0046] Alternatively, the downstream end of the capillary channel may be open (nothing disposed on the inner cross section of the capillary channel at its downstream end). In this situation, the capillary channel is preferably inductively heatable at least in its downstream end portion. That is, the capillary channel may include or be made of a susceptor material at least in its downstream end portion.

[0047] The capillary channel may be formed by a capillary gap within a wall member of the aerosol-generation arrangement or between several wall members of the aerosol-generation arrangement, for example, by a capillary gap between an inner wall member forming part of an air duct and an outer wall member forming the outer housing of the aerosol-generation arrangement.

[0048] It is also possible for the capillary liquid conveyor to include at least one capillary. Similar to the capillary channel, the mesh may be disposed at the downstream end of the capillary, in particular across the inner cross section of the capillary at the downstream end. Alternatively, the downstream end of the capillary may be open (nothing disposed on the inner cross section of the capillary at its downstream end). In this situation, it is preferred that the capillary be inductively heatable at least in its downstream end portion. That is, the capillary may include or be made of a susceptor material at least in its downstream end portion.

[0049] The inner cross-section of a capillary channel or capillary tube may be constant along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary channel or capillary tube, respectively. For example, the inner cross-section of a capillary channel or capillary tube may be one of a circle, an oval, an ellipse, a rectangle, or a square. The equivalent diameter of the inner cross-section of a capillary channel or capillary tube may be in the range of 0.1 mm to 3 mm, particularly 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm, and preferably 0.1 mm to 1 mm. As used herein, the term "equivalent diameter" refers to the diameter of a circular region having the same area as the cross-sectional area of ​​the capillary channel or capillary tube.

[0050] As yet another example, a capillary liquid conveyor may include two opposing plates forming a capillary gap therebetween. The width of the capillary gap between the two opposing plates in a direction perpendicular to the two opposing plates may be in the range of 100 micrometers to 500 micrometers. The width of the capillary gap is preferably constant along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary gap. That is, the two opposing plates are preferably parallel to each other.

[0051] A gap holder may be disposed at the downstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor covering the gap between the two opposing plates. Advantageously, the gap holder serves to keep the two plates separated from each other and to close the gap at the downstream ends of the two plates.

[0052] At least one of the two plates, preferably each of the two plates, may include one or more perforations (through holes) in a downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor, the downstream end portion forming the evaporation section.

[0053] At least one of the two plates, and preferably each of the two plates, may include or be made of a susceptor material at least in a downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor, such that the capillary liquid conveyor is capable of performing the dual functions of transporting and heating the aerosol-forming liquid.

[0054] At least one of the two plates, preferably each of the two plates, may be made from or comprise a first material at the downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor and a second material at the upstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor, the first and second materials being different from each other. Advantageously, this may enable the downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor to be inductively heatable and the upstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor to be non-inductively heatable.

[0055] At least one of the two plates, preferably each of the two plates, may be a two-component plate. In particular, the two-component plate may include a first plate element at the downstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor that includes one or more perforations and a second plate element at the upstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor that is not perforated. For example, the first plate element may be a mesh plate, and the second plate element may be a plate with a closed surface. Preferably, the material of the first plate element is different from the material of the second plate element. The material of the first plate element may be inductively heatable, i.e., a susceptor material, and the material of the second plate element may be inductively heatable, i.e., non-conductive and non-magnetic.

[0056] Double-plate liquid conveyors are particularly advantageous for induction heating because the plate thickness best suited to the induction source can be selected independently of the liquid conveyor's dimensions in the direction of fluid flow. This independent selection allows for an optimal balance between the rate of heat transfer to the evaporation section and the liquid flow rate. Furthermore, by allowing for a small capillary gap, the liquid heating efficiency (interdependently of the plate thickness) can be enhanced, since a small gap allows for rapid evaporation (flash heating) of the liquid substrate trapped between the susceptor plates. The flat geometry of the plates also promotes tangential airflow through the evaporation section. Advantageously, this enhances the effect of the static pressure drop in the evaporation section and, therefore, the pressure gradient along the capillary liquid conveyor that draws liquid from the liquid reservoir to the evaporation section.

[0057] As yet another example, the capillary liquid conveyor may include a capillary pipe having an open downstream bell end forming an evaporation section. The inner cross section of the capillary pipe may vary, particularly increase, along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary pipe. Advantageously, this obviates the need for a separate variation in the cross section of the reservoir orifice. For example, the inner cross section of the capillary pipe may vary within a range of 0.1 mm to 5 mm, particularly 0.1 mm to 3 mm, and preferably 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0058] The downstream bell end may be angled relative to the remainder of the capillary pipe. For example, the downstream bell end may be angled at least 45 degrees, particularly at least 60 degrees, and preferably 90 degrees, relative to the remainder of the capillary pipe. Advantageously, this may allow the outlet of the downstream bell end (through which the aerosol-forming liquid evaporates in use) to be aligned with the air that flows through the evaporation section in the downstream bell end in use. In particular, the air jet generating member may be arranged and configured to generate an air jet that passes tangentially past the outlet of the downstream bell end. Preferably, the capillary pipe having the downstream bell end has an alphorn-like shape.

[0059] The capillary pipe is preferably inductively heatable at least at the downstream bell end. That is, at least at the downstream bell end, the capillary pipe may include or be made of a susceptor material. Having an inductively heatable bell-shaped evaporation section advantageously allows for improved heating efficiency of the evaporation section. The remaining section of the capillary pipe may also be inductively heatable. Alternatively, the remaining section of the capillary pipe may not be inductively heatable. Thus, the heating capability of the capillary liquid conveyor is separated from its liquid transport capability.

[0060] According to the present invention there is provided an aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating arrangement according to the present invention and as described herein.

[0061] The aerosol-generating article may be a single-use aerosol-generating article or a multiple-use aerosol-generating article. In the first case, the aerosol-generating article may be a consumable product, in particular a consumable product that is discarded after a single use. In the second case, the aerosol-generating article may be refillable, i.e., the liquid reservoir may be refillable with the aerosol-forming liquid. In any configuration, the aerosol-generating article may further comprise an aerosol-forming liquid contained in the liquid reservoir.

[0062] The term "aerosol-forming liquid" as used herein refers to a liquid capable of releasing volatile compounds capable of forming an aerosol upon heating the aerosol-forming liquid. The aerosol-forming liquid is intended to be heated. The aerosol-forming liquid may include both solid and liquid aerosol-forming materials or components. The aerosol-forming liquid may include a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds that are released from the liquid upon heating. Alternatively, or in addition, the aerosol-forming liquid may include a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming liquid may further include an aerosol former. Examples of suitable aerosol formers are glycerin and propylene glycol. The aerosol-forming liquid may also include other additives and ingredients (such as nicotine or flavoring agents). In particular, the aerosol-forming liquid may include water, solvents, ethanol, plant extracts, and natural or artificial flavors. The aerosol-forming liquid may be an aqueous aerosol-forming liquid or an oil-based aerosol-forming liquid.

[0063] Additionally, the aerosol-generating article may include a mouthpiece. As used herein, the term "mouthpiece" refers to the portion of the article that is placed in the user's mouth to directly inhale the aerosol from the article. Preferably, the mouthpiece includes a filter. The filter may be used to filter out undesirable components of the aerosol. The filter may also include additional materials (e.g., flavoring materials added to the aerosol).

[0064] The article may have a simple design. The article may have a housing, preferably a rigid housing, comprising a material impermeable to liquids. As used herein, "rigid housing" means a free-standing housing. The housing may comprise or be made of one of PEEK (polyether ether ketone), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate). PP, PE, and PET are particularly cost-effective and easy to mold.

[0065] Further features and advantages of the aerosol-generating article according to the invention have already been described above in relation to the aerosol-generating arrangement according to the invention and apply equally.

[0066] According to the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol generating article according to the present invention and as described herein, and an aerosol generating device configured for use with the aerosol generating article.

[0067] The aerosol-generating device may be configured to receive an aerosol-generating article. In particular, the aerosol-generating device may include a receiving cavity for receiving the aerosol-generating article therein. Similarly, the aerosol-generating device may be configured to be coupled to the aerosol-generating article, for example, by a threaded joint, a snap joint, or a bayonet joint.

[0068] As already mentioned above, in such systems, the aerosol-generating arrangement or at least most of the components of the aerosol-generating arrangement may be part of the aerosol-generating article. This is particularly true for the air duct, the liquid reservoir, and the capillary liquid conveyor. That is, the air duct, the liquid reservoir, and the capillary liquid conveyor are preferably part of the aerosol-generating article. In another configuration, the liquid conveyor and the air duct may be part of the aerosol-generating device, and the liquid reservoir may be part of the aerosol-generating article configured for use with the aerosol-generating device of which the liquid conveyor and the air duct are part. Nevertheless, the liquid conveyor and the air duct may be considered to be part of the aerosol-generating arrangement, although they are separate from other components of the aerosol-generating arrangement, such as the liquid reservoir. That is, part of the aerosol-generating arrangement may be part of the aerosol-generating article, for example, the liquid reservoir, and other parts of the aerosol-generating arrangement, such as the air duct, the capillary liquid conveyor, and, if present, the induction source, may be part of the aerosol-generating device. If the evaporation section is inductively heatable, the aerosol generating device preferably includes an induction source configured and arranged to generate an alternating magnetic field at the evaporation section when the aerosol-generating article is inserted or coupled to the aerosol generating device. Nevertheless, the induction source may be considered to be part of the aerosol-generating arrangement, although it is separate from other components of the aerosol-generating arrangement. That is, part of the aerosol-generating arrangement is part of the aerosol-generating article, such as the air duct, capillary liquid conveyor, and preferably the liquid reservoir, while another part of the aerosol-generating arrangement, particularly the induction source, is part of the aerosol-generating device. Alternatively, it may be possible for the induction source not to be part of the aerosol-generating arrangement. Details of the induction source have already been described with respect to the aerosol-generating arrangement of the present invention and therefore apply equally.

[0069] Also, as further described above, a heating element separate from the liquid conveyor may be used to heat the evaporation section. The heating element may be in thermal contact or proximity to the evaporation section, or may be in thermal contact or proximity to the evaporation section. The heating element may be a resistive or inductive heating element. In particular, if a resistive heating element, the heating element may be part of the aerosol generating device.

[0070] The aerosol generating device may further comprise a controller for controlling the operation of the aerosol generating system, particularly for controlling the heating operation. Additionally, the aerosol generating device may comprise a power supply that provides the power used to heat the evaporation section of the capillary liquid conveyor. The power supply is preferably a battery, such as a lithium iron phosphate battery. The power supply may have a capacity that allows for sufficient energy storage for one or more user experiences.

[0071] Further features and advantages of the aerosol-generating system according to the invention have already been described above with respect to the aerosol-generating arrangement and aerosol-generating article of the invention and apply equally.

[0072] According to the present invention, there is also provided an aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid, the device comprising an aerosol generating arrangement according to the present invention and as described herein. In particular, the aerosol generating device is a stand-alone aerosol generating device, i.e., an aerosol generating device not configured for use with an aerosol-generating article (consumable). Preferably, in this configuration, the liquid reservoir is refillable.

[0073] Further features and advantages of the (standalone) aerosol generator according to the invention have already been described above in relation to the aerosol generating arrangement according to the invention and apply equally. The features and advantages described above in relation to the aerosol generator of the aerosol generating system according to the invention also apply to the (standalone) aerosol generator. [Example]

[0074] The present invention is defined in the claims. However, the following provides a non-exhaustive list of non-limiting examples. Any one or more of the features of these examples may be combined with any one or more features of any other example, embodiment, or aspect described herein.

[0075] Example 1: 1. An aerosol-generating arrangement for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid, the aerosol-generating arrangement comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing the aerosol-forming liquid; a capillary liquid conveyor for transporting the aerosol-forming liquid from the liquid reservoir through a reservoir orifice to an evaporation section of a liquid conveyor external to the reservoir; and an air duct for passing an air flow through the evaporation section, the air duct including an air jet generating member and a discharge portion including an expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating member, the air duct arranged and configured to generate an air jet into the air flow through the air duct to create a static pressure drop near the evaporation section. Example 2: An aerosol generating arrangement according to example 1, wherein the air jet generating member is arranged and configured to generate an air jet that passes tangentially through the outlet or outlet portion of the capillary liquid conveyor. Example 3: An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the air jet generating member comprises at least one jet nozzle. Example 4: An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the air blast generating member comprises at least one air path constriction in the air duct. Example 5: 5. An aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 4, wherein the air jet generating member comprises an aperture plate forming an air path constriction. Example 6: An aerosol generating arrangement according to Example 4, wherein the air duct includes a guide wall whose distance relative to the length axis of the capillary liquid conveyor is smaller at the position of the evaporation section than at other positions in the air duct adjacent to upstream and downstream of the evaporation section, particularly downstream and upstream of the evaporation section, so that an air path constriction in the air duct is formed at the position of the evaporation section. Example 7: An aerosol generating arrangement according to Example 4, wherein the air duct includes a guide wall, and the air path narrowing in the air duct is formed by a minimum distance between the guide wall and the capillary liquid conveyor at the position of the evaporation section. Example 8: An aerosol generating arrangement according to Example 7, wherein the distance minimum portion is formed by at least one of a lateral widening portion, in particular a fan-shaped portion of the capillary liquid conveyor in the evaporation section, and a lateral depression in the guide wall at the location of the evaporation section. Example 9: 10. An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the air duct includes a guide sleeve having a cross section that varies along the sleeve length axis, the evaporation section being located within the guide sleeve at the smallest part of the cross section so as to form the air jet generating member. Example 10: The aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 9, wherein the guide sleeve includes a funnel portion upstream of the narrowing portion. Example 11: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 10, wherein in the funnel portion the cross section of the guide sleeve tapers, in particular convexly tapers, towards a minimum as seen in the downstream direction of the air flow through the air duct. Example 12: 12. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 9 to 11, wherein the guide sleeve comprises a bulge portion downstream of the narrowing portion. Example 13: An aerosol generating arrangement according to Example 12, wherein in the bulge portion, the cross section of the guide sleeve expands, particularly concavely, to a maximum portion as seen in the downstream direction of the air flow through the air duct, and then tapers, particularly concavely. Example 14: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the liquid reservoir is a volume-compensating liquid reservoir configured to counter capillary wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor. Example 15: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 14, wherein the volume-compensating liquid reservoir comprises a flexible bag for storing the aerosol-forming liquid and a low-pressure chamber sealing the flexible bag, the interior of the flexible bag being in fluid communication with the capillary liquid conveyor. Example 16: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 15, wherein the flexible bag is made of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate. Example 17: An aerosol generating arrangement according to either Example 15 or Example 16, wherein the pressure in the low-pressure chamber acting on the exterior of the flexible bag is lower than ambient pressure, in particular atmospheric pressure, minus the sum of the hydrostatic pressure and capillary pressure at the upstream end of the reservoir orifice (or at the upstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor, if the capillary liquid conveyor has a capillary cross-section that varies along the direction of fluid flow through the liquid conveyor). Example 18: 18. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 15 to 17, wherein the low-pressure chamber comprises a rigid wall. Example 19: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 14, wherein the volume-compensating liquid reservoir comprises a rigid-walled chamber including at least one vent hole having a size that allows the aerosol-forming liquid in the liquid reservoir to form a meniscus toward the interior of the liquid reservoir. Example 20: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 19, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the vent hole is less than the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice. Example 21: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 19 or Example 20, wherein the cross-sectional area of ​​the vent hole is less than the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice. Example 22: 15. An aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 14, wherein the volume compensating liquid reservoir comprises at least one elastic diaphragm forming an outer wall member of the liquid reservoir. Example 23: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 22, wherein any other wall member of the liquid reservoir, except for the elastic diaphragm, is a rigid wall member. Example 24: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to either Example 22 or Example 23, wherein the elastic diaphragm has a Young's modulus in the range of 1 MPa to 100 MPa, in particular 2 MPa to 50 MPa, preferably 2 MPa to 20 MPa. Example 25: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the cross-section of the reservoir orifice tapers towards the interior of the liquid reservoir. Example 26: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor comprises at least one capillary channel. Example 27: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 26, wherein a mesh is disposed across the downstream end of the capillary channel, in particular across the inner cross section of the capillary channel at the downstream end of the capillary channel, the mesh forming at least a part of the evaporation section. Example 28: 28. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 27, wherein the mesh comprises or is made of at least one susceptor material. Example 29: An aerosol-generation arrangement according to any one of Examples 26 to 28, wherein the capillary channel is formed by a capillary gap within a wall member of the aerosol-generation arrangement or between several wall members of the aerosol-generation arrangement. Example 30: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor comprises at least one capillary. Example 31: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 26 to 30, wherein the inner cross section of the capillary channel or capillary tube varies, in particular increases, or is constant along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary channel or capillary tube, respectively. Example 32: 32. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 26 to 31, wherein the inner cross section of the capillary channel or capillary is one of circular, elliptical, oval, rectangular, or square. Example 33: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor comprises two opposing plates forming a capillary gap therebetween. Example 34: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 33, in which the two opposing plates are parallel to each other. Example 35: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to either Example 33 or Example 34, wherein the width of the capillary gap between the two opposing plates in a direction perpendicular to the two opposing plates is in the range of 100 micrometers to 500 micrometers. Example 36: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 33 to 35, wherein at least one of the two plates, preferably each of the two plates, comprises one or more perforations in a downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor forming the evaporation section. Example 37: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 33 to 36, wherein at least one of the two plates, preferably each of the two plates, comprises or is made of a susceptor material at least in a downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor. Example 38: 38. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 33-37, wherein the gap holder is disposed at the downstream end of the capillary liquid conveyor covering the gap between two opposing plates. Example 39: An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 33 to 38, wherein at least one of the two plates, preferably each of the at least two plates, comprises or consists of a first material at the downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor and a second material at the upstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor. Example 40: 10. An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor comprises a capillary pipe having a downstream bell end forming an evaporation section, and preferably the inner cross section of the capillary pipe is constant or may vary, in particular increase, along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary pipe. Example 41: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to Example 40, wherein the downstream bell end is angled relative to the remainder of the capillary pipe. Example 42: 42. An aerosol-generating arrangement according to example 41, wherein the downstream bell end is angled at least 45 degrees, in particular at least 60 degrees, preferably 90 degrees, relative to the remainder of the capillary pipe. Example 43: 43. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 40 to 42, wherein the capillary pipe with the downstream bell end has an alphorn-like shape. Example 44: 44. An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 40 to 43, wherein the air jet generating member is arranged and configured to generate an air jet that, in use, passes tangentially through the outlet of the downstream bell end. Example 45: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the evaporation section is, or is located at, the downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor. Example 46: An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor is inductively heatable in at least the evaporation section. Example 47: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor includes or is made of susceptor material at least in the evaporation section. Example 48: An aerosol generation arrangement according to any one of examples 46 or 47, further comprising an induction source constructed and arranged to generate an alternating magnetic field at the evaporation section. Example 49: An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments, comprising a heating element in thermal contact or proximity with the evaporation section. Example 50: 49. The aerosol-generating arrangement according to claim 49, wherein the heating element is a resistance heating element or an induction heating element. Example 51: An aerosol-generating article for use with an aerosol-generating device, the aerosol-generating article comprising an aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of the preceding embodiments. Example 52: An aerosol generating system comprising an aerosol-generating article according to Example 51 and an aerosol generating device configured for use with the aerosol-generating article. Example 53: 51. An aerosol-generating apparatus for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid, the apparatus comprising an aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of Examples 1-50. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0076] The embodiment will now be further described with reference to the figures.

[0077] [Figure 1] 1-2 show an aerosol-generating arrangement according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Same as above. [Figure 3] Figures 3-4 show details of a liquid conveyor used in the aerosol-generating arrangement according to Figures 1-2. [Figure 4] Same as above. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of a liquid conveyor that can alternatively be used in the aerosol-generating arrangement according to FIGS. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows an aerosol-generating arrangement according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] 7-8 show an aerosol-generating arrangement according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Same as above. [Figure 9] 9-16 show various embodiments of air ducts and capillary liquid conveyors which are alternatives to the air ducts and capillary liquid conveyors shown in FIGS. 1-8. [Figure 10] Same as above. [Figure 11] Same as above. [Figure 12] Same as above. [Figure 13] Same as above. [Figure 14] Same as above. [Figure 15] Same as above. [Figure 16] Same as above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0078] 1 and 2 schematically illustrate an aerosol-generating arrangement 1 for generating an inhalable aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid 11 according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The aerosol-generating arrangement 1 comprises a liquid reservoir 10 for storing the aerosol-forming liquid 11 and a capillary liquid conveyor 20 for transporting the aerosol-forming liquid 11 from the liquid reservoir 10 through a reservoir orifice 18 to an evaporation section 21 of a liquid conveyor 20 external to the reservoir 10. The aerosol-forming liquid 11 can be vaporized by heating the evaporation section 21. The vaporized liquid is exposed to air flowing through the evaporation section through an air duct 40 formed by a bottle-shaped guide sleeve 47 surrounding the liquid conveyor 20. The vaporized liquid mixes with the air to form an aerosol, which can then be withdrawn, for example, through a mouthpiece 49 of the air duct 40. The aerosol-generating arrangement 1 is configured so that the airflow through the air duct 40 is caused by a user's puff, i.e., when the user takes a puff at the downstream end of the air path through the air duct 40. The air path through the air duct is shown by a dash-dot line in Figure 2. The downstream end of the air duct 40 is formed by the outlet 48 of the mouthpiece 49. Thus, when the user takes a puff, a low pressure is induced at the outlet 48, which then causes air to enter the air duct 40 via the inlet 46, which forms the upstream end of the air path through the air duct 40.

[0079] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the capillary liquid conveyor 20 includes two opposing plates 22 that form a capillary gap 23 therebetween. Details of this double-plate liquid conveyor 20 are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The width of the capillary gap 23 between the two opposing plates 22 in a direction perpendicular to the two opposing plates 22 is within the capillary range, for example, in the range of 100 micrometers to 500 micrometers. In particular, the width of the capillary gap 23 is constant along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary gap. That is, the two opposing plates 22 are preferably parallel to each other. A gap holder 25 is disposed at the downstream end of the liquid conveyor 20 and functions to separate the two plates 22 from each other and close the gap 23 at the downstream end of the liquid conveyor 20. Each of the two plates 22 includes a plurality of perforations 24 (through holes) at the downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor 22 that forms the evaporation section 21. The perforations 24 have a diameter within the capillary range so that the aerosol-forming liquid can form a meniscus at the opening of each perforation. The two plates 22 are made of a susceptor material, such as stainless steel, and therefore can be inductively heated. Thus, the double-plate liquid conveyor 20 has the ability to perform the dual functions of transporting and heating the aerosol-forming liquid. To heat the liquid conveyor, an induction source 60 including an induction coil 61 may be disposed around the air duct 40 to generate an alternating magnetic field, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The induction coil 61 is disposed around the location of the evaporation section 21 to generate an alternating magnetic field that locally penetrates the liquid conveyor 20 only in the evaporation section 21. As a result, the liquid conveyor 20 is locally heated only in the evaporation section 21. The magnetic field strength can be selected so that the evaporation section 21 is heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the aerosol-forming liquid conveyed through the liquid conveyor 20 to the perforations 24. Vaporized liquid may leak through perforations 24 and enter the airflow passing through evaporation zone 21. Due to localized heating, the remaining sections of liquid conveyor 20 may remain below the vaporization temperature.Thus, in use, the liquid conveyor 20 includes a temperature profile along its length that indicates a temperature increase from below the vaporization temperature of the aerosol-forming liquid (at the upstream end portion of the liquid conveyor 20) to above the vaporization temperature (at the downstream end portion of the liquid conveyor 20). Advantageously, the remaining section remains below the vaporization temperature, thereby preventing boiling of the aerosol-forming liquid within the liquid conveyor 20 upstream of the evaporation section 21 and within the liquid reservoir 10. Due to the small dimensions of the capillary gap 23 and perforations 24, only a small amount of liquid is present within the evaporation section 21. Advantageously, this allows for flash heating, i.e., rapid onset of evaporation.

[0080] FIG. 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a double-plate liquid conveyor. Each plate is a two-piece plate including a first plate element 27 at the downstream end portion of the liquid conveyor 20 and a second plate element 28 at the upstream end portion of the liquid conveyor. The second plate element 28 is an unperforated plate having a closed surface, and the first plate element 27 is a mesh plate forming the evaporation section 21. The material of the mesh plate 27 is a susceptor material, i.e., it is inductively heatable. In contrast, the material of the second plate element 28 is preferably non-conductive and non-magnetic and therefore not inductively heatable. Advantageously, this two-piece configuration helps to localize the heating portion of the liquid conveyor 20 to the evaporation section 21.

[0081] As mentioned above, the use of a capillary liquid conveyor is associated with inherent problems in processes governed by the physics of capillary action. This, in particular, relates to uncontrolled wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor, which can then cause undesirable leakage problems and variations in the amount of liquid available in the evaporation section. To have better control over the liquid flow rate through the liquid conveyor 20, the aerosol generating arrangement 1 according to the present invention is configured to generate a suction-induced static pressure drop near the evaporation section. This pressure drop draws liquid from the reservoir 10 through the capillary liquid conveyor 20 and into the evaporation section 21. The pressure drop is induced by an air jet generating member 42 and an air jet generated in the discharge portion 41 of the air duct 40, which includes an expansion zone 43 downstream of the air jet generating member 42. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the air jet generating member 42 includes an aperture plate 43 disposed in the air flow path of the air duct, which has apertures 44 on each side of the double-plate liquid conveyor 20. The cross section of each opening 44 is smaller than the cross section of the air path through the air duct 40 downstream and upstream of the respective opening 44. Thus, each opening 44 forms an air path constriction within the air duct 40. While passing through the openings 44, the air accelerates as a result of conservation of mass, thus creating an air jet downstream of the openings 44 on each side of the double-plate liquid conveyor 20, which induces a drop in static pressure near the evaporation section 21. From a microscopic perspective, the physical mechanism behind the static pressure drop is as follows: Fast-moving air particles in the air jet, which is discharged into the open atmosphere downstream of the opening 44, randomly collide with slower-moving air particles. The collisions further displace the "stationary" air particles, creating a local pressure drop, which in turn draws more air particles from the surroundings into the air jet. The air jet thus leaves a partial vacuum inside the liquid conveyor 20, felt as a pressure drop, creating a pressure gradient along the capillary liquid conveyor 20 that draws liquid from the reservoir 10 through the capillary gap 23 and into the evaporation section 21. The air jet also draws vaporized aerosol-forming liquid 11 in the evaporation section 21 into the airflow, which then mixes with air in the expansion zone 43 downstream of the air jet generating element to form the aerosol. As described above, the airflow-driven pressure drop, and therefore fluid flow through the capillary liquid conveyor 20, is triggered by a user's inhalation, which causes airflow through the air duct 40. In particular, the liquid flow rate from the reservoir 10 through the capillary liquid conveyor 40 to the evaporation section 21 can be specifically controlled by the user by varying the intensity of the user's inhalation. To prevent uncontrolled wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor 20, particularly when the aerosol-generating arrangement 1 is not in use, the liquid reservoir 10 is a so-called volume-compensating reservoir configured to provide a restoring force that inhibits capillary wetting, i.e., configured to counteract capillary suction and hydrostatic pressure that might otherwise result in leakage through the liquid conveyor 20. The volume-compensating liquid reservoir 10 and the air jet generating member 42 together form a balanced system that, on the one hand, inhibits uncontrolled wetting and provides leakage protection, and, on the other hand, allows enhanced control over the liquid flow rate through the capillary liquid conveyor 20. 1 and 2, the volume-compensating liquid reservoir 10 is realized by a reservoir including a flexible bag 12 for storing an aerosol-forming liquid 11 and a low-pressure chamber 13 that seals the flexible bag 12. The interior of the flexible bag is in fluid communication with a capillary liquid conveyor 20 via a reservoir orifice 18, and the exterior of the flexible bag 12 is exposed to the pressure within the sealed space between the flexible bag 12 and the surrounding chamber.As shown in FIG. 1 , the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 13 is selected to be lower than ambient pressure, specifically atmospheric pressure, minus the sum of the hydrostatic pressure and capillary pressure at the upstream end of the reservoir orifice 18. Advantageously, this serves to counteract capillary suction of the liquid conveyor 20 and thus prevent leakage of liquid 11 from the flexible bag 12 when the system is not in use and there is no pressure drop near the evaporation section. Conversely, as shown in FIG. 2 , when air flows through the air jet generating member 41 during user inhalation, which causes a pressure drop near the evaporation section 21 greater than the sum of the hydrostatic pressure and capillary pressure, the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 13 overcomes the downstream pressure. As a result, a pressure gradient is generated along the capillary liquid conveyor 20 in the downstream direction, which draws liquid 11 from the flexible bag 12, through the capillary liquid conveyor 20, and into the evaporation section 21. As the external pressure drop disappears after the user's inhalation ends, the liquid 11 remaining inside the capillary liquid conveyor 20 is forced back into the flexible bag 12 by ambient pressure, particularly atmospheric pressure, until the system eventually reaches the equilibrium state shown. Upon liquid extraction, the flexible bag 12 collapses by a volume equal to the volume of liquid extracted from the reservoir 10. The flexible bag 12 is preferably made from a fluid-impermeable plastic. In contrast, the low-pressure chamber preferably includes a rigid wall. That is, the low-pressure chamber is preferably a rigid-walled chamber. This allows the low-pressure chamber to maintain a low pressure within itself and resist deformation from both the inside and outside. For example, the walls of the low-pressure chamber may be made from plastic, particularly silicone, PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

[0082] FIG. 6 schematically illustrates an aerosol-generating arrangement 101 according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The arrangement 101 illustrated in FIG. 6 is similar to the arrangement 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Accordingly, identical or similar features are designated by the same reference numerals, but incremented by 100. In contrast to the arrangement 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol-generating arrangement 101 illustrated in FIG. 6 includes a volume-compensating liquid reservoir 110, which is a rigid-walled chamber 113 containing a vent hole 115. The vent hole 115 has a size within the capillary range that allows the aerosol-forming liquid 111 in the liquid reservoir 110 to form a meniscus 116 toward the interior of the liquid reservoir 110. The meniscus 116 provides resistance to the surface tension that urges the liquid through the capillary liquid conveyor 120. The meniscus 116 deforms significantly, like a bulging membrane, until the liquid tension at the reservoir orifice 118 is balanced. The resistance to the volume change scales inversely with the size of the opening. The cross-sectional area of ​​the vent hole 115 is preferably smaller than the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the reservoir orifice 118. For example, the vent hole 115 may have a size in the range of 0.05 millimeters to 3 millimeters, in particular 0.05 millimeters to 1.5 millimeters, and preferably 0.05 millimeters to 1 millimeter.

[0083] Instead of relying solely on the elastic properties of the meniscus formed by the liquid at the vent hole, the hole may be covered by an elastic diaphragm that can deform under pressure. The use of an elastic diaphragm may also allow the size of the vent hole to be increased beyond the capillary range. This is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, which schematically illustrate an aerosol-generating arrangement 201 according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Due to its similarity to the arrangement 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, identical or similar features are again designated by the same reference numerals, but incremented by 200. In contrast to the arrangement 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the aerosol-generating arrangement 201 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a volume-compensating liquid reservoir 210 having an elastic diaphragm 216 that forms a wall member of the liquid reservoir 210. All other wall members 217 of the liquid reservoir 210 are rigid wall members. The elastic diaphragm 216 is made of a thin rubber membrane that is exposed to the interior of the liquid reservoir at its interior and to ambient pressure, particularly atmospheric pressure, at its exterior. Similar to the meniscus 116 of FIG. 6, the elastic diaphragm 216 provides resistance to the surface tension that urges the liquid through the capillary liquid conveyor 220. In particular, when the system is not in use and there is no pressure drop near the evaporation section 221, as shown in FIG. 7, the resistance provided by the elastic diaphragm 216 prevents the liquid 211 from leaking out of the reservoir 210. When a user takes a puff, thus inducing a pressure drop near the evaporation section 221, the elastic diaphragm 216 deforms until the pressure drop is balanced, as shown in FIG. 8. The resistance provided by the elastic diaphragm 216 depends on its Young's modulus. For example, the elastic diaphragm may have a Young's modulus (tensile modulus) in the range of 1 MPa (megapascal) to 100 MPa (megapascal), particularly 2 MPa (megapascal) to 50 MPa (megapascal), and preferably 2 MPa (megapascal) to 20 MPa (megapascal).

[0084] Each of the liquid reservoirs 10, 110, 210 shown in Figures 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 includes a reservoir orifice 18, 118, 218 with which a respective capillary liquid conveyor 20, 120, 220 is in fluid communication. The reservoir orifice 18, 118, 218 may have a cross-section that varies along the direction of fluid flow through the reservoir orifice. This can help counter changes in hydrostatic pressure due to changes in device orientation, for example. Preferably, the cross-section of the reservoir orifice tapers in the upstream direction, i.e., toward the interior of the liquid reservoir.

[0085] Figures 9 to 16 show various embodiments of air ducts and capillary liquid conveyors that are alternatives to those shown in Figures 1 to 8. Accordingly, identical or similar features are designated by the same reference numerals, but incremented by multiples of 100.

[0086] In Figure 9, the capillary liquid conveyor 320 is identical to the double-plate liquid conveyor 20 of the aerosol-generating arrangement shown in Figures 1-2. In contrast to arrangement 1 shown in Figures 1-2, the air duct 340 shown in Figure 9 includes a guide sleeve 347 with a cross-section that varies along the sleeve's length axis, particularly in the portion surrounding the liquid conveyor 320. The evaporation section 321 is located within the guide sleeve 347 at a minimum cross-section 346 of the guide sleeve 347. Therefore, the cross-section of the air path between the guide sleeve 347 and the evaporation section narrows, thereby forming an air jet generator 342. That is, the air jet generator 342 is realized by the minimum distance between the wall of the guide sleeve 347 and the capillary liquid conveyor 320 at the location of the evaporation section 321. In other words, the air jet generating member 342 is realized by a lateral depression in the guide wall of the air duct 340 at the location of the evaporation section 321, with the lateral depression in the guide wall facing the capillary liquid conveyor 320. In this embodiment, the guide sleeve 347 includes a funnel portion 348 upstream of the minimum portion 346. At the funnel portion 348, the cross section of the guide sleeve 347, as viewed in the downstream direction of the air flow through the air duct 340, tapers convexly toward the minimum portion 346. The guide sleeve 347 further includes a bulge portion 349 downstream of the minimum portion 346. At the bulge portion 349, the cross section of the guide sleeve 347, as viewed in the downstream direction of the air flow through the air duct 340, first expands concavely and then tapers concavely. The bulge portion 349 forms the expansion zone 343 of the discharge section. The guide sleeve 347 , and particularly the funnel portion 348 , is shaped and arranged to generate a jet of air that passes tangentially through the perforations in the evaporation section 321 of the liquid conveyor 320 .

[0087] In Figure 10, the air duct 440 is identical to the air duct 340 shown in Figure 9. In contrast to Figure 9, the aerosol-generating arrangement shown in Figure 10 includes a liquid conveyor 420 realized by two capillary pipes 422. Each capillary pipe 422 has an open-ended downstream bell end 427 that forms an evaporation section 421. The inner cross section of the capillary pipes 422 increases along the direction of fluid flow through the capillary pipes 422. Advantageously, this increase in cross section eliminates the need for a separate change in the cross section of the reservoir orifice. The downstream bell end 427 is angled 90 degrees relative to the rest of each capillary pipe 422 so that the outlet of the downstream bell end 427 (from which the aerosol-forming liquid evaporates during use) is tangential to the air jet generated by the air jet generating member 442 flowing through the evaporation section 421. The capillary pipes 422 have an alphorn-like shape due to the angled downstream bell ends 427. Similar to the double plate liquid conveyor, the capillary pipes 422 are preferably inductively heatable at least at each downstream bell end 427.

[0088] In Figure 11, the liquid conveyor 520 is identical to the alphorn-like liquid conveyor 420 shown in Figure 10. In contrast to Figure 10, the aerosol-generating arrangement shown in Figure 11 comprises an air duct 540 with a constant cross section in the part surrounding the evaporation section 521. Instead of a lateral recess in the guide wall of the air duct, the air jet generating member 542 of the arrangement according to Figure 11 includes two jet nozzles 545 configured to generate an air jet for each of the alphorn-like liquid conveyors 520. Each air jet is an additional air flow path that enters the main air flow path through the air duct 540 at a preferred position around the evaporation section 521 so as to generate a pressure drop in the vicinity of the evaporation section 521. The two jet nozzles 545 are configured and arranged so that each air jet is essentially tangential to the outlet of the downstream bell end 527 of the associated alphorn-like capillary pipe 522.

[0089] In Figure 12, the air duct 640 is identical to the air ducts 340, 440 shown in Figures 9 and 10. In contrast to Figures 9 and 10, the aerosol-generating arrangement shown in Figure 12 comprises a liquid conveyor 620 realized by a non-stranded filament bundle 622 including multiple filaments 623 arranged parallel to one another. The filaments 623, or at least some of the filaments 623, may be made of a susceptor material, and therefore the liquid conveyor 620 may be inductively heated by an induction source. The induction source is preferably configured and arranged to generate an alternating magnetic field substantially only at the location of the evaporation section 621. Advantageously, this results in the filament bundle 622 being heated locally only in the evaporation section 621.

[0090] Similar to FIG. 12 , the aerosol-generating arrangement shown in FIG. 13 includes a liquid conveyor 720 realized by a filament bundle 722. In contrast to FIG. 12 , the filament bundle 722 includes a fanned portion 725 at the downstream end portion of the filament bundle 722, where the filaments 723 diverge from one another. The fanned portion 725 preferably corresponds to the evaporation section 721. Within the fanned portion 725, the fanned portion 725 may prove beneficial in facilitating exposure of the vaporized aerosol-forming liquid into the air path and, therefore, in facilitating the formation of an aerosol. Furthermore, due to the fanned portion 725, a distance minimum 746 exists between the sleeve-like guide wall 747 of the air duct 740 and the downstream end portion of the filament bundle 722. The distance minimum 746 forms an air path constriction that realizes the air jet generating element 742, which causes the desired pressure drop in the downstream end portion of the filament bundle 722, i.e., the evaporation section 721.

[0091] 14 and 15 show further embodiments of an aerosol-generation arrangement having a central air duct 840 and a capillary liquid conveyor 820 external to the air duct 840, which includes a capillary channel 823. In both embodiments, each central air duct 840 includes an aperture plate 843 forming an air jet generating member 842, similar to the aperture plate shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As can be further seen in FIGS. 14 and 15, the capillary channel 823 is formed by a capillary gap between an inner wall member 847 forming part of the central air duct 840 and, for example, an outer wall member 822 forming the outer housing of the aerosol-generation arrangement. The embodiment according to FIG. 14 includes two capillary channels 823, one on each side of the central air duct 840, while the embodiment according to FIG. 15 includes only a single lateral capillary channel 823. A mesh 827 made of susceptor material is disposed across the downstream end of each capillary channel 823 to form an inductively heatable evaporation section 821. The size of the gaps in the mesh 827 is selected to allow the aerosol-forming liquid to form a meniscus therein. For example, the gap width is between 75 micrometers and 250 micrometers. In use, the aerosol-forming liquid vaporized by the mesh 827 is drawn into the airflow downstream of the aperture plate 843 and mixes with the air in the expansion zone 843 to form an aerosol.

[0092] Figure 16 shows yet another embodiment of an aerosol-generating arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 15. Accordingly, identical or similar features are designated by the same reference numerals, but incremented by 100. In contrast to the arrangement shown in Figure 15, the arrangement shown in Figure 16 does not include an aperture plate, but rather a block element 946 that forms an air path constriction in the air path through air duct 940. The air path constriction constitutes an air jet generating member 942 that generates an air jet that flows through evaporation section 921, thus causing a static pressure drop in the vicinity of evaporation section 921 and drawing aerosol-forming liquid through capillary channel 823 of capillary liquid conveyor 920 and into evaporation section 921.

[0093] For purposes of this specification and the appended claims, unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing amounts, quantities, percentages, and the like should be understood in all instances to be modified by the term "about." Also, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically recited herein. Thus, in this context, the number A is understood as A ± 5 percent of A. Within this context, the number A may be considered to include values ​​that are within the common standard error for measurement of the property that it modifies. In some cases, such as those used in the appended claims, the number A may deviate by the percentages recited above, provided that the amount by which A deviates does not materially affect the basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention. Also, all ranges include the disclosed maximum and minimum points, and include any intermediate ranges therein, which may or may not be specifically recited herein.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol generating arrangement for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-forming liquid, the aerosol generating arrangement comprising: a liquid reservoir for storing an aerosol-forming liquid; a capillary liquid conveyor for transporting the aerosol-forming liquid from the liquid reservoir through a reservoir orifice to an evaporation section of a liquid conveyor external to the reservoir; and an air duct for passing an air flow through the evaporation section, the air duct including an air jet generating member and a discharge portion including an expansion zone downstream of the air jet generating member, the air duct being arranged and configured to generate an air jet in the air flow through the air duct to cause a drop in static pressure proximate to the evaporation section, the capillary liquid conveyor comprising: a filament bundle comprising a plurality of filaments, the filament bundle comprising a parallel bundle portion along at least a portion of its length extension, in which the filaments are arranged parallel to one another, and a fanned portion at least at a downstream end portion of the filament bundle, or at least one capillary channel formed in a wall member of the aerosol-generation arrangement or by a capillary gap between an inner wall member forming part of the air duct and an outer wall member forming the outer housing of the aerosol-generation arrangement, or at least one capillary, wherein a mesh is arranged over an inner cross section of said capillary at its downstream end, or - two opposing plates forming a capillary gap between them, at least one of the two, preferably each of the two plates, comprising one or more perforations in a downstream end portion of the capillary liquid conveyor, the downstream end portion forming the evaporation section, or a capillary pipe having a downstream bell end which is open ended, forming said evaporation section.

2. 2. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 1, wherein the air jet generating member is arranged and configured to generate an air jet passing tangentially past the outlet or outlet portion of the capillary liquid conveyor.

3. 3. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 1 or 2, wherein the air jet generating member comprises at least one jet nozzle.

4. 4. An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the air blast generating member comprises at least one air path constriction within the air duct.

5. 5. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the air blast generating member includes an aperture plate that forms the air path constriction.

6. 5. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the air duct includes a guide wall whose distance relative to the longitudinal axis of the capillary liquid conveyor is smaller at the location of the evaporation section than at other locations in the air duct adjacent to the evaporation section, particularly upstream and downstream of the evaporation section, such that the air path constriction in the air duct is formed at the location of the evaporation section.

7. 5. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 4, wherein the air duct includes a guide wall, and the air path constriction in the air duct is formed by a minimum distance between the guide wall and the capillary liquid conveyor at the location of the evaporation section.

8. 8. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 7, wherein the distance minimum portion is formed by at least one of a lateral widening portion, in particular a fan-shaped portion of the capillary liquid conveyor in the evaporation section, and a lateral depression in the guide wall at said location of the evaporation section.

9. 9. An aerosol generating arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the air duct includes a guide sleeve having a cross-section which varies along the sleeve length axis, the evaporation section being located within the guide sleeve at the smallest part of the cross-section so as to form the air jet generating member.

10. 10. The aerosol generation arrangement of claim 9, wherein the guide sleeve includes a funnel portion upstream of the minimum.

11. 11. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 10, wherein in the funnel portion, the cross section of the guide sleeve tapers, in particular convexly, towards the narrowest portion as seen in the downstream direction of the air flow through the air duct.

12. An aerosol-generating arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the guide sleeve includes a bulge downstream of the minimum.

13. 13. The aerosol generating arrangement of claim 12, wherein in the bulging portion, the cross-section of the guide sleeve expands, in particular concavely, to a maximum as seen in the downstream direction of the air flow through the air duct and then tapers, in particular concavely.

14. 14. An aerosol generating arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the liquid reservoir is a volume compensating liquid reservoir configured to counter capillary wetting of the capillary liquid conveyor.

15. An aerosol generating arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the capillary liquid conveyor is inductively heatable at least in the evaporation section.

Images