Filter segment, aerosol generating article and system containing the same

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the filter segment includes an outer portion including a filter, and an inner portion including an airflow barrier located inside the outer portion and surrounded by the filter and configured to slow or block airflow.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to filter segments, aerosol generating articles, and systems including the same.

Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices that generate aerosol in a non-combustion manner from aerosol generating articles (e.g., cigarettes) have been developed. For example, Publication No. 10-2019-0119465 discloses an aerosol generating device. The above-described background art is something retained or acquired in the derivation process of the present disclosure, and it cannot necessarily be said to be publicly known technology that was publicly available to the general public before the filing of the present disclosure.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a filter segment that uniformly disperses heat in a filter and an aerosol generating article.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] According to one embodiment, the filter segment may be a filter segment for an aerosol generating article, and may include an outer portion including a filter, and an inner portion located inside the outer portion and including an airflow barrier configured to delay or block an airflow and surrounded by the filter.

[0005] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier may be located at the center of the filter segment.

[0006] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier may extend along the longitudinal direction of the filter segment.

[0007] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier may include a solid substance.

[0008] In one embodiment, the solid material can include at least one or a combination of paper threads, silicon threads, paper filters, or acetate tow.

[0009] In one embodiment, the diameter of the airflow barrier can be substantially the same as or smaller than half of the diameter of the filter segment.

[0010] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating article includes a first segment containing a medium and a second segment located downstream of the first segment. The second segment includes a filter segment, and the filter segment can include an external portion containing a filter and an internal portion located inside the external portion and surrounded by the filter and configured to delay or block an airflow.

[0011] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating system includes an aerosol generating article including a first segment containing a medium and a second segment located downstream of the first segment. The second segment includes a filter segment, and the filter segment includes an external portion containing a filter and an internal portion located inside the external portion and surrounded by the filter and configured to delay or block an airflow, an aerosol generating device including a first housing, a second housing located within the first housing and configured to accommodate the aerosol generating article, and a heater located around the second housing and configured to heat the first segment.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to one embodiment, the bias of the air flow within the filter segment can be reduced or prevented. According to one embodiment, the contact area between the air flow and the filter within the filter segment can be increased. The effects of the filter segment and the aerosol generating article according to one embodiment are not limited to those mentioned above, and different effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] The above-mentioned, as well as other aspects, features, and advantages of the specific embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the specific structural or functional descriptions disclosed herein are merely illustrative for the purpose of describing the embodiments, and the embodiments can be implemented in various different forms, and the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. It should be understood that all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives to the embodiments are included within the scope of the rights.

[0015] The terms used in the embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "including" or "having" indicate the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, and should not be construed as precluding the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0016] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the technical field to which this embodiment belongs. Commonly used predefined terms should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the related art, and should not be interpreted in an ideal or overly formal sense unless clearly defined herein.

[0017] Also, in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same components will be given the same reference numerals regardless of the reference signs in the drawings, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. In the description of the embodiments, when it is determined that the specific description of the related known technology makes the gist of the embodiments needlessly ambiguous, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0018] Also, in the description of the components of the embodiments, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), etc. can be used. These terms are for distinguishing the components from other components, and do not limit the essence, order, or sequence of the components. When it is described that any component is "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another component, it can be understood that the component is directly connected or joined to the other component, but another component can be "connected", "coupled", or "joined" between the components.

[0019] Components that include functions common to the components included in any of the embodiments will be described using the same names in other embodiments. Unless otherwise stated, the descriptions given in any of the embodiments apply to other embodiments as well, and specific descriptions within overlapping ranges will be omitted.

[0020] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating substance" means a substance capable of generating an aerosol. An aerosol contains volatile compounds. The aerosol generating substance may be in a solid or liquid phase. For example, a solid aerosol generating substance includes solid substances based on tobacco raw materials such as sheet tobacco, cut tobacco, and reconstituted tobacco, and a liquid aerosol generating substance can include a liquid composition based on nicotine, tobacco extracts, and / or various flavoring agents. The aerosol generating substance can include an aerosol forming agent to stably form visible smoke and / or an aerosol.

[0021] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating device" means a device that generates an aerosol using an aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into a user's lungs through the user's mouth.

[0022] As used herein, the terms "upstream" or "upstream direction" mean a direction away from the user's mouth, and the terms "downstream" or "downstream direction" mean a direction approaching the user's mouth. The terms upstream and downstream are used to describe the relative positions of the elements constituting the aerosol generating article.

[0023] As used herein, the term "puff" means a user's inhalation. Inhalation means a situation where air is sucked into the user's oral cavity, nasal cavity, or lungs through the user's mouth or nose.

[0024] As used herein, the term "longitudinal direction" means a direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol generating article.

[0025] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an aerosol generation system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of an aerosol generation article according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram of a filter segment according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a filter segment according to an embodiment.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the aerosol generation system 10 includes an aerosol generation article 100 containing an aerosol generating substance, and an aerosol generator 200 configured to generate an aerosol from the aerosol generation article 100.

[0027] In one embodiment, the aerosol generation article 100 includes a plurality of segments 110, 120, 130, 140. For example, the aerosol generation article 100 includes a first segment 110, a second segment 120, a third segment 130, and a fourth segment 140 from upstream to downstream.

[0028] In one embodiment, the first segment 110 may include a filter. In one embodiment, the first segment 110 may include an acetyl cellulose tow filter. In one embodiment, the first segment 110 may include a cavity 112. The cavity 112 may be at least partially surrounded by the acetyl cellulose tow filter. The cavity 112 extends along the longitudinal direction of the first segment 110. The cavity 112 may be in contact with the second segment 120. The first segment 110 may have a length of about 7 mm.

[0029] In one embodiment, the second segment 120 can include a medium 122. The medium 122 may include any substance suitable for generating an aerosol generating substance, a fragrance substance, and / or other aerosols. The medium 122 may extend between the first segment 110 and the third segment 130. The medium 122 may be at least partially in contact with the first segment 110 and / or the third segment 130. The second segment 120 may have a length of about 15 mm.

[0030] In one embodiment, the third segment 130 includes a filter. For example, the third segment 130 may include an acetyl cellulose filter. In one embodiment, the third segment 130 may include a paper sleeve 132 configured to cool the aerosol and / or the air flow. The paper sleeve 132 may be at least partially surrounded by an acetyl cellulose tow filter. The paper sleeve 132 may extend between the second segment 120 and the fourth segment 140. The paper sleeve 132 is in contact with the second segment 120 and / or the fourth segment 140. The third segment 130 may have a length of about 12 mm.

[0031] In one embodiment, the fourth segment 140 includes a filter 142. For example, the filter 142 may include an acetyl cellulose filter. The filter 142 may be disposed on an external portion (e.g., outer side) of the fourth segment 140. The filter 142 includes a first end portion 142A (e.g., the left end portion in FIG. 3) facing (e.g., in contact with) the third segment 130, a second end portion 142B opposite to the first end portion 142A (e.g., the right end portion in FIG. 3), and a first extension portion 142C between the first end portion 142A and the second end portion 142B. The fourth segment 140 may have a length of about 14 mm.

[0032] In one embodiment, the fourth segment 140 includes an air flow barrier 144 configured to delay or block an air flow flowing through the fourth segment 140 from upstream to downstream. The air flow barrier 144 may be disposed in an internal portion (e.g., inner side) of the fourth segment 140 and at least partially surrounded by the filter 142. The air flow barrier 144 may be disposed at a central portion of the fourth segment 140.

[0033] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may extend along the longitudinal direction of the fourth segment 140. In any embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may include a first end portion 144A located on one end portion (e.g., the first end portion 142A) of the fourth segment 140, a second end portion 144B located on the other end portion (e.g., the second end portion 142B) of the fourth segment 140, and an extension portion 144C between the first end portion 144A and the second end portion 144B.

[0034] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a cylindrical shape with a substantially circular or elliptical cross-section. In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a substantially constant diameter along the longitudinal direction.

[0035] In any embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may be substantially the same as or smaller in diameter than half of the diameter of the aerosol generating article 100 (e.g., the diameter of the fourth segment 140). For example, the diameter of the aerosol generating article 100 (e.g., the diameter of the fourth segment 140) is about 7 mm, and the airflow barrier 144 may have a diameter of about 1 mm to 3.5 mm. The airflow barrier 144 having the above size increases the volume of the airflow contacting the filter 142.

[0036] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may have a variable diameter along the longitudinal direction. For example, the airflow barrier 144 may have a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the fourth segment 140 and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter downstream of the fourth segment 140. The tapered shape may have, for example, a linear profile or a non-linear profile (e.g., an exponential profile).

[0037] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 may include a solid material. For example, the solid material may include paper threads, silicon threads, paper filters, acetyl cellulose tow, and / or other solid materials. The series of solid materials including paper threads and silicon threads may have a substantially closed structure that blocks the airflow. The series of solid materials including paper filters and acetate tow are designed to have a suction resistance greater than that of the filter 142, and can reduce the flow of airflow through the solid material rather than through the filter 142.

[0038] In one embodiment, the airflow barrier 144 can reduce the temperature of the airflow in contact with the user's mouth by increasing the contact area between the airflow and the filter 142 and increasing the heat dispersion of the fourth segment 140. The airflow barrier 144 can disperse the airflow biased around the airflow barrier 144 between the first end 142A and the second end 142B of the filter 142 in the radial direction of the airflow barrier 144.

[0039] In one embodiment, the aerosol generating device 200 includes a first housing 210, a second housing 220, a heater 230, and a controller 240.

[0040] In one embodiment, the first housing 210 may form the appearance of the aerosol generating device 200. The second housing 220 may be configured to be located within the first housing 210 and at least partially accommodate the aerosol generating article 100.

[0041] In one embodiment, the heater 230 may be configured to heat the aerosol generating article 100 located within the second housing 220. For example, the heater 230 may be configured to heat the first segment 110.

[0042] In one embodiment, the heater 230 may be configured to surround the second housing 220. In one embodiment, the heater 230 may be disposed at an upstream portion (e.g., the first portion) of the second housing 220 when viewed along the direction of the air flow stream.

[0043] In one embodiment, the heater 230 may include a resist. For example, the heater 230 may include an electrically insulating substrate (e.g., a substrate formed of polyimide) and electrically conductive tracks, and may include a heating element that generates heat by the flow of current in the electrically conductive tracks.

[0044] In one embodiment, the heater 230 may include a coil. At least a part of the second housing 220 may include a susceptor material, and the heater 230 may heat a region within the second housing 220 by being electromagnetically coupled to the susceptor material of the second housing 220.

[0045] In one embodiment, the controller 240 may be configured to control the operation of the heater 230. The controller 240 may control the temperature of the heater 230. The controller 240 may determine the start time of the operation of the heater 230. The controller 240 may determine the end time of the operation of the heater 230. The controller 240 is configured to control the operation of the heater 230 based on a received signal (e.g., a signal from a sensor).

[0046] In one embodiment, the controller 240 may be implemented by a processor. The controller 240 may be implemented from an array of a plurality of logic gates, or may be implemented by a combination of a microprocessor and a memory storing a program executable by the microprocessor.

[0047] In an embodiment not shown, the aerosol generating device 200 may include a sensor configured to detect various characteristics of the aerosol generating article 100. The sensor may be configured to detect whether the aerosol generating article 100 is disposed at a defined position within the second housing 220. The sensor may be configured to detect the amount of aerosol generating substance (e.g., nicotine) within the aerosol generating article 100. The sensor may include a puff sensor configured to detect the number of puffs of a user. The sensor may include at least one temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the heater 230. The sensor may include at least one temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the first segment 110, the temperature of the second segment 120, the temperature of the third segment 130, and / or the temperature of the fourth segment 140.

[0048] Any of the embodiments described herein may be used in combination with any of the other embodiments described herein.

[0049] As described above, although the various embodiments have been described with reference to the limited drawings, those of ordinary skill in the art may apply various technical modifications and variations based thereon. For example, the described techniques may be performed in an order different from that described, and / or the components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, etc. may be combined or combined in a form different from that described, or replaced or substituted by other components or equivalents, and appropriate results can still be achieved.

[0050] Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is defined by equivalents such as those equivalent to the claims.

Claims

1. A filter segment for an aerosol-generating article, comprising: an outer portion including a filter; and an inner portion located inside the outer portion, the inner portion including an airflow barrier configured to be surrounded by the filter and to delay or block an airflow; wherein the airflow barrier has a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the filter segment and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter downstream of the filter segment; the filter segment.

2. The filter segment according to claim 1, wherein the airflow barrier is located at a central portion of the filter segment.

3. The filter segment according to claim 1, wherein the airflow barrier extends along a longitudinal direction of the filter segment.

4. The filter segment according to claim 1, wherein the airflow barrier comprises a solid material.

5. The filter segment according to claim 4, wherein the solid material comprises at least one or a combination of paper threads, silicon threads, paper filters, or acetate tow.

6. The filter segment according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the second diameter of the airflow barrier is substantially the same as or smaller than half of the diameter of the filter segment.

7. a first segment including a medium; and a second segment located downstream of the first segment; wherein the second segment includes a filter segment, the filter segment comprising: an outer portion including a filter; and an inner portion located inside the outer portion, the inner portion including an airflow barrier configured to be surrounded by the filter and to delay or block an airflow; wherein the airflow barrier has a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the filter segment and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter downstream of the filter segment; an aerosol-generating article.

8. An aerosol-generating article comprising a first segment including a medium and a second segment located downstream of the first segment, the second segment including a filter segment, the filter segment including an outer portion including a filter and an inner portion located inside the outer portion and including an airflow barrier configured to be surrounded by the filter and to delay or block an airflow. An aerosol generating device including a first housing, a second housing configured to be located within the first housing and accommodate the aerosol generating article, and a heater configured to be located around the second housing and heat the first segment. Including The airflow barrier has a tapered shape having a first diameter upstream of the filter segment and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter downstream of the filter segment. An aerosol generating system.

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