Aerosol generating device with vacuum insulation

Abstract

Disclosed is an aerosol generating device (100) comprising a cavity (106) capable of receiving an aerosol forming substance (12), a heater (108) configured to heat the aerosol forming substance (12) received in the cavity (106), and a vacuum insulation material (110) disposed around the heater (108), the vacuum insulation material (110) having an outer surface (112) that is an outer surface of the aerosol generating device (110) that can be held by a user during use.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device, in particular to an aerosol generating device having vacuum insulation. [Background technology]

[0002] Aerosol generating devices are usually carried by users on a daily basis. Therefore, there is a demand for lighter and more compact aerosol generating devices. In addition, it is desirable to make the aerosol generating device as efficient as possible, thereby extending the battery life and thus increasing the convenience of the user. The object of the present invention is to address these conflicting demands. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0003] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an aerosol generating device configured to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user, the aerosol generating device comprising: a cavity capable of receiving an aerosol forming substance; a heater configured to heat the aerosol forming substance received in the cavity; and a vacuum insulation material provided around the heater, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material being an outer surface of the aerosol generating device that can be held by a user during use.

[0004] In this way, the vacuum insulation can provide effective insulation for the heater and reduce the amount of heat lost to the environment. It has been found that the vacuum insulation can be at least partially exposed to the user without significantly compromising the ability of the vacuum insulation to efficiently insulate the heater. By having the outer surface of the vacuum insulation as the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, the vacuum insulation can also function as an outer casing that protects and shields the internal components of the device from the user. In this way, the need to provide a complete separate outer casing can be partially or totally eliminated, thus providing a lighter and more compact aerosol generating device. The vacuum insulation can be only partially exposed to the user, in other words, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation can be only a part of the outer surface of the aerosol generating device. Alternatively, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation can be fully exposed to the user, with the entire outer surface being the outer surface of the aerosol generating device.

[0005] In some embodiments, the aerosol generating device comprises an outer casing that partially surrounds the vacuum insulation. In this way, the vacuum insulation can have an outer surface that is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device, making the device easier to manufacture and assemble. Partially surrounding the vacuum insulation with the outer casing can increase the insulation efficiency of the heater. In one exemplary embodiment, the vacuum insulation can be exposed to the outside environment through a single continuous gap or opening in the outer casing. In another example, the vacuum insulation can be exposed through multiple openings or gaps in the outer casing such that the outer surface of the vacuum insulation is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device between the openings or gaps.

[0006] In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation may not be surrounded by an outer casing, but instead be provided such that its outer surface, which is the exterior surface of the aerosol generating device, is externally flush with the outer casing.

[0007] Preferably, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device around substantially the entire periphery of the aerosol generating device, in this way the diameter of the aerosol generating device can be reduced along at least part of the cross section of the device, making the device lighter and more compact.

[0008] Preferably, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device along substantially the entire length of the aerosol generating device, in this way the outer casing of the aerosol generating device can be made smaller, making the device lighter and more compact.

[0009] Preferably, the vacuum insulation comprises a metal. Metal vacuum insulation is particularly efficient, so the use of a metallic vacuum insulation allows a large portion of the vacuum insulation to be exposed to the user without compromising the efficiency of the aerosol generating device. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation can comprise any suitable material known in the art.

[0010] Preferably, the aerosol generating device is configured to receive a consumable comprising tobacco within the cavity. The consumable may be in the form of a rod. The aerosol generating device may be a non-combustion heated device. If the consumable comprises tobacco, the provision of vacuum insulation may be particularly important due to the high temperatures required to generate aerosol from tobacco. In other embodiments, the aerosol generating device may be configured to receive a refillable or disposable cartridge comprising an aerosol generating fluid.

[0011] Preferably, the vacuum insulation has an annular cylindrical shape, in this way it can completely surround the heater, thereby providing a more effective means of insulation.

[0012] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an aerosol generating device in an embodiment of the present invention. An aerosol generating device 100 is provided, including an outer casing 102 that partially houses the internal components of the aerosol generating device 100. The outer casing 102 includes an opening 104 to a cavity 106 configured to receive a consumable 10. The consumable 10 includes a tobacco 12 and a filter 14, both of which may be held together by a tipping wrapper 16. A heater 108 is provided within the cavity 106 and configured to heat the consumable 10 to generate an aerosol when received within the cavity 106. A vacuum insulation material 110 is provided around the heater 108 and has an annular cylindrical shape with an outer surface 112 and an inner surface 114, with a vacuum 116 enclosed therebetween. The outer casing 102 includes an opening 118 that extends along substantially the entire length of the aerosol generating device along its entire circumference. The opening 118 partially exposes the outer surface 112 to a user, such that the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation 110 becomes the outer surface of the aerosol generating device 100. The aerosol generating device 100 also includes a controller (not shown) for controlling the operation of the aerosol generating device 100, a button (not shown) for receiving instructions from a user, an air inlet (not shown) in fluid communication with the cavity 106, and a battery (not shown) for powering the aerosol generating device 100. The controller and battery are electrically connected to the button and the heater 108 via wires.

[0015] The outer casing 102 may comprise any suitable material as known in the art. The aerosol generating device 100 extends along a longitudinal direction, and the cavity 106 extends along the longitudinal direction.

[0016] In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the heater 108 is provided as a film heater that can be resistively or inductively heated. In alternative embodiments, the heater 108 can be provided as any suitable heater capable of heating the consumable 10 in the cavity 106 to generate an aerosol. The heater 108 can be provided around the cavity 106 as one or more curved heating films that extend substantially the entire circumference of the cavity 106. Alternatively, the heater 108 can be provided as one or more substantially flat heating films or plates provided at spaced locations around the cavity 106. The heater 108 can be configured to contact the consumable 10 received in the cavity 106 such that the consumable 10 is held in the cavity 106 by friction against the heater 108. The heater 108 can be secured to the inner surface 114 of the vacuum insulation 110 by one or more mechanical bonds. Alternatively, the heater 108 may be held within the cavity 106 by a support structure attached to the outer housing 102 .

[0017] In other embodiments, cavity 106 and heater 108 may be configured to receive and heat other forms of consumables, respectively, known in the art. For example, cavity 106 may be configured to receive a consumable cartridge including a reservoir containing an aerosol-generating fluid, and heater 108 may be configured to provide heating to the consumable when received within cavity 106. In such a case, vacuum insulation 110 and cavity 106 may be appropriately shaped such that the cartridge can be received within cavity 106, heated by heater 108, and insulated by vacuum insulation 110.

[0018] The vacuum insulation 110 has an annular cylindrical shape with a circular cross section. The vacuum insulation 110 is hollow and encloses a vacuum 116 between a curved inner surface 114, a curved outer surface 112, and two flat surfaces 115 connecting the inner surface 114 and the outer surface 112. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation 110 may have other shapes. For example, the vacuum insulation 110 may have a square or polygonal cross section. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation 110 may be provided as two or more vacuum insulations provided around the heater 108, such as semicircular or flat vacuum insulations. In such embodiments, two or more vacuum insulations may collectively surround and insulate the heater 108.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, towards the first end 120 and the second end 122 of the aerosol generating device 100, the vacuum insulation 110 is partially surrounded by an outer casing 102 that partially covers the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation 110. The vacuum insulation 110 may be mechanically attached to the outer casing 102 by one or more mechanical bonds. The vacuum insulation 110 may be a high performance metal vacuum insulation. In other embodiments, the vacuum insulation 110 may comprise other suitable materials.

[0020] The opening 118 in the outer casing 102 extends along substantially the entire longitudinal length of the aerosol generating device 100 and along the entire circumference of the aerosol generating device 100. In other exemplary embodiments, the opening 118 may be smaller such that less of the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation 110 is exposed and visible to a user. Alternatively, the outer casing 102 may include multiple openings through which the outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation 110 is visible and exposed to a user.

[0021] The controller may be housed within the outer casing 102 and comprises a memory and a processor for storing and executing instructions for controlling various operations of the aerosol generating device 100. An air inlet may be provided as an opening in the outer casing 102 towards the first end 120 of the aerosol generating device 100 to allow a user to draw air through the cavity 106 via the filter 14. A button may also be provided on the outer surface of the outer casing 102 to receive input from a user. Alternatively, any other input mechanism, such as a fingerprint sensor, may be provided to receive input from a user.

[0022] An exemplary use of the aerosol generating device 100 will now be described with reference to FIG. 1. In use, a user may insert the consumable 10 into the cavity 106 through the opening 104. The heater 108 holds the consumable 10 in place within the cavity 106 by friction. This contact between the heater 108 and the consumable 10 also increases the efficiency with which heat is transferred to the tobacco 12 within the consumable 10. When the user is ready to begin vaporization, the user may press a button, which triggers the controller to turn on the heater 108. The heater 108 heats the air and tobacco 12 within the cavity 106, while the vacuum 116 within the vacuum insulation 110 largely prevents heat from escaping the cavity 106 by conduction and convection. Thus, the cavity 106, the heater 108, and the vacuum insulation 110 form an oven in which the tobacco 12 within the consumable 10 can be heated to a desired temperature. The controller may be configured to direct the heater 108 to heat the tobacco to a temperature below the combustion temperature of the tobacco. As the tobacco 12 heats up, an aerosol is generated within the cavity 106. A user may inhale the aerosol by drawing air from the air inlet through the filter 14, generating an airflow through the cavity 106, carrying the aerosol to the user.

[0023] The outer surface 112 of the vacuum insulation 110 is exposed to a user through the opening 118 such that the outer surface 112 is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device 100 that can be held by a user during use. The aerosol generating device 100 is therefore lighter and more compact than if the outer casing 102 completely covered the outer surface 112. The vacuum insulation 110 provides sufficient insulation for the heater 108 and the heated air in the cavity 106 such that the efficiency of the aerosol generating device 100 is not significantly affected by the opening 118. The opening 118 extends all around along substantially the entire length of the aerosol generating device 100, thus reducing the diameter of the aerosol generating device 100. This makes the aerosol generating device 100 more convenient for a user to store and carry.

Claims

1. 1. An aerosol generating device configured to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user, comprising: a cavity capable of receiving an aerosol forming material; a heater configured to heat an aerosol forming material received in the cavity; and a vacuum insulation material provided around the heater, the outer surface of the vacuum insulation material being an outer surface of the aerosol generating device that can be held by the user during use; An aerosol generating device comprising:

2. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , further comprising an outer casing partially surrounding the vacuum insulation.

3. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the vacuum insulation is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device around substantially the entire periphery of the aerosol generating device.

4. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the vacuum insulation is the outer surface of the aerosol generating device along substantially the entire length of the aerosol generating device.

5. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum insulation material comprises a metal.

6. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , configured to receive a consumable product including tobacco within the cavity.

7. The aerosol generating device of claim 1 , wherein the vacuum insulation has an annular cylindrical shape.

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