Aerosol supply device

Abstract

An aerosol supply device (100) for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material is provided. The aerosol supply device (100) comprises a receptacle (205) defining a heated zone (201) configured to receive at least a portion of an article (50) containing the aerosol-generating material, and an insulating region (400) extending around at least a portion of the receptacle (205), wherein the insulating region (400) contains a liquid. An aerosol supply system comprising the aerosol supply device and an aerosol product, and a method for forming the aerosol supply device are also provided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol supply device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. The present invention also relates to an aerosol supply system.

Background Art

[0002] Smoking articles such as cigarettes and cigars burn tobacco during use to produce tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these smoking articles that burn tobacco by creating products that release compounds without burning. An example of such a product is a heating device that releases compounds by heating a material without burning it. The material may be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may or may not contain nicotine.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to one aspect, an aerosol supply device for generating an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material, comprising a receptacle defining a heating zone configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing the aerosol-generating material, and a heat-insulating region extending around at least a portion of the receptacle, wherein the heat-insulating region contains a liquid and the aerosol supply device is provided.

[0004] The heat-insulating region may comprise a fluid-sealed chamber for containing the liquid.

[0005] The fluid-sealed chamber for containing the liquid may have a volume that is mostly occupied by the liquid.

[0006] The fluid-sealed chamber for containing the liquid may be completely filled with the liquid.

[0007] The fluid-sealed chamber for containing the liquid may be partially filled with the liquid.

[0008] The fluid-sealed chamber may be filled with the liquid.

[0009] The fluid-sealed chamber may be completely filled with liquid.

[0010] The fluid-sealed chamber may be partially filled with liquid.

[0011] The liquid may contain a coolant.

[0012] The liquid may include water.

[0013] The liquid may be water.

[0014] The liquid may contain a coolant additive.

[0015] The fluid-sealed chamber may be a first fluid-sealed chamber, and the thermal insulation region may comprise a second fluid-sealed chamber.

[0016] The second fluid-sealed chamber may be evacuated to a pressure lower than that outside the adiabatic region.

[0017] The first fluid-sealed chamber may extend at least partially around the second fluid-sealed chamber.

[0018] The first fluid-sealed chamber may surround the second fluid-sealed chamber radially outward.

[0019] The second fluid-sealing chamber may extend at least partially around the first fluid-sealing chamber.

[0020] The second fluid-sealing chamber may surround the first fluid-sealing chamber radially outward.

[0021] The thermal insulation region may include a thermal insulation member between the first fluid-sealed chamber and the second fluid-sealed chamber.

[0022] The insulating area may surround the heating zone.

[0023] The heat insulation region may be disposed between the heating zone and the outside of the aerosol supply device.

[0024] The heat insulation region may be coaxially positioned around the heating chamber.

[0025] The liquid-filled heat insulation region may be coaxially positioned around the vacuum heat insulation region.

[0026] The heat insulation region may include a heat-reflecting layer.

[0027] The aerosol supply device may include a heating member configured to heat the heating zone.

[0028] The heating member may form part of a heating configuration.

[0029] The heating member may include a heating element configured to heat the heating member.

[0030] The heating element may be a resistive heater heating element.

[0031] The heating configuration may be a resistive heater heating configuration.

[0032] The heating configuration may be an induction heater heating configuration.

[0033] The receptacle may include a heating member.

[0034] The heating member may protrude within the heating zone.

[0035] The receptacle may be configured to receive a heating member within the heating zone.

[0036] The heating member may include a heating material that can be heated by penetration with a varying magnetic field.

[0037] The aerosol supply device may include a coil. The coil may be an inductor coil. The coil may be a resistance heating coil.

[0038] The inductor coil may extend around the adiabatic region.

[0039] The inductor coil may surround the adiabatic region.

[0040] The inductor coil may be spiral in shape.

[0041] The thermal insulation area may be defined by the interior and exterior walls.

[0042] The inner wall may contain a heat-resistant material.

[0043] The inner wall may be heated by penetration due to a fluctuating magnetic field.

[0044] The receptacle may define the interior wall.

[0045] The insulating region may be tubular.

[0046] The insulating region may extend along the longitudinal length of the receptacle.

[0047] The thermal insulation region may include the radially outer area of ​​the receptacle.

[0048] The interior wall may be equipped with a heat-reflective layer.

[0049] At least one of the interior wall and the exterior wall may include stainless steel.

[0050] At least one of the inner wall and the outer wall may have a thickness of about 0.2 mm.

[0051] The thickness may be 0.1 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0052] The insulated area may be provided with additional insulation measures.

[0053] The additional insulating means may be at least one of solid, air gap, aerogel, and plastic insulating means.

[0054] The insulated area may be provided with further additional insulation measures.

[0055] According to one embodiment, an aerosol supply system is provided comprising an aerosol supply device as described herein and an aerosol product.

[0056] According to one embodiment, a method for forming an aerosol supply device as described herein is provided.

[0057] Here, an embodiment will be described as merely an example, with reference to the attached drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0058] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an aerosol supply system, including an aerosol supply device located within a charging unit. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the aerosol supply device. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a portion of the aerosol supply device and a portion of the aerosol products of the aerosol supply system. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a heater that can be used in the aerosol supply system. [Figure 5] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating component of an aerosol supply device. [Figure 6] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating component of an aerosol supply device. [Figure 7] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the heating component of an aerosol supply device. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0059] According to this disclosure, a “non-combustible” aerosol supply system is a system in which the constituent aerosol-generating materials (or components of those materials) of the aerosol supply system are not burned or incinerated in order to facilitate the delivery of at least one substance to the user.

[0060] In some embodiments, the delivery system is a non-combustible aerosol supply system, such as a powered non-combustible aerosol supply system.

[0061] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol delivery system is an electronic cigarette, also known as a vaping device or electronic nicotine delivery system (END), but it should be noted that the presence of nicotine in the aerosol-generating material is not a requirement.

[0062] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply system is an aerosol-generating material heating system, also known as a non-combustion heating system. An example of such a system is a cigarette heating system.

[0063] In some embodiments, the non-combustible aerosol supply system is a hybrid system that generates an aerosol using a combination of one or more aerosol-generating materials that can be heated. Each of the aerosol-generating materials may be in the form of, for example, a solid, liquid, or gel, and may or may not contain nicotine. In some embodiments, the hybrid system includes a liquid or gel aerosol-generating material and a solid aerosol-generating material. The solid aerosol-generating material may include, for example, tobacco or a non-tobacco product.

[0064] Typically, a non-combustible aerosol supply system may comprise a non-combustible aerosol supply device and consumables for use with the non-combustible aerosol supply device.

[0065] In some embodiments, the non-combustion aerosol supply device may comprise an area for receiving consumables, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generation area, a housing, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0066] In some embodiments, consumables for use with a non-combustible aerosol supply device may include aerosol generating material, an aerosol generating material storage area, an aerosol generating material transfer component, an aerosol generator, an aerosol generating area, a housing, packaging material, a filter, a suction nozzle, and / or an aerosol modifier.

[0067] As used herein, the term “aerosol-generating material” refers to a material that can generate an aerosol when heated, irradiated, or energized in any other way. The aerosol-generating material may be in the form of a solid, liquid, or semi-solid (such as a gel), and may or may not contain active substances and / or flavorings.

[0068] The aerosol-generating material may include one or more active substances and / or flavorings, one or more aerosol-forming agent materials, and optionally one or more other functional materials.

[0069] The aerosol-generating material may include a binder such as a gelling agent and an aerosol-forming agent. Optionally, a delivered substance and / or fillers may also be present. Optionally, a solvent such as water may also be present, and one or more other components of the aerosol-generating material may or may not be soluble in the solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of plant-based materials. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially free of tobacco.

[0070] The aerosol-generating material may include an aerosol-generating film, or may be in the form of an aerosol-generating film. The aerosol-generating film may include a binder such as a gelling agent and an aerosol-forming agent. Optionally, a delivered substance and / or fillers may also be present. The aerosol-generating film may not contain substantially any plant material. In particular, in some embodiments, the aerosol-generating material is substantially tobacco-free.

[0071] The aerosol-generating film may have a thickness of approximately 0.015 mm to approximately 1 mm. For example, the thickness may be in the range of approximately 0.05 mm, 0.1 mm, or 0.15 mm to approximately 0.5 mm or 0.3 mm.

[0072] The aerosol-generating film may be continuous. For example, the film may include a continuous sheet of material, or a continuous sheet of material. The sheet may be in the form of packaging material, may be gathered to form a gathered sheet, or may be shredded to form a shredded sheet. The shredded sheet may include one or more strands or strips of the aerosol-generating material.

[0073] The aerosol-generating film may be discontinuous. For example, the aerosol-generating film may include one or more individual parts or regions of an aerosol-generating material, such as dots, stripes, or lines, which can be supported on a support. In such embodiments, the support may be planar or non-planar.

[0074] An aerosol-generating film can be formed by combining a binder such as a gelling agent with a solvent such as water, an aerosol-forming agent, and one or more other components such as one or more substances to be delivered to form a slurry, and then heating the slurry to volatilize at least a portion of the solvent to form an aerosol-generating film.

[0075] An aerosol supply device can receive an article containing an aerosol-generating material for heating. In this context, “article” refers to a component that contains or includes, at the time of use, an aerosol-generating material that is heated to volatilize the aerosol-generating material, and other components that contain or include at the time of use. The user may insert the article into or onto the aerosol supply device before the article is heated to generate an aerosol, and then the user inhales the aerosol. The article may be of a predetermined or specific size, for example, configured to be placed in or across the heater of a device sized to receive the article.

[0076] An aerosol generator is a device configured to generate an aerosol from an aerosol-generating material. In some embodiments, the aerosol generator is a heater configured to supply thermal energy to the aerosol-generating material in order to release one or more volatile substances from the aerosol-generating material to form an aerosol.

[0077] Consumables are articles containing or consisting of aerosol-generating materials, some or all of which are intended to be consumed during use by the user. Consumables may comprise one or more other components, such as an aerosol-generating material storage area, an aerosol-generating material transfer component, an aerosol-generating area, a housing, packaging material, a mouthpiece, a filter, and / or an aerosol modifier. Consumables may also comprise an aerosol generator, such as a heater, which generates heat during use to cause the aerosol-generating material to produce an aerosol. The heater may comprise, for example, a flammable material, an electrically conductive material, or a susceptor.

[0078] Figure 1 shows an aerosol supply system 10 comprising an aerosol supply device 100 and a charging unit 20. The device 100 is shown positioned within a cavity 21 of the charging unit 20. The cavity 21 has an open end 22 (also called an opening). The embodiment of the charging unit in Figure 1 also includes a longitudinal opening 23.

[0079] The aerosol supply device 100 is arranged to generate aerosols from aerosol products (as shown in Figure 3) that can be inserted into the aerosol supply device 100 when in use. In the embodiment, the articles form part of the aerosol supply system 10.

[0080] The aerosol supply device 100 is an elongated structure extending along its longitudinal axis. The aerosol supply device 100 has a proximal end 100a, closest to the user (e.g., the user's mouth) during use, and a distal end 100b, furthest from the user during use, for inhaling the aerosol generated by the aerosol supply device 100. The proximal end may also be called the “mouthpiece end.” The aerosol supply device 100 also defines a proximal direction, which is directed toward the user during use. Similarly, the aerosol supply device 100 defines a distal direction, which is directed away from the user during use. The terms proximal and distal, applied to the features of the device 100, are explained by referring to the relative positioning of such features relative to each other in the proximal-distal direction along the longitudinal axis. The aerosol supply device 100 includes an opening at the proximal end 100a, which leads to a receptacle. The receptacle may be a heating chamber, as described later with reference to Figure 2.

[0081] The aerosol supply device 100 can be removably inserted into the charging unit 20 for charging. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the distal end 100b of the aerosol supply device 100 is inserted into the cavity 21 through the opening 22.

[0082] One or more user-operable control elements 106, such as buttons, may be provided on the aerosol supply device 100 for use in operating the aerosol supply device 100.

[0083] The charging unit 20 may include a user interface such as a display 28, which can be installed in any convenient location, such as the position shown in Figure 1.

[0084] Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the aerosol supply device 100. The aerosol supply device 100 comprises a main housing 200. The main housing 200 defines the device body of the device 100. The device 100 defines a heating chamber 201. A receptacle 205 defines the heating chamber 201. An opening 203 is provided to provide access to the heating chamber 201. The receptacle 205 comprises a wall structure including a receptacle side wall 205a and a receptacle base 205b. The base 205b is at the distal end of the receptacle 205. At least a portion of an article is received in the heating zone 201a. The heating zone 201a is configured to heat at least a portion of an article for heating. The receptacle 205 defines the heating zone 201a.

[0085] A heating component 300 is provided in a portion of the main housing 200. In the shown embodiment, the heating component 300 is a heater 301 that extends or protrudes into the heating chamber 201. Such a heater may be known as an internal heater. Other heater components are also possible, including external heater components in which the heater extends at least partially around the hearing zone, and components in which the heater is located inside the article. In the embodiment, the heater may be provided in the wall component of the receptacle 205.

[0086] The heater 301 may include a base portion 301a supported by a part of the body of the device 100. The heater 301 is upright within the heating chamber 201. The heater 301 is upright from its distal end.

[0087] The heater 301 comprises a heating element. As shown in the figure, the heating element is an elongated heating element in the form of a pin. In other embodiments, the heater 301 may include other components such as blades. It will be understood that the heater may have a variety of cross-sectional shapes.

[0088] The heater 301 can be inserted into the distal end of the aerosol product 50 (see Figure 3) received in the heating chamber 201 to heat the aerosol product internally during use.

[0089] In the embodiment, the heating member is configured to receive at least a portion of an article. In the embodiment, the heating member includes a heating element configured to heat the heating member. In such an embodiment, the heating element may be a resistance heater heating element. The heating element may be fixed to the heating member body, for example, by adhesive. In the embodiment, the heating element is a film structure. In the embodiment, the heating element includes a resistance heating track.

[0090] The housing 200 comprises a housing wall 200a. The housing wall 200a extends along the longitudinal axis of the aerosol supply device 100 and surrounds the heating chamber 201. The housing wall 200a can at least partially define the receiving chamber of the aerosol supply device 100. The housing base 200b is located at the distal end of the housing wall 200a. In the shown embodiment, the heater 301 is upright from the housing base 200b. The heater 301 protrudes through the receptacle base 205b. The receptacle base 205b has an aperture 206 through which the heater 301 protrudes. In the embodiment, the heater 301 is mounted on the receptacle base 205b. The heater 301 is upright from the receptacle base 205b.

[0091] The aerosol supply device 100 further comprises a removal mechanism 204 which can be detachably held in the main housing 200 of the aerosol supply device 100. In the shown embodiment, the removal mechanism 204 defines a heating chamber 201. The removal mechanism 204 forms a receptacle 205.

[0092] In other embodiments, the removal mechanism 204 is omitted, and other features of the device 100 define the heating chamber 201, for example, the housing side wall 200a and the housing base 200b. In embodiments, the receptacle 205 is formed by the housing 200.

[0093] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of part of the aerosol supply device and part of the aerosol product 50 described above.

[0094] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of a resistance heater 301 for use in the aerosol supply device described above. In such a configuration, the heating assembly comprises a heating generator which includes components for heating a heating element via a resistance heating process. In this case, a current is applied directly to the resistance heating element, and the resulting current flow within the heating element, which acts as a heating component, heats the heating element by Joule heating. The resistance heating element includes a resistance material configured to generate heat when a suitable current passes through the resistance heating element, and the heating component includes electrical contacts for supplying current to the resistance material. In the embodiment, the heating element forms at least a portion of the resistance heating member itself. Other heating components, such as induction heating components described later, may be used.

[0095] In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the heater 301 comprises an elongated housing 302 and a heating element 350. The elongated housing 302 is an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis. The housing 302 is formed from a thermally conductive material such as aluminum. Other suitable materials such as stainless steel may be used. The elongated housing 302 may have a coating on its outer surface. The elongated housing 302 is configured to transfer heat from the heating element 350 to the heating zone 201a within the aerosol supply device. In the embodiment, the heating member is the heating element.

[0096] The elongated housing 302 has a base end 303 and a free end 304. The base end 304 is attached to the device body. The mounting portion 305 of the base end 303 is for attaching the heater 301.

[0097] The elongated housing 302 comprises a housing body 306. The housing body 306 is cylindrical. In other embodiments, the housing body 306 may have various cross-sectional shapes, such as circular, elliptical, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal, but is not limited to these. The housing body 306 comprises a bore 307 that defines an inner void (or cavity) 308 of the heater 301. The inner void 308 extends in the longitudinal direction. An inner surface 309 is defined inside the elongated housing 302. The base end 303 is provided with an opening end 310 to the inner void 308.

[0098] The free end 304 of the elongated housing 302 extends toward the proximal end of the heating chamber. The free end 304 of the heater 301 is closed, or in other words, the inner gap 308 does not extend through the free end 304. A tip 311 is provided on the free end 304. The tip 311 extends to the apex 312. Other shapes and configurations of the tip 311 may be provided; for example, the tip 311 may define a plane.

[0099] The heating element 350 is located within the elongated housing 302 of the heater 301. The heating element 350 extends longitudinally within the elongated housing 302 and has a base end 350a and a free end 350b. In Figure 6, the heating element 350 extends between the base end 303 and the free end 304. In some embodiments, the heating element extends partially along the length of the inner void 308. In some embodiments, the heating element 350 extends to or beyond the open end 310.

[0100] In this embodiment, the heating coil 351 is a resistance heating coil. The heating coil 351 is a helical coil. The heating coil may have any suitable cross-sectional profile, such as a rectangular cross-sectional profile, a circular cross-sectional profile, or an elliptical cross-sectional profile.

[0101] In other embodiments, the heating component 300 may comprise two or more heating coils.

[0102] The heating element 300 includes electrical connection paths 352 and 353. The electrical connection paths extend from each end of the heating element 350.

[0103] In this embodiment, the heating element includes, as part of the induction heating structure, a material that can be heated by a fluctuating magnetic field, i.e., a protruding susceptor.

[0104] In the embodiment, the heating element of the aerosol supply system is not part of the aerosol supply device 100, but rather part of the aerosol product 50. The heating element in the embodiment is a resistive heating element, for example, in the form of the resistive coil described above, provided as part of the aerosol product. Electrical connections may allow current to flow through the resistive heating element.

[0105] In the embodiment, the heating element is a susceptor, that is, the heating element includes a material that can be heated by a fluctuating magnetic field.

[0106] As shown in Figure 3, an insulating region 400 is provided. The insulating region 400 extends around the receptacle 205. The insulating region 100 is arranged coaxially around the receptacle 205. The insulating region 400 surrounds the receptacle 205, and by extension, the heating zone 201a. Within the device 100, the insulating region 400 is located between the heating zone 201a and the outer surface of the housing 200.

[0107] The thermal insulation region 400 is located between the receptacle wall 205a and the housing wall 200a. In the embodiment, the housing wall 200a forms part of the thermal insulation region 400. In the embodiment, the receptacle wall 205a forms part of the thermal insulation region 400. The thermal insulation region 400 forms part of the body of the device 100.

[0108] As shown in Figure 3, the thermal insulation region 400 is located on the housing wall 200a. In an embodiment, the thermal insulation region 400 is located on the receptacle wall 205a. Such an embodiment is shown in Figure 5. In an embodiment, the thermal insulation region is spaced apart from the receptacle 205. As shown in Figure 5, the thermal insulation region 400 is in direct contact with the receptacle 205. In an embodiment, the thermal insulation region 400 forms part of the removal mechanism 204. In embodiments where the removal mechanism is omitted, the receptacle is part of the body of the device 100.

[0109] The thermal insulation region 400 is described with reference to Figure 5, but such a description is also applicable to other device components, including those described above.

[0110] The insulated region 400 comprises a fluid-sealed chamber 410. The fluid-sealed chamber 410 comprises an inner wall 412 and an outer wall 414. The inner wall of the insulated region is defined by the side wall 205a of the receptacle 205; that is, the inner wall 412 and the side wall 205a are common walls of the fluid-sealed chamber 410 and the receptacle 205, respectively. This may mean that the device 100 is more compact, less material can be used in its manufacture, and the device may be more robust.

[0111] The outer wall 414 is radially spaced apart from the inner wall 412. The outer wall 414 tapers toward the inner wall 412 at both the proximal end 110a and the distal end 110b of the receptacle 205. The inner wall 412 and the outer wall 414 are joined at their ends such that the space between the inner wall 412 and the outer wall 424 forms a fluid-sealed chamber 410.

[0112] The fluid-sealed chamber 410 contains a liquid. The liquid is water. In this embodiment, the water acts as a coolant. In this embodiment, the fluid-sealed chamber 410 may contain a different liquid or coolant. In this embodiment, the liquid contains a coolant additive. In this embodiment, the liquid may be a mixture of two or more liquids, for example, water and a different liquid coolant.

[0113] The fluid-sealed chamber 410 is substantially completely filled with liquid. This may help maximize the thermal insulation properties of the adiabatic region. In embodiments, the fluid-sealed chamber 410 may be partially filled with liquid. This may allow the liquid to undergo a phase transition upon heating, which may help maximize the heat retention of the adiabatic region 400. For example, the fluid-sealed chamber 410 may be more than half filled with liquid. In embodiments, the fluid-sealed chamber may be filled with more than 10%, more than 20%, more than 30%, or more than 40% liquid. The fluid-sealed chamber 410 may additionally contain one or more of air, vacuum, particles, and microbeads.

[0114] Heating can be made more efficient by including an insulating region 400 in the device 100 surrounding the heating chamber 205. Efficiency can be further improved by including a liquid in the fluid-sealed chamber 410. The insulating region 400 can act as a cooling channel that can reduce the external heat of the housing of the device 100.

[0115] In particular, the liquid within the insulated region 400 can act as a heat storage area. During use, heat generated at the receptacle 205 can be transferred to the insulated region 400 via the receptacle wall 205. Excess heat from the heating zone 201a is stored in the liquid contained in the fluid-sealed chamber 410. This means that heat is not immediately transferred to the outside of the device 100. The heat generated by the device can be released from the heat storage area over a long period of time, which can help reduce the peak temperature of the device housing.

[0116] The liquid within the adiabatic region 400 can disperse the heat transferred to the adiabatic region 400. The heat can be dispersed along the longitudinal length of the device. This can reduce or eliminate any hot spots. In particular, the heat can be dispersed into the liquid away from the portion of the adiabatic region 400 adjacent to the heating element, which means that the peak temperature of the device features adjacent to the heater is minimized. This can help ensure that the heat is more uniformly distributed along the longitudinal length of the device 100.

[0117] The thermal insulation region 400 extends radially outward around the entire side wall 205a of the receptacle 205. In embodiments, the thermal insulation region 400 may extend only partially around the side wall 205a. In embodiments, the thermal insulation region 400 may extend only partially around the coaxial range of the receptacle 205, i.e., only around a portion of the outer perimeter of the receptacle. In embodiments, the thermal insulation region 400 may extend substantially along the entire longitudinal length of the receptacle 205. In embodiments, the thermal insulation region 400 extends only partially along the longitudinal length of the receptacle 205.

[0118] In embodiments, the thermal insulation region 400 comprises a heat reflective element. In embodiments, the heat reflective layer may be a coating on the inner wall 412 or a heat reflective layer applied to the inner wall 412. This may help retain heat within the receptacle to make the device more efficient. In embodiments, the heat reflective element is tubular. A tubular heat reflective layer may be provided around the receptacle wall 205a within the first fluid-sealed chamber 410.

[0119] Referring to the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the arrangement is substantially the same as that in Figure 5, but the insulated region 400 includes a second fluid-sealed chamber 420. Similarly, in this case as well, the insulated region 400 surrounds the receptacle 205 and, consequently, the heating zone 201a.

[0120] The second fluid-sealed chamber 420 comprises an inner wall 422 and an outer wall 424. The inner wall 422 is defined by the outer wall 214 of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. This may mean that the device 100 is more compact. The outer wall 424 tapers toward the side wall 205a of the receptacle 205 and, together with the inner wall 422, defines the second fluid-sealed chamber 424.

[0121] The second fluid-sealed chamber 420 extends entirely around the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. The second fluid-sealed chamber 420 is coaxially positioned around the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. The second fluid-sealed chamber 420 extends around the entire coaxial range of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. In embodiments, the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 may extend substantially entirely around the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. This helps ensure that the thermal insulation properties of the thermal insulation region 400 are maximized. In embodiments, the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 may extend only partially around the coaxial range of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410, i.e., around a portion of the outer periphery of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. This may accommodate certain size constraints in a compact device.

[0122] The second fluid-sealed chamber 420 is evacuated to a pressure lower than that outside the adiabatic region 400. Therefore, the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 is a vacuum-insulated chamber that defines a vacuum-insulated region. Providing vacuum insulation can increase the heating efficiency of device 100.

[0123] As described above, the liquid in the first fluid-sealed chamber 410 may act as a heat storage area. Therefore, because excess heat is stored in the liquid, less heat moves to the vacuum region in the second fluid-sealed chamber 420. This makes vacuum insulation more effective as less heat passes through.

[0124] In the embodiment, the inner wall 422 of the second fluid-seal chamber 420 and the outer wall 414 of the first fluid-seal chamber 410 are separate and distinct. In the embodiment, an insulating member is provided between the first fluid-seal chamber 410 and the second fluid-seal chamber 220. In the example, the wall between the first fluid-seal chamber 410 and the second fluid-seal chamber 220 includes an insulating member. The insulating member may be PEEK and a polymer. The insulating member may cover substantially all of the outer wall 414 of the first fluid-seal chamber 410. In the embodiment, the insulating member may be disposed on a portion of the outer wall of the first fluid-seal chamber 410. In the embodiment, the insulating region may be a heat-reflective layer.

[0125] Each wall of the fluid-sealed chambers 410, 412 and the insulating region 400 may be made of stainless steel. In embodiments, each wall is about 0.2 mm thick. In embodiments, each wall may be of varying thicknesses or different thicknesses from one another.

[0126] In this embodiment, the first fluid-sealed chamber 410 may be a vacuum chamber that is evacuated to a pressure lower than that outside the adiabatic region, and the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 may be filled with liquid.

[0127] In such embodiments, having the vacuum-insulated region within the first fluid-sealed chamber 410 facing inward helps ensure that heat conduction to the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 is reduced. The liquid in the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 acts as a heat storage unit to retain any heat that passes through the vacuum-insulated region within the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. The liquid can help disperse any heat that moves along the longitudinal length of the receptacle to the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 through convection within the liquid. The liquid in the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 can slowly release heat after the device has been used. The liquid in the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 can act as a more effective insulator because some of the heat may be prevented from passing through the first fluid-sealed chamber 410 as a vacuum chamber.

[0128] In embodiments, a heat reflective element may be provided between the first fluid-sealed chamber and the second fluid-sealed chamber to improve the efficiency of the heat-insulating area. In embodiments, the heat reflective element is provided on at least one of the inner wall 422 of the second fluid-sealed chamber 420 and the outer wall 414 of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. In embodiments, the heat reflective element is provided on the inner wall 422 defined by the outer wall 214 of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410. In these embodiments, the heat reflective layer is a coating on each wall. In embodiments, the heat reflective element is tubular and is disposed between the inner wall 422 and the outer wall 421. In embodiments, the heat reflective element is provided on the outer wall of the receptacle 205.

[0129] Referring to Figure 7, a device receptacle for use in an induction heating configuration is shown.

[0130] As explained with reference to Figures 2 to 6, the heating element is a resistance heating element. In embodiments, such as the one shown in Figure 7, other types of heating elements, such as induction heating, are used. The overall configuration of the device is as described above.

[0131] An induction heating configuration comprises various components for heating an aerosol-generating material of an article by an induction heating process. Induction heating is a process of heating a conductive heating element (such as a susceptor) by electromagnetic induction. The induction heating configuration comprises an induction element, i.e., a coil 520, and a device for passing a fluctuating current, such as an alternating current, through the induction element. This is provided within the housing of the device 100. In the embodiment, the configuration comprises two or more inductor coils.

[0132] A fluctuating current within an inductive element generates a fluctuating magnetic field. This fluctuating magnetic field penetrates a susceptor suitably positioned relative to the inductive element, generating eddy currents within the susceptor. The susceptor has electrical resistance to eddy currents, and therefore, the flow of eddy currents against this resistance heats the susceptor by Joule heating. If the susceptor contains a ferromagnetic material such as iron, nickel, or cobalt, heat can also be generated by magnetic hysteresis losses within the susceptor, i.e., by a change in the orientation of magnetic dipoles within the magnetic material as a result of alignment with the fluctuating magnetic field. In induction heating, heat is generated within the susceptor, enabling rapid heating. Furthermore, it allows for greater flexibility in configuration and application without requiring any physical contact between the induction heater and the susceptor.

[0133] In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the coil 520 is arranged around the receptacle 205. The coil 520 is a helical inductor coil. The heating zone 201a is formed within the receptacle. The receptacle 205 has side walls 205a and a base wall 205b. The side walls 205a contain or are made of a heating material that can be heated by penetration by a fluctuating magnetic field to induce heating in the heating zone 201a. In embodiments, the inner wall 110 may be formed of steel. However, nickel-cobalt iron alloys such as Kovar® can also be used. In embodiments, the base wall 205b also contains a heating material. This may mean that the heating zone 201a has consistent heating within the receptacle 205.

[0134] An insulating region 400 is provided. The inductor coil 520 extends around the insulating region 400 and, consequently, around the receptacle 205. The inductor coil 520 surrounds the heating chamber 400. The inductor coil 520 extends along the entire longitudinal length of the receptacle.

[0135] In an embodiment, the inductor coil 520 may extend along a portion of the longitudinal length of the receptacle 205. In an embodiment, the inductor coil 520 may surround only a portion of the distal or proximal end of the receptacle 205. In an embodiment, two or more inductor coils 520 may be provided. In an embodiment, the coil 420 may be provided within the heat-insulating region 400.

[0136] The thermal insulation region 400 is substantially identical to the thermal insulation region described with respect to Figure 5. The thermal insulation region 400 comprises a first fluid-sealed chamber 410 containing a liquid. In the embodiment, the inner wall 412 of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410 may be shared with the side wall 205a of the receptacle 205. Thus, the inner wall 412 of the first fluid-sealed chamber 410 may contain or be made of a material that can be heated by penetration due to a fluctuating magnetic field.

[0137] In the embodiment, a second fluid-sealed chamber 420 may be provided as part of the induction heating configuration. The second fluid-sealed chamber 420 may be substantially as described above with respect to Figure 6.

[0138] In this embodiment, the wall of the receptacle 205 may not contain heating material. Instead, the heating element may be provided on the aerosol product article configured to be inserted into the heating zone 201a. Thus, when an article containing aerosol-generating material is positioned in the heating zone 201a, the article is heated by the induction heating component to generate an aerosol.

[0139] In the embodiment, the induction heating member is provided as a pin or blade that extends within the receptacle and contains a heating material that can be heated by the induction heating component to generate an aerosol.

[0140] In the embodiment, the insulating region partially surrounds the receptacle and the heating zone. In the embodiment, the insulating region surrounds the distal or proximal end of the receptacle. In the embodiment, the insulating region surrounds the receptacle along only a portion of its coaxial outer circumference.

[0141] In this embodiment, the second fluid-sealed chamber is omitted so that only the first chamber contains liquid.

[0142] In embodiments, a second fluid-sealed chamber is also partially or substantially filled with liquid. This may be a substitute for a vacuum-insulated chamber. In embodiments, further additional fluid-sealed chambers may be provided. In embodiments where the fluid-sealed chambers or each fluid-sealed chamber is partially filled with liquid, the fluid-sealed chamber or each fluid-sealed chamber is evacuated to a pressure lower than that outside the insulated area 400. In embodiments, the fluid-sealed chamber or each fluid-sealed chamber is at the same pressure as outside the insulated area 400.

[0143] In the embodiment, a fluid-sealed chamber containing a liquid is provided in combination with additional heat insulating means, as described in any of the embodiments above. The fluid-sealed chamber containing the liquid and the additional heat insulating means may form a heat insulating region.

[0144] In embodiments, a solid insulating material is provided as an additional insulating means. The solid insulating material may be provided between the receptacle and the fluid-sealed chamber containing the liquid. The solid insulating material may be provided radially outside the fluid-sealed chamber. This means that less heat is transferred to the outside of the device housing. In embodiments, the additional insulating means may be an air gap, aerogel, or plastic insulating means. The additional insulating means may be provided radially inside or radially outside the fluid-sealed chamber.

[0145] In the embodiment, further additional heat insulating means may be provided on the radially inner or radially outer side of the fluid sealing chamber. The third heat insulating means may be any of the above heat insulating means.

[0146] The various embodiments described herein are presented solely to aid in understanding and teaching the claimed features. These embodiments are provided only as representative examples of embodiments and are not exhaustive or exclusive. The advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and / or other aspects described herein should not be considered limitations to the scope of the invention as defined by the claims or to equivalents of the claims, and it should be understood that other embodiments may be used or modified without departing from the scope of the claimed invention. Various embodiments of the invention may, may consist of, or may essentially consist of, appropriate combinations of disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc., other than those specifically described herein. Furthermore, this disclosure may include other inventions that are not currently claimed but may be claimed in the future.

Claims

1. An aerosol supply device for generating aerosols from aerosol-generating materials, A receptacle defining a heating zone configured to receive at least a portion of an article containing an aerosol-generating material, A thermal insulation region extending around at least a portion of the receptacle, Equipped with, The aforementioned heat insulating region contains a liquid in the aerosol supply device.

2. The aerosol supply device according to claim 1, wherein the heat insulating region comprises a fluid-sealed chamber for containing the liquid.

3. The aerosol supply device according to claim 2, wherein the fluid-sealed chamber is substantially completely filled with liquid.

4. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid includes water.

5. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the fluid sealing chamber is a first fluid sealing chamber, and the heat insulating region comprises a second fluid sealing chamber.

6. The aerosol supply device according to claim 5, wherein the second fluid-sealed chamber is evacuated to a pressure lower than that outside the heat-insulating region.

7. The aerosol supply device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein one of the first fluid-sealed chamber and the second fluid-sealed chamber extends at least partially around the other of the first fluid-sealed chamber and the second fluid-sealed chamber.

8. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a heat insulating member between the first fluid-sealed chamber and the second fluid-sealed chamber.

9. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heat insulating region comprises a heat reflective layer.

10. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein at least a portion of the thermal insulation area is defined by at least one wall, and the at least one wall is made of stainless steel.

11. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the heat insulating region comprises additional heat insulating means.

12. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the additional heat insulating means is at least one of a solid, an air gap, an aerogel, and a plastic heat insulating means.

13. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a heating member configured to heat the heating zone.

14. The aerosol supply device according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle comprises the heating element.

15. The aerosol supply device according to claim 13, wherein the heating element protrudes within the heating zone.

16. The aerosol supply device according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive the heating element within the heating zone.

17. An aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 16, comprising an inductor coil.

18. The aerosol supply device according to claim 17, wherein the inductor coil extends around the heat insulating region.

19. The aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the heating member is a resistance heater heating member.

20. An aerosol supply system comprising an aerosol supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 19 and an aerosol product.

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