Replaceable Cartridge for an Aerosol Generating Device Having a Movable Sealing Element

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge for an aerosol generating device comprising a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent, the liquid storage portion comprising a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion, a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet, the slidable sealing element being configured to slide away from the liquid outlet upon application of pressure to the sealing element, and a wicking element disposed adjacent to the liquid outlet for absorbing and dispensing the liquid agent.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an aerosol generating device or a cartridge for an aerosol generating article. The present invention further relates to an aerosol generating device, a cartridge, an aerosol generating article, and an aerosol generating system including the aerosol generating device for generating an aerosol. The present invention further relates to a method of operating an aerosol generating system for forming an aerosol.

Background Art

[0002] Aerosol generating devices are known that heat but do not burn an aerosol forming substrate in an aerosol generating article such as tobacco. These devices heat the aerosol forming substrate to a sufficiently high temperature to generate an aerosol for inhalation by a user. These aerosol generating devices typically include a cavity for receiving the aerosol forming substrate. These devices are typically portable, hand-held devices and are generally compact. Other aerosol generating devices are known that generate an aerosol from a liquid aerosol forming substrate. Connecting, removing, or replacing a cartridge containing a liquid aerosol forming substrate from an aerosol generating device often leads to leakage or spillage from the cartridge or the aerosol generating device.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] It is desirable to provide a replaceable liquid-containing cartridge that can be easily connected and removed from an aerosol generating device without the risk of leakage. Further, it is desirable to provide an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating system that allow a user to use various aerosol forming substrates according to their preferences without the risk of fluid leakage when different cartridges are attached, removed, or replaced.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0004]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a replaceable cartridge configured to be detachably connected to an aerosol generator.

[0006] The cartridge may comprise a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent. The liquid storage portion may comprise a liquid outlet for guiding the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion. The cartridge may include a wicking element for supplying the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the liquid outlet. The cartridge may comprise a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet. Sealing means sufficiently preventing the liquid contained in the liquid storage portion from flowing out of the liquid storage portion so that liquid droplets are not generated in and around the liquid outlet of the cartridge. Sealing means preventing liquid from accumulating at the connection point between the cartridge and the device. The slidable sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when pressure is applied to the sealing element. When not engaged with either an aerosol generating device or an aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element seals the liquid outlet. When the cartridge engages with either an aerosol generating device or an aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element slides away from the liquid outlet to allow the liquid agent to reach the porous material located in the aerosol generating article through the liquid outlet. When the cartridge is removed from either an aerosol generating device or an aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element may slide to reseal the liquid outlet. When the cartridge is not engaged with either an aerosol generating device or an aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element seals the liquid outlet, thus reducing the risk of leakage when the cartridge is not engaged with the aerosol generating device.

[0007] Furthermore, the cartridge may include a wicking element. The wicking element contacts the liquid agent. The wicking element may be disposed near the liquid outlet to absorb the liquid agent and supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be disposed adjacent to the liquid outlet to absorb the liquid agent and supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be disposed proximal to the liquid outlet to absorb the liquid agent and supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be disposed within the liquid outlet to absorb the liquid agent and supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be between the liquid agent contained in the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be located between the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet. The wicking element may provide a controlled supply of the liquid agent to the liquid outlet.

[0008] According to another embodiment of the present invention, a replaceable cartridge configured to be detachably connected to an aerosol generating device is provided. The cartridge includes a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent. The liquid storage portion includes a liquid outlet for guiding the liquid agent out of the liquid storage portion. The cartridge includes a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet. The slidable sealing element is configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when pressure is applied to the sealing element. The cartridge also includes a wicking element. The wicking element is disposed adjacent to the liquid outlet to absorb the liquid agent and supply the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may contact the liquid agent. The wicking element is disposed in contact with the liquid agent and configured to deliver the liquid agent to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may guide the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may absorb the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion reaching the liquid outlet. Thereby, the pressure of the liquid agent on the sealing element can be reduced. The wicking element may prevent the liquid agent from leaking from the cartridge through the liquid outlet. The combination of the wicking element and the sealing element may improve the sealing of the cartridge and reduce leakage from the cartridge. The cartridge may include a sealed container for containing the liquid agent.

[0009] There are various possibilities of applying pressure to the slidable sealing element so that it slides away from the liquid outlet. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an aerosol generating device including a heating element may be provided. The heating element may include a partition wall having a first part and a partition wall having a second part, and the second part of the partition wall is configured to engage with the slidable sealing element for extrusion from the liquid outlet. An aerosol generating device including such a partition wall will be described in more detail below.

[0010] According to another embodiment of the present invention, as will be described in more detail below, the pressure can be applied to the slidable sealing element by the porous part of the aerosol generating article. Preferably, the aerosol generating device including the partition wall is used with the replaceable cartridge of the present invention.

[0011] When the cartridge engages with the aerosol generating device, the slidable sealing element can engage with a part of the aerosol generating device. When the user pushes the cartridge into a predetermined position of the aerosol generating device, the part of the aerosol generating device may slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet. By engaging the cartridge in a predetermined position within the aerosol generating device, the slidable sealing element can slide away from the liquid outlet, enabling liquid to enter the liquid outlet.

[0012] When the cartridge engages with either the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element may engage with a part of either the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article. When the user pushes the cartridge into a predetermined position, the aerosol generating device contains the aerosol generating article, and a part of either the aerosol generating article or the aerosol generating device may slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet. By engaging the cartridge in a predetermined position, a part of either the aerosol generating article or the aerosol generating device can engage with the slidable sealing element, slide the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet, and enable liquid to enter the liquid outlet.

[0013] The part of the aerosol generating device that engages with the slidable sealing element may be part of the heating element of the aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device may comprise a cavity for receiving an aerosol generating article containing an aerosol forming substrate. The part of the heating element of the aerosol generating device that engages with the slidable sealing element may be part of a partition wall of the heating element, in particular part of a partition wall of the heating element extending outside the cavity of the aerosol generating device. The part of the partition wall of the heating element extending outside the cavity of the aerosol generating device may be located downstream of the cavity for receiving the aerosol generating article. An aerosol generating device comprising such a partition wall will be described in more detail below.

[0014] The part of the aerosol generating article that engages with the slidable sealing element may be a porous part of the aerosol generating article. The porous part of the aerosol generating article may be a filter part. The filter part of the aerosol generating article may be located downstream of the substrate part of the aerosol generating article, the substrate part comprising an aerosol forming substrate. An aerosol generating article comprising a porous part and a substrate part will be described in more detail below.

[0015] The slidable sealing element may be of any suitable shape. For example, the slidable sealing element may be a flap. The sealing element may be a ring. The slidable sealing element may be a door. The slidable sealing element may be flat. The slidable sealing element may be shaped to be complementary to the structure of the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article and assist in the movement of the slidable sealing element from a closed position to an open position or from an open position to a closed position.

[0016] When the cartridge does not engage with any part of the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element may seal the liquid outlet. The slidable sealing element may abut or close or seal the liquid outlet, thereby sealing the liquid outlet and preventing the release of the liquid agent from the cartridge. The sealing element may cover the liquid outlet, thereby preventing the release of the liquid agent from the cartridge.

[0017] The slidable sealing element may be slidable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the slidable sealing element may seal the liquid outlet to prevent the transport of the liquid agent from the cartridge. In the first position of the slidable sealing element, the liquid channel for discharging the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and through the liquid outlet may be closed. In the sealed position of the slidable sealing element, the liquid channel for discharging the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and through the liquid outlet may be closed. In the second position, the slidable sealing element may be offset from the liquid outlet. Thereby, it may be possible for the liquid agent to be discharged through the liquid outlet. In the second position of the slidable sealing element, the liquid channel may be open to allow the discharge of the liquid agent from the cartridge. In the open position of the slidable sealing element, the liquid channel for discharging the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and through the liquid outlet may be opened. When removed from either the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article, the slidable sealing element of the cartridge may slide to the first position above the liquid outlet to seal the liquid outlet. Thereby, leakage or spillage of the liquid agent present in the cartridge can be prevented when removing the cartridge from either the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article.

[0018] The present invention also provides an aerosol generation system. The aerosol generation system may include a replaceable cartridge as described herein, and one or both of an aerosol generating device and an aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating device may include a cavity for receiving the aerosol generating article. The slidable sealing element of the cartridge may be configured to slide apart when pushed out by one or both of the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article. The slidable sealing element may slide apart when engaging with a part of either the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article. The slidable sealing element may slide apart when engaging with a part of the aerosol generating article. In particular, the slidable sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet from a first position to a second position when pushed by the porous part of the aerosol generating article when connecting the cartridge to the aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating article received within the cavity of the device. Or, the slidable sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet from a first position to a second position when pushed out by a part of the aerosol generating device.

[0019] Hereinafter, an aerosol generating device configured to be detachably connected to the slidable sealing element of the cartridge will be described in more detail. The aerosol generating device may include a cavity for receiving an aerosol generating article including an aerosol forming substrate. The aerosol generating device may include a heating element configured to heat the aerosol generating article received within the cavity. The heating element may include a partition wall. A first part of the partition wall may be located within the cavity, and a second part of the partition wall may extend outside the cavity.

[0020] The first part of the partition wall located within the cavity may be directly heated by the heating element. The first part of the partition wall may be configured to receive the aerosol generating article within the cavity.

[0021] Thus, when heating the first portion of the partition wall, the aerosol-generating article received in the cavity can be heated. In contrast, the second portion of the partition wall that can extend outside the cavity may not be directly heated by the heating element. The second portion of the partition wall may be configured to be indirectly heated by the heating element. Thus, the aerosol-generating device can provide two different heating zones. The first heating zone is defined by the first portion of the partition wall and is directly heated by the heating element, and the second heating zone is defined by the second portion of the partition wall, is outside the cavity, and thus is not directly heated by the heating element. Heat can be transferred from the first portion of the partition wall to the second portion of the partition wall outside the cavity through heat conduction through the material of the partition wall.

[0022] The second portion of the partition wall can be configured to interact with a cartridge containing a liquid agent. The second portion of the partition wall can be configured to be removably connected to a cartridge containing a liquid agent. The second portion of the partition wall of the heater of the aerosol-generating device can push away a slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet, thereby enabling the release of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the second portion of the partition wall. The second portion of the partition wall may be adjacent to the liquid outlet when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol-generating device. The second portion of the partition wall can abut against the liquid outlet when the second portion of the partition wall is received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. This can facilitate the movement of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and the liquid outlet to the second portion of the partition wall.

[0023] An aerosol generating device can be configured to be used with an aerosol generating article comprising an aerosol forming substrate for forming an aerosol, and a cartridge containing a liquid agent. The liquid agent may also form part of the aerosol. Thus, the aerosol generating device can be configured to generate an aerosol from different substrates, aerosol generating articles, and liquid agents. By a second portion of the partition wall, the cartridge may be detachably connected to the aerosol generating device. This enables the replacement of the cartridge and the use of different cartridges having different liquid agents for use with the aerosol generating device.

[0024] The second portion of the partition wall of the aerosol generating device may extend downstream of the cavity. This can ensure that the second portion of the partition wall is indirectly heated via heat convection resulting from the heated aerosol generated in the first portion of the partition wall. Thus, the first portion of the partition wall will be located upstream of the second portion of the partition wall. Arranging the second portion of the partition wall downstream of the cavity can also facilitate that any agent, particularly the liquid agent provided in the second portion of the partition wall, can be entrained by the aerosol formed from the aerosol generating article in the first portion of the partition wall.

[0025] As used herein, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used to describe the relative position of a component or portion of a component of a cartridge, aerosol-generating article, or aerosol-generating device with respect to the direction in which air flows along the airflow path during its use through the aerosol-generating device, through the aerosol-generating article, or through the cartridge. The aerosol-generating device according to the present invention comprises a proximal end through which the aerosol exits the device during use. The proximal end of the aerosol-generating device may also be referred to as the mouth-side end or the downstream end. The mouth-side end is downstream of the distal end. The mouth-side end may comprise a mouthpiece. The distal end of the aerosol-generating device may sometimes be referred to as the upstream end. Components or portions of components of the aerosol-generating device, cartridge, or article may be described as being upstream or downstream of one another based on these relative positions with respect to the airflow path through the aerosol-generating device.

[0026] The partition wall may comprise a tubular shape. The partition wall may be tubular. This may ensure that any aerosol-generating article, particularly any tubular-shaped article, can be easily received within the partition wall. The partition wall may also promote the conduction of heat from a first portion of the partition wall to a second portion of the partition wall.

[0027] The heating element of the aerosol-generating device may be configured to indirectly heat the second portion of the partition wall via one or both of heat conduction and heat convection. Thereby, the second portion of the partition wall can be heated in a reliable manner. The first portion of the partition wall located within the cavity of the aerosol-generating device may be directly heated by the heating element. Thus, one heating element may be able to provide two different heating zones in the aerosol-generating device by the first and second portions of the partition wall.

[0028] The second part of the partition wall may comprise one or both of holes and at least one porous section. Thereby, the second part of the partition wall may be capable of accommodating the liquid agent from the cartridge. The porous section of the side wall may be configured to store any liquid agent. The porous section of the second part of the partition wall may include a metal foam. The second part of the partition wall may be provided with holes that can be generated in the second part of the partition wall by any suitable means. For example, the holes in the second part of the partition wall can be formed by drilling or laser. The holes in the second part of the partition wall can allow the liquid agent discharged from the cartridge to enter the air flow path of the aerosol generator so that the liquid agent is aerosolized. Similarly, the porous part of the second part of the partition wall may store any liquid agent discharged from the cartridge until the liquid agent enters the air flow path of the aerosol generator so that the liquid agent is aerosolized. The air flow path of the aerosol generator may pass through the second part of the partition wall of the heating element. The stored liquid agent may be aerosolized and may be included in the aerosol formed in the first part of the partition wall of the cavity of the aerosol generator.

[0029] The second part of the partition wall may be hollow. Thereby, an aerosol generating article can be inserted through the second part of the partition wall into the first part of the partition wall located within the cavity of the aerosol generator. The second part of the partition wall may have the same cross-sectional shape as the cross-sectional shape of the first part of the compartment. In particular, both the first part and the second part of the partition wall may have a tubular shape. Thereby, the cross-sectional shapes of the first part and the second part of the partition wall may be the same circle or ellipse. Thereby, it may be possible to insert a rod-shaped aerosol generating article through the second part of the partition wall into the first part of the partition wall.

[0030] The first part of the partition wall and the second part of the partition wall may be thermally connected. Thereby, heat conduction from the first part of the partition wall to the second part of the partition wall can be promoted in a particularly simple manner. For example, there may be a thermally conductive connection including one or both of metal and ceramic between the first part of the partition wall and the second part of the partition wall. This thermally conductive connection can ensure that the heat generated in the first part of the partition wall is effectively transmitted to the second part of the partition wall through heat conduction.

[0031] The first part of the partition wall and the second part of the partition wall may be made of the same material. Thereby, the production of the partition wall can be facilitated. This can also promote heat conduction from the first part of the partition wall to the second part of the partition wall. The first part of the partition wall and the second part of the partition wall can be formed as an integral member. Thereby, by providing one of the partitions, the production of the first part of the partition wall and the second part of the partition wall can be made possible. Further, this can also facilitate heat conduction from the first part of the partition wall to the second part of the partition wall.

[0032] The partition wall may include one or both of metal and ceramic. The partition wall may include one or both of ferromagnetic metal or ferromagnetic ceramic. One or both of the metal and ceramic of the partition wall can provide good heat conduction between the first part of the partition wall and the second part of the partition wall. Thereby, indirect heating of the second part of the partition wall through heat conduction from the first part of the partition wall can be promoted. By providing one or both of ferromagnetic metals in the ferromagnetic ceramic, heating of the partition wall by induction heating can further be made possible.

[0033] The heating element may comprise one or both of an induction heating element and a resistance heating element. The heating element may be an induction heating element. Preferably, the heating element may be an induction coil. The partition wall may be a susceptor. The induction heating element, preferably the induction coil, may be configured to heat a first portion of the partition wall. The induction heating element may be connected to a power source. The inductor coil can provide an inductance of 1 microhenry (μH) to 500 nanohenries (nH).

[0034] This can provide a simple way to heat a first partition wall located within the cavity of the aerosol generating device.

[0035] The induction coil can be configured to indirectly heat a second portion of the partition wall. Preferably, the induction coil can be configured to indirectly heat the second portion of the partition wall via heat conduction from the first portion of the partition wall to the second portion of the partition wall. This can provide an aerosol generating device including two different heating zones. The first heating zone may be provided in the first portion of the partition wall, which is directly heated by the heating element of the aerosol generating device. The second heating zone may be provided in the second portion of the partition wall and is indirectly heated via heat conduction from the first portion of the partition wall to the second portion of the partition wall. During operation of the aerosol generating device, the temperature of the first heating zone may be higher than the temperature of the second heating zone. The temperature of the first heating zone, i.e., the first portion of the partition wall, can be from 200 degrees Celsius to 350 degrees Celsius. The temperature of the second heating zone, i.e., the second portion of the partition wall, can be from 160 degrees Celsius to 220 degrees Celsius. Further details of the aerosol generating device including the partition wall are described in co-pending EP patent application EP21157763.0, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The aerosol generating article received in the first portion of the partition wall of the heater of the aerosol generating device may include a substrate portion. The substrate portion may include an aerosol-forming substrate, as will be described in more detail below.

[0036] Instead of an aerosol generating device including a first portion and a second portion of a heater partition wall, the replaceable cartridge of the present invention may also be used with an aerosol generating device that does not include a heater partition wall as described above. In this case, the slidable sealing element of the replaceable cartridge may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when engaged with a part of the aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating device used together with the aerosol generating article that engages with the slidable sealing element may include a cavity for receiving the aerosol generating article. An aerosol generating article configured to interact with the slidable sealing element of the cartridge is described below.

[0037] The aerosol generating article comprises a porous portion. The porous portion may be configured to push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet when the aerosol generating article is received within the cartridge. The aerosol generating article may further comprise a substrate portion, the substrate portion comprising an aerosol forming substrate. The porous portion may be adjacent to the substrate portion. The porous portion may be located downstream of the substrate portion. The porous portion may comprise a filter portion. The filter portion may be suitable for absorbing the liquid agent that has moved from the liquid storage portion through the liquid outlet. The porous portion may be cellulose acetate. The porous portion may include a cellulose acetate filter plug. The porous portion of the aerosol generating article may be located adjacent to the liquid outlet of the cartridge when the cartridge is connected to an aerosol generating device containing the aerosol generating article within the cavity. Thus, the porous portion may readily absorb any liquid agent released from the cartridge through the liquid outlet.

[0038] The liquid agent absorbed by the porous portion of the aerosol generating article may be entrained in the aerosol formed from the substrate portion of the aerosol generating article. The porous portion may be located downstream of the substrate portion. The porous portion may be indirectly heated via heat convection when the heated aerosol from the substrate portion passes through the porous portion.

[0039] The following further features of the cartridge can interact with either the partition wall of the heater of the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article. The cartridge may comprise a central hollow portion. The aerosol generated from the heated liquid is directed towards the central hollow portion. The central hollow portion may be part of the cartridge where aerosol formation takes place. The central hollow portion may be part of the cartridge through which the aerosol flows before exiting the device via an air outlet, such as a mouthpiece.

[0040] The airflow path provides an air flow from the air inlet, through the heater where the liquid is heated to form vapor and aerosol, into the central hollow portion where the aerosol is entrained in the air flow, and to the air outlet. The aerosol may continue to form within the central hollow portion as the vapor cools and as the air flow enters and moves through the central hollow portion. The user inhales air through the airflow path by sucking or puffing at the outlet. When the user provides suction at the outlet, air is drawn into the air inlet, passes through the heater where the vapor and aerosol are entrained in the airflow, and reaches the air outlet through the central hollow portion. The device may have a plurality of air inlets.

[0041] The cartridge may be configured to partially receive either the aerosol generating article, particularly its porous portion, or the second part of the partition wall of the aerosol generating device. The cartridge may receive either the aerosol generating article or the second part of the partition wall of the aerosol generating device within the central hollow portion. The aerosol generating article may partially extend from the central hollow portion. When the aerosol generating article partially extends from the central hollow portion, the aerosol generating article may form a mouthpiece. When the aerosol generating article partially extends from the central hollow portion, the aerosol generating article may form an air outlet. The aerosol generating article may be completely contained within the central hollow portion. The aerosol generating article or the partition wall of the heater of the aerosol generating device may push away a slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet, thereby enabling the release of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the heater.

[0042] The aerosol-generating article may be heated by a heater. The aerosol-generating article contains a solid material that forms an aerosol when heated. The aerosol formed from the aerosol-generating article flows through a porous element of the aerosol-generating article containing a liquid, enabling the liquid within the porous element to be entrained within the aerosol, thereby combining the aerosol formed from the solid material with the liquid agent and delivering it to the user.

[0043] Preferably, the porous portion of the aerosol-generating article is received within a central hollow portion of the cartridge. The porous portion may be configured to receive any liquid agent from the liquid storage portion of the cartridge when the aerosol-generating article located within the cavity of the aerosol-generating device is received by the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may be adjacent to the liquid outlet when the aerosol-generating article is partially received within the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The porous portion of the aerosol-generating article may abut the liquid outlet when the article is partially received within the central hollow portion of the cartridge. This may facilitate the movement of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion through the wicking element and the liquid outlet to the porous portion.

[0044] The diameter of the porous portion may be approximately the same size as, or smaller than, the diameter of the slidable sealing element. In particular, the diameter of a tubular or rod-shaped porous portion may be approximately the same size as, or smaller than, the diameter of a ring-shaped slidable sealing element. The diameter of the porous portion may be up to 5% to 10% smaller than the diameter of the slidable sealing element. This may ensure that the porous portion can push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet when the aerosol-generating article, particularly when its porous portion is partially received within the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

[0045] In one embodiment of the aerosol generating system, the central hollow portion of the cartridge may coincide with a cavity for receiving the aerosol generating article of the aerosol generating device when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol generating device. This can enable the formation of a single continuous internal hollow portion of the aerosol generating system, including the central hollow portion of the cartridge and the cavity of the aerosol generating device, which can receive the aerosol generating article.

[0046] The aerosol generating article may be partially received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. As a result, the central hollow portion of the cartridge may be configured to partially receive the aerosol generating article. When the aerosol generating article is received within the central hollow portion of the cartridge, it may push a slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet from its first position to its second position. When the aerosol generating article is received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge, it may push a slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet from its closed position to its open position.

[0047] The replaceable cartridge of the present invention may be connected to the above-described aerosol generating device including a heating element having a first portion and a second portion of a partition wall, and the second portion of the partition wall extends outside the cavity. In this case, the second portion of the partition wall may be received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. In particular, the second portion of the partition wall may slide a slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet such that the liquid agent can pass through the liquid outlet and be received by the second portion of the partition wall.

[0048] The liquid agent may include one or more active agents. The one or more active agents may include one or more of a flavoring agent, nicotine, and a drug. For example, the one or more active agents may include a flavoring agent oil such as mint oil, menthol, nicotine oil, or other flavoring agents. The liquid agent may also include a carrier liquid for dissolving any active agents. The carrier liquid may be one or more of polyhydric alcohols such as propylene glycol, glycerol, and water.

[0049] The wicking element can be located inside the liquid storage portion. Thereby, the liquid agent stored in the liquid storage portion can first be absorbed by the wicking element and then be moved to the liquid outlet by the wicking element. Thereby, additional control over the flow of the liquid agent to the liquid outlet can be provided. The presence of the core can further reduce leakage by controlling the flow of the liquid agent through the liquid outlet.

[0050] The wicking element may abut against the liquid outlet. Thereby, it can be ensured that any liquid agent leaving the liquid storage portion through the liquid outlet can first be absorbed by the wicking element. Thereby, leakage from the cartridge can be prevented or controlled. The wicking element may be proximal to the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be within the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be beside the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be the liquid outlet. The wicking element may be between the liquid of the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet.

[0051] The storage portion may comprise a hollow space for storing the liquid agent, and the wicking element may be located between the hollow space and the liquid outlet. Thereby, the wicking element can be made capable of controlling the flow of the liquid agent from the hollow space to the liquid outlet. Further, thereby, leakage of the liquid agent from the cartridge through the liquid outlet can be avoided.

[0052] The wicking element may be any material suitable for sucking out liquid. Sucking out means that the material can carry the liquid by capillary action. The wicking element may include a fibrous material. The wicking element may include a porous material. The wicking element may include a woven material. The wicking element may include a non-woven material. The wicking element may include a foamed material. The wicking element may include a sponge-like material. The wicking element may include a sintered material. The wicking element may include a ceramic material. The wicking element may include a bundle of capillaries. For example, the wicking element may include a plurality of fibers or threads or other fine tubes. The fibers or threads may generally be aligned to carry the liquid from the liquid storage portion of the cartridge to the liquid outlet. The structure of the wicking element may form a plurality of small holes or tubes. The wicking element may include any suitable material or combination of materials. Examples of suitable materials include materials having pores capable of moving liquid by capillary action. For example, the core may include a ceramic material. The material may include sintered ceramic. The core may include a graphite-based material. The material may include fibers or sintered powder. The core may include a foamed metal. The core may include a plastic material. The core may include a cellulose material. The core may include a plant-derived material. The core may include a plastic material. The core may include a ceramic material. The core may include a glass material. The fibrous material may include, for example, spun or extruded fibers such as cellulose acetate, polyester, or bonded polyolefins, polyethylene, ethylene, or polypropylene fibers, nylon fibers, glass fibers, or ceramics. The wicking element may have any suitable capillary phenomenon and porosity for use with different liquid physical properties.

[0053] The liquid storage portion of the cartridge may comprise the wall of the hollow portion. The wall of the hollow portion of the liquid storage portion may be adjacent to other portions of the cartridge. The wall of the liquid storage portion may form at least a part of the central hollow portion. Thus, the wall of the liquid portion forms the wall of the central hollow portion adjacent to the liquid storage portion.

[0054] The cartridge may comprise an outer wall. The liquid storage portion may be located between the outer wall and the inner wall of the cartridge. The inner wall of the cartridge is the wall of the central hollow portion.

[0055] The slidable sealing element of the cartridge may be configured to be slidable along the wall of the central hollow portion. This can ensure that the liquid outlet can be reliably sealed by the slidable sealing element. The sealing element may be configured to be slidable along the wall of the central hollow portion.

[0056] This can ensure that when the sealing element is located within the central hollow portion and pressure is applied from within the central hollow portion to the slidable sealing element, it can slide along the wall of the central hollow portion.

[0057] The central hollow portion of the cartridge may include an upstream opening and a downstream opening. This can provide an air flow path through the cartridge between the upstream opening and the downstream opening. This can also enable the liquid agent to move from the liquid storage portion into the central hollow portion entrained in the aerosol.

[0058] The liquid storage portion for storing the liquid agent may be refillable. Thus, there may be a suction port for refilling the liquid storage portion with fresh liquid agent. Alternatively, the cartridge may be configured for single use and may be discarded after all the liquid agent has been used. The suction port may include a seal. The suction port seal may be slidable. The suction port may be configured to repeatedly refill the cartridge.

[0059] The cartridge may include a flexible biasing member. The flexible biasing member may be configured to hold the sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet when no pressure is applied to the sealing member and the cartridge is not connected to the aerosol generating device. The flexible biasing member may further be capable of allowing the slidable sealing member to slide away from the liquid outlet to enable the release of the liquid agent when pressure is applied to the sealing member. This can occur when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol generating device or the aerosol generating article. Further, the flexible biasing member may be configured to slide the slidable sealing member back to a position sealing the liquid outlet when the applied pressure is removed. The flexible biasing member may be a spring or any other biasing member suitable for maintaining the slidable sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet.

[0060] The flexible biasing member may be located outside the liquid storage portion of the central hollow portion of the cartridge. Thereby, after the pressure applied to the sealing member is removed, the flexible biasing member may be able to push the sealing element to seal the liquid outlet again.

[0061] The cartridge may be configured to be removably connectable to one or both of the aerosol generating device and the aerosol generating article. The cartridge may include a device connection element for connecting the cartridge to the aerosol generating device. The device connection element may be a positioning groove or a positioning buckle or other connection mechanism. These device connection elements may be located on the outer wall of the cartridge.

[0062] The cartridge may be configured to be removably connected to the mouthpiece. The cartridge may include a mouthpiece connection element for removably connecting the cartridge to a removable mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may be located downstream of the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The mouthpiece connection element may be located on the wall of the central hollow portion. The mouthpiece may assist the user in inhaling the aerosol formed within the central hollow portion of the cartridge and the aerosol generating device. The mouthpiece may be integrally formed with a portion of the cartridge.

[0063] The sealing element may be ring-shaped. The sealing element may form a sealing ring. The cartridge may include an annular shape. The central hollow portion may have a tubular shape. A ring-shaped sealing element may be particularly suitable for sealing one or more liquid outlets located in the wall of the tubular central hollow portion. Such a ring-shaped sealing element may have any shape. The shape of the ring-shaped sealing element depends on the shape of the portion to be sealed. The sealing ring may be, for example, rectangular, oval, annular, a cap, or may have a complex shape. The sealing ring may be made of any material suitable for sealing two parts together.

[0064] A plurality of liquid outlets may be present in the cartridge. In particular, at least two liquid outlets, at least three or at least four liquid outlets may be present in the cartridge. These liquid outlets may be arranged in a ring along the cartridge in a ring-shaped arrangement. One sealing element may be configured to seal the plurality of liquid outlets by a ring-shaped sealing element that seals some or all of the liquid outlets simultaneously.

[0065] The sealing element may include a flexible material. The sealing element may include rubber. The sealing element may include an elastic material. The sealing element may include a thermoplastic polymer. The sealing element may include one or more of rubber, elastic material, and thermoplastic polymer. Elastomeric materials are particularly flexible and are well suited to sealing the liquid outlet. The elastomeric material may include silicon. The elastomeric material may include a polyester elastomer. The elastomeric material may include a polyurethane elastomer. The elastomeric material may include a polyolefin. The elastomeric material may include polypropylene. The elastomeric material may include high density polyethylene. The elastomeric material may include one or more of silicon, polyester elastomer, and polyurethane elastomer. The elastomeric material may be a thermosetting elastomer. The elastomeric material may be a thermoplastic elastomer. The thermoplastic polymer may include a polyolefin, particularly polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0066] The cartridge may be configured to receive the aerosol generating article or portion of the heater compartment wall of the aerosol generating device. The cartridge may be configured to partially receive the aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating article may push away the slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet, thereby enabling the release of the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion.

[0067] The sealing element may be configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when the cartridge receives the aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating article may be partially received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge. The central hollow portion of the cartridge may be configured to partially receive the aerosol generating article. The aerosol generating article may push away the slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet when received in the central hollow portion of the cartridge.

[0068] The cartridge may include a temperature-stable polymer. The cartridge may include a temperature-stable thermoplastic polymer. Examples of such temperature-stable thermoplastic polymers include polyetheretherketone (PEEK), polyetherketone (PEK), or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS).

[0069] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an aerosol generating system including a cartridge as described herein. The aerosol generating system may also comprise one or both of an aerosol generating article and an aerosol generating device. The aerosol generating device includes a cavity configured to receive the aforementioned aerosol generating article.

[0070] As used herein, the term "aerosol generating device" relates to a device that interacts with an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol generating article, for example part of a smoking article. The aerosol generating device may be a smoking device that interacts with the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol generating article to generate an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into the user's lungs through the user's mouth. The aerosol generating device may be a holder. The device may be an electrically heated smoking device. The aerosol generating device may comprise a housing, an electrical circuit, a power source, a cavity, and a heating element.

[0071] The aerosol generating article may include an aerosol-forming substrate.

[0072] As used herein, the term "aerosol-forming substrate" relates to a substrate having the ability to release one or more volatile compounds capable of forming an aerosol. Such volatile compounds may be released by heating the aerosol-forming substrate. Advantageously, the aerosol-forming substrate may be part of an aerosol generating article or a smoking article. The aerosol-forming substrate may be part of the substrate portion of the aerosol generating article.

[0073] The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may contain both a solid component and a liquid component. The aerosol-forming substrate may include a tobacco-containing material containing volatile tobacco flavor compounds released from the substrate upon heating. The aerosol-forming substrate may include a non-tobacco material. The aerosol-forming substrate may include an aerosol-forming body that facilitates the formation of a high-density and stable aerosol. Suitable aerosol-forming bodies are well known in the art and include polyhydric alcohols (such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, glycerin, etc.), esters of polyhydric alcohols (such as glycerol monoacetate, diacetate, or triacetate, etc.), and aliphatic esters of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, or polycarboxylic acids (such as dimethyl dodecanedioate, dimethyl tetradecanedioate, etc.) or a combination thereof but are not limited thereto. The aerosol-forming body may be a polyhydric alcohol or a mixture thereof (such as triethylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, and glycerin, etc.). The aerosol-forming body may be propylene glycol. The aerosol-forming body may contain both glycerin and propylene glycol. The aerosol-forming substrate may also include a susceptor material for inductive heating of the substrate.

[0074] As used herein, the term "aerosol-generating article" refers to an article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate having the ability to emit a volatile compound capable of forming an aerosol. For example, the aerosol-generating article may be a smoking article that generates an aerosol that can be directly inhaled into the user's lungs through the user's mouth. The aerosol-generating article may be disposable. The cavity of the aerosol-generating device may have an open end into which the aerosol-generating article is inserted. The open end may be the proximal end. The cavity may have a closed end on the opposite side of the open end. The closed end may be the base of the cavity. The closed end may be closed except for the provision of an air opening disposed within the base. The base of the cavity may be flat. The base of the cavity may be circular in shape. The base of the cavity may be disposed upstream of the cavity. The open end may be disposed downstream of the cavity. The cavity may have an elongated extension. The cavity may have a longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal direction may be a direction extending between the open end and the closed end along the longitudinal central axis. The longitudinal central axis of the cavity may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aerosol-generating device.

[0075] The cavity may be configured as a heating chamber. The cavity may have a cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a hollow cylindrical shape. The cavity may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the aerosol-generating article received therein. The cavity may be shaped to contain the aerosol-generating article. The cavity may have a circular cross-section. The cavity may have an elliptical or rectangular cross-section. The cavity may have an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the aerosol-generating article.

[0076] The airflow channel may extend through the cavity. Ambient air may be drawn through the airflow channel, into the aerosol-generating device, into the cavity, and towards the user. A mouthpiece may be disposed downstream of the cavity, or the user may directly inhale the aerosol-generating article. The airflow channel may extend through the mouthpiece.

[0077] The aerosol generating device may further include a heating element. The heating element may function to heat the aerosol generating article received in the cavity in order to generate aerosol. The heating element may include one or both of an induction heating element and a resistance heating element.

[0078] The induction heating element may include an inductor coil disposed around at least a portion of the cavity and connected to a power source. The inductor coil can provide an inductance of 1 microhenry (μH) to 500 nanohenries (nH). The aerosol generating device may include a susceptor in the form of a susceptor blade or susceptor pin located within the cavity. The susceptor blade or susceptor pin can be configured to heat when inductance is generated by the inductor coil. The susceptor blade or susceptor pin can be configured to penetrate the aerosol generating article and heat the aerosol generating article when received within the cavity of the aerosol generating device. The heating pin or heating blade may include a susceptor material for inductive heating of the aerosol generating article. The susceptor may also be included in the aerosol generating article. For example, the aerosol generating substrate may include a susceptor.

[0079] The heating blade or heating pin can be configured to resistively heat. The heating blade or heating pin can be configured to penetrate the aerosol generating article when received within the cavity of the aerosol generating device. The heating pin or heating blade may include a conductive track for resistive heating of the aerosol generating article.

[0080] Suitable electrical resistance materials for resistive heaters include, but are not limited to, semiconductors such as doped ceramics, "conductive" ceramics (e.g., molybdenum disilicide, etc.), carbon, graphite, metals, metal alloys, and composite materials made of ceramic materials and metal materials. Such composite materials may include doped ceramics or undoped ceramics. Examples of suitable doped ceramics include doped silicon carbide. Examples of suitable metals include titanium, zirconium, tantalum, and platinum group metals. Examples of suitable metal alloys include stainless steel, nickel-containing, cobalt-containing, chromium-containing, aluminum-containing, titanium-containing, zirconium-containing, hafnium-containing, niobium-containing, molybdenum-containing, tantalum-containing, tungsten-containing, tin-containing, gallium-containing, manganese-containing, and iron-containing alloys, as well as nickel, iron, cobalt, stainless steel-based superalloys, Timetal® (registered trademark), and iron-manganese-aluminum-based alloys. In the composite material, the electrical resistance material may optionally be embedded in, encapsulated in, or coated with the insulating material, or vice versa, depending on the required energy transfer kinetics and external physico-chemical properties. Examples of suitable composite heater elements are disclosed in U.S. Patent (Registered) No. 5,498,855, International Patent Publication No. 03 / 095688, and U.S. Patent (Registered) No. 5,514,630. One preferred resistive heating material may be a nickel-chromium alloy.

[0081] The susceptor element may be formed from any material capable of inductively heating the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature sufficient to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate. Preferred susceptor elements may include, for example, ferromagnetic alloys, ferrite iron, or ferromagnetic steel, or may be made of a ferromagnetic material such as stainless steel. A suitable susceptor may be aluminum or may include aluminum. The preferred susceptor may be heated to a temperature above 250 degrees Celsius.

[0082] Preferred susceptor elements are metal susceptors, such as stainless steel. However, susceptor materials may also include graphite, molybdenum, silicon carbide, aluminum, niobium, Inconel alloys (austenitic nickel-chromium superalloys), metal vapor deposition films, ceramics (e.g., zirconia, etc.), transition metals (e.g., iron, cobalt, nickel, etc.), or semimetal components (e.g., boron, carbon, silicon, phosphorus, aluminum, etc.), or may be made of them.

[0083] In connection with an apparatus, article, system, substrate, or otherwise, as used herein in connection with the present invention, the term "smoking" does not refer to conventional smoking in which the aerosol-forming substrate is completely or at least partially burned. The aerosol-generating device of the present invention is arranged to heat the aerosol-forming substrate to a temperature below the combustion temperature of the aerosol-forming substrate, but above the temperature at which one or more volatile compounds of the aerosol-forming substrate are released to form an inhalable aerosol. The inhalable aerosol may further contain a liquid agent, particularly an active agent dissolved therein, provided by a cartridge of the aerosol-generating system of the present invention. The active agent in the liquid agent of the cartridge may provide an additional flavorant or nicotine. The additional flavorant or nicotine may modify the inhalable aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol-generating article. The user may, according to preference, combine different cartridges with different liquid agents to modify the inhalable aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate. Thus, the aerosol-generating system of the present invention may be a so-called "hybrid aerosol-generating system" that uses both a solid aerosol-forming substrate contained in the aerosol-generating article and a liquid agent from the cartridge.

[0084] The airflow path may be provided in an aerosol generation system that extends from an air inlet of the aerosol generator through a central hollow portion of the cartridge to an air outlet. When the aerosol generating article engages with the cavity of the aerosol generator and the central hollow portion of the cartridge, the airflow path extends from the air inlet through the aerosol generating article, through the porous portion, and to the air outlet. The cavity of the aerosol generator may be located upstream of the cartridge when the cartridge is connected to the aerosol generator.

[0085] When the aerosol generation system includes an aerosol generator that includes a heating element having a first portion and a second portion of a partition wall, the airflow path may be provided to extend from at least one air inlet through a first heating zone defined by the first portion of the partition wall located in the cavity of the aerosol generator and into a second heating zone defined by the second portion of the partition wall. In particular, the airflow path may extend through the aerosol generating article received in the first portion of the partition wall. The airflow path may further extend from the second portion of the partition wall through the central hollow portion of the cartridge to an air outlet, such as a mouthpiece. The mouthpiece may form the downstream end of the airflow path.

[0086] The mouthpiece may be present in the aerosol generation system of the present invention. The mouthpiece may be located downstream of the cartridge. In the aerosol generation system, one airflow path may be formed from one or more air inlets of the aerosol generator through the aerosol generating article and the central hollow portion of the cartridge to the mouthpiece, and the mouthpiece is at the downstream end of the aerosol generation system. The one or more air inlets may be present at the upstream end of the aerosol generator and may provide air to the cavity of the aerosol generator.

[0087] The aerosol generator of the aerosol generation system may include a cartridge connection element for detachably connecting the aerosol generator to a cartridge. These connection elements may include complementary structures that slide or snap together separably, or any other form of detachable or separable connection element, for example, including grooves or buckles.

[0088] The aerosol generator further comprises an electrical circuit. The electrical circuit may comprise a microprocessor, which may be a programmable microprocessor. The microprocessor may be part of a controller. The electrical circuit may further comprise additional electronic components. The electrical circuit may be configured to regulate the supply of power to a heating element, in particular to an induction coil or a resistive heating element. The power may be continuously supplied to the heating element following activation of the aerosol generator, or intermittently (e.g., for each smoking event). The power may be supplied to the heating element in the form of current pulses. The electrical circuit may be configured to monitor the electrical resistance of the heating element and preferably also to control the supply of power to the heating element according to the electrical resistance of the heating element.

[0089] The aerosol generator may further comprise a power source (typically a battery) within the main body of the aerosol generator. In one embodiment, the power source is a lithium-ion battery. Alternatively, the power source may be a nickel-metal hydride battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, or a lithium-based battery (e.g., a lithium cobalt battery, a lithium iron phosphate battery, a lithium titanate battery, or a lithium polymer battery). The power source may be capable of providing a DC voltage of 1.5 to 5 volts. Alternatively, the power source may be another form of charge storage device, such as a capacitor. The power source may need to be recharged and may have a capacity that allows sufficient energy storage for one or more usage experiences. For example, the power source may have a capacity sufficient to continuously generate aerosol for about 6 minutes, or a multiple of 6 minutes. In another example, the power source may have a capacity sufficient to provide a predetermined number of smoking events, or discontinuous activation of the heating element.

[0090] A method for operating the aerosol generation system described in this specification is also provided. The method includes - a method step of receiving an aerosol generating article in a cavity of an aerosol generator; - a method step of connecting a cartridge to the aerosol generator, the connecting method step enabling the aerosol generating article to push a slidable sealing element away from a liquid outlet and allowing the liquid contained in the liquid storage portion to flow through the liquid outlet to the porous portion of the aerosol generating article; - a method step of heating the aerosol generating article, thereby generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating article and the liquid agent.

[0091] Such a method enables the formation of an aerosol from the solid aerosol-forming substrate of the aerosol generating article and from the liquid agent of the cartridge. Different combinations of aerosol generating articles and cartridges may be used according to the user's preference. The aerosol generating article may include a substrate portion including an aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be a solid as described above. The aerosol generating article may further include a porous portion that may be adjacent to the substrate portion of the aerosol generating article. The porous portion may be located downstream of the substrate portion within the aerosol generating article. The liquid agent contacting the aerosol generating article may be absorbed by the porous portion of the aerosol generating article.

[0092] The aerosol generating device may include a heating element. The heating element may heat the base portion of the aerosol generating article to form an aerosol. The heating element can provide a temperature of 160°C to 350°C. The base portion of the aerosol generating article may be heated to a temperature of about 200°C to 350°C. The heating element may also heat the porous portion of the aerosol generating article containing the absorbed liquid agent. The porous portion of the aerosol generating article may be indirectly heated through heat convection coming from the base portion of the article. The porous portion may be heated to a temperature lower than the temperature of the base portion of the aerosol generating article. The porous portion may be heated to a temperature of 160°C to 220°C.

[0093] Alternatively, another embodiment of the present invention also provides a method of operating an aerosol generation system as described herein. The method includes - a method step of receiving an aerosol generating article within a cavity of an aerosol generating device, wherein the heating element of the aerosol generating device comprises a partition wall, a first portion of the partition wall is located within the cavity, and a second portion of the partition wall extends outside the cavity; - a method step of connecting a cartridge to the aerosol generating device, wherein the second portion of the partition wall pushes away a slidable sealing element from a liquid outlet, enabling the liquid contained in the liquid storage portion to flow through the liquid outlet to the second portion of the partition wall; - a method step of heating the aerosol generating article, thereby generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating article and the liquid agent.

[0094] By this method of operation, an aerosol generating device including a heater partition wall can be used to generate an aerosol from the solid aerosol forming substrate of the aerosol generating article and from the liquid agent contained within the cartridge. The liquid agent received at the second portion of the partition wall of the heater of the aerosol generating device is entrained in the aerosol generated at the first portion of the partition wall.

[0095] A method of operating an aerosol generating system may include additional method steps of removing a cartridge from the aerosol generator and sliding a sealing element over a liquid outlet to thereby seal the liquid outlet.

[0096] A method of operating an aerosol generating system may further include an additional method step of removing an aerosol forming article from a cavity of the aerosol forming device.

[0097] A method step of operating an aerosol generating system may further include an additional method step of inserting another aerosol forming article into the cavity of the aerosol forming device.

[0098] Thereby, a particularly simple method of resealing the cartridge after use can be provided. Both the slidable sealing element and the wicking element can prevent further leakage of the liquid agent outside the cartridge.

[0099] During removal of the cartridge from the aerosol generator, a flexible biasing member may expand and thereby push a sealing member to seal the liquid outlet.

[0100] Thereby, a particularly simple method of sliding a sealing element in front of the liquid outlet can be provided. This may eliminate the need for the user to manipulate the cartridge.

[0101] The aerosol generating device may have a length of 100 millimeters to 150 millimeters, preferably 100 millimeters to 120 millimeters. The cartridge may have a length of 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters, preferably 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters. The cartridge may have a width of 20 millimeters to 40 millimeters, preferably 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters. The heating element of the aerosol generating device may have a length of 7 millimeters to 14 millimeters, preferably 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters. The heating element of the aerosol generating device may have a diameter of 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters. The central hollow portion of the cartridge may have a diameter of 10 millimeters to 15 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters. The resistive heating element formed as a resistive heating wire may have a diameter of 0.2 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters, preferably 0.2 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters. The aerosol generating article may have a length of 7 millimeters to 14 millimeters, preferably 3 millimeters to 5 millimeters. The aerosol generating article may have a diameter of 6 millimeters to 12 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters. The cavity within the aerosol generating device may have a diameter of 50 millimeters to 70 millimeters, preferably 50 millimeters to 55 millimeters. The cavity may have a width of 25 millimeters to 30 millimeters, preferably 25 millimeters to 28 millimeters. The slidable sealing element may have a length of 6 millimeters to 8 millimeters, preferably 7 millimeters to 28 millimeters. The slidable sealing element may be in a ring shape and may have a diameter of 10 millimeters to 15 millimeters, preferably 10 millimeters to 12 millimeters.

[0102] Features described with respect to one embodiment may equally apply to other embodiments of the present invention.

[0103] In the following, the same elements are denoted by the same reference signs throughout all the figures.

[0104] Figure 1 depicts a cross-sectional view of the aerosol generation system 26. The system includes an aerosol generating device 22 that includes a cartridge 10, an aerosol generating article, a mouthpiece 34, and a partition wall 24. The aerosol generating device 22 also includes an air inlet 23 at the upstream end of the device. There is an induction coil as the heating element 30. The heating element also includes a partition wall having a first portion 24B and a second portion 24A. The aerosol generating article is received in the first portion 24B of the partition wall (the aerosol generating article is not shown in Figure 1). The first portion of the partition wall functions as a susceptor material that can be heated by the induction coil 30 via induction heating to generate an aerosol from the aerosol-forming substrate of the article. When the cartridge 10 is connected to the aerosol generating device 22, the second portion 24A of the partition wall pushes the slidable sealing element 18 of the cartridge 10 away from the liquid outlet 14. The slidable sealing element is pushed to a second position offset from the liquid outlet 14 along the central longitudinal axis 41 of the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge. In particular, the slidable sealing element is pushed further downstream along the inner wall of the liquid storage portion, which also forms part of the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. Next, the liquid outlet 14 and the wicking element 16 in contact with the liquid outlet come into contact with the second portion 24A of the partition wall, enabling the transfer of the liquid agent 20 from the liquid storage portion 12 of the cartridge, through the wicking element, to the second portion 24A of the partition wall. The wicking element is located within the liquid storage portion 12 of the cartridge and abuts the liquid outlet 14. In this position, the wicking element can direct the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion to the liquid outlet 14. After the cartridge is connected to the aerosol generating device, both the slidable sealing element 18 and the second portion 24A of the partition wall are located within the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. When the induction coil 30 applies a variable magnetic field to the first portion of the partition wall, the first portion of the partition wall heats the substrate portion of the aerosol generating article. The heating element also indirectly heats the second portion 24A of the partition wall that has received the liquid agent, which also leads to the formation of an aerosol containing the liquid agent.The arrow indicated by reference numeral 40 shows a general airflow path through the aerosol generation system, which leads from the air inlet 23, through a first heating zone defined by the first part 24B of the compartment, a second heating zone defined by the second part 24A of the compartment, and from the central hollow part 21 of the cartridge 10 to the mouthpiece 34. The second part 24A of the compartment wall can be heated through heat conduction that transfers heat from the material of the first part 24B of the compartment wall to the second part and from the heat convection resulting from the passage of the heated aerosol through the second part of the compartment wall. Thus, the aerosol generation system shown in FIG. 1 can be used to inhale the aerosol generated from the substrate part of the aerosol generating article containing the solid aerosol forming substrate and from the liquid agent absorbed by the second part 24A of the compartment wall of the aerosol generating article. The liquid agent can include a flavoring agent or other active agent for modifying the user perception of the inhaled aerosol.

[0105] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of another aerosol generation system 26. Different from the aerosol generation system of FIG. 1, the system of FIG. 2 includes a resistive heating wire 32 for heating the first part 24B of the heater compartment wall of the aerosol generation device. The arrow indicated by reference numeral 36 shows the sliding direction of the sealing element when the second part 24A of the heater compartment wall pushes out the slidable sealing element 18 from the liquid outlet 14 along the central longitudinal axis direction axis of the central hollow part of the cartridge.

[0106] Figure 3 shows in more detail a cross-section of the cartridge 10 not connected to the aerosol generating device. Two liquid outlets 14 can be seen, which are covered by a slidable sealing element 18. In both cases, the wicking element 16 is positioned between the liquid storage portion 12 and the liquid outlet 14 in order to control the flow of the liquid agent 20 through the liquid outlet 14. A flexible biasing element 38 is present such that the spring presses a slidable sealing element 18 over the liquid outlet 14. The cartridge 10 can have an annular shape and the slidable sealing element 18 can be a sealing ring. The slidable sealing element 18, the liquid outlet 14 and the flexible biasing element 38 are all positioned within a central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. The liquid storage portion 12 includes a wall 12A that also forms part of the central hollow portion.

[0107] Figure 4 schematically depicts the process of assembling an aerosol generating system that includes an aerosol generating article 25, an aerosol generating device 22, a cartridge 10 containing a liquid agent 20, and finally a mouthpiece 34. In a first step (indicated by the arrow labeled "1"), the aerosol generating article 25 is inserted through the hollow second portion 24A of the partition wall into the first portion 24B of the partition wall of the aerosol generating device 22. In a second step (indicated by the arrow labeled "2"), the cartridge 10 is attached to the aerosol generating device 22. The cartridge 10 includes a liquid storage portion that houses the liquid agent 20. There is a liquid outlet 14 that can direct the liquid agent 20 into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10. The liquid outlet 14 is covered by a slidable sealing element 18 that abuts the liquid outlet 14, thereby closing the liquid outlet. There is a biasing member 38, a spring, that holds the slidable sealing element 18 over the liquid outlet 14 when the cartridge 10 is not connected to the aerosol generating device. When the cartridge 10 is connected to the aerosol generating device 22, the second portion 24A of the partition wall of the heating element pushes the sealing element 18 away from the liquid outlet 14, thereby enabling the liquid agent 20 to be received by the second portion of the partition wall. In a third step (indicated by the arrow labeled "3"), the mouthpiece 34 can be connected to the downstream end of the system and to the cartridge 22. This process can be used to assemble an aerosol generating system that can use two different substrates, the solid aerosol generating article 25 and the liquid agent 20 from the cartridge 10, to generate an aerosol.

[0108] Figure 5 depicts the sequence of assembling an aerosol generation system including an aerosol generator without a heater compartment wall. First (arrow marked "1"), the aerosol article 25 having a substrate portion 25B and a porous portion 25A is received within the cavity 28 of the aerosol generator 22. A resistive heating wire 32 is included in the aerosol generator for heating the aerosol article 25. Thereafter (arrow marked "2"), the cartridge is connected to the aerosol generator and the aerosol article, and the porous portion 25A of the aerosol article pushes away a slidable sealing element from the liquid outlet so that the liquid agent is absorbed by the porous portion. Thereafter, a mouthpiece may be connected to the cartridge at the downstream end of the aerosol generation system (the mouthpiece is not shown in Figure 5).

[0109] Figure 6A shows an enlarged cutaway view before the cartridge 10 and the aerosol generator 22 are connected. A flexible biasing element 38, such as a spring, applies a force to the slidable sealing element 18, thereby pushing the slidable sealing element forward of the liquid outlet 14 for sealing. Arrow 39 indicates the direction of the force applied to the slidable sealing element by the flexible biasing element for sealing the liquid outlet 14. The periphery of the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge 10 corresponds to the periphery of the second portion 24A of the compartment wall of the aerosol forming device 22. Thereby, the second portion 24A of the compartment wall can be inserted into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge.

[0110] Figure 6B depicts the situation after the cartridge and the aerosol forming device are connected. The second portion 24A of the compartment wall is pushed into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge, thereby pushing the slidable sealing element 18 along the direction of arrow 43. Thereby, the liquid agent 20 can contact the second portion 24A of the compartment wall via the wicking element 16.

[0111] Figure 7A shows a schematic perspective view of a flat cartridge 10 having a central hollow portion 21 before an aerosol forming device 22 is connected. The second annular portion 24A of the partition wall projects from the aerosol forming device 22 and can be inserted into the central hollow portion 21 of the cartridge as indicated by the arrow.

[0112] Figure 7B shows a schematic perspective view of an aerosol forming system 26 after the cartridge 10 and the aerosol forming device 22 are connected.

Claims

1. A replaceable cartridge configured to be removably connected to an aerosol generating device, comprising: a liquid storage portion for storing a liquid agent, the liquid storage portion including a liquid outlet for discharging the liquid agent from the liquid storage portion; and a slidable sealing element for sealing the liquid outlet, the slidable sealing element being configured to slide away from the liquid outlet when pressure is applied to the sealing element; and a wicking element disposed adjacent to the liquid outlet for absorbing the liquid agent and supplying it to the liquid outlet.

2. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the wicking element is located inside the liquid storage portion.

3. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the wicking element is located between the liquid storage portion and the liquid outlet.

4. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a central hollow portion.

5. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a flexible biasing member configured to hold the sealing member in a position sealing the liquid outlet when no pressure is applied to the sealing member.

6. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 5, configured to be removably connectable to an aerosol generating device.

7. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a mouthpiece connection element for removably connecting the cartridge to a mouthpiece.

8. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the sealing element is ring-shaped.

9. The replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 8, configured to partially receive one of an aerosol generating article or an aerosol generating device.

10. A replaceable cartridge according to any one of claims 1 to 9; an aerosol generating article; and an aerosol generating device, including a cavity configured to receive the aerosol generating article, either or both of which are included in an aerosol generating system.

11. Including the aerosol generating article, ​ The aerosol generating system according to claim 10, wherein the aerosol generating article includes a substrate portion, and the substrate portion includes a solid aerosol forming substrate.

12. The aerosol generating system according to claim 10 or 11, comprising the aerosol generating device, wherein the aerosol generating device includes a heating element configured to heat the aerosol generating article received in the cavity, the heating element includes a partition wall, a first portion of the partition wall is located in the cavity, and a second portion of the partition wall extends outside the cavity.

13. The aerosol generating system according to claim 12, wherein the second portion of the partition wall is configured to push the slidable sealing element away from the liquid outlet.

14. A method of operating the aerosol generating system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the aerosol generating system further includes: - the aerosol generating article; and - the aerosol generating device, and the method includes: - a method step of receiving the aerosol generating article into the cavity of the aerosol generating device; - a method step of connecting the cartridge to the aerosol generating device, wherein either the second portion of the partition wall of the aerosol generating device pushes the slidable sealing element away or the aerosol generating article pushes the slidable sealing element out of the liquid outlet, so that the liquid agent contacts either the second portion of the partition wall or the aerosol generating article; - a method step of heating the aerosol generating article, thereby generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating article and the liquid agent. - a method of operating an aerosol generating system, comprising: - a method step of heating the aerosol generating article, thereby generating an aerosol from the aerosol generating article and the liquid agent. A method of operating an aerosol generating system, comprising:

15. The method of operating the aerosol generating system according to claim 14, further comprising a further method step of removing the cartridge from the aerosol generating device, wherein the sealing element slides over the liquid outlet, thereby sealing the liquid outlet.

16. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the wicking element abuts against the liquid outlet.

17. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the central hollow portion includes an upstream opening and a downstream opening, and provides an air flow path through the cartridge between the upstream opening and the downstream opening.

18. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the flexible biasing member is a spring.

19. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge includes a device connection element for connecting to the aerosol generating device.

20. The replaceable cartridge according to claim 7, which cites claim 4, wherein the mouthpiece connection element is located on the inner wall of the central hollow portion.

21. The aerosol generating system according to claim 11, wherein the base portion includes one or both of a tobacco-containing base or a non-tobacco-containing base.

22. The aerosol generating system according to claim 11, wherein the base portion includes an aerosol former.

23. The aerosol generating system according to claim 22, wherein the aerosol former is selected from polyhydric alcohols, esters of polyhydric alcohols, monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids or aliphatic esters of polycarboxylic acids, or combinations thereof.

Images